Open Spaces - Minutes

REPORT OF THE OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE HELD ON 1st JULY 2008

MEMBERSHIP & ATTENDANCE

Chairman: *Mrs M Jarrett

Councillors: A Barton, *R Booth, *N Eve, * Mrs B Green, *Mrs M Hampton (ex officio), *G Liley, *S Watkins, *Mrs J Worrall

 *Denotes members present

There were eight members of the public present.

Mrs Jenny Phelps was also present.

PART I RECOMMENDATIONS

PART II MINUTES

08/20 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllr Barton.

08/21 DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Cllr Worrall declared an interest in any item relating to Chorleywood Common as Vice Chairman of Friends of the Common. Cllr Liley declared an interest in item number 11 Chorleywood Cricket Club.

0822 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

The Committee RESOLVED

The minutes of the meeting dated 20th May 2008 be approved as a true and correct record and duly signed by the Chairman.

08/23 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

There were no matters arising.

08/24 FINANCIAL COMPARISON STATEMENT 08/09

The Committee RESOLVED

To note the report

ALLOTMENTS

08/25 OCCUPATION

The Committee RESOLVED

To note the occupation of the allotments.

08/26 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE WALKABOUT

The Chairman thanked all those Councillors who had attended the walkabout.

Dog Kennel Lane

Allotment holders asked if the entrance gate could be hung from the opposite post, opening inwards to allow better access for parking.

There was also concern about dogs being allowed to walk freely in the site which were often not under control.

The Committee RESOLVED

i) That the possibility of re-hanging the gate on the opposite post be investigated.

ii) That a sign be placed on the gate stating that dogs must be kept under control.

Copmans Wick

The Allotment holders requested that the hinge on the top gate be replaced.

A request was also made for a water supply to be put in the bottom end of the site.

It was noted that two areas of fencing required repair.

The Committee RESOLVED

i) That the top gate and the two areas of fencing be repaired

ii) That a price be obtained for an additional water supply.

Swillett

Allotment holders requested a skip to be ordered for the autumn to enable the site to be cleared of debris.

It was noted that the entrance road to the allotments was in a poor state however this was not the responsibility of the Parish Council.

Consideration was given to the siting o f an additional water supply; an estimate had been obtained of £120.00. The committee felt however, that it would only benefit one individual and therefore was not cost effective.

The Committee RESOLVED

i) That consideration would be given to the placing of skips in the allotment sites at the next meeting.

ii) That a letter be written to Herts Rights of Way officer about the state of the entrance road.

General

The Allotment Holders at all three sites had commented upon the timing of the first cut of grass. Officers advised that allotment holders should contact the office at the appropriate time and this information would be passed onto the Rangers.

It was agreed that signs would be placed on all three notice boards advising of the decisions of the Committee.

The Chairman wished to convey her thanks to all the allotment holders who had attended the site meetings and advised that she would try to schedule a similar meeting for next year.

COMMON AND GROVEWOOD

08/27 REPORT OF THE SENIOR PARISH RANGER

The Senior Ranger advised that the PCSO’s had been advised of the reports of drinking and anti-social behaviour on the Common. PCSO’s had confiscated large quantities of alcohol and the problems seemed to have abated.

The Committee RESOLVED

To note the report.

08/28 RE-INTRODUCTION OF GRAZING - CONSULATION

The Chairman welcomed Jenny Phelps to the meeting. She advised that Mrs Phelps has been invited along to discuss the possibility of working with the Council to help move forward the consultation process in the re-introduction of grazing to Chorleywood Common.

The meeting was adjourned at 8.30pm to receive the presentation and a question and answer session.

Mrs Phelps informed the committee of her background and her past experience in the re-introduction of grazing onto Common land. In her view she felt that the best way forward would be to not consider the cattle grids and permanent fencing at this stage but to use temporary fencing and smaller compartments which could be moved around the common as and when required. She felt that as part of the consultation cattle should be placed on the common on a trial basis so that parishioners could see at first hand ‘what they would be getting’. She felt that the questionnaire should be impartial to allow parishioners to have their say, however it would be necessary for them to be made aware of the wider issues, i.e. that Common land is protected in law, that the local authority has a duty of care to maintain the site and also has legal obligations to the Nature Reserve. The consultation would be a process of enlightenment but the aim would be to encourage support and not to inflict or impose anything that was generally felt to be unacceptable.

The meeting was reconvened at 8.57pm and Mrs Phelps left the room.

Members discussed the presentation. Some members were concerned about her lack of experience in carrying out public consultations. Other members felt that her vast experience and her track record of successful re-introduction of grazing must prove that she had the ability to consult with the public, as consultation took many forms. It was agreed that communication was of paramount importance if the scheme was to go ahead.

Cllr Mrs Jarrett proposed from the Chair that the Council agree to employ Mrs Phelps to advise the Council in the processing of the re-introduction of grazing on the common and to conduct the consultation process at a figure not exceeding £5,000.

