PIRTON PARISH COUNCIL

The monthly Meeting of Pirton Parish Council was held on
Thursday 13 January 2005 at Pirton Village Hall.

Present:

Mr Jonathan Bhowmick
Mr Nigel Brook (County Councillor)
Mr Michael Goddard
Mrs Rosemary Hamilton-McLeod
Mrs Margaret Johnson
Mr Steven Kitchiner
Mr Owain Lister (Chairman)
Mr Adrian Muxlow
Mr David Saunders
Mrs Jennifer Smart (Clerk)

 Apologies for Absence:

Mrs Claire Strong (District Councillor)
Mrs Pamela Waters – abroad
 

192.05 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

There were no parishioners present.

193.05 MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER COUNCIL MEETING

The Minutes of the December meeting were agreed and signed as a true record, subject to the following amendment:

Minute 188.04 – A sixth sentence added to read ’Mrs Hamilton-McLeod then requested Mr Goddard in his capacity as Acting Chairman of the Sports and Social Club to propose at the next committee meeting on the 21st December that the Club pay Elmside Transport directly and Mr Goddard agreed’

194.05 MATTERS ARISING

There were no matters arising except those minuted under Outstanding Items.

195.05 OUTSTANDING ITEMS

The list of outstanding items was reviewed as follows:-

Recreation Ground
Access Road and Reconstitution of Deeds
The signed Statutory Declarations have been sent back to Michael Chamberlain who will lodge the application with the Land Registry to apply for duplicate deeds. When these have been applied for, an approach can again be made to Mr Bidgood regarding the access road.

Search and Storage of Documents
The Agreement for the Custody of Records (Transfer) was signed by the Chairman. This relates to the eight volumes of minute books now archived at County Hall.

Coleman’s Close – Section 106
Nothing new to report.

Housing Needs and Affordable Housing
After reading the November minutes, a resident of High Street had written to Councillors expressing concern at their support for the proposed outline scheme for development of the Methodist Church site to provide affordable housing for the elderly. The resident was particularly concerned that the Council had expressed a preference for affordable housing for young people. The Council’s response to the Methodist Church had been that although it supported, in principle, the possibility of affordable homes for the elderly being built on that site, the Pirton Housing Needs Survey had identified a clear need for affordable housing for young people, and therefore this was the Parish Council’s preference. The resident also expressed doubts that it would be possible for priority for such housing to be given to families with a strong connection to Pirton, although Councillors still think it may be possible. The resident had also sent a letter for inclusion in the Parish Magazine expressing his concerns and doubts.

Councillors believe they had acted correctly and that the parishioner had over-reacted as there are no firm proposals as yet for redevelopment of the Church Site. A letter would be sent to the resident briefly explaining the Council’s position.

It was agreed that it would be better if the parishioner’s letter was not published in the magazine, and certainly not without an opportunity for the Parish Council to respond to it. The Chairman would ask the editor not to include the letter.

Grants
Environmental Improvement Grant
No further progress

NHDC Grant
The Clerk had received a letter from NHDC stating that grants of up to £1,000 were available for community development, applications to be made by the end of the month. After discussion, it was agreed that a grant application would be made to re-roof the bus shelter. Mr Goddard would complete the application.

Parish Challenge Grant
The application grant for Safety Surfacing beneath the slide is currently being considered, decisions to be announced by March

Recreation Ground play area
No further work has been done as the gate has not yet been moved.

Insurance
A cheque for £884.00 had been received to cover the cost of replacing and fitting the damaged bench at the recreation ground, and repairs to the Parish Council notice-board and Toot Hill sign.

Parish Emergency Plan
The Clerk will attend a Major Incident Planning Seminar on 18th January organised by NHDC.

Jack Baines Memorial
The selection of a seat by Claire Baines is still awaited.

196.05 FINANCE

Bank accounts as at 10th January 2005

Business Premium Account         21,520.07
Community Account                        735.58
                                                 22,255.65

Contingency Account                    9,767.17
                                                £32,022.82

Monies received since last meeting (included in above)

Interest BPA Account                         70.62
Interest Contingency Account              30.34
Allotment rental                                    5.00
Cancelled cheque                               10.00

Accounts for payment

It was proposed by Mrs Johnson, seconded by Mr Bhowmick and unanimously agreed that the above be paid.

