PRESENT:
Councillors V W Weeks - Chairman
Mrs J Boulton
Mrs T Travell
S J Boulton
C Everard
P
R Horrocks
K Pieri
W A Storey
CLERK:
Mrs J A Schettino
_________________________________________________________________
The Chairman of the Council welcomed
Sergeant Malcom Dey from the Hatfield and Rural Safer Neighbourhood Team who
gave a brief presentation prior to requesting a donation towards a static ANPR
(Automatic Number Plate Recognition) camera which would cost £7,500 and would be
based in
It was agreed that the Parish Council would discuss this request at their Budget meeting in November but meanwhile requested some further information and possibly a visit to a station using the ANPR system.
The Chairman then thanked Sergeant Dey for
his attendance and the main meeting commenced at
36.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs M Race.
37. DECLARATION OF MEMBERS INTERESTS
Councillors C Everard, R Horrocks and V Weeks declared an interest as committee members of the North Mymms Green Belt Society.
38. MINUTES
OF THE LAST MEETING
It was agreed
that the Minutes of a Meeting held on
Page 19, 28 e) 2nd line WHBC to replace the word Serco
Page 21, 29 a) 2nd bullet point – correction of the word plainnings to ‘planings’
39. MATTERS
ARISING
a)
It was noted that parking charges had been reduced from £3 to £2 per
day which had helped to double the number of vehicles parking from approximately
b) YOUTH SHELTER
Councillor Hastings had spoken to youths at the WGA1 group and the prevailing view is that the village green or further down the playing field would be preferred site for the youth shelter. Councillor Hastings would consult with WHBC anti-social behaviour team.
c) SIGNS BEING DISPLAYED WITHOUT PLANNING PERMISSION
Councillor Pieri had approached both WHBC and Highways regarding removing the TP signs without success but he agreed to persevere.
d) NORTH MYMMS YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTRE
Councillor Pieri agreed to pursue the issue of repairing the car park at the above centre.
40. REPORTS OF
COMMITTEES
a)
FINANCE
It was agreed that it be recommended to Council that the payments made during the summer recess totalling £19,593.03, together with a Statement of Balances as at 21 August 2009 showing an income of £9,456.88 and the transfer of £15,000 from the Business Reserve account to current account on 27 August 2009 be accepted and approved (as authorised by Council Minute No 29 a) dated 29 July 2009).
It was also
agreed to recommend to Council a Schedule of Accounts for Payment totalling
£10,921.46 together with a Statement of Balances as at
Councillor Storey said that
notification of NALC National Final Salary Awards for 2009/2010 had been
received backdated to
The Chairman of Finance said that the following expenditure was also being recommended to Council for approval:
· Two quotations had been received for the replacement of the boiler in Bungalow 1.
A Hollings £2137 for a condensing boiler
All Plumbing & Heating £2109 + VAT for a combi Boiler
Councillor
Storey said that the Head groundsman would prefer the condensing boiler and it
was being recommended to full council that as this expenditure was in the budget
for this financial year, the work should go ahead as soon as possible.
· Quotations for Heavy Duty Turf Aerators
Councillor
Storey said that a problem had arisen with the Council’s present aerator for the
Groundsman £4983.87 + VAT
Sisis Arrow £6495.00 + VAT
Councillor
Storey said that although this expenditure had not been included in the budget
for 2009/2010, as the need was urgent there would be enough money in the
Council’s reserves to pay for it and the purchase of the Groundsman Aerator,
demonstrated during the week, was being recommended to full council for
approval.
· SJS Irrigation
The Finance Chairman said that the Clerk had advised that an annual contract for the closing down and starting up of the irrigation system on the bowling green had been received and it was agreed to proceed with this contract at an annual cost of £360 + VAT plus a possible problem with the pump which would need investigating before close down.
·
Annual
Subscription
An annual
subscription of £30 to the Herts Building Preservation Trust was being
recommended to council for approval.
· Scribe Report
A scribe report to September was compared against budget and the financial situation of the Council was noted as being satisfactory and on course for the half year accounts due at the end of September.
·
Annual Audit to
A
Conclusion of Audit had been received from BDO Stoy Hayward, the Council’s
External Auditors, and this information was already being displayed on the
parish notice boards. A copy of the completed audit and the Issues Arising
Report had been circulated to all Councillors for consideration.
The Clerk said that the three issues arising had already been acted upon as follows:
Risk
Assessment - the risk assessment had not
been reviewed and minuted by the council during the year to 31 March 2009 which
was a breach of audit regulation 4 of the Accounts and Audit (Amendment)
(England) Regulation 2006. (The risk
assessment was reviewed thoroughly and approved at the council’s meeting on
Fidelity
Guarantee – The council have reviewed the level of
fidelity guarantee cover, however this still appears to be insufficient in light
of the bank balances held at 31 March 2009 and the amount of precept then
subsequently received in April 2009. (The
Clerk has contacted
Expenditure
Powers – Section 137 incorrectly used when other
statutory powers existed. A payment cannot be recorded under S137 if another
power exists. (The clerk has checked the sites recommended
by BDO Stoy Hayward and will examine the council’s grants and donations to
ensure this does not happen again)
· Patching and Surfacing Work to Part of Bushwood Close
Two quotations had been received for the above urgent and necessary work:
T
A H Nicholls £3050 + VAT
Councillor Storey said that as the council was in recess in August, the Chairman of Finance, Chairman of the Council and Chairman of the Amenities and Building Development Committee had approved the unbudgeted expenditure of £3050 + VAT from reserves as it was necessary that the work was completed during the school summer holidays and the Finance Committee had approved this action.
