PIRTON PARISH COUNCIL
The monthly meeting of Pirton Parish Council was held on
Thursday 13 February 2003 at Pirton School Hall.
Present: Mrs Juliet Alexander, Mrs Sally Lake, Mr Owain Lister, Mr Rodney
Marshall, Mr David Saunders, Mr Nigel Brook (County Councillor) and Mrs Diane
Bailey (Clerk).
Apologies for Absence: Mrs Helen Burden, Mr Geoff
Collins, Mrs Rosie Hamilton McLeod (had attended the Youth Consultation meeting
but left the Council meeting due to a prior engagement), Mrs Pam Waters
(holiday) and Mrs Claire Strong (District Councillor).
MINUTES OF THE JANUARY MEETING
The Minutes of the January meeting were agreed and signed
as a true record.
MATTERS ARISING
There were no matters arising except those minuted under
Outstanding Items.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
No parishioners had attended the meeting except those
attending the Youth Consultation (Minute 20.03).
16.03 OUTSTANDING ITEMS
The list of outstanding items was reviewed as follows:-
Recreation Ground Access Road
Mrs Hamilton McLeod would chase Chamberlins
solicitors with regard to the access road leading to the Recreation Ground.
Search and Storage of Documents
No further action.
Coleman’s Close – Section 106
No further information.
Recreation Ground
No further information.
Parish Playgrounds Grant
A decision is expected in March 2003.
Jubilee Trees
It was agreed that the jubilee tree planting would
take place on Sunday 30 March after the village church services. The Clerk would
ensure that the plaque commemorating the event was delivered prior to the event
and would contact representatives at both village churches.
Housing Needs Survey
This would be discussed further after the results
of NHDC’s Housing Dept review are known.
Blacksmiths Pond
The Clerk would contact Countryside Management
Services with regard to the large amount of fish in the pond.
Disposal of Gangmower
No further action.
Dog bins
The Clerk had spoken with Mr Simmons to finalise
the location of the new dog bin in Hambridge Way. Mr Saunders would confirm the
location of the bin in Walnut Tree Road. The Clerk would arrange to invoice the
Bury Trust for one of the bins together with related installation costs.
Post Office Services
The Clerk had passed information to Mrs Smith at
the village post office and was awaiting her comments.
Mr Nigel Brook informed the Council that due to a
15.8% reduction in government funding, Hertfordshire County Council had agreed
an increase in next year’s Council Tax of 18.2%. This large increase was
necessary to maintain current services provided by the County.
17.03 FINANCE
Bank accounts as at 10 February 2003
Business Premium Account
£14,722.35
Community Account
£ 671.10
Projects Account
£ 4,094.71
Contingency Account
£ 3,066 86
Monies received since last meeting (included in
above)
Sale of dumper truck
£ 20.00
Bank Interest
£ 0.23
Accounts for payment
Alan James – streetcleaning
£ 96.00
Diane Bailey – clerk’s salary and expenses £ 386.01
Darren Simmons – P3
£ 65.00
Lubbock Fine – 01/02 audit
£ 293.75
It was proposed by Mr Saunders, seconded by Mrs Lake and
unanimously agreed that the above be paid.
The Clerk confirmed that the 2001/02 financial audit had
been completed and approved. A copy of the audit certificate would be placed in
the Noticeboard.
18.03 REQUESTS FOR FUNDING
There were no requests for funding.
19.03 RECREATION GROUND
Following the cancellation of the Parish Meeting on 30
January 2003 due to severe snow conditions, the meeting was rescheduled for
Wednesday 5 March. The Clerk would inform the Chairman of the PSSC and arrange
for the meeting to be advertised on the village website. Mr Saunders would
inform other parties of the new date.
20.03 YOUTH CONSULTATION and YOUTH CLUB
Mrs Alexander, Mrs Hamilton McLeod, Mrs Lake and the
Clerk, had attended the Youth Consultation prior to the Council meeting.
Representatives from the village youth club and NHDC has also been present.
There had been great enthusiasm for restarting the youth club and requests for a
skate board ramp, regular discos, and sport and craft evenings. Sarah Jefferies
(NHDC Community Development Officer) agreed to provide information about a
mobile skateboard ramp which tours the District.
Mrs Alexander offered to write to the young people who had
attended the consultation with general feedback from the meeting. The young
people had preferred not to organise a survey themselves and therefore Mrs
Alexander volunteered to draft a simple questionnaire with tick boxes which
could be distributed via the village shop.
21.03 NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
A meeting to launch the 2003/04 Hertfordshire Policing
Plan would take place on Friday 21 March in Hatfield.
22.03 STANDING ORDERS
Following the inclusion of amendments agreed at the
January meeting, Standing Orders for Pirton Parish Council were formally
adopted.
23.03 HIGHWAYS
Concern was expressed about water on the approach road to
Holwell. Mrs Lake offered to speak to the Clerk to Holwell Parish Council in
this regard.
