December 2003
Minutes of Meeting of Chipperfield Parish Council held in
‘The Upper Room’ at St Paul’s Church extension, Chipperfield on
Monday, 8 December at 2.00pm
Present: Councillor Miss EA Holliday (Chairman)
Councillors MJD Jarrad, DJ Nobbs. Mrs RV Wakeman
J Pringle (Clerk)
A G E N D A
PART 1
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: were submitted on behalf of Cllrs Mrs BA Berners-Price, J Carter, MD Joseph & JDF Nichols and Borough Councillors Cllrs G Adeleke & Mrs J Bradnock and County Cllr/ Borough Councillor R Roberts.
115/03: THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 10 NOVEMBER 2003: were approved and signed.
116/03: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: None
117/03: REPORTS FROM BOROUGH AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS: None
118/03: DECLARATION OF INTEREST FROM MEMBERS: Cllr Jarrad advised that he was in dispute with his neighbour in Kings Lane regarding a planning issue, a fact which he wished to be recorded, although there was no reference to anything relevant to the matter at this meeting.
119/03: CONSIDERATION OF THE 2004/5 BUDGETS FOR PRECEPT, CONCURRENT AND VILLAGE WARDEN:
Cllr Holliday presented the draft budgets recommended for approval by the Finance and General Purposes Committee. These totalled: Precept: £23,208, Concurrent: £9,572 and Village Warden: £3,115. The increases over the 2003/4 budgets were +3.5%, + 0.9% and +2.6% respectively.
Resolved
To approve the three budgets as presented.
120/03: APPLICATION TO DACORUM BOROUGH COUNCIL FOR PAYMENT OF 2004/5 BUDGETS:
The approved Precept was signed by the Chairman and two Councillors.
Resolved
To submit the approved precept and budgets to Dacorum Borough Council.
121/03: REPORTS FROM THE CLERK ON BEHALF OF COMMITTEES:
A) FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES
See Report No. 065/03 from the Clerk Items 1-11
1. Ref Item 1: Public meeting of Dacorum Primary Care Trust
Cllr Jarrad reported that he had attended the meeting of the Dacorum PCT for 2½
hours on November 25 in the Church extension and had been depressed by the
difficulties facing the Trust in the form of the overwhelming bureaucracy imposed
on it, the fact that its different computer systems do not talk to each other and the
impact of ‘superbug’ problems on hospital care.
Resolved
To thank Cllr Jarrad for attending on behalf of the Council.
2. Ref Item 2: ‘The Local Channel’, CPC Website, e-gov and domain names
Cllr Nobbs reported on the minutes of the Website Sub-Committee meeting of 17
November and the recommendations arising from it.
Resolved
1. To approve the recommendations set out in the report by Cllr Nobbs
(Appendix 1).
2. To thank Cllr Nobbs for arranging and reporting on the meeting.
3. Ref item 3: To consider an earlier time to commence CPC meetings, alternating
an afternoon meeting with an evening one.
Resolved
1. To cancel the meeting scheduled for January 12, 2004 unless it appeared in the
interim that there is unforeseen urgent business to transact.
2. To hold the meeting of February 9 at 8.00pm and that of March 8 at 2.00pm.
3. To review the situation when establishing dates for the year 2004-5 at the
AGM in May.
4. Ref item 4: Dacorum Environmental Forum presentation on Street Care
Cllr Nobbs reported he had passed copies to Cllrs Holliday and Carter.
Resolved
No further action
5. Ref item 5: Meeting of Chairman and Clerk, 2 December - CPC Task List
Resolved
To add ‘ Receive quarterly unaudited accounts from the Village Hall Committee’
to the Task List.
6. Ref Item 6: Meeting of Finance and General Purposes Committee, 4 December
The Chairman reported that the full committee (Cllrs Jarrad, Joseph, Nichols and
herself ) had met primarily to prepare the budgets the Council had just approved.
7. Ref item 7: Local Strategic Partnership Board: Report of Town and Parish
Councils Representative.
Resolved
To note Cllr McCloskey’s report and that she intended to produce a similar report
after each quarterly meeting of the Board.
8. Ref Item 8: Hertfordshire Constabulary Performance Monitors
The Chairman reported that the Acting Asst. Chief Constable had circulated
a document to counteract some of the misleading articles that had appeared
in the press about Hertfordshire Police’s performance following the publication
of the latest national figures. She plans to include a brief summary in
February’s Chipperfield News.
Resolved
Approved
9. Ref Item 9: Numerous Consultation Documents
The Chairman reported that of the many consultation documents received, she
proposed only to reply in detail to those that had significant implications for
Chipperfield. Of those received in the last month, these were:
(i) BT proposed removal of phone box in Scatterdells Lane. Here she had asked
BT to reconsider, due to the possible emergency needs of a disabled resident and
of walkers on the many nearby footpaths.
