PRESENT: Councillors Mrs J Boulton - Chairman
Mrs T Travell
S J Boulton
C Everard
P
R
K Pieri
W A Storey
V Weeks
CLERK: Mrs J A Schettino
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29. APOLOGIES
FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs M Race. Councillor Hastings apologised for missing meetings of the full Council, Planning and Amenities during the summer.
30. PRESENTATION BY CHIEF PARTNERSHIPS & PERFORMANCE OFFICER, WELWYN HATFIELD BOROUGH COUNCIL
Councillor Mrs Jacqui Boulton, Chairman of the Parish Council, welcomed
Terry Osborne, Chief Partnerships & Performance Officer, who briefly
introduced the purpose of his visit which was to discuss the Borough’s
Corporate and Community Plan and ask for the Parish Councils input towards the
Five Corporate Promises which reflect local needs and priorities in the borough
for the next year.
Ideas offered by the Parish Council were as follows:
CRIME: Retention of Ward Constables
Verge parking
Dog Fouling in Gobions Open Space and Welham Green
Groups drinking in Moffats Open Space
ENVIRONMENT: Large vehicles using country lanes to/from the RVC
Absence of cycle tracks
Trees being cut down and not replaced
Road surfaces in general
HOMES: Inadequate work done by Mears Contractors
Flats unsuitable for families replacing village homes
Inappropriate development for village locations
Character Appraisals
COMMUNITY: Welham Green As One Group
Parish Plan
Play Equipment
New Building for Youth & Community Centre
Inadequate
bus service from
After 40 minutes the Chairman thanked Mr Osborne for his useful and informative briefing and hoped he had enough information to take away with him.
31. DECLARATION OF MEMBERS INTERESTS
Councillor Horrocks declared an interest in the Calendar for 2009 and as Honorary Secretary of the North Mymms Green Belt Society.
32. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
It was agreed that the Minutes of a
Meeting held on
33. MATTERS ARISING
a) SUTCLIFFE PLAY PLANS
It was noted that there had been a number of complimentary comments about
the new play equipment that had been installed at Gobions Open Space play area.
b)
Councillor Everard expressed
concern regarding the potholes in the bell mouth of
c) PILLARS,
Councillor Horrocks said that a planning application for these pillars still had not been submitted to Welwyn Hatfield Council.
d) PROPOSED
Councillor Hastings requested clarification
of the number of names required for a petition to be submitted in support of
the above system and it was suggested that residents, rather than school
parents, should be approached for their support.
e) ALLOTMENT
JUDGING
A vote of thanks was proposed and recorded to
Councillor Horrocks for producing the three certificates for the Allotment
Presentation.
Regretfully there had been some difficulty in
obtaining the small presentation cups.
It was agreed that Councillor Mrs Travell would approach an outlet in
Potters Bar regarding the possible supply of these trophies.
f) CALENDARS 2009
Councillor Horrocks reported that 350 calendars had now being printed and had been distributed to the following outlets, with their permission:
Dellsome Lane Post Office
Brookmans Park News
The Dutch Nursery
Welham Greens
And hopefully, Christchurch, Little Heath
The Calendars would be sold for £6 each with commission of £1 each to the seller and they would also be advertised on the Brookmans.com website.
g) FINANCE
i) W H H Rogers - It was noted that a number of Parish Councillors had attended the funeral of Bill Rogers and an obituary had been printed in The Times.
ii) Secure Container – Councillor Everard said that huge containers had been sited at Brookmans Park School and that the proposed container for the football field should be measured first to establish the space needed.
h) METHI RESTAURANT, BRADMORE GREEN
As the area in front of the restaurant was still surrounded by ugly tape it was agreed that the Parish Council would write again requesting its removal for Health & Safety reasons.
i) WELHAM GREEN
i) Youth Shelter - Councillor Hastings said he would ask the youths to clear the graffiti from the youth shelter at his next WGA1 meeting.
ii) Balloon Day - It was noted that the Balloon Day had been cancelled but unfortunately the groundsmen had not been informed. It was agreed to offer apologies to the groundsmen for this omission.
Councillor Hastings said that the Balloon Day had been planned for next year and not this year and he was unaware that the plans had gone ahead for this year. It was also established that the field would not be available in September, as the football season would be in full swing.
34. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
a) FINANCE
Councillor Storey said that acceptance of a Schedule of Accounts totalling £12,953.39 relating to payments made during the August Recess was being recommended for approval including a Statement of Balances as at 20 August 2008 showing income of £3,523.56 and the transfer of £15,000 from SIBA account to current on 28 August 2008.
He said that at a meeting of the Finance Committee held earlier in the evening, a Schedule of Accounts for payment totalling £38,289.78 had been presented (and was being recommended for approval) split between £6,339.30 which had already been paid with the balance of £31,950.48 now being due for payment.
Consideration had been given to Statement of Balances held with the Nat West Bank as at 20 September 2008 and an income of £1,520.75 was noted.
The Finance Committee was recommending approval of the Clerk’s action in arranging the transfer of money from the Council’s SIBA account to current account with effect from 24 September 2008.
Councillor Storey said that the Finance Committee was recommending the following expenditure to full council for approval:
· SJS Irrigation - Annual Contract for close down and start up of the irrigation system on the bowling green for £360
·
Paladin Green Mower, wheel kit and free
scarifier / de-thatcher at a cost of £5185.00 plus VAT, budgeted for in this
financial year.
Councillor Storey said that although we had found funds for James Rudling during the Summer months, there had been no allowance in the budget for this or further expenditure on employment in this financial year and added that in addition, the groundsmens’ work load was not as heavy in the winter to justify additional help. James had received an excellent report from the groundsmen and consideration was given to the fact that the college may make their own arrangements for work placement of its students.
