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DATCHWORTH PARISH COUNCIL

 

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

HELD ON 19th JUNE 2006

AT 8.00pm IN DATCHWORTH VILLAGE HALL

 

PRESENT:

Chairman – Mr. C. Wilkins

Councillors – Mr. T. Charles                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                        Mr. F. Pearman

                        Mrs. G. Lines

                        Mrs F. Chambers

                        Mr J. Nash

                        District Councillor Mr. T Jackson

 

In Attendance – Mrs. L. Chambers – Clerk

 

ITEM 1 Apologies for absence – Councillors Mrs Marshall Mrs Marr, Austin and Mrs Carrington-Brown

 

ITEM 2 Minutes of the last meeting on 15th May 2006 were agreed and signed as correct

 

ITEM 3 Matters arising –

The Clerk reported that the NALC had requested a copy of the lease in relation to Burnham Green, but there had been no response as yet. She had also been in touch with Welwyn PC but again there had been no response. Action: Await the NALC response to the questions concerning Burnham Green and the lease.

ITEM 4 Ongoing items:

4.1 Playareas & Equipment – In response to the request for Goal posts raised at the Annual Parish meeting last month, the Clerk had made enquiries. She outlined the information, and after discussion, it was agreed to order the Goal Posts, which will cost £579. Hopefully they will be installed in time for the Summer Holidays. After discussion it was agreed to put them in the same place as the old ones stood. Action: The Clerk to order equipment and liaise with volunteers to install them.

The Clerk reported that she had been approached by Tiddlywinks about installing new equipment on the Turkey Farm, after they have done some fund raising.

4.2 Highways – Councillor Nash reported on the meeting he and the Clerk had with Raj Goutam from Highways. As a result the flooding Gully at Paynters Green had now been cleared and repair work to the broken drain was scheduled to be done. Action: Monitor to see if Flooding occurs again.

District Councillor Jackson reported that he had walked the area with Raj Goutam to highlight the serious condition of the roads. He was disappointed that nothing had seemed to be done in Brookbridge Lane, as of yet. There was a lot of drainage work scheduled to be done at the Crossroads, and re-surfacing in that area would be done when that was completed.

Councillor Nash asked if there had been any response following the letter about the Speed Limit coming into the Village. Councillor Charles said he believed there had been an acknowledgement. Councillor Nash said that there had been another accident, and he felt the Police should be encouraged to do speed checks along the Green and Brookbridge Lane. District Councillor Jackson said he would speak to the rural Constable responsible for the area to see if it could be arranged. Action: District Councillor Jackson to speak to contacts to try to arrange speed camera checks in the area.

4.3 Parish Design Statement – The Chairman had met with Mr Tony Stowe, who had agreed to take over responsibility for ‘driving’ the Parish Plan forward.

4.4 Tree Survey – This was ongoing

5.5 Sports Club – The Chairman reported that there will be a meeting with the Sports Club representatives on 10/7/06 to discuss progress. Councillor Charles went through the Planning Conditions that had been imposed on the approved Plans

 

ITEM 5. Planning

New Applications

 

 

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3/06/0795/FP/JS – 94 Burnham Green Road. Extension to existing has and construction of a new garage.

3/06/0807/FP/SD – 14 Orchard Road (Village Hall). Change of use of upstairs accommodation for business use and addition of new front door

3/06/0805/FP/JS – 76 Hollybush Lane. New front dormer window, rear two storey extension, alterations to rear elevation.

3/06/0847/FP/CP – Adjacent 56 Datchworth Green. New house

3/06/0938/FP/SD – Rose cottage Datchworth Green. First floor side extension

Shaded applications still in circulation

 

Applications Granted Permission (by EHDC)

 

3/06/0432/FP/JS – 7 Brookbridge Lane. Single storey rear and side extension

3/06/0612/FP/JS – 76 Bramfield Road. Dormer and replacement of existing flat roof to playroom with a pitched roof.

