NORTH MYMMS PARISH COUNCIL

 

 

Minutes of the ANNUAL MEETING of the COUNCIL held in the Council Office, annexe to No 1 Bungalow, Bushwood Close, Welham Green on Wednesday, 27 May 2009.

 

PRESENT:              Councillors    Mrs J Boulton

                                                  Mrs T Travell

                                                  S J Boulton

                                                  C Everard

                                                  R N Horrocks

                                                  K J Pieri

                                                  W A Storey

                                                  V W Weeks

 

                              Clerk            Mrs J A Schettino

 

 

INTRODUCTION – CHAIRMAN

The Chair was taken in the first instance by Councillor Mrs J Boulton who welcomed all present to the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council and requested that a vote of thanks be recorded to all members and the Clerk for their support over the last year.

1.     ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

Councillor Mrs Boulton said that it was now necessary to elect a Chairman for the coming year, 2009-2010.  The yearly rotation of wards previously agreed in 2001 (referred to in Minute No. 4, 30 May 2001) would end with the ward of Little Heath for 2009/2010.  Therefore the chairman of the council would be nominated from the Little Heath Ward.

CHAIRMAN FOR 2009-2010

Councillor Everard proposed that Councillor Vivian Weeks be elected as Chairman of the North Mymms Parish Council for the forthcoming year.  This was seconded by Councillor Keith Pieri and, there being no other nominations, was carried unanimously.

 

R E S O L V E D

 

That Councillor Vivian Weeks be elected as Chairman of the North Mymms Parish Council for the forthcoming year, 2009-2010.

  

ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE

 

Upon formally accepting the office of Chairman for the forthcoming year, Councillor Vivian Weeks signed the official Declaration of Acceptance of Office Book and thanked all members for electing him.  He also thanked the outgoing Chairman for handling the position so well during her term of office.

 

2.           YEARLY WARD ROTATION & ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN

It was resolved that the annual ward rotation for the forthcoming years, derived from the original pattern,  would be as shown listed below:

2010-2011                          2011-2012                        2012-2013

Welham Green                    Brookmans Park                Welham Green

 

2013-2014                           2014-2015                        2015-2016

 

Brookmans Park                  Little Heath                        Welham Green

 

2016-2017                           2017-2018                        2018-2019             

 

Brookmans Park                  Welham Green                  Brookmans Park

 

2019-2020                           2020-2021

 

Little Heath                          Welham Green

 

 

In accordance with the rotation procedures, four members were eligible to be nominated for the post of Vice Chairman:

 

Councillor K Pieri’s proposal to nominate Councillor Mrs T Travell was seconded by Councillor C Everard and as there were no other nominations it was carried unanimously.

 

R E S O L V E D

 

It was resolved that Councillor Mrs T Travell be appointed as Vice-Chairman of the North Mymms Parish Council for the forthcoming year, 2009-2010.

 

3.           APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs M Race.

CLERKS NOTE:  Apologies for absence were received from Councillor P Hastings at commencement of business on the following day.

 

 

4.           DECLARATION OF MEMBERS INTERESTS

Councillor R Horrocks declared an interest as Honorary Secretary and Councillors C Everard and V Weeks as committee members of the North Mymms Green Belt Society

 

5.      APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES

 

After appropriate discussion, it was resolved that the membership of the North Mymms Parish Council’s Committees for the forthcoming year 2009-2010, should be the under-mentioned Councillors:

 

a)  Finance                                       b)       Amenities & Building Development

 

     S J Boulton                                           Mrs J Boulton

C Everard                                             Mrs M Race

     P Hastings                                            Mrs T Travell

     R N Horrocks                              C Everard

     K Pieri                                        R Horrocks   

     W A Storey                                           W A Storey

 

c)  Planning                                      d)       Boundaries

     (With Executive Authority)

 

     Mrs J Boulton                                        S J Boulton

     Mrs M Race                                          W A Storey

     Mrs T Travell                                        

     C Everard

     P Hastings                                           

     R N Horrocks

     W A Storey  

    

     NOTE

 

The Council Chairman is automatically a member of the above Committees.

 

e)    Ward Committees

 

Membership of Ward Committees will be the Councillors elected for their respective Ward:

 

Brookmans Park      Councillors Mrs J  & S J Boulton
                              Councillors C Everard & P Hastings

Little Heath              Councillors R Horrocks & V Weeks

Welham Green        Councillors K Pieri & W A Storey
                              Councillors Mrs M Race & Mrs T Travell

 

6.       APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

It was resolved that the following members be appointed to represent, or continue to represent, the Council on the under-mentioned bodies and organizations:

 

a)  Hertfordshire Association of Parish                   R N Horrocks

     and Town Councils.

 

b)  North Mymms Memorial Hall                             C Everard

     Management Committee.

 

c)  North Mymms Youth & Community                    P Hastings/K J Pieri

     Centre Management Committee.

