Agenda, decisions and minutes

Audio recording – Start of Item – 45 seconds

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Clare Billing, Mike Hughson and Richard Thake.

Audio recording – Start of Item – 45 seconds

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Clare Billing, Mike Hughson and Richard Thake.

Members should notify the Chairman of other business which they wish to be discussed by the Committee at the end of the 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 Chairman will decide whether any item(s) raised will be considered.

Audio recording – Start of Item – 1 minute 12 seconds

There was no other business notified.

Audio recording – Start of Item – 1 minute 12 seconds

There was no other business notified.

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 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, wished 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.

Audio recording – Start of Item – 1 minute 17 seconds

(1)       The Chairman thanked those who had attended Town Talk and welcomed those who were speaking at Public Participation;

(2)       The Chairman reminded Members that. in accordance with Council policy, this meeting was being audio recorded, members of the public may use their own devices to record the meeting or take photographs, but ensure that the meeting was not disrupted;

(3)       The Chairman advised that he had agreed that the Public Presentation time limit be extended to 15 minutes;

(4)       The Chairman 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;

(5)       The Chairman announced that the aim was to discuss as much as possible in public and, once the discussions had taken place, make any resolutions this point.

Only if needed would the meeting go into Part 2 and if that was needed the press and public would be asked to leave.

He did not intend there to be any further discussion following any Part 2 discussions.

Audio recording – Start of Item – 1 minute 17 seconds

(1)       The Chairman thanked those who had attended Town Talk and welcomed those who were speaking at Public Participation;

(2)       The Chairman reminded Members that. in accordance with Council policy, this meeting was being audio recorded, members of the public may use their own devices to record the meeting or take photographs, but ensure that the meeting was not disrupted;

(3)       The Chairman advised that he had agreed that the Public Presentation time limit be extended to 15 minutes;

(4)       The Chairman 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;

(5)       The Chairman announced that the aim was to discuss as much as possible in public and, once the discussions had taken place, make any resolutions this point.

Only if needed would the meeting go into Part 2 and if that was needed the press and public would be asked to leave.

He did not intend there to be any further discussion following any Part 2 discussions.

Audio recording – Start of Item – 3 minutes 9 seconds

Mr Keith Hoskins, Mrs Vicky Wyer and Mr John Wyer gave a PowerPoint presentation regarding their vision for the development of the Churchgate Shopping Centre, the Market and the Town Centre.

Mr Hoskins, speaking on behalf of Hitchin Initiative, Hitchin Forum, Hitchin Historical Society and Hitchin Society, advised that all of these organisations were supportive of the ideas in the forthcoming presentation.

Mrs Wyer and Mr Wyer made the PowerPoint presentation and explained in detail their concepts and ideas.

Following the presentation Mr and Mrs Wyer answered questions from Members.

To give Hitchin Committee an opportunity to comment on the  report that will be presented to Cabinet on 20 November 2018 and Full Council on 22 November 2018.

The report to Cabinet will be published on Friday 9 November 2011

Audio recording – Start of Item - 38 minutes 28 seconds

Councillor Judi Billing declared a declarable Interest in that she was a Community Director of Hitchin Initiative.

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET:

(1)       That the Chairman of Hitchin Committee should be a member of the Churchgate Project Board;

(2)       That the Hitchin Committee:

(i)         Welcomes the ideas and concepts put forward by the community groups, as presented by John and Vicky Wyer;

(ii)        Notes that, whilst some of the proposals may not be viable at this time, nevertheless many of the concepts and ideas make a positive contribution to the development of the project;

(iii)       Asks the Council to engage with representatives of the community groups in the design and development of the project, should it go ahead.

REASON FOR DECISION: As the Churchgate Shopping Centre is located in Hitchin, this meeting provides a “forum for discussion on matters of local interest”.

Audio recording – Start of Item - 38 minutes 28 seconds

Councillor Judi Billing declared a declarable Interest in that she was a Community Director of Hitchin Initiative.

The Deputy Chief Executive presented the report entitled Regeneration of Churchgate Shopping Centre. The following appendices were attached to the report:

Report due to be submitted to Council on 22 November 2018

Indicative Site Plan - Ground Floor

Indicative Site Plan - First Floor

The Deputy Chief Executive advised that, in respect of the report to the Hitchin Committee the following correction was required:

·                Paragraph 4.1 (iv) should be deleted

He drew attention to the following sections of the report due to be considered by Council on 22 November 2018:

·                Section 4 - Alternative Options;

·                Section 5 – Consultation;

·                Section 7 – Background;

·                Section 8 – Relevant Considerations:

·                Section 10 – Financial Implications.

The following Members contributed to the debate (in order of initial contribution):

Councillor Simon Harwood;

Councillor Sam Collins;

Councillor Paul Clark;

Councillor Judi Billing;

Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb;

It was proposed by Councillor Billing and Seconded by Councillor Stears-Handscomb that the Chairman of the Hitchin Committee should be a member of the Project Board.

It was proposed by Councillor Stears-Handscomb, seconded by Councillor Collins and upon the vote it was:

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET:

(1)       That the Chairman of Hitchin Committee should be a member of the Churchgate Project Board;

(2)       That the Hitchin Committee:

(i)         Welcomes the ideas and concepts put forward by the community groups, as presented by John and Vicky Wyer;

(ii)        Notes that, whilst some of the proposals may not be viable at this time, nevertheless many of the concepts and ideas make a positive contribution to the development of the project;

(iii)       Asks the Council to engage with representatives of the community groups in the design and development of the project, should it go ahead.

REASON FOR DECISION: As the Churchgate Shopping Centre is located in Hitchin, this meeting provides a “forum for discussion on matters of local interest”.

To consider passing the following resolution:

That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting on the grounds that the following reports will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act.

Audio recording – Start of Item – 1 hour 41 minutes 47 seconds

Members agreed that it was not necessary to discuss the Part 2 report and therefore this item was not required.

Audio recording – Start of Item – 1 hour 41 minutes 47 seconds

Members agreed that it was not necessary to discuss the Part 2 report and therefore this item was not required.

To give Hitchin Committee an opportunity to comment on the  report that will be presented to Cabinet on 20 November 2018 and Full Council on 22 November 2018.

The Part 2 report to Cabinet will be published on Friday 9 November 2011

The Part 2 report was not discussed (Minute 49 refers).

The Part 2 report was not discussed (Minute 49 refers).