| Time: | 7.30pm | Place: | Hitchin Boys' School, Grammar School Walk, Hitchin |
| PRESENT: | Councillor David Leal - Bennett (Chairman), Councillor R.A.C. Thake (Vice-Chairman), Councillor Mrs A.G. Ashley, Councillor Judi Billing, Councillor Nicola Harris, Councillor Simon Harwood, Councillor Joan Kirby, Councillor Bernard Lovewell, Councillor Alan Millard, Councillor Frank Radcliffe and Councillor R.L. Shakespeare - Smith. |
| IN ATTENDANCE: | Stephen Geach (Parks and Countryside Development Manager), Claire Morgan (Communities Officer) and Hilary Dineen (Committee and Member Services Officer). |
| ALSO PRESENT: | At the start of the meeting Councillor Needham, Councillor Claire Strong, Liz Green (Head of Policy and Community Services) and 24 members of the public. |
| Meeting attachment |
Agenda Front Sheet |
| Item | Description/Resolution | Status | Action | |
| PART I | ||||
| 40 |
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Deborah Segalini and Adrian Smith. |
Noted | ||
| 41 |
MINUTES Minutes RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 14 July 2015 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman. |
Agreed | ||
| 42 |
NOTIFICATION OF OTHER BUSINESS No other business had been notified. |
Noted | ||
| 43 |
CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS (1) The Chairman welcomed all who had attended Town Talk and this meeting, particularly those who had attended to give a presentation; (2) The Chairman advised those present that the meeting would be audio recorded. (3) The Chairman read out the following: "Members are reminded that any declarations of interest in respect of any business set out in the agenda should be declared as either: a) Disclosable Pecuniary Interest; or b) Declarable Interest. The Member is required to notify the Chairman of the nature of any interest declared at the commencement of the relevant item on the agenda. Members declaring: a) A Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, must leave the room for the duration of the item and not take part in the debate or vote; or b) A Declarable Interest, may take part in the debate and vote. However if, under Paragraph 7.3 of the Code of Conduct, the interest is so significant that it is likely to prejudice your judgement then under Paragraph 7.4 of the Code of Conduct you must leave the room before the debate and vote." |
Noted | ||
| 44 |
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - CLEAN UP HITCHIN Ms Rachel Campbell thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding the grant application for Clean Up Hitchin as follows: BACKGROUND - New research had shown that a holistic approach regarding litter was recommended; - There needed to be an attachment to the cause; - Removing graffiti and looking after furniture would encourage people to not drop litter; - Signage can make the problem worse. PLANS - Meet with NHDC Officers; - Trial signage on Windmill Hill and St Mary's; - Provide PR literature; - Use of a robotic bin; - Binstallations - decorate some of the bins - Window stickers around the Town; - Build the habit of using bins into people's consciousness. EVENTS/LAUNCH - Campaign Launch - Hitchin Festival; - Education will start in Spring 2016. Members queried whether there was a risk of plagiarism with the robotic bin and whether there were plans for the future to extend the programme outside of central Hitchin. Ms Campbell advised that the robotic bin would not look like any existing character and that she worked with Clean up Britain and hoped that this would be a pilot for a nationwide campaign. Members were extremely supportive of the aims and acknowledged the level of planning already undertaken to get the project started. The Chairman thanked Ms Campbell for her presentation. |
Noted | ||
| 45 |
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - AFRICAN CARIBBEAN SENIORS AND CARERS LUNCHEON CLUB Mr Maurice Johnson, Treasurer of the African Caribbean Seniors and Carers Luncheon Club and Ms Thelma Levy, Project Co-Coordinator, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding the grant application for the African Caribbean Seniors and Carers Luncheon Club as follows: - The organisation was set up in in 1999 as the Hertfordshire Black Ethnic Minority Association; - There was now an aging black ethnic community; - Isolation was a problem for many older people; - The Club aimed to enable elderly people to get out and socialise; - The original Association met on a monthly basis until 2003; - Following an assessment of needs by the County Council, the Luncheon Club was formed in 2003 to meet on a weekly basis; - Hertfordshire County Council provided funding for a cook and a co-ordinator; - There were currently 30 - 40 people attending each week; - The portfolio had been extended to offer support to carers; - Reduction in County Council funding meant that, although salaries could continue to be paid, extra activities could not longer be afforded. A Member suggested that the Club consider doing an oral history, which may well be eligible for funding from County Councillor Locality Budgets. The Chairman thanked Mr Johnson and Ms Levy for their presentation. |