 

Applications Refused Permission (by EHDC)

 

3/06/0607/FP/JS – I Hawkins Hall Lane. Replacement dwelling. Objections on grounds of excessive size in relation to the surrounding area and properties and the size of the plot.

Insufficient justification for a replacement dwelling within the Green Belt and the new property would be of excessive size in comparison with existing properties and would be detrimental to the visual amenity of the area

3/06/0805/FP – 76 Hollybush Lane. The proposed extension, by reason of its scale, siting and design, would be of excessive size in relation to the existing dwelling and out of keeping with its character and that of the area as a whole. The proposal would be likely to result in an unacceptable degree of overlooking and loss of privacy to no. 78 Hollybush Lane

 

Appeal Dismissed

 

3/05/1205/FP/LAH – 53 Brookbridge Lane. Two storey rear and first floor/side extension

 

ITEM 6.1 Audit and Risk Assessment – The Clerk reported that she had requested a change of audit date as the internal auditor could not make the deadline for tonight’s meeting. The new date was the end of August and the internal report should be presented at the August meeting.

The Clerk asked for any outstanding risk assessment information to be passed to her. Action; Councillors Mrs Marshall and Pearman to obtain outstanding information.

Item 6.2 Aston Parish Council – The request from Aston PC had been circulated. It was agreed that the clerk should arrange a meeting with them for exploratory talks. Action: Clerk to arrange a meeting

ITEM 7 – Main Items of correspondence

Hertfordshire Highways – Road Conditions

Hertfordshire Highways – Flooding at Paynters Green

Hertfordshire Highways (email) – Flooding at Paynters Green

HAPTC (email) – Request for copy of lease

Allianz-Cornhill – Quote for increased Fidelity Guarantee

Aston Parish Council – Parish Plan re: Hooks Cross – Circulate

 

ITEM 8 – Councillor’s Reports

Councillor Mrs Lines reported that the grass near the recycling bins needed cutting. Action: Councillor Pearman to ask the grass contractors to strim area.

Councillor Nash reported that he had received several comments that the children’s play area on the green had been fenced off on the day of the fete. This was due to the positioning of the pony rides. Action: Clerk to write to the fete committee.

Councillor Nash said the garden refuse had still not been cleared up behind the children’s play area. The Clerk said she had been in contact with the resident next to the area and it was not her who had

 

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dumped the rubbish. There followed a long discussion about whether it should be left as it was garden refuse and not litter, to create a habitat for wild life.

Councillor Nash said the tree stumps still needed grinding out. Action: Councillor Charles to contact the Tree Contractors.

Councillor Charles suggested that bike hoops should be installed at the shops. It was agreed when the new owner takes over, he should be approached about this.

Councillor Pearman asked District Councillor Jackson when garden refuse recycling will be rolled out to this area. District Councillor Jackson said he hoped all recycling would be available in next year’s budget.

ITEM 9. District Councillor’s Report – District Councillor Jackson gave an update. He strongly urged the Parish Council to consider creating an Emergency Plan.

He will be setting up his own website in the near future.

 

ITEM 10. Financial Report

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

Income: -

Outgoings:

Cheque Number – 161 – Mr J.Adams - £101.00 – Litter

                               162 – Mrs L. Chamber - £426.65 – Salary and expenses

                               163 – Mr J. Adams - £101.00 – Litter (July)

                               164 – Mrs L. Chambers - £374.00 – Salary (July)

 

Bank Balances – Cheque Account - £2235.63

Savings Account - £16303.24                                                           

                      

The Clerk explained that as there was no meeting next month she had written two post dated cheques for next month’s salaries.

ITEM 11 Benefits and Concerns

The main benefit was finishing before 9.30 pm and no concerns were expressed.

 

The Chairman presented the Clerk with a gift and thanked her for all her work during the year.

 

ITEM 12 Date of Next Meeting: 21st August 2006  District Councillor Jackson gave his apologies for the next meeting

                                                                                  

 

The meeting closed 9.25pm