PRESENT:
Councillors K
Pieri - Chairman
Mrs J Boulton
Mrs T Travell
S J Boulton
C Everard
P
R
W A Storey
V Weeks
CLERK:
Mrs J A Schettino
_________________________________________________________________
The Chairman welcomed the new Welham
Green Ward Councillor for Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, Doug Berry, and four
representatives of the Welham Green Youth Project.
59.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs M Race.
60.
DECLARATION OF MEMBERS
INTERESTS
Nothing declared
61.
PRESENTATION FROM
WELHAM GREEN YOUTH PROJECT
Two young men from the Welham Green Youth Project, Daryl Cross and Dean Maxen, made a Powerpoint presentation to the North Mymms Parish Council regarding the present lack of meeting facilities for local young people and proposing a youth shelter on Parish Council land by the football field. They added that they, in conjunction with Kerry Clare the Anti Social Behaviour Team Manager for Welwyn Hatfield Council had already applied for and been granted funding for the proposed shelter, money which had to be spent in the current financial year.
Members of the Parish Council applauded their courageous and well informed presentation and thanked them for attending the Council Meeting.
The North Mymms
Parish Council agreed to discuss the matter further and make a decision when the
members from the Welham Green Youth Project left the building at
Following their departure, further discussion took place and it was proposed by Councillor Everard and unanimously agreed that, subject to the location being suitable and a site meeting with the parties concerned, the youth shelter could be erected on the Parish Council’s land.
CLERKS NOTE: A site meeting has been arranged with
representatives of the Welham Green Youth Project, Welwyn Hatfield Borough
Council, the Police and the Equipment Suppliers for
62. MINUTES
OF THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING
It was agreed that the Minutes of a Meeting held on
63. MATTERS ARISING
a) PARISH
WEBSITE
Councillor Horrocks said that there had been 143 visitors since the
last meeting; some from
b)
WELHAM GREEN WORKING GROUP
Councillor Hastings said that the above group
had now changed their name to ‘Welham Green As One’.
They were proposing
to hold a village event in September to celebrate the first balloon landing in
c)
ACCOMMODATION NEEDS OF GYPSIES &
TRAVELLERS
It was noted that the meeting arranged by
Grant Shapps on
d)
WELWYN HATFIELD ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL
COUNCILS
It was confirmed that a meeting of the above
with a planning presentation by Mr C Conway, Welwyn Hatfield Council, would be
held on
e)
VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT
It was agreed to add Village Design
Statement/Parish Plan to the Agenda for the next Council meeting.
The Clerk said that Northaw and Cuffley do
not have a Parish Plan and Colney Heath Parish Council’s plan was currently out
of print.
f)
BROOKMANS PARK VILLAGE CHRISTMAS TREE 2007
It was reported that over 300 people attended
the lighting ceremony for the above and that it had become a highly popular
annual event.
g) A1000
The Clerk
confirmed that she had reported the problem with the traffic lights by
h) PROPOSED TWINNING WITH GALATAS
The Clerk had
circulated further information regarding travel times from the
The Members discussed the matter further and it was unanimously agreed that such a twinning should be mutually beneficial, with reference made to languages taught in schools and towns/villages sharing similar problems. In this case it was also felt Galatas was too far away to consider as a twinning partner, bearing in mind an absolute minimum travel time of 10.5 hours at the busiest and costliest times of year, ie school holidays.
It was agreed to write and thank the parishioner for his suggestion and subsequent information but to say that the Parish Council did not consider this was a suitable proposition for them.
64.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
a)
FINANCE
Councillor Pieri said that at a meeting of the Finance Committee held earlier in the evening, it was agreed that it be recommended to Council that the payments made during the December recess totalling £15,086.41, together with a Statement of Balances as at 18 December showing an income of £1,023.00 and the transfer of £10,000 from Reserve Account to Current on 19 December 2007 be accepted and approved (as authorised by Council Minute No 55 a) dated 28 November 2007).
A Schedule of Accounts due for payment totalling £11,831.89 was presented and after careful consideration of each item it was agreed that the total amount be recommended to Council for approval and payment in full.
