| Time: | 7.30pm | Place: | Committee Room 1, Council Offices, Gernon Road, Letchworth Garden City |
| PRESENT: | Councillor D.J. Barnard (Chairman), Councillor Faye Barnard, Councillor John Bishop, Councillor Tom Brindley, Councillor Jane Gray and Councillor Mrs C.P.A. Strong. N.B. Councillor Tom Brindley arrived at 8.15 p.m. |
| IN ATTENDANCE: | Steve Geach (Parks and Countryside Development Manager), Stuart Izzard (Community Development Manager) and Hilary Dineen (Committee and Member Services Officer). |
| ALSO PRESENT: | At the commencement of the meeting 1 member of the public. |
| Item | Description/Resolution | Status | Action | |
| PART I | ||||
| 15 |
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alan Bardett, Tricia Cowley, Cathryn Henry and Sal Jarvis. |
Noted | ||
| 16 |
MINUTES Minutes RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 June 2013 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman. |
Agreed | ||
| 17 |
NOTIFICATION OF OTHER BUSINESS There were no notifications of other business. |
Noted | ||
| 18 |
CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS Members were 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 Declarable 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 Disclosable Pecuniary Interest must withdraw from the meeting for the duration of the item. Members declaring a Declarable Interest which requires they leave the room under Paragraph 7.4 of the Code of Conduct, can speak on the item, but must leave the room before the debate and vote. |
Noted | ||
| 19 |
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION There were no presentations from members of the public. |
Noted | ||
| 20 |
DRAFT GREEN SPACE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY Introduction by Councillor Knighton Report Appendix A The Parks and Countryside Development Manager presented a summary by the Portfolio Holder for Leisure, which was tabled at the meeting, and the report of the Head of Leisure and Environmental Services regarding the Draft Green Space Management Strategy and drew attention to the following: THE SUMMARY - Explained the importance of external investment in allowing schemes over the past five years to proceed; - This was only possible by demonstrating there was genuine community support for schemes; - NHDC secured in excess of £3,420,000 external investment for green space; - Much of the proposed investment in the new strategy would also rely on external funding bodies and would have to be delivered with reduced staffing resources; - Proposed schemes must be affordable and meet the requirements of the Council's existing adopted policies and strategies without this and local support it would be unlikely that external funding would be secured or schemes progressed. THE REPORT - The existing strategy expired in March 2014 and the strategy being considered looked forward to the next 5 years; - The current strategy had generated in excess of £3,420,000 of external investment for improvements to green space, which approximately translated that for every £100 of investment NHDC funded £30; - The benefits of quality green space was well documented with the past 5 years seeing a 19 percent increase in usage; - The proposed strategy aimed to continue the trend of external investment, which would result in the much needed improvements being continued at minimal cost to the Council; - Paragraph 1.2 of the report listed the aims of the strategy which was agreed in principle by Cabinet on the 18 June 2013; - The draft Strategy was currently being circulated to each Area Committee for their comments; - The Strategy covered green space managed by NHDC, therefore in the Southern Rural area the investment was limited to Great Ashby. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SOUTHERN RURAL AREA - LAST FIVE YEARS The last five years had seen new path surfacing, signs, interpretation panels and a leaflet produced regarding Great Ashby District Park. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SOUTHERN RURAL AREA - THE NEXT FIVE YEARS - Great Ashby District Park - Pathways, entrance enhancements and planting; - Serpentine Way - Renovation of play area. Members asked several questions including whether S106 funding secured for a Pavillion in Great Ashby, which wasn't built, would still be available for Great Ashby enhancements and whether there was money set aside for Parish projects. They questioned whether there was any conflict between this Strategy and land currently under investigation for the Local Plan. They observed that there was no mention of allotments in the Strategy and that villages needed to increase the number of allotments and queried how this would be achieved. Members asked for clarification regarding the costs relating to the proposed provision of a crematorium at Wilbury Cemetery. The Parks and Countryside Development Manager advised that the Strategy only covered land owned by NHDC, however the team was more than happy to offer help and advice to Parish Councils and Groundwork Hertfordshire could help with applications for external funding. Parishes could apply via the Community Development Officers for grant funding from the Rural Grants Fund. The Grounds team had worked closely with the Planning team to ensure that there was no conflict between the Strategy and land under investigation for the Local Plan. The Parks and Countryside Development Manager advised that he had and would continue to work with Parish Councils to advise on ways to increase the number of allotment sites, this would be emphasised in the Strategy. The Scrutiny Officer advised that the feasibility study had cost £3,500 and the business case was estimated to cost £8,000. Members agreed that Parishes needed to be kept informed of the help and advice available from NHDC and that a short presentation to the Town and Parish Councils Conference would achieve this. RESOLVED: (1) That the details of and the proposals in the Draft Green Space Management Strategy be noted; (2) That work being undertaken with Parishes regarding allotment provision be detailed in the Strategy; (3) That the Parks and Countryside Development Manager be requested to continue supporting Parish Councils to access funding and improve their facilities; (4) That the Parks and Countryside Development Manager be requested to make a short presentation to the Town and Parish Councils Conference, due to take place on 23 October 2013, regarding the help and advice that NHDC and other organisation can provide regarding open spaces. REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure that the views of the Southern Rural Committee were considered by Cabinet prior to the adoption of the Green Space Management Strategy. |
Agreed | ||
| 21 |
