NORTH MYMMS PARISH COUNCIL

 

 

Minutes of a MEETING of the PARISH COUNCIL held in the Council Office, Annexe to No 1 Bungalow, Bushwood Close, Welham Green on Wednesday, 30 July 2008 commencing at 8.00 p.m.

 

                 PRESENT:                   Councillors         Mrs J Boulton   -       Chairman

                                                                            

                                                                                    Mrs M Race

Mrs T Travell

                                                                                    S J Boulton                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                    C Everard

                                                                                    R N Horrocks

                                                                                    K Pieri

                                                                                    W A Storey

                                                                                    V Weeks                                                   

                                                                   

                CLERK:                                                      Mrs J A Schettino

 

_________________________________________________________________

 

20.       APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

There were no apologies for absence.



21.       DECLARATION OF MEMBERS INTERESTS

 

Councillor Horrocks declared an interest in an item that would be raised regarding Calendars 2009 and he and Councillors C Everard and V Weeks declared an interest as members of the North Mymms Green Belt Society.

22.       MINUTES OF THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING


It was agreed that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 25 June 2008 were a true record of the proceedings and signed by the Chairman, subject to the correction of the sequential renumbering of the paragraphs under 16 d) i):v) on pages 13 and 14.

 

23.       MATTERS ARISING

 

a)   TRACTOR SHED ROOF

 

Councillor Everard said he had inspected the completed tractor shed roof and acknowledged that the contractor had done a very good job.

b)   BROOKMANS PARK

 

Councillor S J Boulton said that the sucker growths had been removed from the base of trees in Station Close.

 

c)   THREE VALLEYS WATER DRAFT RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN

 

Councillor Horrocks said he had attended a meeting regarding the above and although it was very interesting, there was nothing in the draft plan for 2010-2035 that would affect the parish.

 

d)  SUTCLIFFE PLAY PLANS

 

Councillor Everard said that the plans for updating Gobions Recreation Ground had been on display at Brookmans Park School and that the school was hoping they would be implemented for the school holidays.

e)  GEORGES WOOD ROAD, BELLMOUTH

 

There had been a response from Highways to say that the pothole in the bellmouth of Georges Wood Road had been inspected and it was not in their remit.

 

f)    PILLARS, GEORGES WOOD ROAD

 

There had been a response from the enforcement officer at Welwyn Hatfield Council to say that the pillars do require planning permission and an application should be submitted by mid July.

 

g)   BROOKMANS PARK STATION CAR PARK

 

A copy of a letter from First Capital Connect had been received confirming the renovation and pay and park scheme at Brookmans Park Station.  It was agreed to write and ask them to reconsider the pay and display option as this would be considered a detrimental step in encouraging people to use the railway.

 

h)  GREEN CLOSE TRIANGLE

 

Councillor Horrocks said that an application for planning permission had been submitted to Welwyn Hatfield Council.

 

i)    GRAFFITI IN ALLEYWAY POOLEYS LANE/HUGGINS LANE

 

Councillor Mrs T Travel said that although reported, the graffiti was still in the alleyway between Pooleys Lane and Huggins Lane.  Councillor Pieri said he would monitor the situation.

 

j)   HAPTC AGM

 

It was agreed that the weekly bulletins were of interest to the selected recipients and the Clerk was requested to carry on forwarding these.

 

k)  PROPOSED ONE WAY SYSTEM, PEPLINS WAY

 

There had been responses from Highways and Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council regarding our request early last year for a one way system in Peplins Way, Brookmans Park, and neither of them had taken this forward.

 

It was agreed to write to Councillor Darren Bennet, Chairman of the Cabinet Planning and Transportation Panel but in the meantime Councillor Storey said that if a body of the public wants a one way system in Peplins Way, they can get up a petition with a minimum of 30 names and present it to the chairman of the CPTP themselves.

 

l)   NORTH MYMMS BOWLS CLUB 

 

Councillor Mrs J Boulton said that a meeting had been arranged with the North Mymms Bowls Club for Monday 11 August 2008 at 1.30pm in the Council Office and that she, Councillor Everard, the Clerk and Ken Culshaw would be in attendance.

