987

 

 

DATCHWORTH PARISH COUNCIL

 

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

HELD ON 20th FEBRUARY 2006

AT 8.00pm IN DATCHWORTH VILLAGE HALL

 

PRESENT:

Chairman – Mr. C. Wilkins

Councillors – Mrs. V. Marshall

                        Mr. T. Charles                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                        Mr. F. Pearman

                        Mr. J. Austin

                        Mrs. G. Lines

                        Mrs F. Chambers

                        Mrs L. Carrington-Brown                      

                        Mrs. M. Marr

                        Mr J. Nash – arrived at 8.45pm

 

In Attendance – Mrs. L. Chambers – Clerk

 

Also present: Mrs M. Colman,

 

ITEM 1 Apologies for absence – Councillor Nash sent his apologies and said he would be attending later.

 

ITEM 2 Minutes of the last meeting on 16th January 2006. After long discussion it was agreed that the minutes should read:

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 a 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 Councillor.

 

With this amendment, the minutes were agreed and signed.

 

 

ITEM 3 Matters arising –

Councillor Charles reported that the damage to the Turkey Farm will be repaired and £100 will be retained until the work has been done.

The Tree work had been checked and some missed work identified.

Examples of inadequate Planning drawings had been passed to District Councillor Jackson.

ITEM 4 Ongoing items:

4.1 Playareas & Equipment – The Clerk has chased Bigfoot concerning the swings.

4.2 Highways – The Clerk has circulated a list of Highways work that is scheduled to be done between March and July this year.

4.3 Parish Design Statement – No progress to report.

4.4 Tree Survey – Councillor Charles reported that Stage two, phase 1 was ready to go out to tender.

 

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Councillor Austin reported that a tree had fallen from The Tilbury land. It was agreed that Councillor Austin should speak to the Landlord about this, informally.

 

ITEM 5. Planning

14th January to 18th February 2006

New Applications

3/06/0035/FP/JS – 65 Brookbridge Lane. Extension and conversion of loft into 1st floor and 5 dormers and porch canopy. Superseded

3/06/0047/GH - 42 Bury Lane. Single storey rear extension

3/06/0069.FP/Gh – opp 65-67 Burnham Green Road. New farm access. Objection on the grounds that no reasons given for an entrance in addition to those already in existence

3/06/0050/FP/SD – Two-storey rear extension (first floor rooms on roof)

3/06/0035/FP/JS – 65 Brookbridge Lane. Extension and conversion of loft into 1st floor and 5 dormers and porch canopy – amended roof design

 

Applications Refused Permission (by EHDC)

3/05/2405/FP/LAH – 7 Brookbridge Lane. Single storey rear and side extension. The pitched roof above the garage would be out of keeping and detrimental to the design and appearance of the existing dwelling and detrimental to the character and appearance of the street scene

 

Applications Granted Permission (by EHDC)

3/05/2337/FP/SD – Swan Hill Barn. R/O 75 Burnham Green Road. Conservatory

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)

3/05/2353/LB/SD – Moat Farmhouse, 81 – 83 Bramfield Road. Comprehensive structural repairs to a listed building

Shaded applications still in circulation

 

The Sports Club Application letter has been sent to EHC and there had been no response yet.

 

Two Councillors had been approached about the application for 65 Brookbridge Lane and advice had been given concerning writing to EHC.

 

ITEM 6

6.1 Sports club Forum – Will be taken later in a closed session.

6.2  Dates for Meetings

The Clerk circulated dates for meetings for the rest of the Year. There will be no meeting in July.

It was agreed that this year the Annual Parish Meeting should be a ‘business only’ meeting. The AGM will be at 7.00 and the Annual Parish Meeting should follow at 8.00pm in the Small Hall. Action: Clerk to book the Small Hall.

 

ITEM 7 –

Hertfordshire Highways – List of road closures for repairs

Allianz-Cornhill – Request for Progress report

EHC – Litter Picker Contract

Gristwood and Toms – Invoice for Tree work

Herts Police Authority – Launch of Policing Plan – 27/3/06 –

EHC – Trade Waste Disposal – Pass to DVHMC

EHC – Bulk Issue of Bus Passes

 

The Clerk reported that Councillor Austin had retracted his letter of resignation.

The New Dog Bin had now been installed along the Church Path.

 

ITEM 8. Councillors Reports:

Councillor Mrs. Lines reported that the fence behind the Village Hall was broken: Action: Clerk to write ton Ian Walker, DVHMC

Councillor Charles reported that several people had spoken to him about the mud on the lanes especially around Hollybush. Action: Clerk to write to Highways to request that the road sweeper goes around the Lanes occasionally.

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Councillor Austin reported that he had received a complaint about the litter along the Watton Road, which is on the Datchworth Parish Boundary. After discussion it was agreed that the Clerk should write to Highways. Action: Clerk to write to Highways.

Councillor Nash reported that he had been approached by the Cricket Club with two requests

1. They wanted permission to install a new Scoreboard, and he showed a photo of what was required.  Councillor Mrs Marshall said Planning would probably be needed so the DSC should look into this.

2. Can the Cricket Club install parking facilities at the top end of the Green? It was agreed that the Cricket Club will have to take Public reaction into account.

DSC will have to write to the Parish Council on both matters and it will then be discussed. Action: Clerk to write to DSC informing them of this and copy the Cricket Club.

Councillor Mrs Chambers reported that some Utilities work had been done on Painters Green, in the process of which the Cherry Tree may have been damaged. She said she will monitor the tree.

The Chairman gave a report on the Inter Parish Conference.

 

ITEM 9. District Councillor’s report

There was no report.

 

ITEM 10. Financial Report

In accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations, the following transactions were approved:

Income: £50.00 – Tewin Parish Council – Drop-in session

               £73.93 – Datchworth Bowls Club

              £19.00 – Sale 2 ‘Five Hide Village’ via Museum

              £36.99 – Interest on deposit account

              £3.11 – 2 1/2% Consol Dividend

Outgoings: Cheque Number: 139 – Gristwood & Toms - £5693.81

                                                 140 – D.Overman - £50 – Installation of new Dog Bin

                                                 141 – J.Austin - £18.30 – wine for last year’s APM – re-issue of cheque

                                                 142 – J.Adams - £101.00 - Litter

                                                 143 – Mrs.L.Chambers - £459.61 – Salary and Expenses

 

Bank Balances – Cheque Account - £9321.07

Savings Account - £ 6201.80                                                         

 

ITEM 11 Benefits and Concerns

The Chairman said that the Minutes needed to reflect decisions made at meetings and how these decisions were arrived at and exclude the other points from the discussion. This would not take away the right of individual Councillors to have their views minuted, if required. This was agreed unanimously

 

ITEM 12 Date of Next Meeting: 20th March 2006 @ 8.00pm

 

The meeting closed 8.50pm