Tewin Parish Council
Minutes from meeting held on 29 January 2001
Minutes of the Council meeting held on Monday 29 January 2001 in Tewin
Memorial Hall at 7.45pm. Present: Cllrs J Burton (Chairman), C Bowden, D Compton, A Guilford, Ms K Lawson, Ms S Melling and C Pool. In attendance: Mrs A Glew (Clerk) and Cllr M McMullen. 81. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Cllr B Briggs. 82. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING held 27 November 2000 were amended, agreed and signed by the Chairman.
83. MATTERS ARISING Publicity - Cllr Guilford informed the meeting that the Tewin Society is
not in a position to take on the task at present. Improvements to Back Lane - It was noted that Sian Freer of HCC has left
the position of PPP coordinator and the vacancy is presently unfilled.
Grass Triangle on Upper Green - A quotation has been received from Stuart
Kirkham. The Clerk will arrange for two other quotations.
Mimram Valley Report - Cllr Briggs will contact David Gregg again for his comments.
Felled Oak Tree on BR8 - The Chairman received a paper from Mr Williams just before the meeting.
Three Valleys Water Restoration Work - Three Valleys have been reminded again to replace the 5 covers to allow the local contractor to carry out all other restoration work.
Council Vacancies - Cllr Ms S Melling will need to stand down as a Councillor shortly as she will be moving out of the area. All Councillors undertook to identify possible candidates. The Clerk will need to stand down by May at the latest due to family commitments. An advertisement will be placed in the Parish News and on the noticeboard.
84. PLANNING
New Applications:
3/00/1849/FP/DF - 45 Orchard Road, Tewin - Three Storey Side Extension To Existing Dwelling With First Floor Balcony - Amended Plans - Object - On same grounds as before. Balcony on front of property not in keeping with the other properties in the Tewin Wood Environmental Zone. No objections to size and situation of the proposed extension.
3/00/1774/FP/DF - 19 Bishops Road, Tewin Wood - Proposed Two Storey and Single Storey Extension - Amended Plans - Object - On same grounds as before.. The amendments have a detrimental impact on the frontage and serve to accentuate the filling of the width of the plot.
3/01/0040/FP/SM - 4 Cowpers Way, Tewin Wood - Double Storey Side Extension and Porch - No objection.
Decisions:
3/00/1241/FP/SM & 3/00/1242/LB/SM - 76 Upper Green Road, Tewin - Part Demolition of Existing and the Erection of Two Storey Side Extension and Alternation to Kitchen Roof and New Access Location; Part Demolition & Erection of Two Storey Side Extension and Alteration to Existing Single Storey Kitchen Roof to Provide Bathroom -Granted subject to conditions.
3/00/1792/FP/TH - 27A Orchard Road, Tewin Wood - Two Storey Side Extension - Amended Scheme - Refused.
3/00/1904/FP/DF - 4 East Riding, Tewin Wood - Two Car Detached Garage; Orangery to Rear of House - Refused.
3/00/1882/FP/PT - 40 Upper Green Road, Tewin - Single Storey Rear Extension - Refused.
3/00/1961/FP/SM - 8 Desborough Drive, Tewin Wood - Two Storey Front & Single Storey Side Extension & Formation of Room over Detached Garage - Refused.
Local Plan Review:
Nothing further to report.Regional Plan: Nothing further to report.
Other Planning Matters:
Farm Buildings R/O Rose & Crown - EHDC had now sent a letter to Beesons Surveyors who act for the owner requesting plans and explaining the powers available to ensure the buildings were repaired.
Unauthorised Tipping of Soil on Land to the West of the Concrete Path - HCC would serve a Planning Contravention Notice.
An application for a pond to the rear of Pheltern Lodge, Queen Hoo Lane was still awaited. EHDC would inspect a possible breach of planning at Hoo Corner, Highfields, Harlton Lodge and Pheltern Lodge. The matter has been followed up although no decision has been reached by EHDC yet.
