Apologies

Minutes of last Meeting

Matters Arising

·     War Memorial

The Clerk reported that a refuse wagon had again (that morning) reversed into the area surrounding the War Memorial.  Councillor Turner had provided photographs of the damage and she was waiting for a return phone call from the appropriate person at the NHDC contractors to notify them of the latest damage.

·     Planning consent and s.106 agreement for Greenbury Close

Councillor Carlisle asked the Clerk to provide a copy of the planning permission as granted by North Hertfordshire District Council before he writes to NHDC and/or Howard Cottages regarding the arrangements for occupation of the Greenbury Close properties going forward.

·        Letters regarding gates onto the Plaistow

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

·        The Club Room

Councillor Carlisle has received a cheque for £46,929.50 from Hertfordshire County Council in settlement of the claim for dilapidations.  The Clerk said that she would bank this in the existing Parish Council deposit account but would then look for an account with a better rate of interest.   As initial steps to market the property, Councillor Carlisle has organised lettings signs for outside the Club Room and the Clerk will arrange for an advertisement to be placed in The Diary

There is still more ivy to be removed from the Club Room and the old oil tank and rubbish around the property will need to be cleared.  The problem of water in the Club Room basement should also be addressed. It was felt that a 5-foot close-boarded fence should be erected on the boundary with the school.

·     Lock-Up

The Clerk will complete the form of consent for work to be undertaken on an Ancient Monument. 

    Councillor Smith said that he also had forms to apply for a small grant from NHDC, which he passed to the Clerk at the meeting.

·        Police Visit

PC Paul Marina and PCSO Brabrook advised the Parish Council that crime in the area that they cover had reduced, with 123 crimes reported last year, compared to 163 in the year before.  There was generally a very low level of crime in Barley itself although the Scout Hut had been broken into recently and one garden shed.  PCSO Brabrook has had padlock protectors made and there are some available.  These are given predominately to those who have already suffered a break-in.

PC Marina asked the Councillors what they felt were the main issues in the village and whether the balance of policing was right.  The Council were pleased to note that the Police appear to have hooliganism under control, but were still concerned about the level of speeding through the village.  More speed checks would be appreciated although these seemed to have little effect when the police presence is visible. (It was noticeable that the speed checks produced results which were probably not representative of actual speeds through the village.)  PC Marina explained that for Health and Safety reasons, they were obliged to wear highly visible clothing when carrying out speed checks.  Traffic calming measures, such as chicanes, were subject to cost constraints that took account of the level of accidents.  Comments were also made concerning parking in the village, which restricted visibility in certain places.  PCSO Brabrook will follow this up with Councillor Elliott and the Clerk.

Local Development Framework

Councillor Carlisle briefly outlined the draft Local Development Framework Plan as it relates to Barley that has been prepared by NHDC and which is now out for consultation. It would appear that essentially this proposes no radical change in development policy for the village although one additional area of undeveloped farm land along Picknage Road has been suggested as potentially suitable for residential development. Cllr Carlisle noted that this site had previously been put forward at the time of the last Local Plan review but had been rejected. The only other development related matter was a suggestion that, within the existing village envelope, should the existing Richmond coach business at the top of the High St ever be relocated and the site vacated then a redevelopment for residential purposes may be appropriate. Neither of these sites is currently known to be available. Otherwise existing development policies seemed to be maintained.

Cllr Carlisle advised that all members of the parish council should consider the proposals carefully as they set out the way the village will move forward during the life of the Plan and it is important that the Parish Council respond in a properly considered way. Cllr Carlisle reminded the meeting that this is not yet an agreed document and is very much open to discussion and challenge and changes can be suggested and put forward as part of the consultation process not only by relevant authorities, such as the parish council, but also by members of the public and any other affected authorities.

Planning Applications

Dovehouse Shott, Smiths End Lane   07/02939/1HH

Two storey side and rear extensions incorporating raised roof line.  Insertion of dormer windows.

There were no objections to this application.

Land opposite Farriers, Church End, Barley   08/00016/1

Erection of two bedroom dwelling with detached garage.

Town House

Recreation Ground

There was no progress to report this month.

Health & Safety

·     A meeting with Drew & Barltrop has been arranged for 20 February 2008 at 10am.

·     The gates on the playing field still need attention

·     Dog bins are still required.

·     Children’s Play Area:

Dog signs need to be put up.

An additional waste bin is required.

Repairs are needed to the fencing.

·     Lone working agreements need to be followed up to ensure that they are operating correctly.

Land on Picknage Road

Correspondence

·     Letter from Audit Commission – appointment of external auditor

·     Letter from Herts County Council re waste Development Framework Consultation

·        Letter from NHDC: Register of Financial Interests

Councillor Turner has still to complete his Register of Financial Interests.  The Clerk will let him have the necessary form to complete.

·        Letter from NHDC: Code of Conduct

·     Letter from Communities and Local Government re Code of Conduct Consultation

·        E-mail from HAPTC: Gypsies and Travellers

·        Letter from NHDC:  Scott Wilson Gypsy Study

·        E-mail from HAPTC: the new model publication scheme

·        E-mail from HAPTC:  Risk assessment Seminar

It was decided that it was not necessary for Councillor Elliott to attend this course.

·        Letter from Oliver Heald MP re Hertfordshire Highways

It was agreed that the Clerk would write to acknowledge this.      

·        HAPTC e-mail:  HAPTC seminar at Police HQ

·        HAPTC e-mail:  New on the HAPTC website

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

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

·        HAPTC e-mail:  Councillor Workshop

·        HAPTC e-mail:  GreenSpace Community Network

·        HAPTC e-mail: section 137 cash limit for 2008/09

·        HAPTC e-mail:  Hazel Blears speaking at NALC Conference 2008

·     E-mail:  South Cambs. District Council re proposed expansion of Cambourne East

·        Letter from CPRE re Hertfordshire Village of the Year 2008

·        HAPTC Newsletter January 2008

·        NALC Briefing:  Community Contracts and Charters

·        CDA for Herts Newsletter: January 2008

·        NHDC Royston & District Committee Meeting 30/01/08

·        Hertfordshire Highways Information Bulletin January 2008

·        NHDC Members’ Information w/e 11/01; 18/01; 25/01

Signing of Payments

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

P Isle                       Caretaking (Town House) 

C Robinson             Cleaning (Town House)   

V Martin                 Expenses (Town House)      

A Stacey                 Fees (Town House) 

Wedding Venues     Advertisement (Town House) 

M George                Grass cutting and petrol 

Other Business

·     Highways:

The repairs to Bogmoor Road have now been completed but the drains have not been cleared.  The hedges also now need trimming back.

Drains in Church End and the High Street also need clearing.

Potholes on Shaftenhoe End  Road (opposite Keffords) need repairing

The Clerk will contact Hertfordshire Highways regarding the above matters.

·     The Leylandii trees at Hillside Farm need trimming back as they are causing erosion of the bank and affecting sight lines.  The Clerk was asked to write to the owner of the property.