South Mimms Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held at 7.30pm on Thursday 12th February 2015 at South Mimms Village Hall

Present: Councillor Paula Goodenough Chairman Councillors Paul Binstead, Yvonne Harverson, Mark Edwards and Kenneth Swayne Mrs H. Rook Clerk 10 members of the public

13/15 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

No apologies.

14/15 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 15th JANUARY 2015

The minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on Thursday 15th January 2015 were agreed as a true record and were signed by the Chairman.

15/15 DECLARATION OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS

There were no declarations of interest.

16/15 SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS

A Schedule of accounts as follows (attached) were RECEIVED and CONFIRMED:-

12th February - Cheques 198-200 - £725.91

17/15 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

The following planning applications were noted and considered by the Council:-

15/0052 & 0053 Dancers Hill House, Dancers Lane – conversion into 3 flats to include single storey rear extension, front basement terrace and bridge, alterations to fenestration, internal layout and landscape. Two storey side extension to detached cottage, single storey rear extension to potting sheds and construction of glass link to cottage to create 1 x 3 bed dwelling. No comment.

The following planning decisions were pending a decision by Borough Council :-

15/0034 Welcome Break Service Area – erection of new detached drive through coffee shop 15/0016 South Lodge, Blackhorse Lane – single storey rear extension, new patio doors, conversion of loft with rear and side dormers and increase to ridge height 14/1927 Earls Farm, Earls Lane – retrospective application for 2 self-contained residential units within existing outbuilding Appeal by New Grange, Blanche Lane – Enforcement Notice issued by Hertsmere Borough Council 14/0536/PD56 – Dragon Glass, 32 Blanche Lane - change of use from B1 (offices) to C3 (residential).

18/15 CONSTABULARY

Cllr Goodenough attended the Crime Safety Partnership meeting on 5th February. A cannabis factory had been uncovered in Cranborne Way; car registration plate recognition/speeding was being targeted in Baker Street, and anti-social behaviour in Potters Bar High Street. PCSO’s were patrolling secondary schools in the area and the police are offering free marking to anyone who owns a business van.

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Hertfordshire Constabulary have launched a new online service to reunite found and recovered stolen property with its rightful owners at website www.hertsreunited.co.uk . The website allows people to search for their lost or stolen items which have been handed into police stations, recovered by police or uploaded directly to the website by the finders.

19/15 MURCO GARAGE, ROAD

Following a letter from the parish council, Mr Chris Scarfe (the proprietor of the land) had telephoned the Clerk to advise the Murco is due to close on 24th March 2015. Their lease had expired in July 2014 and he/Murco had been in discussion for some moths to renew the lease. However, after Murco were bought out late last year the new owners decided not to renew the lease and gave notice to leave the site.

Mr Scarfe is currently in negotiations with Harvest Energy a small fuel supplier and he is expecting to sign a new lease within the next 6-8 weeks. He does not know at this stage whether the shop/garage business will stay, but if the lease is signed by Harvest Energy the fuel business will remain.

20/15 INTERNAL AUDITOR

It was agreed that Mrs Viv Reeve should be asked to perform the Internal Audit again this year.

21/15 WARD INITIATIVE IMPROVEMENT SCHEME

A resident had approached the PC to ask if a bench could be put outside St Giles in Blanche Lane and on the verge opposite Earls Lane. Another request had been received for traffic cones for St Giles. Details of Karaoke machine/CD’s were reviewed. Painting of the white railings in front of St Giles and weed removal around the railings was discussed.

Members RESOLVED to make an application to WIIS for a Karaoke machine and CD’s for SMYC and a quotation will be obtained by Cllr Harverson for painting the railings in front of St Giles Church. The application must be made by 28th February 2015.

22/15 PARISH PATHS PARTNERSHIP SCHEME (P3) 2015

The Parish Paths Partnership Scheme (P3) is now open for applications for 2015. P3 is an initiative funded by Hertfordshire County Council and is administered by Groundwork Hertfordshire. The aim of the scheme is to offer parish councils a grant of up to £1,000 to improve, promote or enhance existing public rights of way to benefit the local community. It was agreed to contact Groundwork Hertfordshire regarding the footpath from St Giles Church to St Giles School as approx. 20m section of the tarmac path needs replacing.

23/15 PUBLIC SESSION

No questions.

24/15 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Thursday 5th March 2015 immediately following the Annual Parish Meeting.

Members agreed to change the date of the July meeting to Thursday 9th July 2015.

The meeting closed at 8.15pm.

Chairman ………………………………………………………………… Date ………………………………….

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