Noted | ||
| 46 |
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - HERTBREAKERS NETBALL TEAM The Communities Officer advised that she had postponed the grant application for Hertbreakers Netball Team as the requested paperwork had not yet been received. If the paperwork was received, she would resubmit the application to the next meeting of this Committee, due to be held on 17 November 2015. |
Noted | ||
| 47 |
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - HITCHIN INITIATIVE Mr Keith Hoskins thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding the grant application for Hitchin Initiative as follows: - Hitchin Initiative currently had several ongoing projects; - Christmas Lights - nearly all of the lights would be replaced; - Cabbies Hut Refurbishment - this had been successfully achieved; - H Samuel Clock - being refurbished and re-hung; - Planters - the planters outside M&S had been derelict for several years and needed refurbishing; - Litter Bins - Hoping to replace the bins with the support of NHDC. - Summer Bunting/Hanging Baskets - there were now 13 hanging baskets, which cost £2,000. Mr Hoskins advised that he was seeking 50 percent matched funding from the Hitchin Committee. The Chairman thanked Mr Hoskins for his presentation. |
Noted | ||
| 48 |
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - HITCHIN TOWN HALL LIMITED Mr Stephen Pike thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding Hitchin Town Hall in which he explained an offer he had sent to NHDC earlier that day to endeavour to resolve the current dispute. Mr Pike informed Members that he was hugely disappointed with the outcome regarding Hitchin Town Hall, particularly considering the huge effort and large amount of man hours spent on the project. He advised that he wished to consider the ownership of 14/15 Brand Street and wanted to offer NHDC a way out of the current situation. He stated that, if a receiver were appointed regarding Hitchin Town Hall Ltd, then it was likely that NHDC would be held to ransom over the entrance. The Social Investment Bankers would have no option but to collect the debts owed and 14/15 Brand Street was a ransom strip and NHDC could not move forward without buying this land. The main points of the proposal are: - HTH will transfer the freehold titles of 14/15 Brand Street to the Workman's Hall Trust; - NHDC to pay or takeover the SIB debt, either directly or via HTH Ltd - Capital and Interest as at 30 September 2015 approx £295,000; - NHDC to take over the HPT deferred subordinated debt - Capital and Interest as at 30 September 2015 approx £146,000; - NHDC to clear HTH Ltd debts totalling £70,000, of which £17,000 is due to NHDC; - NHDC to grant HTH Ltd a 125 year lease; - HTH to sub-lease back to NHDC for 5 years at a peppercorn rent - Both parties' legal fees to be underwritten by NHDC; - HTH Ltd Board to be expanded to include more community participation. Members reminded Mr Pike that the Hitchin Committee had no executive function and could only submit information to either Cabinet or Council. They asked Mr Pike whether this offer had been discussed with NHDC. Mr Pike advised that he had emailed this proposal to the Chief Executive earlier in the day. The Chairman thanked Mr Pike for his presentation. |
Noted | ||
| 49 |
HITCHIN TOWN CENTRE MANAGER Mr Keith Hoskins thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding the activities, events and issues relating to Hitchin Town Centre as follows: - He was pleased to be supporting the Clean Up Hitchin Campaign; - Consideration needed to be given to commercial waste in the Town Centre; - The new Premier Inn opened on 7 July 2015; - The Hitchin Festival had concluded. The Festival had included several new events including Skate Jam, Street Food Festival and Bucklersbury Day; - The Christmas Light Switch On event would take place on 20 November 2015; - A Bid Ranger was being sought; - The Business Rate Payers meeting would be held on 23 September 2015; - The Hitchin Initiative AGM would be held in November 2015; - The Town Centre Manager's Office had been operating for 20 years and would be open on 9 November 2015 to celebrate the anniversary; - Plans for Christmas were well underway and there would be activities every weekend during December 2015. In response to questions from Members, Mr Hoskins advised that he had received no feedback from anyone regarding traffic queues throughout the Town and that there would be a carousel in the Town during the Christmas events. The Chairman thanked Mr Hoskins for his presentation. |
Noted | ||
| 50 |
