Apologies

Minutes of last Meeting

Matters Arising

·     War Memorial

The Clerk reported that she had as yet had no response from the insurers regarding replacement of the bench.

·     Planning consent and s.106 agreement for Greenbury Close

Councillor Carlisle is still intending to write to North Hertfordshire District Council and/or Howard Cottages saying that the arrangements for occupation of the Greenbury Close properties going forward do not appear to be as the Parish Council understood them. The Councillors would now like assurances that criteria similar to that used for the original residents (i.e that, as far as possible, they are Barley residents or have close connections with Barley) will be applied to new residents in the future.  A copy of this letter will be sent to District Councillor Howard Marshall. 

·        Letters regarding gates onto the Plaistow

The Clerk will provide Councillor Carlisle with two letters for distribution.  The Clerk will send a letter to Barley School.

·        The Club Room

The Parish Council is still waiting for the dilapidations payment from Hertfordshire County Council.  It was confirmed that it was the Parish Council’s intention to market the property for letting, in the first instance by advertising in the Diary and erecting a board outside. The Clerk will insert a notice in the Diary and Councillor Carlisle will deal with the board.

Malcolm George has removed some of the ivy on the outside of the Club Room.  However, in order to remove it all, he will need to go onto The Granary land next door.  Councillor Turner will ask the owner for permission.

Councillors Elliott & Smith will deal with the temporary repairs that are necessary to the outside of the Club Room.

Councillor Elliott said that the Councillors should consider the problem of water coming into the Club Room basement, which may be caused by a drainage problem.

The Council needs to check the Parish Council title to the Club Room and the terms on which the Club Room was bequeathed to the Parish Council.  It was suggested that the Clerk may need to contact the County Archives for a copy of the relevant document.

·     Identification of areas to accommodate Gypsy and Traveller pitches

District Councillor Howard Marshall said that NHDC are still considering two sites in Barkway and Sandon to accommodate Gypsy and Traveller pitches.  Two have now been added in Stevenage but sites at Reed and Ashwell have been removed.  It is unlikely that any further new sites will be added.

·     Lock-Up

A form of consent has to be completed before work can be undertaken on an Ancient Monument.  Councillor Smith asked the Clerk if she would complete the remainder of the form relating to the Lock-Up, before passing it on to Councillor Carlisle.

Planning Applications

The Thatched Cottage, Smiths End Lane  07/02570/HH; 07/02814/1CAC

Erection of detached annexe building following demolition of existing bungalow (HH); demolition of garage building (CAC)

Following demolition of existing bungalow/garage, the new building would be a stand-alone residential building and would incorporate a new garage.

The Councillors are aware of the possible circumstances surrounding these applications but consider that these should be set to one side in considering the applications.

The property is within the Conservation Area and as such any development proposals should at least maintain and hopefully enhance, the area concerned.  In this instance the Council does not consider that the proposals achieve either objective. The Council is concerned that the footprint of the new structure is some 50% greater than the existing garage building that it is to replace and that the scale and bulk of the new building is excessive and inappropriate in terms of the Conservation Area, the location within the site (which also backs onto a public footpath which is not shown) and for the needs of the use proposed which is essentially as an annex (albeit a remote and stand alone structure with no physical connection) to the main house.  It also notes that the door leading to the area initially designated for use as a stable is not appropriate as a stable door and indeed has severe reservations as to the practicality/advisability of incorporating such use within a residential unit as suggested.

However, if the District Council is minded to approve the applications, the Parish Council would ask that this is conditional upon the new building being used as ancillary to the main residence.

The Barn, Shaftenhoe End Road   07/2629/HH

Proposed windows to ground floor elevation

Town House

Recreation Ground

There was no progress to report this month.

Health & Safety

Councillor Elliott has spoken to Drew & Barltrop regarding their asbestos survey of the Town House.  They have asbestos signs, which they will send to Richard.  However, as the Type 1 survey has only indicated the possible presence of asbestos, Councillor Carlisle felt that Types 2/3 surveys may be necessary to positively identify whether or not asbestos is actually present.  Drew & Barltrop are obtaining quotes.

Land on Picknage Road

Correspondence

·        Letter from NHDC regarding Royston Town Centre Strategy

District Councillor Howard Marshall reported that there were extensive plans for modernising Royston Town Centre, including Angel Pavement, and that this would take place over a long period of time.  It has been proposed that the square at the bottom of Fish Hill be changed to a “continental café” area.

District Councillor Marshall also commented that planning officers are currently looking at all village boundaries and understands that the village envelopes are now under discussion.  It was agreed that the Clerk would speak to either Andy Bevan or Richard Kelly at NHDC to check the status of any ongoing consultation period.

·        Letter from NHDC regarding the Code of Conduct

·        Letter from Herts. County Council (with poster) re Animal Welfare

·        E-mail from HAPTC re community engagement and empowerment

·        HAPTC e-mail:  New on HAPTC website 02/01/2007 and07/01/2008

·        HAPTC e-mails x 4:  Committee papers published on HertsDirect

·        HAPTC e-mail re Herts. Constabulary December “In the Loop” Bulletin

·        HAPTC e-mail re consultation on public transport

·        HAPTC Newsletter December 2007

·        LCR Journal January 2008

·        Hertfordshire Highways Information Bulletin December 2007

·        NHDC Members’ Information

w/e 30/11; 07/12; 14/12; 23/12; 04/01

·        NHDC Planning Control Committee Meeting 17/12/2007

Signing of Payments

It was resolved that the following payments should be made (proposed: Councillor Smith; seconded Councillor Elliott)

P Isle                       Caretaking (Town House)  

C Robinson             Cleaning (Town House) 

V Martin                 Expenses (Town House)   

I Turner                  Expenses (Town House) 

A E Wright             Clerk’s Fees and Expenses  

Other Business

·        Ponies are still being taken down the public footpath from the gate in the field owned by Smiths End Farm.  It was agreed that the Clerk should write to David Phipps regarding this.

·        The Clerk will write to Hertfordshire Highways to ask that the leaves are cleared to avoid blocking the drains.

·        The Clerk was asked to insert a notice in The Diary to remind people that they should clean up after their dogs, as fouling of footpaths is becoming a problem.