 

d)  CPRE/Herts Society                              Mrs J Boulton
                                                                           Mrs T Travell

 

e)  Welwyn Hatfield Association of                         Council Chairman

     Local Councils                                                 Vice-Chairman

                                                                           C Everard

                                                                           W A Storey

 

f)   Welwyn Hatfield Environmental Network            R N Horrocks

 

g)    Parish Charities

(Shown here for information purposes only)

 

i)  North Mymms                                              C Everard, S J Boulton

K Pieri, J Taylor

 

ii)  North Mymms Recreation &    

     Charitable Trust                                          Mrs J Boulton

 

7.       MINUTES OF THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING

It was agreed that the Minutes of a Meeting held on 29 April 2009 were a true record of the proceedings and signed by the Chairman.

 

8.       MATTERS ARISING

a)   BROOKMANS PARK STATION CAR PARK

 

Councillor S J Boulton said that he had received an unhelpful response from the Managing Director of First Capital Direct.  Councillor Pieri said that the WHBC would be writing to them to request lower parking fees.

 

The North Mymms Parish Council agreed to monitor the situation.

b)    ARTICLE FOR WELWYN HATFIELD COUNCIL LIFE MAGAZINE

The editor of Life Magazine had regretfully declined the article provided by the Parish Council as it was too large for this publication and not suitable for editing.  As it needed half a page she hoped there would be space in the next issue.

 

c)  METAL STORAGE BOX FOR FOOTBALL NETS

 

Councillor Pieri confirmed that the WHBC had paid for the above container and it was agreed to send a letter of thanks to them.

 

It was noted that the Clerk had complained about the condition of the metal storage box to the supplier and was presently awaiting a response from them.

 

d)  HOARDING AT GREEN CLOSE

 

Councillor Boulton advised that as the hoarding had not been reduced in height within the stated time frame the WHBC would be seeking an enforcement order to ensure that this action was complied with.

 

e)  GEORGES WOOD ROAD

 

Councillor Weeks advised that the next meeting of the Frontagers Association was scheduled for 1 June 2009 when it was hoped to progress the matter of water flowing from No. 8.

 

f)  YOUTH SHELTER

 

It appeared that the youth shelter was little used because it was located in the wrong spot.  Members of the council had been approached regarding re-locating the shelter to the village green and the Clerk was requested to raise the issue with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.

 

g)  PARISH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN

 

Councillor Horrocks reported that the excess cost of the proposed work to FP 13 could be funded by Rights of Way.

 

9.       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 £36,027.96 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.  This amount included large, one-off costs to Zurich for the council’s annual insurance and Sutcliffe Play for the new play equipment installed at Gobions Open Space.

 

A Statement of Balances dated 20 May 2009 was considered and income of £641.93 was noted and approval was given to the Clerks action in transferring £23,000 from the Councils SIBA account to current account as from 26 May 2009.

 

A Scribe report comparing the council’s income and expenditure against budget had been noted.

 

The Audit Return for the year ending 31 March 2009 had been circulated to all Councillors and the Finance Committee was recommending to full council that the Annual Return, the Governance Statement and balance sheet, having been checked, should be approved and signed by the Chairman.

 

It was resolved that the Annual Audit Return, the Governance Statement and Balance Sheet should be approved and signed by the Chairman.

Councillor W A Storey said the Clerk had been making enquiries about reserve accounts with different providers following a risk assessment of bank accounts earlier in the year and would report back to the council in due course.

 

Councillor Storey said that it was being recommended to Council that a new Special Reserve account should be opened at Nat West and funds in the Special Interest Bearing Account, earning little interest, should be transferred to the new account presently paying 1.3%.

_________________________________________________________

b)  AMENITIES AND BUILDING DEVELOPMENT

Councillor Everard said that a Meeting of this Committee had been held on 15 April 2009 and the Minutes had been adopted by the full Council at their last meeting on 29 April 2009.  The Following matters were discussed further:

 

i)  Burns Pavilion

 

Councillor Everard said that work to replace the boiler in the Burns Pavilion had been completed.

 

ii) Phase II Gobions Open Space

 

Councillor Everard said that the new play equipment had been installed at Gobions Open Space with only the placement of the picnic table still outstanding and this was due to be delivered within 24 hours.

 

c) PLANNING

Councillor Horrocks said that meetings of the Planning Committee had been held on 29 April  and 13 May 2009 the minutes of which, together with notes of  the decisions reached  and action taken, had been copied to all Councillors.

 

CLERKS NOTE:  Apologies for absence given by Mrs T Travell for the last meeting held on 13 May 2009 had not been recorded in the minutes.

__________________________________________________________

WHBC CORE STRATEGY

Councillor Horrocks referred to an article where a High Court Judge said that the Governments policy strategy relating to proposed development in the East of England at Hemel Hempstead, Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield was flawed and must be quashed.  This article would be circulated to all Councillors for information.

