1 Introduction

In May 2007 we started the next four year cycle of the Council with elections to replace the retiring Councillors. To the retiring Councillors I wish to express the Councils sincere thanks and to the four new councillors a warm welcome. Inevitably there had to be some reorganisation and we took the opportunity to strengthen our approach to the major tasks. This was not only intended to share the work load but to help increase our response to the increasing demands of the changing local government scene. In particular we have moved to ensure that our operating procedures are sufficiently professional to create a twenty first century parish council. I am pleased to report that we have made significant progress.
Cllr. Mike Bradshaw, Chairman

2 Council Members and their Prime Responsibilities

The retained council members are Mike Bradshaw, Chair, Mike Joseph Deputy Chair, David Nobbs, Planning, and Mark Jarrad Finance.
New Council Members are Sharon Sims, Highways, Pauline Southworth, Youth & Education, Martha Godwin, Legal. Susan Fowler, (recently co-opted)
Each member has an interest in more than one group, typically four members per group. Allotments & Open Spaces and membership of the Herts. Association of Parish and Town Councils are currently the responsibility of Mike Bradshaw.

3 Staff

The Council is ably supported by Jo Deacon, Clerk, Malcolm Durrant, Village warden and Peter Sandall, Common Ranger. Jo is the focus of our efforts to achieve Quality status for the Council and is a tireless worker on our behalf; Malcolm and Peter stoically attempt to remove litter and other hazards from our footpaths and Common. With the increasing demographic pressure, these tasks do not get easier.

4 Community Support Officer

Our Community Support Officer, Kim Ashworth attended our Council meetings for the first half of the year keeping the Council informed of Police work in and around the Village. Kim was promoted to a new post in Berkhamsted at Christmas and since then support has been shared by Ward Officers, PCs Julie Hennessy and Emma Sikora. To Kim well done, we are sorry to see you go and to Julie and Emma thanks for helping out.

5 Finance

The Parish Budget for 2008-09
Our budget shows the precept raised from your Council Tax will be £25,450. This represents an increase of £450, or 1.8%, over the current year ending 31st March 2008. The effect of this increase on a Band D property is only 49p, or 1.7%, taking the new figure to £29.76 per annum.
Dacorum has agreed to our request to raise £19,450 (the Concurrent budget) to pay for the salary and expenses of our Village Warden and Common Ranger and to provide grant aid to various Village organisations. The Concurrent budget is higher than the current year by £500, or 2.6%. These increases are well within estimates of inflation over the next year.
Financial Management
We have had a busy year ensuring we have the necessary policies, procedures, systems and controls in place to enable us to apply for Quality Parish Council status when the time is appropriate. To this end we have adopted a new Parish Council policy, new Standing Orders governing the way your Council conducts itself, a new Code of Conduct, a new Complaints Procedure, updated our Principles of Financial Management, new Financial Regulations and a new Financial Risk Assessment. We have implemented a brand new computer based accounting system designed for smaller councils and have reviewed our levels of reserves. We are pleased to report that your Parish Councils finances are under control and in a healthy state.
Grant Aid
We have been able to provide grant aid to Junior and Senior Football clubs, the Cricket Club, the Playgroup, the Village Hall and a contribution was also made towards the maintenance of the graveyard. We have also earmarked a contribution to the Youth Clubs planned renovation. This year we are looking to widen the number of organisations we provide grant to help other activities flourish, in particular youth activities. The overall grant is, however, just the same so some organisations may receive less than usual.
Mark Jarrad

6 Planning

The past year has been a busy one for the Planning Working Party. Once again there has been a record number of planning applications passed to the Parish Council by Dacorum Borough Council for our comment. At the time of writing the number stands at 70. In each case, the group considers the merits of an application from the villages point of view, paying particular care to see whether it conforms to the recommendations of the Village Design Statement. It makes recommendations to the Parish Council which then advises the Borough Planning Department whether we support or oppose it. If our views differ from those of the planning officers, the application is referred to the Borough’s Development Control Committee.
One proposed new development, which has not yet reached the planning application stage, is the proposed construction for Hightown-Praetorian Housing Association of 7 affordable dwellings at the end of Nunfield. A public consultation for this was held in September, when residents expressed concerns regarding the means of access to the site.
The Parish Council is also engaged with the Borough’s Enforcement Officers on issues affecting 8 properties where violation of planning regulation may have occurred. Several of these have been resolved. The Council was also instrumental in making the Borough Council reverse a decision concerning the eligibility for acquiring housing at Didsbury Cottages.
Your Council has made representations to the Borough Council, Hertfordshire County Council, and the Government Office for the East of England and others on a number of their Planning Consultation documents. The subjects have included Water Management, Mineral Working, Waste Development sites in the County, the Boroughs Open Spaces Strategy and the Regional Strategy for the East of England. The final version of this last-named is due to be published shortly with its expected government target for Dacorum to build 600 new homes a year from now until 2031, nearly double the rate over the past 5 years. We shall need to maintain our vigilance to preserve and enhance our village environment.
David Nobbs

