Decisions

Report to Executive with officer recommendations to address TRO objections received following public consultation from 9 October to 6 November in all car parks.

That Executive:

(A) Approves the extension of operational hours at Bowling Green Lane, Buntingford, to 7:30 am - 6:30 pm and the introduction of weekend charging, subject to the following mitigation:

• Retention of the proposed Monday to Friday tariffs with no inflationary increase over the existing structure currently applied in Stanstead Abbotts.

• Introduction of Saturday charging at the same tariff levels as Monday to Friday, to ensure consistency across rural car parks.

• Introduction of a flat £1.50 all-day charge on Sundays and Public Holidays.

(B) Approves the introduction of weekend charging at Bell Street, Sawbridgeworth, aligned with existing weekday tariff levels, subject to the following mitigations:

• Retention of existing Monday to Friday tariffs with no inflationary increase.

• Introduction of Saturday charging at the same tariff levels as Monday to Friday, to ensure consistency across rural car parks.

• Introduction of a flat £1.50 all-day charge on Sundays and Public Holidays.

(C) Approves the introduction of a maximum stay of 3 hours for all customers at Gascoyne Way Level A, Hertford.

(D) Approves amendments at Old London Road, Hertford, to provide both short-stay and long-stay parking.

(E) Approves the introduction of a 2.5-hour parking charge at Grange Paddocks A, Bishop’s Stortford.

(F) Approves the extension of operational hours to 8:00 pm at Grange Paddocks B and C, Bishop’s Stortford.

(G) Approves the merger of Kibes Lane North and Kibes Lane South, Ware, into a single car park, operating as short-stay parking Monday to Saturday and long-stay parking on Sundays and public holidays.

(H) Approves the renaming of the Library Car Park, Ware, to Burgage Lane, and the reduction of the maximum stay to three hours.

(I) Approves the merger of Amwell End East and Amwell End West, Ware, into a single Amwell End Car Park.

(J) Approves the conversion of several under-utilised disabled bays to Parent and Child bays at Northgate End, Bishop’s Stortford.

(K) Approves corrections to administrative and operational arrangements at Link Road and Jackson Square, Bishop’s Stortford, including car club bays and operational hours.

(L) Approves the introduction of a maximum free parking period of 3 hours for Blue Badge holders across all Council-managed car parks in disabled and regular bays, and allow vehicles to remain in excess of the 3 free hours, during chargeable periods, with payment made.

Note that the Order also provides for tariff increases from April 2026, in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), as previously agreed by the Council. Following feedback from the consultation, it is proposed that car parks in Buntingford, Sawbridgeworth, and Stanstead Abbotts are not subject to inflationary increases in the existing applicable tariffs for 2026/27.

Executive agreed that:

a) The draft General Fund Budget for 2026/27 is proposed for consultation purposes and a Band D Council Tax of £207.03 (assuming a 2.99% Council Tax increase).

b) The updated position on the General Fund Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) as shown in Appendix A be noted.

c) the proposed fees and charges, as set out in Appendix B, be approved for consultation.

d) The minimum level of General Fund balance of £3.649 Million, based on the 2026/27 risk assessment of balances as shown in paragraph 6.3, is approved.

e) The pressures identified in section 4 of the report is noted.

f) The savings identified in section 5 of the report is noted.

g) The Section 25 Statement of Robustness of Estimates and Adequacy of Reserves as set out in Appendix D is noted.

h) The decisions taken on recommendations a) to g) above be referred to the Joint Meeting of Scrutiny Committees on 28 January 2026 for consideration.

a) That the 2025/26 quarter two corporate risk register and actions being taken to control and mitigate risk was considered and noted.

Executive:

a) Considered and noted the net revenue budget end of year projected overspend of £509k.

b) Accepts the additional Heritage Lottery capital fund grant of £238k for Hertford Castle Greenspace renewal and this additional resource was to be reflected in the capital programme.

c) Considered and noted the capital programme forecast outturn

underspend of £722k.