Issue - meetings

RESOLVED – that Hertfordshire County Council’s Transport Update November 2013, informed by transport modelling, be noted and agreed as part of the technical evidence base to inform the preparation of the District Plan.

(see also Minute 421)

The Executive considered and approved the recommendations of the District Planning Executive Panel, at its meeting held on 3 December 2013, on the Transport Update Report and Modelling Results.

In response to Members’ concerns about the impact of large scale developments on highways infrastructure, the Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Transport commented on the continuing dialogue with neighbouring Authorities, the need for further study assessments and the availability of funding from Government or the Local Enterprise Partnership.

RECOMMENDED – that Hertfordshire County Council’s Transport Update November 2013, informed by transport modelling, be noted and agreed as part of the technical evidence base to inform the preparation of the District Plan.

(see also Minute 409)

The Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Transport submitted a report on the November 2013 Transport Update prepared by Hertfordshire County Council as part of the evidence base to inform the emerging East Herts District Plan.  The report also explained that further transport assessment would be needed following agreement of the Draft District Plan, to assess the feasibility and viability of transport and highways mitigation measures.  The Executive Member also set out ATLAS advice that the extended process of evidence gathering would go beyond the District Plan itself and into further plan-making and planning application stages of the end-to-end development process.

The Panel Chairman welcomed Paul Chappell and Sue Jackson from Hertfordshire County Council, who were in attendance to answer Members’ questions.

A number of questions were asked by Members.  Some of these concerned the level of congestion in town centres and how transport infrastructure improvements could be funded.  Paul Chappell explained that developers would be expected to contribute to such improvements as and when large applications came through.  He acknowledged that new developments added pressures and the purpose of the study had been to identify the pressure points.  He reassured the meeting that ringfenced section 106 funds for specific areas were applied as identified in the agreement.

Sue Jackson also commented on sustainable transport solutions for shorter trips and the need to encourage a modal shift away from the motor car, given the limitations on road capacity.  She also detailed the work undertaken with neighbouring Authorities.

The Panel supported the proposals as now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – that Hertfordshire County Council’s Transport Update November 2013, informed by transport modelling, be noted and agreed as part of the technical evidence base to inform the preparation of the District Plan.