St Peter’s Church, High Street Annual Town Meeting

Thursday 1 May 2014 at 7.30pm

The Great Hall

Town Hall AGENDA

1. Presentation of the Centenary Civic Awards by the Town Mayor and President of the Rotary Club of Berkhamsted Bulbourne

2. Apologies for absence

3. To receive and confirm the minutes of the Annual Town Meeting held on 16 May 2013

4. Welcome from the Town Mayor, Councillor Ian Reay

5. Report from Berkhamsted Youth Town Council

Interval and refreshments

6. Reports from Chairs of Committees

i Finance and Policy Cllr David Collins

ii Transport and Environment Cllr Peter Matthews

iii Town Planning Cllr Laurence Handy

iv Allotment Management Cllr Anthony Armytage

v Canal & Riverside Partnership Cllr David Collins

7. Open Forum - Question and Answer Session

Only registered electors of the Town of Berkhamsted may speak or vote at the meeting

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INTRODUCTION FROM THE TOWN MAYOR

Welcome to the 41st Annual Town Meeting, which provides the opportunity for the Town Council to report on its work over the last 12 months to the electorate and residents in Berkhamsted.

Before I move onto the work of the Council, I would like to welcome two new Town Councillors – Councillors Danny Bonnet and Julian Ashbourn – who were elected to vacancies brought about by the sad deaths of Councillors John Lithgoe and Ron Cowie.

Turning to the work of the Town Council, the Chairs of each of the Town Council’s Committees will soon present their reports to you. I do not want to steal their thunder, but I want to highlight some of the work of the Town Council over the last 12 months against the backdrop of what is still a period of austerity for public services.

Once again the town council has frozen its share of Council Tax (the precept) and continues to provide value for money in the services it provides to the town. The precept remains at £19.18 per average household – less than 40p per week.

The Town saw a very successful Festival of Light in November, which raised over £10,000 for local schools, organisations and charities. I pass on thanks to all those groups and volunteers who join together to make the Festival of Light such an enjoyable time for everyone in the town and visitors from far and wide.

I also want to mention Lagley Meadow Youth Centre, which only a few years ago was faced with closure, but is now being run by the Town Council and running very successfully as home to Happy Days Pre- School and BASH, a local after-school club.

Much of the work of the Town Council is in influencing others to ensure the town receives the attention and services it needs.

All of you will have noticed the state of the roads and how some improvements have been made such as tarmacing repairs to Kings Road. But much more needs to be done and the Town Council continues to press the County Council for repairs to be made.

I am pleased to report that some interim road safety improvements for the increased number of pupils travelling to have been put in place at the three-way junction of Kings Road, Kingshill Way and Shootersway, pending a traffic light system when funding for this is available. Improvements have also been made to the footpath to Bridgewater Schools; and more are planned to provide safer routes to other schools in the town.

Many will have also seen the work to replace the cobblestones on Church Lane. This work is now almost complete and was brought about by a strenuous campaign by the Town Council to bring together sufficient funding for the work, including a £10,000 contribution from the Town Council.

By far the busiest Town Council Committee is the Town Planning Committee, which meets on average every three weeks. My thanks go to Councillor Handy and fellow Councillors on that Committee, for their continued and sustained hard work in considering planning applications and making planning recommendations to the Borough Council. Page 3 of 24

2013/14 has been a challenging year for planning, including the initial application for the Taylor Wimpey development of houses at the junction of Shootersway/Durrants Lane and the sheltered housing development at the former Laundry on the High Street. Further substantial applications are anticipated in the coming year, including for a possible new multi-storey car park at Lower Kings Road and a new Lidl supermarket.

And we await the outcome of the legal challenge to the Borough Council’s Core Strategy by Grand Union Investments who, as you will know, have plans to build 800 homes to the south of the town.

I also want to use this opportunity to thank everyone who invited me as Mayor to your community events this year. The number and variety of my engagements from Petertide, Pepper, the Lions Club, the 1066 Club for the Blind and Partially Sighted, the British Legion, the Chamber of Commerce Westfield and Ashlyns Schools for example, shows the range and diversity of groups in the town.

A full list of my engagements for the year is attached to this introduction and my thanks, and those of the Town Council, go to all the groups and the hundreds of volunteers who do so much for the town and for its residents.

I would like to mention that Brian Shepherd is displaying details of the latest audio trail walk which takes in some historic sites dating back to WW1 including The Inns of Court WW1 Memorial on New Road and the WW1 practice trenches, used by the Inns of Court Regiment before being sent to fight in France.

Many thanks to Brian for his work on audio walk which is one of a number of commemorative events being planned in the town in the week of 26 July to commemorate the centenary of the start of World War I.

I want to finish by emphasising that the job of the Town Council is to represent the interests of the whole community and that means consulting and engaging with them and the range of groups around the town.

For example, the Town Council has recently met with representatives of B-Hive to discuss their ambitious plans for part of the town centre and we are currently in discussion with the Borough Council about those plans.

On that note, I would use this opportunity to remind residents that Town Council and Committee meetings are open to the public and the press, and are a forum for residents to express their views on local issues being considered and which affect them. You are very welcome and are encouraged to attend those meetings.

