Minutes of the

THIRTY SECOND ANNUAL ASSEMBLY

of the

BERKHAMSTED TOWN MEETING

Held in the Main Hall, Civic Centre, Berkhamsted, on

 PRESENT: 

            MEMBERS: 

            Councillors    

                                    P.G. Gibbs - Town Mayor

L. Briand

Mrs. Freda Earl

Victor Earl

Mrs. Lesley Featherstone   

Mrs. C. Green                                   

                                    R.A. Horton

                                    G. Lanchin

                                    J.D. Lythgoe

                                    Mrs. Helena McCloskey

                                    Mrs. Betty Patterson

                                    G. Stevens

                                    C. Talbot-Ponsonby

            OFFICERS: 

                                    Mr. C.R. Westwood              -           Clerk of the Council

1/05    APOLOGIES 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Geraldine Corry and J. Critcher.

2/05    MINUTES  

The minutes of the Annual Town Meeting held on 30^th March 2004 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

3/05    INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME FROM THE TOWN MAYOR, COUNCILLOR PHILIP GIBBS 

The Town Mayor, Councillor Phil Gibbs, welcomed everyone to the meeting and outlined the programme for the evening.

4/05    PRESENTATION OF CIVIC AWARDS           

            The Chairmen of Berkhamsted Rotary Club and Berkhamsted (Bulbourne) Rotary Club, Geoff Dell and Garrick Stevens presented the first Civic Awards in recognition of service to the people of Berkhamsted: 

            Mr. Peter Murray for 34 years service as a Retained Fire Fighter in Berkhamsted 

            Mr. Mark Dixon, a former Chairman of  Berkhamsted Youth Town Council, for his services on behalf of young people in the town. 

5/05    LICENSING ACT 2003 – JOHN CLARKE, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MANAGER, DACORUM BOROUGH COUNCIL.           

Mr. John Clarke gave a presentation on how the new Licensing Act would affect the general public. Within his presentation he made the following points: 

q       Responsibility for decisions would pass from the Magistrates to the Borough Council.

q       Abolishes fixed opening hours and provides greater flexibility.

q       Gives local communities a voice in the determination of applications.

q       Includes Theatres, Cinemas and Late night Refreshment houses

q       Has four key objectives.

q       Only opposed applications will go to the Licensing Committee.

q       Objections can be made by various bodies including Persons living in the vicinity.

q       Objections must be based on evidence.

During his presentation, Mr. Clarke answered questions from Councillors and the Public and was assisted by Sergeant Hart from Dacorum Police. 

The presentation was well received and the Town Mayor thanked Mr. Clarke and Sergeant Hart for their attendance.

6/05    BERKHAMSTED YOUTH TOWN COUNCIL – REPORT ON RECENT ACTIVITIES 

Three members of the Youth Town Council, Mischke Weinreb, Amelia Terry and Clare Fisher gave a presentation on the role of the Youth Town Council and the activities they were undertaking. Activities included monthly disco’s and Gig nights, a Youth Club and Easter Egg hunt. They were planning a ‘Berko Festival’ and an Art Competition for possible display in the Town Hall. 

7/05    REPORTS FROM CHAIRS OF COMMITTEES: 

            Finance and Policy                                       Councillor Victor Earl 

Councillor Victor Earl referred to his report, which identified some of the activities supervised by his Committee. He also drew attention to the last audited accounts, which were for the 12 months ending 31st March 2004, and said that the budget for the new financial year had been set last October. He mentioned the difficulties experienced in timing expenditure to match the income raised by the precept and gave an example of proposed new toilet facilities in Canal Fields.  

Questions were asked and answered about the ‘Authorised Transactions’ heading in the accounts and the proposal for an ‘Historic Market Town’ sign at the entrances to the town. In respect of the latter, Mr. Sherwood asked for a show of hands of those in favour. Eight of the sixty six people present raised their hands.

Environment                                                   Cllr. Betty Patterson  

Councillor Betty Patterson referred to her report on environment matters, which had been circulated with the agenda.  She made specific reference to the work of the Litter Working Party and the River Bulbourne Restoration Project. She showed slides of the proposed new flowerbed in London Road, and the work to the willow trees alongside the river near Waitrose. 

Councillor Patterson answered a question concerning to cost of the replacement trees in Canal Fields, some of which had died. Also on why the River Project work was not carried out until after bird nesting had started.

Transport and Highways                  Cllr. Gerry Lanchin 

Councillor Lanchin referred to his report and made specific mention of the following 

q       Parking

q       Blocked gullies on roads

q       Berkhamsted Transport Plan

q       The revived Cycling Group

q       Gravel Path bridge works

q       Train Services

q       The work of the Help Point and the improved relationship with Hertfordshire Highways. 

A resident said the A41 by pass was dirty and badly in need of verge cleaning. The same resident asked who was responsible for pavements and road humps in Berkhamsted.

A question was asked as to whether the Town Council had made representations to Silverlink about the withdrawal of the direct service to Birmingham.

Town Planning                                               Cllr. Christopher Talbot -Ponsonby  

Councillor Talbot-Ponsonby referred to his report, which had been circulated with the agenda. He described the work of his Committee and said that 400 new homes had been built in Berkhamsted since 2001. The target for Dacorum in the East of England Plan from 2001 to 2021, was 6300. He thanked the Office staff for their help in the administration of Planning matters in the town. 

Mr. Sharpe asked if the town Council could engage in discussions with Waitrose concerning their recent application to extend the store. It was necessary to discover their intentions and a major consultation exercise was needed in the Town.  

8/05    QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS – OPEN FORUM 

The Town Mayor introduced Inspector Barbra Campbell, in charge of Community Policing in Dacorum, and Rachel Edmonds, Project Officer of the Berkhamsted Community Partnership. Both spoke briefly about their respective roles.  

The following questions were asked and answered: 

q       Mr. Turner asked if the Town Council would follow Tring to campaign for a second Post Office in the Town, preferably on the Hemel Hempstead side of the Kings Road division.

q       Mrs. Lea said that she could not get through to the Police on the local telephone number. She was advised to use 0845 3300222.

q       Mr. Rochford asked how many Police resources were being used to deal with the commercial burglaries in Stag Lane.

q       Mrs. Morris referred to the Fair Trade initiative in Berkhamsted and the Dacorum Fair Trade guide.

9/05    CLOSE OF MEETING 

            The meeting closed at 9.55 p.m. 

            There were 66 members of the public present.