GRANTS, GRANT APPLICATIONS AND COMMUNITY UPDATE Report Appendix A - Budget Appendix B - Grant Application - Clean Up Hitchin Appendix C - Grant Application - African Caribbean Lunch Club Appendix D - Grant Application - Hertbreakers Netball Appendix E - Grant Application - Hitchin Initiative Appendix F - Monitoring Chart The Communities Officer presented the report entitled Grant Applications and Community Update and drew attention to the following: BUDGETS The current level of unallocated funds within the Area Committee's 2015/16 Area Grant Budget was £41,800 and the current level of unallocated funds in the 2014/15 Area Grant Budget was £22,972. There was some discussion regarding the removal of Ward Budgets. Members had differing views as to the value of Ward Budgets with some stating that it should remain and others in favour of an inclusive Committee Budget. PARK RUN In response to a question, the Communities Officers informed Members that the previously agreed grant had been awarded on condition that they use Walsworth Common. She had now been informed that permission was not required to use common land and therefore it would be wise to amend the resolution accordingly. It was proposed and seconded that the previous grant funding award of £1,500 be released providing the event took place in Hitchin and made use of Walsworth Common. HOMESTART FUNDAY A Member informed the Committee that she had attended the Homestart Funday and despite the consistent rain, the even continued. WESTMILL NETWORKING GROUP The Communities Officer informed Members that this was going well and that she had worked with the people who ran the Coffee Mill to help them integrate into the Community Centre. MONITORING CHART The Chairman drew attention to the proposed monitoring chart. The aim was to get regular updates without the need for information notes. RESOLVED: (1) That the budgetary expenditure, balances and carry forwards from the Development, Visioning and Ward Budgets, as set out at Appendix A, be noted; (2) That the actions taken by the Communities Officer to promote greater community capacity and wellbeing for Hitchin be noted; (3) That this Committee confirms its support and the previously agreed grant funding of £1,500 for Park Run now be released. The conditionality being that it take place in Hitchin and makes use of Walsworth Common. REASON FOR DECISION: To keep Members of the Committee apprised of the latest developments in community activities in Hitchin. |
Agreed | ||
| 51 |
GRANT APPLICATION - CLEAN UP HITCHIN The Communities Officer informed Members that, following research by Clean Up Hitchin, they had reduced the amount of funds requested to £2,200. RESOLVED: That grant funding of £2,200 be awarded to Clean Up Hitchin from the Discretionary Budget as funding towards the cost of providing an anti- litter campaign. REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community. |
Agreed | ||
| 52 |
GRANT APPLICATION - AFRICAN CARIBBEAN SENIORS AND CARERS LUNCHEON CLUB The Communities Officer informed Members that the African Caribbean Seniors and Carers Club had sufficient funds to cover their running costs and that the grant funding request was for the cost of events to celebrate Black History Month. RESOLVED: That grant funding of £1,400 be awarded to the African-Caribbean Seniors and Carers Club from the Discretionary Budget as funding towards the cost of activities to celebrate Black History Month. REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community. |
Agreed | ||
| 53 |
GRANT APPLICATION - HERTBREAKERS NETBALL TEAM The Communities Officer advised that she had postponed the grant application for Hertbreakers Netball Team as the requested paperwork had not yet been received. If the paperwork was received, she would resubmit the application to the next meeting of this Committee, due to be held on 17 November 2015. |
Noted | ||
| 54 |
GRANT APPLICATION - HITCHIN TOWN CENTRE INITIATIVE Prior to the item being presented Councillor Judi Billing declared a Declarable Interest as she was a Director of Hitchin Town Centre Initiative. She advised that she would not be taking part in the debate nor would she vote. Members noted that the list of events and projects included some that had already taken place and therefore could not be funded. It was proposed seconded and RESOLVED: That grant funding of £12,350 be awarded to Hitchin Town Centre Initiative from the Discretionary Budget as funding towards the cost of re-installation of the H Samuel Clock and Christmas Lights. REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community. |
Agreed | ||
| 55 |
PRESENTATION REGARDING GROUNDWORK The Parks and Countryside Development Manager thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation on the history, activities and funding of Groundwork Hertfordshire as follows: HISTORY Groundwork was established over three decades ago as a radical experiment by the government at that time to bring together communities, businesses and government in a joint effort to improve the quality of life and promote sustainable development in places that had become run-down and neglected. The first Groundwork project was established in Merseyside in 1982. Over the years they spread their operation and now have a nationwide coverage of local branches. They are a registered charity. ACTIVITIES The Parks and Countryside Development Manager circulated Groundwork's Annual Review 2014/15 and drew attention to Page 4 which showed the impact that Groundwork East, which covers