The Chairs of the Town Council’s Committees will report to you shortly and then there will be an opportunity to ask questions. But first, I would like to introduce members of Berkhamsted Youth Town Council to tell you about their work over the last year.

Councillor Ian Reay Town Mayor Page 4 of 24

MAYORAL EVENTS 2013 -14

2013 22 May Mayor Berkhamsted Arts Trust AGM 15 May Mayor Petertide Fair 8 June Mayor The Dacorum Borough Council Talking Newspaper AGM 9 June Mayor Chesham Town Council Civic Service 10 June Mayor The Company of the Year Competition 14 June Mayor Westfield First School’s 50th Anniversary 24 June Deputy Hertfordshire Scouts AGM2013 24 June Deputy Armed Forces day – Fly a Flag Ceremony 25 June Mayor Visit of 25 Spanish Schoolchildren 28 June Mayor West Herts District Scout Council AGM 30 June Mayor Hertfordshire County Council Music Service Concert 2 July Mayor Vale 2013 4 July Mayor Berkhamsted school Speech Day Various Neither County Youth Music Groups Summer 2013 Concert Series 19 July Mayor Pepper Concert 22 July Mayor The Happy Wanderers 57th Birthday Party 8 August Neither Chamber of Commerce Summer Networking BBQ 11 August Mayor Sunnyside Allotment Open Day 26 August Mayor Berkhamsted Lions August Bank Holiday Fete 7 September Mayor Co-operative Funeralcare Chapel Blessing & Open Day 8 September Neither DBC Mayor’s Fundraising Family Fun Day 19 September Neither Home-Start Dacorum AGM 2013 21 September Mayor 35th Charter Anniversary of Berkhamsted Lions 22 September Mayor DBC Mayor’s Fundraising Tea at Shendish Manor 24 September Mayor ASK Restaurant Berkhamsted Charity Cheque Presentation 27 September Mayor Northchurch Parish Council Annual Reception 28 September Mayor Graham Greene Birthplace Trust Festival Supper 4 October Mayor Tring Mayor’s Charity Tring Brewery Visit 9 October Mayor Rennie Grove Hospice Care AGM 2013 9 October Deputy Citizens Advice Bureau AGM 11 October Neither Volunteer Centre Dacorum AGM 15 October Mayor Young Person of the Year Award 18 October Mayor Founder's Day 2013 at Berkhamsted School 21 October Mayor Tring Mayor’s Charity Flower Arranging Evening 24 October Mayor Gateway Club 30th Birthday Party 25 October Mayor Farewell Reception for DBC Chief Executive 2 November Mayor Waterstone Re-launch 9 November Mayor Royal British Legion Poppy Stall 10 November Mayor Royal British Legion Remembrance Day Parade & Service

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22 November Mayor DBC Mayor's Charity Quiz Night 22 November Mayor Age UK Dacorum Annual General Meeting 24 November Mayor Berkhamsted Festival of Light 2 December Mayor 1066 Club for the Blind & Partially Sighted Christmas Party 5 December Mayor Official Opening of Ashlyns as a Secondary School 6 December Deputy Junior Department Christmas Performance 7 December Mayor Berkhamsted Choral Society Christmas Concert 7 December Mayor Young Enterprise Scheme Stall and Small Business Saturday Visit 9 December Neither Community Action Dacorum AGM 11 December Mayor The Town Mayor’s Christmas Lunch for Volunteers Various Neither County Youth Music Groups Autumn 2013 Concert Series 13 December Mayor Connect Dacorum/Dacorum Community Trust Christmas 15 December Mayor Hertfordshire Royal British Legion Annual Carol Service 16 December Mayor Opening of Pre-School at Toad Hall Nursery 18 December Mayor Chesham Town Carol Service 2013 20 December Mayor Barclays Bank Christmas 'Open House' Week 21 December Mayor Lions Club of Berkhamsted Christmas Hamper Draw

2014 14 January Mayor Opening at Shaftsbury Court Day Club for Elderly People 8 February Mayor Tring Park School for the Performing Arts Musical 2 March Mayor Berkhamsted Half Marathon & Fun Run 2014 4 March Mayor Berkhamsted Fairtrade Town Group Annual Tea Party 7 March Mayor Dacorum Borough Council's Mayor Civic Reception 10 March Mayor Fly a Flag for Commonwealth Day 20 March Mayor Berkhamsted Citizens Association 90th Anniversary AGM 21 March Mayor Lockers Park School Senior Play 26 March Mayor Air Cadets Presentation Evening 27 March Deputy Dacorum Technology Tournament 2014 28 March Mayor DBC Mayor's 2nd Charity Quiz Night Various Neither Hertfordshire Music Service Spring Concert Series 14 April Mayor Kings Arms Publican Awards celebration 24 April Mayor Launch of Berkhamsted Haresfoot Brewery 27 April Mayor St George's Day Celebration

Scheduled 7 May Deputy Marks & Spencer Engagement Day 10 May Neither DBC Mayor's Charity Dance 11 May Mayor DBC Mayor's Civic Service

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FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE

FINANCE

Precept A key role of the Finance and Policy Committee is to assess the Town Council’s income and expenditure and to recommend the annual level of precept for Berkhamsted, as part of Council Tax levied by Dacorum Borough Council, and to deliver a balanced budget.

