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Minutes of the Meeting of Barley Parish Council

held at the Town House on Monday 2 April at 8pm

 

Present:    Cllr Jeremy Carlisle (Chairman); Cllr Vanessa Martin;  Cllr Philip Smith; Cllr Tony Slater; Cllr Richard Elliott; Cllr Ian Turner; Mrs Anne Wright (Clerk)

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Action

1.

Apologies

There were no apologies.

 

2.

Minutes of last Meeting

The minutes were read and approved.

 

3.

Matters Arising

·        The Clerk reported that she was still waiting for authorisation from WNS Assistance before repairs to the War Memorial could go ahead.

·        North Hertfordshire District Council have said that copies of the planning consent and s. 106 agreement for Greenbury Close can be provided at a cost of £20 each.  Councillor Carlisle will speak to District Councillor Howard Marshall regarding this.  Councillor Slater suggested that it might be possible to download the planning consent from the Internet.

·        Councillor Slater drove round the village with Cliff Barnaby from Hertfordshire Highways to discuss action that needed to be taken to the village roads.  This covered potholes, drainage on Barley Road, all work on Church End and Bogmoor Road, where the Parish Council are asking for proper passing places to be formed, rather than allowing the banks to the road to be damaged and eroded. It was agreed that the sweeper would be sent round more often.  Councillor Slater suggested that the Parish Council should consider sending letters to High Street residents and Richmonds Garage when a sweep was scheduled, asking that cars be parked elsewhere so that both sides of the road could be properly swept.  Cliff Barnaby will be writing to the Parish Clerk regarding the points raised by the drive round the village.  Councillor Slater said he thought that this had been a worthwhile exercise.

·        Councillor Carlisle met with Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) to discuss the school’s future use of the Clubroom and their requirements for a multi-purpose school hall.  Councillor Carlisle confirmed that he had discussed with LSH the Parish Council’s concerns about the current poor state of repair of the building and had advised them, that should it be decided not to renew the lease, the Parish Council would have to consider pursuing a formal claim for dilapidations against the County Council as tenant.  The lease on the Clubroom expires in August 2007 but the tenancy will continue until formally terminated by either side giving not less than six months notice.

·        Councillor Carlisle has asked Bidwells for a formal fire insurance valuation of the Town House.  This will cost £200 - £300 plus VAT.

 

Clerk

 

 

JC

 

Clerk

4.

Barley Charities

·        Access is still needed to the records held in the locked filing cabinets at the Town House so that the Clerk can prepare the information and returns required by the Charities Commission.  Councillor Martin has spoken to Securitystuff who have said that one cabinet will need the existing lock replacing (at a cost of around £50) while the Council should be able to cut through and replace the padlock securing the other cabinet.  Councillor Martin will arrange for this to be done 

·        The Clerk reported that she had received a letter from Mrs Karen Newham stating that Alwyn Smouton and Reg Cording’s terms of office as Parish Council representatives on Barley Parish Charities expire in April 2007.  They are prepared to continue as Trustees and the Parish Council voted unanimously for them to do so.  The Clerk will write to Mrs Newham accordingly.

 

 

 

 

 

VM

 

 

 

Clerk

5.

Planning Applications

2 Mount Cottages. The Mount, Barley

There were no objections in principle to the application but the quality of the plans presented was not sufficient to enable the Council to consider a decision properly.  The Clerk reported that further plans were due (it had been thought that these would be available for the meeting) and hopefully these will address the Councillors’ concerns in this regard.  The Clerk will write to NHDC accordingly.

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

6.

Town House

·        The bookings for April are £345.

·        There has been no further response to the advertisement in The Diary for a Lettings Officer and Chairman for the Town House.  Councillor Martin intends to stand down as Lettings Officer at the next Town House meeting.

·        Securitystuff of Royston has provided an estimate of £1,130 plus VAT for the cost of a basic fire alarm installation.

·        The wall tiles in the upstairs kitchen are falling off.  Councillor Martin has asked Paul Robinson to deal with this.

 

7.

