Agenda for the meeting on 18 March and draft minutes from the previous meeting

The Parish Council meeting will take place on Monday  18 March at 19:30 in the Village Hall.

The agenda for the meeting and the draft minutes from the previous meeting can be found on the web site – see link below.

https://littlegaddesdenpc.org.uk/agendas-and-minutes-2024/

All members of the public are welcome.

We look forward to seeing you there.

 

 

Reminder

LGPC website contains or has links to useful information.

If you have concerns about matters such as fly tipping,  litter, fallen trees, road signs, flooding, pot holes, anti-social behaviour, dog fouling etc,  many of these and more can be reported quickly on line  here

Agenda for the meeting on 19 February and draft minutes from the previous meeting

The Parish Council meeting will take place on Monday 19 February at 19:30 in the Village Hall.

The agenda for the meeting and the draft minutes from the previous meeting can be found on the web site – see link below.

https://littlegaddesdenpc.org.uk/agendas-and-minutes-2024/

All members of the public are welcome.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Dacorum Borough Council are actively seeking residents’ views on a variety of topics.    Current surveys can be found  on their website page  Let’s Talk Dacorum    Also LGPC website highlights these.    Do take a moment to see if these issues are important to you and if so take the opportunity to share your views.

Reminder

If you have concerns about matters such as fly tipping,  litter, fallen trees, road signs, flooding, pot holes, anti-social behaviour, dog fouling etc,  these and many other issues can be reported quickly on line  here

CHURCH ROAD – ACTION – URGENT

At the Extraordinary Meeting of Little Gaddesden Parish Council on 4 January 2024 there was unanimous agreement that LGPC commence legal proceedings seeking to nullify the agreement reached between Dacorum Borough Council and the occupant  of the land.

LGPC continues to seek funding for this; and continues to have constructive dialogue with DBC.

If you have not yet pledged and would like to support this action, please read the information which has been sent out in recent LGPC communications regarding this (extract below)

If you have made a pledge, please would you transfer the money asap and before January 7th if possible, details below.

Raising Money and Pledges

Any amount of money is welcome. The money to be raised will be held in a separate LGPC bank account. The money will be used exclusively for any legal work concerning Church Road. When/if an agreed position is reached with Dacorum, or a decision is taken not to pursue legal action, any unspent money would be returned either in whole or on a pro-rata basis. Residents should be aware that any legal action is inherently risky and expensive and for example if the legal case was lost there would be a strong possibility no monies would be returned and the current agreement would remain in force.

Monies will not be returnable in any other case i.e. you cannot just ask for your money back once paid.

Pledges at this stage should be made by way of email sent to the clerk@littlegaddesdenpc.org.uk stating Church Road Pledge in the subject line.

Emails and transfers should be received by the 7th January 2024 so we have an idea of what will be possible.  The details for the actual payment in January are as below.

LGPC Bank Account Details are as Follows:

Sort Code: 60-02-21,   Account Number: 54-22-10-64,    Bank: NATWEST

Account Name: PARISH CNCL LITTLE GADDESDEN, Reference: Your Surname

To keep our logistics simple, could you also send the Clerk a note confirming your name, amount, date of transfer, phone number, email and bank details (for returns)…(clerk@littlegaddesdenpc.org.uk)

Paul Kelly, Chair on behalf of Little Gaddesden Parish Council

05/01/2024

Extraordinary Meeting of the Parish Council

Thursday 4 January at 7.30 pm Little Gaddesden Village Hall.

 

URGENT Fundraising request to Little Gaddesden Village

Little Gaddesden Parish Council has been asked by residents to review a surprise decision made by Dacorum Borough Council regarding Church Road.

LGPC has taken and funded out of its funds initial formal legal advice, which concludes that if judicially reviewed there is a reasonable argument that the decision by Dacorum be held irrational by the courts and the settlement agreement reached between Dacorum and the occupants of the land be annulled.

LGPC are in detailed discussions with Dacorum to try and reach some type of alternative settlement to avoid a legal challenge. The costs of such legal challenge would be up to £15k for the initial stage to obtain permission to make the challenge and then perhaps the same again for the second stage when the matter is actually decided. If the challenge was lost LGPC would be responsible for an element of the other sides costs.

There is a deadline of the 8th January to start legal proceedings. If the case is to be pursued funds will need to be raised from residents and a number of residents have actively approached us with commitments.

