Agm 2001
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of Chipperfield Parish Council, held in ‘The Upper Room’ at St. Paul’s Church extension, Chipperfield, on Monday 14 May 2001 at 8.00pm
PRESENT: Councillor DJ Nobbs (Chair). Councillor MD Joseph (Vice Chair). Councillors: J Carter, Mrs BA Berners-Price, Miss EA Holliday, RJH Neil, JDF Nichols; with AJ Pringle (Clerk) in attendance.
29/01 ELECTION OF THE CHAIRMAN OF CHIPPERFIELD PARISH COUNCIL FOR YEAR 2001/2002 AND SIGNATURE OF ‘DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE’
RESOLVED:
Cllr DJ Nobbs is unanimously elected Chairman.
Cllr Nobbs then signed in Council a Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
30/01 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE; There were no apologies for absence.
31/01 THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 12 MARCH 2001: were approved and signed.
32/01 ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN FOR 2001/2002
RESOLVED:
Cllr MD Joseph is unanimously elected Vice Chairman.
33/01 APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES FOR 2001/2002
1. RESOLVED:
Committee membership to remain unchanged. A vacancy still exists on Highways & Road Safety & Public Transport Committee.
34/01 APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR 2001/2002
1. RESOLVED:
Representatives remain unchanged. A vacancy still exists for appointment as School Governor.
35/01 TO AGREE DATES OF THE MEETINGS FOR YEAR 2001/2002
1. RESOLVED:
Future ‘Full Meetings’ of the Parish Council for year 2001/2002 will be held on Monday -
11 June, 9 July, 10 September, 8 October, 12 November, 10 December 2001
&
14 January, 11 February, 11 March 2002.
The Annual General Meeting of Council for year 2002/2003 will be held Monday 13 May 2002.
The Annual Parish Meeting will be held Monday 8 April 2002.
36/01 REPORTS FROM THE CLERK ON BEHALF OF COMMITTEES :
1. Chairman Cllr Nobbs proposed that in view of attendance by members of the public particularly interested in a planning issue then the Planning Reports be brought forward as the first item.
RESOLVED:
Unanimously approved.
E) PLANNING
See Report No 026/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 2
1. With reference to item 1: DBC Notices of Planning, see APPENDIX ‘E’
The Chairman reported that due to holiday leave of the Clerk and pressure of work especially in completing the Annual Inland Revenue returns for Council, this report from Clerk was not available.
The Clerk gave a verbal report on Planning Applications received, and responses sent on behalf of Committee, since last meeting of Council.
2. With reference to item 2A: Application 4/0197/00/FUL, 22.5m Mast, Scatterdells Wood
Cllr Nobbs reported:
It is understood that in light of absence of any response from the applicants to further information requested by DBC, DBC at the last Development Control Committee Meeting determined that the application be refused.
3. With reference to item 2B: Application 4/00702/01, Waste Transfer Site, Ackwell Simmonds Yard, Chapel Croft
Cllr Nobbs reported on the past history of activity and planning applications made regarding the site. It is particularly important to recognise that this application hinges on the consideration of lawful development and a like or dislike of the activity is irrelevant. The applicants claim that waste transfer at the site has been in operation for some 10 years and therefore qualifies as lawful development. It appears that they are using affidavits made in relation to composting, and planning approval for this purpose, as substantiating waste transfer.
Cllr Nobbs proposed that the applicants claims are not accurate and that as many as possible local residents with contrary evidence should write to HCC .
Cllr Nobbs proposed to circulate to Council a draft response to HCC. A site meeting between Tim Williams of HCC, C.Cllr Janet Anderson, and Cllr Nobbs is scheduled for 15 May.
The Chairman suspended the meeting for 15 minutes to allow public discussion.
The meeting resumed.
3. With reference to item 2C: Application 4/00719/01/TCA, Removal of Lime Tree & Pruning of 10 Lime Trees
Cllrs Nobbs and Neil declared a non-pecuniary interest and took no part in the discussion.
RESOLVED:
Council recommend no objection to the application.
A) FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES
See Report No 022/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 5
1. With Reference to item 1: DBC ‘Housing Strategy 2002’/Response is delegated to F&GP Committee. Response sent see APPENDIX ‘C’ ‘D’
RESOLVED:
Council endorse the response sent.
2. With reference to item 4: ‘F&GP Report’ DJN 2/5/01. Refer to APPENDIX ‘A’ item 2: Potential new Affordable Housing Development
RESOLVED:
Council approve ‘Option 2’.
3. With reference to item 5: DBC ‘Parish Borough Liaison Meeting’ 5 July 2001 - Items for Agenda to be received by 18 June
RESOLVED:
CPC Members to submit suggestions for Agenda items at 11 June Meeting of Council.
