ST. IPPOLYTS PARISH COUNCIL

Transcription

1 Minutes of a Meeting of St. Ippolyts Parish Council held on Monday 8 th February 2010 at St. Ippolyts School. PRESENT : Cllrs. Mr. K. H. Holden (Chairman) Mrs. P. Skeggs (Vice-Chairman) Mr. D. Blundell Mr. J. Howlett (co-opted at this meeting) In attendance : Mrs. A. Powell (Clerk) 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence had been received from Cllr. B. Thomas, P. Hobson & T. Smith, HCC Cllr. D. Ashley, and NHD Cllr. A. Ashley. 2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 11 th January 2010, copies of which had been circulated to each member of the Council, were signed as a true record of the proceedings. 3. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS There was no declaration of interests. 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 5. POLICE REPORT 6. COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORTS 7. MATTERS OF REPORT a) Police Authority survey due Views on policing cost in 2010 and priorities. The Chairman co-ordinated the comments and the Clerk submitted the consultation on b) Other Consultations Four consultations from Stevenage Borough Council due on (via and CD by post) Consultations include :- Site Specific policies DPD; Old Town Action Plan; Core Strategy and Development Management Polices, and Gunnels Wood area Action Plan. It was agreed that the consultation would require some detail discussion and that a separate meeting would be held for this. The Chairman has kindly agreed to hold the meeting at his house on at 8pm. c) St. Ippolyts village green Cllr. Mrs. Skeggs forwarded evidence questionnaire from Herts. Direct website to support the application and found out from Open Spaces Society that instead of using the questionnaire, local people could give written statement provided it covers all the elements in the questionnaire. Cllrs. Mrs. Skeggs and Mr. Blundell received two and one letter respectively from residents supporting the application. There was a concern that letters from local people might not cover all the elements required in the questionnaire. It was agreed that Cllr. Mrs. Skeggs would prepare a draft letter for discussion at the March meeting. The letter would be delivered to all household. d) Parish trees maintenance Arborcare carried out the hedges maintenance job near 36 Sycamore Road (quotation A2460 see item 12). The Clerk notified the resident that raised the issue on completion of job and the resident thanked the Council for their effort. Pricing for tree maintenance list (priority 1) and report on possible maintenance work on Dell Field are outstanding. Page 1 of 5

2 e) Traffic speeding The Clerk contacted PC Guy McCallan and requested that B656 London Road, Brook End and Waterdell Lane to be included in traffic speed survey which could take place around March or April this year. The offer of cofunding a discreet box or a SID with other parish councils or partners was declined. f) P3 and other benches Cllr. Mr. Blundell contacted Betadec who then provided the Council with a quotation for installing two benches on the Recreation ground and the lagoon at The quotation was accepted but the location of the benches would be decided later. It was agreed that Cllr. Mr. Blundell would contact Betadec when weather permits the work to be carried out. The Clerk would inform Betadec of the Council s decision. Other matters Cllr. Mrs. Skeggs attended the N. Herts. Parishes & Town Council s meeting on at Letchworth and forwarded Cllrs. and Clerk notes from the meeting. Finance, traffic speeding, salt bins from Highways, waste disposal and volunteer works were discussed. 8. CHAIRMAN S REPORT The Chairman, Cllr. Mrs. Skeggs and Clerk met on to discuss the Clerk s Terms and Conditions which is subject to a separate note (re minutes). The Clerk submitted the work programme to CMS and has since received their approval for a grant of for footpath mowing, meeting room hire and administration. 9. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES & GROUPS a) Parish Hall Report Cllr. Mrs. Skeggs reported that the Christmas fair made a profit of The Parish Hall committee awaits a reply from NHDC on their grant application on contribution to replacement of chairs with trolleys. The 12 th Annual General Meeting of the 1998 St Ippolyts Hall Charity would be held on at 8.15 p.m. in the committee rooms. Cllr. Skeggs would give report on this at the Parish Annual Parish meeting in April. 10. CORRESPONDENCE Correspondence by post (not all items included in list) Clerks & Council Direct magazine and 2010 Handbook NHDC members info, media say Stevenage Borough Council LDF Town Centre area action plan preferred options consultation due The following items were distributed at the meeting: - Bowls Club copy of Alcohol Certificate application to NHDC HAPTC newsletter, employer training , Annual Survey of Councils Herts. Highways A602 proposed 30mph speed limit TRO Herts. Highways Speed Management Strategy formally endorsed by Highways & Transport Panel in More information NHDC members info, media say NSPCC raising awareness SLCC Managing Paper course Newport Pagnell Stevenage Borough Council LDF Town centre Area Action Plan Preferred Options consultation due More information from Correspondence Conferences & Courses Luton Manpad Community Engagement Team - Bedfordshire Police Manpad Project, a 30 minutes presentation on insight of the Luton Airport project. The presentation is unavailable to the public at this stage. It was agreed that the Clerk would contact the Police to arrange for the presentation to take place at the March meeting 7:30pm and delay the start of the meeting to 8:30pm. The Clerk would be attending a SLCC branch committee meeting on :30pm at Wheathampstead. Page 2 of 5

