Meeting documents

Royston and District Committee
Wednesday, 17th March, 2010 7.30 pm


Date:	Wednesday, 20th January, 2010	Time:	7.30pm	Place:	Room 11, Royston Town Hall, Melbourn Street, Royston

PRESENT:	Councillor Fiona Hill (Chairman),Councillor H.M. Marshall (Vice-Chairman), Councillor Liz Beardwell, Councillor A.F. Hunter, Councillor R.E. Inwood, Councillor F.J. Smith
IN ATTENDANCE:	Simon Young (Transport Policy Officer) Alan Fleck (Community Development Officer) Susanne Gow (Committee and Member Services Officer)
ALSO PRESENT:	Dawn Martin - Age Concern Margaret Bracey - Community Development Officer for Hitchin 2 members of the Press 1 member of the public.

Item	Description/Resolution	Status	Action
PART I
79	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies were received from Councillor P.C.W. Burt.	Noted
80	MINUTES Minutes of 25.11.09 RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Royston and District Committee Meeting held on 25 November 2009 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman	Agreed
81	NOTIFICATION OF OTHER BUSINESS None.	Noted
82	CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS The Chairman welcomed everybody to the meeting, including Dawn Martin, the speaker from Age Concern, members of the Press and the public, and the Community Development Officer for Hitchin, Margaret Bracey. As it was the first Royston and District Committee Meeting of 2010, she wished all present a Happy New Year and thanked them for their support. The Chairman informed the Meeting that Item 10 on the Agenda had been omitted from the original Agenda on publication, and would be taken as the final item of the Committee Meeting. The Committee were asked to note that the dates for the next Royston surgeries were inaccurate on the Agenda. They should read: Saturday 13 February and Saturday 3 April 2010, both to be held from 10.00am to 11.30am at Angel Pavement. 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
83	PUBLIC PARTICIPATION None.	Noted
84	CARE FOR THE ELDERLY IN ROYSTON AND RELEVANT HEALTH ISSUES Dawn Martin of Age Concern addressed the Royston and District Committee. She had brought along some information packs to illustrate the range of services offered by Age Concern. These were:  Active Ageing - to improve the quality of later life  Independent Living - to help people live independently in their own homes  Offer information and advice on services that can be trusted  Information and Advice Outreach - more than just a helpline  GP Information and Advice - the right advice at the right time  In Touch - a telephone service supporting people aged 50+ with health and wellbeing needs  Benefits Outreach - to ensure people do not miss on money to which they are entitled  Home Matters - helping people manage their homes  Advocacy in Care Homes - supporting older people living in, or considering, residential care by helping to clarify options, providing a voice for residents, representing residents' collective views, arranging support from other agencies and providing information on care home funding  Carers' Support Scheme - caring for older carers  Hospital Discharge and Independent Living Scheme - practical support to help older people maintain their independence  Mental Health Hospital Discharge Scheme  Health wise - to help people who live alone, are in poor health, are bereaved and no longer independent, and/or are depressed  Visiting Scheme and Telephone Club - offering older people friendship and support  Strategic Workforce Invested for Tomorrow (SWIFT) - supporting people aged 55+ with the early stages of dementia and memory loss, anxiety or depression. Dawn Martin stated that she was a Team Leader with the organisation's Hospital Discharge Service, and supported two HD Schemes. She explained that the care packages were supplemented by offering transport to and from hospital (sometimes as far away as the QEII Hospital in Welwyn Garden City and the Lister Hospital in Stevenage), with assistance while the clients attended their appointments, practical aid such as taking them shopping, as well as emotional support etc. They also supported people with various stages of dementia. It could sometimes be difficult to access the required services, and Age Concern volunteers were Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checked and provided with extensive training in caring for the elderly, those with dementia as well as carers. A new package had been introduced called SWIFT (see above). This was distributed countrywide and was designed for people aged 55 and over who found it difficult to cope, suffered from memory loss, dementia, anxiety or depression. On being asked for details of help for dementia sufferers, Dawn Martin explained that it was tragic that dementia was sometimes only diagnosed after several years. This was often because of the stigma, which led those with memory loss and other symptoms to avoid seeking help from their GP. Only when symptoms became more