TEWIN PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 10^th May 2004 in Tewin Memorial Hall at 7.45pm.

Present: Cllrs K.Lawson, K.St Pier, S.Glew, M.Howe, C.Pool and D.Howson.

In attendance: Mrs C.McFarlane (Clerk) and one member of the public.

PARISHIONER’S COMMENTS

The new owner of Dawley Woods informed the Parish Council of plans to selectively thin the woods in accordance with Forestry Commission guidelines. Wildlife will be protected and there are plans to encourage fauna and flora further.

1. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN:

Cllr K.Lawson was elected as Chairman unanimously, proposed by Cllr C.Pool and seconded by Cllr K.St Pier.

Cllr K.St Pier was elected as Vice Chairman unanimously, proposed by Cllr C.Pool and Cllr M.Howe.

2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE WERE RECEIVED from Cllr A.Hill, Cllr S.Stott, Cllr M.McMullen and Cllr T.Robertson.

3. CONFIRMATION OF REPRESENTATIVES TO OUTSIDE BODIES & SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Tewin Cowper Endowed – Awaiting confirmation.

Tewin Charities Trustees – Mr R.Temple and Cllr D.Howson.

Tewin Memorial Hall – Cllr C.Pool

Parish Paths Partnership – Cllr K.St Pier

Transportation Issues – Cllr K.Lawson

Pavilion Liaison Officer – Cllr C.Pool

Tewin Village Website – Cllr S.Glew

4. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING held 5^th April 2004 were agreed and signed by the Chairman. The Chairman also signed the minutes of the Annual Parish meeting held on 5th April 2004.

5. MATTERS ARISING

Nothing to report.

6. FINANCE

Accounts for Payment – In accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations the schedule of payments amounting to £2,422.26 were approved by the Council. The Council accepted the new insurance quotation of £1259.22, which was £141 under budget and only £118 more than the previous year.

Newsletter – The Council accepted a quote of £100 for 600 copies of a 4-page newsletter

Cllr D.Howson proposed and Cllr S.Glew seconded the proposal to make a donation of £50 to the Friends of Tewin for distributing the newsletter to parishioners, which was approved by the Council.

It is intended that the newsletter will be distributed in June. Further issues will be produced subject to agreement at a future meeting.

7. PLANNING

Planning Decisions from EHDC:

3/04/0405/OP – Rear of 14 West Riding, Tewin – Outline Permission for Erection of Single Dwelling – TPC Obj – EHDC Refused

Applications Received:

3/04/0685/FP/AY – Warrengate, Tewin – Gated Vehicular Access to field. – TPC Obj

3/04/0721/FP/LAH – 28 Grass Warren, Tewin – Retrospective Permission for Rear Conservatory – TPC NO Obj

Minerals Local Plan – Cllr K.St Pier agreed to attend the Inquiry on 27^th May 2004.

Allotments:

Advice was received from NALC concerning the implications of any changes to the term of the lease. It was agreed that further information should be sought before any decision can be taken. The Allotment Association had advised the Council that they would be unable to sustain a substantial increase in the rent. The Clerk reported to the Council the costs charged for allotments in neighbouring towns and villages and was asked to seek further advice of a fair rent for allotment land from the District Valuer.

8. HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION ISSUES

388 Bus Service – Herts County Council has not yet confirmed whether any changes will be made to the bus service when new contracts for all services are issued.

Flooding at Junction of Churchfield Road and Margery Lane – The Clerk has alerted Highways to the dangerous nature of the flooding problem, which has become worse since kerbing was installed.

White line markings in the Village – The white lines are due to be renewed and the Parish Council is waiting for nofication as to when the work is scheduled to be done.

Gully Emptying Programme – This is programmed to be done in Tewin on the week starting 19th July 2004 and on the B1000 on the week commencing 3rd January 2005.

Potholes in Hertford Road – The Clerk will report these to the fault line.

Gully on left at end of Harwood Close – The Clerk will report that this needs to be cleared.

9. LOWER GREEN

Restoration of Lower Green Edge opposite Tewin Memorial Hall – The Council have received a quote of £156 for restoring and reseeding the site and agreed to obtain another quote for turfing the site.

Granting of Easement over Lower Green – A recent House of Lords decision on the landmark Brandwood & Bakewell case has meant that where there is evidence of use to show that a “prescriptive right” has accrued no payment is required. In view of this decision, the Council agreed to wait to see what the full implications will be for access over Common Land and (if also applicable) Village Greens.

