TEWIN PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 25 March 2002 in Tewin Memorial Hall at 7.45pm.

Present:  Cllrs K.Lawson, C.Pool, S.Glew, D.Compton and K.St Pier

In attendance:  Mrs C.McFarlane (Clerk), Cllr M.McMullen.

130. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE from Cllrs B.Briggs, C.Bowden, J.Burton and M. Hargreaves.

131. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING held 25 February 2002 were amended, agreed and signed by the Cllr K.Lawson (Vice Chairman).

132. MATTERS ARISING

        Model Code of Conduct – Each Councillor has received a copy of the EHDC Code of Conduct and is aware that they are obliged to adopt it by May 5th. The Register of Interests has to be completed within 28 days of signing and the Declaration of Acceptance/Written Undertaking within 2 months.

        The Clerk was asked to see if there is a list of businesses that operate in the Parish.

        The Council agreed to prepare to adopt the code of conduct at the next meeting on 29th April 2002. 

        Date for Annual Parish Meeting – The Council agreed to hold the Annual Parish Meeting on Monday 29th April 2002 at 7.30pm. Councillors were asked to note that the Annual Parish Council Meeting would be on Monday 27th May 2002.

        Annual Calendar of Meetings – These were agreed and the Clerk will notify the Memorial Hall.

Mimram Valley Report – Nothing to report.

 

133.        PLANNING

New Applications:

3/02/0365/FP/NJ – Marden Hill, Hertford – Three field shelters for Horses/Ponies – No objection

 

3/02/0372/FP/KL – Prey cottage, 15 Firs Walk, Tewin Wood – Single Storey Front/Side Extension & Alterations to Existing Dormers – No Objection

 

3/02/0248/FP/TH – 75 Burnham Green Road – Demolition of All Buildings & Erection of Detached Dwelling & Garage & use of site as residential Garden Land – Objection

 

3/02/0383/FP/TH – 7 Cannons Meadow – Ground Floor Extension & Second Story Extension – No Objection

 

3/02/0321/FP/TH – 19 Bishops Road – Two Storey & Single Storey Extensions - Objection

 

3/02/1950/FP/TH  - 3 Bishops Road – First Floor Extension amended scheme - Objection

 

Decisions: None

Withdrawals: - None

Appeals: None

 

CDA Rural Housing: Depending upon the outcome of the Local Plan the Council will then decide whether to approach CDA Rural Housing.

Local Plan Review: Nothing to Report

Regional Plan: Nothing further to report.

Other Planning Matters:

Field R/O 7 Acres, Tewin – On March 7th the EHDC Committee agreed to issue a Section 215 asking the owner to tidy up the land.

Farm Buildings R/O Rose & Crown – Quotes have been obtained in order to make the barns wind and weatherproof and the work is to be done imminently. The Clerk to follow up.

 

Unauthorised Tipping of Soil on Land to the West of the Concrete Path – We are awaiting better weather when Mr Sherriff has agreed to remove the larger elements of brick and hardcore contained within the bund and to seed the bund where it is quite bare. It is envisaged that it will be carried out during the summer.

Rose & Crown Snowflake – The Clerk has advised the Enforcement Officer.

Warrengate (Herts) Ltd – Apparently 2/3rds of the plots have been sold and at the Tewin Society AGM Arthur Edwards proposed a resolution that a regular monitoring of the land sold should be undertaken and a report given to the Tewin Society on an annual basis.

In response to the Tewin Allotments Association John Barton has told the Clerk that he thought he had written access into the lease. He will be using the access over the next 2 weeks to seed the field and then will only use once or twice a year to cut the grass.

 Planning Green Paper – The Chairman composed a response, which was circulated and agreed by the Council. The Clerk has sent the response to the appropriate authority.

 

134. FINANCE

Accounts for Payment – In accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations payments amounting to £1446.75 were approved and signed by the Chairman.

Internal Audit – The Council agreed that the Clerk should report back to the Council with the procedure required for an internal audit.

The Final Budget – It was proposed and seconded that the final budget be accepted.

 

135.SAND & GRAVEL EXTRACTION

The Meeting was very well attended and Sue Davidson from the County Development Unit was very informative. The Council wanted to thank Brian Briggs for chairing the meeting and the Tewin Society for helping to arrange the meeting.

