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HELD
ON 19th
MARCH 2007
PRESENT:
Chairman – Mr. C.
Wilkins
Councillors – Mrs
V. Marshall
Mr. T. Charles
Mrs L. Carrington-Brown
Mrs
F. Chambers
Mr. J. Nash
Mrs G. Lines
District
Councillor T. Jackson
In Attendance –
Mrs. L. Chambers – Clerk
Also present: Mr
A. Brown - Parishioner
ITEM 1 Apologies
for absence – Councillors Mr
F. Pearman
and Mr J. Austin
ITEM 2 Minutes of
the last meeting on 19th February 2007 were agreed and signed as correct.
ITEM 3 Matters
arising –
The
Clerk had reviewed the Cupboard situation and felt that a lot of the
files and
documentation stored in the cupboard behind the bar was no longer
needed. This
would free up enough space for more storage and made the purchase of a
new
cupboard unnecessary
The
Burnham Green Play Area has now been repaired.
The
hedge along
The
Chairman reported a constructive discussion with the Chairman of the
Village
Hall Committee and the problems identified last month were now in hand.
Councillor Mrs Chambers reported the only outstanding issue was the
immersion
heater.
The
Chairman apologised for not circulating the details of a conversation
with
Claire Syme, the
ITEM 4.1 Ongoing
items:
4.1 Play areas and
equipment – District
Councillor Jackson suggested that the litter picker should leave the
bags of
rubbish collected inside the Turkey Farm entrance, as seeing rubbish on
the
verge encourages fly-tipping. This was agreed. Action:
The Clerk to contact the Litter Picker and Environmental
Services. Satisfaction
was expressed about the job the Litter Picker does.
4.2 Highways – The Clerk reported that
Councillor Nigel Poulton, from Watton-at-Stone had arranged a meeting
with
Highways about outstanding issues, which had been a major complaint at
the
recent Inter Parish Conference. The Clerk had sent a list of the
outstanding
issues for this PC. The meeting was arranged for April; District
Councillor
Jackson and County Councillor Hammond were attending.
4.3 Parish Design
Statement – District
Councillor Jackson believed a grant had
been made for Datchworth Parish Design Statement. Councillor Mrs
Carrington-Brown
said there was to be a meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) night and an update
would be
given at next month’s meeting. Action:
PD Statement update to be available for the April meeting.
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4.4 Tree Survey – The Work was progressing.
The Clerk reported that Kirkhams had completed the work identified in
their
risk assessment.
4.5 Sports Club – The letter concerning the
lease negotiations had been sent to the Sports Club, but as yet there
had been
no response.
The
Clerk reported that she had sent the letter to the Sports Club
concerning the
‘Jazz on The Green’ request but understood it had not reached Derek
Scott. A
duplicate had been sent with a request that the answer to the car
parking
questions be returned before the next PC meeting.
Councillor
Mrs Lines reported that the bollards did not appear to be used on
Saturdays and
they were lying in the road at the moment. She also said the noise
level and
offensive language on training nights was increasing again. The
Chairman said
he would go down to the training ground on the next training night. Action: The Chairman to visit the training
ground to monitor the situation.
4.6 Parish Paths
Partnership – A
copy of the footpaths map was passed to Councillor Mrs Marr for Andrew
Marr to
‘walk’ the paths to monitor the condition of the paths. Councillor Mrs
Marshall
reported that the map designs were going out to tender, probably by the
end of
April. One possibility being considered was providing a copy of the map
to all
households in the two parishes free of charge. The remaining copies
would be
available for sale at various outlets; this plan depended on the
funding being
available.
ITEM
5. Planning
New Applications
3/07/0165/FP/GH
-
3/07/0363/FP/GH –
3/07/0380/FP/HS
– Hawkins Hall,
3/07/0498/FP/JS
– 6 Raffin Close. Rear Conservatory to replace existing.
Appeals
3/06/1925/FP/JS, 3/06/1924
LB/JS – Bulls
Green Farm, 84,
3/06/0607/FP/JS –
.
