Agm 2003
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of Chipperfield Parish Council, held in ‘The Upper Room’ at St. Paul’s Church extension, Chipperfield, on Monday 12 May 2003 at 8.00pm
PRESENT: Councillor DJ Nobbs (Chair). Councillor MD Joseph (Vice Chair). Councillors: J Carter, Miss EA Holliday, MJD Jarrad; with J Pringle (Clerk) in attendance.
Borough Councillor R Roberts was present as an observer.
32/03 FOLLOWING THE ELECTIONS OF 1 MAY 2003; SIGNATURE TO ‘DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE’ BY ALL ELECTED MEMBERS, AND SIGNATURE TO ‘UNDERTAKING TO OBSERVE CODE OF CONDUCT’
1. Documents were signed by all Members present in presence of the Clerk (RFO)
33/03 ELECTION OF THE CHAIRMAN OF CHIPPERFIELD PARISH COUNCIL FOR YEAR 2003/2004 AND SIGNATURE OF ‘DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE’
1. Chairman Cllr Nobbs reported that after serving as Chairman continuously for the last 11 years now wished to stand down.
2. Cllr Nobbs vacated the Chair.
3. Proposals for Chairman:
Proposed by Cllr Nobbs: Cllr Miss EA Holliday
Seconded: Cllr Carter.
RESOLVED:
Unanimously approved
4 . Cllr Holliday took the Chair, signed the ‘Declaration of Acceptance of Office’, and proposed a vote of thanks to Cllr Nobbs for 11 years of outstanding service as Chairman.
RESOLVED:
Unanimously approved.
34/03 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: were submitted on behalf of Cllr Mrs Berners-Price and Cllr Nichols. Also from Borough Councillor Mrs J Bradnock for not being able to be present as an observer.
35/03 THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 10 MARCH 2003: were approved and signed.
36/03 ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN FOR 2003/2004:
Proposed by Cllr Carter: Cllr Joseph
Seconded: Cllr Nobbs
RESOLVED:
Unanimously approved.
37/03 APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES FOR 2003/2004:
Finance & General Purposes:
Cllrs - Miss EA Holliday, MD Joseph, MJD Jarrad, JDF Nichols
Highways & Road Safety & Public Transport:
Cllrs - J Carter, MJD Jarrad, DJ Nobbs, Mrs RV Wakeman
Open Spaces & Footpaths:
Cllrs -Miss EA Holliday, Mrs BA Berners-Price, JDF Nichols, MJD Jarrad
Allotments:
Cllrs - Miss EA Holliday, MJD Jarrad, DN Nobbs
Planning:
Cllrs: DJ Nobbs, MD Joseph, Mrs BA Berners-Price
(Committees to appoint their Chairman)
38/03 APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR 2003/2004:
Chipperfield Youth Club: Cllr JDF Nichols
Chipperfield Village Hall : Cllr MD Joseph
School Governor: Cllr Mrs RV Wakeman
Chipperfield Care: Cllr Mrs BA Berners-Price
Chipperfield News: Cllr Miss EA Holliday
Millennium Sub-Committee: Cllr DJ Nobbs
Village of the Year Sub-Committee: Cllr DJ Nobbs, & A Hirst
39/03 DATES OF MEETINGS OF FULL COUNCIL FOR 2003/2004:
Meetings are to be held on second Monday of each month EXCEPT there will be no meeting in August 2003 or April 2004.
The Annual Parish Meeting (not a business meeting of Council) will be held 19 April 2004.
The Annual General Meeting of Council for year 2004/2005 - to be determined.
Clerk to later publish meeting dates and Member details.
40/03 AT DISCRETION OF CHAIRMAN THE MEETING WAS BRIEFLY SUSPENDED TO HEAR AND DISCUSS REPRESENTATIONS FROM PUBLIC PRESENT. MEETING THEN RESUMED.
41/03 REPORTS FROM THE CLERK ON BEHALF OF COMMITTEES :
A) FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES
See Report No 023/03 from Clerk, items 1 - 11
1. With reference to item 1: Parish-Town Elections 1 May 2003/nine nominations for 8 seats on Chipperfield Parish Council/Election results see APPENDIX ‘A’
Cllr Nobbs reported that 7 of 8 previous Councillors were re-elected. However, Cllr Neil was narrowly not re-elected and MJD Jarrad newly elected. Cllr Nobbs (now standing down as Chairman) has written to Mr Neil thanking him for his most valued continued services since May 1991.
