1070

 

 

DATCHWORTH PARISH COUNCIL

 

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

HELD ON 17th DECEMBER 2007

AT 8.00pm IN DATCHWORTH VILLAGE HALL

 

PRESENT:

 

Chairman –      Mr C Wilkins

Councillors –   Mrs V Marshall             Mr T Charles

                                    Mrs G Lines                 Mr T Stowe                                          

                                    Mr F Pearman              Mr A Brown

 

 

In Attendance –            Mrs W Prowle – Clerk

           

 

 

ITEM 1 Apologies for absence – District Councillor T Jackson, Cllrs. J Austin and F Chambers

 

ITEM 2 Minutes of the last meeting on 19th November 2007 Amendments were made as follows:

1)                   Item 6.1 – It was stated that the donation to the DVHMC for 2008/09 would be £2,100. This has been corrected to be £1,200.

2)                   Item 5 – Chairman C Wilkins declared an interest on 59 Burnham Green Road and temporarily passed Chairmanship to Cllr. V Marshall.

The minutes were then otherwise signed as correct.

 

 

ITEM 3 Matters arising

 

Chairman C Wilkins attended a meeting with the DVHMC to discuss their financial situation and the funds needed for repairs to the Village Hall. The solution still lies with DVHMC. Cllr. F Chambers passed a message via the Clerk that she had mentioned to DVHMC Chairman I Walker of the possibility of a ‘Village Hall Appeal.’ Those who use the village hall and the community as a whole help raise funds for the appeal, and suggested an article to be put in the Parish Magazine.

 

 

ITEM 4 Ongoing Matters

 

4.1 Play Areas & Equipment

 

Turkey Farm – Cllr V Marshall produced a pile of plans that were designed by the year 6 children at Datchworth School of their ideas of the types of play equipment they would like to be placed at the Turkey Farm. The members of the working party will distribute the plans between themselves over the Christmas holidays, and will meet up again on 14th January to discuss their findings. Action – Clerk W Prowle to write to Year 6 to thank them for their input and to book the committee room for 14th January.

 

Cllr. A Brown has acquired several quotes for telegraph poles, although only one company were prepared to deliver in our area. 6 or 8 x 4 meter poles are required (depending on the layout) at a total cost of around £600. Options were also discussed to have the pole anchored to the ground. The existing barrier was also said to possibly be a bit narrow, and was felt that this may need looking in to.

 

Burnham Green – Cllr. A brown has found a company prepared to supply the pole needed to repair the BG play equipment, although they wouldn’t deliver. Chairman C Wilkins suggested that Cllr A Brown contacts Alan Tyler for a possible solution. Action – Cllr. A Brown to contact Alan Tyler for the possibility of supplying a new pole.

 

Datchworth Green – Cllr. G Lines is unable to clean the play area herself, and is gathering estimates to have the park professionally cleaned. Action – Cllr G Lines to obtain estimates.

 

Orchard – Cllr V Marshall has completed and sent off for a grant from ‘Breathing Places’ for the new orchard.

 

 

1071

 

4.2 Highway Matters

 

The councillors discussed their concerns over the overbearing repeater speed signs that HCC have stated that we must have throughout the village. The Highways Act states that if we do not have street lighting then we legally have to have repeater signs. After a long discussion, it was agreed that Cllr T Charles would once again appeal to HCC to cut down on some of the signage particularly on single track roads (eg. Blackbarn Lane). In the event of his failure to do this, we would accept HCC recommendations if absolutely necessary, so that we can proceed with the implementation of other road signage that the village requires.

 

Discussion was also raised regarding the sign proposed to be placed between 42/44 Bury Lane. It was felt that, at 3.6 meters high, this sign would be too overbearing. It was suggested that this sign could be placed between 40/42 Bury Lane next to the oak tree. Action – Cllr T Charles to contact Raj/Martin at Highways

 

 

4.3 Parish Design Statement

 

Cllr T Stowe has been very happy with the response from the Parish Design Statement so far. He has received approximately 350 replies to date and has many more flooding in. He is hoping to be in receipt of around 1000 replies before closure. A closing date has not yet been decided.

 

The questionnaire is available on the web www.datchworthparishplan.co.uk

 

 

4.4 Sports Club – The DPS/DSC liaison group met on 3rd December. DSC are trying their best to tackle the problem. While marshals are present the parking is controlled satisfactorily. However, when they leave at about 11am there is some parking on the green and in the passing bays. In order to agree the legal issues, DPC have suggested a fact finding meeting between the respective lawyers. The suggestion put forward for a barrier at the end of the footpath next to the village hall was considered to be inappropriate. It would be a hazard for traffic if placed near the road and an obstruction for wheelchairs if placed on the pathway.  

 

 

4.5 Parish Paths Partnership – Mrs Adorian has been in contact with the Clerk with reference to a footpath through her land being declared an ‘official footpath’ by HCC. Clerk W Prowle will be writing to Mrs Adorian again forwarding a map of the footpath in question. £1750 in grants received towards the Parish Paths Partnership has been placed separately in the accounts ready for work to commence, which is aimed to be completed by June 2008. Action - Clerk  W Prowle to forward map to Mrs Adorian and to account for the grants received as a discrete item.

 

 

4.7 Inter-Village Liaison – Clerk W Prowle stated that the meeting of local clerks scheduled for 6th December was cancelled due to illness and will be re-scheduled for January. Chairman C Wilkins is having regular contact with Bernie Eccles at Aston Parish Council who is Keeping us up to date with the Bennington wind farm issues.

