Agenda item

To receive any Members' questions.

Question 1

Councillor P Ruffles commented that the water fountain at Old Cross, Hertford, in his ward, had not served its historic purpose since East Herts Council became responsible for its maintenance as an historic structure in 1973.  Now that there had been a much trumpeted and much lauded bringing back to life of a 140 year old water fountain at St Pancras Station in London, he asked the Executive Member for Finance and Support Services if he would look into the possibilities of giving our own fountain, created as the central purpose for the structure made from stone of the former church at the Old Cross site, its full purpose again.

In reply, the Executive Member for Finance and Support Services stated that, although he could not guarantee the same outcome achieved by the custodians of the St Pancras Fountain, he did at least share the same ambition.  The Council had engaged conservation specialists to advise on what might be possible and were awaiting their findings.  Thus, he apologised for not providing anything more concrete at this stage, but undertook to update to all Members as soon as more information had been received, which hopefully would confirm restoration of the fountain’s restorative function in due course.

Question 2

Councillor P Ruffles commented that the St Andrew’s Street Car Park in Hertford was often full and served as the main parking place for Hertford Theatregoers and for west end of town shoppers.  The five parking places nearest to the Theatre had been screened off against parkers for many months.  He asked the Executive Member for Finance and Support Services what hope he could give, to Hertford Members in particular, that the spaces would be available again for Christmas shoppers.

In reply, the Executive Member for Finance and Support Services reminded Members of the storm damage caused last year to some trees, the retaining brick wall and the railings along the car park boundary at this point to collapse into the river.  This had undermined the car park sub structure, thus rendering the five car parking spaces unsafe.

He advised that planning for the bank repair works necessary to bring these parking places back into use had begun and a full topographical survey had already been completed, enabling structural consultants to produce a detailed design.

However, there had been a significant lead time before works could commence, due to the requirement for Environment Agency Consent and to arrange for the specialist equipment needed to carry out the works.  Also, there was a lead time on procuring the heritage railings which were to be replaced.

Therefore he anticipated that the works would be actioned on completion of the HUDS project in the town centre, scheduled for February 2019.  He regretted that the car park spaces would not be reinstated by Christmas.  However, he concluded by stating that the thorough and long-term approach taken would ensure the repairs would be sound and suitable to withstand future forces and provide protection for the next 50 years or more.

Question 3

Councillor D Andrews stated that the Council operated several small vans, and as they were now four years old, it was likely that they would be up for replacement in the foreseeable future.  Given the geography of the District and the ability to have charging stations at several of our locations at the edges of the District, and the opportunity to lead the way in using light electric commercial vehicles, he asked the Executive Member for Environment and the Public Realm if they would be replaced by electric vehicles at the earliest practical opportunity.

In reply, the Executive Member for Environment and the Public Realm stated that the Council aimed to take a proactive approach to encouraging the use of electric vehicles in the District.  As part of this, Officers were currently investigating the opportunity and options for moving the small fleet of Council vehicles over to electric vehicles (EVs), now that a number of vehicles were coming up for renewal.  A move to EVs had the obvious advantage of reduced emissions, with lower fuel and servicing costs being added benefits.

The Executive Member advised that battery range for small EV vans was improving all the time and our preference would be to switch to EVs in our fleet.  However, we would need to be assured that the range would be adequate in all likely operating conditions, including poor weather and heavy loads, both of which could reduce the battery range.  Officers were assessing current mileage, the types of use and whole life costs.

In addition, the Council was proactively promoting EV uptake among contractors and partners.  For example, the specification for the Council’s new grounds maintenance contract required tenderers to ‘investigate the use of alternative or bio fuel and the potential for electric or ultra-low emission vehicles… wherever economically and technically feasible’.  Furthermore, the Executive Member was aware that the Licensing Committee would shortly be considering a revised policy regarding the standards for taxis operating in the District which would, for the first time, propose requirements for taxis to meet low emission standards and seek to incentivise drivers to switch to electric vehicles.

The Executive Member referred to the crucial factor in the roll out of EVs, as the availability of charging points.  New fast chargers for the Council’s electric car club were being fitted at Wallfields.  Ideally, dedicated rapid chargers at Wallfields, to enable the quick and frequent top-ups, would be necessary to service EVs too.  The capacity of the local grid to accommodate this was being actively pursued.

Work was also underway to install new chargers at Gascoyne Way car park and in Sawbridgeworth, Ware, Bishop’s Stortford and Stansted Abbotts with a rollout timetable stretching into early 2019.  Officers were also assessing the feasibility of additional on-street chargers in Bishop’s Stortford.  In time, the Northgate End car park alongside the Goods Yard development was set provide a considerable uplift in charging capacity in the town.  

He concluded by reiterating the Council’s commitment to work with and advise partners across the District on the feasibility of charging points being installed in their localities.

In response to a supplementary question on reviewing taxi rank locations, the Executive Member referred to a site meeting he had attended that day with colleagues from Hertfordshire County Council looking at potential locations in Bishop’s Stortford for rapid chargers.  They had taken the opportunity to discuss the issue with taxi drivers and had been surprised to find much enthusiasm for EVs.  He confirmed that Officers were investigating this.