PRESENT: Councillors Mrs J Boulton -
Chairman
Mrs M Race
Mrs
T Travell
S J Boulton
C Everard
P
R
W
A Storey
V
Weeks
CLERK: Mrs
J A Schettino
_________________________________________________________________
78. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received
from Councillor K Pieri.
79. DECLARATION
OF MEMBERS INTERESTS
There were no declarations of members interests.
80. MINUTES
OF THE LAST MEETING
It was agreed that the Minutes of a Meeting held on
Page 57 d) iv) 4th
line – waking distance should read walking distance
81. MATTERS ARISING
a)
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
It was agreed that Terms of Reference for the Finance
Committee were not necessary as the Council’s Financial Regulations were
applicable.
b)
Councillor S J Boulton had yet to write a
letter on behalf of the council.
c)
PURCHASE OF LAND, LITTLE HEATH
A second quotation had been received from Safe
& Sound for the relocation of the tyre swing and the Council confirmed that
it was in order for Mr R Dixon, on behalf of the Parish Council, to instruct
them to proceed with the work.
It was also noted that work on the access
driveway and playing field would commence on Friday 13 March and was programmed
to continue until
It was agreed that Councillor Everard would
attend the site on Friday 13 March when work was scheduled to begin, as the
clerk would be on leave.
d)
WHALC
Councillor S J Boulton agreed to conduct a new valuation
on the Councils buildings in order to ensure the best possible insurance
coverage and this work was scheduled for
e)
CALENDARS 2008
It was noted that the sale of Calendars up to
the end of January 2009 had just covered printing costs this year. It was agreed by the Council to donate the
remaining calendars to the
f)
GOBIONS WOOD HANDOVER
The Clerk confirmed that invitations were on
their way to the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Chairmen of Committees to the hand
over ceremony of Gobions Wood on
g)
BUS SHELTER –
The Clerk confirmed that a response had been
received from WHBC regarding the placing of a bus shelter in the above road at
the junction with
h)
ANNUAL PUBLIC MEETING
It was agreed to display the plans for Phase 2
of the updating of Gobions Recreation Ground at the Annual Public Meeting and
to try for more publicity to generate public interest.
It was also suggested that a photographic
competition and display could be held at the APM in 2010 with an award given
for best entry.
i)
ROTARY CLUB OF
Councillor Everard reported that he and the
Clerk met with two representatives of the Rotary Club on site to discuss the
May Day event being planned for Bradmore Green,
The Rotary Club also wondered whether the
Council would allow them to erect a permanent Christmas tree on Bradmore Green
but would raise this issue at a later date.
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 for
payment totalling £15,681.09 had been presented (and was being recommended for
approval) split between £5,951.00 which had already been paid with the balance
of £9,730.09 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
transferring £13,000 from the council’s SIBA account to current account with
effect from
The Finance Committee was recommending that
approval be given to the Internal Auditors Plan and schedule of documents
required for audit on Wednesday 25 March 2009 and for increases in the British
Gas Homecare agreements for bungalows one and two respectively from £17.00 to
£18.40 and from £17.00 £18.15.
Discussion had also taken place
regarding the Councils bank accounts and it was agreed to recommend to Council
that a Bank Risk Assessment be carried out to allow for action in a perceived
emergency. The Clerk would investigate
the matter and report to the Council in due course.
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
____________________________________________________________
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) Metal
Storage Box for Football Nets
Councillor Everard said that he had completed
the planning application for the above and it would now be submitted to the
WHBC.
ii) Barnbeth
Councillor Everard said that the occupiers of
the above were presently on holiday and he and the Clerk would arrange to meet
them on their return.
c)
PLANNING
Councillor Horrocks said that meetings of the Planning Committee had
been held on 28 January and 11 February 2009, 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 that the appeal for the flats at Green Close had taken place on 25/26
February 2009.
Councillor W A Storey
said that there was some confusion over the necessary equipment required and funding
for the on-line planning database.
Councillor Mrs Boulton and the clerk would seek to clarify the matter at
the next Borough, Town and Parish Councils meeting on
d)
i)
Councillor Weeks said that the Frontagers Association was monitoring the
water running down from the top of the road and that Whites Custodian Trust was
also investigating the matter. It was
agreed to respond to Highways that the Parish Council was not satisfied with
their response as this appears to be an ongoing problem.
ii)
Dropped Kerb,
Councillor Mrs Boulton said that Highways had missed the point when
responding to our request for a dropped Kerb opposite the entrance to
iii)
Salt Bin, Bradmore Green
Councillor Storey suggested that the Parish Council asked Highways for a
salt bin to be placed at Bradmore Green.
iv) Bradmore Lane Junction with
Councillor Storey reported that trees on the
v)
Brookmans Avenue
Councillor Everard said he had been approached by parishioners because
travelling over the speed humps in
e) LITTLE
HEATH
i)
It was agreed that the Parish Council would again approach Highways
suggesting that the speed limit for the whole length of
f) WELHAM GREEN
i)
Councillor Mrs Travell reported that hedges
along
ii) Footpath Pooleys Lane to Hatfield
Councillor Mrs Travell reported that the
footpath from
g)
REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES
i) Neighbourhood Watch
Councillor Everard reported that the new PCSO
would like to come along to a Council meeting and was assured by the members
that she would be most welcome.
ii) Parish
Charities
It was noted that three Parish Councillors
attended a meeting of the Parish Charities recently and the Parish Charities
would like to request an annual grant from this Council. Councillor Storey said he would consider the
financial situation at year end.
iii) Welwyn
Hatfield Association of Local Councils (WHALC)
Councillor Mrs Boulton said that a meeting of
the Welwyn Hatfield Association of Local Councils was held on Monday 23
February 2009 at which Michel Saminaden spoke about the restructuring of
Directors at Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and Dr Dennis Lewis outlined the
Welwyn Hatfield Heritage Forum, encouraging local historical societies to get
in touch with them through the County Museum website.
Councillor Hastings volunteered to provide an
article on development along the
83. PARISH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN
Councillor Horrocks said that work to complete the current year had been
ordered and proposed work to paths for 2009-2010 was nearing completion.
84. PARISH
PLAN
Councillor Mrs Boulton said that the next meeting would be held on
85. CORRESPONDENCE
CORRESPONDENCE PREVIOUSLY CIRCULATED
TO
1. Hertfordshire Local Access Forum
invitation to Quarterly Public Meeting on
2. Hers County Council notice of
temporary closing and restrictions on roads in
3. Free Swimming Form for Hatfield Swim
Centre for under 16’s during school holidays.
THE FOLLOWING CORRESPONDENCE WAS PLACED ON THE
TABLE :
4. Notice of Launch of Herts Policing
Plan 2009/12 taking place at the Fielder Centre on
5.
6. BDO Stoy Hayward Local Councils
Briefing Spring 2009
7. CPRE The Herts Society Newsletter
February 2009 – 12 pages
8. Isabel Hospice Care News February
2009 – 8 pages
9. Environment Agency Upper Colne Flood
Surgery drop in session on
10. The Standards Board for
86. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
a) ANNUAL
CIVIC SERVICE
It was agreed to hold the annual civic service for 2010 on 28 February
at St Mary’s Church,
b) CHANCELLORS
NEWSLETTER SPRING 2009
An article for the Chancellors Newsletter prepared by Councillor
Horrocks had been circulated to all Councillors and approved with a minor
addition.
87. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
A meeting has already
been arranged for
Meeting
closed at