Annual Report 2005

Chairman's Foreword

The highlight of the past year was the Radlett Festival that raised several thousand pounds to support activities by local youth groups who do so much to make the area a better place in which to live. The Parish Council thanks all those people in the community who helped to organise and run the Festival.

In the summer of 2004 there was an outbreak of disorderly behaviour at Phillimore Recreation Ground, primarily youngsters riding motorcycles around the football field. Police acted to identify and warn those responsible, and the problem went away. A footpath crosses the land, so it has to be open at all times, an obstacle we hope to solve with kissing gates.

We were disappointed to be forced to close the taxi voucher scheme that had been of benefit to many deserving local residents because the Government decided to close its Local Transport Grant scheme towards the end of 2004.

We were heartened to learn in December 2004 that Hertsmere Borough Council intended moving the recycling bins from the entrance road into Newberries Car Park for a trial period. However, the proposal was subsequently put on hold because Thames Water had pointed to a large tank under the car park and there were concerns about heavy lorries driving over it.

Tesco Express opened a supermarket in Radlett and Sainsbury's closed. Tesco wanted to put a loading bay in front of their shop in Newberries Parade, but their application was refused. However, the company continues to deliver to its store with huge vehicles, which we believe to be unsuitable and which cause congestion.

After considerable debate the Parish Precept for the year 1 April 2005 to 30 March 2006 was settled at £ 456,688. In order to keep the increase below 5% the Council had to shelve schemes to put vandal-proof lighting at Radlett Gardens, to resurface the tennis courts at Phillimore Recreation Ground and to develop the pavilion there.

On behalf of everyone I must thank all of the Parish Councillors for their work throughout the past year. They are entirely unpaid and so much of what they do is unheralded, but benefits all the community. And last but not least, our thanks to the staff of the Parish Council who help to make things run smoothly in the offices and the Youth and Community Centre, and who keep this locality looking good, especially the hanging baskets, our recreation grounds and the Christmas lights in Radlett.

The rest of this document consists of the reports of the Chairmen of the Parish Council's Committees, as they were presented to the Annual Meeting on 5 April 2005, together with a short version of the Council's (unaudited) accounts for 2004/05.

Councillor John Howley

Recreation Grounds Committee

First, I would like to pay tribute to Councillor John Howley who has chaired the Committee for the previous three years. As chairman since May 2004 I now appreciate how much time and effort he put in. To follow on from his report last year, vandalism is still a major concern. In the last few months the netting for the goals at Phillimore Recreation Ground have been cut up and damage done to the Children's Play Area. Although we are insured the sums involved are less than the excess on our policy. Repeated incidents means that we have to dig into our reserves to replace and repair these items.

As was reported last year the cross street Christmas Lights needed major repairs. It was decided that the cost of replacing the wires across the street could not be justified. Councillor Ann Reith encouraged us to consider wrap around helixes on most of the lampposts which, unfortunately, are not strong enough to support anything heavier. The result was well received and Councillor Reith already has plans for next Christmas, including renewal of the lights in the trees in Radlett Gardens.

The proposed work on the pavilion at Phillimore Recreation Ground has not gone ahead because we have encountered further problems with the original construction. The Tennis Courts at the Recreation Ground are in need of re-surfacing. The cost of this would be about £15,000, which we cannot afford at present. We have, however, purchased a new tractor to replace one whose running cost was becoming too high.

Last year we reported that it was hoped to install vandal proof lighting in Radlett Gardens. This has been deferred as the cost has proved too expensive and together with the other expenses I have mentioned would have increased the budget above an acceptable figure. We still await a decision by Hertsmere Borough Council as to what they intend to do with the old toilet block in Radlett Gardens. When that decision is made we will re-consider the lighting.

The proposal to develop Salter's Field for use as additional playing fields for local sports clubs has been deferred. The County Council has indicated that they would be against any infilling of the land. Which leaves the only option to cut and level, which would not be self-financing. This would mean a major capital outlay for the Parish to undertake the work with little opportunity to recoup the cost.

I extend my grateful thanks on behalf of all the residents of the Parish of Aldenham to Fred Hills, our Head of Grounds Maintenance and his Staff for all they do to keep the Parish looking attractive. The flowerbeds and hanging baskets seem to get better every year. If all those who either live in or pass through the Parish took their rubbish home or put it in the bins provided, the streets could look even better.

Councillor Ron Worthy

Finance and General Purposes Committee

We have again acted to improve the reserves of the Council. At the financial year end these increased by £28,000 to an overall figure around £78,000.

We revised the monthly budget-tracking summaries to make them easier to follow from one year to the next and to compare expenditure in each of the areas.