Consideration had
been given to a Statement of Balances held with the National Westminster Bank
plc as at
The Finance
Committee was recommending approval of the Clerk’s action in arranging the
transfer of £12,000 from the Council’s Capital Reserve Account to Current
Account with effect from
Annual Grants & Donations 2007-2008
After discussion, it was agreed to recommend to Council that the following donations be made to local organizations under Section 137 of the LGA 1972
Little Heath Parish Hall 300.00
Little Heather Club 225.00
Isabel Hospice 400.00
Welwyn Hatfield Citizens Advice Bureau 450.00
Rotary Club of Brookmans Park
300.00
St Mary’s Church Carers 250.00
Sunshine Pre School 250.00
Herts Air Ambulance Appeal
150.00
4125.00
Budget/Precept 2008-2009
A draft letter in response to the Welwyn Hatfield Council’s letter requesting notification of the Council’s precept and estimated expenditure for 2008/2008 had been considered and it was being recommended to council for approval.
Review Of Financial Regulations
The Finance Committee resolved that it be recommended that no changes be made to the Financial Regulations but that they be reviewed at this meeting each year.
COUNCIL EXPENDITURE
It was proposed and unanimously agreed that the following expenditure for necessary maintenance/replacement items/training in this financial year be recommended to Council for approval:
SJS Irrigation - Repairs to irrigation
system on the
Summerling Carpets & Curtains Ltd - Carpet tiles and vinyl to Council office, kitchen and toilet at a total cost of £1,085.82 excl VAT.
British Gas HomeCare Flexi 200 - Monthly contract on the boiler and radiators at No. 2 Bungalow at a cost of £11 per month + £50 fixed fee per repair.
Groundsmens’ Bonus - £150 bonus to both senior groundsmen for their excellent work decorating the council office.
HAPTC Councillor Workshop - New
Councillors could attend an HAPTC workshop planned for
It was noted that a letter had been received from Welwyn Hatfield Council on 23 January 2008 detailing their Special Expenses for 2008/2009 and that a Scribe Report had been received from the Internal Auditor showing the Council’s financial position as at the end of December 2007, together with a summary of Income and Expenditure.
Finally, it was noted that the Audit Commission had appointed BDO Stoy Hayward LLP as auditors to the North Mymms Parish Council for a five year period commencing with the 2007/2008 accounts.
___________________________________________________________
Councillor Pieri’s proposal that the Report of the Finance Committee
be adopted was seconded by Councillor C Everard and carried unanimously.
The originals of the Schedule of Accounts for payment referred to above were signed by Councillor K Pieri in his capacity as Chairman of the Council.
b) AMENITIES AND BUILDING
DEVELOPMENT
Councillor Everard said that a Meeting of this Committee had been
held on
__________________________________________________________
Councillor Everard’s proposal that the minutes of the Amenities and Building Development Committee be adopted was seconded by Councillor Mrs J Boulton and unanimously agreed.
__________________________________________________________
c) PLANNING
Councillor Horrocks said that Meetings of the Planning Committee had been held on 5 December 2007, 2 and 23 January 2008 the Minutes of which, together with notes of the decisions reached and action taken, had been copied to all Councillors.
____________________________________________________________
Councillor Horrocks’ proposal that the Report of the Planning
Committee be adopted was seconded by Councillor Everard and carried
unanimously.
*
Appeal, Unit 3
Woodside Lane –
Councillor Horrocks had attended the public enquiry and circulated copies of his
report but an appeal decision had not yet been made.
*Councillor Hastings declared an interest in
the above and took no part in the discussion.
d)
i) Brookmans
Councillor Hastings said that he had been approached regarding late night noise from the Brookmans. He was asked to refer the parishioners to Environmental Health Department directly.
e) LITTLE
HEATH
Nothing to report.
f) WELHAM
GREEN
i) Potholes –
Councillor Pieri said he had reported
potholes in
ii)
Pavements –
Councillor Mrs Boulton said the pavements in
iii)
Dellsome Parade
Parking
Councillor Hastings reported that the metal
spring at the rear of the parking places along Dellsome Parade required
highlighting or removing.
