TEWIN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes
of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 3rd March 2008 in Tewin
Memorial Hall at 7.45pm
Present: Cllrs K.Lawson (Chairman), K.St Pier, B.
Evans, A.Hill, D. Howson, D.Lloyd and S.Stott.
In attendance: Mrs C.McFarlane (Clerk), East Herts District
Councillor M.McMullen and one member of the public.
111. APOLOGIES FOR
ABSENCE were
received from East Herts Cllr L.Haysey.
PARISHIONERS’ COMMENTS
Mr
Simon Newton attended the meeting to express his interest in becoming a Parish
Councillor.
112.
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS held
28th January 2008 and 4th February 2008 were agreed and
signed by the Chairman.
113.
NO MATTERS ARISING
114. FINANCE
Accounts for Payment - In
accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations the schedule of payments
amounting to £1126.85 was approved by the Council.
Budget Report – Income was lower than budgeted because both
EHC and HCC sent the grass cutting payments direct to the contractor. Interest
income was boosted by £139 interest earned on the grant money. Donations came
from Friends of Tewin towards electricity meter cupboard
Repair
and maintenance expenditure was £1188 lower than budgeted partly because the
Council agreed to replace two benches on Lower Green next year and little expenditure
was made on the Pavilion in anticipation of its refurbishment.
At
the financial year-end on 31st March the Parish Council expects to
have surplus funds of approx £5000.
Clerk’s Pension/Gratuity – Following the decision made at the previous
meeting, research into Stakeholder Pension Funds showed that the Clerk’s
earnings are too low to qualify. The Parish Council therefore agreed to put
aside £1200 of surplus funds at the year end in the accounts for a gratuity and
agreed to add a further 3/80th of the Clerk’s annual salary to the
reserve on an ongoing annual basis.
Clerk’s Contract of Employment - Cllr B.Evans has been through the contract with the
Clerk and the Parish Council agreed to circulate the revised contract to every
Councillor with an example of the ‘additional hours’ clause.
115.PLANNING
Planning Applications Received
3/08/0242/FP/SD – 44 Firs Walk, Tewin – Two storey front
& rear extension – TPC No Obj but would like to encourage increased
planting in the front of the house.
Planning Decisions Received from EHC
3/07/2521/FP/JS – 42 Lower Green, Tewin – Change of use from agricultural to residential curtilage gardens – TPC Objected as the plot of land is outside the village boundary, represents an erosion of the green belt, a weakening of the village boundary, creates a precedent, adversely affect the character and appearance of the village and the local landscape. EHC Refused
3/07/2581 & 2519/FP/JS – 9 Lower Green – Single Storey Side/Rear Extension – TPC No Obj – EHC Granted.
3/08/0020/FP/CT – 12 Cannons Meadow, Tewin
– Open Porch/Canopy on Full Width of Front of House – TPC No Obj – EHC Granted.
3/07/2621/FP/HS – 9 Bishops Road, Tewin - First Floor Side Extension – TPC No Obj – EHC Granted.
Enforcement
Issues – Following complaints EHC
Enforcement Department visited Muspatts Farm and Dawley Woods and advised Tewin
Parish Council that there are no enforcement issues.
Housing
Capacity Assessment and Edge of Settlement Survey – Cllr K St Pier and Cllr S.Stott agreed to respond on
behalf of the Council on the basis that the Council wish to maintain the
Conservation Area and that most of the sites shown in Tewin are not viable.
East
Herts Local Plan – The Parish Council
has received the new map which was missing from the website.
116. HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION
Flashing
Speed Signs
– The Clerk was advised by Dambach the supplier for these signs that they have
done a lot of work for Hertfordshire County Council and that they would liaise
with them to ensure everything was acceptable.
They
quoted £2000 for a standard 30mph 450 roundel with a 50watt solar panel plus
approx £500 for installation. The 50watt solar panel would be sufficient for
400 vehicles a day and it would have to face south for maximum effectiveness
and not be shaded.
Extended
maintenance for 5years is £565 and is renewable after 5yrs. The sign has a life
expectancy of 15years.
The Council agreed
to arrange a site visit with Dambach.
Meeting with Highways -This was postponed by
Highways and the Clerk is waiting for them to rearrange a meeting in order to
discuss flooding at Churchfield Rd, the possibility of a path from Godfries up
to the garage and the possible installation of a flashing speed sign.
