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Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Ickleford Village Hall, Arlesey Road, Ickleford SG5 3TG

Contact: Hilary Dineen (01462 474353)  Email: hilary.dineen@north-herts.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

36.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Decision:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Cathryn Henry (Vice-Chairman).

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Cathryn Henry (Vice-Chairman).

37.

MINUTES - 5 OCTOBER 2017 pdf icon PDF 240 KB

To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on the 5 October 2017.

Decision:

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 5 October 2017 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 5 October 2017 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.

38.

NOTIFICATION OF OTHER BUSINESS

Members should notify the Chairman of other business which they wish to be discussed by the Committee at the end of the business set out in the agenda. They must state the circumstances which they consider justify the business being considered as a matter of urgency.

 

The Chairman will decide whether any item(s) raised will be considered.

Decision:

There were no notifications of other business.

Minutes:

There were no notifications of other business.

39.

CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Members are reminded that any declarations of interest in respect of any business set out in the agenda, should be declared as either a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or Declarable 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 Disclosable Pecuniary Interest must withdraw from the meeting for the duration of the item.  Members declaring a Declarable Interest which requires they leave the room under Paragraph 7.4 of the Code of Conduct, can speak on the item, but must leave the room before the debate and vote.

Decision:

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

 

(2)       The Chairman reminded everyone that, in accordance with Council policy, the meeting was being audio recorded;

 

(3)       The Chairman drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question.

Minutes:

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

 

(2)       The Chairman reminded everyone that, in accordance with Council policy, the meeting was being audio recorded;

 

(3)       The Chairman drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question.

40.

PUBLIC PARTICIATION - OFFLEY RECREATION CENTRE - JUNIOR SOCCER SECTION

Decision:

Mr David Sample, representing Offley Recreation Centre, Junior Soccer Section thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding their application for grant funding.

 

The Chairman thanked Mr Sample for his presentation.

Minutes:

Mr David Sample, representing Offley Recreation Centre, Junior Soccer Section thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding their application for grant funding as follows:

 

·                The Recreation Centre was situated in Kings Walden Road, Offley

·                There was a Sports and Social Club that catered for tennis, fishing and had a MUGA and a gym;

·                The Recreation Ground had 8 junior football teams;

·                The Recreation Centre would be donating practice balls.

 

The Chairman thanked Mr Sample for his presentation.

41.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - OFFLEY FISHING CLUB - JUNIOR SECTION

Decision:

Mr David Sample, Offley Fishing Club, Junior Section thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding their application for grant funding.

 

The Chairman thanked Mr Sample for his presentation.

Minutes:

Mr David Sample, Offley Fishing Club, Junior Section thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding their application for grant funding as follows:

 

        The Fishing Club used two ponds which were leased;

        These ponds had been excavated in a field and were maintained by the Fishing Club;

        One pond was used for breeding, the other for fishing;

        Young people had been invited to attend the Club and be mentored by adult fishermen;

        This led to the introduction of a junior section of the Club;

        The aim was to purchase junior whips, high visibility vests and other equipment.

 

County Councillor Barnard advised that, notwithstanding the decision of this Committee regarding grant funding he, as a County Councillor, would be pleased to receive and application for funding from his Locality Budget.

 

The Chairman thanked Mr Sample for his presentation.

42.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - KIMPTON HISTORY GROUP

Decision:

Mr John Pollington, Archivist of Kimpton History Group, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding their application for grant funding.

 

The Chairman thanked Mr Pollington for his presentation.

Minutes:

Mr John Pollington, Archivist of Kimpton History Group, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding their application for grant funding.

 

Mr Pollington informed Members that thy History Group would like to make the history of the village more accessible and vibrant by creating a wheelchair friendly heritage trail.

 

They had created a heritage trail leaflet in 2005, however the leaflets related to this were now out of date and dated and the map was very poor.

 

The Group had been collecting historic data for 12 years.

 

They now wished to produce leaflets, with maps, one showing the footpaths around Kimpton and another showing the heritage trail based in the centre of the village.

 

The plan was to use the designer that the Countryside Management Service had previously used and tested for their Hertfordshire walking leaflets.

 

Grant funding would be used to redesign and print the heritage trail leaflet only.

 

Maps and leaflets for both footpaths and the heritage trail would be available free of charge in local places and details would be placed on the village website.

 

Members asked whether they had considered other methods of funding

 

Mr Pollington advised that the grant application covered only the design and printing of the heritage trail leaflet. All other work had been undertaken by members of the Group and that the maps, design and printing of the footpath leaflet had been funded from another source.