The Radlett Centre funding came under the microscope and was not increased year on year. There are many challenges for our limited funding and the percentage of that going to the Centre should not continue to be so high in future. This should remain a focus for the years ahead.

The final agreed increase for the Precept for the year ahead was £21,221. This is only a 4.63% increase for the parish.

Councillor Michael Thompson

Youth and Community Centre Committee

The Radlett Youth and Community Centre, situated at the bottom of Loom Lane, is managed by Aldenham Parish Council. However it is owned directly by the Platt Foundation, who lease it to Hertfordshire County Council, and they, in their turn, sublet it to us. The Parish Council is responsible for the internal maintenance and decoration, which we have been doing over the last year or so, but the external maintenance is the responsibility of the County Council. There are some major works here which need doing, and which have been brought to the attention of the County, but as yet they have not committed to do anything. We have recently enlisted the help of our own County Councillor, Martin Saunders, to help with this.

In late 2004 we had to increase the prices for using the Youth Centre as we faced a large increase in insurance premiums for the building. We are back to a break-even situation, which means that the Youth Centre is no burden on the Council Precept.

As for changes to the users of the Youth Centre in the past year, Traffic Light Productions have left, but we have taken on extra bookings from Topkidz for school holiday clubs, a keep fit group on Monday evenings and a martial arts group on Sundays and Wednesday evenings, as well as Perform (a children's theatre group) on Saturday afternoons. All in all, the Youth Centre is quite busy as the moment.

I would like to thank Jan Adams, the Deputy Parish Clerk, for her hard work in taking the bookings and day to day liaison with the users, and Reg Carrott, our hard working caretaker.

Councillor Mrs Viv Charrett

Boundaries and Planning Committee

The Boundaries and Planning Committee meets frequently to scrutinise applications for development within the Parish. In the past year we have reviewed 329 applications for planning consent in the Parish, an increase of 2.8% over last year. We continue to receive applications for the demolition of properties on large plots and possible over-development of the site. The construction of two blocks of flats at 9 and 9A Watford Road is almost complete and building at Wall Hall is well under way with both developments having opened show homes. So far development of apartments has been contained on Watford Road up to the junction with Gills Hill Lane .

The Roundbush garage site finally gained approval and should enhance the area and alleviate some of the parking problems in the vicinity. The Parish Council did not oppose the application by Bhaktivedanta Manor in Letchmore Heath for the erection of a new agricultural building which was refused by Hertsmere Borough Council and has gone to appeal. The old Ford garage site at 203 – 205 Watling Street was finally given permission for change of use to a children's play and dining area, together with basement parking; the petrol station will remain.

Hertsmere refused the application for 65 apartments on the site of the old Quadrant works on Watling Street and a local inquiry will take place in August. Similarly, an outline planning application for 100 dwellings at Watling Knoll was refused on 15 counts. The Parish Council objected strongly to both on several grounds including insufficient parking spaces, over-development, traffic flow onto Watling Street and in the case of Watling Knoll, unsuitable development adjacent to the Green Belt.

This year the committee has responded to the Draft Consultation document on High Hedges Complaints and supported the response of the Council for the Preservation of Rural England on the Consultation Draft Revised Circular on Planning Obligations. We contributed to the Parish Council's response to the East of England Regional Assembly's draft Spatial Strategy. Members of the committee have visited several contentious sites and attended seminars run by Hertsmere Borough Council.

The committee continues to press for the stringent upholding of enforcement of planning permission.

Again, I appeal to all residents who feel they may be affected by planning decisions to notify us of their concerns prior to the application coming before us and I would remind everyone that all meetings of the Committee are open to the public.

Finally, I would like to thank my fellow Councillors on the Boundaries and Planning Committee for their continued support and enthusiasm. I also extend my thanks to the Parish Council staff and in particular, Roberta Floate, our administrative officer, for the helpful way in which they assist residents with problems and concerns relating to planning matters, and to the staff of the Planning Department at Hertsmere Borough Council for their help.

Councillor Mrs Elizabeth Wackrow

Transportation Committee

The Taxi Voucher scheme had to be discontinued through lack of funding. This had been a great success and helped many elderly and disabled people in the Parish.

We are still concerned at the level of over-flying by helicopters from Elstree Airfield and continue to monitor and lobby to ensure that inconvenience is kept to a minimum.

Parking in Radlett is a major issue. Hertsmere Borough Council has recently proposed a scheme to take over enforcement of all parking restrictions, in addition to its own car parks. The Parish Council will continue to pay in order to keep parking in Newberries car park “free” for the first hour. We continue to be concerned at the number of able-bodied people using the spaces reserved for disabled people.

