Council Committee Structure

The Parish Council’s committee structure conforms to the Local Government Act 1972 s101. This legislation allows the Parish Council to delegate functions to committees and sub committees. The composition of each committee and working group is settled at the Annual Parish Meeting in May each year. Members of the public can be co-opted onto committees, sub committees and working groups. In 2022 there are two committees, four sub-committees, and nine working groups.

The Full Council is made up of the Parish Council’s 15 councillors and meets, typically, once every three weeks. The chairman for the Parish Council in 2022 is Maureen Caton, and the Vice-chair is Fran Richards.

Among its duties and responsibilities, the Full Council approves the annual budget and sets the precept. It also approves the use of land and premises under its control, and has an input on planning applications, public transport and highways matters.

Below is the membership of the Full Council for 2022.

Maureen Caton
Frances Richards
Alan Barnes
George Braeckman
Anne Guney
Jamie Hogg
John Hudson
Matthew Jessup
Peter Jones
Jo Kavanagh
Ayub Khan
John O’Brien
Lois Prior
Geoffrey Sell
Thomas Smith

You can read further about the responsibilities, rules and regulations that make up of our various committees and sub-committees by downloading the

document Terms of Reference – Council Committees sub-comms. This document is updated annually.

Much of the information on this page can be found in the document Committee Membership 2022.

COMMITTEES

The Parish Council’s two committees are its Finance & General Purposes Committee and its Open Spaces Committee.

Finance & General Purposes Committee

This deals with all matters concerning finance, administration, and Parish Council assets – such as the Mountfitchet Exchange, Crafton Green House, and the Day Centre. The committee also draws up the council’s annual budget, overseas the employment of staff, approves community grants and works with the Stansted Millers to maintain the village windmill.

Below is the membership of F&GP Committee in 2022

Maureen Caton
Jamie Hogg
Peter Jones
Matt Jessup VCH
John O’Brien CH
Fran Richards
Geoffrey Sell
Thomas Smith

Open Spaces Committee

The committee is tasked with overseeing allotments, approving gardening and grass cutting contracts, administering the cemetery as well as the upkeep and maintenance of play areas and village open spaces, such as the skatepark and the Recreation Ground. In 2022 the Stansted in Bloom garden competition is once again under its remit.

This Committee is made up of the following councillors:

Alan Barnes CH
Anne Guney
Maureen Caton
John Hudson
Jo Kavanagh VCH
Ayub Khan
Fran Richards
George Braeckman
Lois Prior

SUB-COMMITTEES

The Full Council, the Open Spaces, and F&GP committees can set up sub-committees to deal with specific matters that fall under their responsibility.

Highways Sub-committee

Highways and transport matters in and around Stansted are the primary focus of this sub-committee. It seeks to encourage public consultation in relation to major transport schemes and work with local highway agencies to deliver improvements to Stansted’s roads.

Below is the membership of HIGHWAYS SUB-COMMITTEE in 2022

Maureen Caton
Peter Jones VCH
Matthew Jessup
Ayub Khan
John O’Brien
Fran Richards
Geoffrey Sell CH
Lois Prior
Ray Woodcock is co-opted

Personnel Sub-committee

This oversees matters relating to Council employees in line with relevant legislation and the Council’s employment policies on behalf of the Finance and General Purposes Committee. Because of its nature and for reasons of confidentiality the press and public are excluded from all of its meetings.

Below is the membership of PERSONNEL SUB-COMMITTEE in 2022

Alan Barnes
Maureen Caton
John O’Brien VCH
Fran Richards
Anne Guney CH

Windmill Sub-committee

Its terms of reference include agreeing a programme of works for the windmill so it can continue to be an asset the community can enjoy, and assist the Stansted Millers in fund raising for the structure.

Below is the membership of WINDMILL SUB-COMMITTEE in 2022

Maureen Caton
George Braeckman
Jo Kavanagh VCH
John O’Brien CH
Fran Richards
Molly Clark (co-Trustee)
Tudor Owen
Richard Thomas

Emergency Planning Sub-committee

Among this sub-committee’s responsibilities is preparing a general emergency and flood plan for the village, and provide training for our flood wardens.

Below is the membership of EMERGENCY PLANNING SUB-COMMITTEE in 2022

(includes Flooding)

Maureen Caton
Jo Kavanagh
John Hudson
Matthew Jessup VCH
Fran Richards
John O’Brien
Ayub Khan CH

WORKING GROUPS

The Full Council, the Open Spaces, and F&GP committees can also set up working groups to deal with specific matters that fall under their responsibility.