 

Members suggested that the History Group consider making an application for grant funding to London Luton Airport Community Chest and their County Councillor.

 

The Chairman thanked Mr Pollington for his presentation.

43.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - ICKLEFORD SPORTS CLUB

Decision:

Mr Philip Crowe, representing Ickleford Sports Club, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding their application for grant funding.

 

The Chairman thanked Mr Crowe for his presentation.

Minutes:

Mr Philip Crowe, representing Ickleford Sports Club, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding their application for grant funding.

 

Mr Crowe informed Members that Ickleford Sports and Recreation Club had been established in 1975 and had a good sports field that provided pitches for both football and cricket, which were maintained by a groundsman,

 

The Club building provided changing rooms. squash courts, darts, a kitchen and a bar. It also provided and outside balcony from which sport could be watched.

 

The Club also hosted a Mother and Toddler Group.

 

This year had seen a change in the management of the club bar, which had already seen improvements and a number of new social events.

 

Minor maintenance of the club and grounds was undertaken by members.

 

The Parish Council provided support annually..

 

Many of the paving slabs on the path leading to the club were broken and needed to be repaired/replaced for which a quote of £980 had been received.

 

Members noted that membership fees were charged, the bar made a profit and the teams paid subscriptions and queried whether this was actually a business. They also queried whether the costs of maintaining the club had increased as it had aged.

 

Mr Crow advised that the fees helped to maintain the club, however money was limited. In respect of maintenance, membership and therefore income fluctuated and the cricket club was the main supporter of the club. As the club aged more needed to be done and there were a number of issues that needed to be addressed.

 

The Chairman thanked Mr Crowe for his presentation.

44.

GRANTS AND COMMUNITY UPDATE pdf icon PDF 271 KB

REPORT OF THE COMMUNITIES MANAGER

 

To update  the Committee on the activities and actions of the Communities Officer, to advise on the current expenditure and balances of the delegated budgets and to consider applications for grant funding.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED:

 

(1)       That the activities and schemes with which the Communities Officer has been involved with, as set out in the report, be noted;

 

(2)       That the budgetary expenditure, balances and carry forwards within the Area Committee Development Budget spreadsheet be noted;

 

(3)       That the Communities Officer be requested to update the budget sheets following this meeting and circulate them to all Members of the Committee;

 

(4)       That the Communities Officer be requested to provide an update to this Committee regarding the progress made regarding the Hexton Community Petanque Project at the next meeting of this Committee.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure that the Southern Rural Committee is kept informed of the work of the Communities Manager and to inform Members of the financial resources and current budgetary position.

Minutes:

Following a request by Members that all Ward Grants be presented to the Committee with supporting paperwork, the Communities Officer advised that the following Ward Grant requests would be presented to the next meeting of this Committee:

 

Councillor Deakin -Davies

£250 – Stepping Stones Pre-School, Knebworth;

£250 – Knebworth Football Club, Female Youth Team.

 

Members commented that three ward grant awards made on 2 March 2017 to Hexton Community Petanque Project continued to be described as “Project still at development stage” and asked that the Communities Officer investigate this project and provide an update to the Committee at the next meeting.

 

Members asked for clarification regarding the amounts available in each of the budgets

 

The Communities Officer advised that she would update the budget sheets to reflect any grants awarded and this meeting and would circulate then to all Members of the Committee.

 

In response to a comment by a Member, the Communities Officer advised that Lilley Village Hall had not submitted an application for funding from the Community Hall Capital Fund. Councillor Barnard agreed to contact the Village Hall Committee to make enquiries regarding their intentions in this respect.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)       That the activities and schemes with which the Communities Officer has been involved with, as set out in the report, be noted;

 

(2)       That the budgetary expenditure, balances and carry forwards within the Area Committee Development Budget spreadsheet be noted;

 

(3)       That the Communities Officer be requested to update the budget sheets following this meeting and circulate them to all Members of the Committee;

 

(4)       That the Communities Officer be requested to provide an update to this Committee regarding the progress made regarding the Hexton Community Petanque Project at the next meeting of this Committee.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure that the Southern Rural Committee is kept informed of the work of the Communities Manager and to inform Members of the financial resources and current budgetary position.

45.

WARD GRANT APPLICATION - OFFLEY RECREATION CENTRE - JUNIOR SOCCER SECTION

Decision:

RESOLVED: That, subject to the implementation of relevant safeguarding polices, grant funding of £120 be awarded to Offley Recreation Centre from the 2017/18 Ward Budget for Councillor Strong towards the costs associated with the training of the Junior Soccer Section.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community.

