PRESENT:
Councillors Mrs J Boulton -
Chairman
Mrs
T Travell
S J Boulton
C Everard
R
K
Pieri
W
A Storey
V
Weeks
CLERK: Mrs
J A Schettino
_________________________________________________________________
59. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor P Hastings.
60. DECLARATION
OF MEMBERS INTERESTS
There were no declarations of members interests.
61. MINUTES
OF THE LAST MEETING
It was agreed that the Minutes of a Meeting held on
Page 43, Item 51 c) …
proposal seconded by Councillor Mrs T Travell
62. MATTERS ARISING
a)
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
Following a discussion a number of minor
amendments to the Model Publication Scheme were suggested and unanimously
agreed. It was also agreed that the
Council’s website would be updated to include the Council’s Policies and
Procedures, Code of Conduct and Terms of Reference for Committees.
b)
It was noted that a response had been received
from Councillor John Mansfield, Member for Transport WHBC, to say that this
issue with parking in
There had also been an article in the Welwyn
Hatfield Times regarding the empty car park at Brookmans Park Station since the
introduction of charges by NCP.
63. 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 for
payment totalling £11,814.13 had been presented (and was being recommended for
approval) split between £6,669.82 which had already been paid with the balance
of £5,144.31 now being due for payment.
Consideration was given to a Statement of
Balances held with the National Westminster Bank plc as at
Approval was given to the Clerk’s action in
arranging the transfer of £12,000 from the Council’s SIBA Account to Current
Account with effect from
The following expenditure was being recommended
to Council:
·
New
honours board to match existing complete with titles £242.50
·
Annual
machine scrub and re-emulsion Burns pavilion £326.00
·
Necessary
repairs to sprinkler system – materials £400.00
Plus labour charges for 4 – 7 hours work
The Finance Committee had noted that the VAT
element on petrol had decreased to 15% from
Councillor Storey said that a request for a
donation towards their work had been received from the Stop Stansted Expansion
Committee. Following a discussion the
Council decided against supporting this request.
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
Councillor Everard said that the last Meeting
of this Committee had been held on
The following matters were discussed:
i) Purchase
of Land, Little Heath
It was noted that the Clerk had confirmed to
Highways that the Parish Council was in favour of the proposed crossover for
the new access road at Little Heath recreation ground.
ii) North
Mymms Bowls Club
Councillor Everard said that the huge task of
cutting the hedge around the
c)
PLANNING
Councillor Horrocks said that meetings of the Planning Committee had
been held on 26 November and 17 December 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.
d)
i)
Councillor Everard thanked the Frontagers Association for repairing the
pot holes at the top of
It was agreed to report the possible leak to Highways and Three Valleys
Water for investigation.
ii)
Councillor Horrocks reported that a sign had been erected on the left
hand side over
iii)
It was noted that an article had appeared in the Welwyn Hatfield Times
dated
It was agreed to write to Highways to say that in view of the number of
accidents and the serious fatality in the past, consideration should be given
to extending the 40 mph signs through from Little Heath to
e) LITTLE
HEATH
Nothing to report.
f) WELHAM GREEN
i)
A response had been received from the Police
regarding the ambulance presently parking in front of the shops in
ii)
Councillor Pieri said that he had checked the
area and noted that no buses were parked.
However, lorry parking was affecting sightlines and he would report this
to the Member for Transport at Welwyn Hatfield Council,
iii) Whites
Corner
Councillor Pieri agreed to speak to Stuart
Pile regarding the drainage system which was causing severe flooding at the
above location.
iv) Mens'
Club
Councillor Mrs Boulton said the smoking
shelter at the above club had been removed before Christmas.
v) St
Mary’s Church,
It was agreed to write to
vi)
Councillor Storey said that the de-restriction
sign at the end of
g)
REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES
i) Parish Charities
It was noted that Councillors S J Boulton and K Pieri had received their
nomination forms for the above charity.
ii) WHALC
At the last meeting of the Welwyn Hatfield Association of Local Councils
the cost of insurance for local Parish and Town Councils was raised.
It was agreed as a result that Councillor Weeks should be given a copy
of this Council’s insurance documents in order to obtain a competitive
quotation from a reputable broker for further consideration.
h)
PARISH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN
Councillor Horrocks said that a
64. PARISH
PLAN
Councillor Mrs Boulton advised that the next meeting of the Steering
Group would be held on
65. CORRESPONDENCE
CORRESPONDENCE PREVIOUSLY CIRCULATED
TO
1. HAPTC Newsletter November 2008
2. HAPTC Newsletter December 2008
3. Herts Highways
4. Welwyn Hatfield Association of Local
Councils minutes of meeting held on
5. Rotary Club of Brookmans Park letter
of thanks for allowing Christmas Tree on Bradmore Green
6. Notice of Borough, Parish & Town
Councillors workshop to discuss Welwyn Hatfield Sustainable Corporate &
Community Plan on
THE FOLLOWING CORRESPONDENCE WAS PLACED ON THE
TABLE :
7. NALC Local Council Review, January
2009 – 32 pages
8. CPRE Fieldwork December 2008 – 16
pages
9. Flight for Life from Essex Air
Ambulance – 4 pages
10. Herts Policing Authority, Policing
Plan 2009-2012, 6 pages
11. Community Car Guide x 3 – 34 pages
each
12. Herts Building Preservation Trust
Newsletter Winter 08/09 – 4 pages each
13. Communities & Local Government,
Communities in Control – 34 pages
14. Hertsmere Borough Council, Local
Development Framework Core Strategy for submission to Secretary of State – 111
pages
66. ANY
OTHER BUSINESS
a) CALENDARS
2008
Councillor Horrocks reported that 250 of a
possible 350 calendars had been sold. It
was agreed to hold a January sale reducing the price to £4 each for the
remaining 100.
b) WHBC
PLANNING TRAINING
It was agreed to reserve eight places on the
WHBC Planning Training scheduled for
67. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
A meeting has already
been arranged for
Meeting
closed at 8.57 pm