Skip to main content

Issue - meetings

NOTICE OF MOTIONS

 

 

Meeting: 23/04/2026 - Council (Item 103)

103 NOTICE OF MOTIONS pdf icon PDF 64 KB

To consider any motions, due notice of which have been given in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12.

Additional documents:

Decision:

There were two motions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12.

 

(A)  Verge and Footway Parking Protection Orders in Letchworth Garden City

 

RESOLVED: That Council:

 

(1)   Ask officers to identify suitable locations where verge and footway protection orders could help prevent damage caused by vehicles mounting and parking on grass verges and pavements and improve accessibility for pedestrians in North Hertfordshire.

 

(2)   Request that North Hertfordshire District Council, working with Hertfordshire County Council bring forward proposals for the introduction of verge and footway protection orders through the Traffic Regulation Order process in appropriate locations within Letchworth Garden City and other communities across North Hertfordshire, with the flexibility to include multiple streets where verge damage is occurring.

 

(3)   Ensure that any proposals are subject to appropriate consultation with residents. To report back to Members with proposals for implementation.

 

(B)  Protection of North Herts Chalk Streams

 

RESOLVED: That Council:

 

(1)   Instruct the Executive Member for Place to write to MPs Pippa Heylings and Chris Hinchliff expressing the Council’s support for the Bill to make all UK chalk streams a serial UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site.

 

(2)   Ensure the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project checklist with the two amendments shown is adopted and applied throughout the preparation of the Council’s new Local Plan.

 

(3)   Ensure that the Council as LPA places the highest possible priority on the protection and conservation of the District’s chalk streams, taking appropriate measures to safeguard their ecological integrity and the quality and quantity of their water, including the imposition of planning conditions as necessary.

Minutes:

Audio recording – 9 minutes 56 seconds

 

There were two motions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12.

 

(A)  Verge and Footway Parking Protection Orders in Letchworth Garden City

 

Councillor Sean Prendergast proposed the following motion with the addition of the words ‘in North Hertfordshire’ at the end of the first recommendation:

 

Letchworth Garden City, as the world’s first Garden City, was designed with wide grass verges and green spaces as a defining feature of the town.

 

In a number of locations, grass verges are being damaged by repeated vehicle parking, with vehicles often mounting both verges and adjoining footways.

 

This behaviour can also obstruct footways and narrow pedestrian routes, creating particular difficulties for people with disabilities, wheelchair and mobility scooter users, parents with pushchairs, and older residents who rely on clear and accessible pavements and verges.

 

Protecting these verges and footways is therefore important not only to preserving the heritage, character and environmental quality of the Garden City, but also to ensuring that streets remain safe and accessible for all residents.

 

Verge and footway protection orders have successfully been implemented in Welwyn Garden City through the Traffic Regulation Order process.

 

Therefore, Council resolves to:

 

(1)   Ask officers to identify suitable locations where verge and footway protection orders could help prevent damage caused by vehicles mounting and parking on grass verges and pavements and improve accessibility for pedestrians in North Hertfordshire.

 

(2)   Request that North Hertfordshire District Council, working with Hertfordshire County Council bring forward proposals for the introduction of verge and footway protection orders through the Traffic Regulation Order process in appropriate locations within Letchworth Garden City, with the flexibility to include multiple streets where verge damage is occurring.

 

(3)   Ensure that any proposals are subject to appropriate consultation with residents. To report back to Members with proposals for implementation.

 

Councillor Tina Bhartwas seconded the motion.

 

The Chair advised that there had been one amendment to the motion published in a supplementary document proposed by Councillor Alistair Willoughby and seconded by Councillor Clare Billing.

 

The following Members took part in the debate on the amendment:

 

·       Councillor Ian Albert

·       Councillor Claire Winchester

·       Councillor Claire Strong

·       Councillor Donna Wright

·       Councillor Sean Nolan

·       Councillor David Chalmers

·       Councillor Ralph Muncer

·       Councillor Elizabeth Dennis

·       Councillor Martin Prescott

·       Councillor Laura Williams

·       Councillor Sadie Billing

·       Councillor Nigel Mason

·       Councillor Steve Jarvis

 

Points raised during the debate on the amendment included:

 

·       Whether the Council had the necessary resources available to implement the motion.

·       The Council should try to implement this as soon as possible and not wait for a law to be introduced by government which might never happen.

·       Any parking dangers should be reported to the police who would take the necessary action to resolve matters.

·       It would be sensible for the Council to ensure it had a consistent approach across the whole of the district.

·       Residents were having to take matters into their own hands by putting boulders across grass verges to stop delivery vans from parking which was detrimental to the appearance of Letchworth.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 103