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DATCHWORTH PARISH COUNCIL

 

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

HELD ON 18TH FEBRUARY 2008

AT 8.00pm IN DATCHWORTH VILLAGE HALL

 

PRESENT:

 

Chairman –      Mr C Wilkins

Councillors –   Mrs V Marshall             Mr T Charles

                                    Mrs G Lines                 Mr T Stowe                                          

                                    Mr F Pearman              Mr A Brown

 

 

In Attendance –            Mrs W Prowle – Clerk

                                    Mr Andrew Marr

           

 

ITEM 1 Apologies for absence – Cllrs. J Austin, F Chambers and Dist. Cllr T Jackson

 

ITEM 2 Minutes of the last meeting on 21st January 2008 – were agreed and signed as correct

 

ITEM 3 Matters arising – Nothing to discuss

 

ITEM 4 Ongoing Items

 

4.1 Play Areas/Equipment & Orchard

Turkey Farm – Cllr A Brown had a meeting with EHDC Environmental Officers, who asked him to provide a brief of the play equipment required and costings. This has been done and a copy circulated to the Parish Council. Dist Cllr T Jackson has looked in to the possibility of an EHDC grant towards the cost and has acquired an application form for this. The Brownies have been approached with regards doing a fundraising event to help towards the cost, and Cllr A Brown will approach the other scout/guide groups for their help.

 

The tarmac area and the vehicular access were discussed in great length. It was suggested that an alternative vehicular route, from Meadow Close end of the Turkey Farm to the Bowls Club and allotments, was a preferable possibility as it would be much further away from the play area. Although planning permission will need to be sought and Highways notified. Funding would also be an issue, grants and fundraising could be sought, however if money were to be borrowed the cost would need to be recovered over a period of time from the bowls club and allotment holders. Action – Cllr A Brown get feedback from play equipment providers and to look into the feasibility of the vehicular access/parking facility.

 

 

4.2 Highway Matters – The HCC consultation period has expired and they are collating responses on the signage matters. Cllr T Charles is waiting to have a meeting with Highways to resolve a few outstanding Parish Council issues.

 

Cllr A brown is still chasing Raj to get the white lines painted that are still outstanding from the Bury Lane report.

 

Cllr A Brown has received correspondence form Tracy Chapman who is pushing for a traffic review at Burnham Green Road and is keen to have a traffic plan in place, she has concerns with reference to the ‘rat run’ passing through the area. After discussion, it was decided that the Parish Council are not in favour of the traffic study, but should concentrate on slowing the traffic and are happy for speed traps to be put in place. 

 

Comments were made about the overall lack of response from Raj and Costas at Highways on the Bury Lane report and the extension of speed limits. Action – Cllr A Brown to contact Tracy Chapman to explain the Parish Council’s view on her issues and to update Cllr. T Charles on Bury Lane works. Cllr T Charles to arrange a meeting with Raj, Costas and Bryan Hammond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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4.3 Parish Design Statement – The Parish Plan is still ongoing at present. However, an update of results so far are now available. They can be viewed online:

www.datchworthparishplan.co.uk/results

The results will also be published in April’s edition of the Parish Magazine.

Cllr T Stowe asked if Chairman C Wilkins could put together a brief job description of the Parish Council and what aspects of the village the Parish Council are responsible for. Action – Chairman C Wilkins to put together a report to go with the Parish Plan final summary.

 

4.4 Sports Club – A letter received from DSC with reference to the access/parking issues was read out to the councillors. Chairman C Wilkins has replied to the letter asking for a meeting to resolve the issues, and is awaiting response. If we do not receive a satisfactory response or fail to resolve the matter, the next step would be to contact our solicitors. Action – Chairman C Wilkins to await/deal with response or contact solicitor.

 

4.5 Parish Paths Partnership – Andrew Marr attended the meeting to discuss the footpaths in Mrs Adorian’s field (Hawkins Hall Lane). After a lengthy discussion, it was agreed to contact Mrs Adorian to discuss an ‘unofficial permissive right of way’ through her field and to ask for her preference to a footpath that she chooses as acceptable to be used by local walkers, ideally well away from the dangers of  Watton Road. Mrs Adorian is to be made aware the Parish Council has no intention making the footpaths in her field established ‘official footpaths.’ A few complaints were received from local residents due to the closure of the footpaths through this field. The Parish Council will be writing to those who have contacted them to clarify the legal position in this matter. Action – Chairman C Wilkins to write to Mrs Adorian. Cllr. T Charles to draft letter to Datchworth complainants.