Accordingly, residents are being asked now for written non-binding commitments towards funding this action if it is decided it should be pursued.  Given this timing LGPC pledged monies would need to be paid at the latest by January the 7th following the meetings mentioned below. Without sufficient funds the challenge would most likely not go ahead. Although non-binding, decisions will be made on the back of the commitments so should not be given without a firm intention to follow through.

The Decision and Impact

Dacorum Borough Council have signed an agreement with the land owners/occupants of Church Road, which is summarised as follows:.

  1. Occupants: To withdraw the appeal against the S215 notice (untidy land notice)
  2. Occupants: To remove the DAF truck and caravan before 5th
  3. Occupants: Are allowed to return caravan for seasonal agricultural use.
  4. Dacorum: To allow the extended shed to remain, irrespective of planning Inspectors appeal decision, which is still outstanding.
  5. Dacorum: To stop the S215 action.

Unfortunately, neither the Parish Council nor the local Dacorum Borough Councillor, who has worked with the Parish Council throughout, were made aware of this agreement before it was signed.

Residents and LGPC are troubled by many aspects of the agreement, particularly item 4 where the normal planning process has been bypassed. In addition to the planning impact, we are concerned there will be a continuation of the serious harassment that residents have experienced over the last three years.

Raising Money and Pledges

Any amount of money is welcome. The money to be raised will be held in a separate LGPC bank account. The money will be used exclusively for any legal work concerning Church Road. When/if an agreed position is reached with Dacorum, or a decision is taken not to pursue legal action, any unspent money would be returned either in whole or on a pro-rata basis. Residents should be aware that any legal action is inherently risky and expensive and for example if the legal case was lost there would be a strong possibility no monies would be returned and the current agreement would remain in force.

Monies will not be returnable in any other case i.e. you cannot just ask for your money back once paid.

Pledges at this stage should be made by way of email sent to the clerk@littlegaddesdenpc.org.uk stating Church Road Pledge in the subject line.  Emails should be received by the 4th January 2024 so we have an idea of what will be possible.  The details for the actual payment in January are as below.

LGPC Bank Account Details are as Follows:

Sort Code: 60-02-21,   Account Number: 54-22-10-64,    Bank: NATWEST

Account Name: PARISH CNCL LITTLE GADDESDEN, Reference: Your Surname

To keep our logistics simple, could you also send the Clerk a note confirming your name, amount, date of transfer, phone number, email and bank details (for returns)…(clerk@littlegaddesdenpc.org.uk)

The Way Forward

LGPC are meeting with Dacorum on Thursday 4th January at 12pm.

Formally, LGPC have called two extraordinary meetings of the Council. The first, on Tuesday 2nd January at 7:30pm pm in the Village Hall, to update everyone on activities and the approach we are taking on your behalf.  The second, on Thursday 4th January at 7:30pm in the Village Hall is to agree the way forward.  Please come if you can.

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Kelly, Chair on behalf of Little Gaddesden Parish Council

22/12/2023

CHURCH ROAD – URGENT

URGENT Fundraising request to Little Gaddesden Village

Little Gaddesden Parish Council has been asked by residents to review a surprise decision made by Dacorum Borough Council regarding Church Road.

LGPC has taken and funded out of its funds initial formal legal advice, which concludes that if judicially reviewed there is a reasonable argument that the decision by Dacorum be held irrational by the courts and the settlement agreement reached between Dacorum and the occupants of the land be annulled.

LGPC are in detailed discussions with Dacorum to try and reach some type of alternative settlement to avoid a legal challenge. The costs of such legal challenge would be up to £15k for the initial stage to obtain permission to make the challenge and then perhaps the same again for the second stage when the matter is actually decided. If the challenge was lost LGPC would be responsible for an element of the other sides costs.

There is a deadline of the 8th January to start legal proceedings. If the case is to be pursued funds will need to be raised from residents and a number of residents have actively approached us with commitments.

Accordingly, residents are being asked now for written non-binding commitments towards funding this action if it is decided it should be pursued.  Given this timing LGPC pledged monies would need to be paid at the latest by January the 7th following the meetings mentioned below. Without sufficient funds the challenge would most likely not go ahead. Although non-binding, decisions will be made on the back of the commitments so should not be given without a firm intention to follow through.

The Decision and Impact

Dacorum Borough Council have signed an agreement with the land owners/occupants of Church Road, which is summarised as follows:.

