NORTH MYMMS PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of the ANNUAL MEETING of the PARISH COUNCIL held in the Council Office, 1A Bushwood Close, Welham Green on Wednesday 26th May 2010 commencing at 7.55pm.

 

PRESENT:    Councillors              Mrs J Boulton

                                                  S Boulton

                                                  C Everard

                                                  P Hastings

                                                  R Horrocks

                                                  K Pieri

                                                  Mrs M Race

                                                  W A Storey

                                                  Mrs T Travell

                                                  V W Weeks

 

                    Assistant Clerk        Mrs H Rook

 

 

INTRODUCTION - CHAIRMAN

 

Councillor Weeks opened the meeting by thanking his fellow Councillors for their support during his year of Chairmanship.

 

1.               ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

 

Councillor Weeks said it was now necessary to elect a Chairman for the coming year, 2010-2011.  The yearly rotation of wards previously agreed and referred to in Minute No. 4, 30 May 2001 and Minute 2, 27 May 2009 would continue with the ward of Welham Green for 2010-2011.  Therefore the Chairman of the Council would be nominated from the Welham Green ward. 

 

CHAIRMAN FOR 2010-2011

 

Councillor Everard proposed that Councillor Mrs Travell be elected as Chairman of the North Mymms Parish Council for the forthcoming year.  This was seconded by Councillor Mrs Boulton and, there being no other nomination, was carried unanimously. 

 

RESOLVED that Councillor Mrs Travell be appointed Chairman of the North Mymms Parish Council for the ensuing municipal year. 

 

Upon formally accepting the office of Chairman for the forthcoming year, Councillor Mrs Travell signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office Book and thanked the Council for her election.  She also thanked the outgoing Chairman for handling the position so well during his term of office. 

 

2.               ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN

 

In accordance with the rotation procedure, four members were eligible to be nominated for the post of Vice Chairman.  Councillor Pieri’s proposal to nominate Councillor Hastings was seconded by Councillor Mrs Boulton and as there were no other nominations it was carried unanimously. 

 

RESOLVED that Councillor Hastings be appointed Vice-Chairman of the North Mymms Parish Council for the ensuing municipal year.

 

3.       APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

Apologies for absence were received from the Clerk, Mrs J Schettino.

 

4.       TO APPOINT THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES

 

After appropriate discussion it was RESOLVED that the members of North Mymms Parish Council’s committees for the forthcoming year, 2010-2011 should be the under-mentioned Councillors:

 

a)              Finance – Councillors Storey, Everard, Hastings, Horrocks, Pieri and S Boulton were appointed to the Finance Committee

b)              Amenities and Building Development – Councillors Everard, Mrs Race, Hastings, Mrs J Boulton, Storey and Weeks were appointed to the Amenities and Building Development Committee

c)               Planning – Councillors Horrocks, Mrs J Boulton, Everard, Hastings, Mrs Race, Storey and Weeks were appointed to the Planning Committee. 

d)              Boundaries – Councillors S Boulton and Storey were appointed to the Boundaries Committee.

 

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:

 

(i)       Brookmans Park               Councillors Mrs J & SJ Boulton

                                                 Councillors C Everard & P Hastings

(ii)      Little Heath                       Councillors R Horrocks & V Weeks

(iii)      Welham Green                 Councillors K Pieri & WA Storey

                                                 Councillors Mrs M Race & Mrs T Travell

 

5.       REPRESENTATIVES ON BODIES AND ORGANISATIONS

 

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

 

a)       Hertfordshire Association of Parish & Town Councils

          Councillor R Horrocks

 

b)              North Mymms Memorial Hall Management Committee

Councillor C Everard

 

c)       North Mymms Youth & Community Centre Management Committee

          Councillor P Hastings

 

d)       CPRE/Herts Society

          Councillors Mrs J Boulton and Mrs T Travell

 

e)       Welwyn Hatfield Association of Local Councils

          Councillors Mrs T Travell, P Hastings, C Everard and WA Storey

 

f)        Welwyn Hatfield Environmental Network

          Councillor R Horrocks

 

g)       Parish Charities (shown here for information purposes only)

 

(i)    North Mymms

Councillors Boulton, Everard, Pieri and Mr Jeremy Taylor

 

(ii)   North Mymms Recreation & Charitable Trust

Councillor Mrs J Boulton    

 

6.       DECLARATION OF MEMBERS INTERESTS

 

Councillors K Pieri and S Boulton declared an interest as members of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. 