Health & Safety

·        Councillor Elliott reported that the fencing on the Plaistow has now been repaired.

·        Councillor Elliott also reported that the climbing frame in the children’s play area is becoming weathered.

 

8.

Recreation Ground

·        Councillor Turner will arrange for the bark for the play area to be re-delivered and also for the ROSPA safety visit to take place in May.

·        The Tennis Club committee has approved the cost of the paving around the tennis courts and an updated estimate is being obtained before the work goes ahead.  The Tennis Club’s AGM will take place at the Fox & Hounds on 17 April at 8pm.  Councillor Turner said that the Tennis Club had suggested some form of windbreak on one side of the courts, a high hedge being the preferred option.  However, the view of the Parish Council was that a windbreak would not be suitable for the area.

·        The Council wondered when the Plaistow grass cutting would re-commence.  The Clerk will contact MD Landscapes, who are responsible for this

·        Councillor Carlisle has asked Curwens to check whether the land needs to be/is registered with the land registry as forming part of the assets of Barley Town House Charity or the Parish Council.

 

IT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

9.

Land on Picknage Road

There has been no further progress.  Access plans are still awaited.

 

JC

10.

Correspondence

·        A letter regarding the Local Development Framework is to be given some thought.  The letter and Plan would therefore be circulated for future discussion.

·        A letter has been received from Andrew Richmond regarding the telephone box in the High Street from which calls can no longer be made for cash.  It was agreed that the Clerk would write to Andrew Richmond to say that this would be taken up with BT.

·        Leaflet:  From 1 July 2007 England will go Smokefree

·        Leaflet:  Nominations for HAPTC

 ·        Leaflet:  Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004

 ·        Letter:  NHDC - confirmation of 2007/08 Precept Payments

 ·        Letter:  NHDC - Plastic Bottle Recycling Facilities

 ·        Letter:  NHDC - Barley and the Local Development Framework

 ·        HAPTC e-mail:  LYONS enquiry into Local Government

 ·        HAPTC e-mail:  Commons Act Consultation

 ·        HAPTC e-mail:  A Public Voice for Health in Hertfordshire

 ·        HAPTC Newsletters February and March 2007

 ·        HAPTC leaflet:  Nominations for Executive Committee

·        HAPTC Herts Webwise leaflet

 ·        Community Empowerment Awards leaflet

 ·        Hertfordshire Police Authority Safer Neighbourhoods Awards 2007

 ·        Letter:  Department for Constitutional Affairs – Memorial Safety

·        East Herts Council AGRE Newsletter

 ·        Hertfordshire Highways Information Bulletin March 2007

 ·        NHDC Members’ Information

w/e 02/03; 09/03; 16/03; 23/03; 30/03

 ·        Royston & District Committee Meeting 14/03/2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

11.

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 and Fees (Town House)         

Hertfordshire

County Council       Cleaning materials (Town House)                    

A Wright                 Clerk’s Fees (Jan – Mar 2007)               

A Wright                 Re-imbursement for Parish computer      

Allianz Cornhill      Insurance premium from 01/06/2007    

M George                Street cleaning and bin emptying        

Mark Weatherhead Mower etc servicing                          

HAPTC                  Annual membership                              

*Three Valleys        Water rates for Town House                 

* Cheques signed after meeting.

As the Clerk is at present unable to transfer funds between accounts, it was agreed that as a temporary measure, payments for the Town House could be met from Parish Council funds.

 

12.

Other Business

Hedges

It has been pointed out that the hedges of the properties in Crossways that back on to London Road are intruding into the carriageway.  The Clerk will write to the occupants requesting that they be cut back.

Football Pitch

There has been a complaint that the football pitch on the Plaistow is being used by Royston residents.  The Council felt that there was no action to be taken regarding this as the Plaistow was open to all.

Annual General Meeting

This will be held at the usual monthly Parish Council meeting, which will take place on 7 May 2007.

Annual Parish Meeting

This will be held on Wednesday 23 May at 8pm in the Town House.  The Clerk was asked to put a notice regarding this in The Diary.

 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

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