Minutes of Meeting of Woolmer Green Parish Council

Held on 8 March 2005

 

Present:           Cllr G Daniels (Acting Chair), Cllr Mrs J Watson, Cllr Mrs C Evans,

                        Cllr Mrs J Thom, Cllr D Marriott

 

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

                        of the Public

 

1.                       Apologies for Absence: Received from Cllr Bryant.

 

2.                       Minutes Secretary: The Council welcomed Fiona Young, the new Minutes Secretary, and also asked the Clerk to thank Linda Vincent for her excellent work of the last four years.                                       Action: Clerk

 

3.                       Minutes of Council Meeting on 8 January 2005. Signed as a correct record.

 

4.                       Meetings attended by Councillors: Cllr Watson had attended meetings on Herts Highways, a Tewin inter-parish meeting, the Council for Voluntary Services Meeting on Village Halls and a meeting with the Ward Cllr Julie Cragg.  Cllr Marriott had attended with Cllr. Marriott the meeting of District, Parish & Town Councils on 15 February.  Cllr Evans had attended a meeting of the local Road Safety Committee.

 

5.                       Bus Passes: No further action

 

6.                       Private Access to Council Land: Following a residentÕs suggestion, the last sentence of the proposed agreement had been deleted.  As a result, one more person had signed and it was hoped that others would follow suit..

 

7.                       Highways Dept of HCC: The work to be done would be put out to tender.  The speed limit changes will be brought up after the Parish Plan is finalised.  Cllr Thom reported the pavements were overgrown at both ends of the village. This will be discussed at next monthÕs meeting.

 

8.                       PPP: Cllr Bryant had sent a list of priorities to the PPP.  However, more delays were expected due to staff changes.

 

9.                       Light Pollution: No further action.

 

10.                    Hall Structure Report (Cllr Marriott)

a.     Repair of table will be completed when time is available.

b.     Boilers have been renewed in the changing room.  Cllr Marriott would ask an electrician to overview the work.

 

11.                    Hall Management Report: (Cllr Watson)

a.     The Clerk is to liase with D Chell about the application under the Licensing Act 2003.                                                           Action: Clerk

b.     Public Entertainment Licence now obtained.

c.     S Wilde is willing to donate planted planters for the hall.

d.     A new Bookings Clerk, Mrs Fiona Young (also the Minutes Secretary), has been appointed following the interviewing of three applicants.

 

12.                    Grounds Report: (Cllr Evans) There was nothing to report on the state of the grounds.  Cllr Watson stated that the Stevenage Borough LadiesÕ Football Club wants to use the pitch and kitchen, and this would be followed up.                                                                   Action: Cllr Watson

 

13.             Environment: East of England Plan  The Council was reminded that replies to the plan must be submitted by 16 March 2005.  Cllr Marriott will arrange a short meeting with Cllr Bryant and Cllr Watson to formalise a response.                                                                      Action: Cllr Marriott

 

14.                     Publicity: (Cllr Daniels)            

a.     The Parish Plan: Cllr Evans had gathered the responses to form a report.  Cllr Watson suggested putting them in the next newsletter to sustain interest.  Cllr Evans had produced census statistics for Woolmer Green.  Cllr Watson will contact people who offered to help to set up a Parish Plan Committee.                          Action: Cllr Watson

b.     Website: Cllr Daniels reported that this was up-to-date.

 

15.             Planning: (Cllr Thom)

a.     Decisions: 2004/1892 Orangery at Mardleybury Farm - refusal, 2004/1857 65 Garden Road extension - refusal; 2004/1886 7 Birch Road - permission granted.

b.     Applications: 2005/188 Extension at St MichaelÕs School - no objections.

c.     2004/1663 22 London Road (Cllr Marriott declared an interest) - no objections.

 

16.                    Finance: (Cllr. Watson)

a.     Payments in February were agreed.  Payments for the next period will be increased due to the replacement of the boilers.

b.     Accounts for the year to date were agreed.

 

17.             Young Villagers: Cllr Marriott had talked with two young villagers to involve them in the village plans and will provide the Clerk with names and addresses.                                                              Action: Cllr Marriott

 

18.             Celebration of ParishÕs 5th Birthday on 23 April:  Invitations would be sent to MPs and other local dignitaries.  Information would be made available on the website.                                               Action: Cllr Daniels

 

 

19.                    Book of Woolmer Green:  The Clerk has received these; the price to be discussed and agreed.  A dust cover would be displayed on the notice board for publicity.                                                       Action: Cllr. Watson

 

20.                 Annual Parish Meeting 12 April:

a.     Cllr Marriott had contacted Hatfield University who are willing to give a talk on renewable energy issues for the Parish.  Cllr Marriott would e-mail them to give time and date of talk and cc Cllr Daniels for the website.

b.     Tea/coffee and biscuits would be available prior to the start of the meeting.

c.     Cllr Bryant will need to give the yearly report and thank appropriate people.                                                                     Action: Cllr Bryant

 

21.                    Village Day 10 July 2005: (Cllr Watson)

a.     A grant from the Lottery fund was being applied for under the ÒHome Front RecallÓ scheme.  This would cover the provision of a Spitfire fly-past, camouflage netting and an armoured vehicle.

b.     Cllr Marriott had spoken to two MG driving champions who could entertain villagers and it was agreed to follow up this proposal.

                                                                                                       Action: Cllr Marriott

22.                    District Plan: The final version of the 10 year District Plan would be completed in September 2005.  Cllr Thom suggested a notice about it be put on the notice board and this was agreed.                   Action: Cllr Thom

 

23.                    Craft and Food Fair: Cllr Marriott had contacted traders and an organiser of farmers markets, C Cummings, and received a positive response from both.  Traders would pay £15 per stall with C Cummings receiving £5 of this.  The best date was agreed as 1st Sunday of each month, 8 am Ð noon.  Cllr Marriott will get details in writing.  Licensing requirements would be investigated.                                                               Action: Cllr Marriott

24.             Harry MacDonaldÕs Gravestone: Work completed.

25.             Frequency of Council Meetings: A move to monthly meetings finishing around 9 pm was agreed with the August meeting possibly skipped.

26.             Any other Business

a.     Cllr Bryant will attend a Police Meeting for Local Councillors on 16 March.  Cllr Watson volunteered to also attend.

                                                                                     Action: Cllr Watson/Cllr Bryant

b.     Village of the Year application forms were now available and it was agreed to enter for every category.                       Action: Cllr Daniels.

27.             Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday 12 April 2005 (The Annual Parish Meeting). 

 

Mrs Fiona Young, Minutes Secretary

Woolmer Green Parish Council