Minutes of the Annual
Public Meeting held on Thursday 26 March 2009 in the North Mymms Memorial Hall,
___________________________________________________________________
PRESENT: Councillors Mrs J Boulton Chairman
Mrs M
Race
Mrs T
Travell
S J
Boulton
C Everard
P
R
Horrocks
W A
Storey
V W Weeks
__________________________________________________________________
1. CHAIRMAN
The Chairman of the Meeting was Councillor Mrs J Boulton, Chairman of
the Parish Council.
2. ATTENDANCE
There were four members of the public present, plus nine members of the Parish
Council.
3. APOLOGIES
FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Keith Pieri
4. I
N T R O D U C T I O N A N D W E L C O M E
Councillor Mrs Boulton, on behalf of North Mymms Parish Council, welcomed all to
the meeting.
She said that it was again proposed that the minutes of the last meeting – that
of the meeting dated 27 March 2008 - should not be read in total by the Clerk,
but in a ‘heading’ form only. Complete
copies of the minutes had been placed onto the chairs and any item could be
read in full should any person present so wish.
5. MINUTES
OF THE LAST MEETING
The minutes of the Annual Public Meeting held on 27 March 2008 were
agreed as being a true record of the proceedings and signed by the Chairman.
6. MATTERS
ARISING
There were no matters arising.
7. PARISH
CHARITIES
a)
Councillor
Everard said that a meeting of the Parish Charities was held on Tuesday 10th
February 2009 at the Vicarage of St. Mary's Church,
Present
were the Reverend Sally Davenport, S J Boulton, Cyril Everard, David Holford
and Keith Pieri; the Chair was taken by the Reverend Sally Davenport.
Following
the death of two Trustees during the year (Messrs Bill Rogers and Hugo Trim)
representatives of the North Mymms Parish Council, two replacement trustees,
Messrs Steve Boulton and Keith Pieri, were duly elected. It was also reported that Harry Fordham, a
long standing member of the committee, had died during the year after a long
illness. He said that the departed
members will be sorely missed.
The
audited accounts for the year were presented, formally approved and adopted.
The
year commenced with a balance of £3676.82
Cash
received from dividends, rents,
and
interest .
£4764.82
£8441.64
Disbursements
Widows
Allow:
Little Heath £2,093
Easter
Gifts
1932
Sect IV application of income:
Little Heath £ 30
Fees
Rumbal Sedgewick £ 12.56
Clerks
fee £ 150
Clerk
expenses. £ 10.80
£3872.36
Balance
C/Fwd £4569.28
Councillor
Everard said that it was proposed and agreed that the Easter Gift allowance be
increased to £30, together with an increase to £8 in the weekly grants to
widows.
Q. A member of the public asked if it was likely that
the present recession would affect the income.
A. Councillor Everard replied that it would but they
would try and maintain the overall return.
b) NORTH MYMMS RECREATION & CHARITABLE TRUST
Mr Jeremy Taylor said that at a
meeting in June last year the Trust was able to agree to distribute funds
toward the various beneficiaries as in the past, the investments of the Charity fund having
held up fairly well despite the apparent turbulence in the financial markets.
St. Mary's C of E School, Welham Green
remained the main beneficiary although it was evident under the Headmistress,
Jane Guy, that the school was going from strength to strength.
He said the funding this year went
towards the creation of a school library, facilities in the playground,
financial help toward children who would otherwise not be able to afford the
‘away week’ and of course the swimming programme.
Brookmans Park Scouts have now
amalgamated with Potters Bar Scouts to join with the Silver Phoenix Explorers
so enabling the local scouts to become involved with the Duke of Edinburgh
Award Programme. Funding was provided
towards the cost of four lightweight tents; a necessity for the various outdoor
tests in this programme.
North Mymms Youth & Community
Centre were beneficiaries of funding towards general administration and upkeep.
The Trust was again able to help
financially toward the coaching and team expenses for the North Mymms Cricket
Club Colts.
Finally the Trust was very pleased to
be able to again help toward the funding of Act 4 Christianity who visit
schools and churches in the parish to promote the Christian message and they
again went to St Mary’s School and St Mary’s Church.
Mr Taylor then
asked all those present who know of organisations or individuals within the
parish who may be eligible for a donation, to contact him.
Q. There were
no questions regarding the report of the
8. CHAIRMAN’S
REPORT
Councillor
Mrs Boulton said that she would like to begin by noting the death of Bill
Rogers. He was a dedicated Parish
Councillor of long standing who gave steady and wise counsel for many years and
who is sadly missed.
She
said throughout the year the work of the North Mymms Parish Council continues
daily. One of the important tasks is
maintaining the green spaces which make this parish an attractive place to
be. She thanked the groundsmen for their
expertise and skill and all their time and endeavours in ensuring high
standards are maintained. They deserve
particular thanks for the extra work they undertook in reducing the height of
the boundary hedge to the
The
Chairman continued by saying that the Parish Council were pleased to receive
positive responses to the provision of new/replacement play equipment at
Gobions Open Space in Brookmans Park.
