Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed the press and public to the meeting and reminded everyone that the meeting was being webcast.  He also welcomed Councillor G Cutting to his first Council meeting since his by-election victory.

The Chairman did not detail any of the many events he had attended recently, but promised to provide a summary at the end of the year.

The Chairman asked Members to note the leaflet that had been laid around the chamber on the East Herts Community Chest, which outlined the grants available to charities and community groups in East Herts.  The Chairman appealed to Members to help raise funds in support and suggested different ways and events that could be held. 

He advised that he was hosting a coffee morning on 6 November 2014 for parish councillors in his county division at the Manor of Groves hotel.  The Vice-Chairman advised that she would be hosting a dinner for women in business in Hertford town centre in October 2014.

The Chairman asked Members to advise him of any arrangements they would put in place.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Annual Council meeting held on 14 May 2014 be approved a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Laura Sleight, a Hertford resident had submitted a petition, comprising 2,011 signatures, as follows:

For years, Hertford residents who rely on council run car parks have faced a parking postcode lottery.  Some are issued residents’ permits for only £36 per year while others are forced to buy daily tickets costing up to £1,400 a year.

Now, East Herts Council wants to introduce evening charges (£1 from 4-10 pm, except all day tickets), costing residents and others up to £260 a year.

The changes are proposed for Hertford, Ware and Bishop’s Stortford and they’re due to launch a consultation in May to gather public views.  We need to act NOW!

Evening charges would be BAD for visitors, BAD for local businesses and even WORSE for residents.

If you care about the rights of local people in Hertfordshire, please sign the petition to show that we have a voice.

Sign below if you want East Herts Council to SCRAP evening car park charges and provide fair parking for all.

The Council considered the petition under its petitions scheme in accordance with the provisions of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

Laura Sleight highlighted the key concerns shared by residents who had signed the petition.  She stated their opposition to the idea of evening charges and did not believe that half an hour’s free parking would justify the impact on residents and the economy.

She also highlighted the unfairness on town centre residents who relied on car parks to deal with the difficulties of parking near to where they lived.  Some residents were permitted to purchase season tickets from £36 per year whilst others were forced to buy daily car park tickets costing up to £1,400 per year.  This not only discouraged town centre dwelling, it also contradicted the car parking policy of consistency in setting charges for similar services.

The petitioner also referred to the impact on the business community, including those who relied on daytime business, which suggested that the proposals would have a negative impact on the local economy.

The Executive Member for Economic Development responded by referring to the set of principles agreed by the Executive in 2012 for the car parking service.  These included the need for charging to be fair to all including council taxpayers and for the costs of car parks to be borne by users rather than the council taxpayer.  The current charging structure did not reflect these principles as evening users did not contribute.

The Executive Member indicated that, having taken note of all the comments that had been submitted in response to the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) advertisement, he would be recommending to his Executive colleagues, a withdrawal of the proposed evening charges beyond 6.30 pm, but that other elements of the charging proposals be implemented, so that daytime users could visit town centres for longer and for a lesser charge.

Finally, the Executive Member referred to further considerations in the pipeline and advised that Officers were looking at a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 140.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Executive meeting held on 3 June 2014 be received.

(see also Minute 142)

RESOLVED – that (A) the responses to the public consultation be noted and the Officer responses and proposed changes to the Watton-at-Stone Conservation Area Appraisal be agreed;

(B)      authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Building Control, in consultation with the Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, to make any further minor and consequential changes to the Appraisal which may be necessary;

(C)      the Watton-at-Stone Conservation Area Appraisal be adopted.

(see also Minute 141)

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Executive meeting held on 1 July 2014 be received.

(see also Minutes 144 – 145)

RESOLVED – that (A) the responses to the public consultation be noted and the Officer responses and proposed changes to the Stanstead Abbotts Conservation Area Appraisal be approved;

(B)      authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Building Control, in consultation with the Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, to make any further minor and consequential changes to the Appraisal which may be necessary; and

(C)      the Stanstead Abbotts Conservation Area Appraisal be adopted.

(see also Minute 143)

RESOLVED – that (A) the responses to the public consultation be noted and the Officer responses and proposed changes to the Wareside Conservation Area Appraisal be approved;

(B)      authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Building Control, in consultation with the Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, to make any further minor and consequential changes to the Appraisal which may be necessary; and

(C)      the Wareside Conservation Area Appraisal be adopted.

(see also Minute 143)

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the joint meeting of the Executive, Committees, Sub-Committees and Panels held on 14 May 2014, be received.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Corporate Business Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 27 May 2014, be received.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Environment Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 10 June 2014, be received.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Community Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 24 June 2014, be received.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Development Management Committee meeting held on 25 June 2014, be received.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Corporate Business Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 8 July 2014, be received.

The Committee Chairman asked Members to note that an additional meeting had been arranged for 18 August 2014 at 10.30 am, immediately after the Local Joint Panel meeting.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Human Resources Committee meeting held on 9 July 2014, be received.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Audit Committee meeting held on 16 July 2014, be received.

(see also Minute 154)

The Executive Member for Finance provided an update on recent activity in seeking to invest in pooled property funds and advised that a report would be submitted to the Executive in due course.

RESOLVED – that (A) Non-Treasury Investments be included in the Treasury Management Strategy and associated criteria for selection, as now detailed within Essential Reference Papers “B” and “C” (Annex 2c) of the report submitted;

(B)           the proposed steps to mitigate investment credit risk as now detailed, be noted;

(C)           the credit criteria changes for the selection of investment counterparties as now detailed, be noted;

(D)      the revised format for the Treasury Management strategy as now detailed, be noted.

(see also Minute 153)

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on 17 July 2014, be received.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Development Management Committee meeting held on 23 July 2014, be received.

Councillor Mrs D Hollebon, on behalf of the 2013/14 Scrutiny Chairmen, presented the Scrutiny Annual report 2013/14.  She wished to place on record her thanks and appreciation to the Scrutiny Officer for her continued support.

RESOLVED – that the Annual Report on the work of the East Herts scrutiny committees (and Health and Wellbeing Panel) during 2013/14 be received.

Council considered a report reviewing the allocation of seats on the Council’s Committees, following a recent by-election.  Councillor G Cutting had given notice that he had joined the Conservative Group, thus necessitating the review.

RESOLVED – that (A) the allocation of seats be as set out in the report now submitted, and

(B)      the membership of Scrutiny and Regulatory Committees be agreed, with Members being appointed in accordance with the wishes of the political groups to whom the seats on these bodies have been allocated.