November 2001
Minutes of the Meeting of Chipperfield Parish Council, held in ‘The Upper Room’ at St. Paul’s Church extension, Chipperfield, on Monday 12 November 2001 at 8.00pm
Before commencement of the Agenda: Mr Andy Hardstaff of CMS - the Countryside Management Service, talked with Council and members of the public on the subject of PEAP - Parish Environmental Action Plans.
PRESENT: Councillor DJ Nobbs (Chair). Councillor MD Joseph (Vice Chair). Councillors: J Carter, Miss EA Holliday, RJH Neil, JDF Nichols, Mrs RV Wakeman; with J Pringle (Clerk) in attendance.
Borough Councillor R Roberts was present as an observer.
AGENDA BUSINESS: commenced at 8.35pm.
AGENDA ITEM 1
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE; were submitted on behalf of Councillor Mrs Berners-Price.
AGENDA ITEM 2
73/01 THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 8 OCTOBER 2001: were approved and signed.
AGENDA ITEM 3
74/01 REPORTS FROM THE CLERK ON BEHALF OF COMMITTEES :
A) FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES
See Report No 057/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 11
1. With reference to item 1: Queen’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations
Cllr Nobbs reported:
He has circulated village organisations asking them for ideas and to reply by 16 November 2001.
RESOLVED:
Cllr Nobbs will put proposals received to the December meeting of Council.
2. With reference to item 3: ‘Allowances for Members of Local Authorities and Similar Bodies’/Response delegated to F&GP Committee
Cllr Nobbs reported:
Council and Committee have expressed the view that Members should be reimbursed necessary expenses, in particular for long distance journeys outside the Parish to attend meetings on behalf of Council. Unfortunately Committee failed to meet the deadline for reply but it is hoped that sufficient support will have come from other councils.
3. With reference to item 4: National Association of Local Councils ‘Draft Corporate Plan’ Special General Meeting 29 October
Cllr Joseph reported:
He did attend the meeting. The ‘Plan’ was very poorly presented and the motion rejected on a vote of 11:10.
4. With reference to item 5: DBC ‘Joint Environmental Policy Panel’/Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 22 November 2001/County-wide Waste Strategy
Cllr Nobbs reported:
He understands that waste disposal to land-fill sites, increasingly difficult to find, will be the main theme. Borough Councillor Richard Roberts has reported that he will attend the meeting and report back.
RESOLVED:
Council to consider this Report at its December Meeting.
5. With reference to item 6: Proposed Chipperfield Village Website/Refer to APPENDIX ‘A’ item 1
RESOLVED:
Committee to consider and report to December Meeting of Council.
6. With reference to item 7: Consultation on Secondary Admissions 2003-4/Refer to APPENDIX ‘A’ item 2
RESOLVED:
Committee, with School Governor - Cllr Wakeman, to consider and report to December Meeting of Council.
7. With reference to item 9: Parish Council Records
Cllr Nichols asked for clarification.
The Clerk reported:
Since his appointment as Clerk; all originals of each full meeting of Council i.e. Agenda, signed Minutes, Published Reports to the Meeting, Appendixes, are ring binder filed and should in time be lodged with County Records.
8. With reference to item 11: Risk Assessment
RESOLVED:
A) Council endorse the need for Risk Assessment
B) Risk Assessment procedures are to be commenced as soon as possible
C) The Clerk and Cllr Holliday to report progress to December Meeting of Council.
B) HIGHWAYS & ROAD SAFETY & PUBLIC TRANSPORT
See Report No 058/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 4
1. With reference to item 2: ‘ORBIT’ Transport Solutions Around London
Cllr Carter reported:
The consultation mainly considered extending the M25 and improvements to rail links.
A clear message seems to emerge; the notion of expanding road networks will not reduce or solve car transport problems.
2. With reference to item 3: Absence of Footway or Footpath leading from Chipperfield Parish Boundary at Whippendell Bottom into Kings Langley
RESOLVED:
The Clerk to consult with Clerk to KLPC, and DBC Countryside Access Officer.
3. Standing Order 16 (j)
The Chairman proposed to bring to attention of Council as a matter of urgency a communication received by the Clerk this day from Hertfordshire County Council concerning a proposal to introduce a 30 mph speed limit along Scatterdells Lane and to which a response is required by 29 November.
RESOLVED:
A) Chairman’s proposal is unanimously Approved.
B) The proposed speed limit, and ‘Roundels’ at start of limit, are unanimously Approved.
C) OPEN SPACES & FOOTPATHS
See Report No 059/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 7
1. With reference to item 1: Audit of Open Spaces etc of the Civil Parish/refer to APPENDIX ‘B’
RESOLVED:
Cllr Nobbs and the Clerk to liaise in setting a list of priorities and establish items that can be remedied by the Village Warden in normal course of duties.
2. With reference to item 3: Overnight Parking of Commercial Vehicles/Permissive Car Park vicinity War Memorial
RESOLVED:
Cllr Holliday to obtain photographic evidence available from a resident, then Clerk to discuss remedy with DBC.
3. With reference to item 4: Proposal, in outline, for provision of Vandal Resistant Poop Scoop Dispensers/Relocation of one existing Dog Waste Bin to Kings Lane
RESOLVED:
A) Unanimously approved.
B) Clerk to negotiate with DBC and sharing of expenditure.