For 2013/14, and for the seventh successive year, there was no increase in the Council Tax precept for Berkhamsted residents, with the precept for Band D properties remaining at £19.18 for the year – less than 40p per week per household.

Accounts and Audit Reports for 2012/13 The Town Council’s financial accounts and return is audited each year by BDO LLP an independent external auditor appointed by the Audit Commission. BDO LLP reported that, for the year ending 31 March 2013, ‘the Town Council’s annual return is in accordance with proper practice and no matters came to their attention that gave cause for concern.’

The annual return and audit reports for 2012/13 are available for public inspection in the Town Council offices

Accounts for 2013/14 The Town Council accounts for 2013/14 are currently being finalised ready for audit and Town Council approval in June 2014. The accounts will then be available for public inspection.

The latest budget forecasts, considered by Finance and Policy Committee in April 2014, indicated that the Town Council income for the year will be around £209,000 against expenditure of £226,000, providing a deficit of £17,000, which will be drawn from the General Reserve Fund.

This deficit is around £5,000 more than set by Council for the budget at the start of the year and has been monitored and managed by the Committee. This deficit included unexpected costs of a by-election in East Ward and lower than expected rental income from Lagley Meadow Youth and Community Centre when a tenant ceased trading.

Lagley Meadow Youth and Community Centre I am pleased to report that the Town Council has now re-let Lagley Meadow to a new tenant – Happy Days Pre School, who join BASH – the Berkhamsted After School Club - as main tenants at the Centre. The Centre is now fully booked for term-time but is available for hire in the evenings and at weekends. Please contact the Town Clerk or Town Warden for details.

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Unfortunately, and disappointingly I also have to report that there have been further incidents of vandalism at the Youth Centre and neighbouring astroturf area this year. The Town Council continues to work closely with the local Police to improve security at the building but as the Town Council runs the astroturf area as open public space available to all, those security measures are necessarily somewhat restricted.

Grant Awards At the beginning of the year, the Town Council agreed a revised grant award policy and operates a grant awards scheme to provide financial support of up to £1,000 to voluntary groups and community organisations working ‘in the interests of the town, for the benefit of residents, to improve the range of services and activities in the town, or for the residents of the town.’

In 2013/14, the Town Council made the following grants:

1st Potten End Scouts Towards four new and replacement tents to increase £200 the number of children who can be taken camping Sunnyside Rural Trust Towards new equipment to support their gardening £300 enterprise Swan Youth Centre Towards the cost of a summer activity holiday £250 Berkhamsted Citizens Towards the restoration of the Turnpike and Parish £400 Association Boundary Marker Northchurch United Charities Towards funds for distribution to the elderly, £450 residents of limited means and local clubs towards funds for distribution to the elderly, residents of limited means and local clubs Total £1,300

Friends of St Peter’s The Town Council welcomed and supported the formation of The Friends of St Peter’s, who have taken responsibility for the upkeep of the church building, the grounds surrounding the Church and also for Rectory Lane Cemetery.

The Town Council has agreed to pass on the funding it receives from Dacorum Borough Council for the maintenance and ground keeping for St Peter’s Churchyard and Rectory Lane Cemetery to the Friends of St Peter’s. From April 2014, The Friends have taken responsibility for that maintenance work on behalf of the Town Council, and will be using the Town Council’s existing contractors.

Grounds Maintenance The Town Council continues to manage maintenance contracts with Frank Cooper and Son Ltd for grass and hedge cutting at the allotment sites and for some hanging baskets on the High Street and to Sunnyside Rural Trust for maintenance of flower beds at Gateway Gardens, London Road and Durrants Lane/Coombe Gardens. Page 8 of 24

Budget 2014/15 The Finance and Policy Committee considered budget proposals for the next financial year and made recommendations to Full Council.

The Town Council decision was, again, not to increase the precept for 2014/15 and to draw £30,011 from reserves to balance the budget. Town Council expenditure for 2013/14 includes continued funding towards two specific elements for the benefit of the town:

 Swan Youth Project £12,500  Police Community Support Officer £14,250

The Town Council also approved funding in 2014/15 for improved planting in the High Street; and for repairs to the War Memorial at the entrance to St Peter’s, in time for the Town’s commemoration of the centenary of the start of World War I.

A copy of the 2014/15 budget agreed by the Town Council is attached at the end of this report

POLICY

Festival of Light A very successful Festival of Light was held on Sunday 24 November 2013, with over £10,000 raised for local charities, schools and organisations. That event saw the benefit of investment by the Town Council in providing new Christmas lights along the High Street, which were needed to replace the previous 12 year old and failing lights and, for the first time, saw extended coverage of new lights along Lower Kings Road to the relatively newer shops in that area.