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 V W Weeks, in his 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
It was noted that a letter had been received just prior to this meeting from the Chairman of the Governors at St Mary’s School to say that the draft annual licence, given to the school before the school summer holidays, had now been sent to the Diocese with their comments.
c) PLANNING
Councillor Horrocks said that meetings of the Planning Committee had been held on 29 July, 5 August, 19 August and 9 September 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 Reports of the Planning
Committees be adopted was seconded by Councillor C Everard and carried
unanimously.
Councillor Horrocks said that at
the meeting of 5 August 2009 the committee had encountered technical problems
but that he, Councillors Mrs Boulton, Vivian Weeks and the Clerk had attend a
WHBC training session in the afternoon of 30 September
2009.
41.
Councillor Mrs Boulton’s suggestion that the Parish Council introduce an initiative for the best kept garden in the parish was deferred to the next meeting of the Amenities and Building Development Committee.
42.
LITTLE HEATH
·
A shuttered sign at the end of
·
Councillor Horrocks said that he
had reported the trees on the south side of
·
Councillor Horrocks said that
the car boot had completed 14 sales on land in
·
Councillor Horrocks said that
43. WELHAM
GREEN
The Hatfield and Rural Safer Neighbourhood Police Team were now producing a newsletter which also advertised surgeries due to be held in the North Mymms Memorial Hall and when the Police mobile unit would be present in Welham Green.
44. REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES AND
ORGANIZATIONS
·
Councillor Everard said that
minutes from the North Mymms Memorial Hall Committee Meetings were now being
sent to the Parish Council for circulation.
· Councillors K Pieri and P Hastings informed the council that two members on the North Mymms Youth & Community committee had resigned and they were looking for new recruits and they would be launching a website soon.
45. PARISH
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN
Councillor Horrocks said that the work for 2009/10 grant had been completed and he would soon be meeting with Rights of Way and the CMS to decide the work needing funding for 2010/11.
The work completed was on FP31 and was to refurbish the steps leading down from the roadside, clearing the scrub along both sides to let in more light and to supply and install 10m of boardwalk. The total cost was £2025 plus VAT with a grant of £1,000 to the Parish to cover part of the cost and the rest being funded via the Hertfordshire Rights of Way department
46. PARISH
PLAN
Councillor Mrs Boulton said that a sub-committee had been formed and
would meet in the next couple of weeks to prepare a questionnaire for
circulation to all parishioners.
The Chairman of the Steering Group had invited the police to attend their
next meeting on
47. HEALTH
& SAFETY POLICY
The Parish Council reviewed its Health &
Safety Policy and it was resolved to accept the suggested amendments and
for the revised document to be circulated to all members.
48.
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
The Parish Council considered its Grievance
Procedure but deferred any decision until the next meeting, following
clarification from HAPTC on a couple of points that were
raised.
49.
CORRESPONDENCE
CORRESPONDENCE PREVIOUSLY CIRCULATED TO
1.
Minutes of a Meeting of the
North Mymms Memorial Hall Committee meeting held on
2.
E-mail dated
3.
HCC letter dated
4.
E-mail dated
5.
E-mail dated
6.
E-mail dated 23 September from
Jane Tyler WHBC regarding the hedge on the south side of
7.
HCC letter
8. Clerk and Councils Direct September 2009 – 31 pages.
THE
FOLLOWING CORRESPONDENCE WAS PLACED ON THE TABLE :
9. CMS News No. 103 Summer 2009 – 12 pages
10. HCC Communications 31 July 2009 – Ageing well in Herts
11. HAPTC Governance Toolkit for Parish & Town Council V3 – 117 pages
12. HAPTC Annual Report 2008/2009 – 15 pages
13.
SLCC Notice of AGM
14. LCR Autumn 2009 – 43 pages
15. CPRE Fieldwork September 2009 – 16 pages
16. HCC Towards Better Transport in Herts – Annual Progress Report 2008/09 – 73 pages
17.
CPRE Herts Year Book 2009 – 19
pages + Notice of AGM on
18.
BEAMS in Association with HCC,
Seminar for Listed Buildings Owners and Professional Advisors
50. ANY OTHER
BUSINESS
a) MEETING OF BOROUGH, PARISH & TOWN COUNCILS
It was noted that
Councillors Mrs T Travell, Vivian Weeks and the Clerk would attend the above
meeting on
b) ADDRESS FOR
The Clerk reported that the Parish Council’s details had now been added the WHBC, the Royal Mail and Police Database as 1a Bushwood Close, Welham Green, North Mymms, AL9 7YZ and this address would be changed on the Council’s headed notepaper and compliment slips in due course.
c) ALLOTMENT CHALLENGE CUP PRESENTATION
In the absence of
the Chairman, it was agreed that Councillor Mrs T Travell, Vice Chairman of the
North Mymms Parish Council, would present the Allotment Challenge Cup on
51.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting has already been arranged
for
Meeting closed at