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ALDENHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of the PARISH COUNCIL held at 8pm on Tuesday 28 March 2006 at The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett.

In attendance: Ms. Carrie Lloyd – Clerk

143. Prayers

The Chairman, Councillor Howley, led prayers.

144. Apologies for Absence

Councillor Burke, Councillor Mrs Griffin and Councillor Lambert.

145. Urgent Late Item

The Chairman advised that he had agreed to consider two urgent late items that related to insurance and the Volunteer of the Year Panel.  The reason for urgency was because the Council’s insurance was due to finish on 31st March and the Volunteer of the Year Panel required authority of the Council to make a selection from those nominated.
 

146. To approve the signature of the Minutes of the Meeting held on 28 February 2006

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2006 were signed as a true and accurate record.

147. To receive any updates from actions in the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2006

1. Speeding down Craigweil Avenue, Trees/Shrubs along Gills Hill Lane and Craigweil Avenue and gutters and gullies – A meeting had been held with Mr Gregory & Mr Davies from Hertfordshire Highways.  It was hoped that an application form could be completed for working on the highway which would enable the Council to carry out the removal of basal growth. (Action: Clerk)
   
   
2. Result of Enquiry into Parish Council funding the Radlett Fire Station – The press release had gone out and had been printed by some of the local papers.  It was noted with regret that the County had decided to close the Fire Station and further details were awaited including a response by the Save Radlett Fire Station Action Group.
   
   
3. Allocated Spaces in Newberries Car Park – The CPZ Manager at Hertsmere would be contacting the Clerk in due course regarding the marking out of Radlett Centre priority spaces.
   
   
4. Parking Meter – Aldenham Ave – The meter had now been repaired.
   
   
5. Disabled Bays, Newberries Parade – Members noted that a small sign was on the ticket machines in Newberries Parade advising disabled drivers that they did not need to show a ticket, only their blue badges.  Members requested that the machines in Newberries Car Park be looked at too. (Action: Clerk)
   
   
6. Planning – Members were advised that other Parish & Town Councils in the Borough did not publish applicant names (although public information) and that local press only published large, listed building or conservation area consent applications for the Borough without applicants’ names.  Members decided to keep the current format for the Boundaries and Planning Committee agenda.
   
   
7. Radlett Old People’s Welfare Committee mini bus – Members were advised that the bus had been sold and would be collected by mid-May.

148. To consider appointing Members to vacancies on Committees

RESOLVED that the membership of Committees and representation on outside bodies be agreed as shown at Appendix A.

149. To authorise the payment of accounts

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

150.  Communications from the Chairman

1. Hertsmere Waste Survey for Best Value - Members RESOLVED that the Clerk, following consultation with Councillor Worthy, should respond on behalf of the Council. (Action: Clerk)
   
   
2. Radlett Station Meeting – Members were advised that Mr Glover and Councillor Lambert would be meeting with the Transport Minister and James Clappison MP on 3rd May to discuss upgrading the station.
   
   
3. Police Force Amalgamation – Members were advised of the recent decision by the Home Secretary proposing the amalgamation of Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire Police Forces.  The Hertfordshire Police Authority and Constabulary had advised that they believed that the best structure for delivering protective services whilst maintaining local accountability and providing greater efficiency would be a merger of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire with Essex remaining as a stand alone force.  Further discussions were being held.
   
   
4. Rubbish behind Newberries Parade – The Chairman had received an email regarding the litter behind Newberries Parade.  Members commented that Hawthorn Road was also very bad and that the rubbish bin on The Drive had been removed too.  In view of the constant problem of litter behind Newberries Parade, alleviated only by the volunteer work of the Radlett Society & Green Belt Association, the Clerk was requested to contact Environmental Health regarding the problem.
   
   
5. Rail Freight Depot, Park Street – Members were advised that an exhibition would probably take place on 7th or 8th April in Park Street.  Details, when known, would be circulated.
   
   
6. Fire Station Closure – As noted earlier, the County Council had voted to close the Fire Station.
   
   
7. Local Relationships – The Chairman had invited representatives of all the faiths in Radlett to a meeting on 3rd May at 8pm at the Radlett Cente to discuss local relationships.  Members were invited to attend.  The Chairman would report further following the meeting.

151. To respond to questions from Councillors

1. National Association of Local Councils – It was noted that the Government was reviewing Borough and County Councils with a view to creating neighbourhood councils.  This may enable Parish and town Councils to take on greater responsibility for service provision in the future.
   
   
2. Tree Basal Growth – Work had not yet been carried out to trees in Newberries Avenue and Craigweil Avenue because the permission of the Highways Authority was required.  The Clerk was working with the Highways Authority to obtain a blanket permission for minor works to trees around the Parish with details of the specific works being notified by telephone. (Action: Clerk)

152. Approval of the recommendations within the minutes of the following Committees

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

153. Planning applications from the inquorate meetings of 6th March and 20th March 2006

Members considered the suggested responses to the planning applications due to have been considered at the inquorate meetings of 6th and 20th March 2006 and RESOLVED that the comments attached at Appendix B and C to these minutes be approved.

154. Planning

1.   To consider the number of applications received, allowed, refused and withdrawn from 1st January 2006 to date
   
   57 applications had been received, 1 had been approved and 3 refused.
   
   
2. Report by the Boundaries and Planning Committee Chairman on applications considered at the meetings of the Committee or decisions reached by the Local Planning Authority or Appeals lodged with the Planning Inspectorate that are of special interest
   
   
   1. Retrospective Application, Blackbirds Farm – recycling of bread and bakery products – This was an application to be dealt with by the County Council.  Councillor Mrs Balen had attended a site visit organised by the County Council and the Boundaries and Planning Committee had subsequently objected to the application.
   2. 61 Aldenham Ave, Radlett - Erection of a new detached house (outline application including siting and means of access) – Hertsmere Borough Council had refused the application.
   3. 23a Shenley Hill – Retention of trellis – Consideration of this application had been deferred by the Bushey/Aldenham Planning Sub Committee to enable further discussions to take place.
   
   
3. Other Planning Matters

1. Local Development Framework – Some Members of the Boundaries and Planning Committee had attended the meeting organised by Hertsmere Borough Council on 13th March to discuss the future Local Development Framework.  The next meeting of the Committee would respond to the consultation document on this matter.

155. Insurance 2006/07

The Clerk advised of two quotations received one from Zurich and one from Ace Europe.  The latter did not reflect the increase in assets which occurred during the compilation of the assets register but a revised quotation was awaited.

It was noted that Zurich were offering a long term discount for taking out a 3 or 5 year insurance deal and that Ace Europe were offering a similar discount. 

In view of the tight deadlines Members RESOLVED that the Clerk accept which ever insurance quotation was most acceptable when taking account of cost, services offered, level and speed of service and discounts being offered for up to 5 years.

(Action: Clerk)

156. Volunteer of the Year Panel

To enable a decision to be made prior to the Annual Meeting it was RESOLVED that Councillor Worthy, Councillor Deem and Councillor Mrs Baker be appointed to a Volunteer of the Year Committee which would consider the recommendation of the Panel of judges and make a selection from those nominated.

157. Calendar of Meetings

RESOLVED that the calendar of meetings attached at Appendix D be approved.

158. April and May 2006 Meetings

(All commence at 8pm unless otherwise stated)

Closure 9.30pm.