MINUTES OF MEETING OF ESSENDON PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY
16TH JANUARY 2012
Present:- Mike Brown (Chair), Keith Venables, Alan Steele, Fran Christensen, Kevin Daly.
Borough Councillor - Bernard Sarson. Clerk- John Spragg.
2 members of the public.
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Ian Screech (Chairman.)
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. The minutes of the meeting held on 5/12/2012 were approved
and signed.
3. DECLARATIONS. There were no declarations of personal or financial interests in any
agenda items from the five Parish Councillors present.
4. MATTERS ARISING. a. Village sign. Fran Christensen produced samples of wood from
Vince Nevel for use in the stand for the village sign.
Air dried oak was selected at a cost of £850 + VAT.
The clerk was asked to send details to "Highways" and agree
exact measurements for fixing purposes.
b. Village Hall anonymous donor. This item was carried forward
pending the Village Hall meeting on 13/2/2012.
5. DIAMOND JUBILEE. The next meeting of the committee was due on 23/1/2012.
6. PLANNING. Mike Brown reported on the meeting held re. the BUNGALOWS
on Essendon Hill on 9/12 with architects, building contractors
and the Guiness Trust who had been awarded the contract.
Six houses would be built. (2 x 3 bedrooms and 4 x 2.)
Planning approval was due in Feb/March.
An open village meeting would be arranged in February at which
priorities would be confirmed,
Building would start in May/June with completion in 2013.
7. CORRESPONDENCE.
a. Herts. waste core strategy.
Responses to be made by 30/1/2012.
b. Changes to QE 2 accident and emergency services.
It was felt that the changes had been well advertised.
c. Mick Mann, 23 Glebe Cottages.
Check to be made concerning his council garage.
d. Allotments. Check to be made on the current waiting list
with reference to Tara Catt in particular. (34 Glebe Cottages.)
e. TV digital. In case of scams, it was agreed that residents
should be referred to Paul Wombwell.
8. MATTERS RAISED BY THE PUBLIC.
The only item raised concerned the time table for the
allocation of the Bungalows which had not yet been finalised.
(See item 6 - Planning.)
9. FINANCE. a. The following payments were authorised:-
Plants for the new tubs outside the Village Hall. £ 39.94.
Tree cutting re. allotments. ( A. Robinson.) 60.00
b. The following quotations were accepted for 2012.
Fusion. Playing field hedge cutting. (No increase.) 380.00
Fusion. Playground grass/hedge cutting. (Up £20.) 260.00
c. PRECEPT for 2012/3.
It was agreed by a majority vote ( 4 - 1) to increase the precept
to £10,000.
The clerk confirmed that our estimated over-spend this year was
£1318 and due to the electoral costs of £1399. This would be
increased by approx. £400 if costs of the stand for the sign were
met before 31/3/2012.
He confirmed that our precept had been held at £9,000 for 3 years
and at £8,000 for the previous 3 years and £7,500 for the 5 years
prior to that.
d. A reply was awaited from Inland revenue concerning PAYE>
10. GENERAL PURPOSES SUB-COMMITTEE.
It was agree to have a special meeting on Monday, 6/2/2012 at
8.0 pm. after the Fete AGM to discuss this item.
Mike Brown asked Kevin Daly to produce a draft agenda.
11. OTHER BUSINESS.
a. It appeared that Dog Bins were being emptied fairly regularly,
but a key was required for the playground rubbish bin.
b. Bernard Sarson noted the following requests from Keith Venables
West End lane - hedge cutting.
Footpath to Wild Hill - as before.
Rubbish on A414 on the way to the tip.
Path past the Forge and sub-station.
c. CF metal seat at the end of Rectory Close.
d. CF salt bin for the top of West End lane.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING ----MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2012 at 7.30 pm. VILLAGE HALL.
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