FLAMSTEAD PARISH COUNCIL
Clerk to the Council
Caroline Freer
Bridgford End
127 Trowley Hill Road phone: 01582 841346
Flamstead e mail:
Herts AL3 8DS website:www.flamsteadpc.org.uk
MINUTES OF THE PARISH MEETING AS HELD ON: 21 MAY 2007
Number: 2007/1
PRESENT: Clrs: Taunton, Campbell, Wright, Gibson, Brownlie, Humphreys Burke and Cadman.
PC Coregan
Clerk – Caroline Freer
Cllr Wright thanked the outgoing Councillors King, Janes and Lambden for all their hard work and contribution during their period of office.
APOLOGIES: None
ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN/VICE CHAIRMAN/RESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL OFFICER AND WORKING GROUPS: Clr Malcolm Wright was elected as Chairman, proposed by Clr Campbell, seconded by Clr Bines. Clr Gibson was elected as Vice Chairman, proposed by Clr Campbell, seconded by Clr Bines. Caroline Freer was elected as Responsible Financial Officer, proposed by Clr Wright, seconded by Clr Campbell. All votes were unanimous.
APPOINTMENT OF WORKING GROUPS:
Local Working: Clrs Wright and Taunton.
Environment/Transport: Clrs Campbell, Brownlie and Mary King.
Lighting: Clr Bines
Crime: Clrs Humphreys and Burke
Communications: Clrs Gibson, Taunton, Wright, Humphreys
Youth: Clrs Humphreys, Brownlie, Burke
Finance and Planning: Clrs Wright, Campbell, Taunton, Cadman, Gibson
Sports and Recreation Ground: Clrs Gibson, Brownlie
Elderly: Clrs Wright, Campbell, Burke and Ted Alford
First Responders: Clrs Gibson, Brownlie
Village of the Year: Clrs Bines and Wright, Mary King, Jenny Shackleton and Paul McMahon
Business: Clrs Bines, Cadman
Risk Assessment/Emergency Planning: Clerk, Clrs Humphreys, Cadman
Sebright Trust: Clrs Campbell, Taunton
School Governor: Jeff Burke
Village Hall: Clr Taunton
Luton Airport: Ted Alford
Above appointments were proposed by Clr Wright and seconded by Clr Bines
DECLARATION OF INTEREST: Clr Brownlie and Gibson for cricket club grant.
CODE OF CONDUCT – The recommendation is that the council adopt the Model Code of Conduct for Parish and Town Councils pursuant to the Local Authority (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2007, no 1159. Copy of Code and explanatory guide circulated for Clr Burke to read, comment if relevant and pass on to all Councillors. The main change affecting the Parishes is regarding prejudicial interest.
Code of Conduct Training available at Dacorum on June 28.
POLICE REPORT:
PC Maurice Coregan (Mo) is the new PC for Watling Ward. He plans to be in this role long term and will be present at Scarecrow Festival. Current wave of crimes include thefts of sat nav equipment, briefcases, bags from parked vehicles. Advice is to ensure your property is secure at the back before open your front door to callers as accomplices go round the back to gain entry. Clr Wright introduced PC Coregan to Clr Burke and Humphreys who are on crime team. ‘No cold caller’ signs to be considered as over 30% of burglaries are linked to an earlier cold call. Overspill car park has become a problem area – the PC is monitoring this situation.
Clr Campbell mentioned the curtailment of the bus service and parking problem at the Three Blackbirds T junction and Methodist church of which PC Coregan is aware.
Crime Update: 1 traffic accident on A5 26/4; 1 traffic incident: dangerous driver on motor bike 2/5; 2 antisocial behaviour – 1 domestic 10/5 and 1 boy firing catapult on A5 6/5; 2 burglaries both on Old Watling St; 1 domestic; 4 suspicious incidents – male on A5 11/5, male wandering around Holiday Inn 27/4, A5 possibly smoking drugs in car, suspicious male in Old Watling St 16/4; 1 assault on 12/5; 1 deception at filling station; 2 alarms at Harvester (false) 4/5. Also lost sheep on A5, fly tipping at Holtsmere End Lane. There is fly tipping problem around Watling Ward and Police and Dacorum are working in conjunction to combat this issue. Hidden cameras in place. Councillors thanked PC Coregan for attending meeting, PC left 8.45
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The March minutes having been previously circulated were proposed as a true record by Clr Taunton, seconded by Clr Campbell. All agreed.
MATTERS ARISING:
Parish Plan - Verges – No feedback from Nigel Workman (from Highways) following tour of damaged verges. We ask you to consider where you park and whether you are damaging kerbs and verges by continuing to drive inconsiderately into/out of driveways, also whether this amounts to criminal damage.
Action: Note in Parish Magazine and note to houses in affected roads.
Overspill car park: Action: Environment working group to make recommendation on how to deter lads with their cars who behave antisocially.