(ii) HCC Schools Admission Policy. Here she would seek local advice before
responding.
The other consultation documents (Countryside and Right of Ways Act,
Progress on Audits, Policing and Community Safety and Education and skills
would simply be acknowledged.
Resolved
Agreed
B) HIGHWAYS, ROAD SAFETY AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT
See report 066/03 from the Clerk
1. Ref item 2: Jasmine Safety Track, Langley Road
The Chairman reported that the Jasmine Trust had expressed their gratitude to
the Parish Council for earmarking £1000 towards this project. They had
also received information that a similar grant would probably be coming from
the Chess Valley Bridleways Association.
C) OPEN SPACES AND FOOTPATHS
See report 067/03 from the Clerk
1. Ref item 1: Bench Seat at Entrance to Nunfield
Resolved
To thank the Village Warden for his excellent work in installing the new bench.
D) ALLOTMENTS
See report 068/03 from the Clerk
1. Ref item 1: Trespass on the Allotment Field
The Chairman reported that she had received a complaint from a tenant about
the damage caused to his plot by people retrieving footballs that had been
kicked through the hedge from the adjoining football pitch. She had arranged
for him to meet with the Chairman of Chipperfield Corinthians in an effort to
resolve the issue.
2. Ref item 2: Application by Junior Football Club for extra allotment plots for Astra Turf pitch.
The Chairman reported that the tenants of plots 25A & B had expressed their
reluctance to move from their well cultivated plots to make room for a larger pitch. Two alternatives were being considered. The first was to extend northwards to take in part of Mr Saunders’ field; the second was to take out part of the hedge and extend eastwards to take in part of the school playground. She had spoken to the Head Teacher about this latter proposal, but he had expressed misgivings in that it would cut out part of the already restricted area of the netball court. He had also pointed out that the land was owned by the diocesan authorities.
Resolved
1. To advise the two tenants concerned that Council is seeking alternative
solutions.
2. To suggest to the Head Teacher and the Junior Football Club that the new
pitch could incorporate facilities for the school’s netball.
3. If this is agreed, to approach the diocesan authorities to seek their
agreement.
3. Ref item 3: Intrusion of trees from the Whitehouse
The Chairman reported that the shade created by trees in the hedge at the
boundary of the Whitehouse was creating an increasing nuisance to adjacent allotment holders.
Resolved
To contact the Woodland Officer at DBC to seek advice on the best treatment
for the hedge and whether permission was needed to deal with it.
4. Possible new tenant
The Chairman reported that a potential new tenant had enquired about the possibility of renting two double plots for educational purposes. He would be
demonstrating to children various horticultural techniques including horse ploughing.
Resolved
To agree in principle to this usage.
E) PLANNING
See report 069/03 from the Clerk
1. Ref item 1. Report from the Chair of the Planning Committee
1. Planning applications
Cllr Nobbs reported that the following determinations had been made by
DBC since his report had been prepared.
No. Location Proposed Development DBC decision CPC view
2161/03 Chipperfield Lodge New entrance gates Approve Refuse
Langley Road
2273/03 5,Alexandra Road Loft conversion Approve Refuse
3. Draft Planning Policy Statements on Regional Planning and Local
Development Frameworks
Resolved
To authorise the Planning Committee to respond to the above consultation
documents on behalf of the Council.
122/03: REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES
c) School Governor
Cllr Mrs Wakeman reported that the computer suite in the new classroom block is now fully operational and that the architect has now been commissioned to prepare plans for two additional classrooms to replace the two temporary ones to the left of the school entrance. 69 new admission applications have been registered for the new year. The Head Teacher had expressed concern at new regulations that empower parents to challenge the Head and individual teachers if they consider their child has fallen behind.
Other reports were deferred to the next meeting.
123/03: CORRESPONDENCE
See report 070/03 from the Clerk
In circulation in the December pack.
124/03: REPORT FROM THE CLERK
The Clerk wishes to sincerely thank all members of Council and staff and especially Cllr Holliday – Chairman – for their support, sympathy tolerance and help in his present health problem. Also to thank other Clerks, King’s Langley in particular. Also officers at DBC and Borough and County Councillors.
125/03: PAYMENTS DUE, INTERIM PAYMENTS MADE AND INCOME RECEIVED
Please see report 071/03 from the Clerk
The Clerk reported that all payments have been dealt with as they occur and that the process has been monitored by the Chairman and Councillors concerned, who have seen full supporting documents.
126/03: EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC
Resolved
Under Standing Order 61 to state 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 to proposed expenditure by the Council.’
Part 1 meeting closed 3.50pm. Part 2 meeting closed 4.10pm
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Monday, 9 February 2004 at 8.00pm