RESOLVED:
The Clerk to write on behalf of Council thanking Mr Neil for his service as Councillor over all these years.
2. With reference to item 1: Parish-Town Elections 1 May 2003/nine nominations for 8 seats on Chipperfield Parish Council/Election results see APPENDIX ‘A’
Council noted that individual candidates had not received any confirmation of results from the Borough Council.
RESOLVED:
The Clerk to write to the Borough Council expressing Council’s regret at this oversight and to suggest that electoral procedures would seem to need review.
3. With reference to item 3: Chipperfield Parish Council ‘Housing Needs Survey’ (Affordable Housing) Questionnaire circulated as insert in May Edition of Chipperfield News/800 circulated, only 148 returns to-date (app 18%)
Cllr Nobbs reported that the previous survey received approximately 40% returns and this was considered acceptable by the Borough Council.
RESOLVED:
A) 2 June deadline for returns to be extended to 16 June 2003. Clerk to confirm with Duncan Adams - CDA Rural Housing Enabling Project Officer.
B) A reminder to be placed in June edition of Chipperfield News; a reminder to be displayed in local shops with spare reply paid copies available at the Post Office.
4. With reference to items 4 & 5 & APPENDIX ‘C‘: ‘Investing In Your Health’ - Dacorum Primary Care Trust - Public Meeting Thursday 29 May 2003 in the ‘Parish Room’
RESOLVED:
Council to defer a response pending the outcome of public opinion at the above meeting.
5. With reference to items 6 & 7 & APPENDIX ‘D‘: ‘The Future of the Village Club’/Special Meeting, Tuesday 20 May 8.00pm in The Village Hall
RESOLVED:
As many Councillors as possible to attend the meeting and contribute their views.
6. With reference to item 10: Theft of an item of Council’s insured equipment/need for replacement
RESOLVED:
Defer to Part 2 of this Meeting.
7. With reference to item 11: Offer of a item of 2nd hand equipment
RESOLVED:
Defer to Part 2 of this Meeting.
B) HIGHWAYS & ROAD SAFETY & PUBLIC TRANSPORT
See Report No 024/03 from Clerk, items 1 - 2
1. With reference to item 1: Project - ‘Chipperfield Village Linking up Footpaths and Bikeways’/Highways & Open Spaces Committees
RESOLVED:
No further consideration or site meetings are needed.
Clerk to copy the proposals as they stand (Refer to Minutes of 10 February 2003, APPENDIX ‘A’) to newly appointed HCC Highways District Engineer (Alan Cartmel) at newly located offices, asking for an early site meeting to progress the proposals and adding a list of all other outstanding Highway issues to be considered at the same time.
2. With reference to item 2: Long term parking outside retail outlets, Chapel Croft. Clerk’s unanswered letter of 14 March 2003 to Asst Dacorum District Manager
The Clerk reported that although re-location and re-organisation of HCC Highways Offices was first announced in October 2002 it still seems ongoing.
RESOLVED:
Clerk now to press for a reply.
C) OPEN SPACES & FOOTPATHS
See Report No 025/03 from Clerk, items 1 - 2
1. With reference to item 1: ‘Provision of a Youth Shelter in Chipperfield - proposal’
Cllr Holliday reported;
Further progress has been made in that she now has a list of youths to contact. It is understood that a similar project in Abbots Langley has been spurned by the local youth but this may not be typical.
2. With reference to item 2: Parish Paths Partnership Scheme (P3) Rolling Programme for CF14 Footpath surfacing to complete linking Langley Road/Croft Estate/Scatterdells Lane under proposed grant aid application 2003/2004
RESOLVED:
Approved.
D) ALLOTMENTS
See Report No 026/03 from Clerk, items 1 - 2
1. With reference to item 1: Application by Chipperfield Corinthians Junior Football Club for ‘All weather pitch’ on Allotment Field/John Tasker standing down as Chairman after 12 years service/Anticipated that Martin Dicker will take over in July
Cllr Holliday reported that this is a long term project in its very early stages.
