TEWIN PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 5th March 2007 in Tewin Memorial Hall at 7.45pm

Present:  Cllrs. Lawson (Chairman), K St Pier (Vice Chairman), B. Evans, A.Hill and D.Lloyd.

In attendance:  Mrs C.McFarlane (Clerk), Cllr McMullen and two parishioners.

PARISHIONER COMMENTS

Two parishioners came to discuss the planning application for 17 Bishops Road and express their objection to it as during construction the builders would require access from their private drive and this would compromise access to the Nos 11,13,15 Bishops Rd. They feel the extension would be detrimental to the environment, impairing the natural wooded vista along their drive. The current garage finishes on the boundary and the roof overhangs the private drive. 

106. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Cllr M.Howe, Cllr D.Howson (holiday), Cllr S.Stott (prior engagement) and apologies for lateness from Cllr M.McMullen.

107. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING held 29th January 2007 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

108. MATTERS ARISING

109.  FINANCE   

Accounts for Payment - In accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations the schedule of payments amounting to £4041.11 was approved by the Council.

 

External Auditor – Lubbock Fine has been appointed for a further year and the fees will be raised from £141 to £158.63.

 

110.PLANNING

Planning Applications Received

3/07/00244/FP/GH – 17 Bishops Road, Tewin Wood  – Proposed First Floor Side Extensions and single storey rear extension – TPC Obj as extension will be on the boundary, it will have an overdevelopment and urbanising effect, the extension cannot be built without using the private access to no’s 11,13,15 and this will substantially compromise access to these houses.

 

3/07/0256/FP/GH – 21 Firs Walk, Tewin Wood – Landscaping Works at rear of dwelling (Retrospective) –TPC Obj  as there is insufficient detail provided, no side elevations for the foundations and no final side elevations, great concern for the stability of the bank and the effect of the reduced level on the health of the hedge between No 19 & 20.

 

3/07/0238/FP/JS – 45 Burnham Green Rd, Welwyn - Two storey rear extension – TPC No Obj

 

Planning Decisions Received from EHC

3/06/2358/FP – Upper Green, Tewin - New playground with 1.2m metre fencing & provision of play equipment – EHC Granted

3/06/2451/FP/GH & 3/06/2452/LB/GH – The Old Rectory, Churchfield Rd, Tewin – Single storey rear extension – TPC No Obj raised concern over height of extension – EHC Granted

 

Urbanisation of Tewin Wood - The Parish Council wrote a letter to Bryan Thomsett, Head of Planning Policy, East Herts Council expressing their concerns on the urbanisation of Tewin Wood.

EHC has verbally replied that the Local Plan Inquiry Inspectors Report has been received and the Environmental Zone has been deleted. The Clerk has asked for full written clarification and the implications in conjunction with Kevin Steptoe, Development Control, EHC.

 

Enforcement Issues

Building works at Inglenook, Desborough Drive – There is no breach of control.

Sign at Churchfield Entrance to Tewinbury Farm – There is no breach of control.

 

East of England Plan - Cllrs S.Stott compiled a response to this on behalf of the Council and the Parish Council agreed to send it.

Housing Capacity Assessment – Entec has been employed to complete this and are looking at scope for development around the edges of Category 1 villages. The report was due out in March but has been delayed. The Parish Council will be involved in the process at some point.

 

Barker Review – On 5 December 2006 the economist Kate Barker published a review of the planning system. It focuses on reforming the planning system to promote economic development at the expense of the countryside and environment. A White Paper containing proposed new legislation on the planning system is expected in late March.

The Parish Council agreed to object to this and Cllr K St Pier agreed to put together a response in conjunction with Cllr S Stott following CPRE’s guidelines

 

111. PLAYGROUND

Planning application – Planning permission has been granted subject to 11 conditions covering, installation restricted to between mid March and mid May to avoid harm to great crested newts, translocation of the bee orchid, provision of cricket netting, full details of adjacent trees, further details of foundations, fencing, security fencing, protective tree fencing and hard and soft landscaping details including bench and signs.

 

Condition Compliance – A full response with detailed drawings has been compiled and the Parish Council agreed to send it.

 

Final Costing -The total cost of the playground is expected to be approx £19,226. This will be financed by £10,000 grant from the Big Lottery and £7,000 grant from the Local Network Fund. The remainder will be funded by the Parish Council.

The Parish Council has also written to Tewin Charities asking if they would like to sponsor some playground equipment.

Playground – Cllr D.Lloyd proposed to commence ordering the playground equipment subject to condition compliance approval from EHC.  Cllr K St Pier seconded the proposal. The vote was carried unanimously.

 

Quote – Cllr D.Lloyd proposed that the quote for playground equipment, fencing, surfacing and installation from SMP for £17,745, the quote for cricket netting from Ram International for £1,365 (£400 for installing the ground sockets incl in SMP quote), along with the quote for £116 for the signs should be accepted. Cllr K St Pier seconded the proposal. The vote was carried unanimously.

