Apologies

Minutes of last Meeting

Matters Arising

·        The Clerk gave an update of the position regarding repairs to the area around the War Memorial: An amended authorisation letter had been received from WNS Assistance and the Clerk had spoken to Jack White to ask him to confirm that he was still happy to undertake the work for the same amount, given that the quote was now twelve months old.  Mr White will examine the site again and let the Clerk know whether he is willing to proceed at the price originally quoted.

·        Councillor Carlisle asked District Councillor Marshall if he would be able to obtain copies of the planning consent and s.106 agreement for Greenbury Close and he agreed to do this.

·        The Clerk has still not heard from Cliff Barnaby from Hertfordshire Highways following his tour of the village with Councillor Slater regarding the problems identified/action to be taken.  She has now reported matters discussed with him and arising since his visit (including the condition of the road at the junction of Church End and Picknage Road and the large pothole in London Road) to Hertfordshire Highways Faultline.  District Councillor Marshall was asked if he could follow this up with Cliff Barnaby and he agreed to do so.  He mentioned that Hertfordshire Highways have borrowed money for road repairs.

·        The Clerk said that she had written to the owners of The Old Hall, High Street regarding the hedge hanging over the footpath and the owners had confirmed to her that this had now been cut back.  Councillor Turner said that he had been advised by Michael Richmond that he was arranging to have the overgrowing hedges on London Road cut back and it was agreed that the Clerk would write to thank him for organising this.  The Clerk was then asked to write to the owners of White Posts and Shah Cottage asking that their hedges overhanging the footpaths on High Street and Picknage Road respectively be cut back.  Councillor Turner will speak to the owner of The Laurels regarding his hedge, which overhangs the High Street footpath.

Barley Charities

Planning Applications

The Bungalow, High Street, Barley

District Matters

As District Councillor Marshall was in attendance, this item was added to the agenda.

·        District Councillor Marshall advised the meeting that he had been reported for an alleged breach of the Code of Conduct. Although he had been exonerated he would like all the facts of the matter to be put on record by each Parish Council in the District.  He provided papers, which will be circulated with the monthly correspondence before being retained by the Clerk.

·        Cllr Marshall updated the meeting regarding concerns that had been raised in the local press and by individuals about the future of Wheatsheaf Meadow House in Barkway. Although there are plans to spend money on sheltered housing schemes in the District, North Hertfordshire Homes has prepared a report on the economic viability of the existing retirement homes for the elderly in North Hertfordshire.  Wheatsheaf Meadow in Barkway has been found to be “not fit for purpose” as its village situation is considered too remote and it has less than 90% occupancy.  Some of the rooms are bed sits and others are the wrong size. There has been a meeting with residents, although unfortunately without much prior notice, to advise the residents that in due course it was likely that Wheatsheaf Meadow House may be closed. All residents are now being individually interviewed to determine their views and needs. Initial feedback appeared to suggest that some residents do not like living there anyway because of the perceived remoteness and others needed more care than was currently available. North Hertfordshire Homes will have a better idea of how to proceed after these interviews have been completed – there may not be a complete shutdown or this may not happen for a few years.  District Councillor Marshall is on the Board of North Hertfordshire Homes (as a nominee of NHDC) and therefore cannot petition on behalf of the residents or others.

Town House

·        The bookings for June are £1,372.

·        Quotes have been received for a fire alarm system from Busy Bee Electricals and Securitystuff of £2,977 and £1,130 respectively.  The Securitystuff quote includes heat sensors and the Busy Bee quote includes alarms in the lavatories but they are otherwise comparable.  Councillor Carlisle suggested that Councillor Martin contact Securitystuff, to check that their quotation is fundamentally the same as that from Busy Bee and ask them how much extra they would charge to install alarms in the lavatories as proposed by Busy Bee and whether they consider them necessary.  Securitystuff have said that they will undertake annual inspections of the system.  However, they are difficult to contact and Councillor Slater agreed to talk to them.