severe did they see their GP, who often advised them to see whether the symptoms settled down over a period of time and if not, to return. When they returned to the GP, they were often referred to a Memory Clinic for tests before the final diagnosis was made and medication to slow the process prescribed as it was impossible to recover from dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. This process could take up to six years in some cases. The Committee were advised that there were 15,000 people with dementia in Hertfordshire and another 4,000 with symptoms who had not yet been diagnosed. There was a huge shortage of dementia support as well as waiting lists for places in day centres and beds in private residential nursing homes and care homes - spaces were very scarce. Dawn Martin explained that carers were helped through respite care so they could have some much-needed time to themselves, but this was limited and there were no specialist dementia centres as funding was limited. Residential care homes did not want to take on people with full-blown dementia, who did not always need nursing home care. She saw this problem increasing over the next 15 years as older people lived longer. People of 80+ years were sole carers and some were frail, finding it increasingly difficult to look after themselves as well as handling the daily tasks of caring for somebody with dementia. There was also the problem of what would happen if the carer became ill. The Primary Care Trusts appeared to be gradually realising the difficulty and increasing funding, but not to a high enough level. The Committee, some of whom had personal experience of coping with dementia sufferers, discussed the problem. They stated that: people were being diagnosed late as they expected to have some memory loss with age and often did not relate this to dementia; they might be scared of the final diagnosis, so their symptoms became severe before they went for diagnosis (which itself could be difficult); some people lived alone and were isolated, terrified and depressed, desperately needing support; dementia (including Alzheimers) affected the whole family, who also needed early support. Dawn Martin revealed that the Alzheimers Society were in the process of opening Alz CafÃ©s for sufferers and their carers nationwide, with a support group to be held once a month. One was planned for Royston, although the exact location was not yet known. The Chairman declared that there was an excellent support centre for dementia sufferers in Royston and on enquiring whether Age Concern could help with funding, was told that Age Concern was a charity and was therefore unable to help with funds. Members commented that Central Government continued to cut back funding, apparently not realising that days off work through illness etc cost money in real terms. Dawn Martin added that the elderly and dementia sufferers were extremely vulnerable and desperate for help, as some could not hear or use the telephone, some were unable to read letters or to access the Internet, so were unaware of what was going on around them and what had been sent to them - final demands for bill payment, etc. Some elderly women were unused to handling money as this had been their husband's role, and all needed support and advice. The Committee were told that Age Concern offered a range of services, including dealing with financial matters, bills and home paperwork. A Member commented that the Royston Community Transport Service could be used to get patients to hospital for their appointments, but this was not advertised widely enough. After some discussion, Members decided that this Service should be advertised in the Press (through the representatives present at the Committee Meeting), the Royston Town Newsletter and Outlook. 1) The Committee resolved to thank Ms Martin for her interesting and informative presentation and her hard work for the vulnerable and elderly residents of Royston and Hertfordshire in general; 2) The Committee requested that Adult Care Services at Hertfordshire County Council are contacted to ascertain whether there have been cutbacks to staff responsible for caring for the elderly (particularly dementia) residents in care homes, and the required ratio of staff to residents, as well as the actual current ratio.	Agreed