CONSULTATION OF MEMBERS ON THE SCRUTINY OF HIGHWAYS ISSUES IN NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE Report Appendix A The Scrutiny Officer advised Members that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be undertaking a Task and Finish Group on Highways Arrangements and Issues and that he was visiting all Area Committees to canvass opinions, which would be fed into the Task and Finish Group meetings. LEVEL OF SERVICE, COMMUNICATION AND MEMBER INVOLVEMENT Members made the following observations regarding the level of service, communication and Members involvement regarding highways issues and Hertfordshire Highways: - In rural areas the Parish Councils liaised directly with County and generally received a good response; - The grass needed cutting regularly on major crossings. This would only be done after County had been reminded, however local farmers were very good at dealing with this themselves; - Potholes were a major concern and these could be reported online and should be dealt with within 48 hours, however the new contractors were still working on a backlog and it may take time to catch up; - District and Parish Councillors needed to liaise more closely with County Councillors regarding work required; - County Councillors needed to be more open about available funding and what projects were taking place; - One of the main problems had been that, on the demise of the Joint Members Panel, information had been slow to emerge as to what would replace that system. The Community Development Manager advised that the Southern Rural Committee had been proactive in developing a protocol for dealing with highways matters, which included inviting the relevant County Councillors to attend certain meetings. Members asked for an update regarding the Overview and Scrutiny Committee request for a Task and Finish Group on Speed Management. The Scrutiny Officer advised that Hertfordshire County Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be considering Speed Management on 23/24 October 2013 and the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be attending to give evidence. HIGHWAYS ISSUES Members drew attention to the following highways issues that required attention: - The litter on the A505 near Great Offley was not being cleared up; - Footpaths and Signage were difficult to obtain; - Some lanes flooded on a regular basis. RESOLVED: (1) That the Scrutiny Officer be requested to advise the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Task and Finish group on Highways Arrangements and Issues of the comments of this committee as detailed in the preamble above; (2) That Members be requested to contact the Scrutiny Officer with any other issues or comments for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Task and Finish group on Highways Arrangements and Issues. REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure that the comments of the Southern Rural Committee can be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Task and Finish Group on Highways Arrangements and Issues. |
Agreed | ||
| 22 |
CHAMPION NEWS AND FINANCE REPORT Report Appendix 1 - Budgets Appendix 2 The Community Development Manager presented the report of the Head of policy and Community Services entitled "Champion News and Finance Report" and drew attention to the following: WARD MEMBER GRANTS The Community Development Manager drew attention to paragraph 8.1 of the report which detail Ward Members Grants and advised that in addition to those listed, Councillor Tricia Cowley had awarded £350 to Ickleford Parish Council for village notice boards. The Chairman encouraged Members to utilise their Ward Members Budgets. WYMONDLEY - TOWER CLOSE RECREATION GROUND The Community Development Manager advised that he was working with Wymondley to investigate whether they could raise sufficient funds to provide changing facilities. KNEBWORTH PARK CRICKET CLUB The Community Development Manager advised that work was continuing towards upgrading Knebworth Park Cricket Club and if successful Herts County Cricket would use the club as their base. GREAT ASHBY COMMUNITY CENTRE - EXTERNAL GARDEN AREAS AND HEDGES The Community Development Manager advised that much of the previous planting in the external areas had not survived the drought and that an application may be made to the Rural Grants Fund for new plants. LILLEY VILLAGE HALL A Member suggested that, as the work required for Lilley Village Hall was linked to security an application could be made to the Police and Crime Commissioner for grant funding. UUS/S106 CONTRIBUTIONS AND FUNDING ADVICE The Community Development Manager drew attention to projects that had receive funding from UUs and S106 Contributions. A discussion took place regarding Parish Neighbourhood and Development Plans. Members were concerned that the Parishes did not understand that the NHDC Local Plan took precedence and that any plans developed by Parishes should take account of this. The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Transport and Enterprise advised that he would be happy to visit Parish Councils to talk about Neighbourhood Plans. SCOOTS Members asked for an update regarding Scoots. The Community Development Manager advised that they were now operating a "loan to buy" scheme, which was providing funds to purchase new bikes, however they had been informed that they could apply for grant funding should it be required. BUDGETS The Community Development Manager advised that £3,000 had been earmarked for Highways projects and that the former Memorandum of Understandings Budget was available for Members to allocate. HIGHWAYS ISSUES Members queried whether the planned parking bay in Codicote would proceed. The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Transport and Enterprise advise that a marked pavement parking bay would be provided. RURAL GRANTS FUND The Community Development Manager reminded Members that applications for grant funding from the Rural Grants Fund must be received by 30 September 2013 and asked Members to remind Parishes of this deadline. RESOLVED: (1) That the actions taken by the Community Development Officer to promote greater community capacity and well being for rural communities be endorsed; (2) That the Committee's budgetary expenditure, balances and carry forwards from the Ward Development Budgets and the allocated Visioning Budgets be noted; (3) The Community Development Manager be requested to support Lilley Village Hall to apply to the Police and Crime Commissioner for necessary funding for safety issues; (4) That the Community Development Manager be requested to advise any Parish Council currently working on Neighbourhood Plans that the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Enterprise could attend one of their meetings to discuss this. REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure that the Committee is kept informed of the work of the Community Development Officer and to inform Members of the financial resources available to the Committee. |
Agreed | ||