The Town Council passes on its thanks to the Lions and Rotary Clubs, Community Action Dacorum and all other volunteers who gave their time to event, to everyone in the town for attending the Festival in such large numbers; and to local businesses, particularly Berkhamsted and District Chamber of Commerce for their donations to the Festival of Light.

Berkhamsted Castle The Town Council holds the licence for the former ticket office, which is part of Castle Cottage in the ground of the Castle. In turn the Town Council, by agreement with English Heritage, who manages the Castle grounds on behalf of the Duchy of Cornwall, provides the building to Berkhamsted Local History and Museum Society to use as a visitor room and information centre.

The Town Council thanks the 40 volunteers, including those from the Local History & Museum Society, the Berkhamsted & District Archaeological Society and the Rotary Club, for their work over the past year.

Nearly 4,000 people visited the Visitor Room in the course of the year, and considerably more visited the Castle itself. The volunteers provided 15 groups with guided tours and the Local History and Museum

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Society also organised guided tours called ‘Walk Back in Time’ covering the Castle and the Historic Town Centre. Tours of the Castle also featured in the Society’s Heritage Open Days.

Following discussions between the Town Council and English Heritage, it is intended to return to using the Castle Grounds for events for the benefit of the town and the Rotary Club proposes a musical theatre event to be held at the Castle on Saturday 12 July 2014.

Information and Communications Technology Following a decision by the Borough Council to cease all IT and telephone services and support, and following a procurement exercise, the Town Council has entered into a contract with KCS, a local company, to provide the Town Council with secure information technology and telephony services. This required a change in Town Council office telephone numbers and email addresses from those provided through the Borough Council switchboard.

The Town Council also took the opportunity to refresh and upgrade its website through Commune2Ltd, a specialist website provider to local councils. The website is at www.berkhamstedtowncouncil.gov.uk. The Town Council can also be followed on Twitter @berkhamstedtc

Freedom of Information and Complaints Handling The Committee agreed an updated Freedom of Information Policy, which sets out the Town Council’s publication scheme and procedure for handling requests for Information; and also agreed updated arrangements for handling complaints.

Both new polices are available on the Town Council’s new website.

Councillor David Collins Chair, Finance and Policy Committee

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2014/15 BUDGET

INCOME Precept/Tax Base Adjustment £160,650 Concurrent Services/Town Warden £17,658 Festival of Light £6,000 Allotments £8,200 Lagley Meadow Youth Centre £15,475 Fairground Rental £1,500 Interest £4,200 TOTAL INCOME £213,683

EXPENDITURE Support services £92,846 Office Administration/Facilities £40,222 Councillor Costs £400 Financial and Legal £3,150 Grants £10,100 Allotments £8,155 Civic Activities £3,500 Publicity and Promotion £3,800 Projects £36,750 Festival of Light £10,000 Swan Youth Project £12,500 PCSO funding £14,250 DBC Delegated Functions £3,334 Civic Maintenance and Planting £17,570 Lagley Meadow Youth Centre £15,667 TOTAL EXPENDITURE £235,494

SURPLUS (DEFICIT) I/E (£21,811)

Asset Renewal Fund Increase £2,000 Election Fund Increase £6,200

DEFICIT (Transfer from General Fund) (£30,011)

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TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

TRANSPORT

Parking Forum The Parking Forum continues to work to address parking and traffic management issues in the town.

A substantial part of the work of the Parking Forum comprising representatives of resident, business and schools alongside Councillors has been in liaising with the Borough Council as it develops proposals for a multi-storey car park off Lower Kings Road.

Taking into account views expressed by the Parking Forum, the Committee recognised that the multi- storey car park would provide more parking spaces for the town, which is needed as more shops are opening in the town and more housing is planned.

More parking, particularly for shoppers and employees at businesses in the town, should help alleviate on-street parking problems and bring a number of social and economic benefits.

The current position is that the Borough Council has agreed to move to design and planning for the multi-storey car park, which will involve extensive consultation with residents and businesses on proposals and their impact on the town, including on traffic circulation and air quality, and on how sustainable building materials might be used in the construction.

Subject to that consultation, and discussions with Waitrose to explore one way access and exit to all the car parks at Lower Kings Road, Waitrose and St John’s Well Lane, the Borough’s indicative timetable is to develop an outline design for the car park, to consult with the town to develop detailed proposals from that consultation in 2014; to tender and build the car park in 2015; and for the car park to open in early 2016.

Parking Provision The Committee has also kept under review the work undertaken by the Forum to enhance parking provision across the town. That work included:

 Encouraging cycling by providing more cycle racks in the town, which is under consideration by Herts County Council

 The Chamber of Commerce promoting businesses to exchange their travel plans/journeys made by employees into the town and to explore if, collectively, they can make use of liftshare.com.

 To identify locations where line markings would prevent dangerous and obstructive parking and where removal of lines would safely permit more car parking.

 Sacred Heart Catholic Church providing permits for their car park spaces

 The Football Club providing up to 20 car parking spaces for rent at their Broadwater car park

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 Ensuring that the Borough Council considers revisions to parking provision standards for new building developments when the Core Strategy is next reviewed.

