Issue - meetings
QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS
Meeting: 04/12/2025 - Council (Item 59)
59 QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS 
PDF 56 KB
To consider any questions submitted by Members of the Council, in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11 (b).
Decision:
In accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11, three questions had been submitted by the required deadline set out in the Constitution.
(A) Council Street Naming Policy for new developments
Councillor Joe Graziano to Councillor Donna Wright (Executive Member for Place)
(B) Expansion of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Councillor Ralph Muncer to Councillor Donna Wright (Executive Member for Place)
(C) Impact on local water courses from London Luton Airport
Councillor Ralph Muncer to Councillor Donna Wright (Executive Member for Place)
Minutes:
Audio recording – 16 minutes 38 seconds
In accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11, three questions had been submitted by the required deadline set out in the Constitution.
(A) Council Street Naming Policy for new developments
Councillor Joe Graziano to Donna Wright, Executive Member for Place:
‘Please outline the Street Naming Policy of the Council for new developments within the district?’
Councillor Donna Wright provided the response, as follows:
‘The Councils approach to street naming and numbering is set out on the Council website, and our Officers have followed the same process for many years.
The applicant is asked to complete an online application and suggest potential road names; these suggestions are reviewed to make sure they are appropriate using published criteria. This includes making sure the suggested name will not cause confusion with existing road names in the area. Local Councillors in relevant town or parish Councils are consulted where there is agreement, or no objection and Officers confirm the name. Relevant bodies such as Royal mail, utilities and County Council advised. Where agreement cannot be reached within the consideration period, the matter can be referred to the relevant Committee Forum.’
Councillor Joe Graziano asked a supplementary question, as follows:
‘Where several residents who live in an area have a right to complain or object to road naming because it is not in the community interest or they have not been listened to what is the process if any? Is it time we have an updated policy based on discretion not based on outdated statute dating back to 1847?’
Councillor Donna Wright provided the response, as follows:
‘The Council has no particular powers or process to rescind or change the name of a street once it has been agreed. The developer can be advised to pursue the matter further if they wish and if they voluntarily approach the council to review the name, to which they previously agreed then a new consultation can take place.’
(B) Expansion of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Councillor Ralph Muncer to Councillor Donna Wright, Executive Member for Place:
‘To ask the Executive Member for Place what assessment has been made as to the benefits of expanding the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty across areas of North Hertfordshire?’
Councillor Donna Wright provided the response, as follows:
‘For clarification areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are referred to as National Landscapes in national policy and legislation, I guess as outstanding and beauty are subjective terms. Natural England were leading a project to consider changes to the boundaries to the Chiltern National Landscape but they announced this review had been cancelled in May 2025. This was reported to all Councillors through the Members Information Service in May and Cabinet in June.
In terms of the assessment of the benefits of expanding the boundaries, when the project was cancelled, Natural England advised they were hoping to share the evidence base which had been collated in due course, to inform other projects. We are waiting for this ... view the full minutes text for item 59