 

4.6 Inter-Village Liaison – Clerk W Prowle will be meeting up with other local clerks on 29th February for general liaison and to experience a new Council Clerk’s software package.

 

 

ITEM 5. Planning

 

21st Jan to 17th Feb 2008

 

New Applications

 

3/08/0182/FP/LH – Lisemore, 1B Bramfield Road. Two chalet bungalows with integral garages *

 

 

Applications Refused Permission (by EHDC)

 

3/07/2433/FP/CD – Woodcote, 37 Burnham Green Road. Two storey and single storey rear extensions. Building habitable rooms in existing roof with French doors and dormers to the rear of the property, on the grounds of not qualifying as special circumstances under Green Belt policy, being of  excessive size and out of keeping with character and appearance of the original dwelling and being to the detriment of the rural character and openness of the area,

3/07/2305/FP/HS - 59 Burnham Green Road. Ground and first floor extensions, raising of roof ridge and the incorporation of the garage as part of the dwelling. On the grounds of not qualifying as special circumstances under Green Belt policy, being of  excessive size and out of keeping with character and appearance of the original dwelling and being  of poor design to the detriment of the semi-rural character and openness of the area,

3/07/2395/FP/JS – 43a Burnham Green Road. Conversion of existing internal double garage into a gymnasium and the erection of a new free standing garage. Size, siting and design would be unduly prominent and detrimental to the rural character and appearance of the locality

 

 

Applications Granted Permission (by EHDC)

 

3/07/2438/FP/SD – 86 Bramfield Road. 2 x two storey side and rear extensions

3/07/2466/FP/JS – Hawkins Grange, Hawkins Hall Lane. Agricultural building for storage

3/07/2511/FP/CT – 11 Raffin Park. Conservatory*

3/07/2595/FP/HS – Thrift Cottage. 52A Burnham Green Road. Single storey extension to provide second bedroom. There are directives relating to the Great Crested Newts on the site and to the materials to be used

 

 

 

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·         The new application for 1b Bramfield Road was discussed at the meeting. There were concerns that the planning permission being sought was ‘back-land development’ and not within the built-up development of the village, and that it could encourage further building on the same plot. Cllr. V Marshall declared an interest on this application and therefore correspondence would be dealt with by Chairman C Wilkins. Action – Chairman C Wilkins to deal with Parish Council’s response to 1b Bramfield Road application.

 

 

ITEM 6. Clerks – Main Correspondence & Reports

 

Walkern Parish Council – Inter Parish Conference 19/02/08

Mrs Adorian – Her concerns re: footpath across her land 

Audit Commission – New external auditor for next 5 years – BDO Stoy Hayward LLP

Glen Day – Letter of complaint re: state of DVH

NALC – Community Contracts & Charters, a few publications ordered, can be downloaded from:

www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/localcharters

 

EHDC – Polling District & Place review, comment by 22/02/08

NHC – Land Allocations Development Plan

Campaign to Protect Rural England – Entry form for ‘Village of the Year’ competition

HCC – Waste Development Plan

DSC – Letter re: parking issues

EHDC – Grass cutting payment offer for 2008/09

EHDC – EHC Local Plan proposal maps

Information Commissioner – Confirmation of entry in Data Protection/Freedom of Information register

SBC – Local Development Framework – Gunnels Wood Road & Stev.Old Town (comments by 20/03/08)

EHDC – Housing Capacity Assessment, comments by 27/03/08, can be viewed on the following website:

www.eastherts.gov.uk/hca

Miss D Hoyland & Mr B Downes – Complaints re: closure of Mrs Adorians field

 

·         An advert has been put in March’s Parish Magazine for a working party to be put together to tidy the memorial seating area in the Turkey Farm on the weekend of 29th March.