85	ROYSTON DRAFT URBAN TRANSPORT PLAN Report Plan Walking Scheme Cycling Scheme Public Transport Scheme Highways and Streets Scheme Parking Scheme The Transport Policy Officer (TPO) presented the report of the Strategic Director of Planning, Housing and Enterprise. He explained that the consultation period had begun in the previous week (commencing 11 January 2010) and that 30 people had attended the opening exhibition. He acknowledged that Members had been consulted through the Member Steering Group meetings which had recently been held and encouraged to respond individually if they had been unable to attend the meetings. The TPO proposed that Members provide comments at this Committee Meeting and if they had any additional comments, that they feed these back to him before 17 February 2010. He would then put these all together for his report to the consultants, which would be finalised and adopted by Hertfordshire County Council. The final Plan would form the basis for investment in transport improvements in Royston for the next Local Transport Plan period. The TPO confirmed that previous comments made by Members at the Steering Group meetings had been fed back and taken into consideration. The Committee aired their views to the TPO and these covered: the possibility of having financial backing for the 5-year plan; traffic calming measures to be put into Burns Road and the cost implications; speeding issues in London Road, Barkway Road, York Way and Burns Road and on the Twigdens Estate; general deterioration of highways surfaces and road markings in the whole Royston and District area; verge parking in Old North Road; deterioration of rumble strips and the road warning signs on the A10; widening pavements could mean losing free parking spaces. They questioned whether this last action was in the best interests of the retail outlets in Royston Town Centre. The Committee also discussed their concerns over: the removal of the bay situated beyond the Coach and Horses in Kneesworth Street, used by disabled drivers; and realignment of the roundabout with, and parking on verges in, Old North Road. A Member commented that in the process of the Local Development Framework, some pieces of land between roads could be developed before being allocated. This should not be assumed in the process of the Urban Transport Plan. The TPO thanked the Committee for their remarks and repeated his request for individual Members to contact him directly with detailed comments before the given date. The Chairman thanked the Transport Policy Officer for all his hard work to date and for bringing the Royston Draft Urban Transport Plan to the Committee. RESOLVED: 1) That the Transport Policy Officer be thanked for all his hard work to date and for bringing the Royston Draft Urban Transport Plan to the Royston and District Committee; 2) That Committee Members provide any additional comments and priorities on the Royston Draft Urban Transport Plan to the Transport Policy Officer before 17 February 2010, who would feed these back to the consultant preparing the Plan and to Hertfordshire County Council; 3) That officers and consultants be requested to take into account any comments and priorities from this Royston and District Committee Meeting, previous Members' Steering Meetings and comments from the general public at the consultants' workshop; 4) That officers and consultants be requested to ensure that the wording of the final Urban Transport Plan cannot be used to justify development where none has, as yet, been authorised; 5) That the Royston and District Committee would be seriously concerned at losing any free parking, as it had always supported the idea of more free parking in the Town; 6) That the issues around possible weight limit and parking restrictions in Melbourn Street and Melbourn Road and the points detailed above, are treated as priorities, together with the speeding issues. REASON FOR DECISION: To provide the Royston and District Committee with the opportunity to comment on the emerging Royston Draft Urban Transport Plan.	Agreed
86	CHAMPION NEWS AND FINANCE REPORT Report Appendix A - spreadsheets Area Committee Work Programme The Community Development Officer (CDO) presented the report of the Head of Policy, Partnerships and Community Development. The items on Youth Council, Meetings of the Youth Network and Courses required no updating. Free Parking The CDO updated the Royston and District Committee that their subsidy for this, pro rata for actual usage, would be Â£466 (figures provided by the Parking Services Manager), due to much reduced usage because of heavy snowfall the night before. Angel Pavement Plans to refurbish Angel Pavement had moved on fast, and the CDO stated that he would contact the Chairman, Councillor Marshall and Councillor Hunter shortly with wording for the meeting of the North Herts Highways Partnership-Joint Member Panel on Monday 25 January 2010. The CDO then took the Committee through the budget spreadsheets and emphasised that unless Â£2,180 not required for a Traffic Regulation Order in Briary Lane/Sun Hill in the Discretionary Budget was reallocated before the end of the Financial Year, this sum would be lost to the Committee's budget, as would Â£200 not used for adjustments to ticket machines and Â£151 not spent on hanging baskets. Members' subsequent discussion raised the matter of Royston Town Hall not being "disability friendly", and requiring a lift so disabled persons could reach the first floor. They were reminded that this had been investigated many years ago, with the result that the Fire Service had pointed out that in the event of a fire on