Agenda, decisions and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

No apologies for absence were received.

To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 13 September 2017.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Royston and District Committee held on 13 September 2017 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Royston and District Committee held on 13 September 2017 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.

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.

There was no other business notified.

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 which requires they leave the room under Paragraph 7.4 of the Code of Conduct, can speak on the item, but must leave the room before the debate and vote.

(1)  The Chairman welcomed those present at the meeting, especially the representatives from Anglian Water;

(2)  The Chairman advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be audio recorded; and

(3)  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.

(1)  The Chairman welcomed those present at the meeting, especially the representatives from Anglian Water;

(2)  The Chairman advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be audio recorded; and

(3)  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.

There was no public participation under this item.

There was no public participation under this item.

To received a presentation from Anglian Water regarding water supply and sewerage issues in Royston.

The Chairman welcomed Grace Doneghan and Hannah Wilson from Anglian Water to the meeting.

The Chairman thanked Ms Doneghan and Ms Wilson for their attendance at the meeting.  He summarised the themes raised throughout the debate, following which the Committee.

RESOLVED:

(1)        That Anglian Water be requested to provide answers to the questions raised at the meeting and a definitive statement to the Committee in respect of their position regarding the sewerage situation at the Ivy Farm development and the surrounding area;

(2)        That, when received, the above answers and statement be conveyed to all interested parties, including the residents in attendance at the meeting; and

(3)        That the Committee send a letter/e-mail to the local MP with a view to a change in legislation to give water companies the powers to adopt sewerage systems from developers.

REASON FOR DECISION:  To take steps towards an expectation that the sewerage problems in the area will be resolved.

The Chairman welcomed Grace Doneghan and Hannah Wilson from Anglian Water to the meeting.

The Chairman explained that very unpleasant smells from the sewerage system had been experienced byresidents in and around the Ivy Farm development in Royston.  This had been going on for years and he was aware that Anglian Water had been working to rectify the problem, but he asked for a progress update and highlighted concerns over the proposed expansion of the overall Ivy Farm site with the addition of several hundred new houses.  He commented that there were problems with the existing sewerage system and that there were concerns that this could escalate over the next few years.

Ms Doneghan provided an update on progress.  Anglian Water had carried out odour logging in the area. McDonalds had a privately owned pumping station.  Sewerage was pumped all the way to the manhole at the edge of Ivy Lane and then gravitated down towards Mackerel Hall.

Ms Doneghan stated that Anglian Water thought that McDonalds had been ill-advised in the design of the wet well in the pumping station.  Anglian Water had been working with the McDonalds Maintenance Manager in order to improve the condition of the wet well.

Ms Doneghan advised that Anglian Water were also in the process of setting up a meeting with Redrow Homes to ensure that the pumping station on the Ivy Farm estate was working correctly.  NHDC Environmental Health would also be invited to this meeting.  Anglian Water would update local residents on the outcome once this meeting had taken place.

A resident who lived in Downlands advised that he had been in contact with Anglian Water and NHDC Environmental health regarding the matter, and that he was expecting them to have reported back to him some 4 months ago.  He asked if the Ivy Farm and McDonalds pumping stations could be co-ordinated so that they vented out at different times, because when they vented at the same time the amount of sewage was so great that much of it ended up on Royston Heath.  The Anglian Water representatives undertook to take this matter back to their HQ and provide a response.

Following a comment from a resident, Councillor Hill advised that she and the Committee Chairman had attended a meeting in London with Oliver Heald MP and various representatives from Anglian Water, and had raised the issue of sewage on Royston Heath.  They were informed that this would be impossible as, due to changes in gradients in that location, the sewage would not be able to travel uphill.

Town Councilllor John Davison, who also lived in Downlands, stated that that he had been in e-mail correspondence with Anglian Water for over 2 years.  He had been advised by Anglian Water that Redrow Homes had not co-operated with Anglian Water and that the only time they had visited the site it had been unlocked.  He was therefore surprised at any inference that the Redrow Homes pumping station was working correctly.

Ms  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

The Chairman to lead a discussion regarding any issues raised, including current and proposed highways schemes.

The Committee was informed of ongoing and forthcoming highways matters in the Royston area.

RESOLVED:  That the verbal update on highways issues be noted.

The Committee was informed of ongoing and forthcoming highways matters in the Royston area.

Councillor Hill advised that the following Highway Schemes were being put forward to be carried out in 2018/19 for funding from her Hertfordshire County Council Highways Locality Budget: the second part of Valley Rise; Poplar Close; Newsells Road (Barkway); Newmarket Road/Dacre Green; footpaths in Burns Road; drainage in Newmarket Road; bollards near Fish Hill Funeral Directors; viability studies re: traffic calming near Coombes Community Centre in Burns Road; possible Traffic Regulation Orders in John Street and Limekiln Road; possible additional speed indicator devices.