·         The ‘can’ recycle bin was pulled over in the Turkey Farm and cans were spilled over the car park. The clerk contacted EHDC to have the mess cleared up and bin put right.

·         A Burnham Green resident complained about the positioning of the new dog bin, stating that it was placed where children wait for the school bus. Chairman C Wilkins explained the reasons behind the choice of location and it was subsequently decided to leave the bin as is. Action – Chairman C Wilkins to contact Mrs Hayes to explain our reasoning behind the location of the dog bin.

·         A complaint was received about people putting dog mess in the new waste bin that has been placed outside the school gate. However, EHDC’s view is that it is preferable to use a waste bin than not to clear up the dog mess at all. It was decided to leave as is at the moment, but if any smell is complained about by the school or parents, a sign would be erected to dissuade dog owners from using this bin. Action – Clerk W Prowle to contact school to explain the situation.

·         EHDC have been charging DPC for the emptying of a second dog bin in the Turkey Farm. After enquiring, it would appear that there was one attached to the railings of the pedestrian entrance that was set fire to a few years ago. The Parish Council decided not to replace it for now, and to claim a refund from EHDC for the collection charges. Action – Clerk W Prowle to have this dog bin taken off of collection rota and to claim refund.

·         There have been several complaints again about dog owners not clearing up their dogs mess. An article is to go in the Parish Magazine. Action – Clerk W Prowle to arrange for article to be put in the Parish Magazine.

·          EHDC grass cutting offer of £869.88 (as opposed to around £2,600 per year). After further analysis, it would appear that EHDC were not given the total grass areas that the Parish Council cuts. Cllr. F Pearman has rechecked EHDC maps and has added more areas that should have been included in the calculation. Therefore EHDC’s offer should be higher once the maps have been re-evaluated. Action – Clerk W Prowle to send revised maps to EHDC for re-evaluation.

 

 

ITEM 7. Councillor’s Reports – Nothing to report

 

7.1               Village Hall – Correspondence has been received from Ian Walker with reference to the village hall maintenance and cost issues, along side a letter of complaint from a member of public stating his concern over the desperate state and safety of the village hall. Chairman C Wilkins mentioned that, at a meeting before Christmas, a couple of members of the DVHMC seemed quite eager to put a case together to help solve the financial problem. However, no ‘solutions’ have been referred to in

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this correspondence. It was decided to arrange for Ian Walker and a couple of other members of DVHMC to attend the next Parish Council meeting to present their case. It would also be useful to know how other villages of similar size to ours cope with their village hall cost issues. Action – Chairman C Wilkins to contact Ian Walker to request their presence at the next Parish Council meeting.

 

 

ITEM 8.            District Councillor’s Report – Nothing to report

 

 

ITEM 9. Financial Reports

 

Bank Balance @ 21/01/08:

 

  2057.06           -           Current A/c   

21131.60           -           Deposit A/c

23188.66           -           TOTAL

 

Income:

 

  65.09              -           Bank interest on deposit A/c

    3.11              -           3 ½ % consol

  68.62              -           DSC – car park rent lease

  63.05              -           Bowls Club – water rates

199.87              -           TOTAL

 

Expenditure:

 

  177.66            -           DSC – Grass cutting (253)

  211.50            -           EHDC – Playground Inspection (254)

    50.00            -           DJ Gardening – installation of dog bin (Burnham Green) (255)

  110.40            -           J Adams – litter (256)

  384.03            -           W Prowle – salary & expenses (257)

  933.59            -           TOTAL

 

Bank Balance @ 18/02/08:

 

  1258.25           -           Current A/c 

21196.69           -           Deposit A/c

22454.94           -           TOTAL

 

N.B.      We await £2602 from EHDC for grass cutting 2007/08

            Await invoice from Kirkhams for 2007/08, approx £8000 incl. VAT

            I will need to transfer £8000 from deposit to current A/c

 

 

 

ITEM 10. Benefits & Concerns

Chairman C Wilkins commented that it was nice to have Andrew Marr present for some of the meeting. It was also felt that a few challenging issues were covered.

 

 

ITEM 11. Date of Next Meeting: 17th March 2008 @ 8.00pm.

 

           

The meeting closed at 10.10 pm