CDA - Enabling Rural Housing. They have confirmed they will be able to attend the February meeting. The meeting will start at 7.30pm and CDA will be allocated half an hour.
A Local Agenda 21 Community Grant has been applied for to assist with the cost of producing a Village Design brochure as advocated by the Countryside Commission. The next phase of the East Herts Local Plan will be circulated for comment in late January/early February 2001.
The field to the back of the pond on Upper Green which is being used as a dumping ground has been reported to the Enforcement Officer.
Tewin Hill Farm - EHDC investigated as to whether a fresh entrance had been made to the farm from Tewin Hill and concluded that there had been no breach of control.
85. FINANCE
Accounts for Payment - In accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations it was resolved that items totalling £5,985.04 in the monthly payments summary should be paid. The Schedule was duly signed by the Chairman.
Other Financial Matters - It was reported that the National Savings Book has been mislaid. A Resolution was passed that all members of the Council are appointed signatories to the National Savings Account. Proposed by Cllr A Guilford; seconded by Cllr C Pool.
Budget 2001/02 - The draft budget was discussed and it was resolved to set the Precept at £11,300. Proposed by Cllr C Pool; seconded by Cllr C Bowden..
Grass Cutting - Three Year Contract - Four tenders were requested; two quotations were received. It was resolved to accept the quotation from Stuart Kirkham which was the most competitive. Proposed by Cllr A Guilford; seconded by Cllr C Bowden.
86. HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION MATTERS
Community Transport - It was agreed to stop the weekly taxi service to the GP surgery from February and explore having a volunteer scheme put in place. Cllr Ms K Lawson will pass to the Clerk names of volunteers from the transport survey carried out last year.
Speeding - The Highways Partnership have confirmed that it is not their policy to impose a 20mph speed limit in villages.
St Peter’s Church - Churchfield Road has a problem with edge overrun. This is scheduled for repair in the summer. There is also a pothole at the top of the road leading to the Church which will be brought to Highways’ attention.
Bridge in Churchfield Road - White lining and chevrons in the area to be repainted later this year.
White Lines Near the Bridge in Churchfield Road - See above.
Tree Overhanging the Road in Queen Hoo Lane - HCC would undertake this in 2000/01. There is now considered to be more than one tree affected.
Exposure of Jagged Edge of Tarmac in Churchfield Road - EHDC had referred the matter of the damage to the highway caused by the levelling of land activity at Muspatts Farm to the Highways Partnership. This should be worked on in the summer.
Pooling of Water in Harmer Green Lane - It was anticipated this would not be a problem following gulley cleaning. The situation to be monitored.
Kerbing Outside the Memorial Hall - HCC would arrange for all the missing and damaged kerbstones to be relayed in 2000/01.
School Lane Drainage - HCC would undertake major works to improve the drainage between Tewin Memorial Hall and the School Lane soakaway in 2000/01.. This is scheduled to take place.
Damaged Sign on Lower Green - New posts and signs had been ordered.
Guard Rails, The Hazels - HCC would arrange for these to be repainted in 2000/01.
Ash Tree in Cannons Meadow - The estimate was approximately £1,000 and the tree will be taken down to 10m.
Traffic calming - HCC had offered to erect Pedestrian in Road signs. These are on order.
B1000/Churchfield Road Junction - The Highways Partnership have confirmed that there are no plans to carry out any calming measures at the junction. The Clerk will speak to the Police Rural Community Liaison Officer to find out how many accidents have been reported.
Harwood Close Trees - Stuart Kirkham has now completed the work.
Land by the Rose & Crown pub - Stuart Kirkham has now removed the dead Elm.
Give Way Sign - Needs re-erecting at junction of Churchfield Road and B1000.
Motorbikes - It was reported that motorbikes had been using a wood by Tewin Hill Farm. If this disturbance happens again it will be reported to the Enforcement Officer.
Litter - Kevin Jones will be reminded to tidy the bus shelter. The Clerk will arrange for Cllr C Bowden to meet with him on his rounds one Monday.