The Forum also explored a number of other proposals which subsequently could not be taken forward, including:

 Extending Ashridge Management College Bus Service to round-the town bus service

 Fuller use of the underground Tesco car park.

 Use Kitcheners Field for school parking or making spaces available to commuters

 Station Car park to reduce prices/offer ‘part-time’ season tickets for part-time commuters – not accepted

 Use of Library Car Park, although spaces are made available to Sunday market traders

 Use of SportSpace Car Park.

Other work being explored to create spaces for car parking includes:

 Potential for green space at the junction of Holiday Street and Chapel Street to be ‘greencreted' to provide parking spaces

 Proposing parking bays at Castle Street towards the Canal Bridge, where there was sufficient and safe space for more cars to park.

The Committee also supported the Borough Council’s proposal to introduce short stay (20 minutes no return for 2 hours) parking bays outside shops on Charles Street, which were in response to requests from shopkeepers and were geared to support these local business.

Urban Transport Plan The Committee responded to the County Council’s consultation on an Urban Transport Plan, which identified a range of issues and priorities for the Town. The first three key priorities to be progressed in the Urban Transport Plan were agreed to be:

 Scheme 04 - Improvements at Shootersway/Kingshill Way junction  Scheme 30 - Speed management on Kings Road (between Shooterway and High Street)  Scheme 36 - Traffic calming and extension of 20mph Zone to include Gravel Path

Safer Routes to School Recognising that the changes from a three- to two-tier schooling system in the town would mean younger children walking to Ashlyns School, improvements have been made, in consultation with the Berkhamsted Schools’ Travel Forum on improving pedestrian access at the junction of Kings Road, Kingshill Way and Shootersway. Page 13 of 24

Work at the junction included new signs and road markings, new flashing warning signs, footpath improvements, removing a tree on Kings Road to improve sight lines and employing a school crossing patrol officer. In the longer-term, the County Council intend further improvements to crossing safety by creating a footpath along the southern side of Shooters way and installing traffic lights at the junction.

As part of that Safer Routes to School work, a new footpath has also been installed from Haynes Mead to Bridgewater School.

The School Travel Forum, in conjunction with the County Council’s Safer Routes to School Team is also looking at ways of improving drivers behaviour on school routes, including a reduced speed limit outside Ashlyn’s School and ‘Walk and Stride’ where parents who drive children to school are encouraged park in a car park in the town and walk their children to school.

Speeding on Gravel Path In light of a new Herts County Council’s Speed Management Strategy, the Committee has written to the County Council, supporting the Gravel Path Action Group in their request for a 20mph speed limit on that road, and that speed prevention measures and a mobile vehicle-activated speed sign is installed to discourage speeding by drivers on this busy road

ENVIRONMENT

Air Quality The Committee considered the results of the Borough Council’s air quality monitoring for nitrogen dioxide in Berkhamsted High Street, which were measured at just inside the safe level and were caused by traffic through the town.

As a result, the Committee has asked the Borough Council for further work:

 to account for the impacts of further planned development in the Town, particularly increases in traffic

 that a long-term mitigation strategy is put in place to ensure air quality improves in the longer- term and

 that the County Council’s Highways Team is made aware of concerns on air quality along the High Street and that measures are included in the Urban Transport Plan that will help ameliorate the situation.

Road, Pothole and Pavement Repairs The Town Council has put in place more effective liaison meetings with Hertfordshire County Council and Ringway, their contractors for Highway maintenance, to ensure that large potholes, failing tarmac on

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roads and broken pavements are repaired as quickly as possible within the limited resources available for this work across the County.

Church Lane Cobbles The Town Council has canvassed the County Council to ensure that the cobbles on Church Lane are replaced after a number of years of patching with tarmac, which, whilst leaving the Lane safe to pedestrians, did little for the appearance of the Lane as a heritage site in the town and as the entrance to St Peter’s Church.

The re-cobbling work will soon be completed, and is supported by a £10,000 contribution from the Town Council towards the costs of the specialist work.

Street Cleaning The Town Council has responded to a number of concerns from residents regarding the build-up of detritus such as mud, leaves and litter on streets by working closely with Borough Council to ensure streets in particular need of a clean are quickly swept.

Audio Trail Walk The Town Council and the local community, through the Parish Paths Partnership, which is a programme delivered by the Countryside Management Service and funded by Hertfordshire County Council has developed a second audio trail walk.

This 5 ½ mile circular walk from the Railway Station takes in some historic sites dating back to WW1 including The Inns of Court WW1 Memorial on New Road and the WW1 practice trenches used by the Inns of Court Regiment before being sent to fight in France. The Walk also takes in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at Kitchener's Field through to Berkhamsted Common, Ashridge Park and Alpine Meadow before returning through Castle Hill and back to the Railway Station.

Both the 1st Audio Trail Walk (including the Railway Station, part of the Grand Union Canal, Sugar Lane or Garden Field Lane, Long Green, Sandpit Green, Kingshill Way, Butts Meadow and Castle Street) and this second walk are available to download from the Town Council website.

