The Parish Council obtained approval for and purchased a new Speed Indicator Device  earlier this year. We are pleased to report that this has today been installed along the Common, close to Bullbeggars lane as you enter Potten End from Berkhamsted and will hopefully help slow traffic as it enters the village.

We are continuing to explore with Hertfordshire Highways  the possibility of reducing the speed limit along The Common from 50 to 40 mph.

Agenda

Supporting papers

Minutes

The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 and the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 require that the accounting records for the financial year to which an audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records must be made available for inspection by any person interested, during a period of 30 working days. For the financial year ending 31st March 2021 the Parish Council has determined that this period will run from 14th June 2021 to 23rd July 2021.

The responsible financial officer for the Parish Council must, on behalf of that authority, publish

(a) the Accounting Statements and Annual Governance Statement of the Annual Governance & Accountability Return (AGAR), accompanied by a declaration, signed by that officer to the effect that the status of the Accounting Statements are unaudited and that the Accounting Statements as published may be subject to change;

(b) a statement that sets out—

(i) the period for the exercise of public rights;

(ii) details of the manner in which notice should be given of an intention to inspect the accounting records and other documents;

(iii) the name and address of the local auditor;

(iv) the provisions contained in section 26 (inspection of documents etc.) and section 27 (right to make objections at audit) of the Act, as they have effect in relation to the authority in question;  

PKF LittleJohn, the external auditor, has completed its review of the Annual Governance & Accountability Return (AGAR) for the year ended 31 March 2023 and concluded that in its opinion the information in Sections 1 and 2 of the AGAR is in accordance with Proper Practices and no other matters have come to our attention giving cause for concern that relevant legislation and regulatory requirements have not been met. A copy of the auditor’s report may be downloaded from this website together with the notice of conclusion of the audit.

Dacorum – possible reduction or withdrawal of grants to Parish Council Dacorum BC have asked all parish and town councils to asses the impact of a 50% or 100% reduction in the level of grant paid by Dacorum to those councils – in the case of Nettleden with Potten End that represents 30% of the council’s income. Put simply a loss of income of that magnitude could only mean either a reduction in the services provided by the Parish Council (grass cutting in the major public spaces, tree and pond maintenance, litter picking etc) or an increase in the tax charged to residents (or some combination of both). There’s a more detailed impact analysis elsewhere on the council website. We don’t know what Dacorum will decide to do, and the Parish Council doesn’t need to decide its response until next January, but it will be having a preliminary discussion at its meeting next Thursday when your views would be very much appreciated. Open Spaces The Council will be considering proposals to remove shrubs at the access to the Sports Field which should increase the amount of parking to reduce pressure on Homefield, to undertake work to the undergrowth on the margin of The Green, and to undertake major maintenance of the pond where some of the water lily rhizomes are now more than a meter long and there is a risk that they will start starving the pond of light if left to their own devices. The final proposals to improve accessibility to The Green and Spencer Holland are also for discussion. The Council was sorry to hear that neither youth football team will be operating this year due to a shortage of players. In the short term it is allowing Berkhamsted Raiders (but with a team under the same management as the old Potten End team) to use the sports field on a trial basis to asses whether it will have any impact on parking – which should continue to be as previously either on the sports field or at the Village Hall. The Council will be asked to approve the donation of £250 to the Amersham Brass Band who will be playing at the Carols on the Green on 21 December – yes, we really are having to think that far ahead already. Planning Over the summer the Council had no objections to planning applications from Gutteridge House (24/01771/ROC), High House, 35 Rambling Way (24/01598/FHA), 28 Hempstead Lane (24/01806/FHA), and 74 Hempstead Lane (24/01807/FHA). It remains perplexed by the Planning Inspectors ruling on 7 Olivers Close (24/01295/DRC) but as a result of that ruling can see no feasible way of objecting to the revised proposal. The application to build a replacement dwelling at Frithsden Vineyard (22/00064/REFU) has been approved by the Planning Inspector. The Council is considering what if any impact that has on the proposal to replace a greenhouse at the same location (24/01872/LDP). The Council will be considering the following applications at its meeting: 24/01918/FHA – Heath Cottage, Little Heath Lane – two storey front extensions, part two storey rear extension, single storey side extension, detached garage 24/01919/FHA – 3 Roman Road, Nettleden – single storey rear extension and replacement of window frames 24/01958/RET – Roseheath Wood, Bullbeggars Lane – new electric gates and pillars 24/01961/FHA – Little Paddock, Frithsden Copse – construction of detached outbuilding The demolition of frontage buildings and redevelopment of site for 7 dwelling houses at 23 Water End Rd and land to rear of 21 Water End Rd (23/01211/FUL) has been approved by Dacorum Highways As in previous years the Parish Council will be arranging for The Common to be closed on the morning of Sunday 10 November to facilitate the service of remembrance. It’s worth noting that Red Lion Lane will be closed for road surface patching from 23 – 25 September from the Leighton Buzzard Rd to the Crown and Sceptre pub. For more up to date information on roadworks please refer to Causeway one network. Social Care and other issues This is a new section which I hope will be useful. HertsHelp Hertfordshire County Council run a service called HertsHelp which can be contacted either by email at info@hertshelp.net or by phone on 0300 123 4044. It provides access to a wide range of services grouped as follows: struggling to cope care and carers living healthier transport, bus passes and blue badge home services and equipment cost of living If you know anyone who might benefit from any of these services, please encourage them to get in touch. Hertfordshire Directory The Hertfordshire Directory is an online tool to make it easier for people to find the help they need it as soon as they need it, bringing together services, groups, and providers across the county that offer support and advice in a range of areas. There’s already a wide range of services and providers listed in the Directory, from day centres and dance groups to counselling and community activities, but they’d like many more. If you know of a service that could improve people’s lives and is not listed on the Hertfordshire Directory, then contact Anne Ardley, Directory Project Officer anne.ardley@hertfordshire.gov.uk Healthwatch Hertfordshire Healthwatch are undertaking a survey about your experiences of using online GP services and bookings, if you’d like to express your views please complete the on-line survey. Grants to fund home energy and clean heating If your household has a combined annual income of less than £36,000 (including benefits) or you live in a specific postcode area, isn’t heated through mains gas, and is considered a hard-to-heat home you may be eligible for grants to fund home energy and clean heating upgrades. There’s more information here, but applications need to be made by the end of September.