7 Highways

Highways work is the responsibility of Herts. Highways Department and limited by their budget but your Council can influence events. A review of gulleys, drainage and potholes was carried out in the summer of 2007 by Parish Councillors. The final Roads Review, including photographic evidence was presented to Herts. Highways. As a result, Herts. Highways have responded in a positive manner and the report forms the basis of our on-going review.
A number of issues highlighted in the Road Review have now been completed. The pot holes on Windmill Hill and outside Wyevale garden centre and the Nunfield Road sign have been repaired. Other issues such as: Double yellow lines outside The Two Brewers and Stanley’s Store/Ricketts Butchers, are to follow shortly.
The Annual Gulley (Drain) Cleaning occurred on schedule (probably a first) in October. Whilst most gullies were cleared, some were omitted. A supplementary report was produced and the details discussed with Highways who are now looking into this.
Road safety and speeding traffic continues to be a grave concern. Highways were persuaded to conduct road tests on Tower Hill and Dunny Lane. Initial results were marginal but Highways have agreed to recommend the installation of a vehicle actuated sign in Dunny Lane. Whilst an excess of street furniture is to be avoided, your Council believes that the trial of this vehicle actuated sign is an important step towards encouraging a more responsible attitude in drivers through the Village.
Sharon Sims

8 Allotments & Open Spaces

Allotments
The Allotment Field is the largest piece of land owne
d by Chipper
field Parish Council. We have unearthed maps which show the allotments dating back to at least 1878. Your Council with the cooperation of the Allotment tenants have committed to restore the boundary hedges and generally tidy up years of spoil. The first stage, restoring the Blackwells side from the tennis courts to the main entrance by the White House, we are aiming to complete in 2008. A revised tenancy agreement has been issued this year. We have a high level of occupancy and a waiting list. Once the tidy up has been completed we hope we can create an allotment field we can all be proud of and provide more people with this excellent form of creative recreation.

Open Spaces
Three new, fox proof, waste bins have been installed on the Common which appear to work. A map of the Common has been produced for walkers together with an interpretation board.
The Council are currently involved with Dacorum in establishing a new Five Year Plan for the management of the Common Woodland. This will involve the removal of non-native species, the thinning out where fast growing trees threaten old established trees and some replanting. Maintaining the Woodland is a perpetual responsibility which your Council takes very seriously indeed. If all goes to plan we hope, with Dacorum, to establish Green Flag status for the Common.
Mike Bradshaw

9 Youth and Education

Your Council is keen to try to engage more with those activities which further the interests of youth. Attempts in the past have met with limited success so this year we are creating a sharper focus for our activities. We have an excellent Youth Football club that supports 10 football teams in the 7 to 18 year olds but we need to encourage more out of school activities for this age group.
We have an offer from The Rural Play Scheme for a climbing wall for which we need to choose a suitable site. We also have some DBC lottery funding available to re equip our play areas in Croft Meadow. We plan to ask the children of St. Pauls to help decide which of the available equipment they would like to see installed.
The Martial Arts evening classes for older teenagers did not succeed, however, the junior classes did. This gap between enthusiastic youngsters and disaffected teenagers is worrying. Adverts in Chipperfield News asking teenagers for suggestions for leisure activities have not produced a single reply or enquiry. Are we to assume that the young of the village are all happy with the many activities already available in the village?
A Grant has been approved by the Council to upgrade the building which has been used previously as a youth club, so work on this project should start shortly. The building now has a piano in situ and when refurbished, it will also have disabled facilities. The building should be a valuable asset to the village, suitable for a variety of functions. If you are out there and have any ideas we would welcome your input.
Pauline Southworth