Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Frecknall, J Ranger, M Stevenson and A Ward-Booth.  It was noted that Councillor S Bull was substituting for Councillor A Ward-Booth.  Councillor M Stevenson was present towards the end of the meeting. Councillor N Symonds arrived at the conclusion of the meeting.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2019.

Councillor K Crofton said that some of the narrative in paragraph 5 of minute 215 on Waste Management was not fully reflective of his comments on failed bin collection rates.  His comment had been that failed bin collection rates might be due to residents forgetting to put bins out on the correct collection day.

It was moved by Councillor M Goldspink and seconded by Councillor D Snowdon that the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2019 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the following amendment:

Minute 215 – Waste Management

In 5^th paragraph, delete – ‘Councillor K Crofton commented on failed bin collection rates where collection days had changed within the new contract.’

Replace with – ‘Councillor K Crofton said that failed bin collection rates might have something to do with residents forgetting to put bins out on the correct collection day’.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 November2019 as amended, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the following amendments:

Minute 215 – Waste Management

In 5^th paragraph, delete ‘….Councillor K Crofton commented on failed bin collection rates where collection days had changed within the new contract.’

Replace with – ‘Councillor K Crofton said that failed bin collection rates might have something to do with residents forgetting to put bins out on the correct collection day’.

Following a comment from the Chairman, the Scrutiny Officer stated that the Democratic Services Manager was considering a way forward in respect of future arrangements in respect of public speaking.

The Chairman of the Task and Finish Group, Councillor H Drake, submitted a report on the work of a Member Task and Finish Group established to review elements of East Herts District Council parking policy.

Councillor H Drake said that the Task and Finish Group had met 7 times and covered 3 of the 4 areas set out in their terms of reference. The last area, regarding parking within planning policy, had not been covered due to time constraints.  Members were advised that input had been received from Ward and Town Councillors and the Business Improvement District (BID).  Councillor H Drake said that contributions had been received from the villages and from representatives of Town and Parish Councillors specifically with regards to residents parking zones.  She stated over 1000 survey responses had been received and these were summarised at Essential Reference Paper ‘C’.  The principal findings and recommendations were summarised in the report and in greater detail in Essential Reference Paper ‘B’.

Councillor M Goldspink commented on residents’ parking zones (RPZs) being used by commercial users at certain hours.  The Head of Communications, Strategy and Policy said that the Chantry Lane mixed use scheme allowed business users to park between 8 am and 6 pm.  This zone was not available for business users in the evenings or on Saturdays.

Following a further comment from Councillor M Goldspink, the Head of Communications, Strategy and Policy said that the Chantry Lane RPZ had been a trial to see what could be learnt from mixing business users with residential.  The take up had been low partially because of not being able to park on Saturdays but also because annual payments were required upfront which was not easy for many people.

The Head of Communications, Strategy and Policy confirmed to Councillor S Bull that the way forward could be to explore the principle of shared usage of residents parking zones on a case by case basis.  He said that whenever a RPZ was considered for implementation, this would always be preceded by a consultation with residents.  He answered a number of other questions from the Committee on mixed use parking schemes.

Councillor K Crofton raised the issue of the costs of parking in Station Car Parks.  The Head of Communications, Strategy and Policy said that the Task and Finish Group had recommended that the Council write to rail operators to establish what could be done regarding the costs of station parking and subsequent commuter parking in residential streets, as commuters sought to avoid paying to park.  Councillor H Drake confirmed that the cost of commuter parking was as high as £10 a day in Hertfordshire.

Councillor K Crofton said that Hertfordshire County Council did not wish to become an electrical provider by fitting lampposts with car charging facilities.  Councillor J Wyllie commented on whether the power to a lamppost was sufficient to charge up an electric car.

Councillor D Hollebon said that the provision of disabled bays was at the 6% level  ...  view the full minutes text for item 259.

The Scrutiny Officer provided Members with a draft Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme and Members’ views were sought in relation to the items on the work programme.  The Scrutiny Officer referred to the impact on Bircherley Green in terms of its redevelopment proposals and the public's perception on the decline of the area.  She sought Members’ views on what the Council might be able to do to ameliorate the situation in the interim.

The Scrutiny Officer reminded Members of a request for a scrutiny review of cycling provision.  She explained that a meeting regarding cycle storage provision was scheduled for 17 December 2019 at the offices of Bishop’s Stortford Town Council when she hoped to gain an insight into what reviews might have already been undertaken.  The Scrutiny Officer advised that she would provide Members with an update following that meeting.

Members were advised that a detailed report on Section 106 arrangements and allocations had been considered by Performance, Audit and Governance Oversight (PAGO) Committee on 24 September 2019.  The Scrutiny Officer invited Members to let her know if they considered there were any issues in the report which required scrutiny.

The Scrutiny Officer said that the Gov.Metric report regarding website satisfaction would be submitted to 4 February 2020 meeting by the Head of Communications, Strategy and Policy.

The Scrutiny Officer explained her thoughts on a more proactive approach to Scrutiny, which could entail regularly reviewing the forward plan for items to be considered by the Executive over a three month period.  She felt that the Forward Plan could be included on the Agenda as a standing item. 

Councillor M Goldspink expressed her support for this idea.  She pointed out that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had the option of calling in decisions to be taken by the Executive.  Councillor D Hollebon was assured that feedback would be given to Members in respect of Gov.Metric.

The Head of Communications, Strategy and Policy commented on performance data in respect of customer satisfaction with the Council’s website.  Members supported the draft Work Programme, as amended.

RESOLVED – that the draft Work Programme as amended, be approved.