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Minutes - 14/04/10 |
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SANDRIDGE PARISH COUNCIL
Met at Marshalswick Community Centre on
Wednesday 14th April 2010 at 7.30 pm.
PRESENT:
Councillor David Terrar (in the Chair)
Councillors Geoff Churchard, Tony Farnfield, John Foster, Barbara Gibson, John Harmsworth, Peter Kennedy, John Newton-Davies, James Spencer
APOLOGIES:
Councillors Lyn Bolton, Janet Churchard,
Chris Hackett, John Hale, Natalie Kemp
OFFICER:
Mrs. Diane Winn, Clerk of the Council
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were none.
4152 MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on the 10th March 2010, having previously been circulated, were taken as a correct record and it was unanimously:
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the meeting held on the 10th March 2010 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
4153 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES NOT ON THE AGENDA
We are awaiting a date from Chiltern Sports Contractors to service the floodlights at Spencer Meadow sports courts and for delivery of posts and nets. The Clerk reported that the floodlights were serviced on Tuesday 13th April.
The stacking chairs delivered to Jersey Farm Community Centre have been modified by the manufacturers and are now acceptable to the Combined Community Centre Committee.
Investigations into solar powered Christmas lights/decorations are on-going.
Negotiations relating to the Sherwood Avenue lease are in progress.
St. Albans District Council has been asked to give more notice of Litter Pick Week 2011.
St. Albans District Council Planning Department have been asked to put pressure on BT to be more sensitive in the placing of the new large green cabinets. The Clerk tabled an e:mail from the Planning Department to BT asking them to liaise with Sandridge Parish Council.
A letter of objection was written to the Planning Department to the timber shed at 44 Pondfield Crescent.
4154 ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION
1. Public Participation
There were no members of the public in attendance.
2. Monthly Accounts
The list of payments made for the period 11th March to 14th April 2010 was circulated with the agenda. The Clerk answered the query raised and it was unanimously:
RESOLVED
That the cheques drawn for the period 11th March to 14th April 2010 be signed by the Chairman and a member of the Finance Committee.
3. St. Leonard’s Church request for Financial Assistance
At the Sandridge Parish Council meeting held on the 10th March 2010, members considered a request for financial assistance of £1,000 towards the purchase of a sit on mower to cut the grass in the grave yard.
It was agreed in principle to grant an award, subject to the mower being the property of St. Leonard’s Parochial Church Council. It has been confirmed that the mower has been purchased by the PCC at a total cost of £2,000 but the amount of the award was not discussed or agreed by members of Sandridge Parish Council. After discussion, it was unanimously:
RESOLVED
To award St. Leonard’s Parochial Parish Council an award of £1,000 towards the cost of the sit on mower. A cheque for this amount to be signed by the Chairman.
4. Oak Tree at Sherwood Avenue Recreation Ground
At the Sandridge Parish Council meeting held on the 10th March 2010, quotations from Bartlett Consulting and Gristwood Toms were considered to carry out investigations into the mature Oak tree which has been struck by lightening in the past.
It was suggested that the Clerk should contact St. Albans District Council and ask for advice on the matter. A letter from the St. Albans District Council Trees and Woodlands Assistant was circulated with the agenda which confirmed that the tree is outside the Conservation Area, is not subject to a Tree Preservation Order and they have no objection to the tree inspection taking place or working being undertaken. After discussion, it was unanimously:
RESOLVED
To accept the quotation from Bartlett Consulting in the sum of £840.00 plus VAT for a Health & Safety Tree Report.
5. Traffic Calming – Speed Management Policy
Sandridge Parish Council submitted a wish-list of highway works which included traffic calming measures for Sandridge Village. In order for members of Sandridge Parish Council to have an understanding of the criteria used when assessing schemes, Paul Walecki of Hertfordshire Highways suggested reading their Speed Management Policy.
The Policy was studied by Councillor John Newton-Davies who reported that it appears that action will only be taken after advice from the Police that a certain number of accidents have occurred at any given spot. Speed limits are also subject to Police scrutiny and will only be imposed if 85% of traffic travel at no more than 2-3 mph above that. In effect it all seems a bit negative although there are some calming measures the document approves of such as flat topped speed humps and a new sign showing the decontrolled symbol but in green, meaning the 60 mph limit applies, but beware of rural impediments such as sheep, cattle, etc. The document also appears to suppress manic imposing of limits, chicanes and speed traps.
The Chairman thanked John for taking the time to read the Policy and making the report.
6. Government Consultation – Community Resilience
An e:mail from Ian Skelt, Risk Management and Community Resilience Officer at St. Albans District Council was circulated with the agenda. The e:mail contained links to a 58 page document relating to the National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies. As the members present had not had the opportunity to study the issue, it was agreed to place the matter on the agenda of the next meeting to be held on the 12th May 2010.
7. Standards Committee (England) Regulations 2008
The Standards for England Board have submitted a report recommending a number of changes to the local standards framework and town and parish councils have been asked to adopt a procedure for dealing with complaints made about a member.
A draft procedure drawn up by the Clerk was circulated with the agenda and after discussion it was agreed the document was a good starting point. The matter to be referred to the Finance and Quality Parish Council Committee which will be discussing the implementation of a Personnel Committee which, in turn will encompass the Standards Complaints procedure.
8. Jersey Farm Woodland Park Joint Management Committee
The minutes of the Jersey Farm Woodland Park Joint Management Committee meeting held on the 29th March 2010, having previously been circulated, were taken as a correct record.
It was noted that the Committee is still active in removing Ragwort and that Tom Hewins has just led a very interesting and enjoyable tree identification walk.
Members were also pleased to note the Committee is applying for the Green Pennant Award and looks forward to receiving further information.
4155 CORRESPONDENCE AND MATTERS OF NOTE
An e:mail from Mr. Leman, resident of the Parish, asking for a 20 m.p.h. speed limit through Sandridge Village had been circulated with the agenda. After discussion, it was agreed to take this forward as a proposal of the Parish Plan, together with the suggestion of installing speed cushions through the Village.
Councillor Geoff Churchard reported on a meeting he attended concerning the refuse and recycling collections during the bad winter weather. It was agreed that the lack of information and communication had been poor. In the future, the contractors have agreed to be more flexible in their approach to collections.
4156 PLANNING MATTERS
Plan 5/10/0605 - 37 Chalkdell Fields, St. Albans
The above plans were viewed and it was agreed to ask St. Albans District Council Planning Department to bring this to the attention of their Committee as we feel that potentially by its size and positioning, it may create loss of amenity to number 39.
Plan 5/2010/0436 - Discharge of Conditions at Hill End Farm Track
Concern was expressed at the discharge of conditions – the Clerk to obtain further information from St. Albans District Council.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting, the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council, will take place on Wednesday 12th May 2010 at 7.30 pm at Marshalswick Community Centre.
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