LITTLE GADDESDEN PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL on MONDAY 19th DECEMBER 2011 PRESENT: Cllr. Adams (Chairman), Cllrs. Archer, Hyde, Irving, Kutluoglu and Lupton. Also in attendance, DBC Cllr. Nick Tiley, Mrs. F. McWilliams (Clerk) and one member of the public. APOLOGIES: Cllr. Brattle and Herts County Cllr. David Lloyd. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr. Adams declared an interest in the Sports Club; Cllr. Hyde declared an interest in the Drama Club and Rural Heritage Society; Cllr. Irving declared an interest as Chair, Gaddesden District Village Produce Association and as a member of the Drama Club; Cllr. Kutluoglu declared an interest in the Football and Cricket Clubs and as a parent of children at the village school; and Cllr. Lupton declared an interest in the Cricket and Bowls Clubs. 1. MINUTES - The minutes of the meeting on 21st November 2011 were approved as drafted. 2. POLICING a. Police Report - there was no police report. b. Policing issues – Cllr. Adams had met with Peter Huffer and Chief Inspector Pryce at Hemel Hempstead police station earlier in the month. The police accepted speeding was a local priority which was now designated as such in their list of local objectives. Cllr. Adams had been given a report about the use of the speed indicator device within the village: On 4th July, 140 vehicles passed through and 21 exceeded 30mph. One, a local resident, was doing 47mph. On 8th August, 133 vehicles passed through and 19 exceeded 30mph On 13th August 53 vehicles passed through and 7 exceeded 30mph. Two vehicles exceeded 40mph. On 24th August 47 vehicles passed through and 13 exceeded 30mph. Six exceeded 40mph and were given warnings. On 17th September 95 vehicles passed through and 40 exceeded 30mph. 5 of those exceeded 40mph and one was doing 53mph. It was clear that only warnings were being given and Cllr. Adams thought cautions and tickets should be issued if the use of the speed indicator device was to be an effective deterrent. Cllr. Adams asked that the Clerk forward all policing issues arising at the Parish Council’s meetings to PCSO Kim Ashworth. It had been agreed the issue of speeding would be “hit hard” in 2012. The use of speed traps would be backed up by the Community Speed watch initiative. 3. MATTERS ARISING a. Parish Council Communications – Cllr. Irving had prepared a paper on the development of a website and this was circulated. Cllr. Kutluoglu asked why there was not just one website for the village. The Clerk pointed out that the Quality Parish scheme suggested that parish councils have a “dedicated” site. However it was agreed that in the future a landing page or portal to other sites could be considered. First the Council should get a website up and running. Cllr. Irving said that the main issue was what the website should have on it. It was agreed that only a few things would need to be added each month and the rest would be fairly static. The Clerk agreed to upload minutes and agenda, etc. Cllr. Archer suggested it was essential that the site be kept current and this was agreed. In terms of costs, there was the domain name, hosting and design. Cllr. Irving and Lupton to progress. b. Highways – The Clerk had sent the petition to Highways. Herts County Cllr. David Lloyd had indicated informally that the next stage would be a feasibility study which would cost about £3,000 and then the works themselves for which there were no funds currently available. If he was in a position to make a sum available out of his locality budget it could take as many as ten years to collect together sufficient funding. There was also the issue of lighting – any engineering works that could slow traffic down would need to be lit. Cllr. Hyde noted that those approached to sign the petition had not been keen on lighting. Cllr. Tiley suggested that the consultation exercise carried out in Potten End had been futile and frustrating. The proposed schemes had been unfunded and the population split about what they wanted. Cllr. Adams suggested that there had been too many choices which split the population. In Little Gaddesden’s case, only chicanes were proposed. Cllr. Archer asked if Cllr. Lloyd had replied formally and the Clerk explained that he had not, he was simply giving the Council an indication of the position. Cllr. Adams suggested that Cllr. Lloyd be invited to respond formally so that the matter could be escalated and this was agreed. Cllr. Tiley questioned whether the Parish Council had considered increasing the precept to pay for projects such as traffic calming. Cllr. Adams pointed out that the budget would be discussed later and it was agreed to come back to this question. c. Gateways – these were awaiting Department of Transport approval. d. Open Spaces - Playing field and green – nothing to report. Recycling would be revisited in the spring. Cllr. Lupton reported that Cllr. Lloyd had agreed to meet half of the cost of repairing the Bowls Club clubhouse roof out of his locality budget and the Bowls Club could pay the balance. The Bowls Club also wanted to paint the club house green and the Parish Council had agreed to this. The Council also agreed to contribute towards the cost of paint and the Clerk was asked to communicate this to the club. d. Cromer Close plays area – nothing further to report. e. School buses – Cllr. Kutluoglu would report formally in due course but indicated that great progress was being made towards a workable solution. The Parish Council thanked Cllr. Kutluoglu for progressing this matter. 