The Council is delighted that this will be enhanced with more pieces sooner
than anticipated, partly thanks to monies from Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
Community Chest Funds and careful budgeting by the Finance Committee of the
North Mymms Parish Council. Phase II
plans are on display and we look forward to seeing the children enjoying the
equipment in the near future. In fact
the improvement of provision of fun playground equipment will continue to be
reviewed as the Parish Council aims to look after the interests of even its
youngest parishioners.
Councillor
Mrs Boulton said that it may come as no surprise to learn that “‘Highways”’’ is
always a regular topic of debate at council meetings. The Parish Council continues to pursue the
relevant agencies regarding the problems and concerns of residents and road
users.
She
spoke of other agencies – it was worth noting that the Parish Council are
actively involved with the Welwyn Hatfield Association of Local councils as this
forum is used to discuss and share issues which affect us all.
The
Chairman said that we also attend meetings at the Parish, town and Borough
Council forum with the same aim, in order to achieve “joined-up”
government. We recognise that none of us
work in complete isolation, indeed much of the work is – or should be –
collaborative for the benefit of the community (and that can often be wider than
She
said that Councillors are ably supported by the Clerk, Jo Schettino, at these meetings and she thanked her for
her time and assistance on these occasions.
Councillor
Mrs Boulton said that in fact a large vote of thanks is due to the Clerk and
added that it had been a very pleasant experience working with her during this
year in the chair. The Clerk has a large
and constant workload and on top of that she has to herd the Parish Councillors
which she does with grace and aplomb.
Thank you Jo
The Chairman also thanked her fellow Parish
Councillors for all their endeavours on behalf of this community, saying that they
beaver away for the benefit of parishioners – sometimes unseen and often unsung. Their experience, sagacity and at times
downright determination have been inspirational and she thanked them all very
much for their support, to her in her year as chairman and also on behalf of
the North Mymms Parish. She said it was
a good job being well done and thanked them again.
She continued saying that however, the work goes
on. This insidious threat from
development gathers apace. The very
character of North Mymms Parish is at risk of being at best, eroded and at
worst, completely changed if we are subsumed into the expanse which is Greater
London.
Councillor Mrs Boulton said that there is no doubt
that this area has evolved in the past and will continue to do so but North
Mymms Parish Council will, on behalf of this community, continue to pursue the
need for residents and other users of the Parish to live and work in a place
which supports, and indeed enhances, their well being.
She said that in her year as Chairman she was most
pleased to report the instigation of a Parish Plan, supported by North Mymms
Parish Council and she was particularly grateful to Mrs Sheila King (an ex
Parish Councillor and local resident) for chairing and motivating this
initiative. This is valuable for
She concluded by saying that the community more than
ever needs a voice. The Parish Plan will
help to make us heard and North Mymms Parish Council will continue to play its
part in making your voice audible.
Q.
There were no questions on the Chairman’s Report.
9. FINANCE
Councillor W A Storey said that in recent years the
Council has had several significant items of expenditure.
The purchase of the freehold at Little Heath
Recreation Ground and the drainage of Gobions Open Space, for example.
In the immediate past year repairs to the Tractor
and Equipment Shed and replacement of tools after a break in were not
completely covered by insurance, and several items of play equipment had been
purchased.
Significant expenditure on the boiler and heating
system for the Burns Pavilion was anticipated but this work will now carry over
to the 2009/2010 financial year.
Husbanding of our resources over past years has
enabled us to propose further play equipment in the coming year but still set a
budget which he hesitated to describe as “prudent” as that word seems to have
been devalued as “conservative” unless he was deemed to be party
political. Nevertheless an increase of
less that 1% in the present climate is, he believed, a reason for satisfaction.
Councillor Storey said that it seems probable that
in the next 20 years the Parish will experience some more building. That may well mean more demand on public
facilities and while more buildings means more return for a given level of
Council Tax, there tends to be a gap between supply and demand. Future Councillors may need a longer view in
making provision.
The Finance Chairman thanked his fellow Councillors
for their help and support and said that yet again they had given their
services free; none of them subsidizing second homes!
Q. There were no questions regarding the Finance
report.
10. AMENITIES
& BUILDING DEVELOPMENT
Little Heath
Councillor
Everard said that following completion of the purchase of the 1.5 acres at
Little Heath, comprising the recreation ground fronting
The
works comprise the formation of a new access road together with parking
facilities to serve the recreation ground; new boundary fencing and the
relocation of certain play equipment.
The hard standing, formally the base of the Highway maintenance building
will be excavated and returned to grass land and the total cost of the work is
being borne by the Trustees of Jehovah’s Witnesses as part of the sale
transaction.
It
is proposed when works are completed to upgrade the play equipment in line with
that now underway at Gobions Open Space play area.
