December 2002
Minutes of the Meeting of Chipperfield Parish Council, held in ‘The Upper Room’ at St. Paul’s Church extension, Chipperfield, on Monday 9 December 2002 at 8.00pm
PRESENT: Councillor DJ Nobbs (Chair). Councillor MD Joseph (Vice Chair). Councillors: RJH Neil, JDF Nichols, Mrs RV Wakeman; with J Pringle (Clerk) in attendance.
Borough Councillors R Roberts and Mrs J Bradnock were present as observers.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE; were submitted on behalf of Councillors J Carter, Miss EA Holliday, and Mrs BA Berners-Price.
105/02 THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 11 NOVEMBER: were approved and signed.
106/02 REPORTS FROM THE CLERK ON BEHALF OF COMMITTEES :
A) FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES
See Report No 065/02 from Clerk, items 1 - 13
1. With reference to item 1: Appointment to the vacancy in post of Village Warden
RESOLVED:
Appointment of Mr Arthur Hirst, as delegated to Committees, is noted. Appointment effective from 6 January 2003.
A full report to be given under Part 2 item 2.
2. With reference to item 2: Immense assistance given free of charge during the vacancy by Mr Michael Horne
RESOLVED:
Chairman to write on behalf of Council to Mr Horne expressing Council’s gratitude. This to be accompanied by a small gift paid from Chairman’s Budget.
3. With reference to item 4: Transfer of temporarily held ‘Village Chest’ funds to ‘Dacorum Community Trust’. Transfer made 19 Nov 2002
Cllr Nobbs reported that this is scheduled as a feature in the February edition of Chipperfield News.
4. With reference to item 6: ‘Freedom of Information Act 2000’/Response to Commissioner by 31 Dec 2002
RESOLVED:
Council adopt the obligatory ‘Core’ items of the ‘Model Publication Scheme‘. The Clerk to sign the declaration on behalf of Council and forward to the Commissioner.
5. With reference to item 7: ‘Dacorum Borough Council Budget Plans 2003-04, Public Consultation Exercise’
Cllr Nobbs reported on the content of the lengthy document accompanying the brief questionnaire.
RESOLVED:
Cllr Nobbs to complete and forward the questionnaire and raise other points in terms raised at this meeting. Response to be copied to January meeting of this Council.
6. With reference to item 8: ‘Enjoy Dacorum! A Cultural Strategy for Dacorum - Draft for Comments’/Response by 23 Dec
Cllr Nobbs reported on the findings of Committee.
RESOLVED:
Cllr Nobbs to complete and forward the questionnaire in terms raised at this meeting. Response to be copied to January meeting of this Council.
7. With reference to item 9: EEDA ‘Important information about the East of England Development Agency’s £3m competition to provide broadband internet access for communities like yours’
RESOLVED:
No response to be sent.
8. With reference to item 11: Hertfordshire Police Authority ‘Priorities for Policing in Hertfordshire’/Consultation/Response by 17 Jan 2003
RESOLVED:
Committee to present recommendations to January meeting of Council.
9. With reference to item 12: DBC ‘Changes to Refuse Collection in Dacorum Borough’/See APPENDIX ‘C’
RESOLVED:
Councillors to share, as in Area Reports, the task of identifying problems which arise for individual properties. Councillors to report back to Cllr Nobbs to present at January meeting of Council.
10. With reference to item 13: ‘Chipperfield Village Design Statement’/Project completed
Cllr Nobbs reported:
A farewell get-together of all contributing volunteers had been held and at which he thanked them on behalf of Council.
However, although this was a team effort he felt that additional recognition should now be given to the very significant role played by Mr Geoff Bryant in his giving of time, materials and money to the preparation, illustrations and printing of the final document in particular.
RESOLVED:
The Clerk to write a letter of appreciation to Mr Bryant, on behalf of Council, in these terms.
B) HIGHWAYS & ROAD SAFETY & PUBLIC TRANSPORT
See Report No 066/02 from Clerk, items 1 - 4
1. With reference to item 1: HCC re-marking of road surfaces following resurfacing works.
Cllr Nobbs reported the work now completed.
RESOLVED:
Committee to identify other outstanding issues. Clerk to convene a site meeting with District Highway Engineer once their re-organisation and relocation completed.
2. With reference to item 2: ‘Chipperfield Village - Linking up Footpaths and Bikeways ---’
In absence of Committee Chair, Cllr Nobbs reported that Committee in liaison with Open Spaces Committee had not yet met to discuss the proposals.
RESOLVED:
Cllr Nobbs, as previously resolved, to write to Mr Simon Wood thanking him for this initiative.
3. With reference to item 3: Long term parking outside retail outlets (Newsagent and Butcher)
Cllr Nobbs reported:
He has held discussions with the proprietor of Chipperfield Garage with regard to any extent to which long term parking by his employees contribute to the problem. Mr Price has taken considerable measures to reduce the problem.
Council then discussed further measures which might be feasible, such as provision of private parking in the field opposite.
RESOLVED:
Committee to meet and submit a report with recommendations to January meeting of Council.
4. With reference to item 4: Link by footpath from Whippendell Bottom to Kings Langley
RESOLVED:
A) Council formally record their thanks to Borough Councillor Richard Roberts in obtaining the verbal agreement of the landowner to accommodate a footpath on his land in the Kings Langley section.