  1. Occupants: To withdraw the appeal against the S215 notice (untidy land notice)
  2. Occupants: To remove the DAF truck and caravan before 5th
  3. Occupants: Are allowed to return caravan for seasonal agricultural use.
  4. Dacorum: To allow the extended shed to remain, irrespective of planning Inspectors appeal decision, which is still outstanding.
  5. Dacorum: To stop the S215 action.

Unfortunately, neither the Parish Council nor the local Dacorum Borough Councillor, who has worked with the Parish Council throughout, were made aware of this agreement before it was signed.

Residents and LGPC are troubled by many aspects of the agreement, particularly item 4 where the normal planning process has been bypassed. In addition to the planning impact, we are concerned there will be a continuation of the serious harassment that residents have experienced over the last three years.

Raising Money and Pledges

Any amount of money is welcome. The money to be raised will be held in a separate LGPC bank account. The money will be used exclusively for any legal work concerning Church Road. When/if an agreed position is reached with Dacorum, or a decision is taken not to pursue legal action, any unspent money would be returned either in whole or on a pro-rata basis. Residents should be aware that any legal action is inherently risky and expensive and for example if the legal case was lost there would be a strong possibility no monies would be returned and the current agreement would remain in force.

Monies will not be returnable in any other case i.e. you cannot just ask for your money back once paid.

Pledges at this stage should be made by way of email sent to the clerk@littlegaddesdenpc.org.uk stating Church Road Pledge in the subject line.  Emails should be received by the 3rd January 2024 so we have an idea of what will be possible.  The details for the actual payment in January are as below.

LGPC Bank Account Details are as Follows:

Sort Code: 60-02-21,   Account Number: 54-22-10-64,    Bank: NATWEST

Account Name: PARISH CNCL LITTLE GADDESDEN, Reference: Your Surname

To keep our logistics simple, could you also send the Clerk a note confirming your name, amount, date of transfer, phone number, email and bank details (for returns)…(clerk@littlegaddesdenpc.org.uk)

The Way Forward

LGPC are meeting with Dacorum on Thursday 4th January at 12pm.

Formally, LGPC have called two extraordinary meetings of the Council. The first, on Tuesday 2nd January at 7:30pm pm in the Village Hall, to update everyone on activities and the approach we are taking on your behalf.  The second, on Thursday 4th January at 7:30pm in the Village Hall is to agree the way forward.  Please come if you can.

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Kelly, Chair on behalf of Little Gaddesden Parish Council

22/12/2023

CHURCH ROAD – URGENT

URGENT Fundraising request to Little Gaddesden Village

Little Gaddesden Parish Council has been asked by residents to review a surprise decision made by Dacorum Borough Council regarding Church Road.

LGPC has taken and funded out of its funds initial formal legal advice, which concludes that if judicially reviewed there is a reasonable argument that the decision by Dacorum be held irrational by the courts and the settlement agreement reached between Dacorum and the occupants of the land be annulled.

LGPC are in detailed discussions with Dacorum to try and reach some type of alternative settlement to avoid a legal challenge. The costs of such legal challenge would be up to £15k for the initial stage to obtain permission to make the challenge and then perhaps the same again for the second stage when the matter is actually decided. If the challenge was lost LGPC would be responsible for an element of the other sides costs.

There is a deadline of the 8th January to start legal proceedings. If the case is to be pursued funds will need to be raised from residents and a number of residents have actively approached us with commitments.

Accordingly, residents are being asked now for written non-binding commitments towards funding this action if it is decided it should be pursued.  Given this timing LGPC pledged monies would need to be paid at the latest by January the 7th following the meetings mentioned below. Without sufficient funds the challenge would most likely not go ahead. Although non-binding, decisions will be made on the back of the commitments so should not be given without a firm intention to follow through.

The Decision and Impact

Dacorum Borough Council have signed an agreement with the land owners/occupants of Church Road, which is summarised as follows:.

  1. Occupants: To withdraw the appeal against the S215 notice (untidy land notice)
  2. Occupants: To remove the DAF truck and caravan before 5th
  3. Occupants: Are allowed to return caravan for seasonal agricultural use.
  4. Dacorum: To allow the extended shed to remain, irrespective of planning Inspectors appeal decision, which is still outstanding.
  5. Dacorum: To stop the S215 action.

Unfortunately, neither the Parish Council nor the local Dacorum Borough Councillor, who has worked with the Parish Council throughout, were made aware of this agreement before it was signed.

Residents and LGPC are troubled by many aspects of the agreement, particularly item 4 where the normal planning process has been bypassed. In addition to the planning impact, we are concerned there will be a continuation of the serious harassment that residents have experienced over the last three years.

