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Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Room 11, Royston Town Hall, Melbourn Street, Royston

Contact: Amelia McInally (01462) 474514  Email: amelia.mcinally@north-herts.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

35.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Decision:

There were no apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Audio recording – 11 seconds

 

There were no apologies for absence.

36.

MINUTES - 12 SEPTEMBER 2019 pdf icon PDF 130 KB

To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 12 September 2019.

 

To follow.

Decision:

The Committee and Member Services Officer advised that the Minutes for 12 September 2018 had been tabled.

 

However, to enable time for Members to read these Minutes, they would be formally agreed at the next meeting.

Minutes:

Audio Recording – 20 Seconds

 

The Committee and Member Services Officer advised that the Minutes for 12 September 2018 had been tabled.

 

However, to enable time for Members to read these Minutes, they would be formally agreed at the next meeting.

37.

MINUTES - 28 NOVEMBER 2019 pdf icon PDF 123 KB

To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 28 November 2019.

 

To follow.

Decision:

The Committee and Member Services Officer advised that the Minutes for 28 November 2018 had been tabled.

 

However, to enable time for Members to read these Minutes, they would be formally agreed at the next meeting.

Minutes:

The Committee and Member Services Officer advised that the Minutes for 28 November 2018 had been tabled.

 

However, to enable time for Members to read these Minutes, they would be formally agreed at the next meeting.

38.

NOTIFICATION OF OTHER BUSINESS

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.

Decision:

There was no other business notified.

Minutes:

Audio recording – 1 minute 46 seconds

 

There was no other business notified.

39.

CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

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.

Decision:

(1)       The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, particularly the members of the public and those making presentations to the committee;

 

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

 

(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.

Minutes:

Audio Recording – 1 Minute 51 Seconds.

 

(1)       The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, particularly the members of the public and those making presentations to the committee;

 

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

 

(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.

40.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATON

Decision:

Royston Hospital Site

 

Ms Margaret Allen, Royston Community Health CIC, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal update on the progress at the Royston Hospital Site.

 

The Chairman thanked Mrs Allen for her presentation.

 

Royston University of the Third Age

 

Councillor Jean Green declared a disclosable interest in that she was a member of the Royston University of the Third Age. She advised that she would abstain from voting.

 

Ms Jackie Gellert, Royston University of the Third Age, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding the grant funding application for Royston University of the Third Age.

 

The Chairman thanked Ms Gellert for her presentation.

Minutes:

Audio Recording  – 2 Minutes 52 Seconds.

 

Royston Hospital Site.

 

Ms Margaret Allen, Royston Community Health CIC, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal update on the progress at the Royston Hospital Site as follows:

 

·               The aim was to create a Health Hub, consisting of Physiotherapists, clinics, GP’s and a care home;

·               The care home could be used as a transition to get people moved from the major hospitals, prior to moving back home;

·               They also aimed to introduce Social Prescribing Projects on the strip of land that accompanied the plot that would include, gardening and bird watching;

·               The NHS was constantly changing. Currently the Social Transformation Programme were attempting to form single, multi-disciplinary, ten-year plan to re-invest in care in the community to keep people well and out of hospital where possible and to enable people to leave hospitals earlier. The planning is continuing, but it could not be implemented the GP Network was formed and there was a deadline for this of May 2019.

·               They had held some very productive joint meetings.

 

The following Members asked questions and took part in the discussion:

 

·                Councillor Ruth Brown;

·                Councillor Sarah Dingley;

·                Councillor Gerald Morris;

·                Councillor Bill Davidson.

 

In response to the questions raised Mrs Allen advised:

 

·          They would like an integrated care home that was accessible by other services such as GPs and physiotherapists;

·          The land is currently owned by the NHS and the major contributors to the business model are still yet to be confirmed;

·          That this does not necessarily mean an increase in the number of GP’s, but it does mean that GPs in Royston would have the opportunity to use the hospital building to take advantage of shared help, technology and services such as phlebotomy;

·          Doctors will have the opportunity to operate out of the hospital or to run specific clinics from inside the hub;

·          The future of the existing surgeries in Royston was still uncertain.

 

The Chairman thanked Ms Allen for her presentation.

 

Audio Recording – 27 Minutes 57 Seconds

 

Royston University of the Third Age

 

Councillor Jean Green declared a disclosable interest in that she was a member of the Royston University of the Third Age. She advised that she would abstain from voting.

 

Ms Jackie Gellert, Royston University of the Third Age, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding the grant funding application for Royston University of the Third Age as follows:

 

·                U3A had been running since 2015 and was aimed at older people in the Royston area;

·                Membership fees were £14 per annum;

·                They currently had almost 500 members;

·                They started in the Town Hall, but having outgrown these facilities, now met in the Parish Church;

·                Each meeting consisted of tea, coffee and a chat prior to listening to one of the guest speakers;

·                Sadly there had been a fire in the Parish Church and they had returned to the Town Hall, although the room was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

41.

