PRESENT:
Councillors Mrs J Boulton -
Vice Chairman
Mrs
T Travell
S
J Boulton
C Everard
R
W
A Storey
V
Weeks
CLERK: Mrs
J A Schettino
_________________________________________________________________
78. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs M Race, P
Hastings and K Pieri.
79. DECLARATION OF MEMBERS INTERESTS
Nothing declared
80. MINUTES OF THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING
It was agreed that
the Minutes of a Meeting held on
81. MATTERS ARISING
a)
PARISH WEBSITE
Councillor Horrocks said that there had been
approximately 3 visitors per day since the last meeting; some from
b)
ST
It was agreed that
the Clerk would contact the school again to ask for the plan of the new nursery
and its utility connections and if a negative response was received, Councillors
Mrs J Boulton and C Everard would draw up new plans.
c) PARISH
It was
agreed that Councillor Mrs Boulton would arrange a meeting of the sub-committee
to further discuss the Parish Plan.
d) STOP STANSTED EXPANSION
Further details had
been received regarding the proposed Stansted Expansion and it was agreed that,
as little would change within the parish following the planned changes, no
further comment would be made.
e) CHILD
The Clerk reported
that she had received an e-mail from Child UK requesting use of the Burns
Pavilion for about 4 weeks. Following a
discussion it was agreed to respond that the Burns Pavilion was fully booked
and was not available and suggesting they contact the Youth & Community
Centre or the North Mymms Memorial Hall.
82. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
a) FINANCE
Councillor Storey said that at a meeting of the Finance Committee held
earlier in the evening, a Schedule of Accounts due for payment totalling
£13,323.64 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 20 March 2008 and it was noted that income
totalling £606.92 had been received.
In order to have low cash balance at year end, no money had been
transferred this month.
Councillor Storey said that a burglary had occurred in the early hours of
Sunday 2 March 2008 and a number of chainsaws, hedge cutters and the generator
had been stolen through the roof of the Tractor and Equipment Shed and an
insurance claim was pending. Unfortunately the roof is beyond repair and must
be replaced and the parish council has received two quotations for this work at
approximately £9,700.
Meanwhile the Finance Committee was recommending upgrading the alarm
system to the shed, office and Burns Pavilion at a cost of £1,000 plus VAT.
The Finance Chairman said that an Internal Audit had been carried out on
Thursday 13 March 2008 and a satisfactory report had been received.
The Finance Committee was recommending that the charges for the hire of
the Council’s facilities be increased by between 3% and 5% except the hire of
the Bowling Green which would increase to £3,630 and the allotment rents which
had increased on 1 November 2007 and would remain the same at present.
It was also recommending that the Clerks salary be increased by one scale point
from 1 April 2008 in line with National Pay Negotiations.
___________________________________________________________
Councillor Storey’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 Mrs J Boulton in her capacity as Vice Chairman of the
Council.
b) AMENITIES
Councillor Everard said that a Meeting of this
Committee had been held on 20 February 2008, the Minutes had been adopted by
the full Council at their last meeting on 26 March 2008 and he had nothing
further to add.
_________________________________________________________
Councillor Everard’s proposal that the minutes of the Amenities and
Building Development Committee be adopted was seconded by Councillor R Horrocks
and unanimously agreed.
__________________________________________________________
c) PLANNING
Councillor Horrocks said that a Meeting of the
Planning Committee had been held on 20 February 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.
Councillor Everard apologized belatedly for his absence from the above
planning meeting.
MATTERS
ARISING
i)
Tanum Farm, Hawkshead Road
Councillor Horrocks reported that the appeal had been adjourned until 22/23
July 2008.
ii) Appeal – 9
Pine Grove
It was agreed to
write to the Planning Inspectorate maintaining our comments and supporting the
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council in their refusal of this application.
iii) Application
by
Following a
discussion it was agreed to write and say that:
·
the proposed change of use would cause nuisance to
neighbouring dwellings arising from noisy processes; there is a lack of
information indicating any acoustic deadening
·
the parish council has concerns that there is a
possibility of an increase in HGV movement through the village.
Councillor Storey declared an interest in the above application and took
no part in either discussion or decision.
iv) 8 Georges Wood Road – S6/2004/1775
It was reported that
a boundary wall and gates were being erected at the above address and it was agreed
to write to Welwyn Hatfield Council to say that pillars have been erected which
are about 6’ high and asking if they conform to the approved planning consent.
v)
Accommodation Needs of Gypsies and Travellers
Councillor Horrocks said that he would draft a
response from the North Mymms Parish Council for consideration at the next
Planning Committee Meeting.
d)
It was noted that the newsagents at Brookmans Park was broken into on
Sunday 23 March 2008.
e) LITTLE
HEATH
Councillor Horrocks said that the Little Heath Primary School was
celebrating its centenary during the Summer holidays.
It was agreed to write to the school congratulating them on their
centenary and asking if the Parish Council could help in any way.
f) WELHAM GREEN
Councillor Mrs Travell reported that the
Italian restaurant opposite the Dutch Nursery on the A1000 was allowing parking
on the verge and pavement. It was
proposed and agreed that this should be reported to PC Jo Wakelen.
g) REPRESENTATIVES
ON OTHER BODIES
North Mymms Memorial Hall
It was reported with great sadness that Dorothy Young, bookings
secretary to the North Mymms Memorial Hall for over 30 years, had passed
away. The funeral would take place on 1
April 2008 at 11.40 am at Garston. It was agreed that the Parish Council would
write a letter of condolence to the family.
h)
PARISH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION
Nothing to report
83. CORRESPONDENCE
CORRESPONDENCE PREVIOUSLY CIRCULATED
TO
1. HAPTC Newsletter February 2008.
2. Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
Letter dated 10 March 2008 regarding an Environment Inspection.
3. SLCC Clerk and Councils Direct Issue
56, March 2008.
4. Letter dated 14 February 2008 from
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, Review of Polling Places following the further
electoral review of Welwyn Hatfield.
5.
6. Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
notice of elections 1 May 2008.
THE FOLLOWING CORRESPONDENCE WAS PLACED ON THE TABLE :
7. NALC Local Council Review Vol 59, No. 6 March 2008 – 40 pages
8. SLCC The Clerk Vol
40, No. 2 March 2008 – 36 Pages
9. Local Councils Update Issue 101
March 2008 – 8 pages
10. CPRE Fieldwork March 2008 – 16 pages
11. East and North Herts NHS Trust
regarding NHS Foundation Trust Application Consultation Document – 26 pages
84. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
a) WELWYN HATFIELD ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL
COUNCILS
It was noted that the e-mail address for the
North Mymms Parish Council was incorrect on the recently distributed minutes of
a meeting of the above.
b)
The Clerk advised that the Brookmans Park
Rotary Club were looking into the possibilities of staging a May Day event in
Brookmans Park, maybe in 2009, and were asking the Parish Council if Bradmore Green
could be made available for the event.
Following a discussion it was agreed to support
this fund raising event subject to the Brookmans Park Rotary Club having public
liability insurance.
85. DATE OF
A meeting
has already been arranged for Wednesday, 30 April 2008 commencing at 8.00 pm,
preceded by a meeting of the Finance Committee at
A vote of thanks to Vice Chairman
Councillor Mrs Boulton for taking the meeting was proposed and unanimously
agreed.
Meeting
closed at