Raising Money and Pledges

Any amount of money is welcome. The money to be raised will be held in a separate LGPC bank account. The money will be used exclusively for any legal work concerning Church Road. When/if an agreed position is reached with Dacorum, or a decision is taken not to pursue legal action, any unspent money would be returned either in whole or on a pro-rata basis. Residents should be aware that any legal action is inherently risky and expensive and for example if the legal case was lost there would be a strong possibility no monies would be returned and the current agreement would remain in force.

Monies will not be returnable in any other case i.e. you cannot just ask for your money back once paid.

Pledges at this stage should be made by way of email sent to the clerk@littlegaddesdenpc.org.uk stating Church Road Pledge in the subject line.  Emails should be received by the 3rd January 2024 so we have an idea of what will be possible.  The details for the actual payment in January are as below.

LGPC Bank Account Details are as Follows:

Sort Code: 60-02-21,   Account Number: 54-22-10-64,    Bank: NATWEST

Account Name: PARISH CNCL LITTLE GADDESDEN, Reference: Your Surname

To keep our logistics simple, could you also send the Clerk a note confirming your name, amount, date of transfer, phone number, email and bank details (for returns)…(clerk@littlegaddesdenpc.org.uk)

The Way Forward

LGPC are meeting with Dacorum on Thursday 4th January at 12pm.

Formally, LGPC have called two extraordinary meetings of the Council. The first, on Tuesday 2nd January at 7:30pm pm in the Village Hall, to update everyone on activities and the approach we are taking on your behalf.  The second, on Thursday 4th January at 7:30pm in the Village Hall is to agree the way forward.  Please come if you can.

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Kelly, Chair on behalf of Little Gaddesden Parish Council

22/12/2023

EXTRAORDINARY MEETINGS OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – 2 and 4 January 2024

The Chair of the Parish Council is calling two Extraordinary Meetings of the Parish Council to be held in January to update the village on Church Road and to discuss next steps.

The Agenda for both meetings can be found here.  and on the main LGPC  Noticeboard.

The meetings will take place on both Tuesday 2 and  Thursday 4 January at 19:30 in the Village Hall.   Please come if you can.

Meanwhile, please see the separate important email for an URGENT update on  Church Road and the URGENT need to raise funds.

There is very little time to act and LGPC and the village urgently needs your support.   

Thanks.

Chair, Paul Kelly, on behalf of Little Gaddesden Parish Council

 

 

IMPORTANT: Update re the Land Adjacent to Church Road – 11 December LGPC Meeting

 

Please come to the meeting of the Parish Council this Monday, 11th December at 19:30, for an update on the land adjacent to Church Road.

 

The meeting will start with a Guest Speaker talking about the National Trust Protect our Roots programme.

This will be followed with an important update regarding the land adjacent to Church Road.

(Monday 11th is the last chance you have to respond to the Local Plan.)

 

Responding to the Local Consultation on Local Plan – before 11 December

Dear All

You may have seen that Dacorum Borough Council (DBC) are consulting all residents /” You” again on the Local Plan.  There is a quick 5 question survey on line  letstalk.dacorum.gov.uk.

Please click on the following to see LGPC-Response to Local Plan Consultation 20231211.  There are two pages to this document.

The current consultation is on the amendments that DBC have proposed to the original proposals following relevant local input including representations from LGPC. Although concerns have clearly been considered nearly all of LGPC’s original concerns remain. Accordingly it is important that residents respond to the survey if they have concerns about the impact of the increase in housing, associated amenities and traffic on the environment, water, area of outstanding natural beauty, ANOB, Chiltern Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation (SAC)  and rural areas.

In summary on the amended proposals:

  • the principal area of concern for residents of Little Gaddesden is the planned development North of Hemel.   Proposals for Berkhamsted and Tring have been “toned down”
  • for North Hemel the overall number of homes has not increased, but the process has been accelerated by increasing the number of homes to be built between 2024 and 2040 by 1000 to 2,500 together with an increase in related development e.g. schools etc
  • DBC are going to build a new country park  (which they argue will relieve stress on Ashridge) and are presumably looking to work with NT to help destress certain areas of Ashridge
  • LGPC remain concerned about the impact on Little Gaddesden, Ashridge, the Chiltern chalk streams and environment.

LGPC’s response can be found on LGPC website under Significant Planning matters

Please do visit DBC website letstalk.dacorum.gov.uk. and complete the very short 5 question survey.

If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact the Clerk on 07951 105801