Community Safety The Town Council receives regular reports on the amount of crime and disorder in the town, which remains at relatively low levels compared to most other parts of the County and met with Police Sergeant Huffer, the Safer Neighbourhood Sergeant for Berkhamsted and Tring to discuss the latest developments in the approach to local policing and crime prevention, with three key priorities being set for the local safer neighbourhood team, on:

 burglary, particularly burglaries from dwellings  speeding in rural areas and approaches to the town  tackling anti-social behaviour.

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Town Warden The Town Warden spends a considerable amount of his time dealing with problems in the town and responding to calls from the public to keep the town in good order.

The Warden’s day-to-day tasks over the year have ranged from removing graffiti, clearing rubbish from public places, including glass from children’s play areas, reporting vandalism to local police officers who respond as part of their commitment to creating a safer neighbourhood, and in reporting problems such as with footpaths, potholes, untidy and littered streets and play areas to the appropriate Borough and County Council Authorities for them to respond.

Volunteers The Town Council would also like to put on record its thanks to volunteers who contribute to maintaining the Town, including:

 Andrew Calderwood, the volunteer warden for Birtchnell’s Copse, off Ivy House Lane  Colin Garret and all the volunteer Litter Pickers who help reduce the litter on residential streets and for their work this year in clearing litter from the Area of land by the Canal off Lower Kings Road; and  Mrs Garret for maintaining the raised flower bed between Montague and Doctors Commons Roads.

Councillor Peter Matthews Chair, Transport and Environment Committee

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TOWN PLANNING COMMITTEE This has been another busy year on the planning front. The activities of the Town Planning Committee can be reported under the following headings:

Planning Applications BTC is a consultee on planning matters - Dacorum is the ultimate planning authority. The Town Council has the power to either object, not object or support an application. If the Committee disagrees with the Case Officer at the Borough it can ensure that the application is dealt with by the Development Control Committee at the Borough.

Your Planning Committee considered 429 planning applications during the year. The majority of applications (80%), mainly for small scale developments and extensions, were approved without objection Once again there has been only a small (3.4%) discrepancy between the recommendations of the Town Council and those of Dacorum

However, this overview obscures the scale and complexity of the planning mix which included applications for Marks and Spencer, 48 sheltered apartments for Churchill Retirement Homes and more recently 92 dwellings on the Egerton Rothesay Site all of which, in addition to numerous planning appeals, have absorbed a considerable amount of time and energy.

Planning Appeal Outcomes It is invariably the case, in today’s planning climate, that an application which is refused at Dacorum, whether it is by the Dacorum case officer or by the Development Control Committee following a successful objection by the Town Council, will result in the applicant appealing the decision.

This year the Planning Inspectorate dismissed the following appealed applications in Berkhamsted.

 Non-floodlit all weather hockey pitch and athletics track, at Kitcheners Field, Castle Hill  Car wash/valet service in 13A High Street/Swing Gate Lane  A new detached property at 32A Ashlyns Road  3 new detached properties at 37 Ashlyns Road  2 new detached properties on land to the rear of 14 and 15 Oakwood  Car port conversion at 16 Sheldon Way  Loft Conversion and rear extension at 12 Kitsbury Road  Loft Conversion at 342A High Street  Change of Conditions 15 and 16 The Pines North Road

In addition, The High Court dismissed an appeal by the developer against the Planning Inspector’s decision to dismiss an appeal concerning a residential development comprising 7 houses and garaging on land at the rear of 121 – 127 High Street to which we also objected.

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Planning Appeals Pending We are awaiting decisions on the following appeals:

 Demolition of two 3 bedroom dwellings at 11 Bank Mill  Construction of a detached dwelling at Holly House, Doctors Commons Road  Roof Lights at the Old Barn Castle Hill

Approved Development A number of developments have now: a) been built b) are in the process of being built or c) are yet to start being built.

The most significant are:

 A replacement building at 195 High Street – Birtchnells Site (a)  54 dwellings at New Lodge (b)  New dwellings and the restoration of the Grey house, Kitsbury Road (b)  M & S Simply Food, Old Delivery Office, High Street (b)  Churchill Homes 48 sheltered apartments at 380 – 392 High Street (b)  26 affordable dwellings at Farm Place (c)

Ongoing and Pending Applications

New Lodge We objected strongly to the “controlled demolition” of New Lodge. However, we are pleased to report that following our representations, plans for the proposed rebuilding of the original house will with, a few minor improvements, accurately replicate the original house.

We have been successful, in persuading Dacorum and the developer (Chase Green) to accept “Townsend Gate” for the street name and retain “New Lodge” for the replacement building thus adopting the outcome of the public consultation on this issue.

M&S Simply Food This store is scheduled to open at the end of the month. We objected to the height and bulk of the building and the grossly inadequate parking provision for a store of this size only to be overruled at Development Control by a narrow margin. Since then a lot of effort by way of amended plans has gone into enhancing the design of the store frontage, public realm and ensuring that the advertising is appropriate for the Conservation Area. We should like to acknowledge the input of Dacorum’s Conservation and Design team which has been invaluable in shaping these aspects of the development.

