Meeting documents

Southern Rural Committee
Thursday, 29th November, 2012 7.30 pm

Time: 7.30pm Place: Committee Room 1, Council Offices, Gernon Road, Letchworth Garden City
 PRESENT: Councillor D.J. Barnard (Chairman), Councillor Cathryn Henry (Vice-Chairman), Councillor Alan Bardett, Councillor Faye Barnard, Councillor John Bishop, Councillor Tom Brindley, Councillor Tricia Cowley, Councillor Jane Gray, Councillor Sal Jarvis and Councillor Mrs C.P.A. Strong.
 IN ATTENDANCE: David Charlton (Senior Estates Surveyor), Stuart Izzard (Community Development Manager), Margaret Bracey (Community Development Officer) and Hilary Dineen (Committee and Member Services Officer).
 ALSO PRESENT: At the commencement of the meeting 12 members of the public.
Item Description/Resolution Status Action
PART I
42 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

There were no apologies for absence.
 Noted   
43 MINUTES
Minutes

MINUTE 33(2) - 27 SEPTEMBER 2012
Members were advised that the relevant information regarding S106 contributions for Great Ashby and Graveley had not been received by Councillor Henry.

RESOLVED:

(1) That the Development and Conservation Manager be requested to send reports detailing S106 contribution for the Great Ashby and Graveley area to the Chesfield Ward Councillors;

(2) That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 27 September 2012 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.
 Agreed   
44 NOTIFICATION OF OTHER BUSINESS

There were no notifications of other business.
 Noted   
45 CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

(1) The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, particularly those giving a presentation;

(2) The Chairman welcomed Councillor Faye Barnard who won the by-election held on 15 November 2012;

(3) The Chairman thanked the Returning Officer and his staff for their hard work during the election held on 15 November 2012;

(4) The Chairman reminded the Members that any declarations of interest in respect of any business set out in the agenda should be declared as either a prejudicial or personal interest and are required to notify the Chairman of the nature of any interest declared at the commencement of the relevant item on the agenda. Members declaring a prejudicial interest should leave the room and not seek to influence the decision during that particular item.
 Noted   
46 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - WASTE NOT WANT NOT

Isobel Barnes, founder of Waste Not Want Not and Mark Linsell, a trustee, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation. Mrs Barnes informed Members that Waste Not Want Not had been established in 2008 and gave opportunities to people who were mainly homeless, ex-offenders and addicts to have a social interest, learn skills and have some structure to their lives by growing and selling plants and vegetables as well as social events. The group grew for Chelsea, had been invited to the Eden Project and had received three awards including Exceptional Service to the Community and Innovative Use of Recycled Materials. Funding was limited and there were no paid staff. Mrs Barnes advised that the group was no longer able to use the site at Rabley Heath, but had found temporary accommodation at Codicote Garden Centre and had been offered use of the Learning Garden at Hatfield Galleria. A new site had been identified in Knebworth just south of the Roebuck Inn, it was currently derelict land with no access to water and funds were needed to make the site useable, provide on site storage and fencing as well as provide water.

Members asked several questions including where other funds were generated; what expenditure was expected and whether the site had vehicular access. They advised that Mrs Barnes discuss all aspects of work on the new site with the NHDC Planning Control Officers.

Mrs Barnes advised that a customer would be donating £2,000 and a trustee had raised £1,000 although the re-siting to Knebworth would cost in excess of £5,000 and car and fuel expenses were approximately £7,000 and that the new site did have vehicular access.

The Chairman thanked Mrs Barnes and Mr Linsell for their presentation.
 Noted   
47 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - KNEBWORTH PARK CRICKET CLUB

Representatives of Knebworth Park Cricket Club sent their apologies for not being able to attend this meeting and requested that they give a presentation to a future meeting of the Committee.
 Noted   
48 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - ACTIVE TOGETHER

Babs Squires and Margaret Ross, representatives of Active Together Breachwood Green, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation.

Mrs Squires informed Members that Active Together was a small village organisation whose aim was to provide opportunities for older members of the community to improve their health and fitness and provide a social environment, helping to combat social exclusion and rural isolation.. Currently three sessions a week were provided including exercise and games, badminton and table tennis. All abilities were catered for as seated exercises as well as extended activities were provided together with the opportunity for quarterly fitness assessments for the 26 members. Active Together were seeking funding to help provide a 14 week programme of sessions at Breachwood Green Village Hall from January 2013. A qualified fitness instruct led sessions which included exercise circuits, indoor curling, hockey and boules as well as monitoring fitness levels and providing encouragement, support and advice enabling members to maintain a healthy body as well as working on co-ordination.