B) Although the proposed footpath, to link with the relatively recent Chipperfield footpath, lies almost entirely within the Parish of Kings Langley, Chipperfield residents would be the main beneficiary and Chipperfield Parish Council will continue to liaise and give all support possible.
C) OPEN SPACES & FOOTPATHS
See Report No 067/02 from Clerk, items 1 - 6
1. With reference to item 1: Notes of 5 September 2002 Open Spaces & Footpaths Committee Meeting. Refer to APPENDIX ‘B’
RESOLVED:
Committee to site meet with Phillip Russell - DBC Woodlands Officer, to discuss the issues raised.
2. With reference to item 5: DBC donated benches to parishes in celebration of Queen’s Jubilee/Bench now in place within St Paul’s Churchyard
RESOLVED:
Cllr Nobbs on behalf of Council to write to the Borough Council, thanking them for this much admired bench seat.
D) ALLOTMENTS
See Report No 068/02 from Clerk, 1 item only
Other Matters
1. Cllr Nobbs reported the theft of 2 mowers from an allotment shed.
E) PLANNING
See Report No 069/02 from Clerk, items 1 - 2
107/02 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES:
A) YOUTH CLUB
Cllr Nichols reported:
The annual safety survey, of electrical installations etc, is about to take place.
Rebuilding of the premises now seems unlikely.
RESOLVED:
Under the small contract Council holds with the Club for general ground maintenance, and now that we have appointed a new Village Warden, the Clerk is requested to have vegetation overgrowth of perimeter fencing removed.
C) SCHOOL GOVERNOR
Cllr Wakeman reported there may be a short delay in schedule for starting building the new extension.
E) CHIPPERFIELD NEWS
Cllr Joseph reported that the AGM is to be held 12 December 2002.
108/02 CORRESPONDENCE
See Report No 070/02 from Clerk, 1 item only
109/02 REPORT OF THE CLERK
The Clerk reported he had nothing further to add to his published reports, except to wish everyone at the meeting a very happy festive season.
110/02 PAYMENTS DUE,
INTERIM PAYMENTS MADE & INTERIM INCOME RECEIVED
See Report No 071/02 from Clerk
1. RESOLVED:
A) Payment of items listed is approved. Payment cheques now to be signed in Council.
B) Interim payments made are noted.
C) Interim income received is noted.
111/02 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:
1st Draft of Budget proposals for Financial Year 2003/2004, and, personal details relating to the appointment of an employee.
PART 2
112/02 TO CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE 1ST DRAFT BUDGETS FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2003/2004
113/02 TO RECEIVE A REPORT AND CONFIRM APPOINTMENT TO THE VACANT POST OF VILLAGE WARDEN
See pages 6 - 7
Part 1 Meeting closed 9.28pm
Part 2 Meeting closed 10.05pm
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: MONDAY 13 JANUARY 2003.
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
112/02 TO CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE 1ST DRAFT BUDGETS FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2003/2004
1. The Clerk reported:
Finance and General Purposes Committee & Clerk, met 2 December 2002 and at which the Budget proposals were prepared., see APPENDIX ‘D’.
2. The Clerk circulated to Council the printed 1st Draft Budgets for ‘PRECEPT’, ‘CONCURRENT’, and ‘VILLAGE WARDEN’.
3. The Clerk reported:
It has been normal practice for Dacorum Local Councils, in preparation of Budget Applications and due for finalised submission early in January, to receive from DBC application forms and target figures for expenditure under ‘Concurrent’ and ‘Village Warden’. ‘Precept’ applications are largely exempt from DBC control. No details of application have so far been received. The Budget Proposals have therefore been prepared in absence of guidelines.
4. Draft ‘PRECEPT BUDGET’
RESOLVED:
Approved in sum of £22,705.
5. Draft ‘CONCURRENT + VILLAGE WARDEN’, Total of Budgets
Cllr Nobbs reported:
In absence of guidelines from DBC, and in particular any guidance on future Village Warden funding, two alternative Total Budget proposals are presented in sums of £12,390 and £12,577.
RESOLVED:
A) The Draft Total Budget of £12577 is approved.
B) Cllr Nichols to ‘use his best offices’ to meet with and persuade DBC Head of Accountancy and Exchequer Services to allow substantial increase in Village Warden Budget to bring CPC in line with some other Local Councils.
C) Assuming Budget Application Forms and guidelines being received from DBC; Final Budget Applications to be presented to January 2003 meeting of Council, for signature in Council.
113/02 TO RECEIVE A REPORT AND CONFIRM APPOINTMENT TO THE VACANT POST OF VILLAGE WARDEN
1. Cllr Nobbs reported:
3 applicants were invited for interview.
Interviews were held 29 November 2002. Interviewed by Cllr Nobbs - Chair F&GP Committee, Cllr Holliday - Chair Open Spaces Committee, and Clerk.
Only 2 applicants attended.
The most promising applicant; youngish and well experienced and qualified proved to be very independent and thought to prove difficult to employ as his own master. He had 6 other posts in mind, mainly employed full time. The other applicant, living in the Village, had good work experience but was in his 70’s, but otherwise seemed eminently suited to the post.
Mr Arthur Hirst, resident at Scatterdells Park, was selected as the successful candidate and has been offered the post to commence 6 January 2003.
RESOLVED:
Appointment, as delegated, is endorsed.