December 2001
Minutes of the Meeting of Chipperfield Parish Council, held in ‘The Upper Room’ at St. Paul’s Church extension, Chipperfield, on Monday 10 December 2001 at 7.45pm
At 7.45 pm and before commencement of the Agenda, Mr Mike Tagg talked with Council and members of the public on the subject of progress in production of the Village Map.
PRESENT: Councillor DJ Nobbs (Chair). Councillor MD Joseph (Vice Chair). Councillors: J Carter, Mrs BA Berners-Price, Miss EA Holliday, JDF Nichols, Mrs RV Wakeman; with J Pringle (Clerk) in attendance.
Borough Councillor R Roberts was present as an observer.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE; were submitted on behalf of Councillor RJH Neil.
Also, on behalf of County Councillor Mrs J Anderson for not being able to be present as an observer.
84/01 THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 12 NOVEMBER 2001: were approved and signed with one amendment -
Under 74/01C item 3 the following wording is added: ‘plus one at the footpath between Langley Road and Scatterdells Lane’.
85/01 REPORTS FROM THE CLERK ON BEHALF OF COMMITTEES :
A) FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES
See Report No 64/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 15
1. With reference to item 1: Queen’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations/Refer to APPENDIX ‘A’ item 2
RESOLVED:
(A) The following recommendations from Committee are adopted -
Recommendation (i) planting of a tree
Recommendation (ii) support for old people’s or children’s parties etc, but not to take on any co-ordinating role
Recommendation (iii) not to issue children with a commemorative medal
(B) To refer to January Meeting of Council a separate proposal to issue Commemorative Mugs.
2. With reference to item 2: DBC ‘Joint Environmental Policy Panel’/Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 22 November 2001/County-wide Waste Strategy/Refer to APPENDIX ‘B’
(This refers to Boundary Collection of Domestic Waste)
RESOLVED:
Council to obtain latest information and then a feature to be placed in next edition of Chipperfield News.
3. With reference to item 3: Proposed Chipperfield Village Website/Refer to APPENDIX ‘A’ item 3
Council considered the financial implications estimated at £60 setting up and £10 per month running costs.
RESOLVED:
Council support the proposal and would undertake the financial costs, as estimated, for the first six months only. The matter to be progressed with careful appraisal.
4. With reference to item 4: Consultation on Secondary Admissions 2003-4/Refer to APPENDIX ‘A’ item 5
RESOLVED:
Recommendations of Committee that Dacorum be nominated as our priority area are adopted. This to be stated as of prime concern in a covering letter to the questionnaire.
5. With reference to item 5: ‘Risk Assessment’/Refer to APPENDIX ‘A’ item 4
RESOLVED:
Cllr Holliday and the Clerk to liaise in submitting a ‘skeleton’ assessment to February Meeting of Council.
6. With reference to item 6: ‘Quality Parish and Town Councils - Consultation Paper’/Refer to APPENDIX ‘A’ item 6
RESOLVED:
Recommendations of Committee are adopted. Formulation of Council’s final response is delegated to Committee.
7. With reference to item 7: The Countryside Agency - Vital Villages Programme/Refer to APPENDIX ‘A’ item 1
Cllr Holliday reported that a more suitable approach may be available from the CMS PEAPS scheme.
RESOLVED:
In view of the current numerous projects being undertaken by Council; the Vital Villages Programme be ‘put on hold’ but kept under review.
8. With reference to item 8: ‘Dacorum Community Safety Strategy 2002/2005 and Communities Against Drugs Initiative 2001 to 2004’/Questionnaire RSVP by 11 Jan 2002
RESOLVED:
Clerk to attempt to convene a meeting between the Community Safety Co-ordinator (David Loader) and Committee and other interested Members to enable Committee to present a draft response to January Meeting of Council.
9. With reference to item 9: ‘A National Training Strategy for Parish and Town Councils’/NALC & Countryside Agency/Training of Clerks and Councillors
Cllr Nobbs reported he hoped to see results from this initiative. It is very important.
10. With reference to item 11: Meeting of Management Committee of Chipperfield Village Hall,13 Dec 2001
Cllr Nobbs reported that he will attempt to attend as substitute Councillor Representative.
11. With reference to item 12: ‘Dacorum Borough Council Budget Plans 2002/03 Consultation’/RSVP by 17 Dec 2001/Refer to APPENDIX ‘E’
RESOLVED:
Recommendations from Committee are adopted.
12. With reference to item 14: CPC ‘2002-2003 Draft Budgets’ for return to DBC/Refer to APPENDIX ‘X’ for consideration in Part 2 of Agenda
The Clerk reported that to-day he received by e-mail Budget forms and Concurrent inflation targets from DBC Finance Dept.
13. With reference to item 15: DCVS request for insert of Voluntary Services listing in Chipperfield News
Cllr Nobbs reported that this request had been fully considered at F&GP Meeting with Clerk of 26 November 2001, and approved at cost £30.
RESOLVED:
Action of Committee is endorsed.
B) HIGHWAYS & ROAD SAFETY & PUBLIC TRANSPORT
See Report No 065/01 from Clerk, 1 item only
1. With reference to item 1: Absence of Footway or Footpath leading from Chipperfield Parish Boundary at Whippendell Bottom into Kings Langley/Feature in Watford Observer
RESOLVED:
The Clerk to remind Kings Langley Parish Council that land ‘they’ identified as a possible route for this provision lies within their parish boundaries and over which Chipperfield has no control.
C) OPEN SPACES & FOOTPATHS
See Report No 066/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 4
1. With reference to item1: Audit of Open Spaces etc of the Civil Parish/Prepared and agreed list of priorities
RESOLVED:
The Clerk to convene a site meeting between: CPC Common Ranger (Paul Hewetson), DBC Woodlands Officer (Philip Russell), DBC Parks and Open Spaces Officer (Clare Covington), and Cllr Holliday (CPC Chair of Open Spaces Committee) to resolve issues relating to Chipperfield Common.
