September 2001
Minutes of the Meeting of Chipperfield Parish Council, held in ‘The Upper Room’ at St. Paul’s Church extension, Chipperfield, on Monday 10 September 2001 at 8.00pm
WPC Michelle Buttleman, Woman Police Constable for Chipperfield - Flaunden - Bovingdon, talked with Council before commencement of the agenda.
PRESENT: Councillor DJ Nobbs (Chair) Councillor MD Joseph (Vice Chair) Councillors: J Carter, Mrs BA Berners-Price, Miss EA Holliday, RJH Neil, JDF Nichols; with J Pringle (Clerk) in attendance.
Borough Councillor R Roberts and WPC M Buttleman were present as observers for the entire meeting.
AGENA ITEM 1
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE; were submitted on behalf of Councillor Mrs RV Wakeman.
AGENA ITEM 2
61/01 THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 9 JULY 2001: were approved and signed.
AGENA ITEM 3
62/01 REPORTS FROM THE CLERK ON BEHALF OF COMMITTEES :
A) FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES
See Report No 043/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 8
1. With Reference to item 1.1: Review of Accounts/Public Audit 2000-01/Supplementary Statements to the Accounts
RESOLVED:
The Year End Bank Reconciliation was signed in Council at its July meeting and presented at audit. However, as the Supplementary Statements to the Accounts, as presented at Audit, are normally subject to revision in discussion with auditors; only the final version agreed by auditors will be presented to Council for signature hopefully in the near future.
2. With reference to item 1.2: Queen’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations
RESOLVED:
Council will not, so soon, impose upon the organisers of the Village Millennium events to be involved.
Council could perhaps simply mark the event by the planting of a tree, maybe under-planted with bulbs, on Chipperfield Common. Species of tree, siting of tree, and suitable planting time to be agreed with DBC.
Councillor Nobbs to write to village organisations, seeking alternative suggestions and participation.
3. With reference to item 1.3: Proposed CPC Membership of Dacorum District Citizens Advice Bureau
RESOLVED:
Council consider it possible to benefit the Village by becoming a Member Organisation. Council agree to making the one-off £5 minimum payment.
4. With reference to item 1.4: Chipperfield Village Design Statement
RESOLVED:
The ‘Modified Final Draft - August 2001’, as previously circulated to Members, is unanimously approved.
5. With reference to item 1.5: Parish Environmental Action Plans
Cllr Nobbs reported:
Funds are available for Parish Action Plans.
RESOLVED:
CMS Area Manager - Andy Hardstaff - be invited to address CPC Meeting of October or November.
6. With reference to item 1.6: Clerk’s Priorities
Cllr Nobbs reported:
This matter arose from the over-load of Clerk’s work in last financial year. Clearly, as a result of this a schedule of priorities needed to be established. Some matters will need to be put in abeyance.
Two priorities have been agreed with the Clerk:
A) Minutes of Council Meetings should be published within 2 to 3 weeks. This is especially helpful to Members in reminding them of actions agreed to be taken.
B) The Clerk to submit, once yearly, a month time-sheet outlining work undertaken.
RESOLVED:
Accepted for information only.
7. With reference to item 1.7: Local Councillor nomination to DBC Standards Committee
Cllr Nobbs reported:
Two nominations are invited by DBC. One representative from Parish Councils, one representative from Town Councils.
RESOLVED:
Chipperfield PC are unable to name a prospective candidate. The Clerk to consult with Kings Langley Clerk - SLCC Dacorum Area Representative.
8. With reference to item 2: DBC ‘The Regeneration Unit’s Best Value Review for 2001-02’,Questionnaire
Cllr Nobbs reported:
He did reply to the questionnaire. However, he felt the title misleading - it is a vision without saying how it will be carried out.
9. With reference to item 3: DBC ‘Survey of Council’s Environmental Management and Sustainability Agenda’, questionnaire for RSVP by 7 Sept 2001
Cllr Nobbs reported:
He did reply to the questionnaire. However, although the Agenda seems worthy in its aims it also seems rather ineffective.
He suggested that the Clerk might wish to draw to attention at the forthcoming meeting of Parish/Town Clerks with DBC Officers, the frequently unrealistic time response allowed concerning answering questionnaires and also notice given of some meetings.
B) HIGHWAYS & ROAD SAFETY & PUBLIC TRANSPORT
See Report No 044/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 2
1. With reference to item 1: ‘Home Zones and Quiet Lanes’ - Government Consultation Document and Questionnaire received via NALC/Clerk copied to Committee. Response to NALC invited by 26 October 2001/Verbal report from CPC Committee Chair
Cllr Carter reported:
He considered the only effective solution to traffic problems to be by use of ‘speed cameras’.