·        The Clerk reported that she had spoken to BT regarding VAT invoices and had been told that these were not issued to customers on the Light User scheme as this was available to private users only.  She was then told that the Town House was a business and would therefore be removed from the scheme with immediate effect.  The cost of this will be in the region of £20 per quarter.  Councillor Smith pointed out that the Town House was on the Light User scheme at the suggestion of BT and the Clerk agreed to contact them again to clarify the position.

Recreation Ground

·        Councillor Turner reported that the Tennis Club is now being used more frequently.  It has held a successful Open Day with a barbecue, which will be repeated in July.  Councillor Carlisle asked whether the courts were still being used by the school.  Councillor Turner said that he was currently waiting for the school to come back to him with the times that they wanted the courts reserved for their use.  The paving round the courts is still to be dealt with

Health & Safety

·        A meeting has been arranged with Councillor Elliott and Janine Drew of Drew & Barltrop on 20 August 2007.  Councillor Elliott thought Carole Turner as the new chairman of the Townhouse Committee should be invited to attend and if she was unavailable, Councillor Martin (and Alison Stacey if possible).   Janine Drew will also undertake the asbestos survey.

·        The fire extinguishers are due to be checked in July and Councillor Martin should be contacted regarding this.

·        It is not known whether the RoSPA visit to the play area has taken place.  Councillor Turner will contact them if a report has not been received before next month’s meeting.

·        The Lock-up, which is listed as an Ancient Monument, is showing further signs of deterioration around the plinth and needs expert inspection to determine what, if any, work needs to be carried out.  The Clerk will contact English Heritage.

Land on Picknage Road

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

Correspondence

·        The Clerk has received a reply to her letter to NHDC asking for hard standing under the plastic bottle recycling container to be placed in the Town House car park and has been told that hard standing is not necessary.  It was agreed that the Clerk would reply to say that the Parish Council required hard standing if the bin was to be placed in the car park.

·        The Clerk also explained the new refuse collection arrangements and said that further information was included in the correspondence to be circulated this month.  She was asked to express the Parish Council’s concern that the existing Town House refuse bin would be insufficient when there was a move to fortnightly collections.  She will request a large four-wheel bin on the basis that the existing arrangement will be inadequate for fortnightly collections because of the frequency of use of the Town House including weddings, which may occur on consecutive weekends.

·        Letter: NHDC – Recycling collections

·        Letter: National Playing Fields – change of name

·        Letter: North Hertfordshire Homes – Review of sheltered housing and services for older people

·        Letter: NHDC – Code of Conduct – Register of Financial and Other Interests

·        HAPTC e-mail : “Cracking the Code” Conference 19/07/2007

·        HAPTC Newsletter May 2007

·        HAPTC AGM 28/06/2007: Invitation to attend and agenda

·        HAPTC e-mail: Community Award Scheme

·        East Herts Council: Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document

·        SCOOTS newsletter

·        Hertfordshire Highways Information Bulletin May 2007

·        NHDC Members’ Information

w/e 11/05; 18/05; 25/05; 01/06

·        NHDC planning Control Committee Meeting 23/05/2007

·        Code of Conduct complaint decision notice for Howard Marshall

·        E-mail: Code of Conduct (re-circulated)

Payments

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

P Isle                       Caretaking (Town House)                                   

C Robinson             Cleaning (Town House)                          

V Martin                 Expenses and Fees (Town House)         

S Hissey                  Return of wedding deposit                     

M D Landscapes     Grass Cutting (April 2007)

*Mark Weatherhead    Repairs to gardening equipment                     

Other Business

Car Parking

It was agreed that, in addition to the Clerk’s letter to Andrew Richmond regarding parking close to junctions, Councillor Turner would speak to PCSO Chris Braybrook to find out what can be done about the problem.

Code of Conduct

It was agreed that this would be considered at the next meeting and the Clerk will include this as a separate item on the agenda.

Declaration of Acceptance of Office; Notification of Financial and Other Interests