2. With reference to item 2: Overnight Parking of Commercial Vehicles/Permissive Car Park vicinity War Memorial/Photographic evidence
Cllr Holliday reported that holders of the evidence have been away from home but the matter is being pursued.
3. With reference to item 3: Vandal Resistant Poop Scoop Dispensers
Cllr Holliday reported:
A company representative had visited her with price lists and samples. The product is very well made, has a secure lock, and can be attached to the same post as used for the collection bin.
Response to proposals is awaited from DBC.
4. With reference to item 4: Chipperfield Common Footpaths/Chiltern Society Conservation Volunteers
Cllr Holliday reported:
Following the woodland thinning works programme carried out by DBC, tidying works carried out by the volunteers is excellent especially on Right of Way CF6. Waymarking on trees has also been carried out to re-establish the lines of the footpaths.
D) ALLOTMENTS
See Report No 067/01 from Clerk,1 item only
E) PLANNING
See Report No 068/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 3
1. With reference to item 1: HCC ‘Structure Plan (1998) - Supplementary Guidance: Landscape Character’/Refer to APPENDIX ‘D’ item 2
RESOLVED:
Recommendations from Committee are adopted.
2. With reference to item 1: ‘Hertfordshire Minerals Plan Review - Key Issues Document’/Refer to APPENDIX ‘D’ item 1
RESOLVED:
Recommendations from Committee are adopted.
3. With reference to item 1: ‘Draft Public Engagement Strategy’/Refer to APPENDIX ‘D’ item 3
RESOLVED:
Recommendations from Committee are adopted.
4. With reference to item 2: Planning Application 4/02139/01/FUL Conversion of 3 Existing Cottages to Provide 4 Cottages and Construction of 4 Further Cottages, Didsbury Cottage & Croft View - Chapel Croft
Cllr Nobbs displayed the plans to the Meeting. He expressed the view that in the main the application represented a planning gain but there was concern over the proposal for parking bays in front gardens of the existing properties.
RESOLVED:
Council to respond in the following terms:
The 4 new cottages to be constructed would present a major planning gain and Council, in principle, are in favour of the proposed development. The conversion of ‘Croft View’ and ‘Didsbury Cottage’ although a little dull in design would be acceptable. However, the provision of parking spaces in front of 3 properties and to the side of a 4th would present major parking problems and traffic dangers for visitors to the local 2 shops and also deter trade. Council recommend refusal pending more imaginative provisions for vehicle parking.
5. With reference to item 3: DBC Notices of Planning
Refer to APPENDIX ‘F’ .
86/01 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES:
A) YOUTH CLUB
Cllr Nichols reported:
A jumble sale has been held.
The junior section goes from strength to strength with about 50 members. There has been some revival of ‘Inters’ membership.
E) CHIPPERFIELD NEWS
Cllr Holliday reported:
Finances are fine.
There is a waiting list for advertisers.
It is proposed to reduce the ‘Unity’ content to 2 pages.
F) MILLENNIUM SUB-COMMITTEE
Cllr Nobbs reported:
Chipperfield’s millennium activities have been recorded in a book entitled ‘Community Life in Hertfordshire - 2000’ and published by Hertfordshire Association for Local History Recorders. 5 pages are devoted to Chipperfield.
G) VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT SUB-COMMITTEE
Cllr Nobbs reported:
Dacorum Borough Council final ‘Cabinet’ approval is awaited on the final draft document.
87/01 CORRESPONDENCE
See Report No 069/01 from Clerk, 1 item only
88/01 REPORT OF THE CLERK
The Clerk reported:
Some more recently appointed Members to Council have expressed confusion as to their proper role, function and responsibilities. It is unfortunate that due to re-organisation, introduction and training courses at both HALC and DBC are not presently on offer. The Clerk will attempt, in the near future, to issue some basic guidance notes in the hope that they prove helpful.
89/01 PAYMENTS DUE,
INTERIM PAYMENTS MADE & INTERIM INCOME RECEIVED
See Report No 070/01 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.
90/01 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 proposed Council Budgets and expenditure.
PART 2
91/01 TO CONSIDER THE 1ST DRAFT BUDGETS (PRECEPT, CONCURRENT, VILLAGE WARDEN) FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2002-2003
FINAL DRAFT TO BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL, IN PUBLIC, AT ITS MEETING OF 14 JANUARY 2002
See page 7
Part 1 Meeting closed 9.50pm
Part 2 Meeting closed 10.02pm
DATE OF NEXT MEETING - Monday 14 January 2002.
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
PART 2
91/01 TO CONSIDER THE 1ST DRAFT BUDGETS (PRECEPT, CONCURRENT, VILLAGE WARDEN) FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2002-2003
FINAL DRAFT TO BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL, IN PUBLIC, AT ITS MEETING OF 14 JANUARY 2002
1. The Clerk reported that the Draft Budgets (REFER to APPENDIX ‘X’) were agreed at F&GP Committee Meeting with Clerk, 26 November 2001.
Normally, budget application forms, with indicated target maximum inflation limits for ‘Concurrent’ and ‘Village Warden‘ are issued by DBC early in November; these were not available at the time of the meeting.
Only to-day these items were received by e-mail.
RESOLVED:
A) The ‘Precept’ draft budget is approved.
B) The ‘Concurrent’ draft budget is approved with one alteration downwards to bring total proposed expenditure to £9264.
C) The ‘Village Warden’ draft budget is approved with minor amendments downwards to bring total proposed expenditure to £2524.
D) The Clerk to present amended budgets to January 2002 Meeting of Council for signature in Council.
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