TEWIN PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 12^th May 2008 in Tewin Memorial Hall at 7.45pm

Present: Cllrs K.Lawson (Chairman), K.St Pier, A.Hill, D. Howson, D.Lloyd, J.Sheridan and S.Stott (from 9pm).

In attendance: Mrs C.McFarlane (Clerk), East Herts District Councillor Michael McMullen and 10 members of the public.

The Chairman welcomed John Sheridan as the new Councillor.

1.Election of CHAIRMAN and VICE CHAIRMAN

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

Cllr K St Pier was elected as Vice Chairman unanimously, proposed by Cllr D.Howson and seconded by Cllr J.Sheridan.

Both the Chairman and Vice Chairman signed a Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from East Herts District Cllr L.Haysey, Cllr Bryan Evans (holiday) and Cllr Steve Stott (arrived at 9pm).

3. CONFIRMATION OF REPRESENTATIVES TO OUTSIDE BODIES AND SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Tewin Charities Trustees - Cllr D.Howson was nominated by the Council for a further 4 years

and Mr Roger Temple also agreed to remain a trustee until 2009.

Tewin Memorial Hall - Cllr K St Pier

Parish Paths Partnership - Cllr K.St Pier

Transport - Cllr K.Lawson

Tewin Society Liaison - Cllr K St.Pier

Tewin Website - Cllr D.Lloyd

Parish Plan - Cllr S.Stott

Locality Policing - Cllr D.Lloyd

Tewin Stores - Cllr S.Stott

PARISHIONERS’ COMMENTS

Ten parishioners attended to object to the proposed development on land adjacent to 5 Tewin Hill on the basis of it being visually overbearing, too high, not in keeping, in front of the building line, too close to the boundary, creating noise pollution, taking light and views, increasing pressure on sewers, and water supply and having a significant impact upon parking.

4. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING held 7^th April 2008 were agreed and signed by the Chairman. The Chairman also signed the minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 7th April 2008.

5. NO MATTERS ARISING

6. FINANCE

Accounts for Payment - In accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations the schedule of payments amounting to £3045.73 was approved by the Council.

Insurance - The Council accepted the new insurance quotation of £1793.46 (£1,712.74).

Newsletter – The Parish Council agreed to send a newsletter to the entire parish comprising the Chairman’s speech at an approximate cost of £60 for photocopying and £50 for distribution.

Parish News – The Parish Council agreed to increase their annual donation towards the Parish News from £120 pa to £135pa to reflect increased costs.

Precept – The first precept instalment of £8350 has been received

Clerk’s Employment Contract – The Council and Clerk agreed and signed the new contract.

Report on the Year End – The accounts will be ready to sign by the next meeting and available to the public from the 3^rd June until 27^th June 2008.

Financial Risk Assessment – Cllrs Bryan Evans and Doreen Lloyd completed this and will report at the next meeting.

7. PLANNING

Declaration of Interest - Cllr A.Hill declared a personal interest in 3/08/0713/FP/SD as he manages the adjacent land.

Planning Applications Received

3/08/0713/FP/SD – Land Adjacent to 5 Tewin Hill, Tewin, Herts AL6 0LJ – One three bedroomed detached dwelling with carport – TPC No Obj to building but expressed serious concerns over water, sewage services and severe reservations over parking.

Planning Applications Decisions from EHC

3/08/0324/FP – 53 Orchard Road, Tewin – Single storey front extension – TPC No Obj – EHC Granted.

3/08/0308/FP – 43 Bishops Road, Tewin – Rear single storey extension and conservatory – TPC No Obj – EHC Granted

3/08/0242/FP – 44 Firs Walk, Tewin, - Two storey front & to storey and single storey rear extension – TPC No obj – EHC Granted

3/07/2531/FP – Seven Acres, Tewin – The decision notice will not be sent out until Section 106 agreement has been completed.

