Decisions

In December 2024, the Government revised it's national planning advice in respect of green belts, and advised all local planning authorities with green belt within their areas to conduct a review against the revised advice. To this end, the Government has made funding available to any local authority with green belt to pursue this review and East Herts Council, jointly with North Herts Council and Stevenage Council, have secured £210K for the task via the MHCLG Green Belt review funding (2024-25) [No31/7665].
The work requires an understanding of national planning policy guidance in respect of the green belt, and experience in carrying out such work, and as such is limited in respect of possible suppliers. The leading consultant in the field is LUC ('Land Use Consultants'). LUC are currently working on green belt assessments in the neighbouring authorities of Broxbourne and Welwyn Hatfield, and are conducting landscape work in North Hertfordshire. This is in addition to work that they undertake across England. The combination of their experience and local knowledge makes LUC the best choice to pursue the assessment.

The Council is keen to progress a review of the green belt speedily in light of the Government's changes. This is required to support the progression of the district's new District Plan, but also to support decisions on planning applications that are made speculatively in areas of green belt that may be more likely following both the changes to the interpretation of the green belt and the district's increasing housing need.
The LUC proposal (attached) sets out a methodology that would meet the needs of the planning function of the Council over the next 9 months, and is staged so as to both test the methodology and deliver early advice that can provide support and assistance from an early stage. The proposal sits within the allocated award (estimated cost of £185K against an award of £210K) which allows both for contingency and amendments to the methodology if required, and places no additional financial burdens upon the Council. It meets the requirement of the Government in having a plan and a timetable to progress the work.

Paragraph 10.6.1.2 of the Constitution gives Heads of Service delegated powers in relation to:

‘(a) contracts and property agreements to negotiate;’

In accordance with this, the decision is to enter into a contract with LUC (Land Use Consultants) to prepare a Green Belt Study for East Herts North Herts and Stevenage Councils, pursuant to the ESPO Framework Agreement (reference 664-21).

East Herts does not have in-house capacity to draft Traffic Regulation Orders or undertake design works in relation to new orders. Hertfordshire County Council has a professional services contract in place with Jacobs (Ref HCC2314703) to provide Highways related consultancy services including traffic regulation order design. Clause 27 of this contract allows district authorities who to benefit from the services provided by Jacobs to do so through a Joining Agreement. Services will be commissioned on an ad hoc basis, as and when required, and priced per request.

To enter into a Joining Agreement between Hertfordshire County Council and Jacobs UK Limited, allowing East Herts Council to benefit from advice and design services in relation to traffic regulation orders and highways matters

This report provides the Committee with the corporate risk register which details how East Herts manages the key risks to the Council.

At its meeting of 11th February 2025,the Executive approved the disposal of the freehold of Layston Court Gardens, Buntingford to Buntingford Town Council with authority to complete the disposal delegated to the Director for Communities (formerly the Head of Housing, Health and Property).

This report records that Layston Court Gardens, Buntingford is being transferred by East Herts Council to Buntingford Town Council in return for a sum of £31,345 and that the transfer contains a covenant that the land shall be for the use of formal gardens only. It is noted that he community’s interest in the continued use of the land as park gardens is protected under the Open Spaces Act 1906.

The freehold title to Layston Court Gardens, Buntingford, as outlined in red on the plan Appendix A, be transferred to Buntingford Town Council in return for the sum of £31,345, with a covenant that the land shall only be used for formal gardens.

At its meeting of 14th May 2025, Council considered and recognised the success of the AiEH 2024 programme, especially in terms of providing activities across the whole district, facilitating access to the arts from those with limited previous participation and providing meaningful volunteering opportunities. Council thus decided to devote up to £60,000 of the council’s 2025/26 UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocation from central government to the running of a similar programme in 2025.

Community Alliance Broxbourne and East Herts (CABEH) provided vital administrative support with last year’s AiEH programme and are particularly well-placed to develop local groups and artists. The decision recorded here is to provide grant funding from the Council's latest allocation of UKSPF monies to CABEH to provide similar support this year.

The Executive Member for Communities and Director for Communities are keen to see responsibility for AiEH planning and the securing of funding moving to the local arts and cultural sector itself and so the grant to CABEH will see the organisation both supporting delivery of this year’s programme and building capacity to enable the sector take greater ownership of the programme in future years.

CABEH will work closely with the council’s Communications team and the community outreach officer at BEAM. The programme will be overseen by the Director for Communities.

The Director for Communities (previously the Head of Housing and Health) is acting under the authority delegated by Council at its meeting of 14th May 2025 to utilise up to £60,000 of UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) monies to deliver the Arts in East Herts (AiEH) programme, with the decision being made in consultation with the Executive Member for Communities as required by Council.

Provide grant funding of £15,000 to Community Alliance Broxbourne and East Herts (CABEH) to provide services in relation to (a) the administration of the Arts in East Herts (AiEH) 2025 programme and (b) capacity building among the local arts and cultural sector to enable the longer term sustainability of AiEH beyond 2025.

East Herts Council leases the Buntingford Service Depot, which it then sublets to Veolia (the Waste Management Contractor jointly procured with North Herts Council), from Old English (Furniture) Ltd. Veolia wish to carry out minor works to the depot in line with their operational requirements. The council (the tenant) requires the consent of Old English (the landlord) to allow this. A Licence for Alterations (Minor Works) has been agreed between the council and Old English.

The Director for Communities is using authority delegated in the council's Constitution 'to negotiate contracts and property agreements' (paragraph 10.6.1.2a) to, in this case, 'manage the council's property portfolio' (paragraph 10.13.15) so as to facilitate the effective use of the Buntingford Waste Depot by the waste management contractor, Veolia.

Approval, on behalf of East Herts Council (the tenant of Buntingford Service Park, Unit 1, Baldock Road, Buntingford SG9 9ER), of a Licence for Alterations (Minor Works) at the site between the council and the landlord, Old English (Furniture) Ltd.