 

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

 

7.       MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

 

It was agreed that the Minutes of a Meeting held on 28th April 2010 were a true record of the proceedings and signed by the Chairman with the following amendment:

 

The spelling of Councillor Pieri’s surname needed correcting throughout the minutes.

 

8.       MATTERS ARISING

 

WHALC – Standards Committee

Further information will be provided by Councillor Mrs Race when it is available.

 

Action:  Councillor Mrs Race

 

Key Safe

Councillor Weeks had not yet managed to get the information regarding key safes.  Councillor Mrs Travell suggested a fire-proof safe big enough to accommodate computer back-up disks.  It was agreed to put this on hold until the filing and archiving had been completed.

 

Imprest Account

The new bank mandate forms and debit card request had been sent to Nat West and were being processed.

 

Welham Green As One

Councillor Hastings thanked those Councillors who attended the meeting on Friday 21st May which was also attended by many residents and the local police.  A community event on the village green would be arranged for the weekend of 18th September 2010 to coincide with the balloon landing anniversary.  A Steering Committee would be formed and a further meeting would be held on 7th June.  The Health and Safety concerns regarding the venue raised at the last Council meeting had been addressed and the Councillors were satisfied that this was no longer a problem. 

Councillor Pieri advised that unfortunately he was unable to attend both the meeting on 7th June and the event on 18th September.  

 

Zurich Insurance

 

The renewal had been received from Zurich Municipal and the contents insurance had been updated to reflect the updated Statement of Assets at 19th May.  The Fidelity Guarantee had already been increased to £250k in 2009. 

 

Policing Policy

There was nothing further to discuss.   

 

9.       REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

 

a)              FINANCE

 

Councillor Storey reported that the Finance Committee had met earlier that evening.  The 2009/10 Year End accounts had been finalised and were being recommended to the Council for adoption.  The Council considered the annual statement of accounts and annual governance statement and on the proposal of Councillor Storey, seconded by Councillor Everard, RESOLVED that they be approved and adopted. 

 

The statutory notices regarding the year end audit had been displayed on the Notice Boards.

 

Receipts for the period 14 April to 14 May amounted to £4725.24 being a VAT refund of £4,599.50 and interest on the Nat West Reserve account of £125.74.    

 

A Schedule of Accounts for Payment totalling £25,783.77 was presented (and being recommended for approval) including £6,163.56 which had already been paid. 

 

A new format of Statement of Balances had been drafted and circulated for approval.   

 

Approval was given to the transfer of £25,000 from the Council’s Business Reserve Account to the Current Account made on 19th May 2010.   The transfer of £25,000 requested on 26th April 2010 had been delayed by Nat West, due to a query over signatures, resulting in 2 cheques bouncing, which had now been reissued.  No charges had been debited to date.

 

The Imprest account had been dormant this month. 

 

The gas meter in the Pavilion had been read in March and a bill had been received showing the account was in credit by £279.  The Direct Debit is currently £41/month and would be kept at the same level for the time being. 

 

Following reading of the Council office gas meter a bill had been received showing an additional amount due of £3454.93.  Meter readings had since been taken over a 2 week period and  Andy Hollings had checked the supply for a gas leak.  British Gas had quoted approximately £200 for a meter check which would only be refunded if a fault is detected.  However, until there is a working boiler in place it is not possible to obtain meaningful readings of the meter. 

 

A.W. Hollings had provided a quotation of £1,405 to replace the boiler.  A quotation is also being sought from Pleasure Plumbing.   The Council AGREED to replace the boiler using the lower of the two quotes. 

 

The direct debit for the council office electricity supply is being reinstated from 1st June at £19/month. The electricity supply to the tractor shed is paid quarterly and is based on regular readings by E.ON.

