Minutes of Meeting of Woolmer Green Parish Council

Held on 14 February 2006

 

Present: Cllr H Bryant (Chair), Cllr Mrs J Watson, Cllr Mrs C Evans, Cllr Mrs J Thom

                                                                                                                                   

 

In attendance: Mr A Edmonds (Clerk), Mrs F Young (Minutes Secretary), Members of the
Public

 

 

1.         Apologies for Absence: Cllr G Daniels,

 

2.         Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on 10 January: These had been circulated and item 3b amended to read “closed season for fishing would be from the end August to the beginning of June”, and were signed as a correct record.

 

3.         Meetings Attended by Councillors:

Cllrs Watson and Evans had walked round the playgrounds with Simon Cooper to identify where repairs were needed. An amount of £800 for maintenance was agreed, within the Council’s budget. The playgrounds would then be ready for inspection by ROPSA in May.

 

4.     The Pond Committee

a. Coppicing of Willow Tree: (Cllrs. Watson & Thom declared an interest in this matter) There were representations from the public for and against the coppicing of the Goat Willow nearest the road at the village pond. The party against coppicing pointed out the aesthetic value of the tree in question and, on the advice of experts at Kew, coppicing was unnecessary and could introduce disease. Other members of the public disagreed remarking regular coppicing of the Willow had occurred in the past and the tree wasn’t particularly attractive. Both parties agreed the other Goat Willow which had been high-coppiced wasn’t as attractive as low-coppicing. Cllr Bryant said he would discuss this directly with Chris James, the District Council’s Environment Officer who had originally suggested and budgeted for the work. A decision was needed by the end of March to fit in with District Council’s yearly budget. As there was a lot of interest in this matter then if the advice on the environmental issue was not considered as the overriding one by District Council then the Parish Council would ultimately attempt to resolve by reference to the weight of expressed local opinion. However, Cllr Watson also reported that she believed that District had the ultimate responsibility for deciding on the matter. 

b.     Fishing at the Village Pond: (Cllrs Watson & Thom declared an interest in this matter) Ken Barton was thanked for his document summarising the adverse implications of fishing at the pond which covered legal and environmental issues. Other members of the public pointed out fishing’s recreational value to young people and that litter and vandalism had decreased around the village when fishing was allowed. Cllr Watson stated Chris James had advised the pond was a local amenity and not reserved as a conservation area. Cllr Bryant would put these legal and environmental issues to Chris James and elicit her response

c.     Fishing Competition: The one-day hire of Mardleybury Fishing Club’s pond had been well received and would be discussed by their committee next month.

 

5.         Hall Management:

a.     A new projector screen would be bought as part of the existing one was missing.

b.     The new licence had been received and would be displayed with the Licence Conditions book available to view.

c.     CCTV: carried forward.

d.     The use of the hall by the Woolmer Green Sports and Social Club (WGSSC) was discussed and agreed. The hall could be used by WGSSC 6 times, for the first year, free of charge with a deposit of £250 for late-night parties. WGSSC could use the hall for a New Year’s Eve party and would provide a written undertaking by a named person for the correct clearing up, locking of the hall and grounds and protection of the council’s assets. This being subject to there being no prejudice to the necessary insurance cover.

 

6.         Grounds:

a.     Play Equipment: Cllr Bryant offered to take a digital photo of the boards needing replacement on the chain bridge and send it off to Playdell. Action: Cllrs Bryant, Evans

b.     Pruning of tree in Garden Road: Cllr. Watson was still working hard to obtain confirmation of District Council’s responsibility for this and for them to undertake the work they had previously agreed.

c.     Cricket Nets: A response to Cllr Daniels’s cricket net plans was received from the WGSSC at the meeting and would be handed to Cllr Daniels.

 

7.         Environment:

a.     PPP: The footpath to Mardleybury Farm was now fenced at both ends.

b.     The public notice board detailing local footpaths would go ahead.

c.     Dog fouling at the Garden Road playground had greatly increased.

d.     Flower Tubs: Cllr Evans would assist Mrs Bryant with the planting.
Action: Cllr Evans

e.     Land Registry check – Cllr Watson had received the forms.

f.      Draft Hertfordshire Policing Plan 2006-07: Cllr Bryant would reply. Carried forward. Action: Cllr Bryant

g.     Cllr Bryant had yet to receive a response concerning speed limit reduction from Grant Shapps MP.

h.    The local policeman, Stuart Budd, had been reassigned. The new policewoman, Clare, had yet to be introduced to Council members.

8.         Publicity: (Cllr Daniels)

a.     Parish Plan: It was reported that Cllr Daniels had received 150 replies to the questionnaire and hoped to complete a summary by the end of this month.

9.         Planning: (Cllr Thom)

Decisions:

a. N6/2005/1492/FP the extension to the school car park – approval.

b.     N6/2005/1539 O₂ mast – approval.

Applications:

a.     The Red Lion Public House had applied for an extension of music for an extra hour from 23.00-24.00 Thursday, Friday and Saturday in line with other public houses in the village. The Council agreed to inform the District Council that, while they had no objection to this application, the Red Lion should be asked to comply with the same restrictions concerning open windows while music is being played as the other public houses in the village.

b.     N6 2006/87/FP 6 New Road: Single storey rear extension. The Council’s objections were that it could block the right of way for the elderly lady at No. 8 New Road, the apparent over-development of the site and that the newly-built garage was not shown on the site plan. Furthermore, there would be a loss of car parking space. The conservation area at the pond is already being used for parking.

 

10.      Finance:

a.     The accounts for April 2005 to December 2005 were proposed by Cllr Thom and seconded by Cllr Evans.

b.     The accounts for April 2005 to January 2006 were proposed by Cllr Thom and seconded by Cllr Evans.

c.     Budget 2006/7: The precept requirement, together with the information letter to residents for inclusion with the Council Tax Demands, had been submitted to Welwyn Hatfield Council. Thanks were expressed to Cllr Watson and the Clerk for their hard work.

 

11.      Entertainments Committee: carried forward

        

12.      Sponsorship for Darren Bennett: (Cllr Watson)

The Parish Council declined sponsorship of Darren Bennett in the London Marathon for FAB Kids as it only gave to charities in the village.

 

13.    Village of the Year Competition: (Cllr Watson)

The village would enter the competition again this year. Welwyn Hatfield Council had requested it use our submission to the Village of the Year 2005 as an example for business working with the community.

 

14.    Forthcoming events/meetings:

a. Cllr Bryant has reserved the Committee Room of the Hall on the evening of Thursday 11 May for
Grant Shapps MP local question time.

b. Cllr Evans will be attending the Welwyn Road Safety Committee meeting.

 

15.    Any other Business

The Herts Association of Parish and Town Councils had reported on a 3-hour debate in Parliament when it was agreed Parish Councils should have more powers.

 

16. Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday 14 March 2006.

 

Mrs Fiona Young, Minutes Secretary

Woolmer Green Parish Council