July 2001
PRESENT: Councillor DJ Nobbs (Chair). Councillor MD Joseph (Vice Chair). Councillors: J Carter, Mrs BA Berners-Price, Miss EA Holliday, RJH Neil, JDF Nichols, Mrs RV Wakeman; with AJ Pringle (Clerk) in attendance.
Borough Councillor R Roberts was present as an observer.
AGENDA ITEM 1
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE; None.
AGENDA ITEM 2
51/01 THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 11 JUNE 2001: were approved and signed.
AGENDA ITEM 3
52/01 TO APPOINT A SCHOOL GOVERNOR FROM COUNCIL
1. RESOLVED:
Cllr Mrs Wakeman is unanimously appointed as a School Governor.
AGENDA ITEM 4
53/01 TO RECEIVE THE INCOME/EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR 2000-2001 - SEE APPENDIX ‘A’
SIGNATURE IN COUNCIL OF YEAR END BANK RECONCILIATION - SEE APPENDIX ‘B’ & SUPPLEMENT
TO RECEIVE ANY OTHER RELATED DOCUMENTS
1. RESOLVED:
Year end bank reconciliation is approved for signature in Council.
2. The financial year-end bank reconciliation was signed in Council by Chairman, and the Clerk.
3. Cllr Nichols reported:
In the Income accounts for May 2000, the receipts from DBC for Concurrent Budget and Village Warden Budget have not been apportioned.
RESOLVED:
As a matter of presentation, the Clerk to apportion the sums at an appropriate time.
AGENDA ITEM 5
54/01 REPORTS FROM THE CLERK ON BEHALF OF COMMITTEES
A) FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES
See Report No 036/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 9
1. With Reference to item 1: DBC ‘Parish Borough Liaison Meeting’ 5 July 2001/Verbal report from Cllr Nobbs
Cllr Nobbs reported:
DBC gave a presentation on the new political - Cabinet Style - government; its procedures and scrutiny.
Planning Development Control Committee will meet as usual on a 3-4 weekly interval.
Cllr Nichols reported:
DBC announced they will require annual budget applications from local councils, one month earlier than in previous years.
2. With reference to item 4: Dacorum Environmental Forum, Best Value/Local Agenda 21 Workshop, 21 July ‘01
RESOLVED:
No CPC Member is able to attend.
3. With reference to item 8: HALC AGM, 7 July ‘01
Cllr Nobbs reported:
The meeting, at Wheathamsted, started at disadvantage as all supporting paperwork was locked in an office.
Legal matters are being outsourced to Nottingham Area Office.
NALC’s new structure has now been formalised.
A new training officer has been appointed.
4. With reference to item 9: Matters for attention of Council as proposed by Cllr Nichols
Cllr Nichols reported:
A) He is most concerned over matters raised with DBC and which have gone unanswered or not attended to.
RESOLVED:
Over a short trial period, the Clerk to compile a list to be published in the minutes of each meeting.
B) Final Accounts for sale of publication ‘Chipperfield Within Living Memory’ have not been published by Council.
Cllr Nobbs reported:
Although most of the 1000 copies have now been sold there are still a number of outstanding aspects, for example archiving, and expenses to be collated. A better picture should emerge by perhaps October.
B) HIGHWAYS & ROAD SAFETY & PUBLIC TRANSPORT
See Report No 037/01 from Clerk, 1 item only
C) OPEN SPACES & FOOTPATHS
See Report No 038/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 4
1. With reference to item 3: Verbal request for helicopter landing, on grassed area near St Paul’s Church, in connection with a wedding on 1 Sept 2001
RESOLVED:
Council strongly recommend DBC to refuse the request.
D) ALLOTMENTS
See Report No 039/01 from Clerk, 1 item only
1. With reference to item1: Report from Committee Chair, if appropriate
Cllr Holliday reported:
Due to the large number of plots un-let this year there is a large amount of weed growth especially of thistle on untended plots which is a threat to neighbouring tended plots. The Village Warden has been more than fully occupied on other duties, allowing little time for clearing of plots.
Cllr Holliday proposed that a contractor be employed if the Warden is not available.
RESOLVED:
The Clerk to employ a contractor if the problem persists.