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Durrants Lane/Egerton-Rothesay Taylor Wimpey submitted a planning application for 92 dwellings for his site which we considered at our meeting on March 10th. This is the first part of a two-stage application process. We were told to expect an application for the second phase following the outcome of the application by Save Your Berkhamsted to register the school playing Field of as a Village Green. We have since learned that following an Inquiry in Berkhamsted on March 25th the Planning Inspectorate has dismissed that application.

Your Planning Committee has objected to the application for 92 dwellings for reasons which are documented in the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting on March 10th. The application will now be considered by the Dacorum Development Control Committee on June 5th. It is our view that there is now no reason why an application cannot be submitted to include the playing field.

The Police Station It has been announced that the site of the Police Station has been acquired by Adrian Cole and Partners. Although the Town Council has not been consulted as yet, we gather that Dacorum is in discussion with Beechcroft Developments to redevelop the site for mixed retail and living accommodation. Hertfordshire Library Services were not interested in participating in the redevelopment of a much larger scheme in the area so that potential opportunity has been lost.

Lidl It is now common knowledge that Lidl, the discount retailer, will submit a planning application to redevelop the sites of John Chapman and Davis and Samson Demolition Contractors. In its circular to residents (as far as Tring) Lidl states that it proposes to demolish the existing buildings and develop a new store with a sales area of 1200sqm with 30 apartments to be built across two floors above the proposed food store, ten of which would be allocated to affordable units. The intention is to provide 68 parking spaces for customers of the store and 40 spaces for the residents of the dwellings a proportion of which would be beneath the store. By now, many of you will have attended the public consultation which Lidl scheduled for April 16th. Not surprisingly this proposal has stimulated considerable debate.

Dacorum Borough Council Core Strategy Following the Planning Inspectorate finding that an amended Dacorum Borough Council Core Strategy was “sound” the revised Core Strategy was approved and adopted by Cabinet in September 2013. The strategy has since been appealed as “unsound” in the High Court by Grand Union Investments who wish to provide 800 houses on Green Belt land South of Berkhamsted. The appeal was heard on March 25th and we are awaiting the outcome at the time of writing this report. Given the emphasis which the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF): places on growth and a presumption in favour of sustainable development as the default option in the absence of a Local Development Plan, the implications of the appeal being upheld could be very serious indeed.

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Green Belt Review A key amendment to the Core Strategy was a requirement that Dacorum, like many other types of Council, update the Core Strategy by 2017/18, so as to ensure that housing targets are on track and that sufficient land is allocated to meet future housing needs. Dacorum agreed also to an overall review of the Green Belt to ensure that the boundaries proposed are sustainable against the five criteria on function and quality listed in the NPPF and the agreed housing targets. Consultants have now completed the first stage of this review.

At present, the only site which has been identified for possible Green Belt release is that targeted for 60 dwelling at Hanburys. It is agreed in the Core Strategy that this local allocation would remain in the Green Belt until 2021. While developers will surely do their utmost to prove one wrong, there is no suggestion at present of any further releases of Green Belt land around Berkhamsted within the planning period

Berkhamsted Conservation Area Character Appraisal After a delay of nearly two years, the Berkhamsted Conservation Area and Character Appraisal and Management Proposals was finally approved by the Dacorum Cabinet in January 2014. This means that the recommended extensions to the Berkhamsted Conservation Area and buildings to be locally listed are now effective. The report is now a supplementary document to the Core Strategy and, as such, it constitutes an essential part of planning policy as it affects Berkhamsted and its Heritage Assets.

Street Name Plates Many people have expressed concern about the lack of consistency in the style of street name plates in Berkhamsted, especially within the Conservation Area. The Borough Council has now accepted proposals from the Town Council that any new or replacement signage should be black on white in the Conservation Area and green on cream elsewhere. All name plates will designate “Berkhamsted” in the signage. Unfortunately casual observation since the policy was agreed would suggest that it has yet to be adhered to.

Streetscape Strategy The Conservation Appraisal highlights the varied and incoherent aspects of the Berkhamsted streetscape and infrastructure more generally. We have requested therefore that we explore with Dacorum the opportunities and means available for ensuring consistency and improvements to our streetscape.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) This new levy is scheduled to be introduced in January 2015. As reported last year the CIL will be payable on development comprising more than 100 m². The levy in Berkhamsted has been set at £250 per m². Only 15% of the levy will be apportioned to Berkhamsted. The challenge therefore is to ensure that this amount, however small, as well as a fair proportion of the 85% allocated to Herts County Council and Dacorum combined is spent in Berkhamsted.

A working group including residents and representatives of various groups has now produced an Infrastructure Plan for the Town. The plan identifies infrastructure projects for which CIL money could be

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allocated. The Plan ensures that there are no gaps or overlaps between what Berkhamsted, Herts County Council and Dacorum is each proposing.