4. With reference to item 6: Chipperfield Common Footpaths/Chiltern Society Conservation Volunteers
RESOLVED:
Cllr Holliday to discuss with DBC Countryside Access Officer. CF6 is seen as a priority.
D) ALLOTMENTS
See Report No 060/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 3
E) PLANNING
See Report No 061/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 3
1. With reference to item 1: HCC ‘Structure Plan (1998) - Supplementary Guidance: Landscape Character’
RESOLVED:
Committee to draft a response to December Meeting of Council.
2. With reference to item 2.1/One-2-One Mast: Refer to APPENDIX ‘C’ item 1
3. With reference to item 2.2/Hertfordshire Minerals Plan Review - Key Issues Document/Refer to APPENDIX ‘C’ item 2
RESOLVED:
Committee to present a proposed response to December Meeting of Council.
4. With reference to item 2.3/Ackwell Simmonds Site/Refer to APPENDIX ‘C’ item 3
RESOLVED:
Recommendations from Committee are adopted.
75/01 TO VARY THE ORDER OF BUSINESS ON THE GROUND OF URGENCY/STANDING ORDER No 17
The Chairman proposed that in view of Standing Order No 73 and the short time left to complete essential business, Agenda item 4 be deferred to the December Meeting.
RESOLVED:
Approved by a majority vote.
AGENDA ITEM 5
76/01 CORRESPONDENCE
See Report No 062/01 from Clerk, 1item only
AGENDA ITEM 6
77/01 REPORT OF THE CLERK
The Clerk reported:
He had nothing further to add to his published reports.
AGENDA ITEM 7
78/01 PAYMENTS DUE,
INTERIM PAYMENTS MADE & INTERIM INCOME RECEIVED
See Report No 063/01 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.
79/01 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.
RESOLVED:
Approved.
Part 1 of the Meeting closed at 9.55pm
PART 2
80/01 TO CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF AN EMPLOYEE
81/01 TO CONSIDER AND APPROVE CARRYING OUT MINOR COSTED WORKS ON BEHALF OF A NEIGHBOURING LOCAL COUNCIL
82/01 TO RECEIVE A BRIEF REPORT ON AN INFORMAL EXPLORATORY MEETING CONCERNING TWO PLANNING ISSUES IN CHIPPERFIELD
83/01 TO CONSIDER AND APPROVE EXPENDITURE TO UP-GRADE AN ITEM OF PARISH COUNCIL EQUIPMENT
See pages 6 & 7
Meeting closed 10.15pm
DATE OF NEXT MEETING - Monday 10 December 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
PART 2
80/01 TO CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF AN EMPLOYEE
(This refers to the appointment of a new Common Ranger)
1. Cllr Nobbs reported:
Only one application was received.
Mr Paul Hewetson, of Dunny Lane, early retired Metropolitan Police Sergeant (and Acting Inspector, Dog Section) - with certificate of exemplorary service, was interviewd 29 October.
He now works self-employed as a Dog Behaviourist, walks Chipperfield Common daily and is well known in the Village.
Committee recommend that he be formally appointed, subject to the usual 3 month probationary period.
RESOLVED:
Unanimously approved.
81/01 TO CONSIDER AND APPROVE CARRYING OUT MINOR COSTED WORKS ON BEHALF OF A NEIGHBOURING LOCAL COUNCIL
(This refers to proposals for CPC Village Warden - under supervision of CPC Clerk - carrying out minor maintenance works for Kings Langley Parish Council - cost, including administration, to be invoiced to KPLC)
1. The Clerk reported:
The Clerk for KLPC is finding it impossible to obtain contractors to carry out minor maintenance to e.g Bus Shelters and Bench Seats. Such work does not fall within the job description of their Village Warden and in any case they do not possess equipment to do so.
The present proposal has been given formal approval by KLPC.
CPC Clerk recommends Council to accept the proposal
RESOLVED:
Unanimously approved.
82/01 TO RECEIVE A BRIEF REPORT ON AN INFORMAL EXPLORATORY MEETING CONCERNING TWO PLANNING ISSUES IN CHIPPERFIELD
(This refers to a proposed development for Conversion of 3 Existing Cottages to provide 4 Cottages and construction of 4 Further Cottages - Chapel Croft)
1. Cllr Nobbs reported:
At the request of the developer; Cllr Nobbs, Clerk and the developer, held an informal exploratory meeting to consider the suitability of this scheme dedicated for persons aged 55 and over, and the likely impact on the Village.
No views were expressed on behalf of Council, some modifications were explored, and the likely ‘planning gain’ considered.
Formal planning application is now awaited.
83/01 TO CONSIDER AND APPROVE EXPENDITURE TO UP-GRADE AN ITEM OF PARISH COUNCIL EQUIPMENT
(This refers to a Petrol Driven well used Hayter Rough Cut Mower kindly donated to Council by a resident)
1. The Clerk reported:
This machine, once in good working order, is ideal for rough wet cutting in such places as the Allotments. Also, it is of cast iron construction as opposed to modern versions in plastic and costing in the region of £1,500.
A contractor has attempted to get it in running order but because of lack of use the most cost effective measures would be to replace the engine with a more powerful and new one - verbally quoted at £240, Vat and fitting inclusive.
The Clerk recommends this action to Council.
RESOLVED:
Unanimously approved.
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