Agenda item

The following motion was proposed by Councillor England, seconded by Councillor Tindall, and unanimously agreed with the following amendment from the Conservative Party:

Delete paragraph 2.i and renumber ii and iii as I and ii

Chalk Streams

Dacorum has internationally recognised rare natural chalk streams deserving protection and support, rarity to the point where even the World Wildlife Fund have suggested that they should be given special protection.  The existing Dacorum Core Strategy documents acknowledge the importance of this asset in supporting endangered species  and it is noted that the quality of these chalk streams is measured according to the amount of water present, balance of the water chemistry and the biodiversity of the water habitats supported by flow.  Therefore

1. This Council

a.  notes with concern the perilous state of the Gade and Bulbourne rivers in respect of vitality and water levels, and

b. expresses concern about the depletion of water resources by groundwater abstraction  and the harm being caused to the ecology and biodiversity of the local chalk streams.

2.  This Council

a. instructs officers to:

i. Write to the Dacorum Environmental Forum – Water Group to ask for their comments as to how the Rivers Gade, Ver and Bulbourne could be managed in the future so that they are maintained as healthy and vibrant chalk streams, these comments to be forwarded to the Environment Agency as part of the following letter to the EA,

ii. write to the Environment Agency (EA) to express the alarm of this Council as to the current poor environmental health of these important chalk streams and to ask the EA to explain to the Council how they intend to retain, protect and manage the rivers Gade, Ver and Bulbourne in the future, this explanation to also set out the EA’s requirements of Affinity Water and Thames Water to adapt the sourcing of water

iii. Consider the increased water resources that will need to be provided by Affinity Water and Thames Water for the anticipated local increase in housing development, and write to the Planning Inspectorate and the Environment Agency, making them aware of the issues and seeking their The following motion was proposed by Councillor England, seconded by Councillor Tindall, and unanimously agreed with the following amendment from the Conservative Party:

Delete paragraph 2.i and renumber ii and iii as I and ii

Chalk Streams

Dacorum has internationally recognised rare natural chalk streams deserving protection and support, rarity to the point where even the World Wildlife Fund have suggested that they should be given special protection.  The existing Dacorum Core Strategy documents acknowledge the importance of this asset in supporting endangered species  and it is noted that the quality of these chalk streams is measured according to the amount of water present, balance of the water chemistry and the biodiversity of the water habitats supported by flow.  Therefore

1. This Council

a.  notes with concern the perilous state of the Gade and Bulbourne rivers in respect of vitality and water levels, and

b. expresses concern about the depletion of water resources by groundwater abstraction  and the harm being caused to the ecology and biodiversity of the local chalk streams.

2.  This Council

a. instructs officers to:

i. Write to the Dacorum Environmental Forum – Water Group to ask for their comments as to how the Rivers Gade, Ver and Bulbourne could be managed in the future so that they are maintained as healthy and vibrant chalk streams, these comments to be forwarded to the Environment Agency as part of the following letter to the EA,

ii. write to the Environment Agency (EA) to express the alarm of this Council as to the current poor environmental health of these important chalk streams and to ask the EA to explain to the Council how they intend to retain, protect and manage the rivers Gade, Ver and Bulbourne in the future, this explanation to also set out the EA’s requirements of Affinity Water and Thames Water to adapt the sourcing of water

iii. Consider the increased water resources that will need to be provided by Affinity Water and Thames Water for the anticipated local increase in housing development, and write to the Planning Inspectorate and the Environment Agency, making them aware of the issues and seeking their advice with regard to the future development

3.  This Council, in furtherance of its objects, will

a. work with all relevant agencies to ensure that the decline in the quality of our chalk streams is halted and reversed, and

The following Motion was proposed by Councillor Stevens, seconded by Councillor Hobson and unanimously agreed with the following amendment from the Conservative Party:

Delete the two references to Virgin as they will no longer be running the service from the 8^th December

Rail Services Motion

“This Council regrets the recent very poor standard of rail services provide by LNWR. Southern and Virgin. Dacorum has four rail stations, namely Apsley, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring, and Dacorum residents have suffered from appalling and lengthy delays, in particular when using the return journeys from London Euston.

This Council requests the Chief Executive to write to LNWR, Southern and Virgin

a. expressing our dissatisfaction with the present standard of service, and

b. demanding an explanation regarding recent failures in performance, and

c. seeking a commitment to an improved service for our commuting residents.”