Councillor Storey said that the Council needed to make a formal resolution regarding the football pitch as a facility for hire only, not for practice games or public play. Following a discussion regarding the costs involved in maintaining the pitch to league standards, and the fact that there are areas around the pitch free of charge for practice games and public play, it was proposed and unanimously agreed that the football pitch was a Council Facility for hire only and that a charge of not less than £200 should be levied in the event of damage to the pitch due to unauthorised use.
RESOLVED
That the football pitch is a Council facility for hire only at a cost of £50 per individual game or by the season at a cost already set, both subject to annual review, and should not be used for practice games or public play.
ANNUAL
AUDIT TO
The Parish Council had received a letter from BDO Stoy Hayward, the Council’s External Auditors, together with a ‘signed off’ copy of the Council’s Annual Return for the above year and this had been copied to all Councillors and would now be displayed on all Parish Notice Boards for 14 days.
The Finance Committee was recommending that the income and expenditure accounts and balance sheet for the year ending 31 March 2008 should now be displayed on the Council’s website.
________________________________________________________
Councillor
Storey’s proposal that the Report of the Finance Committee be adopted was
seconded by Councillor 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 the
last Meeting of this Committee had been held on 20 August 2008 and the Minutes
had been circulated to all Councillors.
__________________________________________________________
Councillor Everard’s proposal that the minutes of the Amenities and Building Development Committee be adopted was seconded by Councillor Horrocks and unanimously agreed.
__________________________________________________________
c) PLANNING
Councillor Horrocks said that
Meetings of the Planning Committee had been held on 30 July, 20 August and 10 September
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.
Tanum Farm – Although the appeal took place in July, no decision had been
received.
d)
i)
It was reported that a blue van was parking near the top of the road near the junction to Hawkshead Road on a regular basis.
ii) Peplins Close
Councillor S J Boulton said that the above close was in need of resurfacing.
iii)
It was noted that the above road had been resurfaced.
e) LITTLE HEATH
i)
It was noted that the word ‘Hawkshead’ had been misspelt on a road sign at the above junction and had been reported to Welwyn Hatfield Council by Councillor Horrocks.
f) WELHAM GREEN
i)
Councillor Mrs T Travell reported that there were a number of overhanging
trees in the above lane impeding large vehicles and it was agreed to report
this to Welwyn Hatfield Council.
ii)
It was noted that a number of buses were parking on the road in the above
location. Councillor K Pieri said he had
the matter in hand.
iii) Alleyways, North Side of Welham Green
Councillor Pieri said that he and Linda
Whitehead from Welwyn Hatfield Council had walked around the alleyways on the
north side of Welham Green and Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council would be tidying
them up.
g) REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES AND
ORGANIZATIONS
It was noted that there was a Borough, Parish and Town Council meeting on Monday 13 October 2008 at the Council Offices, Welwyn Garden City. The Chairman and Clerk would attend.
h) PARISH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION
Councillor Horrocks said that a PPP work schedule had been agreed for 2008/2009 and a quotation for the work had been requested from Sentry Farms.
35. PARISH PLAN
Councillor Mrs Boulton said a meeting of the above had been held on Tuesday 9 September 2008 and the general view had been that it is worth pursuing. Mrs Sheila King chaired the meeting and the notes would be circulated to all Councillors when available. The next meeting would be held on Monday 13 October 2008 at 7.30 at the RVC.
36. CORRESPONDENCE
CORRESPONDENCE
PREVIOUSLY CIRCULATED TO ALL COUNCILLORS:
1. HAPTC Newsletter July/August 2008
2. Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council notice of meeting on 21 July 2008 together with minutes of last meeting and reports of committees.
3. E-mail from Graham Bury, Highways, regarding funding allocated for the resurfacing of School Road, Little Heath
4. Herts Local Access Forum Agenda for meeting on 9 September @ 7.30pm at De Havilland Campus
5. Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council notice of meeting on 1 September 2008 together with minutes of last meeting and reports of committees
6. Clerks and Councils Direct September 2008 Issue 59
7.
HAPTC Newsletter September 2008
THE FOLLOWING CORRESPONDENCE WAS PLACED ON THE TABLE :
8. Project Manager for August 2008 – 52 pages
9. CPRE The Hertfordshire Society year book 2008 – 20 pages
10. CPRE Fieldwork September 2008 – 16 pages
11.
SLCC The Clerk September 2008 – 36 Pages – plus
notice of
12. NALC Local Council Review September 2008 – 36 pages
13.
RVC, Christmas Cards and Gifts catalogue 2008 –
16 pages
37. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
a) DR ROBERT WIKNER
Councillor Horrocks reported that
Dr Wikner, Senior Partner at Potterells, was retiring after 30 years. It was agreed to send a letter thanking him
for his service to the community.
b) PARISH COUNCIL FOR POTTERS BAR
It was noted that Potters Bar
residents had received a postal vote on whether to have a parish council.
c) EAST OF ENGLAND RURAL FORUM,
GROWTH POSITION PAPER
The above paper from HAPTC had just been received and circulated for a response by 30 September 2008. It was agreed that Councillor Horrocks would read and respond as necessary due to the shortage of time.
d)
CIVIC SERVICE
Councillor Mrs Boulton expressed a preference for the annual Civic Service to be held earlier than last year. It was agreed that she would liaise with the Vicar of St Mary’s Church for a date in November 2008 or January 2009.
38. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
A meeting has already been arranged for
Meeting
closed at 10.02 pm