The Committee unanimously RESOLVED

That the proposal be carried.

Cllr Mrs Worrall was concerned however on the timescales discussed. She did not feel that enough time was being allowed for the trial to be arranged. She proposed that details of the trial and information to be issued to the public be presented to this committee for approval at a future meeting. This was seconded by Cllr Mrs Hampton.

The Committee unanimously RESOLVED

That the proposal be carried

08/29 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE COMMON WALKABOUT

1. Scrub Clearance and Stacking of Brash

The meeting was adjourned at 9.16pm Janet Anders made representation to the committee followed by representation from Alison Rubens, Secretary of Friends of the Common. Both representations disapproved of the stacking of the brash on the common.

The meeting was re-convened at 9.24pm

The Senior Ranger explained the history of why the brash had been stacked. He explained that the area known as the Gun Dell had been earmarked for clear felling at part of the Countryside Stewardship agreement. Due to the lack of equipment the Council had taken a “softly softly” approach in the past which meant that the work was behind schedule. The Council was informed of a surprise visit from DEFRA (who have legal authority over the maintenance of the Common) and to ensure that the Council stayed within their agreed work schedule a large amount of brash and trees had had to be removed in a short space of time. He explained that in the past the Council had burnt the brash or chipped the brash, both forms of maintenance received criticism. The stacking of brash is a highly recommended form of maintenance which creates good habitat environment on the Common, but which does break down over a period of time. During their inspection DEFRA were supportive of the stacking of the brash.

The Senior Ranger went on to state that he understood the concerns raised and perhaps in future more information was required on site whilst the work was going ahead to advise why the work was being carried out. He stated that he enters into conversation on a daily basis with the public who, on the whole, accepted the situation as a form of maintenance which had ongoing benefits. He stated that there was no hidden agenda and that all work carried out on the common was done with the best intentions for the future of the site. Nothing was done on a whim but sometimes the method of management had to change.

The Senior Ranger finalised by saying that he would be reluctant if not unwilling to remove the existing brash.

The Clerk advised Members that first and foremost the Council had a legal obligation to maintain the site as a Local Nature Reserve, and a working Common. Sometimes, in the short term, the result may not be ascetically pleasing however in the long term was essential to the protection of the site for future generations.

After further debate Cllr Eve proposed That the brash be removed by the end of the year.

This did not receive a seconder.

Cllr Mrs Green then proposed, seconded by Cllr Eve

That sections of the brash be removed to create open spaces between the lines of brash. Three voted in favour , four against with one abstention. The proposal was not carried

Cllr Liley stated that the Council understand the concerns of the public however the work had been carried out but it was understood that this type of maintenance would not be carried out to this degree in future years.

2. Appletree Dell - footpath leading to the cottages

Members discussed a complaint from one of the residents at Appletree Dell about the footpath leading to the cottages. This had been inspected during the site visit. The Senior Ranger advised that this was the only area of the Common which had tarmac and as Members were aware this type of material was not allowed on common land. At no time in the past twenty years had the Council laid the surface.

Cllr Eve proposed that the Council offers to remove the tarmac path from the Common land leading to Appletree Dell. This was seconded by Cllr Liley.

The Committee RESOLVED

That the Clerk write offering to remove the path leading to Appletree Dell and re-instate the land accordingly.

The proposal was carried six in favour with two abstentions.

3. Golf Course

As yet there had not been sightings of the purple hairstreak butterfly.

4. Clements Road

It was agreed that the kerbing would take place within the time scales specified by Herts Highways.

5.& 7. Old Shepherd and Path leading to the War Memorial Hall

These items would be investigated and the finding brought to a future meeting.

08/30 TO CONSIDER THE PLANNING APPLICATION FROM CHORLEYWOOD CRICKET CLUB FOR THE RE-LOCATION OF THE CRICKET PITCH

Members had considered the planning application in detail and were familiar with the proposals.

They were however concerned that there was not an environmental survey or any specifications included in the report.

The Committee therefore RESOLVED

To agree in principal to the application but would need to agree the Environmental Study and Specifications on how the works were to be carried out.

This was proposed by Cllr Mrs Worrall, seconded by Cllr Watkins and unanimously agreed.

The Committee agreed that the Cricket Advisory Group members should remain as previously selected.

08/31 TO CONSIDER DOCUMENTATION REGARDING THE ENTRANCE TO CHORLEYWOOD STATION.

Members welcomed the information but remained unclear where the evidence had come from.

The Committee RESOLVED

(i) That the Clerk write to London Transport advising them about the state of the road and

(ii) To write to Herts County Council to ask them for the provenance of the document they produced, suggesting that the entrance is in the ownership of London Transport..

LAWN CEMETERY

08/32 OCCUPATION

The Committee RESOLVED

To note the occupation of the Lawn Cemetery.

PARISH PATHS

Nothing to report.

08/33 CLOSURE