Local councillors Lorna and Su attend the meeting at the Chinese Centre to discuss the Maunds Hatch community building project. The funding for the building works is now in place, raised by the sale of the land next to the centre for 18 flats.

There is general agreement about how the project steering group will be formed, with representatives chosen by local community organisations and interest groups. The steering group will work closely with the GPCA, who hold the long term lease of the current Maunds Hatch building, to decide the shape of the new community building, and to coordinate community activities in the building in agreement with GPCA.

The garages at the rear of Lower Meadow, vacated by the council in the last few months, have now been demolished and the site cleared. Lorna has discussed with council officers the need to secure the area against any unwanted use, before discussions begin about the long-term future of the site.

Staple Tye councillors Lorna and Su attended Harlow Council's ball games consultation meeting at the Civic Centre tonight. The meeting was part of a consultation process set up by the council to try to resolve the different points of view about ball games being played in residential areas.

Lorna asked whether flats and maisonettes built above garages, such as those in Longbanks, Moorfield and Peterswood, would be included in the new bye-laws the council proposes to introduce, which would prohibit skateboarding and ball games in shopping areas, shopping hatches and garage areas. She says:

"It appears from the answer I was given that this may not be the case, so I have asked the council's anti-social behaviour coordinator to clarify the exact extent of the proposed bye-law in relation to such areas."

Lorna also reported the comments of the Paringdon school council, with whom she had met to discuss the question of ball games. While supporting the council's proposed bye-law, school council members explained some of the play issues that concerned primary school aged children. These included inadequate play surfaces; muddy grass; broken glass and rubbish strewn across green spaces; and most of all intimidation by older children. Lorna told the meeting:

"It's very important that the council listen carefully to what local children have to say, not just because play is important to them, but also because a lot of time and money could be wasted putting in place solutions if they're not the solutions local children want."

Su suggested that the council should be more proactive in enforcing the tenancy agreement which required council tenants and their children not to create nuisance within their area.

The council's consultation will continue for a couple of months, including involving all local schools.

Harlow Council planning officers have refused a planning application (HW/PL/06/00345) for demolition of the existing building at Chilterns on Commonside Road and its replacement with fourteen flats.

Garages 54 - 82 Lower Meadow are shortly to be demolished, Cllr Su Lawton reports. A contractor has been instructed to secure the site, demolish the garages and clear the site as soon as possible. Demolition and clearance should begin on Tuesday, and should be finished by Friday 1 December. The work is part of an ongoing programme to deal with under-used, unpopular and problematic garage blocks.

Harlow Council has received a request for a review of the licence for the Chequers public house on Commonside Road, on the grounds of various forms of noise nuisance including from karaoke entertainment.

Any resident of the area or interested party who wishes to make representations about this must do so by the deadline of 19 December. After that date, the council has 20 days in which to hold a meeting of its Licensing Sub Committee to review the pub's licence.

Staple Tye councillors are happy to put forward any views affected residents may have. Alternatively, write to The Licensing Authority, Harlow Council, The Civic Centre, The Water Gardens, Harlow CM20 1WG.

The Meteorological Office has issued a severe weather warning for the East of England. Strong winds - up to 65 or 75 miles per hour - are expected later today and until 3pm tomorrow. There is still some uncertainty on the exact track of the low and hence the strength of the winds and areas most affected.

Local councillors Su and Chris and the Liberal Democrat team were out and about in Copshall Close making courtesy calls on local residents.

Harlow Council's scrutiny committee has now drawn up its recommendations arising from its inquiry into the flooding that took place in June and July this year.

Cllr Su Lawton, a member of the committee, supported the proposals, which were welcomed by the meeting, and took the opportunity to question officers about progress since the floods.

Cllr Lorna Spenceley addressed the committee, welcoming the fact that the various organisations were now working together more effectively, reminding them of the need to address the flooding problems at Paringdon School, and suggesting that further public meetings be held over the coming year so that the community could play its part in monitoring progress.

The meeting heard that since the floods, gulleys had been inspected, and photographic evidence taken where these were not clear. Remedial work had already been carried out on Southern Way, and an inspection at the Latton Bush Centre had revealed work that needed to be carried out there. Essex County Council had started a new contract for gulley cleaning, which meant that the county council would be inspecting the drains rather than the contractor regulating itself.

Staff at Contact Harlow now had information about how to advise residents in the case of flooding, and now received bad weather warnings as a matter of routine. Flooding advice would be published on the council's web site, in the local press, and in the March issue of the council's magazine Harlow News. Sandbags were now available for purchase at the Civic Centre, and the council was investigating the use of gel bags as an alternative; these were much easier to distribute and could be stored more locally, making it quicker to get them to residents.

Thames Water reported that it had instructed consultants to visit customers complaining of multiple flooding and would advise on any necessary mitigation works. It had also rearranged its cleaning schedule.

A 29-point action plan was proposed by the committee. Key actions proposed include publishing flooding advice and information to residents; and the agencies will be meeting regularly to consider more opportunities to work together and to resolve any drainage problems. Essex County Council's gulley cleaning and maintenance programme will also be published for residents to see - a suggestion Lorna made at the last meeting.

The next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee, on Thursday 24 January, will receive a brief update on progress; with a fuller report coming to its meeting on Thursday 1 March. Both of these meetings are open to the public.

