| Time: | 7.30pm | Place: | Committee Room, Royston Town Hall, Melbourn Street, Royston |
| PRESENT: | Councillor Fiona Hill(Chairman), Councillor Bill Davidson(Vice-Chairman), Councillor P.C.W. Burt, Councillor Jean Green, Councillor A.F. Hunter, Councillor R.E. Inwood, Councillor Gerald Morris |
| IN ATTENDANCE: | Alan Fleck (Community Development Officer) Susanne Gow (Committee and Member Services Officer) |
| ALSO PRESENT: | Alderman and Royston Town Councillor F J Smith A member of the Press |
| Item | Description/Resolution | Status | Action | |
| PART I | ||||
| 27 |
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE No apologies for absence were received for this meeting. |
Noted | ||
| 28 |
MINUTES Minutes RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Royston and District Committee Meeting held on 22 June 2011 be approved as a true record of the proceedings, and be signed by the Chairman subject to an amendment in Minute 19 on pg 5 as follows: The third paragraph should state ¡§the Management Committee¡¨ (not ¡§the Board¡¨) of the Royston Community Association (Coombes Community Centre) who ¡§offered the Hang Out Club a reduction in the room hire for Community Play Projects in the Coombes Community Centre from the normal fee of £3,080 p.a. (not £5,250) to £1,400 p.a. (not £3,540) for room hire.¡¨ The fourth paragraph should state that the amount the Committee agreed to part fund the Hang Out Club through to Christmas 2011 was ¡§up to the sum of £1,250 (not £1200) via Area Budgets if necessary.¡¨ The Chairman then announced that subsequent to the Minutes of 27 July, there would be an additional item for Committee discussion at this meeting entitled NHDC Off-Street Parking Places. This would be Item 11 and would be taken after Item 8 on the Agenda. The reason for urgency in taking this item at the current Meeting was that the Committee wished to refer the subject to the next meeting of Cabinet, which was on Tuesday 27 September 2011. The Cabinet referral would have an appendix consisting of relevant emails. |
Agreed | ||
| 29 |
NOTIFICATION OF OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business raised at this meeting. |
Noted | ||
| 30 |
CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS 1) The Chairman welcomed the Committee, officers, Alderman F J Smith and a member of the Press to the Meeting. She announced that there would be no public speakers. 2) Members were reminded that any declarations of interest, in respect of any business set out in the agenda, should be declared as either a prejudicial or personal interest and are 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 prejudicial interest can speak on the item, but must leave the room before the debate and vote. |
Noted | ||
| 31 |
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION There was no public participation at this Meeting of the Royston and District Committee. |
Noted | ||
| 32 |
UPDATE ON ROYSTON FIRST Information list The Chairman went through the list of projects being dealt with by Royston First and remarked that the list was well set out and comprehensive. She expressed thanks from the Royston and District Committee to the Royston Town Manager, Geraint Burnell. |
Noted | ||
| 33 |
VERBAL UPDATE ON THE BANDSTAND IN PRIORY MEMORIAL GARDENS, ROYSTON The Chairman and Cllr Peter Burt informed the Committee that the bandstand in the Priory Memorial Gardens is on a regular inspection and maintenance schedule. The last inspection had revealed that it required cleaning and also needed repairs to the special brickwork and the plaque. These intermediate works would be carried out immediately. Some of the special bricks were missing and the longer term work required would be considered under the 5-Year Plan. However, there were no funds for this at present so it would be carried out when monies became available. Councillor Burt informed the Committee that the project at the top of the list for completion in North Herts District was Howard Park and Gardens in Letchworth which should be completed in the Spring of 2012. The next project for completion was Bancroft Gardens in Hitchin which should take about a year and the Priory Memorial Gardens was next on the list to be dealt with. He would speak to the relevant officers to see if they could arrange for the plaque to be repaired as soon as possible. |
Noted | ||
| 34 |
HIGHWAYS ISSUES Items raised by the Committee for attention and consideration were as follows: „X Road and gulley drainage near the Coombes Community Centre in Burns Road; „X Parking in Weston Avenue ¡V parking by commuters was a source of worry to local residents. There were a number of roads in Royston suffering similar problems and the issue was under consideration by Royston and District Committee Members, the NHDC Transport Policy Officer and officers from Hertfordshire Highways. This item would be taken to the next meeting of the North Herts Highways Partnership-Joint Member Panel (JMP) on 31 October 2011. The other roads with similar issues included Farrier Court, Princes Mews, King James Way, Gage Close and Garden Walk. It was noted that the JMP Discretionary Budget was fully allocated for 2011/2012; „X Grasscrete in Old North Road ¡V funding had been allocated by the JMP for this scheme. Officers need to be aware of potential works to the cycle route; „X Baldock Road/Baldock Street road crossings ¡V