Parish Council Annual Report 2010-2011

1 Introduction & Summary

I am pleased to report a successful year with a number of significant achievements. It has also been an eventful year with a number of Councillor changes, due mainly to retirement.

The Allotments are a major Village asset. Investment in the boundary hedge restoration programme and general tidying continues. Rents have been increased in October, after due notice, to achieve a revenue neutral position, closer to the national average rent.

In cooperation with Dacorum Borough Council (DBC), we achieved the Green Flag Award again for The Common and its maintenance programme. This is the third year running. You will no doubt have seen some of the carefully managed changes.

The Common is perhaps our most valuable asset and we owe a great deal to all those who look after it and try to maintain its unique environment. Special thanks should go to Colin Chambers the DBC Trees and Woodlands Team Leader, Chipperfield Parish Council Staff and the Friends of Chipperfield Common Group which goes from strength to strength and whose
members give their time and effort so generously.

The Council is pleased to report that the Parish Council’s finances are under control and in a healthy state. As expected, there have been some budget cuts for next year but with careful management, we believe we can ensure the current level of precept and maintain progress, moving forward. Be assured your Council is keeping a close watch on Local Government issues both
directly and through our association with Herts. Association of Parish and Town Councils. Cllr. Mike Bradshaw, Chairman

2 Council Members and their Prime Responsibilities

Council members are: Mike Bradshaw, Chairman, Executive member of the Herts. Association of Parish
and Town Councils; Mike Joseph, Deputy Chair; Steve Mant, Highways Road Safety & Transport; David Nobbs, Planning; Simon Gruselle, Finance & General Purposes; Martha Anson, Open spaces, Legal & Police; Harry Laverack, Allotments; Mark Jarrad and Pauline Southworth, Consultants.

3 Staff

The Council wish to thank Jo Deacon our Clerk, Malcolm Durrant the Village Warden and Andrew Orchard the Common Ranger for their hard work and commitment.

The Warden and Ranger help to maintain the tidiness and safety of The Common. Their performance continues to be a significant factor in our success in winning the Green Flag Award for The Common.

Jo Deacon is the focal point for the Council’s activities. Her dedication to the task has helped significantly to make this another
successful year.

4 Community Support Officer

Our PCSO is Bardhyl Agallili (Bardi), supported by PC Amanda Lees. Chipperfield is a relatively low crime area and the Council would like to thank our Police colleagues for their vigilance and support

The Police have introduced a series of “Street Meetings” to help widen the contact with the Police. We remain to be convinced that this has been an effective move. Police budgets are also under pressure and priorities are changing. Your Council will continue to monitor the situation carefully.                                                                                                   Cllr. Martha Anson

5 Finance

Budget: The Parish Budget for 2011-12 is £42,826, representing a cut of almost 5% on the previous year. The budget itself is made up of two parts, the Precept and the Concurrent.  The Precept is raised from homes in the Parish and will be £25,450, which is the same figure as for the year just gone. The Council felt it important to avoid any significant spending increase in what remain difficult economic times. The effect on a Band D property is a rise of 8p to £29.84 per annum.

The cuts in total government spending have led to our overall funding from DBC being cut by £2,100. Despite the cuts
we remain confident that for the year ahead we will protect the key services within the village, however, grants may have to be reduced.

Accounts: The Accounts for last year were submitted ahead of schedule for external audit. I am pleased to report that the auditors approved the accounts promptly with no qualifications.

Reserves: As a result of prudent financial management, your Council has established appropriate financial reserves. During 2010/11 the main investment has been on further work to the Allotment boundary hedge restoration.

Grant Aid: We have been able to provide grant aid to the Junior and Senior Football clubs, the Cricket Club, the Village Hall and a contribution towards the maintenance of the graveyard. We have also successfully widened the net of applicants for grants from the Parish Council in recent years. As a result, we have also been able to provide grants for the Small Hall, the Choral Society, Chipperfield Care, and St Paul’s School.                                                           Cllr. Simon Gruselle

6 Planning

The Parish Council submits its views to Dacorum Borough Council, on all the planning applications for development within Chipperfield. At the time of writing 32 applications had been dealt with in the past year, only half the number from 2 or 3 years ago, probably due to the difficult economic situation and partly to the easing of planning regulations in October 2008. In addition, planning enforcement issues are carefully monitored.