3/08/0518/FP – 41A Upper Green Road, Tewin – Erection of 2 four bedroomed detached dwellings – Application file closed due to insufficient information.

Enforcement Issues – Nothing to report.

Removal of BT Phone Box – BT is proposing to remove many rural phone boxes, as they are no longer financially viable. The Parish Council has been given the opportunity to comment before 2^nd July 2008. The Council agreed to advertise this in the village through the Parish News, newsletter, and a notice on the telephone box and in the shop asking parishioners for their views in order to formulate a response.

8. RISK MANAGEMENT

2007/8 Risk Assessment – The Council agreed to sign this as all the works have been completed except some Tewin Cricket Club issues, which have been carried over to the new Risk Assessment.

2008/9 Risk Assessment – The Council completed this on 18.4.08 and 6.5.08. A list of works has been completed and quotes requested from various contractors. The Council agreed that users of the pavilion will be warned that after a date to be specified, any unauthorised items left in the electricity cupboard, the corridor leading to it, the water tank cupboard, or the area
behind the pavilion, will be removed without further notice, and that the Council may seek to recover any costs that they incur.

War Memorial Restoration – Cllr K.St Pier and the Clerk met Mike Kersey, Church Warden on 9.4.08 and agreed some lettering needed attention. Mike Kersey agreed to get some quotes and obtain some grant forms.

Additional Notice Board Outside Shop – The Council agreed to ask the shop if a new notice board for village would be acceptable.

9.HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Flashing Sign & Footpath - Highways advised the Council that a feasibility study would be needed to ensure that both the flashing speed sign and the pathway proposals are feasible and this will cost the Parish Council £5000.

The Council agreed to speak to Highways and Herts County Councillor Bryan Hammond further.

Churchfield Road – The landowner has agreed to increase the size of the ditch.

10. PARISH PLAN

The Parish Council agreed to adopt the Parish Plan including the Action Plan. The Parish Council also agreed that the new Action Plan should be circulated to the entire Parish along with the newsletter. The Steering Group will fund printing of the Action Plan and there will be full copies of the Parish Plan available to interested parties.

11. YOUTH CLUB

There have been no enquiries as yet following the advert in the Parish News for the Youth Clubs in Datchworth.

12. LOWER GREEN, UPPER GREEN & PAVILION

Playground Weekly Inspections – No incidents to report.

Pavilion Meter Tokens - Nothing to report

Pavilion Hot Water Tank – This has been replaced.

Benches on Lower Green – Stuart Kirkham expects to complete this shortly.

Replacement Football Nets – The Council agreed to buy a replacement pair of nets at an approximate cost of £60 per pair and Cllr A Hill agreed to install them.

13. CORRESPONDENCE

Borehole – Both local MPs, Oliver Heald and Grant Shapps, have been advised of the situation and the Council agreed to ask Tony Langford to keep them informed of any developments.

Tewin Stores – They are in the process of obtaining grants in order to open a café and have asked the Parish Council for a letter of support. The Council agreed.

Police Report - Crime figures for the last year were 27, up on the previous year’s 23.

The address and contact details for the new police station in Hertford is on the website

The Mobile Police Station is on Lower Green on the first Wednesday of every month from 13.30hrs until 14.15hrs.

Helicopter Noise – The Parish Council received a further complaint about this and Cllr A.Hill and D.Howson agreed to arrange a meeting with Panshanger Aerodrome.

East Herts Rural Parish Conference on Thursday 29th May 2008 at Standon & Puckeridge Community Centre from 9.30am until 16.00pm. Cllr D.Lloyd and S. Stott expressed an interest in going.

14. REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES TO OUTSIDE BODIES

Tewin Charities Trustees – Cllr D.Howson attended a meeting.

Tewin Memorial Hall – A rent raise has been notified. The main hall floor is being redone from 27^th until 30^th May.

Parish Paths Partnership (P3) – The annual P3 grant of £1000 has been received. The diversion order on FP13 remains on the waiting list. The new contact is Angela Forster