Youth First Aid Training: First Aid Introduction Course - There are 24 spaces for age range 11-16. The session will take place on 23 June in village hall, 9.30 – 3 pm. Cricketers and footballers are also welcome to book on the course. Bookings on a first come first served basis. Phone Caroline Freer on 01582 841346 or email to book your place. No cost.
Emergency Plan: It seems that despite encouragement to get emergency training, as all emergencies are controlled from the Borough there is no point in the Parish having an Emergency Plan.
Action: Clr Wright to write to John Clarke and Nick Tiley for clarification.
Village of the Year: The presentation will be on Thursday 14 June 2 pm – 3.30pm in the sports club. The theme is the Seven Ages of Flamstead. Representatives from each age range will describe their life – what they are involved in, how they enjoy living in the village etc.
Recreation Ground - Tennis Court: Announced that the parish council has been awarded a grant of £8,500 from Awards for All which will be used towards paying for the resurfacing of the tennis court.
Cricket Club – Finance working group recommended giving up to £4,000 towards extending the garage facility at club. Footballers will also benefit from project but have no money to contribute. Clr Taunton proposed and Clr Campbell seconded. Tim Wilkinson was called in and he asked council to reconsider as cost had increased from original estimate of £12,000-£13,000 to £18,000 to included a scoreboard. Mr Wilkinson said the cricket club would be contributing £5,000 plus the labour to build the extension. Tim Wilkinson had not yet pursued the grant route. Mr Wilkinson then requested a loan of £10,000 to pay over 6 years - interest free. Clr Taunton suggested he should approach Dacorum for a loan.
Action: PC to discuss request to give more money.
COMMUNICATIONS
Dacorum will be auditing the websites of all parish councils to see where improvements can be made. Server space may be made available which would eliminate the host cost (currently at £79 for 2 years). However all sites must be compliant with a Standard of Accessibility to enable access to partially sighted/blind people. Adrian Rochford to report back to PC when completed his audit.
WARDEN:
Pete Merritt is having surgery in the summer so will be on sick leave for at least 6 months. Markyate is looking for a temporary replacement. Graham Bray has agreed to do some extra strimming free of charge and we thank him very much for that. A volunteer on the recreation ground helps to collect rubbish, the steward at social club helps with rubbish disposal. As Pete is not around to keep the village tidy your cooperation would be greatly appreciated in weeding/strimming/tidying any overgrown or litter strewn patches that might appear in the close vicinity of your house.
WORKING GROUP REPORT:
Defibrillator – Plan is to increase illnesses covered to include asthma and fits following relevant training and the long term plan is to cover up to 30 medical conditions. There are 8 volunteers in the First Responder Team and they would like to increase that number.
AUDIT COST:
The Clerk asked for the approval of the Internal Audit cost at £49 per hour. Clr Taunton proposed and Clr Gibson seconded, all agreed.
TELEPHONE BANKING:
The Clerk proposed using telephone banking to monitor finances. Decided on internet banking . Proposed by Clr Gibson, seconded by Clr Brownlie.
Action: Clerk to complete forms for bank.
ACCOUNTS: See schedule
£40 to hire school for 100th birthday party for Eric Woodward. Clr Taunton proposed and Clr Campbell seconded - all agreed.
Sub for CAD (Community Action Dacorum) – of £22 was proposed by Clr Taunton and seconded by Clr Bines, all agreed but the use of their services is to be monitored closely for 12 months by finance committee.
Action: Finance working group to set up monitoring system.
Discussion about publishing end of year accounts in profit and loss format.
Action: Clerk to investigate
PLANNING
4/00973/FHA Hollybush Lodge, Roe End Lane – As the house has been extended in the past, can the Officer assure us that there is no increase over 30% and that permitted development rights are removed to ensure sheds are not replaced? Subject to these provisos no other objection.
Installation of storage vessels at Watling Filling Station – no objection
4/01049/07/AGD Flamsteadbury – agricultural barn – no objections
Planning Decisions: 4/00258/07/FHA 2 storey rear extension at 46 Trowley Hill Rd – granted; appeal of 4/01227/06/RET and application for 4/00470/07/OUT and 4/00472/07/RET at Doone Brae Farm – withdrawn; 4/00247/07/FHA Construction of rear outbuildings and hedgerow planting at Twenty Acres, London Rd – Refused, 4/02746/06/FHA Loft conversion at 6 Singlets Lane – granted; 4/00330/07/FHA 8 Hollybush Lane extension - refused; 4/00438/07/FUL Twenty Acres Replacement Dwelling – granted; 4/00560/07/FHA single storey rear extension at 1-2 White Hill – granted
CORRESPONDENCE
Clr Taunton raised issue of gypsies and would like Richard Blackburn (Dacorum) to be informed that FPC would like to make comment on the gypsy debate.
Action: Clerk to write
Request for funding from PTA for pool project to be put on agenda for June meeting.
Remainder of correspondence carried forward to June due to lack of time.
Meeting ended 10.45
Chairman Date: 21 May 07