ALDENHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of PARISH COUNCIL held at 8pm on Tuesday 16th December 2003 at The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett.

Present:
Councillor J.A. Howley (Chairman)
Councillor Mrs A. Baker
Councillor D. Lambert
Councillor S. Burke
Councillor Mrs S.A. Reith
Councillor Mrs V. Charrett
Councillor Mrs F. Turner
Councillor W. Deem
Councillor Mrs E. Wackrow
Councillor Mrs W.M. Griffin
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 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 25th November 2003

The minutes of the meeting held on 25th November 2003 were signed as a true and accurate record.

5. Matters arising from the Minutes of the Meeting held on 25th November 2003

1. Street Cleansing – Whilst the footpaths in question had been cleaned, a response had not been received to County Councillor Saunders fax to Head of Asset Management at Hertsmere Borough Council suggesting that the Parish take over the cleansing function of these footpaths although it was thought that it was not an asset management function but a street cleansing function.
   
   
2. Charges for Newberries Car Park – The Chairman had not received a full response from Richard Grove, Head of Planning, Transportation and Building Control at Hertsmere Borough Council.
   
   
3. Aldenham Green – The Clerk had contacted Hertfordshire County Council to ascertain whether a break clause existed to terminate the lease earlier. A response was still awaited.
   
   
4. Highways Tree Survey – The Clerk was still awaiting the “missing” roads list from Mr Davis ay Highways.
   
   
5. Youth and Community Centre – Insurance – Members noted that County Councillor Saunders was meeting with representatives from Hertfordshire County Council Property Services in early January to discuss a way forward.
   
   
6. Loom Lane Street Name Plate – It was noted that this had not been repaired yet. The Clerk advised that she had just been sent the contact details for the person responsible for street name plate repairs who worked for Hertsmere Borough Council not Hertfordshire County Council as originally thought. He had confirmed that the repair would take place shortly.

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.

8. To receive communications from the Chairman

1. Radlett Station – Thirteen emails had been received so far. It was suggested that a page could be put on the website to encourage further responses. It was agreed that this would be raised at the next meeting of Joint Councillors. The Clerk was requested to report the unsatisfactory state of the service roads around the station to Network Rail.
   
   (Action: Clerk)
   
2. Precept – Around Radlett Response – One response had been received to the Chairman’s request for ideas on Council expenditure in Around Radlett. Mr Bermange had requested that the Council consider resurfacing the tennis courts at Phillimore Recreation Ground. He also requested that the markings be moved around by 90 degrees as in the winter months the sun shines directly into the eyes of the server at one end. If the court was moved around by 90 degrees then the sun would shine across the court instead of down it.

9. To Answer Questions from Councillors

1. Radlett Centre Refurbishment – A Member asked whether some of the panels would be left white in the archways of the Radlett Centre. The Chairman of the Radlett Centre Trust advised that some snagging work was still required, including repair of the wooden bollard at the entrance to the Centre, so not all work was finalised.
   
   
2. Street Furniture – It was agreed that an item should be placed on the agenda for Joint Councillors requesting when the Parish’s street furniture would be painted.
   
   
3. Street Signs – Members raised the problem of dirty street signs and removal of signs that were out of date. It was agreed that this would also be raised at the meeting of Joint Councillors in January.
   
   (Action: Clerk)

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

(i) 1 December 2003 - Boundaries and Planning Committee
(ii) 8 December 2003 - Finance and General Purposes Committee

RESOLVED that the recommendations contained within the two sets of minutes be approved.

11. Planning

1. Planning Statistics
   
   No figures were available for the meeting.
   
   
2. Applications of special interest:
   
   a. Wall Hall - Councillor Mrs Wackrow reported that she had attended the recent presentation by Octagon at Hertsmere Borough Council. The changes had been explained in detail. The main change was to the reduction in density. The number of dwellings had been reduced from 33.5 residences per hectare to 30.5 residences per hectare. The least dilapidated of the older farm buildings would now be retained. Parking had been reduced to meet the requirements of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Extra car parking had been created around the information centre. The Local Planning Authority would be considering the application on 22nd December.
   
   
3. Other Planning matters:
   
   a. Draft Interim Planning Guidance: The Provision of Affordable Housing – A Guide for Developers - The Boundaries and Planning Committee had agreed to support all of the comments in the draft proposal.
   
   b. 29b, c and d Loom Lane – had been refused planning permission by the Local Planning Authority.
   
   c. 30 New Road – An appeal had been submitted by the applicants against the Local Planning Authority’s decision to refuse the application.
   
   d. 34 Loom Lane – The Local Planning Authority would be considering an application for minor amendments to the approved plans on Thursday 18th December.

12. To Consider Reports from Officers of the Council

1. Consultation by Hertfordshire County Council on relevant areas for 2005 – 2006 school admissions
   
   Members expressed concern at the inclusion of Radlett within the Bushey catchment area, particularly as no public transport links existed between the schools and Radlett. Members authorised the Clerk to respond on their behalf following consultation with and agreement by Councillor Mrs Wackrow and Councillor Mrs Turner.
   
   (Action: Clerk)
   

13. To Consider Reports from the Chairman

1. Halls of Residence – Hertfordshire University – The Chairman thanked various members for their support at the ceremony to open the Aldenham Hall of Residence at Hertfordshire University on 12th December.

14. Items of Interest from Minutes of other Authorities

1. Horticultural Society – Britain in Bloom Competition - Councillor Mrs Wackrow had been requested to ascertain the Parish Council’s view on entering the Britain in Bloom Competition in 2004. Members noted that the Council was already committed to the Carnival in 2004 and did not wish to over extend its resources. It was agreed that this should be discussed again in a year’s time but it was recognised that a significant problem would be the unsightly recycling bins at the entrance to Newberries Car Park.
   
   
2. Meeting with Highways - Councillor Worthy advised that following a meeting with representatives from the Highways Unit he had the following to report;
   • One Stop Shop, Watling Street – Tesco’s (the owners of One Stop) had requested that a loading bay be created in the service road outside the shop. Highways had raised objections to the application.
   • Willow Way – Thames Water would be carrying out sewerage work in Willow Way shortly and the road would be closed for 9 weeks.
   • Crossovers – Five applications had been received for crossovers on Battlers Green Drive. Four had been refused as they would have affected the designated parking bays in Battlers Green Drive. The applicants were taking the matter to the Local Government Ombudsman.

15. January and February 2004 Meetings

(All commence at 8pm unless otherwise stated)

5 January 2004 - Boundaries and Planning Committee (7.30pm)
6 January 2004 - Footpaths Sub Committee (7pm)
6 January 2004 - Recreation Grounds Committee
12 January 2004 - Joint Councillors
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)
2 February 2004 - Boundaries and Planning Committee (7.30pm)
3 February 2004 - Recreation Grounds Committee
11 February 2004 - Finance and General Purposes Committee
16 February 2004 - Boundaries and Planning Committee (7.30pm)
24 February 2004 - Council
25 February 2004 - Radlett Centre Trust (2.30pm)

Closure 9pm.