 

 

 

ITEM 5. Planning

 

New Applications

 

3/07/2438/FP/SD – 86 Bramfield Road Road.2 x two storey side and rear extensions

3/07/2466/FP/JS – Hawkins Grange Farm. Agricultural building for storage of machinery and hay *

3/07/2395/FP/JS – 43a Burnham Green Road. Conversion of existing internal double garage into a gymnasium and the erection of a new free standing garage.Objection on the grounds of size and location

3/07/2511/FP/CT – 11 Raffin Park. Conservatory”

3/07/2394/FP/NB – 46 Burnham Green Road. Single storey detached garden room. Objection on the positioning of the rear windows adjacent to neighbouring property

3/07/2433/FP/CD – Woodcote, 37 Burnham Green Road. Two storey and single storey rear extensions. Building habitat able rooms in existing roof with French doors and dormers to the rear of the property.

 

 

 

 

 

1072

 

Applications Refused Permission (by EHDC)

 

3/07/2061/FP/HS - 35 Burnham Green Road. Replacement dwelling. Existing dwelling does not meet criteria for replacement and the proposed dwelling is excessive in size, scale and volume in relation to the existing dwelling

3/07/2211/FP/HS – Rocklodge, 21 Raffin Green Lane. Loft conversion comprising of alteration to roof to form gable end and 2 no. dormer windows

Poor design and an unacceptable area of flat roof

3/07/3235/FP – Keepers Cottage, Bragbury Lane. Single storey extension to be used as elderly relative annex.

Issues relating to Green belt, size and design

3/07/2163/FP – 53 Brookbridge Lane. Two storey rear extension over existing flat. Size and detrimental effect on the dwelling, adjacent properties and surrounding area

 

 

Applications Granted Permission (by EHDC)

 

3/07/2129/FP/CD – 1 Hawkins Hall Lane. Replacement dwelling

 

 

Appeals

 

3/06/2449/FP – 1 Hawkins Hall Lane. Appeal withdrawn and file closed

3/07/0363/FP/GH – 29 Burnham Green Road. New front porch, two storey rear extension with environmental glazed solar hub. New hip to existing roof. The informal hearing for this appeal will take place on the 19th February 2008

 

 

*      In circulation

**    To be reviewed at Parish Council Meeting

 

 

ITEM 6. Clerks Correspondence & Reports

 

Breathing Places – Grant application - for the orchard (forwarded to Viv)

EHDC – Code of Conduct training 19th December, Hertford, Few places left

HCC – Aston & Watton-at-Stone Modification Order, Notice for public display

EHDC – Revised Register of Electors 1st Dec 2007, Notice for public display

EHDC – Policy for street naming and numbering, comments to be received by 2nd January 2008

EHDC – Core Strategy public poster, Notice for public display

Luton Airport – Helicopter activity

HAPTC – ‘Engage’ Local Participation & Involvement, conference 22/01/08, free, Campus West WGC

HAPTC – Newsletter

HAPTC – Advance notice of subscription for 2008/09 £655.03

SLCC – Membership renewal £91.00

EHDC (online) – Revised Licensing Policy 2007, Parish/Town councils may now reject to applications

Campaign to Protect Rural England – require help (photos) with 2009 calendar

Herts Police Authority – Policing Priorities for 2008-2011, our comments by 21st January 2008

HCC – Village of the Year competition

 

·         The clerk’s contract of employment was discussed and a fixed expense allowance agreed. Action – Clerk W Prowle to type up contract to be formally sign at next meeting.

·         Precept Form – now complete and signed, to be sent off this week.

·         Fly-tipping and concrete bins in the Turkey Farm car park. Clerk W Prowle dealt with fly-tipping, Cllr. F Pearman removed the concrete bins, he will be adding new locks to them if we have any suitable sites within the village where a bin may be required.

·         Cllr. J Austin emailed the clerk with concerns over the Estate Agent advertising boards. We are getting too many, too often and they are too slow in removing them. He was also not happy about these boards being placed on the Green. This form of advertising is to be monitored.

·         Dog waste bin required at Burnham Green £115.99 + VAT for the bin, £92.79 per year for EHDC to add to their emptying rota. Action – Clerk W Prowle to order new bin, arrange installation then contact EHDC.

 

 

1073

 

·         Parish Council Model Scheme (Data Protection & Freedom of Information Act) Existing registration expired this year. Need to re-register with Information Commissioner at a cost of £35 per year. Action – Clerk W Prowle to go ahead with re-registration

 

 

ITEM 7. Financial Reports

 

Income:

 

   56.09             -           Bank interest on deposit A/c

 

Expenditure:

 

  91.00              -           SLCC Membership renewal (242)

383.16              -           L. Chambers – salary (243)

110.40              -           J. Adams – Litter (244)

338.20              -           W. Prowle – salary (245)

 

 

Bank Balances:

 

  3037.85           -           Current A/c 

21065.89           -           Deposit A/c

 

 

Cllr T Charles requested that the format of the above finances could be laid out in a different format. Giving totals and a starting and ending balance.

 

 

ITEM 8. Benefits & Concerns

 

Cllr. V Marshall congratulated the clerks L Chambers and W Prowle on a seamless takeover.

 

The meeting ended at a respectable time, and was rounded off with a mince pie and drink for all prior to breaking for the Christmas holidays.

 

 

ITEM 9. Date of Next Meeting: 21st January 2008 @ 8.00pm.

 

           

The meeting closed at 9.20 pm