North Herts, had made in 2013 - 14 and Pages 7 - 35 which gave examples of projects undertaken and sources of funding. Groundwork were involved in a wide range of activities including: - Helping people keep warm at home; - Clearing overgrown gardens to reduce the threat of crime; - Environmental education; - Organising volunteers; - Landscape improvements in parks; - Working with young people to develop skate parks and play areas. At a local level in Hitchin NHDC used Groundwork to help deliver the Green space improvement projects such as: - Entrance and landscape improvements to Purwell Recreation Ground; - Play areas at Walsworth Common & Ransoms Recreation Ground; - Improvements to Smithsons Recreation Ground; - Close links with the Ransoms Rec Triangle Community Garden recently securing a £15K grant. Additionally Groundwork were: - Running a Green Team with North Herts Homes & planning another Flexible Support Fund project for NHDC later in the year; - Providing 1 to 1 support to young people at risk of exclusion at Highfield School; - About to launch Laing School Grounds Funding for advice on improvement of school grounds. FUNDING Groundwork had a turnover of approximately £2 million, with all funding being from voluntary services or grant funding. Over the years there had been a gradual change from this Council providing Groundwork with an annual grant to providing funding on a project by project basis. NHDC were increasingly using Groundwork as a consultant to deliver projects on our behalf and, to comply with our standing orders, from April 2016 we have to tender out this function. The Chairman thanked the Parks and Countryside Development Manager for his presentation. |
Noted | ||
| 56 |
INFORMATION NOTE: BANCROFT RECREATION GROUND Information Note Appendix A - Masterplan The Committee received an Information Note regarding Bancroft Recreation Ground. In response to questions the Parks and Countryside Development Manager informed Members that a contactor had been appointed regarding the proposed Splash Park and that this would be available for use in Summer 2016. In respect of the Initial Design Proposal, work was now being undertaken on an options report, which would consider the short, medium and long term plans for the Recreation Ground. |
Noted | ||
| 57 |
INFORMATION NOTE: NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE DISTRICT MUSEUM AND COMMUNITY FACILITY AT HITCHIN TOWN HALL Information Note The Vice-Chairman took the Chair for this item. The Committee received an Information Note regarding the North Hertfordshire Museum and Community Facility at Hitchin Town Hall. The Vice-Chairman reminded Members that this information Note dealt specifically with the building works and finishes. The presentation received earlier from Mr Pike had been sent to the Chief Executive and it was hoped that a report to this Committee regarding that would be presented in due course. The Chairman returned to the Chair. |
Noted | ||
| 58 |
INFORMATION NOTE: CHURCHGATE AREA Information Note The Committee received an Information Note regarding the Churchgate Area. Members were pleased to note that this issue was being moved forward. |
Noted | ||
| 59 |
INFORMATION NOTE: 20MPH LIMITS Information Note The Committee received an Information Note regarding 20 mph Limits. Councillor Judi Billing informed Members that letters had been sent to the affected street and the responses had mainly been supportive. This first phase of consultation would be assessed and then will move onto the Traffic Regulation Order stage. She hoped that the TROs would be in place by the end of the Civic Year. NHDC was also working with Hertfordshire County Council to consider this area as a Controlled Parking Zone. The Chairman reminded Members of the importance of this project by highlighting that: - If a speed limit is 30mph, the average speed driven is 35mph. At this speed, if a child is hit, there was a 95 percent chance they would die. - If a speed limit is 20mph, the average speed driven is 25mph. At this speed, if a child is hit, there was a 95 percent chance of survival. Members were very supportive of and grateful for the work undertaken so far, particularly by Councillors Judi Billing and Ray Shakespeare-Smith. |
Noted | ||
| 60 |
INFORMATION NOTE: THE ARCADE TOILETS, HITCHIN - ACCESSIBILITY Information Note The Committee received an Information Note regarding the Arcade Toilets, Hitchin Accessibility. Members acknowledged that the toilet door at the Arcade was DDA compliant and therefore NHDC had no further obligation. They considered whether this Committee would wish to change the door on this particular toilet to make it easier for the person having difficulties, but felt that, although this may help one individual, it may, at the same time, disadvantage someone else. Members felt that they had taken all of the actions possible and would not wish any further action taken. |
Noted | ||
| 61 |
WARD AND OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS - MEMBERS' REPORTS No Member or Outside organisation reports were submitted. |
Noted | ||