Agenda, decisions and minutes

Minute 8 refers

The Executive considered and supported the recommendations of the District Planning Executive Panel meeting held on 22 October 2015, on the West Essex and East Hertfordshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) September 2015.

RECOMMENDED – that the West Essex and East Hertfordshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA), September 2015, be agreed as part of the evidence base to inform and support preparation of the East Herts District Plan, and for housing strategy purposes.

(see also Minute 380)

Minute 9 refers

The Executive considered and supported the recommendations of the District Planning Executive Panel meeting held on 22 October 2015, on the Economic Evidence to Support the Development of the Objectively Assessed Housing Need (OAHN) for West Essex and East Herts, September 2015.

RECOMMENDED – that the Economic Evidence to Support the Development of the OAHN for West Essex and East Herts, September 2015, be agreed as part of the evidence base to inform and support preparation of the East Herts District Plan.

(see also Minute 380)

Minute 10 refers

The Executive considered and supported the recommendations of the District Planning Executive Panel meeting held on 22 October 2015, on the District Plan Transportation – A414, Hertford.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) the contents of the letter dated 27 July 2015 from Hertfordshire County Council Highways Development Management in respect of transportation issues identified on the A414, Hertford, be noted; and

(B)      Hertfordshire County Council be urged to give highest priority to expediting the completion of its COMET transportation model and publication of its emerging Transportation Vision and that East Herts Council was most willing to assist this process, if considered appropriate.

(see also Minute 380)

Minute 11 refers

The Executive considered and supported the recommendations of the District Planning Executive Panel meeting held on 22 October 2015, on the Delivery Study, September 2015.

RECOMMENDED – that the Delivery Study, September 2015, be agreed as part of the evidence base to inform and support preparation of the East Herts District Plan.

(see also Minute 380)

The Leader welcomed the press and public to the meeting and reminded everyone present that the meeting was being webcast.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 October 2015 (previously circulated within the agenda for the Council meeting of 28 October 2015)

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Executive meeting held on 6 October 2015, be approved and signed as a correct record by the Leader.

Note – this item will include a presentation by David Couttie Associates.

That the District Wide Housing Needs Survey to be published and used as information to guide the emerging Housing Strategy 2016-21, be approved.

The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing submitted a report detailing the key findings of the Housing Needs Survey 2015 carried out on behalf of the Council by David Couttie Associates (DCA).  The Executive member sought approval for the Housing Needs Survey results to be approved and published to guide the emerging Housing Strategy 2016-21.

David Couttie gave a presentation in which he outlined the methodology used and the key findings.  Arising from the Survey, the key messages were to:

·        focus new delivery in market housing to address future demographic and household formation change and to meet the need for smaller units across the stock;

·        address the under-occupation of almost 950 social rented properties to improve the turnover of family units and address the needs of 350 over-occupied households and those on the waiting list;

·        link new affordable delivery to the growth in older people and enabling a better flow of the existing stock; and

·        assess the Extra Care delivery strategy to meet the growth in 85+ year olds.

The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing linked the Survey to other ongoing work, such as the Strategic Housing Market Assessment and the emerging District Plan.  He also referred to the challenges that would need to be met with the proposals in the latest Housing Bill.

In response to Members’ questions and comments, David Couttie referred to impending legislation intended to improve energy standards in the private rental housing stock.  The Housing Strategy and Development Manager also referred to the need to address the Study’s findings in updating the Council’s emerging Housing Strategy 2016-21.

The Leader thanked David Couttie for his presentation and asked Officers to circulate this to all Members.

The Executive approved the proposal as now detailed.

RESOLVED - that the District Wide Housing Needs Survey to be published and used as information to guide the emerging Housing Strategy 2016-21, be approved.

That (A) the comments and recommendations of the Council’s Environment Scrutiny Committee be received and noted;

(B)     based on the evidence presented, East Herts Council should continue to manage its car parks on a solely ‘pay and display’ basis; and

(C)    Officers be authorised to commence procurement, obtaining detailed costing and a recommended preferred supplier for ‘pay and display’ in all car parks.

The Executive Member for Economic Development submitted a report seeking approval for the basis of operation of East Herts Council’s new car park management system and its procurement.  He reminded the Executive that the Government had restricted local authorities’ ability to use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems alone to manage their car parks. 

He also referred to the Environment Scrutiny Committee’s consideration of the matter at its meeting held on 8 September 2015.  One of its recommendations was for Officers to consider Gascoyne Way, Hertford and Jackson Square, Bishop’s Stortford, for conversion to “pay on exit” car parks.  The Executive Member advised that this option would present structural difficulties at both car parks as well as having traffic implications.  Informal discussions with Hertfordshire County Council, a statutory consultee in the Traffic Regulation Order process to establish a ‘pay on exit’ operation, had indicated that formal objections would be made on the grounds of impact on traffic management at both sites.  Therefore, this option could not be progressed any further.

However, the Executive Member advised that the new pay and display machines would include developments with credit/debit card payments and “pay by phone and mobile app” options, which would deliver the key benefits of “pay on exit”. 

The Executive Member for Development Management and Council Support, speaking as a Herford Member, expressed her frustration with the Government’s restrictions on the use of ANPR.  Although disappointed with the subsequent recommendation, she acknowledged the difficulties highlighted by the Executive Member for Economic Development.

The Executive approved the recommendations now detailed.

RESOLVED - that (A) the comments and recommendations of the Council’s Environment Scrutiny Committee be received and noted;

(B)      based on the evidence presented, East Herts Council should continue to manage its car parks on a solely ‘pay and display’ basis; and

(C)      Officers be authorised to commence procurement, obtaining detailed costing and a recommended preferred supplier for ‘pay and display’ in all car parks.

Report to follow.

To consider recommendations on the following matters:

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the District Planning Executive Panel held on 22 October 2015 be received.

(see also Minutes 372 – 375)