E) PLANNING
See Report No 040/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 3
1. With reference to item 2: Planning Application 4/0682/01/FUL, Retention of Use of Barn for Residential Purposes, Remove Corridor Link and Extinguishment of Commercial Storage Use. Appeal Hearing 20-21 June 2001. Verbal report from Cllr Nobbs
Cllr Nobbs reported:
He attended the hearing which was very formally conducted and without an opportunity for him to speak. DBC’s case did not seem to be very forcibly presented. Inspector’s decision is now awaited.
2. With reference to item 3: Scheme proposed at ‘Chapel Croft, Croft Lane’/Updated sketch drawings
Cllr Nobbs outlined the scheme for 10 dwellings to which CPC had previously responded and advised that there is a further need for Affordable Housing.
RESOLVED:
The proposal is not appropriate to the Conservation Area. In response a copy of the Chipperfield Village Design Statement should be sent.
AGENDA ITEM 6
55/01 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES:
A) YOUTH CLUB
Cllr Nichols reported:
He attended the AGM, held 4 July 2001, which was not very well attended, the 13 persons present mostly comprising the Management Committee with Mr Robert Wiggins in the Chair.
There are nearly 80 members, although about 20 will be leaving at the year end. The junior section is thriving, but not the middle and senior sections.
Due to repairs to the premises and higher cleaning costs, there was an excess expenditure for the year of £3329 compared to a £294 profit in previous year.
Closing bank balance stood at £3552. Accounts which had been duly audited were accepted.
Latest bank balance stood at £1782, the decrease mainly due to the new carpet and Pool Table. Hall hire continued to decrease, due to business being lost to the Parish Rooms.
A further discussion has taken place with the interested parties on the possibility of a complete replacement of the Club building.
Mr Robert Wiggins, the Chairman, would be away for most of the ensuing year.
B) VILLAGE HALL
Cllr Joseph reported:
A Special Meeting of the Management Committee was held on 14 June 2001 to resolve a dispute between two user groups.
Cllr Joseph handed minutes of the meeting to the Clerk, for later circulation to Members of Council.
E) CHIPPERFIELD NEWS
Cllr Holliday reported:
There is to be a review by the Business Manager, Distribution Manager and Editors, to rationalise hand distribution of Chipperfield News.
G) VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT SUB-COMMITTEE
Cllr Nobbs reported:
Two Members met this morning (9 July) with Richard Blackburn, DBC Development Plans Manager, to progress acceptance of the document.
H) ‘HERTFORDSHIRE’S VILLAGE OF THE YEAR’ SUB-COMMITTEE
Cllr Nobbs reported:
Chipperfield has passed the first stage of judging
The second stage comprises a one hour presentation by CPC, in Chipperfield, on 24 July 2001. Cllrs Holliday, Nichols and Nobbs are pulling together to make this a success.
Chipperfield Care, Youth Club, Theatre Group, Thursday Lunch Club, Two Brewers and Chipperfield News, are all participating.
AGENDA ITEM 7
56/01 CORRESPONDENCE
See Report No 041/01 from Clerk, 1 item only
AGENDA ITEM 8
57/01 REPORT OF THE CLERK
The Clerk reported:
The old computer, which had been written-off by Council, is now completely dead. Unfortunately Clerk had relied upon it to handle the accounts spreadsheets. New computer, although otherwise brilliant, refuses to fully acknowledge the programme and causes very lengthy printing-out delays of about 15 minutes to only print one page per command. Timing is most unfortunate as Public Audit is shortly due. Computer supplier/consultant has visited and partially solved problem. Clerk’s time in solving template formula’s problem will be required.
There is no hidden agenda here. It is just to inform Council of work commitment involved.
AGENDA ITEM 9
58/01 PAYMENTS DUE,
INTERIM PAYMENTS MADE & INTERIM INCOME RECEIVED
See Report No 042/01 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.
AGENDA ITEM 10
59/01 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 an employee.
PART 2
60/01 TO RECEIVE NOTICE OF RESIGNATION BY AN EMPLOYEE.
MATTERS ARISING THERE FROM.
See page 6
Meeting closed 10.02pm
DATE OF NEXT MEETING - Monday 10 September 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