the ground floor, the disabled persons upstairs would have to be physically carried down, as the lifts would be switched off. This would limit the number of disabled persons on the first floor to two at any one time, for practical reasons. The Committee asked the CDO to liaise with the Royston Town Clerk and bring up this point. He was also asked to liaise with the Royston Town Clerk and the Police over provision of some Police equipment and to find out exactly what is required, bringing this information back to the Committee at the meeting on 17 March 2010. Members then discussed the grant applications in general, approving those from Royston Town Council and ratifying the award made to The House Drop-In Centre for young people. It was noted that Priory Memorial Gardens was still a major meeting place for young people, but that the price of the provision and installation of a youth shelter there had risen. The consensus of opinion was that this should go ahead in the original location, before the cost escalated further. With reference to the hanging baskets for Royston Town Centre, the Chairman suggested underwriting the sum required if Royston Town Council struggled to find the funds. The Chairman thanked the CDO for his hard work for the residents of Royston. RESOLVED: 1) That the budgetary expenditure, balances and carry forwards from the Development and Visioning Budgets be noted; 2) That the Committee approve the carry-forwards under Revenue Visioning and Small Area Grants; 3) That the sums of Â£2,180, Â£200 and Â£151 from the Discretionary Budget be reallocated before the end of the Financial Year; 4) That the Community Development Officer be thanked and the actions taken to promote greater community capacity and well-being be endorsed; 5) That the Community Development Officer liaise with the Royston Town Clerk over the requirements for making Royston Town Hall "disability friendly"; 6) That the Community Development Officer liaise with the Police over provision of some Police equipment and find out exactly what is required. REASONS FOR DECISIONS: 1) To ensure that the Royston and District Committee is kept informed of the work of the Community Development Officer; 2) To inform Members of the financial resources available to the Committee, drawing attention to the current budgetary situation, assisting in the effective financial management of the Area Committee's budget and ensuring that 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 Royston and District Committee to further the aims and Strategic Objectives 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
87	GRANT APPLICATION - ROYSTON TOWN COUNCIL Grant application Councillors E. Beardwell and R. Inwood both declared a personal interest in this grant application as they are members of Royston Town Council. They remained in the room and voted. RESOLVED: That the sum of Â£1,250 be awarded to the Royston Town Council to cover Museum Warden costs for the summer Sunday opening hours from Easter 2010 until September 2010 including Monday Bank Holidays. REASON FOR DECISION: To improve the services provided by the local organisations and groups available for the benefit of the community at large.	Agreed
88	GRANT APPLICATION - ROYSTON TOWN COUNCIL Grant application Councillors E. Beardwell and R. Inwood both declared a personal interest in this grant application as they are members of Royston Town Council. They remained in the room and voted. RESOLVED: That the sum of Â£450 be awarded to the Royston Town Council to help fund the Royston May Fayre on 3 May 2010. REASON FOR DECISION: To improve the services provided by the local organisations and groups available for the benefit of the community at large.	Agreed
89	GRANT APPLICATION - ROYSTON TOWN COUNCIL Grant application Councillors E. Beardwell and R. Inwood both declared a personal interest in this grant application as they are members of Royston Town Council. They remained in the room and voted. RESOLVED: That the sum of Â£4,000 be awarded to Royston Town Council to part-fund the provision and maintenance of 40 hanging baskets in Royston Town Centre. REASON FOR DECISION: To improve the services provided by the local organisations and groups available for the benefit of the community at large.	Agreed
90	GRANT APPLICATION - 'THE HOUSE' DROP-IN CENTRE Grant application RESOLVED: That the sum of Â£250 be awarded to The House Drop-In Centre for provision of a Playstation 3 entertainment unit for the benefit of the Centre's clients. REASON FOR DECISION: To improve the services provided by the local organisations and groups available for the benefit of the community at large.	Agreed
91	GRANT APPLICATION - NHDC INTERNAL BUDGETARY SUPPORT Grant application RESOLVED: That the sum of Â£1,869 be awarded to NHDC Internal Budgetary Support towards provision of a youth shelter in Priory Memorial Gardens. REASON FOR DECISION: To improve the services provided by the local organisations and groups available for the benefit of the community at large.	Agreed