117. PARISH PLAN
The Parish Council agreed
that Cllr K St Pier and Cllr S.Stott should meet the Parish Plan Steering Group
on 10th March in order to outline the Parish Council’s view on the
way forward prior to the volunteers’ meeting on March 17th.
118. YOUTH CLUB
Cllr Bryan Evans met with Rev Coralie McCluskey, who
helps run two youth clubs, one in Welwyn for 14yrs+ and one in Datchworth for
11 to 13year olds. She is very happy for the Parish Council to advertise these
Youth Clubs in Tewin through the Tewin Parish News and will provide contact
numbers for the leaders and a programme of events.
119.WAR MEMORIAL RESTORATION
The Clerk contacted the Church Warden and agreed to
meet once he returned from holiday.
120. ALLOTMENTS/PLAYGROUND
Increasing Area of Allotments – The landowner has agreed
to make a further 4 plots available to the Parish Council when required. The
additional plots would be on the same terms of Agreement as the rest of the
site and at a pro rata cost. He asked for confirmation of public liability
insurance (which is provided by the Allotment Association) and for the Parish
Council/Allotment Association to monitor the standard to which allotment
holders maintain their plots to ensure no plots are neglected and existing
plots are cultivated for optimum production. The Parish Council agreed to
undertake this on the annual risk management survey.
Playground Weekly Inspections – No incidents to report.
121. UPPER GREEN & PAVILION
Replacement
Tokens – The Clerk will continue to
try and contact Brian Briggs.
Summer Installation of Football Posts – On behalf of the Parish
Council Cllr Keith St Pier, Adrian Hill and David Howson agreed,
following liaison with the Tewin Cricket Club, to an acceptable position for
the football posts for the summer and Cllr A.Hill agreed to move them in due
course. Datchworth Football Club has agreed to remove the white lines and
advised the Council they have no more matches due to be played at Upper Green
for this season. The Clerk will inspect the showers at the Sports Pavilion and
will respond to the cricket club’s letter accordingly.
Playground Nets – Cllr A.Hill agreed to replace these by the
1st April in accordance with the planning condition for the
playground.
Classic
Car Show on Upper Green – The Parish
Council agreed to allow David Gregg from the Friends of Tewin hold a Classic Car
show on Upper Green on Sunday 31st August 2008. This will coincide
with the Scarecrow competition in the village that weekend. The Clerk will
confirm insurance arrangements.
Upper
Green Posts – All broken posts have
been replaced.
122.
CORRESPONDENCE
Correspondence
Received:
Vacancy - EHC did not receive any requests from electors for
an election and therefore the Parish Council can co-opt someone as soon as
practicable.
Polling
District & Polling Review- The
Parish Council agreed they had no objections.
Local
Development Framework Rural Awareness Meetings – Cllr K St Pier agreed he may go on Wednesday 12th
March 2008 at 7.30pm at Watton at Stone.
External
Auditor – The Audit Commission has
appointed BDO Stoy Hayward LLP as auditor to Tewin Parish Council.
Oliver
Heald Surgery Date – Saturday 26th
April at Tewin Memorial Hall from 9.30am until 10.30am.
Mr
Hollingsworth – With regard to his
complaints of damaged posts at Upper Green and issues concerning the football
pitch the Clerk reported that the posts have been repaired and the football
pitch issues were discussed above.
Abstraction
Borehole – The Parish Council is
happy with the information provided
123.
REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES TO OUTSIDE BODIES
Tewin
Charities Trustees – Nothing to
report.
Tewin
Memorial Hall – Nothing to Report.
Parish
Paths Partnership – Nothing to Report
Transport
– Bus usage figures have been
requested from HCC but not received yet.
Tewin
Society – The AGM is on the 10th
March
Tewin
Website – Nothing to Report.
Locality
Policing – Nothing to report
Pavilion
Refurbishment – Nothing to report.
Tewin Stores – The opening was a success and a manager has been
appointed.
124.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The
next meeting is the Annual Parish meeting on Monday 7th April 2008
at 7.30pm followed by the Parish Council meeting at 7.45pm at the Memorial
Hall.
As there was no further
business the meeting was closed at 10.50pm.
Three Valleys Water 0845-7823333
(fault/leak reporting)
|
Ref: |
WORK
IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING TO BE DONE AND REPORTED TO THE PARISH ENGINEER. |
ACTION |
|
1 |
Flooding
at junction of
Margery Lane with Churchfield Rd. Removal
of kerb on Churchfield Rd and landowner to arrange a ditch in adjacent field
similar to White Horse Lane and alongside top end of Margery Lane. |