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HELD ON
PRESENT:
Chairman
– Mr C Wilkins
Councillors
– Mrs V Marshall Mr T Charles
Mrs G Lines Mr
T Stowe
Mr F Pearman Mr
A Brown
Dist.
Councillor Mr T Jackson
In
Attendance – Mrs W Prowle –
Clerk
ITEM 1 Apologies for absence – Cllrs. J Austin and F Chambers
ITEM
2 Minutes of the last meeting on
Item 9 – The date of the next
meeting was entered as
ITEM 3 Matters arising –
Nothing to discuss
ITEM 4 Ongoing Matters
4.1 Play Areas & Equipment
The driveway through the Turkey
Farm was discussed. The path that vehicles are taking at the moment is too
close to the play area, and unguarded. The work required to be carried out for
a safer driveway adds further to the cost. It was suggested that the allotment
holders and Bowls Club are more involved in this part of
the project and that they be approached to help with the financial cost of the
driveway, perhaps by means of fundraising.
Orchard – The grant application
for the total cost of the orchard has been sent off, we will find out if we’ve
been successful in May 2008. The orchard will be discussed at the APM in May
2008, so that members of the public can give their views.
Burnham Green – Cllr A Brown is still chasing a company to get the play equipment
fixed.
4.2 Highway Matters – Cllr T Charles went over the discussion of the new
signage at last month’s meeting. He has succeeded in having the
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Cllr T Charles raised concerns about the diagrams that
were sent to members of the public from HCC as not correct. HCC were contacted
and have agreed to their error. Cllr T Charles received a few letters from
members of the public regarding signage. Parishioners
to be made aware that a level of signage is a National/County obligation and
that the Parish Council can only mitigate as much as possible within those
limitations. Action – Clerk
Cllr T Charles discussed a letter
from a member of the public requesting ‘unsuitable for heavy vehicles’ signs to
be erected at points throughout the village. The Parish Council felt that no
further signage was necessary.
Action – Cllr T Charles to respond to letter
The completion of painting of the
white lines is still being chased. A member of the public suggested moving the
white lines from
Mr R White’s pond has been
dredged and seems to have held up well throughout the heavy rainfall we’ve had
of late. Therefore, it was felt that obtaining quotes for further drainage work
could be held off for now.
Cllr J Austin asked (via the
Clerk) if the possibility of a pedestrian crossing near the Datchworth Green crossroads
could be discussed, to help people cross the road, and to aid in traffic
calming. Chairman C Wilkins felt that he still favoured a mini roundabout at
the crossroads as a solution.
4.3 Parish Design Statement – Cllr T
Stowe stated that he had received 500 replies to the Parish Design Statement so
far, and that since Christmas replies are trickling in slowly. He will be
contacting people who haven’t completed their forms to do so.
The questionnaire is available on
the web www.datchworthparishplan.co.uk
4.4 Sports Club – DSC still haven’t resolved the problem of a more permanent
parking solution, although it has been noted that DSC are taking the problem
seriously. Cllr F Pearman will be putting forward a deadline date for the
provision of his field. The differences in legal views on both view points
remain to be rectified. Action
– Chairman C Wilkins to email DSC to agree a date for the next meeting.
4.5 Parish Paths Partnership – Cllr
V Marshall has applied for a grant towards the cost of the kissing gates. Work is
hoping to be done in the spring 2008.
4.6 Inter-Village Liaison – Nothing
to discuss Action
- Clerk
ITEM 5. Planning
New Applications
3/07/2466/FP/JS –
Hawkins Grange,
3/07/2595/FP/HS –
Thrift Cottage. 52A
3/08/0004/FP/SD –
3/08/0062/FP/HS –
Keepers Cottage,
Applications Granted Permission (by EHDC)
3/07/2233/FP/AK –
10 Datchworth Green. Two storey rear extension
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Application Withdrawn
3/07/2394/FP/NB –
Application Not Requiring Planning
Permission
11
Abbots Close. Single storey rear extension
* In circulation
** To be reviewed at Parish Council Meeting
ITEM 6. Clerk - Main
Correspondence & Reports
EHDC – Street numbering & Naming notification, 11 Raffin Park to be
named ‘Moles Corner’
Information Commissioner – Application for notification under Data Protection
& Freedom of Information Acts.
Three Valleys Water – Water Rates bill £77.15 (£63.05 to be claimed from
Bowls Club)
NALC – ‘LTN’ Easement over Common Land & Village Green
John O’Connor Ground Maintenance – New grass cutting contractor for EHDC
EHDC – Planning obligations
Communities & Local Government – Conduct of Local Authority Members. Action
– Chairman C Wilkins to email the website address(s) to the other councillors.
·
The yellow salt box in
·
Severely overgrown bushes at the memorial garden
seating area at the Turkey Farm. Action – Clerk
·
The new Local Government Act will be coming into
force this year. A few of the amendments were relayed to the Council. Action – Clerk
·
The approval of the accounts date will be changing
this year from 31st August to 31st July, then 30th
June from 2009 onwards. The clerk also recommended an internal auditor for this
year’s accounts, which was agreed by the Parish Council. Action – Clerk
·
The Parish Council’s old filing cabinet is up for
grabs. If anyone is interested in it please contact the Clerk.
ITEM 7. Councillors Reports
Cllr G Lines – The resident of 97
Datchworth Green has commented that the tree outside their house still hasn’t
been taken down. The Parish Council commented that it is in hand and will be
done.
Cllr F Pearman – It has been
suggested that one of the concrete litter bins that he is holding at his farm
be placed outside
Chairman C Wilkins – Attended
Burnham Green Village Hall committee meeting where an event was discussed for a ‘Music on the Green’ in May 2008. Action – Dist Cllr T
Jackson to inform Chairman C Wilkins of the contact at EHDC for public events,
licences etc.
Chairman C Wilkins – Will be
arranging to meet with Dougie Overman this weekend to arrange installation of
the new dog waste bin at Burnham Green. Action – Chairman C Wilkins to oversee installation
and hand keys to clerk. Clerk
ITEM 8. District Councillors
Report
Recycling – It has been proposed
at EHDC that from April 2008 all residents will be receiving a brown garden
waste recycling box for doorstep collection. From January 2009 it has been
proposed that the
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doorstep service
will be expanding to include plastics, cardboard and rotting waste. However,
EHDC are awaiting a processing site for garden/rotting waste which could
possibly hold up the process.
EHDC are having budget meetings
at the moment. The budget is set to be funded in a more sustainable way,
without the need to withdrawer on reserves (as many other council’s are finding
the need to do). EHDC are also looking in to contracting more of their services
out, although it was made clear that they will still be there to protect the
vulnerable.
ITEM 9. Financial Reports
Bank
Balance @
3037.85 - Current A/c
21065.89 - Deposit A/c
24103.74 - TOTAL
Income:
65.71 - Bank
interest on deposit A/c
444.00 - DVHMC
(for Jemat Heating)
509.71 - TOTAL
Expenditure:
35.00 - Information Commissioner – Data
Prot/Freedom of Information Acts (246)
521 70 - Jamat Heating for DVHMC (247)
77.15 -
68.57 - John Wallace – DSC car park land rent
(249)
136.28 - Glasdon Limited – Dog waste bin (250)
110.40 - J Adams – litter
(251)
475.69 -
1424.79 - TOTAL
Bank
Balance @
2057.06 - Current A/c
21131.60 - Deposit A/c
23188.66 - TOTAL
ITEM 10. Benefits & Concerns
Benefits – A positive and
constructive meeting which finished at a reasonable time.
Concerns - none
ITEM 11. Date of Next Meeting:
The meeting closed at