3 Correspondence Finance matters Arborcare invoice (see item 12) Betadec quotation for installing two benches (see item 7f) CDA annual subscription (see item 12) CPM invoice (see item 12) HMRC envelopes for Tax and NI payments, 2010 tax code 551L Nat West Bank bank statements Treadaway Electric invoice for electrical inspection (see item 12), inspection report and quotation Turner R Pavilion plumbing emergency repair (see item 12) Correspondence matters required discussions The Bowls Club Secretary provided the Council with a copy of their Alcohol Certificate application to NHDC confirming the Club s wish to buy and sell alcohol to members and guests during bowls matches. The Club also requested improved signage from The Crescent to their green. It was agreed that the Council would give approval to the Alcohol Certificate application. It was considered that there is sufficient signage for the Recreation ground where the Bowls and Football Clubs are based. No further signage would be installed and that the Bowls Club could perhaps inform their members and guests that the Club is on the Recreation ground. Correspondence Play Area & Play Equipment matters Little Thorpe of Leicester brochure Majestic garden services - brochure Suffolk County Council Whitehouse enterprises outdoor equipment brochure 11. PLANNING Planning decisions There were none. Planning applications 09/02389/1 Pound Farm, London Road, Hitchin. Single storey outbuilding to provide stabling, tack room and hay stores together with vehicular access track. No objection. 10/00020/1 Kingshott School, Stevenage Road, St Ippolyts, Hitchin. Single storey building for nursery and associated landscaping and vehicular Access. No objection. 10/00047/1HH 10 Waterdell Lane, St Ippolyts Detached double garage to front of property; two storey side extension incorporating canopy porch over main entrance; single storey front extension and extension of rear conservatory. No objection. Planning appeals There were none. 12. FINANCE It was resolved that the accounts for payment amounting to be approved. The following payments were requested and accepted by the Parish Council :- a) (incl VAT) from Treadaway Electrical Services Ltd. for electrical periodic test and inspection at the Football Pavilion. b) (incl ) from Clements Play Management Ltd. for repairs to seesaw seats at Dell Field and swing chains on Recreation ground, as reported on annual inspection. c) from CDA for 2010 annual subscription. d) (incl VAT) from Arborcare for hedges maintenance near Sycamore Close. e) from R. Turner for Pavilion emergency plumbing repairs. f) from HM Revenue & Customs for periods ended Tax and National Insurance. g) (incl VAT) from Tiscali for February Broadband & phone (paid by D/D). Page 3 of 5