Minutes:

The Communities Officer advised that the application was for £120 to be taken from Councillor Strong’s Ward Budget and that she would ensure that safeguarding policies were in place prior to making any payment.

 

RESOLVED: That, subject to the implementation of relevant safeguarding polices, grant funding of £120 be awarded to Offley Recreation Centre from the 2017/18 Ward Budget for Councillor Strong towards the costs associated with the training of the Junior Soccer Section.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community.

46.

WARD GRANT APPLICATION - OFFLEY FISHING CLUB - JUNIOR SECTION

Decision:

RESOLVED: That, subject to the receipt of safeguarding policies, grant funding of £140 be awarded to Offley Fishing Club from the 2017/18 Ward Budget for Councillor Frost towards the cost of purchasing junior sized kits.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community.

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That, subject to the receipt of safeguarding policies, grant funding of £140 be awarded to Offley Fishing Club from the 2017/18 Ward Budget for Councillor Frost towards the cost of purchasing junior sized kits.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community.

47.

WARD GRANT APPLICATION - KIMPTON HISTORY GROUP

Decision:

RESOLVED:

 

(1)       That grant funding of £500 be awarded to Kimpton History Group from the 2017/18 Ward Budget for Councillor Bishop towards the cost of design, artwork and printing of 500 heritage trail leaflets;

 

(2)       That grant funding of £480 be awarded to Kimpton History Group from the 2017/18 Discretionary Budget towards the cost of design, artwork and printing of 500 heritage trail leaflets.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

(1)       That grant funding of £500 be awarded to Kimpton History Group from the 2017/18 Ward Budget for Councillor Bishop towards the cost of design, artwork and printing of 500 heritage trail leaflets;

 

(2)       That grant funding of £480 be awarded to Kimpton History Group from the 2017/18 Discretionary Budget towards the cost of design, artwork and printing of 500 heritage trail leaflets.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community.

48.

WARD GRANT APPLICATION - ICKLEFORD SPORTS CLUB

Decision:

RESOLVED:

 

(1)       That grant funding of £300 be awarded to Ickleford Sports Club from the 2017/18 Ward Budget for Councillor Spencer-Smith toward the cost of repairing the path and paving leading from the car park to the clubhouse;

 

(2)       That grant funding of £650 be awarded to Ickleford Sports Club from the 2017/18 Discretionary Budget toward the cost of repairing the path and paving leading from the car park to the clubhouse;

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

(1)       That grant funding of £300 be awarded to Ickleford Sports Club from the 2017/18 Ward Budget for Councillor Spencer-Smith toward the cost of repairing the path and paving leading from the car park to the clubhouse;

 

(2)       That grant funding of £650 be awarded to Ickleford Sports Club from the 2017/18 Discretionary Budget toward the cost of repairing the path and paving leading from the car park to the clubhouse;

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community.

49.

INFORMATION NOTE - GREEN SPACE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY pdf icon PDF 241 KB

INFORMATION NOTE OF THE HEAD OF LEISURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

 

To provide an update regarding the steps taken and the progress made in identifying interested groups and organisations to safely provide play area facilities previously provided by the Council.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Committee received an information note regarding the Green Space Management Strategy.

Minutes:

The Committee received an information note regarding the Green Space Management Strategy.

 

Councillor Gray, Executive Member for Leisure, informed Members that the Parks and Countryside Development Manager had been doing a great job in encouraging people to take on the 13 play areas categorised to be green space and pavilions.

 

She clarified that the Green Space Strategy relied upon identifying less used play areas and that the identified play areas were not being closed but were being rationalised to green space with areas to play and sit, but no formal play equipment.

 

Great Ashby Community Council would be taking on responsibility for the play areas in their area.

 

In Hitchin Brook View play area had been re-categorised upwards and the Rosehill play area was being considered.

 

A lot of progress had been made so far and it was hoped that more people would come forward to take on play areas, but the worst that could happen was that a play area became a green space for public use.

 

Members were supportive of the strategy, which would result in non-parished areas paying for the upkeep of play areas in the same way as Parishes do. The commented that funding was available from other organisations such as BIFFA and Section 106 funding.

50.

WARD MATTERS AND OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS - MEMBERS' REPORTS

To receive any oral reports from Members regarding Ward matters and Outside Organisations.

Decision:

No outside body or ward matters were discussed.

Minutes:

No outside body or ward matters were discussed.

Audio Recording of Meeting MP3 16 MB