 

Insurance – The insurance cost for the playground is likely to be in the region of £266 pa and the Parish Council is already covered by sufficient public liability. Full detail of requirements such as weekly inspections and an annual RoSPA inspection will be sent to the clerk by the insurance company.

 

Other Issues- The Parish Council agreed to notify the neighbours, the tennis and cricket clubs, HCC and EHC of the decision to go ahead with the playground as soon as possible.

The Parish Council noted that the playground company will need to put a container to store their equipment on the car park for the duration of the installation.

 

Funding – Cllr A Hill proposed that a maximum of £3,000 will be taken from the Parish Council’s National Savings account. Cllr K St Pier seconded this proposal and the vote was carried unanimously.

 

112. HIGHWAYS

Flooding at School Lane – Works have now been completed by Highways.

Flooding at Churchfield Road/Margery Lane – Highways have indicated that they will look into the problem particularly if the Parish Council could assist by arranging for a ditch to be dug in the field adjacent to the road.  The Parish Council agreed to put this on the next agenda.

Heavy Vehicle Sign on Hertford Road – The Parish Council has been awarded a grant of £225 towards the cost of this sign from Highways. The total cost is estimated to be £450. The Parish Council agreed to put a proposal to fund the remaining 50% of the sign on the next agenda.

 

113. PAVILION AND RISK ASSESSMENT WORKS

Pavilion Refurbishment Committee – A comprehensive action plan has been agreed. The total cost is expected to be between £35,000 and £50,000.

Risk Assessment Dates – The Parish Council agreed to conduct a risk assessment of the parish on Friday 20th April 2007. A date for another inspection will be set if required.

 

Hundred Year Wood – The trees have now been removed and arranged in eco-friendly piles in the wood.

 

114. LOWER GREEN

Electricity on Lower Green – The Clerk and Cllr A Hill met with EdF and the site has been agreed 1 metre from the road and 9 metres from the well cover. EdF will send a formal quote and dimensions for the box. The Parish Council agreed to accept the quote before the price rises due on 1st April 2007.

The electricity meter on Lower Green is a necessity as it is getting increasingly more difficult for electricians to give us the necessary PAT certificate for insurance purposes if we run the cables across the road for the fete and lighting the Christmas tree.

 

115. PARISH PATHS PARTNERSHIP

The majority of fallen trees have been or are in the process of being removed from footpaths.

FP15 – The stiles have been removed

FP 30 – The householder has been advised that footpath starting at Firs Walk should run down the centre of the drive and as it has been fenced off to the side this constitutes an illegal diversion.

FP 11 – The stile has been removed and the Parish Council has requested it be replaced with a kissing gate in order to deter motorcycles.

FP6 & 12 – The Parish Council has supported the proposal to install gates in order to deter motorcycles.

 

116. CORRESPONDENCE

Medication Dispensing from Tewin Stores – This will continue to be available from Tewin Stores provided the storekeeper hands out the medicines.

Friends of Tewin Family Day – The Parish Council agreed to give permission for this event on the 15th July 2007.

Friends of Tewin – They thanked the Parish Council for their kind donations towards the Senior Citizens lunch and the Christmas tree.

Tewin Garage Closure – The Parish Council are awaiting a response from EHC about change of use.

Black Panther Sightings – Some weeks ago there were several sightings but the animal has not been seen since. The Parish Council agreed to raise this with the police at the next meeting

Bus Permits – These will no longer be renewable by the Clerk but instead by post. All permit holders will be sent a renewal by post. New applicants will have to visit one of the council offices to obtain their first permit.

Parish Councillor Elections – The nomination papers will be received shortly and will need to be returned by 4th April at the latest. If the election is contested the poll will be held on Thursday 3rd May 2007.

Community Police – PC Paul Weston will be attending the next Parish Council meeting

Secondary Schools – HCC have decided to not move to public consultation on the Hertford and Ware Secondary review.

Tewin Tennis Club – A root barrier, to stop roots growing up through the tennis courts will be put in shortly adjacent to the tennis courts alongside FP15.  This may result in the footpath being diverted around the pavilion or one or two days.

117. REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES TO OUTSIDE BODIES

Tewin School – Nothing to report 

Tewin Charities Trustees – Nothing to report

Tewin Memorial Hall – Nothing to report

Tewin Website – Nothing to report

Locality Policing – Cllr D.Lloyd offered to contact the police about flytipping cameras.

Parish Plan Steering Committee – The response rate for the questionnaires is an excellent 85%.

118. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be on Wednesday 4th April 2007 in Tewin Memorial Hall at 7.45pm and it will be preceded by the Annual Parish Meeting at 7.30pm.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX 1 – HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION MATTERS Feb 07

Fault line: 01438 737321   

District Team: 01992 526900

Assistant District Manager: Raj Goutham                              

Assistant Engineer: Ian Bishop (last meeting 15.4.05, 23.2.06)

        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 a possibility if TPC can arrange ditch in adjacent field similar to White Horse Lane.

Raj looking into it.

 

2

Flooding  - School Lane

 

Done

3

Flooding - Upper Green Road ditches blocked

 

Done

4

Grass Warren –

Broken post and rail fence – reported to EHC

 

 

Report Again

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