ALDENHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of PARISH COUNCIL held at 8pm on Tuesday 28th October 2003 at The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett.

Present:
Councillor J.A. Howley (Chairman)
Councillor Mrs A. Baker
Councillor Mrs W.M. Griffin
Councillor S. Burke
Councillor Mrs S.A. Reith
Councillor Mrs V. Charrett
Councillor Mrs E.E. Wackrow
Councillor W. Deem
Councillor R.T.A. Worthy

In attendance:
Ms. Carrie Lloyd – Clerk
Mrs Jan Adams – Deputy Clerk

1. Prayers

The Chairman, Councillor Howley, led prayers.

2. Apologies for Absence

Councillor Mrs Turner, Councillor D. Lambert and Councillor M. Thompson

3. Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

4. To approve the signature of the Minutes of the Meeting held on 30th September 2003

The minutes of the meeting held on 30th September 2003 were signed as a true and accurate record.

5. Matters arising from the Minutes of the Meeting held on 30th September 2003

1. Street Cleansing – The Clerk had received a copy of a fax from County Councillor Saunders to Head of Asset Management at Hertsmere Borough Council suggesting that the Parish take over the cleansing function of these footpaths. A response had not yet been received but it was thought that Cleansing was responsible for these footpaths not Asset Management.
   
   
2. Charges for Newberries Car Park – The Chairman advised that he had responded to Richard Grove, Head of Planning, Transportation and Building Control at Hertsmere Borough Council and an acknowledgment letter received in return.
   
   The replacement ticket machines for the car park were on order and would be fitted as soon as they had been delivered.
   
   
3. Hertfordshire Association of Parish and Town Councils Councillor Training – The Chairman advised that the course content was the same as previously offered.
   
   
4. Members’ Allowances – It was noted that an article would be appearing in the next edition of Around Radlett.
   
   
5. Aldenham Green – Members noted that the lease ran until 2007 and requested that the Clerk investigate whether a break clause existed to terminate the lease earlier.
   
   
6. Invitation to assist with the Rights of Way Improvement Plan – It was noted that Dr Slater would be submitting a response to the Footpaths Sub Committee for consideration.
   
   
7. Elstree Aerodrome Committee – It was noted that the last meeting of the Committee had not been able to consider the report on silencing of aircraft as it had not been available on time.
   
   
8. Highways Tree Survey – The Clerk had left messages for Mr Davis to contact her and a response was still awaited.
   
   
9. Footpath 54 – It was noted that no improvements had been carried out. The Clerk had established that no specific condition applied to the permission given to the flood alleviation works. The County Council were pursuing that matter further with the Environment Agency.

6. To adjourn the meeting for members of the public to address the Council

There was no one present who wished to address the Council.

7. To authorise the payment of accounts

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

Members noted that RBS Auditing Solutions had been appointed the Council’s internal auditors for 2003/04 due to the untimely death of Mr M Perkin.

The Chairman requested that all Members give consideration to projects they wished to be included in the next year’s budget and to advise him by how much they considered the precept should rise in 2004/05.

(Action: Councillors)

8. To receive communications from the Chairman

1. Remembrance Sunday – The Chairman advised that Cllr Mrs Reith had volunteered to lay the wreath at the War Memorial in Radlett and he would be laying the wreath at Letchmore Heath.

9. To Answer Questions from Councillors

1. Youth and Community Centre – Insurance – Cllr Deem requested an update on the situation regarding the buildings insurance for the Youth and Community Centre. The Chairman advised that at present the Council was not aware of any liability within the Council’s lease with Hertfordshire County Council for reimbursement to be made by the Parish Council to the owners of the building, the Platt Foundation. This had been notified to the Foundation. It was recognised that in order to prepare next year’s budgets, quotations should be obtained as to what would be a likely premium should Hertfordshire County Council require the Parish Council to reimburse them for the cost.
   
   (Action: Deputy Clerk)
   
   
2. Letter received regarding concessionary rates charged by the Radlett Centre - Councillor Mrs Griffin advised of a letter received from a resident expressing concern at the small concession offered by the Radlett Centre. Members were of the view that the letter should be considered by the Board of Trustees and a reply sent from them.
   
   (Action: Councillor Mrs Griffin)

10. Approval of the recommendations within the Minutes of the following Committees;

1. Transportation Committee - 2 October 2003
2. Boundaries and Planning Committee - 6 October 2003
3. Recreation Grounds Committee - 13 October 2003
4. Finance and General Purposes Committee - 15 October 2003
5. Boundaries and Planning Committee - 20 October 2003

RESOLVED that the recommendations be approved.