ITEM 6. Highways
Meeting – 19th March 2007 (Click here for notes of
meeting)
Councillor Charles gave an
outline of the
meeting concerning the Traffic survey and results. The six areas that
DPC also
recommended were agreed but there were still a number of issues to be
looked
at. It had been agreed that there will not be any yellow lines. Both
questionnaires had highlighted that the crossroads was a critical area
that had
not been included. Many felt that money was being spent on the less
serious
issues. Highways will investigate the possibilities for improving the
crossroads area.
ITEM
7 Main Items of Correspondence
HCC – Hertford & Ware Secondary review
Councillor Mrs Marshall reported that as good progress had been made by the under performing schools, with the support of other schools in the area, this had now been abandoned.
NALC (email) – 2006 Commons act consultation
Passed to Councillor Charles for consideration
Nockolds – Response re: Sports Club Lease
Letter sent to Sports Club
EHC – Election information and Nomination forms
Forms handed to Councillors standing for election. Remaining forms will be held by the Clerk for distribution upon request.
SLCC – Pay negotiations
The Chairman reported that the SLCC/NALC had put in for a 5% increase but negotiations had not been finalised yet.
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Fete Committee – request for permission for the fete
The Clerk to write confirming permission
The Clerk had already telephoned giving permission
NALC – Model
Contract of Employment
The Chairman had reviewed this in relation to the existing Contract of Employment agreed in 2005. He suggested the revised Contract should be accepted with the exception of clause 10, concerning the Clerk working from home, as before. This was agreed unanimously. The supplemental agreement was signed by the Chairman and the Clerk.
Sports Club – Chaser re: Jazz on the Green
Duplicate letter has been sent
Clerk’s Report
The Clerk reported that some hedging had been
planted on
land beside the footpath side of a house in
Bean Valley Children’s Society had asked if they
could place
advertising information on the Parish Notice Board or alternatively
provide a
new one. The Clerk said there was no room on the Parish Board, and it
was
agreed after discussion that a new board was not required. Advertising
can
always be submitted to the Parish Magazine and web site. Action:
the Clerk to inform Bean Valley Children’s Society
The Clerk reported a problem with the Refuse and
Recycling
collection Lorries using the ‘cut-through’ road outside
Most of the shrubbery in
The Clerk informed the meeting that the May
meeting will be
the AGM on 14th May, which will be for the newly elected
Council;
she suggested the Annual Parish Meeting should be on 25th
June 2007,
in the Small Hall, after Brownies, at 8.15pm. This was agreed. Action: the Clerk to book the Village Hall
ITEM 8 Councillor’s
Reports
Councillor Mrs Marshall
reported that she
had attended the Inter-Parish Conference on 28th February.
Councillor Mrs
Carrington-Brown reported
that there was going to be a working party to clear up litter from
footpaths
and verges, on 11th April 2007. This was being organised by Lydia
Somerville.
She was also organising a
showing of the
film ‘An inconvenient truth’ on 16th April 2007, which was a
PC
night.
Councillor Mrs Lines reported
that a
delivery lorry to the Bowls Club had got stuck on the Turkey Farm.
Damage had
been caused as the ground was very wet. It was agreed that the Clerk
should
write to the Bowls Club to request that they repair the damage. Action: The Clerk to write to the Bowls
Club.
There used to be a barrier
crossing the
entrance to the Turkey Farm to prevent entry during the winter months.
It was
agreed that this should be re-instated. Councillor Nash said he would
investigate. Action: Councillor Nash to
arrange for the barrier to be re-instated.
ITEM 9– District
Councillor’s Reports
District Councillor Jackson gave an update on the staffing situation and a recent MORI Poll on staff satisfaction.
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He had been in discussion with NALC about developing a strategy for cooperation between Parish and District Councils including consideration of Quality Status.
ITEM 10. Financial
Report
In accordance with the Council’s financial regulations, the following transactions were approved
Income:
Interest - £38.54
Outgoings:
Cheque Number: 203 - £80.00 – D.J.Overman – maintenance
204 - £422.01 – EHC for emptying Dog Bins
205 - £107.00 – J.Adams, Litter
206 - £435.79 – Mrs L. Chambers, salary and expenses
Bank Balances – Cheque Account - £3542.64
Savings Account - £ 13699.60
ITEM 11 Benefits and
Concerns
District Councillor Jackson’s presence had been a great help, as usual.
ITEM 12 Date of Next Meetings: 16th April 2007 @ 8.00pm
The meeting closed 9.20 pm