these were being investigated as a result of two new housing developments, the school in Tannery Drift and the Royston Tennis Club in these locations. This had been to JMP and officers are now considering costs for feasibility studies; „X There are still potholes in Newmarket Road, the hedging needs to be cut back in this area and there was a post leaning into the hedge. RESOLVED: That the above Highways Issues raised by Members be noted and, where appropriate, be forwarded to the next Meeting of the North Herts Highways Partnership-Joint Member Panel, to be held on 31 October 2011. RECOMMENDED TO NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE HIGHWAYS PARTNERSHIP-JOINT MEMBER PANEL: 1) That the Joint Member Panel be requested to investigate the problems caused by commuter parking in Weston Avenue and produce estimates for a solution to the problems; 2) That the Joint Member Panel be requested to investigate and cost a resolution to the highways issues in Farrier Court, Princes Mews, King James Way, Gage Close and Garden Walk. |
Noted | ||
| 35 |
CHAMPION NEWS AND FINANCE REPORT Report Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F Appendix G The Community Development Officer (CDO) presented the report of the Head of Policy and Community Services. He went through the activities with which he had been involved and informed Members that a meeting of young people would be taking place on 3 November 2011 from 6pm for 6.30pm at the Coombes Community Centre. This was an attempt to revive the Youth Council in the Royston area. The CDO then ran through the reports on progress being made to enhance Fish Hill Square and the maintenance of Royston Town Centre. He also indicated in the report, the responses from the Community Facilities Manager to questions on the Proposed Community Halls Strategy posed by the Royston and District Committee at their last meeting on 27 July 2011. The CDO then took the Committee through the budget spreadsheet, commenting that there was no change to discretionary rates. The grant applications were considered and agreed, as follows: a) The sum of £1,000 was requested by the Royston Heath Archery Club to help fund a piece of land to be used as a dedicated archery range. This would enable beginners¡¦ courses to be run during May and June and the Club to expand. The Committee discussed the application submitted and agreed to grant it; b) Councillors Peter Burt and Robert Inwood declared a personal interest in this grant application as they are both members of Royston Town Council. £263 was requested by Royston Town Council to fund the reprint of 1,000 copies of the Royston Town Trail leaflet. The Committee considered and agreed this expenditure; c) An ongoing annual payment of £50 was requested by NHDC Internal Budgetary Support as agreed by the Royston and District Committee at their meeting on 21 January 2009, to support the North Herts Village of the Year competition. Member discussion resulted in the payment being agreed; d) The sum of £500 had been agreed in principle at the meeting on 22 June 2011, to go to the Hertfordshire Highways Partnership to ratify the payment of the Royston and District Committee¡¦s contribution to the design costs of the A10 gateway feature. The Committee agreed this sum; e) The Committee conditionally agreed the future payment of £500 to the Hertfordshire Highways Partnership as their contribution to the design costs of the Old North Road parking project. This would be ratified after Committee consideration, before the implementation phase began. The Chairman thanked the Community Development Officer for his hard work and efforts for the residents of Royston and for his support for herself and the Royston and District Committee. RESOLVED: 1) That the Committee endorses the actions taken by the Community Development Officer (CDO) to promote greater community capacity and well-being; 2) That the Committee notes the budgetary expenditure, balances and carry forwards from the Development Budgets set out in Appendix A; 3) That the Committee considers and agrees to grant the sum of £1,000 to the Royston Heath Archery Club for the establishment of an archery range; 4) That the Committee considers and agrees to grant the sum of £263 to Royston Town Council for the reprinting of the Royston Town Trail leaflet; 5) That the Committee considers and agrees to grant the sum of £50 to NHDC Internal Budgetary Support for the North Herts Village of the Year competition; 6) That the Committee considers and ratifies the agreed sum of £500 to the Hertfordshire Highways Partnership for the design costs of the A10 gateway feature; 7) That the Committee considers and conditionally agrees the future payment of £500 to the Hertfordshire Highways Partnership as their contribution to the design costs of the Old North Road parking project; 8) That the Community Development Officer be thanked for his actions, which had promoted greater community capacity and well-being for the residents of Royston. REASONS FOR DECISIONS: 1) To ensure that the Committee is kept informed of the work of the Community Development Officer; 2) To inform Members of the financial resources available to the Committee. The report draws attention to the current budgetary situation, assists in the effective financial management of the Royston and District Committee¡¦s budget and ensures actions are performed within the Authority¡¦s Financial Regulations and the guidance in the Grants procedure; 3) The awarding of financial assistance to voluntary organisations and the use of discretionary spending allows the Committee to further the aims and strategic priorities of the Council; 4) The allocation of funds will improve the services provided by local organisations and groups that are available and accessed by members of the community. |