B) HIGHWAYS & ROAD SAFETY & PUBLIC TRANSPORT
See Report No 023/01 from Clerk, 1 item only
1. With reference to item 1: ‘Proposal for Pedestrian crossing vicinity ‘Yash News’ & Proposal for Bollards at ‘The Two Brewers’; Clerk sent formal request to HCC Highways (also on various other matters)
Cllr Nichols reported:
He has received two complaints from a farmer that he often can’t get his machines past vehicles parked outside ‘The Two Brewers’.
Cllr Carter reported:
There has been a recent nasty car accident outside ‘Yash News’.
C) OPEN SPACES & FOOTPATHS
See Report No 024/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 11
1. With reference to item 1: Vandalism to Public Property/Cllr Holliday to further investigate provision and costs of selective lighting and use of CCTV cameras
Cllr Holliday submitted her printed report, dated 13 May 2001, to the Meeting.
RESOLVED:
Council are not sympathetic to installation of a lighting system or of CCTV cameras on grounds of costs and likely ineffectiveness.
Cllr Holliday is thanked for all her efforts but asked now to seek co-operation of Police in providing early winter patrols and to take appropriate measures.
2. With reference to item 4B: CMS & HCC ‘Parish Paths Partnership Agreement’ P3, a new 3 year Agreement was signed in Committee, endorsement of this action is sought from Council
RESOLVED:
Action taken is unanimously endorsed.
3. With reference to item 5: ‘Devolvement of Powers’/Negotiations in progress for CPC to make a bid to take-on DBC contracts for grass cutting on Croft Estate and some other areas
Cllr Holliday reported:
Committee now estimate that if CPC took-on the above contracts it would involve 9-12 hours fortnightly of work by the Village Warden. Additional equipment needed would be a ‘Multimower’ and ‘Edge Cutter’.
Cllr Holliday showed and explained to Council the ‘contract maps’ supplied by DBC and which she had now colour coded to show areas of present responsibility ie DBC, HCC, or DBC on behalf of HCC.
RESOLVED:
Committee now to progress to producing CPC contract costs.
4. With reference to item 6: Restoration of Cross on Chipperfield War Memorial
Cllr Nobbs reported that it seems that grants are available especially from English Heritage. It also seems that Parish Councils are assumed to take responsibility for upkeep.
RESOLVED:
Committee to further explore costs and sources of grant aid.
5. With reference to item 11: ‘Foot & Mouth’ precautions in Chipperfield
Cllr Holliday reported that CPC were consulted by HCC by letter dated 8 May and we propose to ask for the southern bridleway CF3 to be fully opened, this then completing the opening of Chipperfield Common.
D) ALLOTMENTS
See Report No 025/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 2
1. With reference to item 2: Report from Committee Chair, if appropriate
Cllr Holliday reported:
33½ out of 46 plots are now let. 5 previous tenants (2000/2001) are not renewing.
Vandals have been turning on the water taps (metered supply) and leaving them running overnight. Committee have now removed the tap handles and put out of sight but accessible to tenants.
37/01 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES:
G) VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT SUB-COMMITTEE
Cllr Nobbs reported:
The Draft Village Design Statement has been submitted to DBC with a view to holding a meeting with CPC to explore the content which DBC might take on-board. DBC are suggesting a supplementary statement on consultation.
H) HERTFORDSHIRE’S VILLAGE OF THE YEAR SUB-COMMITTEE
Cllr Nobbs reported that many villagers are ‘doing their bit’. Judging period is from now ‘till end June.
Cllr Holliday reported that traffic signs around the village are being cleaned by the Village Warden as part of an extensive work programme especially for the competition.
38/01 CORRESPONDENCE
See Report No 027/01 from Clerk, 1 item only
39/01 REPORT OF THE CLERK
The Clerk reported:
He had nothing further to add to his published reports to Council.
40/01 PAYMENTS DUE,
INTERIM PAYMENTS MADE & INTERIM INCOME RECEIVED
See Report No 028/01 from Clerk
1. RESOLVED:
A) Payment of all items listed is approved. Payment cheques now to be signed in Council.
B) Interim payments made are noted.
C) Interim income received is noted.
41/01 EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC
To consider passing a resolution in the following terms:
Under item 61 of Standing Orders 'That in view of the special nature of the business about to be transacted, it is advisable in the public interest that the public be temporarily excluded and they are instructed to withdraw'.
If members of the public were present during these items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information relating to personal details of a prospective Member.
PART 2
42/01 TO CONSIDER FILLING THE VACANCY IN THE POST OF PARISH COUNCILLOR BY CO-OPTION
See page 7
Meeting closed 9.45pm
DATE OF NEXT MEETING - Monday 11 June 2001.
Reports from Committees and Items for the Agenda to be received by the Clerk at least 7 days prior to this next meeting of Council