Minutes of Meeting of Woolmer Green Parish Council
Held on 9th November 2004
Present: Cllr.
H Bryant (Chair) Cllr. Mrs. J. Watson Cllr.
Mrs J. Thom Cllr. Marriott
In
attendance: Mr Alan Edmonds
(Clerk) Mrs. L. Vincent (Minutes Secretary)
Members of the public
1. Apologies for absence: Received from Cllr. Mrs C. Evans, Cllr. G Daniels
2. Minutes of Council Meeting on 14th September 2004. Signed as a correct record. All matters arising were included on the agenda for this meeting. It was agreed that a draft version of the minutes could in future be posted on the notice boards, if there is a delay in approving them.
3. Minutes of the Extra Meeting of 25th October 2004 Signed as a correct record.
4. ChairmanÕs report. Chair expressed the CouncilÕs gratitude to Cllr. Watson for her continued commitment in being Councils representative at most external meetings. The WG Neighbourhood Watch has begun operations and the Council is grateful in particular to John Roper for all his assistance. Success of the NW now depends upon local volunteers. The speed limit issue on the B197 had been discussed with John Roper, who is keen for it to be discussed at the Highways meetings. Chair will be laying the wreath at SundayÕs Remembrance Day service at 9:30am at St. MichaelÕs Church.
5.
a) Meetings attended by Councillors: Cllr. Watson attended the HAPTC open meeting on 19th October, the WHC debate on Community Safety on 1st November, the launch of the WH Community plan on 2nd November, the WH Joint Highways Committee meeting on 4th November and had met with the two District Councillors on 6th November. Cllr. Bryant had attended the WHDC District, Parish and Towns Councils meeting on 4th October and Cllrs. Thom and Evans had attended the WHDC training session on planning.
b) Bus Passes
Standing Orders were suspended to allow members of the public to discuss the issue of Bus Passes, where parents with children going to catchment area schools, were being denied a free bus pass, on the grounds that it was not their closest school.
On recommencement of the meeting, the Council expressed its concern over this issue and all were in agreement that a meeting be arranged once John Harris of Herts C.C. Children, Schools and Families had replied to the letter sent by the Clerk.
6. Pedestrian Crossing/Traffic Island: Cllr. Watson had attended the WH Highways meeting, at which the crossing at Lisles Garage was discussed. It was agreed that it was too expensive to build a crossing here, but there was agreement for a bollard to be erected. The grass cutting in W G will next year be taken over by District with, hopefully, 12 cuts a year. The lighting will be improved in Wickfield Close. All schools had been requested to submit a travel plan, which would lead to the funding of a zebra crossing outside the school. St. MichaelÕs School had yet to do this.
7. Private Access to Council Land. Council now have received five responses from the nine letters sent. HAPTC have been consulted for advice on how to handle the remaining four.
8. High Kerbs outside Cawdors and Lessiters No response had been received from HCC nor about the replacement T-Junction sign for New Road on the B197. All were in agreement that a further letter be sent to HCC. Action: Clerk
9. Welwyn Road Safety Committee: The agreed insertion into newsletter had been completed.
10. Neighbourhood Watch: A letter of thanks is to be sent to John Roper. Action: Chair
11. PPP: A meeting had been arranged for 24th or 26th November 2004, to discuss and report back. All were in agreement that Paul Jarczewski be invited to Council meeting. Action: Chair
12. Litter picking: No progress made yet.
13. Light Pollution Š insertion on website: Carried forward to next meeting
14. Grass verge between Knebworth and Monread Lodge: Discussed under Min. 8.
15. Hall Structure Report (Cllr. Marriott):
(a) Chairs in the lounge have all now been repaired.
(b) Repairs and maintenance needed: Repairs to front Canopy and drainage works. Cllr. Marriott declared an interest. Two tenders had been received, one with a quote of £1,350, the other £347. Cllr. Bryant proposed, seconded by Cllr. Watson, and all were in agreement to accept the lower quotation. Action: Clerk
(c) Entrance Hall floor needs oiling: it was agreed to ask the contractor to look at this at the same time as doing the other works.
16. Hall Management Report. (Cllr. Watson):
(a) Football Clubs: All teams were now paying for every game before the game starts.
(b) Child Protection Policy: This was agreed. Thanks to Cllr. Evans for organising. Hirers of the Hall will be notified of the policy in the future.
17. Grounds Report (Reported by Cllr. Watson in absence of Cllr. Evans):
(a) Garden Road Playground equipment: A quotation had been received from Frank Cooper for the works needed at the playground: seat replacement, surface under the spider, replacement of swings, total of approx. £1,800. He had also quoted for cutting back the vegetation around the Tennis Courts, jet washing the paved areas and cleaning out the drains. The total quotation (including the playground work) was £3,620. Cllr. Watson proposed, seconded by Cllr. Marriott and all were in agreement that this quotation be accepted.