The following motion was proposed by Councillor England, seconded by Councillor Tindall, and unanimously agreed with the following amendment from the Conservative Party:

Delete paragraph 2.i and renumber ii and iii as I and ii

Chalk Streams

Dacorum has internationally recognised rare natural chalk streams deserving protection and support, rarity to the point where even the World Wildlife Fund have suggested that they should be given special protection.  The existing Dacorum Core Strategy documents acknowledge the importance of this asset in supporting endangered species  and it is noted that the quality of these chalk streams is measured according to the amount of water present, balance of the water chemistry and the biodiversity of the water habitats supported by flow.  Therefore

1. This Council

a.  notes with concern the perilous state of the Gade and Bulbourne rivers in respect of vitality and water levels, and

b. expresses concern about the depletion of water resources by groundwater abstraction  and the harm being caused to the ecology and biodiversity of the local chalk streams.

2.  This Council

a. instructs officers to:

i. Write to the Dacorum Environmental Forum – Water Group to ask for their comments as to how the Rivers Gade, Ver and Bulbourne could be managed in the future so that they are maintained as healthy and vibrant chalk streams, these comments to be forwarded to the Environment Agency as part of the following letter to the EA,

ii. write to the Environment Agency (EA) to express the alarm of this Council as to the current poor environmental health of these important chalk streams and to ask the EA to explain to the Council how they intend to retain, protect and manage the rivers Gade, Ver and Bulbourne in the future, this explanation to also set out the EA’s requirements of Affinity Water and Thames Water to adapt the sourcing of water

iii. Consider the increased water resources that will need to be provided by Affinity Water and Thames Water for the anticipated local increase in housing development, and write to the Planning Inspectorate and the Environment Agency, making them aware of the issues and seeking their The following motion was proposed by Councillor England, seconded by Councillor Tindall, and unanimously agreed with the following amendment from the Conservative Party:

Delete paragraph 2.i and renumber ii and iii as I and ii

Chalk Streams

Dacorum has internationally recognised rare natural chalk streams deserving protection and support, rarity to the point where even the World Wildlife Fund have suggested that they should be given special protection.  The existing Dacorum Core Strategy documents acknowledge the importance of this asset in supporting endangered species  and it is noted that the quality of these chalk streams is measured according to the amount of water present, balance of the water chemistry and the biodiversity of the water habitats supported by flow.  Therefore

1. This Council

a.  notes with concern the perilous state of the Gade and Bulbourne rivers in respect of vitality and water levels, and

b. expresses concern about the depletion of water resources by groundwater abstraction  and the harm being caused to the ecology and biodiversity of the local chalk streams.

2.  This Council

a. instructs officers to:

i. Write to the Dacorum Environmental Forum – Water Group to ask for their comments as to how the Rivers Gade, Ver and Bulbourne could be managed in the future so that they are maintained as healthy and vibrant chalk streams, these comments to be forwarded to the Environment Agency as part of the following letter to the EA,

ii. write to the Environment Agency (EA) to express the alarm of this Council as to the current poor environmental health of these important chalk streams and to ask the EA to explain to the Council how they intend to retain, protect and manage the rivers Gade, Ver and Bulbourne in the future, this explanation to also set out the EA’s requirements of Affinity Water and Thames Water to adapt the sourcing of water

iii. Consider the increased water resources that will need to be provided by Affinity Water and Thames Water for the anticipated local increase in housing development, and write to the Planning Inspectorate and the Environment Agency, making them aware of the issues and seeking their advice with regard to the future development

3.  This Council, in furtherance of its objects, will

a. work with all relevant agencies to ensure that the decline in the quality of our chalk streams is halted and reversed, and

The following Motion was proposed by Councillor Stevens, seconded by Councillor Hobson and unanimously agreed with the following amendment from the Conservative Party:

Delete the two references to Virgin as they will no longer be running the service from the 8^th December

Rail Services Motion

“This Council regrets the recent very poor standard of rail services provide by LNWR. Southern and Virgin. Dacorum has four rail stations, namely Apsley, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring, and Dacorum residents have suffered from appalling and lengthy delays, in particular when using the return journeys from London Euston.

This Council requests the Chief Executive to write to LNWR, Southern and Virgin

a. expressing our dissatisfaction with the present standard of service, and

b. demanding an explanation regarding recent failures in performance, and

c. seeking a commitment to an improved service for our commuting residents.”