Parish Council - 8 July

MINUTES of the MEETING of the PARISH COUNCIL held on the
8 July 2009 in the COMMITTEEE ROOM, KNEBWORTH VILLAGE HALL
at 8.00 p.m.
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Present: Mr John Bantick (Chairman), Dr Graham Fothergill, Mr Ian Gilmore, Mr Barry Hall, Mr John Hunt, Mrs Rosemary Pateman, Mrs Carol Smith, Ms Elisabeth Smith, Mr Robin Smith, Mr Anthony Titmarsh and the Clerk

Apologies: Mr Richard Haigh
Mrs Caroline Presland

In Attendance District Councillor Tom Brindley
Two members of the public

1. Public Participation

Mrs Pomerance asked for the Parish Council’s support in her campaign to get a secondary school in the village. The campaign started in May 2009 and with a group of 20 volunteers the group has an environmental analyst, webs site manager and treasurer on board. She felt that there is a huge problem for children finishing at Knebworth JMI, which is similar for children from surrounding villages with children being sent to Stevenage schools some distance away.
In the site appraisal Henry Cobbold has stated that eh will donate land for the benefit of village charities.. The school would be voluntary aided with a permanent endowment. To raise the fund will require 90 acres of land to provide funding for the school and Knebworth House. The school will use 30 acres, with a swimming pool and wood, and will be located behind Monread Nursing home. She is to meet Justin Donavan and Richard Thake from HCC to discuss the proposal and British Schools for the Future endorses… Two hundred houses will be built with medium to low density together with 10% affordable homes. If the state takes over the funding no houses will be required. Mrs Pomerance has spoken to Henry Cob bold and he has given a commitment for the land.
The 60 acres to be developed will generate £36M at £600,000 per acre. The school would reduce traffic through the village, with children cycling or walking to school. The current timescale is 5 years. The website is weneedaschool.org.


2. HGV Traffic, Old Knebworth Lane

Councillor Brindley, chairman of JMP, informed the Council that a resident had complained about the HGC traffic using Old Knebworth Lane. The general consensus was that it is not suitable for HGV traffic. A TRO to restrict traffic to 7.5 tonne would cost £4000. NHDC is proposing to erect signs stating it is not suitable for HGV’s at a cost of £1000., without a TRO, to try to prevent large vehicles accidentally using the Lane
There is no height restriction in Old Knebworth Lane. It was suggested that cars drive too fast on the Lane and perhaps additional signage regarding the sharp bens might be useful. Cllr Brindley felt that the signs would be overgrown and not visible. The
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alternative route for traffic would be Park Lane which would result in a higher volume of traffic through the village. The cost would be borne by NHDC and the JMP.
There was a request for HCC to improve the sight lines, footpath s and pavements for pedestrians.
Cllr Brindley requested a letter from the Parish Council stating that it had no objection to the proposed signage.


3. Approval of Parish Council Minutes

It was proposed by Mr Titmarsh, seconded by Mrs Smith and

RESOLVED “that the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council, held on 13 May 2009, be approved and signed.

Unanimously agreed.


4. The Council Noted the Minutes of the Committee Meetings

4.1 Minutes of the Meeting of the Recreation Grounds Committee held on 27 May 2009.

4.2 Minutes of the Meeting of the Village Hall Committee held on 10 June 2009

4.3 Minutes of the Meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on 10 June 2009

4.4 Minutes of the Meetings of the Planning and Environment Committee held on 8 June 2008

5. Inspection of Schedule of Deeds and Documents.

Mr Titmarsh reported that he had inspected the deeds and all were in order. The recreation ground has been registered and therefore 18 documents are for information only.

Proposed by Mr Smith, seconded by Mr Gilmore and

RESOLVED that “the Council should register the Village hall and King George Vth Playing Fields.”

Agreed.

6. Review of Council Regulations

Standing orders, Terms of Reference, Financial Regulations, Financial risk assessment, Internal Audit and Health and Safety play are to be reviewed by the next Parish Council meeting.

7. HCC Lease

HCC has revised the lease but Mr Piper has returned it for further revision.
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8. Registration of Land

The recreation ground has been registered however the right of access has been omitted and a footpath does not extend to the rear of the verge. The clerk has written to the Land Registry requesting amendment to the file. A response is awaited.

9. Council Stationery

Triographics had produced several version of letter heading and the Council agreed on one. The clerk is to request a slightly bolder version.

10. Village Website

The website is still being run by Mrs Weaver. The volunteer has not been able to take over yet. An interim person is to review the website with Mrs Weaver with a view to updating the information.

11. Youth Project

There was debate about the youth project giving something back to the community since it benefits from free use of the pavilion. The clerk is to contact the Youth Project to pose them with the challenge.

12. Council Bank Accounts

Telephone and online baking has been requested. Both forms of banking can now be restricted to transfers within Parish Council accounts only and not to third parties.

The Council agreed to open a ‘Knebworth Village Hall’ account to apply for a grassroots fund.

13 S106 Funding

S106 funding is being collected by NHDC but it is unclear how the funds are to be used. The topic was requested to be added to the Rural Summit agenda however it had not been included. Mr Bantick is to raise it at the summit.

14. Accounts for Payment

It was proposed by Mr Titmarsh and seconded by Mrs Smith and

RESOLVED “that the list of accounts paid during Accounts Period 2 2009/10 be approved.

Agreed.

Mr Titmarsh reported that he had agreed the monthly bank reconciliations to 31 May 2009.



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15. Any Other Urgent Business

15.1 Junior School Meeting
Mr Bantick is to attend a meeting to discuss allocation of secondary school places for children leaving Knebworth JMI..

15.2 Woolmer Green Parish Council
The chairman has been invited to celebrate the success of Woolmer Green PC in the business category of eh Village f the Year competition. He is unable to attend. Mr Hall is to go instead.

15.3 Woodland Management t Park Lane
Dr Fothergill apprised the council on the clearance being undertaken in the private wood next to Park Lane. Mrs Pateman stated that it is management t of ancient woodland; trees are cut down and coppiced.

15.4 Parking
Another parking meeting is to be held 22 July after completion of a business survey.

15.5 Picture, Knebworth Twinning Association
Mr Hall asked the council if a picture presented by Chatellion en plage could be hung in the committee room. The council gave its permission.

15.6 Next Meeting
The next meeting is to be held on Wednesday 8 October at 8.00 pm.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 10.00 p.m.