At the end of a busy year, and with no likelihood of a let up next year, I should like to thank my fellow members of the Planning Committee for their advice, support and contributions this past year. I should like also to extend my thanks to the members of the public who have contacted us to both object to and support planning applications. The input of all concerned is invaluable in helping us reach what we hope are well reasoned recommendations, which will withstand any subsequent challenge.

Councillor Dr Laurence Handy Chair, Town Planning Committee

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ALLOTMENT MANAGEMENT TEAM

Allotment Sites Berkhamsted Town Council is committed to fulfilling its duty as a responsible Allotment Authority and has three statutory allotment sites, at Dellfield, Sunnyside (Old and New) and Butts Meadow.

These allotments comprise a total of some 375 plots covering 25 acres, with plot holders at each site working together to ensure the sites are well-ordered and run very much as they wish.

Allotment Management Overall responsibility for the management and administration of the allotments rests with the Town Council, and in particular, the Allotment Management Team, which comprises Councillors and representatives of each site, including Sunnyside Rural Trust.

Allotment Rents The Town Council requires allotment holders to pay a rent and to abide by allotment rules and guidelines of the authority and to maintain their plot properly.

I am pleased to report that allotment rents remained unchanged for 2013/14, at £12.50 for a standard plot. The allotments continue to be well run, with many thanks to the allotment representatives for all their hard work and to all allotment tenants for ensuring their allotments are well-tended and kept.

Tree Management This year, the Allotment Management Team arranged for tree management work at Sunnyside and on the advice of the tree surgeons, a number of unhealthy or poor growing trees which could be a danger in high winds were removed.

Sunnyside Rural Trust The Allotment Management Team also agreed that the two leases to Sunnyside Rural Trust – one a long- term lease to 2019 and the second an annual renewable lease – should be combined to form a single long lease to 2019, to provide the Rural Trust with greater security of tenure and to reduce the cost to the Town Council in renewing the annual lease. (Sunnyside Rural Trust is a local charity supporting young people and adults with learning difficulties with training and work skills in horticulture, conservation so as to enhance their development and improve their quality of life.)

Income and Expenditure The Management Team keeps the allotment income and expenditure under review at every meeting and ensures that the allotments are financially self-standing. Through careful management of funds and without increasing rents, there are sufficient available funds in the allotment reserve to cover any unexpected maintenance or other costs without having to ask the Town Council for funding from the general reserves.

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In 2013/14 allotment income was £8,500 against expenditure of £7,200, with £1,200 of the surplus going into the allotment reserve fund.

Butts Meadow Centenary I would also like to mention that 2014 is the centenary of Butts Meadow Allotment, being gifted to the then Urban District Council by Helen Lucas on 19 October 1914.

If you wish to apply for an allotment please contact the Town Clerk for details or apply on-line at www.berkhamnstedtowncouncil.gov.uk

Councillor Anthony Armytage Chair, Allotment Management Team

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CANAL AND RIVERSIDE PARTNERSHIP (CARP)

Role of CARP CARP is a partnership between the Town Council, the Canal and River Trust (formerly British Waterways), Dacorum Borough Council, the Inland Waterways Association, Chiltern Chalkstreams, Berkhamsted Community Partnership and Berkhamsted Citizens Association.

CARP’s role is to promote and protect the Grand Union Canal and the Bulbourne chalk stream that run through the town, so that everyone – residents, visitors, walkers, cyclists and boaters – can enjoy the waterway, its heritage, flowers and wildlife.

CARP also works to encourage waterway users to stop and enjoy the other benefits Berkhamsted has to offer including our historic and built environment, the literary links within our market town and the shops, cafes restaurants, pubs and nightlife that make such a vibrant town centre.

CARP has worked on three main projects in 2013/14.

Canal Footpath Repair Following on from last year’s work to resurface the canal towpath between Castle Street Bridge and the Canal Fields/Waitrose footbridge, CARP has been developing proposals and securing funding for towpath resurfacing from Canal Fields Bridge to Stag Lane with work anticipated in 2014/15.

Canalside Volunteers CARP in conjunction with Canal and Riverside Trust has appointed a volunteer co-ordinator for the canal. The co-ordinator is working to establish Active Volunteer Groups to each adopt a mile of towpath through Berkhamsted. The Volunteer Groups will help with upkeep of the footpath, including low level maintenance, filling potholes, clearing vegetation and removing graffiti.

The co-ordinator is John Highmore and anyone interested in volunteering to help with the upkeep of the towpath through Berkhamsted can contact John at [email protected]

Many thanks go to the Berkhamsted Litter Pickers for their work to clear litter at the canalside land off Lower Kings Road, and to the Friends of the Rising Sun and Lock 55 for their efforts in keeping the Lock and towpath in good condition.

Canal Mooring Policy CARP is currently exploring ways to fund a Mooring Policy for the canal, which will include specified mooring zones between Stag Lane and Rose Bridge over Bank Mill for 2-, 7- and 14-day mooring and mooring rings every 5 metres within the zones. Proposals being considered include an area for ‘shopping mooring’ adjacent to the Waitrose bridge and ‘Welcome’ Signs and Display Panels at each mooring site.

Councillor David Collins Chair, Canal and Riverside Partnership Page 24 of 24