Agreed | ||
| 36 |
OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS - MEMBERS' REPORTS Coombes Community Centre The Management Committee of the Royston Community Association agreed to reduce the fees for the Hang Out Club to £30 p.w. (saving £1,710 p.a.). Royston First has contributed £3,113 and as a result of both contributions and a Royston and District Committee grant if necessary, the Club is able to run for a further year. Royston and District Town Twinning Association It was reported that there was to be a Reception hosted by the Royston and District Town Twinning Association (R&DTTA) on Saturday 1 October 2011 to welcome representatives from the Spanish town to be twinned with Royston, Villanueva de la Canada. The Reception would be held at the Heath Sports Club. Costs are being obtained for signs to accommodate the name of the Spanish twin town, in addition to the two other twin towns¡¦ names. These signs would replace the current signs placed on all roads approaching Royston. Finally, there was a need for new members for the R&DTTA, including a Committee Secretary. |
Noted | ||
| 37 |
NHDC OFF-STREET PARKING PLACES The Chairman confirmed that Minute 21 of the Royston and District Minutes of 27 July 2011 was perfectly clear and had been agreed. The Chairman proposed, and the Committee agreed, that the matter of off-street parking places and the concerns of the Royston Committee should be referred to the next meeting of Cabinet on 27 September 2011, with related emails as supporting document Appendix A. The Chairman confirmed that she and Councillor A. Hunter would attend the Cabinet meeting and would request to speak on this item. During discussions on this item, the Committee identified the following: a Member had surveyed the Royston car parks and had found they were sparsely used, with the exception of the Morrison car parks; a Member also confirmed that at the recent Overview and Scrutiny Meeting on 20 September 2011 it was reported that sales of NHDC car park tickets had decreased by 4.7% which would not be cost effective. For information: Minute 21 of the Royston and District Committee Meeting dated 27 July 2011 is set out below: The Chairman confirmed to the Committee that an email had been sent to the Transport Policy Officer containing their response to the consultation and this included the fact that the Committee could not support car parking charges being applied to Bank and Public Holidays (proposed), Sundays and evenings (should these be proposed) in all Council-controlled car parks in Royston. She reminded Members that Minute 69 of the Royston and District Committee Meeting on 12 January 2011 supported this stance, containing the following reference in Appendix B item 19: „X ¡§I9 ¡V Bank holiday charging in car parks. The Committee were very concerned about this. It was explained that this was more targeted at Hitchin. The Committee felt that the cost of administering and enforcing this would be higher than the revenue received and they felt users would park on nearby streets, causing problems for residents. The officers advised that different car parks within different towns should be treated differently and that what might be relevant in, say, Hitchin, would not necessarily work in Royston. The Royston and District Committee was adamant that they could not support charging for parking in Royston on Bank Holidays.¡¨ The Committee agreed that it was vital to get across the message that charging for car parking at the times stated would not work in Royston, would increase parking on surrounding roads and would have a detrimental effect on town centre vitality and viability. Royston Town Council had supported this position. Committee Members agreed, asking that this point of view be emphasised to the NHDC Portfolio Holder, Cllr Tom Brindley. It was commented that there had been extremely strong support from retail traders in the town for free parking on Sundays, Bank and Public Holidays and in the evenings and that it was necessary to be vocal on this matter to get the point across. RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: That: 1) The comments and strong views of the Royston and District Committee be noted; 2) The Royston and District Committee could not support car parking charges being applied to Bank and Public Holidays (proposed), Sundays and evenings (should these be proposed) in all Council-controlled car parks in Royston; 3) The Committee believed that the cost of administering and enforcing these car parking charges would be higher than the revenue received and it felt that motorists would park on nearby streets instead, causing problems for local residents. The Committee considered that the proposed car parking charges would have a detrimental effect on the vitality and viability of Royston Town Centre; 5) There had been extremely strong support from retail traders in the town for free parking on Sundays, Bank and Public Holidays and in the evenings. |
Agreed | ||