 

A new quotation including anti-wrap chains had been obtained and agreed at the Amenities meeting on 19th May and an order had been placed with Wicksteed at a cost of £825.

 

Councillor Horrocks and Helen Rook were still getting to grips with the Scribe accounting package and the inputting for the new financial year.

 

Councillor Storey’s proposal that the Report of the Finance Committee be adopted was seconded by Councillor Everard and carried unanimously.

 

b)    AMENITIES AND BUILDING DEVELOPMENT

 

Councillor Everard said the last Meeting of this Committee had been held on Wednesday 19 May 2010 and the Minutes had been circulated to all Councillors.

 

St Albans Diocese had been emailed for an update on the progress of the licence for Way Leave, St Mary’s Nursery and an acknowledgement had been received from Mr Nigel Benger who would look into the matter and report back.  

 

A letter had been sent to Mr Bound at the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust asking for a progress report on the Access Road to Gobions Open Space and the possibilities of improving the road surface. 

 

A 12 month manufacturers warranty had been received for the dishwasher installed in the Burns Pavilion.

 

A poster advertising the Best Kept Front Garden competition would be displayed on the Notice Boards and in local shops.  Judging would take place between 1st -14th July. 

 

Action:  H.Rook/Councillor Mrs Boulton

 

The archiving of old files was continuing and Councillor Mrs Boulton was thanked for her assistance.

 

The road flooding at the junction of Huggins Lane and Pooleys Lane was in the hands of the Highways department. 

 

Councillor Storey had passed details to H. Rook of local companies to contact regarding football field drainage.

 

Action:  H.Rook

 

Councillor Everard had received a copy of the lease on the Estates Office in Bradmore Green to check ownership of the building, and a copy of the lease would be circulated to all Councillors. 

 

Councillor Everard’s proposal that the report of the Amenities and Building Development Committee be adopted was seconded by Councillor Horrocks and carried unanimously.

 

c)         PLANNING

 

Councillor Horrocks said that the Planning Committee had met on Wednesday 28th April 2010 and Wednesday 19th May 2010.  The minutes of which, together with notes of decisions reached and action taken, had been copied to all Councillors.

 

Councillor Horrocks’ proposal that the Minutes of the Planning Committees be adopted was seconded by Councillor Everard and carried unanimously.

 

6.       BROOKMANS PARK

 

Nothing to report.

 

7.       LITTLE HEATH

 

Nothing to report.

 

8.       WELHAM GREEN

 

Councillor Pieri reported that he had been re-elected in the local election with an increased majority. 

 

9.       REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES/ORGANISATIONS

 

Nothing to report.

 

10.     PARISH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN

 

Nothing to report.

 

11.     PARISH PLAN

 

Councillor Mrs Boulton reported that the questionnaires would be sent out shortly and all parishioners should be encouraged to complete and return them in order that a meaningful Parish Plan could be compiled. 

 

12.     CORRESPONDENCE

 

CORRESPONDENCE CIRCULATED TO ALL COUNCILLORS

 

1.       Brookmans Park Rotary Club/Martin Collins – thanking the Parish Council for allowing them to hold their 2nd May Day event which raised approximately £6,000.   

 

THE FOLLOWING CORRESPONDENCE WAS READ OUT BY THE CLERK

 

1.               Resilience Matters – Spring/Summer 2010

2.               CPRE Magazine – Spring/Summer 2010

3.               Countryside Voice – Spring/Summer 2010

4.               Care News – May 2010

5.               Community Care Guide

 

13.     ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

The Right Honourable Grant Shapps MP

 

Councillor Horrocks suggested a letter be sent to The Right Honourable Grant Shapps MP congratulating him on his appointment as Housing Minister and becoming a Privy Counsellor.

 

Action:  H. Rook

 

Allotment Judging

 

It was agreed the Allotment Judging would take place a little later this year as the growing season had been delayed by the cold winter.  A date and panel would be agreed at the next Amenities and Building Development Committee meeting.

 

14.     DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

The next meeting has already been arranged for Wednesday 30th June 2010 at 7.45pm, preceded by a Finance Committee meeting at 7.15pm.

 

 

Meeting closed at 8.50pm