A prιcis of the meeting was written up by Linda Adams and has been put on the website. The names and addresses of the attendees has been typed up by the Clerk and sent to Peter Leigh, Tewin Society.

The Chairman requested a show of hands in favour of the Parish Council continuing to object to the proposed mineral extraction. The response was unanimously for this proposal.

The Clerk was asked to clarify that the 50/50 split between the Tewin Society and the Parish Council would be on Consultants fees not Tewin Society’s costs.

Consultant – The Clerk has sent a copy of the Minerals Local Plan to Mr M.Brooks for his information.

Council Meeting – On April 17th a meeting has been arranged by the County Development Unit to hear any clarification on points raised concerning our objections to site AFS12. Each person asked will get a 5-minute slot. The Council agreed that to ask Mr M.Brooks to attend would not be necessary and not a good use of his time or the Parish Council’s money.

Cllr Keith St Pier volunteered to attend on our behalf and he would liase with the Tewin Society.

 

136. HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION ISSUES

Road Works Outstanding – Refer Appendix 1

 

Access for Grass Warren Bungalows – The Clerk has received a petition from the residents and will forward it to the relevant authority with a supporting letter.

 

School Lane – This has been checked and jetted recently and the problem appears to be between the manhole cover and the soak away. It is being arranged for an engineer to go down and investigate.

 

Traffic Survey – This has now been completed and we are awaiting feedback.

 

Back Lane – The manhole cover has been repaired.  Richard Cuthbert, HCC has stated that he has enough funds left in his budget to resurface BOAT 2  (Back Lane). The Council agreed that the current surface is fine except for mud being washed onto it due to bad drainage. The Council proposed that his offer be declined.

 

       Access to Grass Warren Garages – Nothing to report.

       Bus Service – A bus was taken out of service last week and no replacement was made. Cllr K.Lawson has taken this up with D.Neilan of the EHDC Passenger Transport Unit.

Bus Stops – Cllr K.Lawson has contacted the Parishioners who requested the bus stop at School Lane to check that it is still wanted.

Sign on Upper Green – Nothing to report

BR 4 – The Clerk has reported the fly tipping of machinery on this bridleway.

May Pond Green– In response to complaints the Tewin Society have asked the tree warden to inspect some overgrown trees around May Pond Green.

 

137. RISK MANAGEMENT ISSUES – FOLLOWING INSPECTION ON 24.4.01 & 14.5.01

Pavilion Repairs –

Castle Joinery has completed the window repairs. The Chairman accepted a quote of £50 from Alf Yates to paint the windows.

The May Pond bench has been repainted and the Clerk will check to see if the bench slats have been replaced.

Boot scraper – The boot scraper is waiting to be fixed to the ground at the Pavilion.

Overflow Dripping – The Council have been advised that the overflow at the back of the Pavilion is dripping.  

Track marks – Bert Robinson has put some gravel and boards down to assist drainage around the tennis court and somebody is driving a vehicle over it. The Council agreed to keep an eye on it.

 

138. PAVILLION & UPPER GREEN

Cricket Club AGM – The Pavilion Liaison Officer is Glen Graves and we now have his details.

Cllr C.Pool will remind the Cricket Club about end of season tidying up, the painting of the green doors and informing us of the final dimensions of the cricket net.

Pavilion – The Council agreed to get some electrical testing done to the Pavilion and get a quote for an electrical diagram.

Common Land 148 – The letting agent are now responsible for amending the sign and the Chairman agreed to draw a picture of what would be acceptable to the Council and pass to the agent.

 

139. CORRESPONDENCE Received in March 2002

See Appendix 2

The Council have received a letter of resignation from Cllr C.Bowden due to other work commitments. The Council agreed that the Clerk should write a letter of thanks.

The Clerk was asked to inform the relevant authorities re advertising the vacancy.

 

140. PARISH PATHS PARTNERSHIP

FP13 – Complaints have been received about a gate put on this path. It was placed there on the approval of Ian Blomeley and at the request of the owners of Muspatts Farm. Concerns were also expressed over the potential size of some of the trees planted by the path as they may block the path. The Council noted this.

75 Burnham Green Road – The Council received a complaint about building over the footpath but they were advised that it was not within our parish.