4 No payment deposited to the bank ST. IPPOLYTS PARISH COUNCIL 13. RECREATION GROUND a) Football Contract renewal With the absence of Cllrs. Mr. Hobson, this item is being deferred to the next meeting. The contract was due for renewal on b) Football Pavilion Health & Safety, rewiring & other work St. Ippolyts Football Club reported an emergency plumbing problem at the Pavilion on Cllr. Mr. Blundell promptly contacted a local plumber who carried out the repair (see item 12). St. Ippolyts Football Club thanked Cllr. Mr. Blundell and the Council for their prompt assistance in the matter. The Clerk contacted Bureau Veritas again on regarding the asbestos and water inspection and has not received a reply. Cllr. Mr. Blundell discussed the matter with new Cllr. Mr. J. Howlett (see item 14) who is qualified to carry out the survey and has kindly agreed to do so. Cllr. Mr. Howlett explained the different types of risk assessments and duty of care required of the Parish Council. The Council thanked Cllr. Mr. Howlett for his offer. The Council received a report on electrical inspection and a quotation for electrical repairs from Treadaway Electrical Services. The quotation of 990 (excl. VAT) included various repairs based on the inspection report at 790 and a provisional quotation for circuits number 6, 8 and 15 at 200. Cllr. Mrs. Skeggs stated that she had not seen the report and could not comment. The discussion is being deferred to the next meeting. Cllr. Mr. Smith agreed to carry out a fire safety risk assessment of the pavilion as soon as possible. 14. COUNCILLOR VACANCIES The Chairman held an informal meeting with Mr. J. Howlett on Mr. Howlett agreed to be a Councillor for St. Ippolyts South ward. The Chairman, Cllrs. and Clerk welcomed Cllr. Mr. Howlett to the Council. The Clerk would notify NHDC on this and send Cllr. Mr. Howlett various relevant documents. Cllr. Mr. Howlett would be attending a Cllr. training course on :30pm at Birchwood Centre, Hatfield. 15. COMPUTER REPLACEMENT & WEBSITE UPDATE Cllr. Mr. Hobson ed the Parish Council I.T. support Mr. S. Clarke on the outstanding tasks on the laptop (re minutes item 15) and agreed on a fee at approximately to complete the work. Mr. Clarke would meet with the Clerk on to attend to the problems. The tax and national insurance data were missing from the HMRC system and the Clerk imported it from the application backup. Data import caused a problem in the yearend tax returns and it is hoped that it would not cause any problem this year. 16. COMMUNICATION STRATEGY The following was agreed - a) the main forms of communication per Cllr. Mr. Hobson s revised document dated , following input from Cllrs, to be adopted b) Web services required to be the silver package with Parishcouncil.net at 250 initial setup and 200 annual fee. The package allows access to online consultations editor, online newsletter and photo gallery. c) to review the requirements of the Data Protection Act to make sure the Parish Council is aware of the relevant requirements d) to discuss draft Communications and Privacy policies for adoption by the Council on or before a new web site is launched. e) to discuss and establish rules and procedures for managing information and Web content. 17. HERTS. HIGHWAYS ANNUAL MEETING The Chairman, Cllrs. Mrs. Skeggs and Mr. Smith, and the Clerk would meet with Mr. R. Jack and Mr. T. Ward of Herts. Highways on :00. Page 4 of 5

5 The Clerk had requested that a grit box to be installed at East View, by the corner of Stevenage Road. Cllr. Mrs. Skeggs reported that she had received complaints from residents in Ashbrook Lane and Stevenage Road about parking problems particularly at school times and damage to St Ippolyts green. PCSO was involved and the school is aware of the problems. She would bring this to Highways attention at the meeting. 18. FINANCIAL REGULATIONS, STANDING ORDERS, RISK ASSESSMENT & MANAGEMENT REVIEW & APPROVAL The following documents were reviewed and approved at this meeting :- a) Financial Regulations 2008 b) Mandatory Standing Orders 2007 c) Risk Assessment & Management (document signed by Chairman at this meeting) 19. PLAY AREAS, EQUIPMENT & PAVILION VISUAL INSPECTION The insurance play areas, equipment and Football Pavilion weekly visual inspection book was signed at the meeting. No fault was reported. Clements Play Management Ltd. carried out the urgent repairs identified at the annual inspection (see item 12) including :- a) one set of swing chain needs replacing at 93, b) two rubber see-saw seats damaged and need replacement in Dell Field at DATES OF MEETINGS Subject to arrangement on the Manpad presentation by the Police was agreed, the next meeting would be held on Monday 8 th March 2010 at 8:30pm instead of 7:30pm at St. Ippolyts School. Dates of remaining meetings for 2010 are as follows :- Monday of 12 th April (Annual Parish & Monthly meetings) at 7:15pm at St. Ippolyts Parish Hall. Mondays of 10 th May (AGM), 21 st June, 12 th July, 13 th September, 11 th October and 8 th November at 7:30pm at St. Ippolyts School. Any Other Business There being no further business the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 9:00pm. Page 5 of 5