24.03 PLANNING
Applications
7 St Mary’s Close 03/00029/1HH
First floor front extension incorporating replacement
double garage.
Pirton Village Hall, High Street 03/00020/1
Single storey rear/side extension. New front entrance
lobby. First floor flat roof link with four rooflights to provide office and
Projection Room accommodation.
Decisions
Land to rear of 14 Shillington Road -
01/01883/1
Detached single storey 4 bedroom dwelling. Detached double
garage with access via Burge End Lane. Appeal dismissed.
3 Great Green - 02/01770/1LBHH
Listed Building Consent: Two storey side extension,
internal and external alterations. Granted.
3 Great Green - 02/01772/1HH
Householder permission: Two storey side extension.
Granted.
14 High Street - 02/01930/1TCA
Trees in a Conservation Area: Removal of one acer, five
conifers and 1 budlea tree. No objection.
20 High Street - 02/01590/1HH and
02/01871/1LB
Listed Building Consent: Single storey lean-to extension
on east gable end of existing barn. Granted.
Mr Lister expressed concern about possible damage to trees
at a development in Shillington Road and would seek advice from the tree warden
and planning enforcement officer.
Comments from Mrs Claire Strong regarding a proposed
development in Shillington Road were read to the meeting. The Clerk had spoken
to the planning office who had confirmed that the proposed house would need to
be lowered so as not to affect the skyline in the area. This had also been a
requirement of a previous approval of a development at the neighbouring property
at 19 Shillington Road.
Notification had been received that the owners of 26 High
Street were appealing against the refusal for planning permission to extend
their property.
25.03 GENERAL PARISH MATTERS
An up to date Register of Electors had been received. The
clerk brought to the attention of Councillors the new regulations governing the
restrictions in use and access to information on the Register.
Mr Lister had replied to the letter regarding Elected
Regional Assemblies on behalf of the Council. A copy of the reply was placed in
the Circulation Box.
The Clerk had contacted Highways to ascertain the
responsibility for the railings around Blacksmiths Pond with a view to having
them repainted, and was waiting for a reply.
A letter had been received from a resident regarding a
seat at the junction of Coleman’s Close and High Street. The clerk would reply
explaining that currently the Parish Council had no control over the land and
that previous attempts to place a bench at this site had failed. No further
discussions were possible until the land had been adopted by the Highways
Authority.
Confirmation had been received from the Information
Commissioner that the submission and adoption of the Model Publication Scheme
required under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, had been approved as being
appropriate for Pirton Parish Council (Minute 162.02).
26.03 REPORTS
Sports & Social Club
Mr Saunders placed a copy of the Minutes of a
recent meeting in the circulation box for information. He also advised that a
request for funding for the car park at the PSSC would be made in due course.
Bury Trust
Working parties had met over the previous weekends. A quotation from a villager
for the refurbishment of the information board at Toot Hill had been accepted.
Environment
No report.
John Hammond Trust
No report.
Pirton School
In the absence of Mrs Waters (Parish Council
representative on the School Governing Body) a copy of the 2004/05 admissions
consultation was passed to Mrs Alexander for consideration.
Mr Brook confirmed that he was an important point of
contact for anyone considering appealing against secondary school place
allocations.
Village Hall
As Mr Collins was no longer living in the village,
Mr Saunders agreed in the short term to attend Village Hall meetings on behalf
of the Parish Council. A long term appointment would be made after the May
elections.
Parish Paths Partnership
Mr Saunders was attempting to get hold of maps of Bedfordshire in order to get a
wider view of the footpath network in the area.
Village Design Statement
The Statement had been sent to NHDC for
consideration by the Southern Rural Committee and NHDC Cabinet.
Tree Warden
No report other than earlier discussions regarding
the Jubilee Tree.
PEAP
No further report.
27.03 ITEMS FOR CIRCULATION
Planning Application and Decision Lists
Planning Replies
HALC Information – November 2002
Chilterns Conservation Board – Newsletter Winter/Spring 2003
CDA for Herts – Winter 2002
Best Value Review of Libraries – Bulletin 3
Southern Rural Committee – Feb 03
CPRE Rural Matters – January 2003
CPRE Planning Update – January 2003
Rural Traffic and Transport Conference Summary
HCC – Elected Regional Assemblies and reply
NALC Policy Updates The Electoral
Commission, Various Consultations
and Legal Bulletins
DEFRA – Protection of Countryside Features and Amendment of the Hedgerows
Regulations 1997
The Electoral Commission – A Review of the Process
Review of the Balance of Funding in Local Government
Press Release on Rights of Way
28.03 DATE OF PARISH MEETING
Following cancellation of the previous meeting due to
snow, the Parish Meeting to discuss the use of Pirton Recreation Ground will be
held on Wednesday 5 March 2003 at 8pm in the School Hall.
29.03 DATE OF NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
The next Council Meeting will be held on Thursday 13 March
2003 at 8pm in the School Hall, preceded at 7pm by a Youth Consultation.
Pirton