Agenda, decisions and draft minutes
PDF 165 KBVenue: Council Chamber, District Council Offices, Gernon Road, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3JF
Contact: Committee Services - 01462 474655 Email: Committee.Services@north-herts.gov.uk
Media
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Decision: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Val Bryant, Lisa Nash, Daniel Allen, Sarah Lucas, Cathy Brownjohn, Joe Graziano, Rhona Cameron, Michael Muir and David Barnard. Minutes: Audio recording – 1 minute 32 seconds
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Val Bryant, Lisa Nash, Daniel Allen, Sarah Lucas, Cathy Brownjohn, Joe Graziano, Rhona Cameron, Michael Muir and David Barnard. |
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MINUTES - 13 JANUARY AND 26 FEBRUARY 2026 To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 13 January and 26 February 2026. Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meetings of the Committee held on 13 January 2026 and 26 February 2026 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair. Minutes: Audio recording – 2 minutes 5 seconds
Councillor Keith Hoskins, as Chair, proposed and Councillor Sadie Billing seconded and it was:
RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meetings of the Committee held on 13 January 2026 and 26 February 2026 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair. |
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NOTIFICATION OF OTHER BUSINESS Members should notify the Chair of other business which they wish to be discussed at the end of either Part I or Part II business set out in the agenda. They must state the circumstances which they consider justify the business being considered as a matter of urgency.
The Chair will decide whether any item(s) raised will be considered. Decision: There was no other business notified. Minutes: Audio recording – 2 minutes 51 seconds
There was no other business notified. |
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CHAIR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS Climate Emergency
The Council has declared a climate emergency and is committed to achieving a target of zero carbon emissions by 2030 and helping local people and businesses to reduce their own carbon emissions.
A Cabinet Panel on the Environment has been established to engage with local people on matters relating to the climate emergency and advise the council on how to achieve these climate change objectives. A Climate Change Implementation group of councillors and council officers meets regularly to produce plans and monitor progress. Actions taken or currently underway include switching to green energy, incentives for low emission taxis, expanding tree planting and working to cut food waste.
In addition the council is a member of the Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership, working with other councils across Hertfordshire to reduce the county’s carbon emissions and climate impact.
The Council’s dedicated webpage on Climate Change includes details of the council’s climate change strategy, the work of the Cabinet Panel on the Environment and a monthly briefing on progress.
Ecological Emergency
The Council has declared an ecological emergency and is committed to addressing the ecological emergency and nature recovery by identifying appropriate areas for habitat restoration and biodiversity net gain whilst ensuring that development limits impact on existing habitats in its process.
The Council has set out to do that by a) setting measurable targets and standards for biodiversity increase, in both species and quantities, seeking to increase community engagement, b) to work with our partners to establish a Local Nature Partnership for Hertfordshire and to develop Nature Recovery Networks and Nature Recovery Strategy for Hertfordshire and c) to investigate new approaches to nature recovery such as habitat banking that deliver biodiversity objectives and provide new investment opportunities.
Declarations of Interest
Members are 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 Chair 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, wishing to exercise a ‘Councillor Speaking Right’, must declare this at the same time as the interest, move to the public area before speaking to the item and then must leave the room before the debate and vote. Decision: (1) The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be recorded.
(2) The Chair reminded Members that the Council had declared both a Climate Emergency and an Ecological Emergency. These are serious decisions, and mean that, as this was an emergency, all of us, Officers and Members had that in mind as we carried out our various roles and tasks for the benefit of our District.
(3) The Chair drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question.
(4) The Chair advised that the normal procedure rules in respect of debate and times to speak will apply.
(5) The Chair advised that 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution did not apply to this meeting. A comfort break would be held at an appropriate time, should proceedings continue at length.
(6) The Chair reminded Members of Members Development Week and the training sessions arranged during Monday 11 May to Tuesday 19 May 2026 to cover required and compulsory training.
(7) The Chair asked Members to ensure they could successfully log in to their IT equipment ahead of the training sessions being held in Members Development Week.
(8) The Chair reminded Members that the Council was piloting flexible voting in Royston at the upcoming elections on 7 May 2026 which meant that votes could be cast at any Hub on Saturday 2 May and Sunday 3 May 2026 between 10am to 3pm. Minutes: Audio recording – 2 minutes 55 seconds
(1) The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be recorded.