92	GRANT APPLICATION - ROYSTON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Grant application Councillors F. Hill and R. Inwood both declared a personal interest in this grant application as they are NHDC representatives on the Board of Royston Community Association. They remained in the room and voted. RESOLVED: That the sum of Â£114 be awarded to the Royston Community Association, by way of a Fast Track Grant, to cover payment for hire of the hall for 4 public meetings held to discuss the flooding issues in Royston. REASON FOR DECISION: To improve the services provided by the local organisations and groups available for the benefit of the community at large.	Agreed
93	WARD AND OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS - MEMBERS' REPORTS Royston Community Transport Members were informed that Royston Community Transport was doing very well. They had had record use recently and had many volunteers working for the organisation. Royston Scouts Royston Scouts was doing well. A final decision was shortly to be made on how to celebrate the Scouts Centenary Year. The Chairman thanked Members for their updates on the organisations for which they represented North Herts District Council.	Noted
94	HIGHWAYS ISSUES Report The Community Development Officer (CDO) introduced the report of the Head of Policy, Partnerships and Community Development. The Chairman reported that the yellow lines in York Way are currently being installed and would have been implemented sooner if it had not been for objections and subsequently, the adverse weather conditions. She had received a letter from Royston Town Council informing her of damage caused to the footway on Melbourn Road by a lorry which regularly parked on the pavement outside the kitchen shop to make deliveries. It was suggested that Hertfordshire Highways be requested to approve provision of bollards to prevent further damage once the pavement had been repaired. The matter of damage to the footpath and of pedestrian safety was also raised in relation to the junction of John Street and High Street. The Committee agreed that bell-shaped bollards would be most appropriate in this location, and that this be referred to the North Herts Highways-Joint Member Panel for a suggestion as to the type of bollard required and for match-funding. The CDO produced a photograph showing a trip hazard (especially at night) consisting of concrete and including a manhole cover, on the footpath outside Precious Court. The Committee agreed that this should be referred to the North Herts Highways-Joint Member Panel and that they should be asked to request an inspection, the result of which should be brought back to the Royston and District Committee at a future meeting. The Committee agreed that short-term parking caused both traffic and pedestrian hazards in Melbourn Street, and that this should be referred to the Joint Member Panel to authorise a solution. One suggestion was that railings should be erected as a matter of urgency. Members also remarked that the pavement in Lower King Street is hazardous near the dental surgery, and that potholes are prolific and getting worse throughout Royston and the surrounding area, as mentioned in Minute 85. Finally, The Committee commended the efforts of the teams gritting the roads in and around Royston, for their sterling work in the recent icy weather, and the Chairman asked that the Committee's thanks be passed to the teams. RESOLVED: That the gritting team covering Royston and the surrounding area be passed the thanks of the Royston and District Committee, for its excellent work during the recent bad weather. RECOMMENDED TO NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE HIGHWAYS-JOINT MEMBER PANEL: 1) That the North Hertfordshire Highways Partnership-Joint Member Panel be requested to investigate a costed study of alternative and more robust means of protection at Melbourn Road, and at the junction of John Street and High Street; 2) That the NHHP be requested to authorise a study of traffic flow and to recommend an appropriate, costed means by which to discourage short-term parking on the southern side of Melbourn Street, between the traffic lights and the pedestrian-controlled crossing and to stop heavy vehicles driving through Melbourn Street; 3) That the NHHP be requested to authorise an inspection of the trip hazard on the footpath outside Precious Court and to suggest a solution to the problem, with a report to be brought back to the Royston and District Committee at a future meeting; 4) That the North Hertfordshire Highways Partnership-Joint Member Panel be requested to offer a solution to the problem of uneven paving which causes a hazard to pedestrians at Lower King Street. REASON FOR DECISION: To discourage short-term dangerous parking and ensure the safety of pedestrians and motorists in Royston and the surrounding area.	Agreed

Published on Wednesday, 10th February, 2010

9.06pm