18. Publicity (Reported by Cllr. Watson in absence of Cllr. Daniels):
(a) The Parish Plan: Cllr. Daniels was happy to continue with this work. A budget of approx £1,500 was needed for the Plan. It was agreed that a meeting be arranged for all those interested. Action: Cllr. Daniels
(b) Website update: It was agreed that the Chair would discuss further with Cllr. Daniels.
Action: Chair.
(c) Village of the Year: Deferred to next meeting.
(d) Sales people for YELL.COM had suggested an increased the level of advertising for the Hall. All were in agreement to keep to the same level, as bookings were high anyway.
19. Planning (Cllr. Thom):
(a) Applications: Vodafone telephone mast at Mardley Hill. No comment.
(b) Decisions: Approvals had been received for first floor side extension at 32 New Road and for the Conservatory at 8 Mardleybury Road.
(c) It was rumoured that the bungalow on the corner of the Nigel Jones site had been sold to the developers and would be demolished. It was reported that Council would see plans before they were submitted.
20. Finance (Cllr. Watson):
(a) Payments in September and October 2004 were unanimously accepted, proposed by Cllr. Bryant, seconded by Cllr. Thom.
(b) The accounts to date were approved, proposed by Cllr. Bryant and seconded by Cllr. Thom.
(c) Budget 2004-5: The draft budget had been discussed at a meeting held between Cllrs. Bryant and Watson and Clerk on 25th October 2004. A further meeting will be held. Action:Clerk
(d) A donation of £40 was approved to the British Legion for the wreath on Remembrance Day.
(e) Having answered some minor questions received from Auditors, Council was waiting to hear from them regarding their approval of the accounts.
21. Village Day (and item 26: Pond Committee) A meeting had been held to discuss proceeds from the Village Day. At that meeting it was agreed that all those people attending would be known as the Entertainments Committee and a Chair was elected (Cllr. Watson). Mr Dave Thom was the Minutes Secretary and Mr Gordon Barker the Treasurer. Out of the £400 profit in the Entertainments Committee funds, £200 would be donated to the church and £100 would go to the organisers of the Auction, leaving £100 in the fund. All were in agreement for the Entertainments Committee, together with the Pond Committee, to be sub-committees of the Parish Council.
22. Young Villagers: It had been agreed to meet the Young Villagers quarterly to discuss any issues. Cllr. Bryant agreed to inform Clerk of available dates and then a letter could be sent. Action: Clerk/Chair
23. Census Statistics from District: Cllr. Watson reported that she had been unable to get hold of these and would need to try again. Action: Cllr. Watson
24. Bus Passes (discussed under Min. 5b).
25. HAPTC training: All were in agreement that local training for Councillors be arranged in the Village Hall.
26. Pond Committee: (discussed at under Min. 21)
27. HCC work at Woolmer Green (discussed under Min. 6)
28. Removal of T-Junction sign (discussed under Min. 8)
29. Leaves in Lisles Passage way: All were in agreement that a letter be written to those in house next to Lisles passage asking them to sweep up leaves and cut overhanging branches Action: Clerk
30. Correspondence received:
(a) Renewable Energy Study. Cllrs. Marriott and Watson had agreed to take part in the consultation. Cllr. Watson reported that it might be a good idea to ask Mr David Irving to speak at the Annual Parish Meeting on energy conservation. Action: Cllrs. Watson/ Marriott
(b) Better Britain Campaign. It was agreed that a letter be sent to see if any funding could be obtained for producing the Parish Plan. Action: Cllr. Watson
31. Any other business:
(a) A complaint had been received that branches had been cut from a tree with a TPO. District needs to be contacted. Action: Clerk
(b) Trees have been dumped in the woods. Chris James, the Environmental Officer at County Council needs to be contacted to ask whether this is a problem. Action: Cllr. Bryant
(c) No Midnight Mass is planned again at St MichaelÕs church. The Council expressed deep concern and sadness.
(d) ŅCarols around the PondÓ is arranged for 4:00 pm on Christmas Eve.
(e) It is hoped that something will be done in the village to celebrate St GeorgeÕs Day next year.
(f) There will be a chair cleaning session again on 24th January 2005.
(g) The Clerk asked if all Councillors could inform all other Councillors as well as himself of intended holiday dates.
32. Date of next meeting: Tuesday 11th January 2005
Mrs Linda Vincent
Minutes Secretary
Woolmer Green Parish Council 24th
November 2004