Mrs Ross advised that Active Together had initially been part funded by the Herts Sports Partnership, however this funding stream had ended. The total cost of the project would be £1,400, which included hall hire and instructor fees and it was hoped that the Committee would be able to provide a grant of £700 towards this.

Members asked what would happen regarding funding in the future, how many people attended the sessions and what were the charges.

Mrs Squires advised that they would be receiving £800 from Sport North Herts and would be applying for grants from other organisations such as Luton Airport and the PCT.

Mrs Ross informed Members that they were considering other activities, including some for younger people; that charges had been raised, but were kept as low as possible as some members would find it difficult to pay, charges were currently between £2.50 and £3.00 per session with average attendance being 15 members with 12 attending table tennis and 10 attending badminton.

The Chairman thanked Mrs Squires and Mrs Ross for their presentation.
 Noted   
49 LAND AND PROPERTY DISPOSALS - LLOYD WAY, KIMPTON
Report
Plan

Prior to the item being discussed Councillor Tom Brindley declared a pecuniary interest as he was a member of the board of North Hertfordshire Homes and left the room for the duration of the item.

The Senior Estates Surveyor presented the report of the Head of Finance, Performance and Asset Management entitled Land and Property Disposals - Lloyd Way, Kimpton and informed Members that on 24 June 2008 Cabinet had agreed to dispose of the site to North Hertfordshire Homes however the sale had not progressed and therefore Cabinet had agreed for the land to be sold on the open market. One of the conditions of sale had been that residents of Probyn House should be offered alternative accommodation and the Senior Estates Surveyor advised that all residents had moved from Probyn House, which was now empty.

Members supported the sale of the land but were concerned as to the future intentions for Probyn House and asked that the Senior Estates Surveyor make enquiries as a matter of urgency.

RESOLVED:

(1) That the sale of land at Lloyd Way, Kimpton be unanimously supported;

(2) That the Senior Estates Surveyor be requested to ask North Hertfordshire Homes, as a matter of urgency, what are the intentions for the future of Probyn House, Lloyd Way, Kimpton;

(3) That the Senior Estates Surveyor be requested to report back to this Committee regarding any response from North Hertfordshire Homes to (2) above.

REASON FOR DECISION: To provide financial receipts to help fund the capital
programme.
 Agreed   
50 0.7 ACRE SITE, OFF TEMPLARS LANE, PRESTON
Report
Plan

The Senior Estates Surveyor presented the report of the Head of Finance, Performance and Asset Management entitled 0.7 Acre Site off Templars Lane, Preston and drew attention to paragraph 3.3 which detailed the results of the Community Development Agency survey which identified a need for affordable housing units in the local area. It was agreed by Cabinet, subject to no substantive objections from the Southern Rural Committee, on 1 November 2012 to dispose of the land at less than market value to Howard Cottage Housing Association for development as affordable housing.

Members were supportive of the sale of this land to Howard Cottage Housing Association for affordable housing, however were concerned that villagers were able to access them in the first instance and felt that local advertising was key to informing local people how to apply.

RESOLVED: That the sale of the 0.7 acre site, off Templars Lane, Preston be supported.

REASON FOR DECISION: To facilitate the provision of new affordable social housing through the use of Council owned land.
 Agreed   
51 CHAMPION NEWS AND FINANCE REPORT
Report
Appendix 1 - Budgets
Appendix 2 - Work programme
Appendix 3 - Rural Grants Summary
Appendix 4 - Highways Schemes
Appendix 5 - Grant Application - Active Together
Appendix 6 - Grant Application - Waste Not Want Not
Appendix 7 - Grant Application - Pirton Parish Plan

The Community Development Manager presented the report of the Head of Policy and Community Services entitled Champion News and Finance Report and drew attention to the following:

PARISH COUNCIL SUPPORT - PLANNING CONTRIBUTION FUNDING
Community Development Officers were assisting local groups and Parish Councils with potential projects which may be eligible for funding through received Planning contributions.

PIRTON PARISH PLAN
Community Development Officers were assisting Pirton in the final stages of developing a Parish Plan for the village.

GREAT ASHBY CIRCLES CAFE
Officers had been working with Great Ashby Community Centre Management Association for the last 6 months on the development of Circles Community Café.

HIGHWAYS ISSUE - DOLLIMORE LANE, CODICAOTE
The Community Development Manager drew attention to paragraph 9.9 which detailed a request from the owner of Costcutter, Dollimore Lane, Codicote that consideration be given to the provision of 2-3 limited waiting bays. This request was supported by Councillor Brindley, County Councillor Thake and Codicote Parish Council.

Councillor Brindley advised that the towns in the District had regular parking reviews and funding allocated as part of the review, this process was not available to rural areas and therefore the only option was to request funding from this Committee and that any parking restrictions would be enforced in line with other village locations.