Gobions
Open Space
Councillor
Everard said that further land drainage works have been undertaken to improve
the overall surface of the recreational area with drainage run off to the lake
area. Additional adventurous play
equipment has been introduced to the defined children’s’ play area with further
updating planned for the coming year and the visual aspects of the site have
been improved involving the severe cutting back of the hedge fronting the play
area approached from the car park.
Bradmore
Green
He
said that the annual Christmas tree planting and subsequent lighting event took
place on 29 November 2008, organised by the Brookmans Park Rotary Club. The occasion was again very well supported
with refreshments provided by the organizers.
The occasion included a visit by Father Christmas and his sleigh.
The
Rotary Club has requested permission to hold a May Day celebration event to
include maypole dancing on the village green and the Council has formally
agreed to the proposal although details are yet to be formulated and this will
be advertised in due course.
Welham
Green Recreation Ground
The
Chairman of the Amenities and Building Development Committee said that in order
to attract local young people away from the
Allotment
Judging
Councillor
Everard said that the annual Best Kept Allotment judging took place on Friday 4
July 2008 and as usual the competition was very keen and the quality of the
produce extremely high. The successful
competitors were:
1st Tony Hussey 119 points
Joint 2nd Tim Flemming ) 118 points
Henry
Gilham )
At
a formal gathering of allotment holders on 30 October at the Burns Pavilion, at
which refreshments were available, the winner was presented with a suitably
engraved replica cup, supplied by Councillor Everard, and the Challenge Cup
(engraved courtesy of Councillor Pieri) with certificates for the runners up
designed and supplied by Councillor Horrocks.
Vandalism
The
Council suffered a break in of the equipment store and tractor shed at the recreation
ground resulting in extensive damage to the roof (where access was gained) and
the loss of valuable machinery and equipment amounting to £8,500,
In
closing Councillor Everard said that he would like to express the thanks of the
Council to Ken Culshaw who has given the council over 30 years service and Jon
Payne and Karl Whybrow for their dedication and unstinting contribution in
maintaining the Councils recreation grounds and playing fields. Thanks also to the Council’s student
groundsman James Rudling, who has been engaged on a temporary contract.
Councillor
Everard also thanked the Clerk, Jo Schettino and the Committee for their
wholehearted support.
Q. There were
no questions regarding the report of the Amenities and Building Development
Committee.
11. PLANNING
Councillor
Horrocks said that
He
said Planning applications are approved or refused by Welwyn Hatfield
Council. The parish council is consulted
on all planning applications and on other public consultations to which he will
refer later.
The
Chairman of the Planning Committee said that last year there was a change in
planning procedures which meant that we now have only three weeks instead of
four in which to comment or object to a planning application. This means the planning committee had to increase
the number of meetings from 14 last year to 20 this year.
Although
the collapse of the housing market is causing huge problems, every cloud has a
silver lining. The Parish Council only
had to examine 128 planning applications, about half the number in the previous
year.
He
said in the last twelve months we objected to 18 applications. 15 or 83% were refused permission or
withdrawn. We commented on another 30 to
draw attention to a particular aspect of the application. Nine, which is 30% of them, were refused
permission or withdrawn, with four still to be decided.
Welwyn
Hatfield Council is updating its District Plan, now known as the Local
Development Framework. The Parish
Council will be making comments as part of the current consultation on the Core
Strategy Issues and Options document.
The options include a possibility of building up to 750 new homes within
Councillor
Horrocks said you may have read in this morning’s newspapers that the
Government intends to relax the current curbs on rural housing to enable
affordable housing to be built on Green Belt land. Presumably Welwyn Hatfield Council will have
to take this into account in the current updating of the District Plan. I find this to be very worrying.
Other
current local issues are the suggested gypsy and travellers’ site on
On
the possible waste incinerator at New Barnfield on
Councillor
Horrocks said that it has been another busy year for the planning committee as
a whole and for its chairman. Before every meeting he checks each planning
application and last year spoke on behalf of the parish council at one Welwyn
Hatfield planning meeting and once at an appeal hearing.
He
concluded by thanking each and every planning committee member and the Clerk
Mrs Jo Schettino for their diligence in carrying out this important role of a
Parish
Council.
Q. There were
no questions regarding the report of the Planning Committee.
12. ANY
OTHER BUSINESS
a) List of
A parishioner requested
that a list of Parish Councillors should be available at the Annual Public
Meeting and apologies given by absentees.
b) Parish Plan
Councillor Mrs Boulton
said that the Parish Plan members would be arranging drop in meetings in Welham
Green,
c) New Barnfield
Councillor W A Storey said
that a system had not yet been decided upon and there was a question on whether
contractors would wish to take on the site at New Barnfield or another
site. He said that whichever treatment
plant we end up with will only be dealing with residue and not recycling.
13. CONCLUSION
In closing the meeting at 8.35
pm Councillor Mrs Boulton thanked the Clerk for her sterling work and everyone
present for attending and for their contribution to the proceedings.
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