This afternoon I'm at Paringdon School for a couple of lively discussions about Harlow Council's consultation on ball games and skateboarding - firstly with the School Council, and secondly with a group of Year 6 children. They're too young to take part in elections to the Youth Council, so it's important to listen to them directly, particularly about something like this which affects them.

The School Council is happy for me to report their views to the council; and the Year 6 children want more time to talk - though, as they say this is because I'm "fun", I rather think this might be because my grip on classroom discipline is well below the standard of the professionals!

Cllr Su Lawton represented the Staple Tye councillors this morning at the funeral of Bob Watson, who had previously been an active member of Longbanks Residents Association and who chaired the local Ward Advisory Group until it was disbanded earlier this year. Our condolences to Bob's family; Bob will be much missed.

Two questions about garages in the Staple Tye ward were answered at Harlow's Full Council meeting. The answers given were as follows:

Lower Meadow
The last remaining tenants of these garages at 54 - 82 Lower Meadow were recently moved to alternative garages and due to increased vandalism, fly tipping and lack of demand the site is earmarked for demolition as soon as possible. This work is planned for completion within the next 10 weeks. Alternative future uses for the site will then be considered in line with the Council's Garage Strategy and Improvement Plan.

Risdens
As part of the Improvement Plan, the Council is checking tenure / ownership of all original council owned garages in the town against the records held within the Housing Service. In situations where property / effects are discovered in garages where these is no recorded tenant every attempt is made to contact the owner before clearance is requested. These attempts will include the posting of such notices where necessary.

The public toilet at Staple Tye is having to be shut early each day at 2:00pm because of an electrical fault. The contractors EDF are due to come and fix the problem, but it's not clear at the moment when this will happen. Fingers (and legs!) crossed that it's soon ...

Commenting on the placing of a mobile phone mast in Perry Road, Staple Tye councillor Lorna Spenceley says:

"Harlow Council currently has no powers to block mast applications for masts below 15 metres in height, and only limited powers for masts above 15 metres. The council is not allowed by law to refuse an application on health grounds, and any refusal to grant permission is usually overturned when phone operators go to appeal.

Since the last Conservative government did a deal with the phone companies to cut planning controls for masts, it's easier to get planning permission for a mast than it is for a porch. This can't be right, and is something the present government really should be addressing."

The new planning application for Parnall House, the former builders' merchants' building on Parnall Road, is likely to be considered by Harlow Council's planning committee on Tuesday 12 December. The new application is for an extra nine residential units compared to the existing planning permission, plus a rearrangement of disabled parking. The reference number for the new application is HW/PL/06/00361 and more than one objection has already been received.

The contract for the long-awaited works to the two flat blocks in Joyners Field should be considered by Harlow Council's Policy & Resources Committee on Thursday 14 December.

The Staple Tye team have asked for an update on Essex County Council's plans to deal with road safety at the Rye Hill Road junction with Paringdon Road (St James's School).

In response, the engineers tell us that they are waiting for the electrical contractors to provide a cost estimate for electrical connections to the proposed signs. Once this has been received and the budget allocated, contractors will be instructed to carry out the work, which they hope will be before Christmas.

The works consist of the installation of a new give way sign and overlay of existing markings.

Out again in Aylets Field, Cllr Chris Robins and Cllr Lorna Spenceley have been meeting residents. The nights are drawing in (or "winter draws on", as one of our former ward councillors used to say!) but people are still happy to stand on their doorsteps and chat.

Gateway Christian Fellowship has been granted £5,000 from Essex County Council's Community Initiative Fund, for a study on the installation of air heating and cooling units at its children's centre at Staple Tye.

The local Neighbourhood Watch has been given the go-ahead by Harlow Council to re-open its office at Staple Tye shopping centre for public consultation. The Neighbourhood Watch office will be open to the public from 9:00am to noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Alternatively, Neighbourhood Watch can be contacted on 413485.

A display of proposals for five of Harlow's play areas - including the one at Latton Bush - will be on show at Contact Harlow in the Civic Centre for one week starting on Monday 6 November, from 8:00am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday, and 9:00am to midday on Saturday. For more information please contact Harlow Council landscapes officer Suzanne Prunty on 446999.

Councillor Su Lawton is at the Chinese Centre again with Harlow Council's housing committee vice chairman Cllr Lesley Rideout and Harlow Council staff, to discuss the improvements to council houses in Barleycroft and Lower Meadow. This afternoon session is busier than the previous day's evening one; most tenants are very pleased with what's been done so far.

Staple Tye councillors Lorna Spenceley and Su Lawton are joined at the Chinese Centre by Housing Committee vice chairman Cllr Lesley Rideout and Harlow Council staff.

Council tenants in houses in Barleycroft and Lower Meadow have been invited to drop in between 17:30 and 19:30 to discuss the improvements that have been made to a sample of houses on the two estates.

The works consist of repairing the timber windows; replacing the timber cladding with new uPVC cladding and insulation; new uPVC board around the roof edge and minor roof repairs; repairing and rehanging external vertical hanging tiles where needed; and painting windows, front and rear doors, canopy and external woodwork.

The repairs are popular, and the council hopes to complete the programme for all council houses on the two estates over the next few months.

News just in that last night's Hallowe'en party in Berecroft was a great success, with about 70 children in and out of the community office during the evening, and no calls to the police about any anti-social behaviour on the estate. Congratulations to all involved.