984
HELD
ON 16th
January 2006
PRESENT:
Chairman – Mr. C.
Wilkins
Councillors – Mrs.
V. Marshall
Mr. T. Charles
Mr.
F. Pearman
Mr. J. Austin
Mrs.
G. Lines
District Councillor A.
Jackson
In Attendance –
Mrs. L. Chambers – Clerk
Also present: Mrs
M. Colman, Mrs P. Stewart
ITEM 1 Apologies
for absence – Councillor Mrs.
M. Marr
and Councillor Mrs. F. Chambers
ITEM 2 Minutes of
the last meeting on 18th December 2005 were agreed and signed as correct.
ITEM 3 Matters
arising – Councillor
Charles reported that the damage to the hill on the Turkey Farm was
still to be
pursued.
The
Clerk reported that County Councillor Hammond will keep the road sign
issue
under review.
ITEM 4 Ongoing
items:
4.1 Playareas
& Equipment – The Clerk
reported that the order had been placed for the new swings at
Nutcroft.
4.2 Highways – Several areas around the
Village were highlighted as having potholes and road surface breaking
up. In
particular: Outside ‘The Inn on the Green’ Public House, lanes around
the
School, especially
4.3 Parish Design
Statement –The
Chairman and Councillor Charles will be arranging a meeting. District
Councillor Jackson reminded the Council that there was grant money
available
from the District Council to help set up the Design Statement.
4.4 Tree Survey – Councillor Charles
reported that the second phase of work was now in progress. He said
that he
will be doing an inspection of all the work completed and checking on
other
areas of tree work identified such as the removal of the tree on the
Turkey
Farm and the area between Nutcroft and Great Lawne were rubbish had
been
dumped. Action: Councillor
Charles to review the tree work progress.
ITEM 5. Planning
New
Applications
3/05/2353/LB/SD – Moat
Farmhouse,
3/05/2337/FP/SD – Swan Hill
Barn. R/O
3/05/2405/FP/LAH –
3/05/2381/FP/JS
– 43a Burnham Green road. Single storey rear
extension, new front dormers, new doors and guarding to rear
gable (1st
floor)
3/05/2429/FP/SD
– Rose Cottage, Datchworth Green. Adjust roof over side elevation to
create new
bedroom
3/05/0082/FP/SD
– Land Rear of Datchworth Green for Datchworth Sports Club
Change of use
of agricultural land to sports use and
construction of access and parking for 50 vehicles
985
Applications Granted
Permission (by EHDC)
3/05/2041/FP/JS –
3/05/2121/FP/LAH – Old
No external lighting to be
provided
without prior written permission of the local authority
Applications Refused
Permission (by EHDC)
3/05/2099/FP/JS – Cherry Tree
Hall,
Datchworth Green. Outbuilding enclosure of endless swimming pool,
gym/fitness
area, sauna/steam room, shower and WC. 23.12.2005
Size and siting would
significantly
increase development in the area.
Scale, mass and siting would
be detrimental
to the setting of the listed building
Appeal
3/05/1205/FP/LAH –
3/05/0929/FP/JS –
Shaded applications still in circulation
The Sports Club application
was shown to
the Councillors who had not seen it. There was a long discussion about
the way
forward. The Chairman expressed concern about a factual statement in
the
submission, concerning the ownership of the Access Road.
Councillor Austin made the
point that the
Parish Council represents the residents of the Village as a whole and
not just
the Sports Club, a significant number of whom do not live in the
Village.
Councillor Charles said he
felt that
conditions can be imposed on the Application that will make it
acceptable. Two Councillors felt very
strongly that the
Application should be opposed.
The Chairman summarised by
saying that
there were two options open to the Parish Council:
1.
Object
to the Proposal
2.
Suggest
Conditions to address the Parish Council’s concerns.
Councillor Charles will draft
a letter
and circulate it to all Councillors; they should then decide whether to
send
the letter to Planning Dept or the decision should be taken to oppose
the
Application. Action: Councillor Charles
to draft letter to EHC and circulate to all Councillors. (Post
meeting update - letter sent 25/1/06 - click here for a copy)
ITEM 6. 1 Unpaid Work
in the Community
The Clerk reported that she had been in contact
with
Probation. She outlined how the Unpaid work projects worked however the
main
problem was that there is a long waiting list for projects. It was
agreed to
circulate the information to other groups and organisations within the
Parish
who may be interested. Action: Clerk to
provide information to any interested Groups.
6.2 External
Auditor’s Report
The External Auditor had returned the Certificate which had been agreed; however there were three recommendations:
The Clerk said she would do both of these at the next renewal in April, together with reviewing the levels of cover as recommended by the Internal Auditor. She asked if a Councillor was willing to help with this, and Councillor Charles said he would.
Councillor Charles proposed a vote of thanks for the Clerk’s excellent work on the Audit: this was agreed unanimously.
ITEM 7 –
Three Valleys – Water Bill
LubbockFine – Audit Return
John M. Wallace – Car Park rent
986
Bramfield Parish Council – Interparish Conference – 14/2/06
Fran Attrill – Points re: DSC application
Glasdon – Order for Dog Bin
Councillors Mrs. Marshall, Pearman, Charles and The Chairman said they will attend the inter-Parish Conference.
The Clerk reported that the dog bin along the Church Path was damaged. A new one had been delivered today and she would make arrangements to have it installed
The Clerk also reported that she had been in
contact with
the previous owners of the Post Office concerning the missing copies of
‘
The Clerk said she had started a waiting list for copies.
ITEM 8. Councillors
Reports:
Councillor Mrs. Lines said there was often a lot of rubbish left on the Green after functions and events at the Sports Club
Councillor Charles said that he was becoming
increasingly
unhappy about the standard of drawings being sent with Planning
Applications.
District Councillor Jackson said that if Councillor Charles let him
have
examples, he will take it up with planning. Action:
Councillor Charles to give District Councillor Jackson examples
of inadequate drawings with plans.
Councillor Mrs Marshall reported that the CDA were looking for volunteers to go on the Health Forum.
The Chairman reported that he had been
unsuccessful in
attending the meeting in Kimpton concerning
ITEM 9. District
Councillor’s report
District Councillor Jackson started by apologising for not attending recent meetings.
He said the Budget for East Herts should be under 5% but not as far under as he had hoped; this was due to problems with the funding of the bus services for the over 60s
A new Chief Executive should be appointed in March.
Recycling will be increasing but he was not sure how much of it will be reaching Datchworth.
ITEM 10. Financial
Report
In accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations, the following transactions were approved:
Income: -
Outgoings:
Cheque Number: 130 – D.Overman - Expenses for ‘Drop-In’ session - £100.00
131 – CopyTECH – Expenses for ‘Drop in Session’ - £105.28
132 – John W.M.Wallace – Car park Rent - £63.37
133 – LubbockFine – External Audit Fees - £293.75
134 – Glasdon – New Dog Bin – £73.41
136 – Datchworth Sports Club - £104.37 (Grass cutting £167.79 – Car Pak rent and Annual Lease Payment £63.42)
137 – J.Adams – Litter - £101.00
138 – Mrs L. Chambers – Salary and Expenses - £417.86
Bank Balances – Cheque Account - £1971.60
Savings Account - £14615.68 - £2000 transferred to cheque account today
ITEM 11 Benefits and
Concerns
The Chairman said that the meeting had been dominated by the Sports Club Application
District Councillor Jackson said he felt it was a benefit when he could attend the meeting, which was agreed by all.
ITEM 12 Date of Next Meeting: 20th February 2006 @ 8.00pm
The meeting Closed at 9.50pm