(2) The Chair reminded Members that the Council had declared both a Climate Emergency and an Ecological Emergency. These are serious decisions, and mean that, as this was an emergency, all of us, Officers and Members had that in mind as we carried out our various roles and tasks for the benefit of our District.
(3) The Chair drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question.
(4) The Chair advised that the normal procedure rules in respect of debate and times to speak will apply.
(5) The Chair advised that 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution did not apply to this meeting. A comfort break would be held at an appropriate time, should proceedings continue at length.
(6) The Chair reminded Members of Members Development Week to cover training and the sessions arranged during Monday 11 May and Thursday 14 May 2026 to cover required and compulsory training.
(7) The Chair asked Members to ensure they could successfully log in to their IT equipment ahead of the training sessions being held in Members Development Week.
(8) The Chair reminded Members that the Council was piloting flexible voting in Royston at the upcoming elections on 7 May 2026 which meant that votes could be cast at any Hub on Saturday 2 May and Sunday 3 May 2026 between 10am to 3pm. |
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PUBLIC PARTICIPATION To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public. Decision: There was no public participation. Minutes: Audio recording – 5 minutes 56 seconds
There was no public participation. |
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ITEMS REFERRED FROM OTHER COMMITTEES To consider any items referred from other Committees. Any items referred to this meeting will be published as a supplementary document. Decision: The Chair advised that there were no referrals from other Committees. Minutes: Audio recording – 5 minutes 59 seconds
The Chair advised that there were no items referred from other Committees to consider. |
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ADOPTION OF THE PLANNING CONTROL COMMITTEE ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – GOVERNANCE/MONITORING OFFICER
To provide Members with a proposed Planning Control Committee Guidance. Additional documents: Decision: The Chair advised that this item had been DEFERRED to a future meeting of Council to allow for more consultation. Minutes: Audio recording – 6 minutes 9 seconds
The Chair advised that this item had been DEFERRED to a future meeting of Council to allow for further consultation. |
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QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS 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, one question had been submitted by the required deadline set out in the Constitution.
(A) Greater Cambridge Development Corporation
Councillor Matt Barnes to Councillor Donna Wright (Executive Member for Place). Minutes: Audio recording – 6 minutes 29 seconds
In accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11, one question had been submitted by the required deadline set out in the Constitution.
(A) Greater Cambridge Development Corporation
Councillor Matt Barnes to Councillor Donna Wright (Executive Member for Place):
“Could the Executive Member for Place please outline the Council’s response, as a neighbouring authority, to the recent consultation concerning the creation of a Greater Cambridge Development Corporation - which the Government proposes would take control of planning and infrastructure across Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire?”
Councillor Donna Wright provided the following response:
“Officers reviewed the consultation material but did not submit a formal response. To put into context any Development Corporation would not take on planning-making powers until the Greater Cambridge Plan is adopted which is not expected before late 2027. Any future plan-making by a development corporation would be a matter for future unitary authorities in Hertfordshire. Furthermore, development management powers would be limited to strategic scale proposals which are focused around Cambridge. There are no current strategic proposals near North Hert’s boundaries, so our connection with South Cambs is less vital than with other areas at the moment. However, officers do maintain regular contact with Greater Cambridgeshire colleagues with regular updates reported through the Strategic Planning Matters report that goes to Cabinet. In this context and given other service pressures and priorities, a formal response was not considered necessary. We have actually been inundated with consultations this year. I should add that no queries or concerns were raised by Members during the consultation period and no requests were made for a response, briefing note or anything else. I suggest that if Councillor Barnes has concerns that he approaches the Leader of the South Cambridge District Council, Councillor Bridget Smith to discuss these.”
Councillor Matt Barnes asked a supplementary question as follows:
“Given that how will the Council’s planning team ensure that necessary infrastructure investment is afforded to Royston and the neighbouring villages as these developments come forward and in particular the proposal for 1400 homes just across the A505 which was on the front page of the Royston Chronical or featured very heavily in the Royston Chronical recently.”
Councillor Donna Wright responded:
“I think that this will be a decision for a future unitary authority.”
N.B. Councillor Dominic Griffiths entered the Chamber at 19:41. |
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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. |