10. PAVILION & UPPER GREEN

Posts At North End of Upper Green – The Clerk and Cllr K St Pier met with Ian Bishop, Highways Engineer and were advised that a more appropriate surface for the track such as grasscrete would withstand such heavy use, and the speed of the traffic is causing the problem. A meeting between Mr Loughrey and the parishioner is to be arranged.

Drainage at Upper Green: The Council agreed that the Cat and Jenny should be hired before the day of the works.

11. RISK MANAGEMENT INSPECTION ON 26.4.04

The inspection revealed a list of minor work that needed to be done and the Council agreed that the Clerk should get quotes for the works to be submitted at the next meeting. It was agreed that there was no need for a further inspection at the moment.

12. CORRESPONDENCE

HAPTC Subscription – The Council agreed in principle to cancel membership of HAPTC because the cost of £462 pa is no longer proving to be value for money. Legal advice and information can be sourced in other ways. This will be considered as an Agenda item for the next meeting.

Website Fee – The Council agreed to pay the balance of the web-hosting fee of £10.36.

Speed Reduction Signs – Tewin is scheduled to have this sign for 2weeks commencing 20^th November until 4 December.

CDAH Event on 23^rd June 2004 at Cottered Village Hall from 10am until 1pm on Improving Your Village

Greene King – Notification of transfer of Licence at Plume of Feathers

Woodland Management Survey – Cllr D. Howson requested that this be an agenda item for the next meeting.

Paths and Roads in Tewin – The best source is the Tewin Society map available in Tewin Stores.

13. PARISH PATHS PARTNERSHIP

Barriers on FP17 – The Council agreed that the problem with motorbikes has been eased by the pro-active police work and for the time being the Council would like to monitor the situation before agreeing to more barriers.

Footpath from Godfries Close up to Plume of Feathers – The Council agreed that Highways should be asked about the possibility of creating a rural style path or other alternative options.

15. REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES TO OUTSIDE BODIES

Tewin School – Nothing to Report

Tewin Charities Trustees – Next meeting is Tuesday 11^th May 2004.

Tewin Memorial Hall – Nothing to report.

Tewin Website – There is now a new environment section and the Council agreed to pass on the Mimram Valley Report in order for it to be put on the site.

16. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be on Monday 7^th June in Tewin Memorial Hall at 7.45pm.

As there was no further business the meeting was closed at 10.40pm.

APPENDIX 1 – HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION MATTERS May 2004

Fault line: 01438 737321 District Team: 01992 526900 Assistant District Manager: Val Weaver Assistant Engineer: Ian Bishop (last meeting 26.2.04)

Ref:	WORK IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING TO BE DONE AND REPORTED TO THE PARISH ENGINEER.	ACTION
1	Flooding - Outside No 25 Upper Green Road - Outside No 32 Upper Green Road where pavement is sinking. - Margery Lane junction with Churchfield Rd (see below)	To watch
2	Collapse of the side of the road along Upper Green	IB noted
3	Erosion of Green - Point of Lower Green nr the Post Office - Point of Lower Green opposite Tewin Memorial Hall	IB Noted IB noted
4	Trip Hazards - Grass Warren outside old peoples bungalows	IB noted
5	Potholes - Outside 106 Orchard Rd and down round the corner to the drain - Churchfield Rd drain past the Tewinbury turn off - Along Hertford Road	IB noted Fault Line Fault Line
6	Digging out of Drainage ditch along Margery Lane	IB noted
	Bridge Reflectors in Churchfield Road – White lining & chevrons to be repainted & reflective discs/paint on bridge
	Bridge Repair at Tewin Hill – past farm – railings on bridge over stream are missing fencing Ref: 1068404 7.5.03
	Kerbing - Two Loose Kerbstones on drive opposite Tewin Stores - Damaged and Missing Kerbing to be replaced outside the Memorial Hall.	IB Noted Clerk to arrange
	Ownership - Clarify ownership of rails in front of houses on Upper Green Road – Clarify ownership of access road off Godfries Close	Riversmead noted
	Gulleys – Ian Bishop stated that a gulley survey would be undertaken to assist cleaning crews	19.7.04
	Signs Heavy Vehicles signs on Hertford Rd Tewin Sign at Hollybushes - broken	IB noted IB noted
	Salt Bins Ordered a new salt bin for outside Tewin Stores	VW noted
	Line Markings Many need renewing as fading	IB Noted