RESOLVED:
Highways Committee to meet in advance of October meeting of Council, to propose a response to NALC.
2. With reference to item 2: ‘Dacorum Borough Parking Strategy’/4 October 7.30pm Consultation Meeting with Tring Town Council
RESOLVED:
A Member of Committee will try to attend.
C) OPEN SPACES & FOOTPATHS
See Report No 045/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 5
1. With reference to item 3: Heavy duty grass mower donated by resident to Council
RESOLVED:
CPC Chairman to write to donor with thanks.
2. With reference to item 4: Audit, as proposed by Cllr Nichols, of Chipperfield Open Spaces etc
Cllr Nichols read to Council, as an example of his concerns at the condition of the Village, his recorded observations on a walk one Sunday from his home to the newsagents.
RESOLVED:
A) Councillors will conduct a twice yearly audit of the whole Civil Parish; one audit in Spring and one in Autumn.
B) This task to be shared between Councillors assigned to defined areas.
C) Councillors reports to be submitted to Cllr Nobbs who will publish an overall final report to Council.
3. With reference to item 5: ‘Devolvement of Powers’ Grass Cutting Contracts in Chipperfield
RESOLVED;
Council endorse progress made and approve future action proposed.
D) ALLOTMENTS
See Report No 046/01 from Clerk, 1 item only
E) PLANNING
See Report No 047/01 from Clerk, items 1 - 2
1. With reference to item 1: NALC Policy Update ‘LGA CONSULTATION: BROWNFIELD SITES’ Questionnaire, RSVP by 28 Sept 2001
RESOLVED;
Formulation of response is delegated to Committee.
2. With reference to item 2: DBC Notices of Planning
The Clerk gave a verbal report on applications received and responses sent since last meeting of Council.
AGENDA ITEM 4
63/01 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES:
A) YOUTH CLUB
Cllr Nichols reported:
The Club are very pleased with the outcome of the Hertfordshire Village of the Year Competition (Chipperfield won the ‘Younger People’ category award) in which the Junior Youth Club participated in no small way with their participation in the presentation in the second stage of the competition.
The Youth Club are at present without a Secretary.
C) SCHOOL GOVERNOR
Cllr Nobbs reported in absence of Cllr Wakeman:
The School have been given an indication of funding for an extra classroom. This will not be a replacement to the temporary classrooms.
D) CHIPPERFIELD CARE
Cllr Berners-Price reported:
She has not heard from Chipperfield Care regarding any scheduled meeting.
E) CHIPPERFIELD NEWS
Cllr Holliday reported:
Consideration is being given to the use of a courier for distribution of Chipperfield News.
F) VILLAGE MILLENNIUM SUB-COMMITTEE
Cllr Nobbs reported:
It is understood that ‘The Village Map’ should be ready to go to the printers by end December this year.
G) VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT SUB-COMMITTEE
(See Finance & General Purposes, item 4)
H) HERTFORDSHIRE’S VILLAGE OF THE YEAR SUB-COMMITTEE
(Refer to APPENDIX ‘D’ submitted by Cllr Nobbs)
Cllr Nobbs showed to Council the Plaque, Certificate and £50 cheque, awarded to Chipperfield as winners of the ‘Younger People’ category in the competition (one of the five categories).
In view of the considerable input from the Youth Club, as well as the School; Council in general discussion agreed it appropriate that the Youth Club be offered the Plaque for display in the Clubhouse and for them to suggest an appropriate use by them of the £50 award.
On behalf of Council, Cllr Nobbs thanked everyone from the Village who contributed to the competition.
AGENDA ITEM 5
64/01 CORRESPONDENCE
See Report No 048/01 from Clerk, 1 item only
AGENDA ITEM 6
65/01 REPORT OF THE CLERK
The Clerk reported:
He wished to sincerely thank Cllr Nobbs, Cllr Holliday and the Village Warden, for all their help in very considerably smoothing the path of business, as far as practicable, following his wife’s accident whilst they were on holiday.
AGENDA ITEM 7
66/01 PAYMENTS DUE,
INTERIM PAYMENTS MADE & INTERIM INCOME RECEIVED
See Report No 049/01 from Clerk
1. 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.
Meeting closed 9.50pm
DATE OF NEXT MEETING - Monday 8 October 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