 

d)  BROOKMANS PARK

 

i)  Storm Gulley Pine Grove

 

Councillor Everard reported that the Storm Gulley on the left hand side of Pine Grove at its junction with The Drive was blocked up.

 

ii) Leach Fields TPO’s

 

Councillor Horrocks reported that Tree Preservation Orders had been placed on several groups of trees in the Leach Fields.

e)  LITTLE HEATH

Nothing to report

f)  WELHAM GREEN

 

i)  Pooleys Lane

 

Councillor Mrs Travell reported that the footpath from Pooleys Lane to Travellers Lane still needed clearing.  It had previously been reported to WHBC who had then written to Tesco asking them to attend to this matter.

 

Councillor K Pieri said he would follow this up as the person who originally dealt with this problem at WHBC had now left.

 

 

g) REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES AND ORGANIZATIONS

 

i)  North Mymms Recreational & Charitable Trust

 

Councillor Mrs J Boulton said that the next meeting of the above Trust would be held on Monday 22 June 2009.

 

ii) Welwyn Hatfield Association of Local Councils

 

The Clerk reported that the next meeting of the above association had been arranged for Monday 8 June 2009 at Welwyn Civic Centre and Welwyn Parish Council was requesting agenda items.

 

It was agreed to suggest that the Dataspace Consult planning portal be added to the agenda.

 

h)    PARISH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN

Councillor Horrocks said that there was nothing further to report.

10.     CORRESPONDENCE

CORRESPONDENCE PREVIOUSLY CIRCULATED TO ALL COUNCILLORS:

1.     HAPTC Newsletter April 2009

2.     Notice of trip to Winchester on Wednesday 27 May 2009 arranged by Churches together.

3.     Clerk & Councils Direct May 2009 – 32 pages

4.     Letter dated 12 May 2009 from Rotary Club of Brookmans Park thanking the Parish Council for the use of Bradmore Green.

5.     Response from Paul McNally regarding insurance coverage – Zurich has widest and cheapest cover available to local authorities.

THE FOLLOWING CORRESPONDENCE WAS PLACED ON THE TABLE :

6.     Notification from Equality & Human Rights Commission regarding the amalgamation of Public Sector Duties which come into force late 2011 – 8 pages.

7.     HCC letter dated 30 April 2009 regarding new waste treatment infrastructure for the County.

8.     Herts Building Preservation Trust Newsletter Spring 2009 – 4 pages

9.     CPRE Newsletter May 2009 – 12 pages

10. SLCC The Clerk May 2009 – 36 pages

11. Isabel Hospice Care News May 2009 – 12 pages plus book of raffle tickets

12. WHBC Notice of meeting 6 April 2009 and minutes of last meeting and reports of committees Books I & II.

11.     ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

a)    BUSHWOOD CLOSE

 

Councillor W A Storey had written to the Chief Executive of WHBC regarding the adoption by the Borough Council of Bushwood Close, Welham Green.

 

It was agreed that a vote of thanks should be recorded for his work on behalf of the Parish Council in regard to this matter.

 

b)  ALLOTMENT JUDGING

 

It was agreed that the annual Allotment Judging would take place on Wednesday 17 June 2009 at 2pm.

 

It was resolved that the panel would be:

 

Councillor V Weeks, Mrs J Weeks, Councillor Mrs T Travell, Councillor K Pieri.

 

c)  VISIT TO THE ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE

 

The Clerk confirmed that there would be a visit to the RVC @ 10 am on Thursday 18 June 2009.  Members were asked to confirm their attendance as names would be required to arrange entry on the day.

 

It was agreed that the following Councillors would attend:

 

Councillors Mrs J Boulton, C Everard, W A Storey, V Weeks

(The Clerk would contact Councillors Mrs M Race and P Hastings to confirm their attendance)

 

d)  MEETING WITH LOCAL MP

 

The Clerk reported that she had arranged to meet with the local MP on Friday 12 June 2009 with Councillor Mrs Boulton to discuss the Parish Council’s nominated representatives on various local organisations and the Parish Plan.

 

12.   DATE OF NEXT MEETING

A meeting has already been arranged for Wednesday, 24 June 2009 commencing at 8.00 pm, preceded by a meeting of the Finance Committee at 7.15 pm.

Meeting closed at 9.28 pm

 

Following the closure of the ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING on 27 May 2009 it was resolved that the Chairmen of the three newly appointed Sub-Committees for the forthcoming year, 2009-2010, would be :

 

COMMITTEE                                        CHAIRMAN                      VICE CHAIRMAN  

 

FINANCE                                              W A Storey                       R N Horrocks

 

AMENITIES &

BUILDING DEVELOPMENT                   C Everard                         Mrs J Boulton

 

PLANNING                                            R N Horrocks           Mrs M Race

 

 

The first meeting of the Amenities & Building Development Planning Committee will be held on Wednesday 10 June 2009 commencing at 8 pm.

 

 

The first meeting of the Planning Committee will be held on Wednesday 10 June 2009 following a meeting of the Amenities & Building Development Committee.