 

m)  WORKSHOP

 

Councillor Horrocks said he had attended a workshop held by the Environment Agency and an item of interest was a proposed new sewerage facility in the east of the area.

 

n)  ALLOTMENT JUDGING

 

Councillor Mrs Boulton’s proposal to record a vote of thanks to the Allotment Judging Panel for giving up their time was unanimously endorsed.

 

It was noted that the winner would be presented with the Challenge Cup at the Allotment Presentation to be held on Thursday 30 October 2008 at 8pm.

 

Councillor Horrocks said that he would again produce the certificates free of charge and Councillor Pieri said he would pay for the engraving of the Challenge Cup as in previous years.

 

o)  CALENDAR 2009

 

Councillor Mrs Boulton proposed and it was unanimously agreed that a vote of thanks be recorded to Councillor Horrocks for his time in preparing and producing the Calendar for 2009.

 

p)  GO EAST REVISION TO THE RSS FOR EAST OF ENGLAND

 

The Clerk reported that she had been unable to obtain copies of the Plan and Supporting Document of the Regional Spatial Strategy free of charge.

 

24.       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 £33,784.82 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 21 July 2008 and it was noted that income totalling £4012.47 had been received. 

 

Approval was being recommended for the Clerk’s action in transferring £24,000 from the Councils Reserve Account to Current Account with effect from 30 July 2008.

 

Consideration had been given to the number of Calendars to be printed and the Finance Committee was recommending that the Council order 350 for an extra £39 but enquiries regarding the application of VAT would need to be made.

 

A discussion had taken place about a secure container for football nets and it was being recommended that if an amount from the Community Chests award to all Borough Councillors could be secured, then the Finance Committee could allot a sum of money towards this and the secure container at an approximate cost of £1,000 could be discussed at the next meeting of the Amenities & Building Development Committee and purchased before the season begins.  It was also being recommended that 2 new rubbish bins be purchased at a cost of approximately £200 for the football field.

 

Councillor Storey said that it was being recommended to Council that the custom and practice of previous years should apply during the August recess and that accounts due for payment could be authorized and cheques signed by any two Councillors.

 

It had been noted that Ken Culshaw had completed 30 years of service on 10 July 2008 and it was unanimously agreed that a letter acknowledging this achievement and thanking him for his services to the Council should be sent.

 

It was noted with sadness that Bill Rogers, a long standing member of North Mymms Parish Council had regretfully passed away on Saturday 26 July 2008.  His funeral would be held on Wednesday 6 August 2008 at Harwood Park Crematorium at 4.15 pm.  It was agreed that a letter of condolence should be sent to his relatives and all Councillors contributed towards a donation to the Stroke Association.

___________________________________________________________

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 Chairman of the Council.

 

b)  AMENITIES AND BUILDING DEVELOPMENT

 

Councillor Everard said that a meeting of the Committee had been held on Wednesday 9 July 2008 and those Minutes had been circulated to all Councillors.

____________________________________________________________

 

Councillor Everard’s proposal that the Report of the Amenities and Building Development Committee be adopted was seconded by Councillor Horrocks and carried unanimously.

____________________________________________________________

 

The following matters were discussed further:

 

i)  Purchase of Land, Little Heath

 

A satisfactory schedule of works had been received from Roger Dixon on behalf of the Potters Bar Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses but the clerk was requested to write and ensure that there would be access for the Parish Council’s tractors while the work was in progress.

ii) Allotment Tenants

 

A letter from an allotment tenant has been referred to the next meeting of the Amenities & Building Development Committee.

 

iii) Bushwood Close/Merritt Walk

 

Councillors Mrs Boulton and W A Storey had attended a meeting with the Chief Executive and Housing Manager of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council earlier that day regarding the above roads. 

 

It appears that the roads would require a huge amount of expenditure to bring them up to Highways standards which was not an option.  It was agreed that Housing would inspect the site to access the situation and prepare a paper, to include the cost of maintenance for 10-20 years, for further consideration by the members.

 

iv) Allotment Applicants

 

It was agreed that the Council’s Policy of the last forty years should be ratified that allotments should be allocated to residents within the Parish unless there is no waiting list, when applicants just outside the Parish may then be considered.