The state of the roads in the parish is unsatisfactory. Meetings are regularly held with the highway engineers, but it is often difficult to get agreed priorities translated into action. My predecessor, Ron Worthy, highlighted this problem in his report last year but there has been no improvement. Even small problems such as potholes and blocked drains take an age to rectify. Any residents encountering problems (potholes, pavement problems, blocked drains, faulty street lighting) can report them via www.hertsdirect.org/highwayfaults or 01923 471320.

The biggest long-term issue facing Radlett is that of the railway. Since highlighting the implications of the Thameslink 2000 project last year your council has received over 70 messages of support from residents. The main points are:

The train service from Radlett has deteriorated during the past 10 years. In the early 90s there were more frequent trains, and they were faster. We now have fewer trains, and they stop at all stations.
The number of commuters from Radlett has increased, and is likely to continue doing so.
Part of Thameslink 2000 aims to upgrade the line to take 12 coach trains and it is conceivable that the majority of trains will have 12 coaches. Yet it is not intended to extend the platform at Radlett, so shorter trains will not be able to stop there.
Planning permission has been applied for to extend all station platforms between Bedford and Kings Cross except for Radlett, Hendon and Cricklewood.
Thameslink say that an adequate service of 8 train coaches will serve Radlett.

I find it difficult to conceive that the train service will not decline further if Thameslink 2000 goes ahead without Radlett being upgraded, and that if Radlett station is not upgraded in this round it is unlikely to be upgraded at a later date.

Thameslink 2000 is in abeyance again and we learnt recently that there might be a new public enquiry later this year. If there is a public enquiry we will seek to be heard; if there is not to be an enquiry then we will continue to lobby for Radlett to be upgraded.

Councillor David Lambert

Newsletter Committee

The Parish Council has again published four editions of Around Radlett. The costs, approximately £6,750, have been defrayed by advertising income of about £1,700.

Each edition of 16 pages has contained news of events, such as the Radlett Festival in the summer of 2004, plus articles of local interest - many from regular contributors. These included two articles by Hertsmere Borough Councillor John Graham on planning in the area, an article by Lt Col Keir Ayling about his experiences whilst serving in Iraq , and an article on the history of Wall Hall by Philip Eastburn.

Each edition has been delivered by the Post Office to all 4,500 houses in the area covered by the Parish Council, that is to say Radlett, Aldenham, and Letchmore Heath, together with those houses in the Parish on the other side of the M1 towards Garston. Some delivery problems were encountered early in the year, particularly to one or two of the more distant locations. These were quickly identified and corrected.

Again we are indebted to Hertsmere Print Services who continue to offer a very competitive service in designing and printing each edition.

Finally I would to extend my personal thanks to the Deputy Parish Clerk, Jan Adams, for her continued hard work on the publication of the Newsletter during the year, and to my Councillor colleagues who serve on the Newsletter Committee.

Councillor Mrs Ann Reith

Festival Sub Committee

Last year's Festival weekend was a real success, large numbers of local people had a great weekend, either at the concert, the Fair, or both, and we raised a lot of money for local Youth facilities.

On that basis, we will be repeating the event, this year on the weekend of 11 and 12 June. The Saturday evening concert was a wonderful event, but largely aimed at the older residents. So, this year we are targeting younger people and holding a Rock Concert on the Tabard Rugby Ground on Saturday afternoon. This will be in the form of a Schools Rock Band competition, with great prizes donated by local firms of studio recording time, and musical instruments for the winning school.

The Sunday afternoon Fair will be similar to last year, but with the theme “Pirates and the Caribbean”. There will be a steel band playing, fancy dress competition for the children, some vintage and classic cars on display, and the winning band from the previous day will play a set. There will also be quite a few craft stalls with several people displaying their techniques on the day. If we get similar weather to last year, it will be a great weekend.

Councillor Mrs Viv Charrett

Footpaths Subcommittee

The Footpaths Subcommittee has the aim of bringing together various parties who are interested in the upkeep and preservation of the footpaths, bridleways and other rights of way in the parish. We monitor the state of footpaths and co-ordinate the reporting to the Countryside Management Service at Hertfordshire County Council.

The committee also works closely with the Parish Paths Partnership that makes grants to Parish Councils for the upkeep of footpaths. In the past five years we have secured grants to fund important maintenance work on our paths, which has been undertaken by the Parish Council's grounds staff.

We welcome comments from residents on the state of paths e.g. overgrowth, condition of stiles and gates which we pass to the relevant authority to rectify.

I would like to thank all the subcommittee members, particularly Dr David Slater of the Radlett Society and Green Belt Association and Mr Brian Hyde of the Roundbush, Patchetts Green and Aldenham Conservation Society who have regularly provided vital knowledge of the footpaths in the parish.