Meeting minutes 06.11.2017
ALBURY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
Minutes of the meeting held Tuesday 7th November 2017 19.15 hrs at the Village Hall
Present: Cllr Walne, Cllr Waples and Cllr Wheatley
In attendance: Mrs J Pettitt (parish clerk), and 4 members of the public.
Councillor Waples opened the meeting at 7:20 pm
1. To receive and accept apologies for absence.
Apologies from Cllrs Benton, Clayden Smith and Murdoch were received and accepted.
2. Cllr Wheatley to sign a declaration of acceptance of office
The document was duly signed.
3. To receive declarations of interest. None.
4. To confirm the minutes of the Albury Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 3rd October 2017. Resolved that these minutes be agreed as a true and accurate record of the proceedings and be duly signed by Cllr Waples. Unanimously agreed.
5. To receive reports on actions agreed at the last council meeting
None.
6. To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.
Pam Webb said the Albury 60 plus group has been left short of money for their Christmas lunch after missing out on their usual grant from East Herts Council due to not receiving their usual email reminder to apply. The councillors agreed to write the club a cheque for £300 so that their Christmas lunch can go ahead. The clerk is to approach Councillor Graham McAndrew to see if there is any grant money available to recover this amount from. Another member of the public asked if the parish council would be prepared to buy the village hall a set of crockery to use at village events. This will be added to the next agenda for discussion.
7. To consider planning applications.
3/17/2412/LBC LBC / 3/17/2411/HH Demolition of garage. Erection of single storey side extension. Popular Hall Cottage, Albury End, Albury
No comments made.
8. To receive bank statements, bank reconciliation and financial summary
These were received by the Council and found to be satisfactory.
Balance at 2/10/17 £34,471.78
Income: cancelled cheque to CHBT (lost) £2290.14
Outgoings: As agreed 3/10/17 £1242.35
S/O to Stansted Airport trust £10.00
Balance at 6/11/17 £35,509.57
9. To agree payments due
Community taxi September invoice £161, reissue of CHBT cheque for 2nd defibrillator £2290.14, clerks expenses £33.23, 60 Plus Club £300. Total £2,784.37
Resolved, proposed by Cllr Waples, seconded by Cllr Wheatley that these payments be made. Unanimously agreed.
10. To receive the clerk’s report (for information only)
A letter regarding parking on the common land at Patmore Heath has been received.
11. To discuss the possibility of having a road at Patmore Heath adopted by Herts County Council
The clerk has emailed Jacqueline Veater who has agreed to speak to HCC regarding their non-adoption of the road in question at the time when other roads at the Heath were adopted.
12. To discuss the progress of the traditional village sign project
The company who produced the initial design has quoted £3,950 to create the finished article. This can be completed by July if we go ahead. The councillors discussed the positioning of such a sign again and are to speak to a local land owner once more about a particular site.
13. To discuss a defibrillator training date
A date will be set after Christmas as we are waiting for Community Heartbeat Trust to confirm a trainers availability.
14. To discuss the progress of the telephone kiosk library project
Cllr Murdoch is organising the installation of shelving.
15. To discuss the progress of the village hall playground fund raising
Cllr Benton is continuing to apply for grants.
16. To discuss the possibility of having traffic calming measures installed in the village
Cllr Benton emailed HCC about speeding problems in the village. The highway locality manager emailed the following response:
“You are hopefully aware that the Council are implementing a bypass scheme for the A120 which when introduced should alleviate may of the problems you have highlighted along with other areas in the vicinity that to a greater or lesser extent are impacted similarly.
Accordingly I will forward your concerns to our Major Projects Team who are delivering the bypass which I understand is pencilled for completion in 2019. On completion I also understand that they will then review what positive effects the bypass has had in reducing congestion and consequential ‘rat running’ etc. with a view to considering what localised reviews and changes might be merited after the envisaged changes in traffic movement have bedded in.”
Meanwhile the parish council are looking at traffic calming measures such as ‘village gateways’.
17. To discuss ideas for funding raising talks at the village hall
The parish council are to approach locals with interesting hobbies such as metal detecting, astronomy and cycling to see if any will agree to hold an evening of talks.
18. To discuss Christmas Walks and set a date and budget if necessary
A walk is to take place from the village hall on Friday 29th December at 10:30 followed by refreshments from 12:30.
Resolved, proposed by Cllr Waples, seconded by Cllr Walne that £200 be allocated to buy refreshments. Unanimously agreed.
19. To suggest agenda items for the Parish Council Meeting to be held Tuesday 9th January 2018 at 7.15pm at the Village Hall
Purchase of crockery for the village hall. Playground fund raising. Village sign and site. Telephone kiosk library. Defibrillator training.
Cllr Waples closed the meeting at 8:25 pm