4. CORRESPONDENCE 1. Chiltern News (December 2011) - circulated 2. Dacorum Heritage Trust Newsletter and Annual Report - circulated 5. FINANCE a. Cheques paid – David Brattle – two cheques for £85.45 and £10.75 for materials for bench repairs. b. Cheques for approval Clerk - salary for December Village Hall Manager – salary for December Sunnyside Rural Trust (SRT Trading Limited) - £220 – Warden Services (December invoice) Daniel Bunting - £385 plus vat – installation of bench and table tennis table, clearing area within Cromer Close play area, clearing village sign and installing new bin at Church Road play area Sunnyside Rural Trust (SRT Trading Limited) - £62.50 plus vat Hemel Copy Print - £63.16 SSLC – registration fee - £150 National Trust – Cromer Close play area rent - £1.00 c. Cheques/payments received LGVH Management Committee - Village Hall Manager salary d. Review of cash book entries, other monies received petty cash and unpaid wages. The cash book and petty cash book were reviewed and signed by the Chairman and it was confirmed that there were no other monies received or any unpaid wages. e. DBC budget for 2012/2013 – the Clerk had circulated draft budget papers for review during the month Cllr. Adams indicated he was not minded to increase the precept. Cllr. Lupton agreed. A proper budget was now prepared each year and income and expenditure were matched. It was important Parish Council funds were used only for matters for which the Parish Council was responsible and not to make up the shortfall in the services being provided by other agencies. Cllr. Tiley pointed out that this year the Borough Council and the County Council were capped so that if the Parish Council did increase the precept this would be the only increase which the tax payer faced. However the Council agreed that, whilst increasing the precept might be considered in the future, the budgetary requirements for 2012/2013 had been agreed and proposed that the precept should not be increased. Cllrs. Archer and Irving seconded the proposal and it was agreed unanimously to seek the sum of £16,100 by way of precept for the year 2012/13. 7. PLANNING - HISTORIC APPLICATIONS DBC Planning Department has notified the Council of the following planning decisions: 1. Priory Cottage, Alderton Drive - replacement of existing conservatory with hardwood orangery – granted 2. Garden Cottage, Nettleden Road– 2 storey front extension and hard standing - granted 3. 6 Hudnall Lane – non-material amendment to planning permission – granted PLANNING - CURRENT APPLICATIONS 1. 8 Ringshall Road, Ringshall 4/01913/11/LBC - conversion of redundant toilet/shed to en-suite toilet and shower room with internal and external alterations – no objection 2. Robin Hood House, Nettleden Road 4/01644/11/FUL and 4/01772/11/LBC - demolition of single storey extension. Construction of part two part three storey extensions and internal/external alterations (AMENDED PLANS) – no objection. However amended plans were circulated. 3. Land At Kilbracken, Hudnall Common 4/02005/11/FUL - formation of manege within existing paddock – no objection 4. Spinneys, Hudnall Common 4/02030/11/LDE - building used for domestic storage purposes – no objection 5. Shepherds Cottage, Little Gaddesden 4/02001/11/LDP - construction of front porch – no objection 6. 12 Ringshall Road, Ringshall 4/02045/11/FHA - replacement single storey rear extension. Rear dormer and internal alterations. Detached garage. In circulation and amended plans were circulated 7. Ashridge House, Golf Club Road, Little Gaddesden 4/02129/11/FHA - single-storey rear extension, dormer windows, new porch and loft conversion – in circulation. PLANNING – OTHER – Enforcement decision in respect of Deer Leap Manor. The enforcement department had decided the lighting was acceptable and were not going to take any further action in respect of it. 8. A.O.B 1. Cllr. Kutluoglu raised the issue of the local child with a severe peanut allergy. Cllr. Adams explained the running of the village hall was the remit of the village hall management committee and that they were the correct body to deal with this matter. 2. Cllr. Kutluoglu raised the issue of group utility purchasing. Cllrs. Adams and Hyde confirmed there were a number of these in the village and it was agreed that the possibility of buying utilities in bulk be raised it the newsletter. 3. Cllr. Archer reported the funding which DBC was making available to each parish. The Clerk confirmed that DBC had confirmed £1,000 would be made available. There would be some forms to fill in which would be provided to the Clerk in due course. 9. DATE OF NEXT MEETING – The next meeting would be on 16th January 2011. The meeting closed at 9.30pm.  < close window
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