I know many Councillors used to read my regular column to find out what actually went on in Council. Now they know what goes on, because they are normally told before hand. Now they will have to read it in order to find out what they did wrong. I was talking the other day to one of the regular attendees of town Council meetings who reliably informed me that meetings prior to 1995 often lasted as long as 30 minutes. The 95/99 Council regularly lasted hours and now the meetings are once again getting shorter. Could my cynical view of democracy actually be true - surely not?

Just in case you missed them, a couple of recent meetings are worth bringing to your attention.

The Town Centre Forum at the beginning of July was so well publicised that most Berkhamsted Councillors attended, but very few others. It was held in the 'Clock Room' of the Town Hall, which is the newly opened section in the front of the building. They forgot to install air conditioning or windows that open. The result was that few could hear what was going on over the noise of the traffic and assorted fans trying to keep everyone cool. I think parking in the Town Centre was discussed along with the usual 'what consultants will recommend about the rear of the shops' and the REX and the old Waitrose building. The Borough Council was so impressed with the numbers attending that the same venue would be booked for the September meeting. I have high hopes that by Christmas no one will turn up due to lack of publicity, interest, poor venue and the whole exercise will be abandoned. This would be a shame as the idea is right, just the execution poor.

The other one that some almost attended, but due to mismanagement and lack of information was the July Town Council meeting. It was preceded by a presentation by Tesco representatives to Councillors on their objections to the Borough draft Local Plans for the Stag Lane area. The Borough had proposed housing in place of employment whereas Tesco are proposing a shiny new supermarket complete with petrol filling station and on the estimated 2 acres left will be built 44 two bedroom houses. The existing Tesco store will be let as a ground floor retail unit and the upper floors converted into 27 flats. They do not even appear to have considered extending to the rear down to Mill Lane which would allow a major supermarket to remain in the Town Centre and ensure the survival of the main shopping area. So, we loose a few parking spaces, but I bet the new Waitrose takes up more in St Johns Well Lane/Lower Kings Road car parks than would be lost in Water Lane, so what do you think?
Moving swiftly on the main part of the Council meeting, much debate was made of the token expenses offered to Committee Chairman by the last Council. Comments ranged from paying allowances to Parish Councillors was illegal (it is, only it is a token sum to cover necessary expenses incurred by Chairmen in the execution of their duties and agreed by the Inland Revenue) to why refuse devolved powers.

Devolved powers? I hear you ask. Devolved power are those functions that can be carried out by lower Councils, and you can't get lower than Town/Parish Councillors in local government, on behalf of higher bodies. The last Council was part of a Parish Council Partnership to discuss what was possible and what wasn't for the Town Council to take on. It believed that Berkhamsted Town Council should do more than look after allotments, tart up a bridge over the Canal and offer suggestions to those who control the town 5 miles down the road before you get to Watford.
They turned down the chance to name new roads (- that would really have taxed them!) and appeals against Tree Preservation Orders by the Borough Council. All this from a Liberal-Democrat controlled Town Council who believes in devolving power to the most effective level. It made me wonder just would they feel they could do effectively. They didn't even offer to water the baskets on the Town Centre lamp-posts. They have discussed the possibility of putting yet another Town name plate on the flint walls as you enter the town from Bourne End and improving the Town Signage at the Northchurch end. Why do I get the feeling that all this was gone into last year and defeated in Council due to cost (Northchurch end) and how many do you have made (Bourne End end). Talking about which, the Council would be better employed getting County to actually finish installing the new lights from Bulbeggers Lane junction to the flint walls. This area is unlit, dangerous and I am astounded they have got away with it for so long. The excuse originally was the electricity cables hadn't been installed, then it was money and finally forgotten. Come on Councillor Coleman, you are a Town, Borough and County Councillor for the Town and even if you live in Potten End, must be aware of the problem.

I mentioned the Town web-site in the last issue and have now decided to pursue the project properly. I have managed to move almost everything to one site and is now being developed as a site for visitors and residents alike. It contains most of the information as before, but the business section is being expanded and I would like to thank those who have expressed support for the project and surprised how many thought what a good idea it is. Just a shame the Town Council appear to want to remain (?) connected to the www.dacorum.gov.uk site. Go on - have a look, then look at the Berkhamsted one. You decide on what you would like our town to present itself to the world.

In the next issue, I hope to bring news of the Council plans for the coming year and how they might fund it. Judging by past statements, you can look forward to a reduction in your local Town Council precept (tax), as they will slip back into the old Town Council ways of bowing to the superior (?) knowledge and facilities offered by the Borough Council. On the other hand, they might surprise us all and put the GREAT back into Great Berkhamsted.