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| Friday, November 21, 2008 |
| Annual Report 2005 | |
Download a PDF file of this page here (right-click and 'save target as'). ALDENHAM PARISH COUNCIL Present: Officers: The minutes of the meeting held on 1st July 2003 were signed as
a true and accurate record.
4. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING The meeting stood adjourned at 8.20pm to enable Mr Rob Morris of Excel Sports to address the Committee. The meeting reconvened at 8.30pm Following on from the last meeting, the Clerk advised that the Council charged more than St Albans District Council but less than Hertsmere Borough Council for senior pitch bookings over a 32 week season. The Council charged considerably more than any other Local Authority for the Junior Pitches. In light of the regular bookings Excel Sport wished to make for the Junior Pitches and the fact that although a commercial organisation, they did provide a community facility it was agreed that Excel Sports should book the junior pitches to ensure their exclusive use and that the fees would remain unchanged this financial year. Members RESOLVED that The Head of Grounds Maintenance advised all scheduled work was progressing well. Grass cutting had been kept to a minimum during the dry weather. Installation of the pond liner had also been interrupted by the dry weather. It was noted that The Noise had been very good hirers and the politeness of the children exceptional. Members congratulated the grounds staff on an excellent hanging basket display at the Radlett Centre and along Watling Street. Many local residents had commented on how pretty they looked this year. Regrettably, the millennium bench at Radlett Gardens had been vandalised. Grounds staff had repaired the bench and re-stained it to blend in the repair work. A member of the Bowls Club had tripped on some uneven paving leading from the Recreation Ground Car Park to the public footpath along the side of the tennis courts. Grounds staff had re-laid the paving during August, however, it was noted that further relaying of paving would be required around the Recreation Ground and bowls green during the winter months. It was noted that some residents had hedges overhanging footpaths adjacent to the Recreation Ground and although the Grounds staff had carried out some trimming back, a proper cut back was required. The Clerk was requested to set up a standard letter to residents whose hedge or fence was encroaching over public footpaths. Councillors and grounds staff where requested to advise details of addressees so that the letter could be sent. Members advised the Head of Grounds Maintenance that a new fence had been erected along the boundary of 3 Scrubbitts Park Road and the Scout Hut site. It was thought that barbed wire had been put up along the fence protruding over the Scout Hut Site. The Head of Grounds Maintenance was requested to investigate the new fence and the Clerk to take appropriate action following his investigation. (Action: Head of Grounds Maintenance/Clerk) Councillor Mrs Reith advised that she had obtained permission from the Post Office to light the almond tree. Lamps and Tubes had quoted £620 to put pea lights onto the tree and connect them to the adjacent lamppost. It was agreed that the tree would require trimming and the Head of Grounds Maintenance was requested to arrange for a contractor to trim the tree when Councillor Mrs Reith could also be present to ensure that its shape was aesthetically acceptable. It was noted that replacement Christmas trees for above the shops would cost £43 each and that some of the lights also needed replacing. It was agreed that as many trees and lights as possible should be replaced with the remaining budget. It was agreed that an item should be placed on the agenda for the next meeting of the Committee. The Clerk was requested to contact Sainsbury’s manager to see if they would be willing to contribute to lights outside their parade of shops. (Action: Clerk/Head of Grounds Maintenance) It was noted that two of the fun days had been cancelled due to
lack of support. Members agreed that holiday fun days should still
be scheduled for 2004 but a specific advertising campaign carried
out in June/July. Members were advised that the plot holder of numbers 7 & 8 did not seem to be working either plot and neighbouring plot holders had complained. The Head of Grounds Maintenance and Deputy Clerk had asked the plot holder to tidy up the plots, but little work had been carried out. It was suggested that Members may wish to review the Rules and Regulations for Allotment holders in line with those issued by other Parish Councils. RESOLVED that (Action: Clerk/Deputy Clerk) 10. SQUIRRELS IN FIR SPRING WOOD It was noted that complaints had been received from residents living adjacent to Fir Spring Wood concerning squirrels getting into their houses, climbing outside walls and generally making a nuisance. The Head of Grounds Maintenance advised that squirrels were now raking through litter bins and causing a mess in the Recreation Ground. Hertsmere Borough Council Environmental Heath Unit had quoted £120 to humanely cull the squirrels. Members were of the opinion that usually a householder would be responsible for removal of squirrels from their property regardless of who owned the land where the drays were located. As the squirrels were also affecting Parish Council property Members RESOLVED that on this one occasion the Council would arrange for a cull of the squirrels in Fir Spring Wood. (Action: Clerk) 11. TREE MANAGEMENT AT COBDEN HILL DELL The owner of 22 Cobden Hill had requested that the Council carry out some works to their trees located in Cobden Hill Dell. Hertsmere Borough Council had been asked for their opinion, however, due to the resignation of the Tree Officer and the subsequent back log of work, the Clerk had been advised that the Tree Officer would only give an opinion on works to trees requested on an official form. The completion of the form would require the opinion of a qualified tree surgeon. The Council’s staff and contractors are no longer able to gain access to the Dell from the public highway due to the problems with registration of the Council’s land at Cobden Hill Dell. Until the access to the land has been reinstated to the Council’s ownership, Members were of the opinion that it would not be possible to carry out a proper assessment of the state of the trees and the Clerk was requested to pursue the matter of reinstating the Council’s access as soon as possible. (Action: Clerk) 12. SWINGS IN PHILLIMORE RECREATION GROUND The Head of Grounds
Maintenance advised that during August it had been noted that the
larger swings in the Recreation
Ground were wearing
out at the bearings. Spare parts could not be bought from the manufacturer
as the swing was in imperial rather than metric measurements. Following
consultation with the Chairman, the Clerk had decided to employ MM
Mowers to build new blocks and pins for the swings for under £500
and the Ground Staff had been requested to paint the swings. It was
hoped that the swings would last for quite a few more years following
the repair. The Clerk advised that the quotation from Wicksteed for a cradle swing and safety grass was £190 more than budgeted for. Members RESOLVED that the Clerk try to obtain a cheaper quotation or exhibition deal at the Institute of Groundsmanship on 4th September but failing that the quotation be accepted. (Action: Clerk) Councillor Mrs Charrett advised that she had drawn up some plans of a vandal resistant lighting scheme for Radlett Gardens. A ball park figure was £2,000 - £3,000. However some further details were still awaited. It was agreed that this should be budgeted for in the next financial year. The Committee thanked Councillor Mrs Charrett for her hard work. (Action: Clerk/Councillor Mrs Charrett) Allan Beaver, President Elect of Radlett Rotary, had contacted the Council concerning the annual fete. Round Table would not be running it any more because they no longer had enough members and it had become beyond their resources. Apart from this, the mounting cost of public liability insurance was also a problem. The Rotary Club suggested setting up a committee with one representative of each voluntary organisation in Radlett to run it, under auspices of the Rotary Club, which would undertake ultimate responsibility. A specific aim might be to raise money for a local project felt by the Parish Council to be desirable but for which Council funds were not available. Furthermore, it is proposed that while the individual organisations would via their fete stalls, raise money for their own charities, they would contribute a percentage to the named charitable project for that year. Members RESOLVED to set up a Carnival Sub Committee with Councillor Mrs Charrett representing the Council and chairing the meetings. (Action: Clerk) 16. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting was re-scheduled for 8pm on 13th October 2003.
Footpaths Sub Committee would be held at 7pm on 13th October.
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