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ALDENHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL held at 8pm on Tuesday 20th May 2003 at The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett.

Present:
Councillor J.A. Howley (Chairman)
Councillor S. Burke
Councillor M. Thompson
Councillor W. Deem
Councillor Mrs F.A. Turner
Councillor D. Lambert
Councillor Mrs E.E. Wackrow
Councillor Mrs S.A. Reith
Councillor R.T.A. Worthy

In attendance:
Mrs Carrie Lloyd – Clerk
Mrs Jan Fletcher – Deputy Clerk

1. Election of Chairman

Councillor J. Howley was elected Chairman for the ensuing Municipal Year.

2. Prayers

The Chairman, Councillor Howley, led prayers.

3. Apologies for Absence

Councillor Mrs A. Baker, Councillor Mrs W.M. Griffin and Councillor Mrs V. Charrett.

4. Election of Vice-Chairman

Councillor R. Worthy was elected Vice Chairman for the ensuing Municipal Year.

5. Appointment of School Governors

RESOLVED that the following be nominated as the Council’s representatives to the appropriate Board of Governors;

• Newberries J.M.I. - Councillor Mrs Wackrow
• Wall Hall Nursery - Mr G. Walton

The Clerk was requested to ascertain whether Mrs C. Fletcher was willing to represent the Council on St. John’s Church of England Infant School’s Board of Governors.

(Action: Clerk)

It was understood that a representative was not required for Fairfield Junior School.

6. Membership of Committees

RESOLVED that Members be appointed to the Committees as follows;

• Boundaries and Planning Committee
  Councillor Burke
  Councillor Mrs Charrett
  Councillor Deem
  Councillor Lambert
  Councillor Mrs Reith
  Councillor Mrs Wackrow
  
• Newsletter Committee
  Councillor Howley
  Councillor Mrs Reith
  Councillor Mrs Wackrow
  Councillor Mrs Turner
  Councillor Worthy
  
• Recreation Grounds Committee
  Councillor Burke
  Councillor Howley
  Councillor Mrs Reith
  Councillor Mrs Baker
  Councillor Lambert
  Councillor Mrs Turner
  Councillor Worthy
  
• Transportation Committee
  Councillor Deem
  Councillor Mrs Reith
  Councillor Mrs Wackrow
  Councillor Mrs Baker
  Councillor Lambert
  Councillor Mrs Turner
  Councillor Worthy
  
• Youth and Community Centre Committee
  Councillor Mrs Baker
  Councillor Mrs Charrett
  Councillor Thompson
  Councillor Mrs Turner
  Councillor Worthy
  1 Vacancy
  
• Finance and General Purposes Committee
  Councillor Mrs Griffin
  Councillor Howley
  Councillor Mrs Reith
  Councillor Mrs Wackrow
  Councillor Thompson
  Councillor Worthy

7. Nomination of Members to Outside Bodies

RESOLVED that the following Members represent the Council on the designated outside body;

1. Car Parking Charges – The Clerk was requested to follow up the lack of response with Richard Grove.
   
   
2. Renewal of Insurance – It was noted that the cost of insurance had increased by 40% on the previous year. The Clerk was requested to review the insurance to ensure that there was adequate cover and to obtain alternative quotations in time for 2004/05.
   
   (Action: Clerk)
   
   
3. Calendar of Meetings – Members noted that there was an error regarding the Planning Committee meetings in June and July and this would be reviewed at the Planning Committee meeting on 21st May.
   
   (Action: Administrative Officer)
   
   
4. 28 Elm Walk – Members were advised that the Chairman had written to the Clerk on the terms agreed and the assured shorthold tenancy had been signed. It was confirmed that no right to buy was conferred by an assured shorthold tenancy.
   

11. To receive communications from the Chairman

1. Council Website - The Chairman advised Members that the temporary site created by the Clerk was no longer available due to uploading problems. As it was considered essential that the Council had a site, quotations had been obtained from various site designers. It was RESOLVED that Councillor Howley, Councillor Mrs Wackrow and the Clerk form a Working Party to advise the Finance and General Purposes Committee of the preferred draft site and quotation.
   