Councillor Hill stated that three schemes which were not completed, but which would be funded from the 2017/18 year were signage near Coombes Community Centre; and signs in Newsells and Nuthampstead.

As Councillor Steve Jarvis was in attendance at the meeting in his role as County Councillor, the Chairman invited him to advise the Committee of any updates on highways matters in his County Division.  Councillor Jarvis advised that his 2018/19 Highways Locality Budget would definitely include the resurfacing of Downlands and the possibility of speed indicator devices on Baldock Road or Baldock Street.

The Chairman was not sure if the scheme was on the current Integrated Works Programme (IWP), but he noted that the highway surface Coronation Avenue and Sun Hill was in a poor condition.  In respect of Coronation Avenue, Councillor Jarvis commented that this had been deferred as water utility works need to take place first, and that the works to Sun Hill would be a potential inclusion in his 2018/19 Highways Locality Budget, if not included in the IWP.

Councillor Green was disappointed that it had proven unfeasible to place some barriers between the bollards opposite the entrance to John Street.  Councillor Hill advised that this had been investigated.

RESOLVED:  That the verbal update on highways issues be noted.

INFORMATION NOTE OF THE PARKS & COUNTRYSIDE MANAGER

To consider the Information Note on progress regarding the Green Space Management Strategy.

RESOLVED: That the Parks and Countryside Manager be advised that the progress statement for the Farrier Court play area should be identical to that for the Betjeman Road play area.

REASON FOR DECISION: To comment on the Green Space Management Strategy Information Note.

The Committee considered an Information Note prepared by the Parks and Countryside Manager in respect of progress regarding the Green Space Management Strategy.

The Committee was informed that work was ongoing to secure possible sources of alternative funding for the retention of the Farrier Court and Betjeman Road play areas.

RESOLVED: That the Parks and Countryside Manager be advised that the progress statement for the Farrier Court play area should be identical to that for the Betjeman Road play area.

REASON FOR DECISION: To comment on the Green Space Management Strategy Information Note.

REPORT OF THE COMMUNITIES MANAGER

To receive an update on activities in Royston and surrounding Districts.

RESOLVED:

(1)        That the actions taken by the Communities Officer to promote greater community capacity and well-being for Royston and District be endorsed; and

(2)        That the release of £1,500 be agreed for 2018/19, in support of the “Free after 3pm” parking initiative scheme for Royston, to be combined with funding from Hertfordshire County Councillors’ Locality Budgets and Royston First.

REASON FOR DECISION:To keep Members of the Committee apprised of the latest developments in community activities in the Royston and District area.

The Communities Officer presented the report of the Communities Manager entitled Community Update and drew the attention of Members to the current level of unallocated funds in the Development Budget.

The Communities Officer advised that there had been no grant applications since the last meeting of the Committee.  However, there was the annual request for the allocation of funds of £1,500 from the Committee’s budget in support of the “Free after 3pm” parking initiative scheme for Royston in 2018/19.

The Communities Officer reported that the Royston Means Business Christmas Event on Royston High Street, scheduled to take place on Saturday, 2 December 2017, had been cancelled.

RESOLVED:

(1)        That the actions taken by the Communities Officer to promote greater community capacity and well-being for Royston and District be endorsed; and

(2)        That the release of £1,500 be agreed for 2018/19, in support of the “Free after 3pm” parking initiative scheme for Royston, to be combined with funding from Hertfordshire County Councillors’ Locality Budgets and Royston First.

REASON FOR DECISION:To keep Members of the Committee apprised of the latest developments in community activities in the Royston and District area.

To receive any oral reports from Members regarding Ward matters and Outside Organisations.

A number of Members updated the Committee on Ward and Outside Organisations.

A number of Members updated the Committee on Ward and Outside Organisations, as follows:

Royston Schools Academy Trust consultation on changes and mergers

Councillor Hill advised that the deadline for responses to the above consultation was Friday, 1 December 2017.  The Trust was looking to move onto two sites (Greneway/Meridian School site).

With the Committee’s support, the Chairman, in consultation with Councillor Hill, undertook to submit a generally positive response to the consultation, along the lines of the Royston Town Council response, but with concerns over some highway issues in the vicinity of the site.  The important thing was that the Trust maintained an excellent level of education for the children of Royston.

School Visits

Councillor Morris raised the issue of visits by councillors to schools in the Ermine Ward, and was encouraged by the Committee to contact the schools to arrange such visits.

Coombes Community Centre

Councillor Davidson advised that the Coombes Community Centre’s AGM was to take place on Monday, 4 December 2017.  It was the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Centre, and hence a plaque would be unveiled and refreshments provided.  He commented that all Members of the Committee would be welcome should they wish to attend the event.