87. PAVILION & UPPER GREEN
The Pavilion was broken into on 25th December 2000, but nothing was reported to have been stolen. The damage will be claimed on insurance.
It was noted that the inside of the Pavilion is still extremely untidy. The Clerk will write to Graham Fish.
88. CORRESPONDENCE
Tabled:
Fax from Bryan Hammond (County Councillor) summarising County Council procedure changes
Complaint about the edges of Lower Green being churned up and the untidy state of the bus shelter opposite the Rose & Crown. It was noted that the special paint for the inside of the shelter will be very expensive. Cllr B Briggs is investigating.
Complaint about dangerous parking in Grass Warren leading to garages and verges being churned.
Invitation to enter Hertfordshire’s Village of the Year 2001 - declined
Circulated:
Environment matters - HCC - Autumn 2000
Healthwise Annual Report 1999/2000 - NHS - East and North Herts
Our Countryside - the future - A fair deal for rural England - DETR & MAFF
HALC Parish Info - December 2000
Draft Revised Regional Planning Guidance for the South East and Consultation on the Proposed Housing Distribution
Leisure Guide - Jan-Apr 2001
East Herts Council Meetings in January 2001
Minutes of the East Herts Policy and Finance Committee meeting - 13 December 2000
Email from HALC with Table showing new Parish Councils
NALC - Local Council Review - January 2001
HALC - Re County Secretaries + EALC - Re Rural White Paper
EHDC - Weekly List of Planning Applications - 11/1/01
HCC Education - School Admissions for the School year 2002-2003 - Two Consultation Documents
HCC - Hertfordshire Town Renaissance Campaign - Mobile Roadshow
EHDC - Weekly List of Planning Applications - 18/1/01
Stansted Airport Employment & Training Consultation Document
Clerks & Councils Direct - Jan 2001
Hedgehog - Winter 2000
Walk this Way - PPP Newsletter - January 2001
89. PARISH PATHS PARTNERSHIP
Work has been agreed for 2000/01and Stuart Kirkham has a programme of work.
It was reported that a tree blew over and blocked FP30. The owner, Mr Richard Crawford of Ladywalk, Queen Hoo Lane, removed the tree and the Clerk was requested to write and thank him for his prompt action.
It was reported that FP26 is being used by horses from Tewin Hill Farm who have made it unwalkable. Cllrs Guilford and Burton undertook to visit and discuss the problem.
90. COMMON LAND
Mr & Mrs Cooke have not yet been able to sign the letter. This item will go on the Agenda for the next meeting.
It was reported that there has been some activity on CL129. The Clerk will write to Ivor Williams and also see if the HCC could provide a map of the area.
91. REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES TO OUTSIDE BODIES
Tewin Cowper School - It was reported that the recent OFSTEAD inspection was good.
Tewin Website - Cllr Ms S Melling reported that she would need to stand down from the Parish Council soon but would be able to attend the next website meeting. It was agreed to publish the Council minutes on the Website.
92. RISK MANAGEMENT AND INSURANCE ISSUES
93. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The Annual Parish Meeting will be held on 26th March 2001 at 7.30pm. This will be mentioned in the Parish News.
94. ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS
Landscape Schemes - one area where such a scheme might be applicable is the hedgerow at the end of Godfries Close by the 6 cottages. The owner has been contacted but has not yet responded.
Fly tipping in the B1000 layby - will be reported.
Stiles can be dangerous in bad weather - can they be replaced with gates? Cllr A Guilford will consider.
The Bowls Club wish to remove dead Elm trees along School Lane and plant it with Willow trees. Cllr A Guilford recommended a hedge in keeping with the rest of the area would be preferable eg hawthorn and field maple. The Clerk will write to Norman Sheriden.
Re robbery at Tewin Stores. The Parish Council will write to the owner expressing sorrow that it happened and wishing him well for the future.
Cllr A Guilford reported that a new orchard for the millennium has been planted near Back Lane.
Cllr M McMullen reported that he will be preparing a paper on changes at the District Council.
There being no further business the meeting was closed at 10.30pm.