   
2. Training for Councillors and the Good Councillors Guide – The Chairman advised of training sessions being organised by HALC for Councillors on the following dates;
   
   Saturday 7 June at 2pm at County Hall
   Monday 9 June at 7pm at North Herts. College Letchworth
   Tuesday 24 June at 7pm at Bishops Stortford
   Thursday 26 June at 7pm at Hemel Hempstead
   
   These sessions would cover Standing Orders, Agenda setting, Roles of Councillors and Clerks; The Finance and Audit regime; Standards and Monitoring and Chairing of Council and Public meetings.
   
   Members were requested to advise the Clerk if they wished to attend.
   
   The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) had published the Good Councillors Guide. Three copies were being sent to each Local Council but it was also downloadable from NALC’s website. Copies had been sent to newly elected Members on the Council and other Members were requested to contact the Clerk if they wished to be sent a copy.
   
   
3. Code of Conduct Training for Councillors 28th May 2003 – Members were reminded of the training course being run by Hertsmere Borough Council on 28th May at 7.30pm. The course was recommended to all newly elected Councillors and those who had not been able to attend training sessions before.
   
   
4. Prayers at Council – The Chairman advised that the local clergy had expressed an interest in attending Council and saying prayers. Members would be asked to decide at the next meeting of the Council whether the Clergy should be invited to attend Council meetings to say the Council’s adopted prayer and remain to listen to the debate if they so wished.
   

12. To approve the recommendations within the Minutes of the following Committees;

1. Finance and General Purposes Committee – 16 April 2003
2. Boundaries and Planning Committee – 28th April 2003
   

The recommendations contained within the two sets of Minutes were approved.

13. To authorise the payment of accounts

As noted in the preceding minute, the Finance and General Purposes Committee’s recommendations for s137 grants had been approved and therefore Members signed the cheques.

The accounts were approved and the month’s cheques signed.

14. Code of Conduct and Declaration of Interests

The Clerk circulated the Declaration of Interest forms that each Member was required by law to complete. Members were advised that the deadline was 29th May.

(Action: Members)

15. Draft Member/Officer Protocol

The Clerk circulated copies of the Draft Member/Officer Protocol and requested that Members respond with any comments or amendments by mid- June so that they could be incorporated in the document to be presented for Members’ approval on 25th June.

(Action: Members)

16. Planning

1. Planning Statistics
   174 applications had been received since 1st January, 66 had been approved, 27 had been refused and 52 were still awaiting decision. The decision figures had not changed from the previous Council meeting because Hertsmere Borough Council had not had a meeting of the Bushey/Aldenham Planning Sub Committee in the last month. Members noted that the next meeting of the Boundaries and Planning Committee would take place on Wednesday 21st May.
   
   
2. Applications of special interest:
   i. Quadrant Works – A reply had been sent advising that this Council favoured residential development of the site.
   ii. Little Orchard, The Warren – The Council had raised objections to the erection of a wall and railings, as it was not in keeping with the street scene. Hertsmere Borough Council had refused the application.
   iii. The Barn, Letchmore Heath – The application for demolition had been refused.
   iv. 29 The Ridgeway – The application for demolition and erection of two houses on site had been refused.
   
   
3. Other Planning matters:
   i. Hertsmere Jewish High School Trust, Kendal Hall Farm - Councillor Mrs Wackrow had prepared some notes of the site meeting she attended at the invitation of the Trust. Members were asked to contact her if they wished to be sent a copy. Members were particularly concerned at the potential traffic impact of this application and it was agreed that the Parish would draw up a policy for debate at Council prior to the Planning Committee considering the planning application when submitted.
   ii. Members were advised of a Seminar on Renewable Energy and the Planning System that would take place on 11th June 2.30pm – 5.30pm at St Albans. All Members were welcome to attend.

17. Items of Interest from Minutes of other Authorities
Councillor Mrs Wackrow advised of a legal challenge being made to the Watford Grammar Schools’ selection policy which had been raised at Newberries School Governors’ meeting. It was agreed that Councillor Mrs Wackrow should submit a draft document supporting the schools’ selection policy for debate at the next meeting of the Council.

Councillor Worthy advised that he would be meeting Adam Thompson from Hertfordshire Highways on 30th May to discuss various highway issues in the Parish.

18. June and July 2003 Meetings

(All commence at 8pm unless otherwise stated)

Closure 9.42pm.