Members were happy to consider this request at a future meeting and asked that the Transport Officer be requested to provide details of the costs.

BUDGETS
Members noted that there was a balance of £6,000 allocated to Hertfordshire Highways for work at Hil Road and Meadow Way and asked that the Community Development Officer investigate whether this was still required.

RESOLVED:

(1) That the actions taken by the Community Development Officer to promote greater community capacity and well being for rural communities be endorsed;

(2) That the Committee's budgetary expenditure, balances and carry forwards from the Ward Development Budgets and the allocated Visioning Budgets be noted;

(3) That the Transport Policy Officer be requested to liaise with Hertfordshire Highways to provide details of the costs associated with the provision of 2-3 limited waiting bays on Dollimore Lane, Codicote;

(4) That the Community Development Manager be requested to investigate whether the sum of £6,000 marked in the Capital Visioning Budget as allocated to Hill Road and Meadow Way, Codicote would still be required by Hertfordshire Highways.

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure that the Committee is kept informed of the work of the Community Development Officer and to inform Members of the financial resources available to the Committee.
 Agreed  Community Development Manager
52 GRANT APPLICATION - ACTIVE TOGETHER

The Community Development Manager advised that the Children's and Young People Manager had been supporting Active Together.

Members were happy to support a grant of £700 to Active Together but advised the group to consider increasing the fees charged as grants would not be given on a year by year basis.

RESOLVED: That grant funding of £700 be awarded from the Discretionary Budget to Active Together Breachwood Green as support funding towards the provision of a 14 week programme of activities commencing in January 2013.

REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community.
 Agreed  Community Development Manager
53 GRANT APPLICATION - WASTE NOT WANT NOT

The Community Development Manager advised that Officers had been supporting Waste Not Want Not for 5 years and that the group would apply for the appropriate planning permission as required however this would not be for some time to come.

Members were happy to support grant funding but were concerned that Waste Not Want Not ensure they apply for appropriate planning permission.

RESOLVED: That, subject to planning and highways approval of the site, grant funding of £1,500 be awarded from the Discretionary Budget to Waste Not Want Not as support funding towards the provision of a water supply to their new site in Knebworth.

REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community.
 Agreed  Community Development Manager
54 GRANT APPLICATION - PIRTON PARISH PLAN

The Community Development Manager advised that he had been supporting the Pirton Parish Plan Group in developing the Parish Plan and that the group were considering developing a neighbourhood plan in the near future. He advised that there was £3068 allocated to Parish Plans and there were approximately 3 or 4 Plans in various stages of development.

It was proposed and seconded that a grant of £750 be awarded to Pirton Parish Plan Group.

RESOLVED: That grant funding of £750 be awarded from the Discretionary Budget to Pirton Parish Plan Group as support funding towards the production of colour copies of the Plan for each household in Pirton.

REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community.
 Agreed  Community Development Manager
55 GRANT APPLICATION - CIRCLES COMMUNITY CAFE

The Chairman advised that he had accepted consideration of funding for Circle Community Café as an emergency item.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Rural Affairs informed Members that the Great Ashby Community Centre Management Association were seeking start up funding for Circles Community Cafe. The Community Development Manager was supporting them to find possible funding sources and the group were working on an updated business plan. The main issue for this project was that it needed revenue funding.

The Community Development Manager advised that there were a number of people involved and there was a need for everyone to be bought together to identify realistically achievable funding streams. He drew attention to funds currently not spent in the Committee's budget including £5790 allocated to Memoranda of Understanding, which would not be spent.

Members praised the work of all the people involved, but recognised that it was now important that there was an urgent need for everyone to work together, with all the information being drawn together by a single person. They were keen to find a way forward to support the café, however felt that the business plan should be considered.

It was suggested that £5790 currently allocated to Memorandums of Understanding could be allocated to Circles Café and that the Chairman together with Councillor Cowley, Henry and Jarvis be authorised to consider the business plan and any request for funding. The Chairman to then seek the opinion of all Members of the Committee to seek their approval of any grant funding request.

RESOLVED:
(1) That it be noted that £5,790 currently allocated to Memorandum of Understanding Budget is available and could be used as grant funding towards the operating costs of Circle Café, Great Ashby Community Centre;

(2) That the Circles Café be requested to meet with representatives of this Committee in order to present a comprehensive business plan together with details of start up funding requirements;

(3) That the Chairman together with Councillors Cowley, Henry and Jarvis be authorised to meet with representatives of Circles Café in order to consider any business plan and request for start up funding on behalf of the Committee;

(4) That the Chairman contact each Member of the Committee to advise them of the outcome of the considerations regarding Circles Café in (3) above and seek their approval of any grant funding request.
 Agreed  Community Development Manager