Dacorum Environmental Forum

Full Meeting – 11 January 2007

MINUTES

Attendance

Phil Pennington	DEF Chairman
Roger Hands	DEF Water Group/Box Moor Trust
Andy Hardstaff	Countryside Management Service
Gruff Edwards	New Conservation Society
Sylvia Davidson	Friends of the Earth
Douglas Walker	Resident
Hazel Johnson	W.W.F.
Alan Johnson	Gt Gaddesden Parish Council, Green Party
Adrienne Gear	Community Action Dacorum
Jean Blackman	FOE
Richard Blackburn	Dacorum Borough Council
Michael Blackman	Rambling Club
Norman Cutting	Berkhamsted Citizens Association
Sherry Robinson	Groundwork Hertfordshire
Dennis Harvey	Hemel Nature
Rudolf Kirst	Hemel Hempstead GM Action Group
Mary Dyson	Berkhamsted Lion Club
Olive Darvill	F.O.E.
Gerald Darvill	F.O.E.
Peter Thring	CPRE Hertfordshire
Paul Harris	F.O.E.
Marion Baker	F.O.E.
Chris Jones	Churches Together in Hemel Hempstead
Jenny Habib	Chiltern Society
Chris Riley	Hemel Hempstead Conservation Volunteers
Donald Lamb	Northchurch Parish Council

Apologies

Kay Völger	Dacorum Borough Council
Nick Graham	Dacorum Borough Council
Cllr Carol Green	Dacorum Borough Council
Peter Ablett	DEF Vice Chairman
Guy Patterson	Chiltern Society
Mike Peters	Dacorum Borough Council
Graeme Cannon	Ashridge Estate
Elizabeth Ranelagh	FWAG
Norman Jones	Ramblers Association – Dacorum Group
John Morris	Chilterns Woodlands
Mrs D. Hudson	Resident
Councillor Jane Collier	Dacorum Borough Council
Councillor Ian Reay	Dacorum Borough Council
Councillor Neil Harding	Dacorum Borough Council
David Nobbs	Chipperfield Parish Council
Sandy Coyle	Dacorum Borough Council
Greta Brown	Chiltern Society

1. Apologies

Apologies were noted.

2. Minutes of the meeting held on 20 July 2006 and Matters Arising.

The minutes were agreed.

Rudolph Kirst shared some points on emerging issues from the HH GM Action Group. Potato research and co-existence consultation – 63 page petition has been sent to DeFRA as the public are not to know where GM groups are planted- eg bee keepers, allotment holders and people with gardens.

Reported that Dr Mae Wan Ho giving a talk at Iver Heath on 29^th January

Buncefield information – DEF Water Group were directed to EA website – was asked if questions can be submitted via this website

3. Planning Consultations – Richard Blackburn, Dacorum Borough Council

Richard Blackburn of the DBC planning department gave a presentation on the consultations relating to the proposals in the East of England Plan for additional housing in Dacorum.

Copy of Richard’s Powerpoint presentation is available

Two responses needed

Blue documents – Growth at Hemel Hempstead – by 19^th January 2007

Yellow documents – Site allocation – by 16^th February 2007

Agreed that DEF steering group would meet to formulate responses

Paul Harris FoE asked if DBC were being too accommodating. RB replied that the plan prepared by East of England Regional Assembly - that figures had come from panel and DBC had had 5 minutes of representation on one day. Once Government adopts plan DBC has to be a responsible authority and facilitate final housing allocation figure.

Roger Hands DEF Water Group – need to look at water related infrastructure that would provide for growth over the next 50 years.

Norman Cutting – unlikely to change Government view.

Jenny Habib (Chiltern Society) – River Gade is endangered and the whole of East of England is short of water. Inadequate infrastructure – trains overcrowded, losing schools and hospitals. Can dispute figures – assumptions made on number of jobs which will be created.

RB - Local delivery Vehicle to be developed with St Albans City and District Council. Sustainable communities providing houses for growth not profit. Findings of Barker report 2004 and 2006. Historically development in Dacorum lower than household growth (7.2K compared to 10 – 11K).

Gruff Edwards thanked RB for presentation pointed out net inward migration to E of E region made up 77% of population increase 1998 – 2003.

Dennis Harvey – are demands in Dacorum proportionate to rest of country? RB replied saying that it is not disproportionate with Growth Areas although historically yes.

Chris Riley – asked to what extent is government open to bargaining? – Some scope for adjustment

Jenny Habib can details of required infrastructure be represented?

4. Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Phil Pennington had met with Councillor Ron Coxage who was keen that the link between DEF and DBC members be strengthened – asked that DEF pass items to the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

5. DEF Website

Marion Baker was thanked for the work she had put in to developing the DEF website. Marion introduced it as a starting point – it needed commitment from DEF members. Marion asked for comments on layout, colours and pictures. Need text contributions from members – pages on projects and a links page.

Gruff Edwards said he would demonstrate how easy it is to submit information by sending an example to people

6. Any Other Business

Water Group to give a presentation at next DEF meeting

DEF members reminded that Chair and Vice Chair elections to be held at that meeting

Cllr Andrew Williams (Leader of DBC) will be meeting a delegation from DEF on the 26^th March.

The next meeting of the Dacorum Environmental Forum will be on Thursday 19^th APRIL 2007 at 7.30 p.m. Room 201, Civic Centre.

Note: The Agendas and Minutes from the Dacorum Environment Forum meetings can be found on the Environment Section of the DBC website. www.dacorum.gov.uk