Issue - meetings

a) The consultation responses, as detailed in Appendix C to this report, be received and considered; and

b) The application, submitted by Hertford Town Council, for the designation of Hertford Castle Plus as a Neighbourhood Area for the purposes of producing a neighbourhood plan, be supported

The Executive Member for Planning and Growth presented the report. She said that Hertford Town Council had applied for the designation of the Castle ward. Prior to the 2023 boundary changes, the whole area was in the Castle ward, and so the proposal was to call the area Hertford Castle Plus.

The Executive Member for Planning and Growth said that the council had undertaken a public consultation and six responses were received, five positive and one response concerned that the area was too large. She said that other Neighbourhood Plans in Ware and Bishop’s Stortford covered a larger area than the proposed Hertford Castle Plus. She said it would be sensible to ensure that the whole of Hertford was covered by Neighbourhood Plans.

Councillor Glover-Ward proposed that the recommendations in the report be supported. Councillor Brittain seconded the proposal.

Councillor Deering referred to the low responses in the consultation and asked how much the exercise had cost.

The Principal Planning Officer said that the consultation was procedural and said that six responses was higher than received in other areas. She said there would be further opportunity for consultation and engagement when the plan started to be developed.

Councillor Deering asked for a figure of the cost.

The Principal Planning Officer said the process was covered by government grants and there was not a cost to the council. She said there was some officer cost in the support and guidance provided to develop the plan.

Councillor Deering asked for a written response after the meeting with figures provided.

Councillor Daar said that she had been involved in the Bengeo Neighbourhood Plan and said the public meetings had been very busy and local people got involved in developing the plan.

Councillor Hopewell said she had received informal interest from residents at this early stage. She said the procedural consultation had not sparked interest yet.

The motion to support the recommendations having been proposed and seconded was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that (A) the consultation responses, as detailed in Appendix C to this report, be received and considered; and

(B) the application, submitted by Hertford Town Council, for the designation of Hertford Castle Plus as a Neighbourhood Area for the purposes of producing a neighbourhood plan, be supported