Councillor Pieri said he would speak to Welwyn Hatfield
Council.
iv)
Benches
Councillor Mrs T Travell asked when the
benches, previously removed from
g) REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES AND
ORGANIZATIONS
Nothing to
report.
h)
PARISH ENVIRONMENTAL
ACTION PLAN
Councillor
Horrocks said that draft notes had been circulated to all Councillors. £1,000 would be spent on footpaths in
the current financial year. In
2008-2009 the PEAP would investigate the possibility of a footpath along
It was
noted that the RVC would be submitting a planning application for three car
parks on their land to try and alleviate the parking problems in
65.
CORRESPONDENCE
CORRESPONDENCE PREVIOUSLY CIRCULATED TO ALL
COUNCILLORS:
1. Letter from Welwyn Hatfield Council dated 30.11.07 regarding Civic Awards.
2. Letter from Herts Highways 30.11.07 – school ‘Keep Clear’ markings & associated TRO’s affecting St Mary’s school and Little Heath.
3. HAPTC Newsletter November 2007
4. HAPTC e-mail 3.12.07 Local Government & Public Involvement in Health Act 2007
5.
HCC letter regarding
Investigation under Section 53 Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 –
6. Clerks & Council’s Direct January 2008, Issue 55 – 31 pages
7. HCC Trading Standards 03.01.08 Poster Animal Health & Wefare
8. Notification from Welwyn Hatfield Council of Standards Committee representative from Woolmer Green
9. Playground Facilities Newsletter and attachments 2008
10. HAPTC Allotment Survey results January 2008
THE
FOLLOWING CORRESPONDENCE WAS PLACED ON THE TABLE :
11. Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Books I & II notice of meetings and minutes and reports of previous meetings
12.
Letter from
13. CPRE Fieldwork December 2007 – 15 pages
14. Policing Authority letter – Policing Plan 2008 - 2011
15.
Herts Building Preservation
Trust newsletter Winter 2007 – 4 pages
16.
Notice of SLCC Practitioners
Conference on 29.02.08
17.
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
2007/2008 Edited Registered of Electors
18.
St Albans City Council
invitation to Recycling in
19.
NALC Local Council Review Vol.
59, No. 5 January 2008 – 35 pages
20.
SLCC The Clerk, January 2008 –
35 pages
21.
CDA for Herts Newsletter January
2008 – 8 pages
22.
HCC Waste Development Framework
– Consultation on Waste Development Plan, documents and CD – 14 pages
23.
Hertsmere Borough Council –
Hertsmere Local Development Framework and Draft Parking Standards Supplementary
Planning - 56 pages
66
HAPTC NEW MODEL PUBLICATION SCHEME
Following discussion it was resolved to adopt the Model Publication Scheme for Parish, Town and Community Councils prepared and approved by the Information Commissioner, without modification or alteration.
R E S O L V E
D
That the Model
Publication Scheme for Parish, Town and Community Councils be adopted without
modification.
67. ANY OTHER
BUSINESS
a) CIVIC SERVICE
The Chairman
reported that the annual Civic Service had been arranged for
b) CALENDAR 2008
Councillor Horrocks reported that all 300 calendars had been sold and a profit of £336.26 had been made by the Council. It was agreed to write and thank the participating outlets for their help.
c) GOBIONS WOODLAND TRUST
The Clerk said that the Gobions Woodland Trust were still doing the legal documentation to hand over to the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and they would like to put in a legal covenant to say that the land cannot be sold on without the permission of the North Mymms Parish Council.
Following a discussion the Parish Council said they were broadly in favour of the covenant, subject to perusal of the document by our solicitors.
d) HERTFORDSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF TOWN AND PARISH COUNCILS
The Clerk said
that the above have been invited to a seminar at the Police HQ on Tuesday 22 or
e) CPRE CALENDAR
2009
The CPRE were looking for help to produce a calendar for 2009 but the Council decided not to participate in this.
f) PROPOSED
‘
HCC advised the
Council that they were proposing a 7.5T weight limit on the railway bridge in
It was noted that Herts Highways Integrated Works Programme update December 2007 showed that these works were scheduled for March 08.
g)
BY-ELECTION ARTICLE, WELWYN
HATFIELD TIMES
An article had
appeared in the above newspaper dated
68. DATE OF NEXT
MEETING
A meeting has already been arranged for
Meeting closed at 10.10
pm