Two major projects concerned the council during the year. The first was the development of 6 new affordable dwellings for social rent at the end of Kings Close,by the Hightown-Praetorian and Churches Housing Association. The case for these had been won on appeal after having been opposed by both the Parish and Borough Councils. Building work took place throughout the year and the new development is due to be formally opened by the Mayor of Dacorum on March 22. The second is an application to reinstate planning approval given over 40 years ago for the erection of 9 houses in a field at the end of Wayside. The Parish Council is strongly opposed to this as are the residents of Wayside. A decision regarding the legal position on this
case is awaited from Dacorum Borough Council.

The government’s Localism Bill published in December introduces a new dimension to local planning. We await with interest to see what the new concepts such as ‘Right to Build’ ‘Neighbourhood Action Plans’ and  ‘local referenda’ will mean in practice and their relationship with existing structures. Cllr. David Nobbs

7 Highways Road Safety & Transport

The Parish of Chipperfield continues to benefit from the working relationship that the Council has established with Herts. County Council Highways. In winter 2009/10 prompt action was taken to patch dangerous potholes and in spring 2009 extensive further repairs undertaken. As you are aware this winter we have had another spell of freezing weather with
further damage to our road surfaces. Whilst we continue to press Herts. Highways to repair the roads, we strongly recommend that dangerous potholes are reported promptly and directly to Herts. Highways on 0300 123 4047 or at http://www.hertsdirect.org/actweb/hfr/default.cfm

A further programme of gully clearance has taken place in Tower Hill which has improved the situation but has also highlighted a number of broken pipes and blocked ditches which remain to be dealt with. Other issues rectified in 2010 include the gully clearance at Blackwell’s and foot-way flooding at Chapel Croft. Langley Road is now a priority.

The VAS (Vehicle Activated Sign) was re-sited closer to the crossroads of Dunny Lane and Tower Hill as requested but has unfortunately performed only intermittently. As a result of continued pressure by the Parish Council the sign has now been given an upgrade by the contractors which they believe will finally solve the problem. Once working reliably, the
effectiveness of this sign will be evaluated.                                                                   Cllr. Steve Mant

8 Youth, Education& Health

The council continues its policy of trying to further the interests of youth. CPC has provided grant monies toward the successful renovation of the Small Hall, which is used for several youth activities, and to the Junior Football Club.

The John Nichols and the Liz Holliday Prizes have been presented to the children of St Paul’s School. The prizes were awarded for illustration, writing and overall presentation. The work produced was of an extremely high standard. Well done the School! Cllr. Pauline Southworth (Rtd.)

9 Allotments

The five year plan for the Allotment restoration continues. The first pruning of hedge one and mechanical cutting of hedge two have been successfully completed. Preliminary cutting back of hedge three (football side) is complete and a four metre access strip established. The final part of hedge three restoration is scheduled to be carried out in the autumn after the bird
nesting season. Detailed planning for Hedge four (The White House side) will be completed this year.  Preliminary cutting
back of hedge four has already been completed ahead of schedule; full completion is scheduled for 2012.

After due notice, rents were increased in October to achieve a revenue neutral position, more in line with the National average. The Common Ranger has successfully completed a weed spraying course in order to help improve
Allotment weed control.

Once again we would like to thank all tenants and neighbours who have co-operated in the strategy to improve and maintain the infrastructure of the Allotments.                                                                  Cllr. Harry Laverack

10 Open Spaces

In 2008, your Council cooperated with DBC in producing a successful five year rolling Management Plan for the Common under the aegis of the Government’s Green Flag Scheme.  We are pleased to announce that the plan for 2010 was successful and the Green Flag award for the Common has been extended again.

In 2010 we undertook pond management, felling of hazardous trees and created a graded edge to open up paths, thus allowing more sunlight and wind into the heart of the Common. The plan is to increase the growth of native plants and to encourage insects, bats and bird to reside in these areas. The burial mounds will receive further attention in the spring when they will be sprayed with herbicide. The mounds will also then be identified by placement of suitable information
boards.

For reasons of environmental preservation, your Council is not in favour of the proliferation of notices or furniture on The Common. In the 2009 Survey, however, the issue of dog fouling on The Common was highlighted by residents and in 2010 we had further problems with the illegal use of barbeques.  In response, the barbeque signs are being renewed and dog-fouling signs erected, in the car parks.

The Friends of Chipperfield Common have been very busy this year.  Accomplishments this year include clearing the overgrown willows around Pill Pond, restoring the view, and gorse clearing opposite the Windmill.  The Frog
Pond was cleared of weeds and the hedge re-laid.  At the Apostles Pond, they removed parrot weed from within the pond, cut back the overgrowth and re-established a path around the pond.  Their hard work, under the expert guidance of Colin Chambers, has significantly improved the quality of the Common.                                            Cllr Martha Anson