 

v)  Rotary Club of Brookmans Park

 

Councillors Mrs Boulton and Mrs Travell had attended a meeting of the above on 14 July 2008.  Items discussed were:

 

·           Christmas lighting on all the trees at Bradmore Green with a lighting ceremony on Saturday 29 November 2008. This would draw attention to the village shops which would be open for business but the power issue had yet to be investigated.

·           Maypoles on Bradmore Green on Saturday 2 May 2009 or a date in July.

A vote of thanks was recorded to Councillors Mrs Boulton and Travell for attending the meeting on behalf of the Parish Council.

 

c) PLANNING

Councillor Horrocks said that Meetings of the Planning Committee had been held on 25 June and 9 July 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 C Everard and carried unanimously.
 

Councillor Horrocks said he had attended the first day of the Tanum Farm Appeal hearing.

d)  BROOKMANS PARK

i)  Methi Restaurant, Bradmore Green

It was agreed that the North Mymms Parish Council would write to the above restaurant asking whether or not they would be re-instating the paving which had been cordoned off for some weeks with unsightly posts and tape.

e)  LITTLE HEATH

i)  It was noted that the drain covers in Hawkshead Road and Swanley Bar Lane had again been stolen.

ii)  Councillor S J Boulton said that there may be a sum of money from the Community Chest available for expenditure on the recreational equipment at Little Heath.

f)  WELHAM GREEN

 

i)  It was noted that the CCTV on the village green and at the Dellsome Lane shops was due to be connected.  Councillor Pieri would press for dates.

 

ii)  It was reported that youths were playing up again behind the flats in Dellsome Lane and throwing water filled balloons at passing traffic. 

 

It was noted that the youth shelter was not lit and that Kerry Clare was investigating the matter.

 

iii)  Councillor Mrs Race advised that the Welham Green As One group hoped to organise a Balloon Day on the Welham Green playing field on the weekend of 13/14 September 2008.

 

The Clerk said that it would not be possible to use the playing field as the football season starts in August and the Parish Council had already been advised of football fixtures on the dates above.

 

g) REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES AND ORGANIZATIONS

 

Nothing to report

 

h)     PARISH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN

 

Nothing to report.

 

i)  PARISH PLAN

 

The Clerk said that there had been seventeen responses to the Parish Council’s request for individuals to join a steering group but unfortunately many of them were from Welham Green and were not a cross section of the whole parish.

 

It was agreed to arrange a meeting in September when CDA for Herts could attend to better inform the group of the first steps that would need to be taken to take the Parish Plan forward.

 

25.       CHANCELLORS NEWSLETTER

Councillor Horrocks circulated a draft article for insertion in the Autumn 2008 Chancellors Newsletter with a request that comments regarding the content should be directed to him before 31 August 2008.

 

26.       CORRESPONDENCE

 

CORRESPONDENCE PREVIOUSLY CIRCULATED TO ALL COUNCILLORS:

1.      HAPTC Newsletter June 2008 and Annual Report 2007-2008.

2.      Clerk & Councils Direct, July 2008, Issue 58 – 32 pages.

3.      Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Agenda for Highways Joint Members Panel on 17 July 2008.

4.      Herts Archives & Local Studied Newsletter Summer 2008.

5.      Letter dated 15 July 2008 from Longmores Solicitors advising of survey on the land at Little Heath.

6.      HCC advice dated 16 July 2008 on temporary closure of various roads in North Mymms.

THE FOLLOWING CORRESPONDENCE WAS PLACED ON THE TABLE :

7.      SLCC Notice of 34th National Conference on 17-19 October 2008 in Reading.

8.      SLCC The Clerk July 2008, Vol 40, No. 4 – 36 pages

9.      CPRE Countryside Voice Summer 2008 – 52 pages

10. Welwyn Hatfield Alliance News Summer 2008 – 4 pages

11. CDA for Herts Notice of AGM on 25 September 2008 and request for nominees for Director/Trustees on the Board.

27.  ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

No other business was discussed.

 

28.  DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Parish Council has already been arranged for Wednesday, 24 September 2008 commencing at 8.00 pm, preceded by a meeting of the Finance Committee at 7.15 p.m.

Meeting closed 9.55 pm