Minutes of a meeting of the AMENITIES & BUILDING DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE held on Wednesday 13th April 2011.

 

 

PRESENT:    Councillors     C Everard                  Chairman

Mrs J Boulton

Mrs M Race

Mrs T Travell

R Horrocks                

W A Storey

V Weeks

 

                        Clerk               Ann Morton

 

 

1.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs Travell.  

 

2.         MINUTES OF LAST MEETING

Minutes of the last committee meeting held on 16th March 2011 were adopted by the Council at its meeting on 30th March 2011.
           

3.         CURRENT MATTERS

 

a)     Football pitch drainage

Groundsmen have carried out excavations and didn’t find any existing drainage system.  Sentry Groundcare are to be asked if their proposal is adequate enough to drain the field.  

Action: Clerk/Cllr Everard

 

b)     Allotments

Two more allotment holders have given up their plots and the Clerk will contact the next people on the waiting list who are resident in the parish.  

Action: Clerk

 

c)     Key Safe/Data Safe                 

Safe can now be unlocked.  The safe has one hour fire/heat protection for CDs, memory sticks and USB drives but is not intended for computer disks, audio-visual media or photo negatives.

 

d)     Burns Pavilion 

Three companies have quoted for an Asbestos Survey (refurbishment and demolition survey).  Council have delegated authority to the Committee to accept the lowest quote.  As the lowest quote/method statement was received today and circulated at the meeting, Members agreed to advise the Clerk by next Monday (18th) if he was not satisfied with the quote, otherwise it was agreed to proceed with the next lowest quote.  

Action:  Councillors/Clerk

 

e)     North Mymms Memorial Hall

The meeting with the North Mymms Social Club regarding a right of way from their fire exit over the Memorial Hall car park has been delayed by staff absence and changes.

 

f)       Bungalow 2

i)        Kindlelight installed the new windows but the glass for one window was cracked during installation and needs to be replaced.  It was agreed that all the windows need to be inspected when the cracked glass is replaced, access by arrangement with the groundsman, before the balance is paid.

      Action: Clerk/Cllr Everard or Storey

 

ii)      The electrician has ordered the cooker hood and will contact Jon Paine about fitting it. 

 

iii)    Bungalow 2 cavity wall insulation can only be done when the damp problem is resolved.  Bungalow 1 cavity wall insulation is done and the balance after the grant has been paid. 

 

iv)    The gas fire has been added to the British Gas Homecare agreement, although the amount of VAT needs to be clarified.   The annual inspection is usually in June.  There was a query if the certificate still needs to be issued for the Gas Safety Check required by landlords.  Members requested a copy of the revised contract with British Gas.

                 Action: Clerk

 

v)      DWS have carried out investigation work for three hours on the car park drainage today.  Councillor Storey gave details of how they found a blockage near the front entrance gates to the car park.  They also checked the soil drain and found no connection.  Members discussed the options.  David Sturman could be asked to come back and give a quote to dig up and repair the drain.  It was agreed to ask DWS who they recommend for remedial work and find out costs. 

                Action: Clerk

 

vi)    Redecoration to be undertaken by the Council when the cause of damp is resolved.

 

g)     Planning Restriction Burns Pavilion

A site visit by an Environment Officer from Welwyn Hatfield Council regarding the possibility of removing the planning restriction on the Burns Pavilion is to be arranged and Councillor Mrs Boulton offered to this follow up.

Action: Cllr Mrs Boulton

 

h)     Registered village green

Councillor Horrocks is investigating the procedure for how to register a village green.

Action: Cllr Horrocks

 

4.         OTHER BUSINESS

 

a)     Proposed Skate Park

Councillor Horrocks reported that ‘Welham Green as One’ group is proposing a site for the skate park on land owned by Parish Council near the football pitch and tennis courts.  Councillor Hastings has arranged for this to be put on the next Parish Council meeting agenda.  The proposal was discussed by the Committee. 

 

b)     Balloon day

The second Balloon day will held be on 17th September, with the Parish Council proposing to have a cake stall again.  In answer to a query Councillor Horrocks advised the organising committee has a constitution and bank account and money raised will be to cover their expenses and probably provide funds for the future.

 

c)     Planters

The Clerk reported Michael Jones, chairman of the Brookmans Park Rotary Club, visited the Council offices on Monday morning to request permission to erect welcome signs to the relevant villages with the Rotary Club name and badge on the new planters.  However, in December this Committee decided that the locations were not suitable for this type of signage.

 

d)     Fire safety check

The Clerk reported that A1 Fire Protection will be carrying out a safety audit and update of risk protection including inspection of the fire extinguishers. 

 

e)     Desk for Book-keeper

The Book-keeper has requested a desk and there are safety concerns with trailing wires when she is working at the large table.  Councillor Horrocks suggested buying a small desk costing £55 that would fit between the rear door and the radiator where cables could be run along the skirting board, provided the book-keeper is happy with this desk.  Members were in agreement with buying it, subject to the desk being approved by the bookkeeper.

Action: Clerk

 

f)       Mobile phones

The Clerk reported that one groundsman has a mobile phone provided by the Council.  The new phone he was given as a replacement a few weeks ago is not working properly but the phone provider will not speak to him as he is not the authorised person. The Clerk will follow this up but also wants to clarify the situation as it appears that another groundsman is using his own mobile phone and the other has none.

Action: Clerk

 

The meeting closed at 8.45pm