11. To note the minutes of the following Sub Committee

1. Footpaths Sub Committee - 13 October 2003

RESOLVED that the minutes be noted.

12. Planning

1. Planning Statistics
   
   309 applications had been received since 1st January, 181 had been approved, 71 had been refused and 57 were still awaiting decision.
   
   
2. Applications of special interest:
   
   i. Wall Hall – A new application had been submitted. It was now proposed to build 131 dwellings, increasing the density from 20 per hectare to 34 per hectare. The Planning Committee had objected on the grounds of the increased density as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister had refused the previous permission on grounds of density recommending an increase to only 30 per hectare. The demolition and replacement of some old buildings had been included in the new application. The South block had been increased in height from the previous application. Members had expressed their concerns about traffic and access to the Local Planning Authority. Parking spaces had been reduced to 1.5 spaces per dwelling, there would be no designated parking for visitors or trades people nor for people wishing to walk the public footpaths.
   
   ii. Bhaktividanta Manor – The application had been refused on grounds of impact on the Green Belt.
   
   iii. 54 Williams Way – Consideration of the application had been deferred by the Local Planning Authority for negotiations, consultation and a survey of the trees.
   
   iv. 30 New Road – The application had been refused.
   
   v. 12 Aldenham Grove – The application had been refused.
   
   vi. 24 Aldenham Grove – The appeal hearing had been set for a date in December.
   
   
3. Other Planning matters:
   
   i. Supplementary Planning Guidance – Hertsmere Borough Council had approved both the Supplementary Planning Guidance on Annexes for Dependent Relatives and Domestic Staff, a guide for householders and the Supplementary Planning Guidance on Sex Establishments in the Borough.
   
   ii. 34 Loom Lane – The development was still causing concern. The Head of Planning, Transportation and Building Control at Hertsmere Borough Council had met the agent on site that day and would be meeting with County Councillor Saunders that evening. Members agreed that the outcome of the meeting with Councillor Saunders should be awaited, if no satisfactory outcome is achieved then the Parish Council should write to Head of Planning, Transportation and Building Control at Hertsmere Borough Council again expressing their concern at the inaction of the Local Planning Authority to remedy the breaches of Development Control on the site.

13. To Consider Reports from Officers of the Council

1. Draft Terms of Reference – Footpaths Sub Committee – Members noted the draft terms of reference as circulated and RESOLVED that they be approved.

14. Items of Interest from Minutes of other Authorities

1. RAIFA reception and 25th Anniversary Dinner – The visitors from Louveciennes had sent their thanks to the Chairman for an enjoyable time during their visit earlier in October. The Chairman advised Members that RAIFA would be holding their 25th Anniversary dinner on 5 December at the Pastoral Centre, London Colney for £15 per head. All Members were invited to attend with their spouses.
   
   
2. The Avenue, Radlett – Conservation Area – Dr and Mrs A.R. Bellau had requested the Council’s support in their proposal to apply to Hertsmere Borough Council for a Conservation Area Order to be made on The Avenue Radlett. Members gave their support to this proposal and the Clerk was instructed to write accordingly.
   
   (Action: Clerk)

15. November and December 2003 and January 2004 Meetings

(All commence at 8pm unless otherwise stated)

29 October 2003 - Radlett Centre Trust (2.30pm)
3 November 2003 - Boundaries and Planning Committee (7.30pm)
4 November 2003 - Recreation Grounds Committee
12 November 2003 - Finance and General Purposes Committee
17 November 2003 - Boundaries and Planning Committee (7.30pm)
25 November 2003 - Council
26 November 2003 - Radlett Centre Trust (2.30pm)
1 December 2003 - Boundaries and Planning Committee (7.30pm)
8 December 2003 - Finance and General Purposes Committee
15 December 2003 - Boundaries and Planning Committee (7.30pm)
16 December 2003 - Council
5 January 2004 - Boundaries and Planning Committee (7.30pm)
6 January 2004 - Footpaths Sub Committee (7pm)
6 January 2004 - Recreation Grounds Committee
13 January 2004 - Newsletter Committee
14 January 2004 - Finance and General Purposes Committee
19 January 2004 - Boundaries and Planning Committee (7.30pm)
20 January 2004 - Youth and Community Centre Committee
26 January 2004 - Newsletter Put Together meeting
27 January 2004 - Council
28 January 2004 - Radlett Centre Trust (2.30pm)

Closure 9.15pm.