Recreation Ground car park costs

It was suggested and agreed that this matter should be discussed under Current Business

MR NIGEL BROOK then addressed the meeting. Mr Brook reminded those present that the biggest threat to Hertfordshire remains the East of England Plan for some 87,000 new homes in the County. Mr Brook stated that as Hertfordshire is already the most crowded county in England, with very congested roads; water and sewage systems under pressure and shortages of hospitals and doctors, he cannot understand why the government would encourage even more people to move here at the expense of the rest of the country, especially as no new infrastructure appears to be included in the plan. Mr Brook mentioned several forthcoming meetings and asked that concerned people should attend them if they can, and in any case make known any objections they have to the plan. Councillors asked if draft letters of objection would be circulated to help people express their views. Mr Brook thought not, but offered to suggest relevant points that could be included in any letters of objection, and would email these to the Clerk. Mr Muxlow offered to draft a letter of objection. Mr Brook then left the meeting.

A copy of the East of England Plan is being circulated in a red box, together with a summary which Mr Brook believes is the most important part to read.

197.05 REQUESTS FOR FUNDING

There were no requests for funding.

198.05 PLANNING

Applications

Land at West Lane Farm, West Lane, Pirton – 05/00001/1

Full planning Permission – Change of use of agricultural building to workshop for the manufacture of playground equipment

Decisions

None

Elm Tree Farm – The Chairman summarised Councillors’ responses to the latest amended plans for development at Elm Tree Farm. There was general agreement that development is probably inevitable as this is a 'brownfield' site and that the planners have taken heed of most of the Council’s objections. Two major areas of concern remain the possible inclusion of rumble strips, to which every Councillor objects, and the problems that might arise from increased traffic in that area of the village. The Clerk would report these views to NHDC.

Parish Council Planning –The Clerk has found out from a number of other councils how they deal with planning applications and their responses will be circulated in a red box.

199.05 HIGHWAYS

It has been noticed that Hitchin Road still floods even though the ditches have been cleared. It was agreed that the Highways Department will be contacted when the road floods again so that they can inspect it immediately.

Damage to the bank in Shillington Road has been inspected by a Chief Engineer, to whom it was pointed out by a Parishioner that there is still no road name sign in Shilllington Road. The Engineer stated that this matter was in hand. The Clerk will remind the Highways Department about it again if nothing is done soon.

200.05 GENERAL PARISH MATTERS

There was discussion about holding a small party for the recently retired Clerk, Mrs Bailey.

It was agreed that a new postcard for the village could incorporate old and new photographs of the same buildings and views. The Clerk will contact Chris Ryan about this.

The date of the Annual Parish Meeting was set as 19th May.

The Chairman had received from NHDC a copy of the Draft Rural Strategy for North Hertfordshire which will be circulated in a red box with a comment form for Councillors, as it appears very important for the future of this area. A representative will attend the next Council meeting in February to answer questions, and before that a copy of the Village Appraisal should be sent to him. Comments have to be returned to NHDC by 18th February. An Annual Rural Conference will be held by NHDC on July 11th.

Councillors’ were asked whether they still wanted to see the two batches of Members’ Information now sent out every week to the Clerk by NHDC. One is called ‘What the Media Say’ and this will continue to be placed in the circulation box for the time being. The Clerk will read through the other and only include in the circulation boxes anything relevant to Pirton.

Paperwork had been received for the possible mechanisation of the Church Clock, together with a quotation for £3,960 for the carrying out of the work. The paperwork will be circulated.

Grass Cutting - A quote had been received from Darren Simmons for cutting the greens and other areas in the village, excluding the recreation ground. Two separate quotes had also been received from Sodexho, one for cutting the recreation ground and the other for the greens and other areas. There was agreement that it was important for the work to be done well, and a general feeling that although the cutting of the grass in the recreation ground had been carried out to a satisfactory standard, cutting in the other areas had often been less than satisfactory. As Mr Simmons’ quote was less than that from Sodexho, and as the Council would prefer to employ a local person, it was proposed by Mrs Johnson and seconded by Mr Goddard that Sodexho be asked to continue to cut the grass in the Recreation Ground and that Mr Simmons would be asked to cut the Greens and other areas. It was agreed that Mr Simmons would be asked to cut the grass as and when he felt it was necessary, depending on weather conditions, and to cut it on occasions when the village should look its best, such as before the Summer Fair and Open Gardens. It was also agreed that he would be asked to put a note through the Clerk’s door every time he cuts the grass, which should be up to a maximum of 16 times per year, so that he could be paid per cut on a monthly basis.

