Finance and General Purposes - 11 March 2009

MINUTES of the MEETING of the FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE held on 11 March 2009 in the COMMITTEE ROOM, KNEBWORTH VILLAGE HALL
At 8.00 p.m.
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Present: Mr Anthony Titmarsh (Chairman), Mr John Bantick, Dr Graham Fothergill, Mr Ian Gilmore and the Clerk

Apologies: Mr Haigh due to work commitments
Mr Hall due to a prior commitment
Ms Smith due to prior commitments


1. Declaration of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

2. Minutes

It was proposed by Dr Fothergill, seconded by Mr Bantick and

RESOLVED “that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee Council, held on 28 January 2009, are approved and signed.”

Unanimously agreed.

3. Report on Parish Damage

The gateway has been repaired, although the sign is slightly different. The door leaf to the main entrance of the pavilion has been damaged. Emulsion has been thrown on to a footpath in the recreation grounds, which has been washed off

4. Road Signs

Mr Titmarsh has undertaken a review of the road signs in the centre of the village and comments have been forwarded to Mr Jack, Herts Highways.

Three lights have been installed in the footpath from Pondcroft Road to London Road but as yet are not connected. The existing light is in working order but is obscured by foliage.

Statutory undertakings have already dug up the newly laid footpaths in Station Road.

5. Clean Up Campaign

The first tidy up of the village was held on 7 March with 13 people focusing on several areas. Over 15 bags of rubbish were collected; NHDC collected them on Tuesday from the village hall. There was a request from a representative of the Twinning Association to hold another clean up before the visit of the French. It was proposed the next clean up day should be held on 25 April. The clerk is to contact the Twinning Association to increase the number of volunteers.





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6. Milestone

Dr Fothergill and Mr Titmarsh have inspected the concrete milestone 29 near Odyssey and recommends that the area around it should be cleared prior to any renovation work. The clerk is to report the fly tipping and damaged fence to Herts Highways.

7. Office Equipment

The committee discussed the purchase of a laptop, projector and screen for the main hall. The clerk is to contact Woolmer Green Parish for information on its projector.

Proposed by Mr Gilmore, seconded by Mr Bantick and

RESOLVED that “ £1000 from contingency, together with £500 from NHDC be used to purchase media display equipment.”

Agreed.

8. Parish Newsletter

The committee discussed the draft and a revised edition is to be proof read by Dr Fothergill, Mr Bantick and Ms Smith.

Invitations to the Parish meeting are to be sent to PC Harding, Jane Gray, Alan Bardett, Richard Thake and Richard Jones, Herts Highways.

9. Website Management

The committee approved the procedures for information to be put on to the council website.

10. Village Website

The people who have been running the village website have decided that it is time to step down. Knebworth Village Trust has provided a grant of £109 to pay for the domain name for another year. There was considerable debate on whether the Parish Council should undertake the maintenance of the site. However there was concern over the resources needed to maintain the updated site and the potential time required to answer all queries.

The clerk is to obtain further information on the potential cost of employing a qualified person to maintain the site.

11. Report on Short Term Funds on Deposit

There is currently £100,000 on an instant deposit account bearing 0.1% interest rate.

12. Christmas Lights

Mr Taylor has not confirmed what the problem was with the tree lights, so the matter was held over until the next meeting.




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13. Financial Risk Assessment

This item was held over until the next meeting.

14. Salary Review

Proposed by Mr Bantick, seconded by Mr Gilmore and

RESOLVED that “in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted it was advisable that members of the public, the press (none present) and the clerk be temporarily removed and that the meeting move into Part II session.”

Proposed by Mr Bantick, seconded by Dr. Fothergill and

RESOLVED that “having completed discussions the meeting return to Part I Session.”

15. Any Other Business

15.1 Welwyn Hatfield Core Strategy
W&HDC has issued its core strategy for consultation. It suggests that two areas to the north west of Woolmer Green could hold up to 200 houses. The content is to be discussed at the next Planning meeting.

15.2 Dog Bins
NHDC has revised the costs of installing and emptying dog bins to £451 for the year plus 5% from 1 April 2009. The current annual cost of emptying bins is £67.60. The Parish Council agreed to purchase two dog bins directly from Earth Anchors at a cost of £203 each rather than from NHDC.

15.3 Housing Association
Howard Cottage, a Housing Association based in Letchworth, has written offering its services if the council is looking for affordable homes.

15.4 Section 106 Agreement
Mr TItmarsh was concerned about the money attached to s106 agreements and its distribution. He is to raise the matter at the next Inter Parish meeting and the matter will be raised at the next NHDC rural meeting.

15.5 Village Services
A new Children’s Service Centre is to be set up in Woolmer Green village hall to service Knebworth, Oaklands and Woolmer Green.

15.6 Secondary School Transfer
Pupils of Knebworth JMI have recently been informed of their secondary school allocation. Due to close in 2012 Heathcote is not taking any new pupils, making Barnwell the nearest school for Knebworth children. Only one child was allocated a place there, but not one child was allocated its first choice.

15.7 Land, Gun Road Gardens
The land at the rear of the corner shop in Gun Road has a significant amount of rubbish dumped on it. The clerk is to write to the owner’s daughter, who is still resident in Knebworth requesting that the area be cleared.


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15.8 Southern Rural Inter Parish Meeting
A new date has not been set for the next southern rural inter parish meeting. The committee suggested that a meeting might be held with the parish councils bordering Knebworth. This is to be discussed further at the next meeting.

15.9 Gully, Gun Lane
A gully requires repair opposite the Royal British Legion in Gun Lane. The clerk is to report it to Herts. Highways.



There being no other business the meeting closed at 10.05 pm.