FP26 – Cllr J.Burton to retrieve maps from Mr Hill.  Nothing to report

FP15 – The leaning tree has been removed and Stuart Kirkham also removed the lower branches of other trees although he will be apportioning the cost between the Tennis Club, the Cricket Club and the Parish Council.

The Council agreed that Stuart Kirkham should advise the Council with regard to cutting/pruning for other organisations.

The crooked waymarking post by the Plume of Feathers has been fixed.

The Council also proposed that if any stiles are being removed the owners of the land should be notified.

 

141. REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES TO OUTSIDE BODIES

 Tewin Society     – Cllr K.St Pier volunteered to be the representative in the absence of Cllr C.Bowden.  At the AGM the Tewin Society agreed to raise subscriptions from £2 to £3. They have entered the Best Kept Village competition and there is going to be a litter blitz on the 14.4.02

Tewin School – Nothing to report.

Tewin Village Memorial Hall – The Supporters Club is going well. They are considering buying some tables and chairs but need a shed for storage and security purposes. They are getting a quote for disabled toilets and are hoping the Lottery Grant will cover the cost. The jumble sale raised £900.

Tewin Website –Nothing to report  

Countryside Alliance – A representative for this organisation will be considered at the next meeting.

 

 142. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

It was agreed that the next Council meeting would be held on Monday 29 April 2002 at 7.45pm in Tewin Memorial Hall.    

 

143.ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS

The encampment is still on Upper Green and the Clerk should arrange for Stuart Kirkham to remove it.

Hopkyns Land – some pieces of this land are being sold off and the owner has declined to give any to the Herts Wildlife Trust.

Councillors have noticed that the picket fence outside the Old School House has been replaced and that it appears to have moved by 2ft out onto the grass verge. The Clerk was asked to check the ownership of the land and if appropriate write a letter to make the owner aware of this.

As there was no further business the meeting was closed at 10.30pm.

 

 

APPENDIX 1 – HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION MATTERS March 2002

Fault line: 01438 737321

 

No

Priority

Ref:

 

WORK IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING TO BE DONE AND REPORTED TO THE PARISH ENGINEER.

 

 

DATE WORK SCHEDULED FOR

1

1b

Bridge in Churchfield Road – White lining & chevrons to be repainted & reflective paint on bridge

Bridge Maintenance is in process & reflective discs should be done

5

 

Damaged and Missing Kerbing to be replaced outside the Memorial Hall.     

Awaiting

6

1a

School Lane Drainage -

A channel has been dug from the road to the field to drain excess water.   Awaiting Mouchel to assess problem and rectify

8

 

The Hazels Guard Rails - to be repainted by HCC.

Only if in a very bad state

15

 

21 Upper Green Road - 30mph sign fallen over

To be pursued

17

 

Tewin Hill - Sign missing half way up Tewin Hill on the right past the farm.

TPC need to advise DS of wording on sign

20

 

Bramfield Road going to Bulls Green (outside Sold board) - flooding caused by a blocked drain needs cleaning

Need to check

25

 

Depression opposite 4 Hertford Road

Reported to 24hr Fault line on 1.10.01 Ref 1004796

Need to chase

27

 

Lower Green/Hertford Road – Pooling of water

Done Chasing re replacing kerbstones

29

 

Upper Green Road – 29 Meadow Bank Flooding o from ditch onto road despite cleaning out recently.

 

30

 

The point of Lower Green near the Post Office is being eroded as cars turn – Advice on stopping erosion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX 2 – CORRSPONDENCE Received in March 2002
 

HALC Information

EHDC Weekly List of Planning Applications

Fireworks Insurance

NALC Local Council Review

CPRE Voice

Statutory Code of Practice on the Duty to Promote ~Race Equality Rec’d 27/2 Answer due 25/2

EHDC Notice of Meeting 6.3.02 Re Council Tax

EHDC Meetings in March

Clerks & Councils Direct

Area Forum West Minutes of last meeting and Agenda for next 14.3.02

Letter of Resignation from Cllr C.Bowden

Letter from County Development Unit regarding Meeting on April 17th re Minerals Extraction.

Petition from Residents of Grass Warren Bungalows

HCC Notice of reduction in speed Limits

Countryside Alliance Correspondence