The Clerk reported that she had spoken to Mrs Picken about the lack of heating in the Village Hall for the December Council meeting. Mrs Picken was very apologetic and stated that the radiators would have been left on for the meeting, but must have been turned off by another group using the hall before our meeting.

201.05 REPORTS

Recreation Ground and Sports & Social Club

Mr Saunders reported that by the time of the meeting, Elmside Transport should have been paid for the Planings. It was agreed that the £1,000 grant could now be made to the Sports and Social Club with a letter detailing the conditions under which the grant was made. Mr Goddard stated that a letter was being sent by the SSC to the Council suggesting dates towards the end of February when it would be convenient to hold a joint meeting, as the SSC are keen to resolve the various issues, and that payment of the grant would be an appropriate gesture of goodwill. Mr Bhowmick and Mr Muxlow would liase over the work needing to be carried out. It was agreed that it is important to ensure a similar situation does not arise in the future. The November minutes were consulted and further discussion took place to consider other conditions that should be put in the letter to the SSC. The Chairman stated that Councillors need to agree on the conditions to be imposed before the joint meeting, and asked Mrs Hamilton McLeod to draft a letter, with reference to the license and standing orders. It was suggested that the Clerk should supply each councillor with a copy of the license before the next meeting.

202.05 VILLAGE UPDATES

Environment - North Herts Landfill - Mr Bhowmick had been to Gatwick, and seen and heard there five Gas Generators of the type that will be installed at the North Herts Landfill Site. Mr Bhowmick reported that he had heard very little noise from the generators while they were running, even when he was close to them.

In response to the letter from Mrs Helen Hofton concerning noise from the Gas Facility at the Holwell Pit, the Clerk had written to Richard Greaves to request that noise monitoring be carried out in Pirton. Mr Greaves stated that HCC do not consider such monitoring necessary as experts do not believe Pirton will be affected. However, he did invite the Parish Council to contact him if noise intrusion is found to be a problem once the generators are running.

A liaison meeting at Holwell has been arranged for 25th January which Mr Bhowmick will attend.

Bury Trust
Nothing to report

Pirton School
Mrs Johnson reported that she is now a Governor of Pirton School, but there was no other report.

Village Hall
It was reported that the charges for the hire of the Village Hall will soon be increased.

Youth Matters
No report.

Parish Paths Partnership
The farmer at New Wrights Farm believes that the footpath Waymarker and Bridleway signs next to his farm are encouraging drivers of 4WD vehicles to use those paths only to find that they lead nowhere, and has asked for the Parish Council’s help. The Clerk will contact the Rights of Way Officer to see if anything can be done to bar vehicles from the paths.

The Village Footpath Map is still being prepared.

The PCC are going to write to the owner of the hedge by the church path and request that it be trimmed.

Tree Warden and PEAP
Nothing to report

Neighbourhood Watch
No report.

Rands
The deadline for applications was the day of the meeting.

203.05 ITEMS FOR CIRCULATION

Red Circulation Box:-

EERA Plan

Emails concerning how other councils handle planning

Parish Council Consultation on a draft Rural Strategy for North Herts

Blue Circulation Box:-

Local Council Update – September ‘04

Clerks and Councils Direct Yearbook - 2005

Clerks and Councils Direct – January 2005

North Herts Landfill Site – Minutes of Liaison meeting 26th October

Hitchin Police Community Crime Figures – December 2004

CDA Access for All – Annual Review

Letter from Smith of Derby re Church Clock

Mid Beds D C – Horizon Jan 05

North Herts Rural Community Safety – Minutes of meeting 30 November ‘04

Hertfordshire Highways Information Bulletin – December ‘04

Advice Surgery dates for Peter Lilley

Letter from HCC re North Herts Landfill – Decision Notice

From HAPTC – The New Planning Challenge

From CPRE – Fieldwork Magazine – Dec ‘04

Letter from Herts Police – Policing and Strategic Plan ‘05/’06

Public Consultation Document from Dept of Transport – Local Speed Limits

Local Council Review – Jan ‘05

Winter Newsletter from CMS

NHDC – Members’ Information – weeks ending 3rd, 10th, 17th December

NHDC – What the media say – four covering period 29 Nov ’04 to 10 Jan ‘05

204.05 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next Council Meeting will be held on Thursday 10 February 2005 at 8pm in the Village Hall.

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