Other matters
2. Cllr Holliday reported on a recent wave of vandalism in which sheds were broken into, seedlings thrown-about and tools stolen. Some plot holders will not continue if these incidents persist.
E) PLANNING
See Report No 027/03 from Clerk, items 1 - 2
1. With reference to item 1: Summary of Consultation Documents outstanding for response
Cllr Nobbs reported there are 2 documents outstanding for response:
A) ‘Hertfordshire Structure Plan Deposit Draft‘. Here there are few changes on the earlier draft and nothing Committee would object to.
RESOLVED:
No response be made.
B) ‘The Future Development of Air Transport in the UK: The South East’
Cllr Nobbs reported that CPC had responded to the 1st Draft. A 2nd revision came round for reply by end June.
RESOLVED:
Committee to submit proposals to 9 June meeting of Council.
2. With reference to item 2: APPENDIX ‘E’ DBC Notices of Planning
Notice given by Cllr Nobbs that planning applications 4/00951/03/RET & 4/00982/03/LDE - The Olde Barn, Megg Lane - be referred to full Council
Cllr Nobbs, reporting on the history of developments at this site and the outcome of the Planning Inspector’s findings, proposed that Council advise the Borough Council that both applications be refused.
RESOLVED:
Both applications to be recommended to DBC for refusal.
42/03 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES:
B) VILLAGE HALL
Cllr Holliday reported: she hopes to substitute for Cllr Joseph by attending the Village Hall AGM on 14 May.
C) SCHOOL GOVERNOR
Refer to APPENDIX ‘F’ submitted on behalf of Cllr Wakeman.
RESOLVED:
Cllr Wakeman is commended for the excellence of her report.
E) CHIPPERFIELD NEWS
Cllr Holliday reported that 2 candidates are considering taking on the post of Business Manager.
F) VILLAGE MILLENNIUM SUB-COMMITTEE
Cllr Nobbs reported: he understands that diligent progress is still being made on production of the Village Map.
G) HERTFORDSHIRE’S VILLAGE OF THE YEAR SUB-COMMITTEE
Cllr Nobbs proposed that one more meeting be held in preparation for judging in June.
RESOLVED:
Clerk to convene a meeting.
43/03 CORRESPONDENCE
See Report No 028/03 from Clerk, 1 item only
44/03 REPORT OF THE CLERK
The Clerk reported:
He was appointed Clerk (March 1992) shortly after Cllr David Nobbs was appointed Chairman (November 1991). They have therefore had to work harmoniously together for some 11 years and from the Clerk’s point of view this has at very least proved to be the case.
The Clerk expressed his most sincere thanks to Cllr David Nobbs, now standing down as Chairman, for his expertise, dedication, and above all for his support over all these years. An essential ingredient to a good Council is that of a good Chairman and a good working relationship with the Clerk.
45/03 PAYMENTS DUE,
INTERIM PAYMENTS MADE & INTERIM INCOME RECEIVED
See Report No 029/03 from Clerk
RESOLVED:
1. Payment of all items listed is approved. Payment cheques now to be signed in Council.
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2. The Clerk apologised that for the first time in office, interim payments made and interim income received are not listed due to time restraints.
3. Cllr Holliday undertook, through the Clerk, to assess current annual expenditure in provision of ‘dog gloves’ and report to a future Meeting of Council.
46/03 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 information relating to an employee and proposals for expenditure by Council.
RESOLVED:
Approved.
PART 2
47/03 TO RECEIVE NOTICE OF RESIGNATION BY AN EMPLOYEE & CONSIDER TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS
48/03 TO RECEIVE A PROGRESS REPORT ON A GRANT APPLICATION MADE BY A LOCAL ORGANISATION
49/03 TO RECEIVE A PROGRESS REPORT CONCERNING ACCESS TO VILLAGE CLOCK
50/03 TO CONSIDER ANY ITEMS REFERRED FROM PART 1 OF THIS MEETING: PREDICTED TO BE F&GP ITEMS 10 & 11
See page 8
Part 1 Meeting closed 9.30pm
Part 2 Meeting closed 10.05pm
DATE OF NEXT MEETING - Monday 9 June 2003.
Reports from Committees and Items for the Agenda from Members to be received by the Clerk at least 7 days prior to this next meeting of Council