HIGHWAYS ISSUES

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

Decision:

The Chairman invited County Councillor Fiona Hill to lead the discussion regarding current and proposed highways schemes.

Minutes:

Audio Recording – Start Time of Item – 36 Minutes 40 Seconds.

 

The Chairman invited County Councillor Fiona Hill to lead the discussion regarding current and proposed highways schemes, as follows:

 

·                With regards to Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs), funding had been secured to install a device in London Road. This funding will include repair and maintenance over the next five years;

·                Garden Walk has 20mph flashing signs, and SID sockets were in place;

·                A crossing patrol would be extremely useful in this area and the position was being advertised;

·                A safety assessment had been carried out regarding the crossing at Melbourn Street.

 

The following Members asked questions and took part in the discussion:

 

·                Councillor Ruth Brown;

·                Councillor Sarah Dingley;

·                Councillor Tony Hunter;

·                Councillor Jean Green;

·                Councillor Gerald Morris.

 

In response to questions County Councillor Hill advised:

 

·                The Police do visit Garden Walk;

·                The Police and NHDC Parking Enforcement were regularly contacted to request a presence;

·                The Waste vehicles were struggling to pass parked vehicles in John Street.

42.

GRANTS & COMMUNITY UPDATE pdf icon PDF 96 KB

To advise the Committee on the current expenditure and balances of the Area Committee budgets.

To bring to the Committee’s attention details of recent requests received for Area Committee Grant Funding, made by community groups and local organisations, which conform to the Authority’s Grants Policy approved by Cabinet on June 14th 2016.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED:

 

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

 

(2)          That any unspent funds from the 2018/19 financial year be allocated to Community and Environmental Initiatives;

 

(3)          That the Communities Officer be requested to circulate the full list of projects suggested for Section 106 funding to all Members of the Royston Committee.

 

REASON FOR DECISIONS:

 

(1)      To ensure the Committee is kept informed of the work of the Community Officer;

 

(2)      To inform Members of the financial resources available to the Committee.

Minutes:

Audio Recording – Start Time of Item – 51 Minutes 44 Seconds

 

The Communities Officer presented the report entitled Grants and Community Update and drew attention to the following:

 

Budgets

 

The Communities Officer advised that the Committee had a budget of £1,420.

 

Pathway at the End of Green Drift

 

That with regards to the pathway at the end of Green Drift, there are no current plans to adopt the pathway, but it was planned to get the path adopted as a right of way so that plans couls progress.

 

Coombes Community Centre

 

The Coombes Community Association were looking to create an outdoor area to alleviate the issue of anti-social behaviour.

 

Councillor Bill Davidson advised that lights had been installed and that there were plans for a CCTV camera.

 

Royston First BID

 

The ballot to continue the BID for a further 5 years had been successful.

 

The following Member asked questions:

 

·                Councillor Ruth Brown.

 

The Chairman confirmed that the BID had a new business plan, which was the basis of the BID for the next 5 years.

 

Section 106

 

The Communities Officer confirmed that the list of projects detailed in Paragraph 8.2.7 was not a complete list.

 

The following Members asked questions and took part in the discussion:

 

·               Councillor Ruth Brown;

·               Councillor Tony Hunter.

 

The Chairman confirmed that the list was only a few of the items.

 

Members requested that the full list of projects be circulated.

 

RESOLVED:

 

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

 

(2)          That any unspent funds from the 2018/19 financial year be allocated to Community and Environmental Initiatives;

 

(3)          That the Communities Officer be requested to circulate the full list of projects suggested for Section 106 funding to all Members of the Royston Committee.

 

REASON FOR DECISIONS:

 

(1)      To ensure the Committee is kept informed of the work of the Community Officer;

 

(2)      To inform Members of the financial resources available to the Committee.

43.

GRANT APPLICATION - ROYSTON UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE

Decision:

Councillor Jean Green had previously declared a disclosable interest in that she was a member of the Royston University of the Third Age. She advised that she would abstain from voting.

 

RESOLVED: That grant funding of £850 be awarded to Royston University of the Third Age to help towards the costs of providing equipment to aid in their monthly meetings;

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community.

Minutes:

Councillor Jean Green had previously declared a disclosable interest in that she was a member of the Royston University of the Third Age. She advised that she would abstain from voting.

 

RESOLVED: That grant funding of £850 be awarded to Royston University of the Third Age to help towards the costs of providing equipment to aid in their monthly meetings;

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community.

44.

GRANT APPLICATION - BANNER FOR PROMOTION OF COUNCILLOR SURGERIES

Decision:

RESOLVED: That grant funding of £100 be awarded to purchase a teardrop banner to better publicise councillor surgeries.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community.

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That grant funding of £100 be awarded to purchase a teardrop banner to better publicise councillor surgeries.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To improve services provided by local organisations and groups which are accessed by the community.

45.

WARD MATTERS AND OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS - MEMBERS' REPORTS

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

Decision:

Members discussed the following:

 

·                Concern Regarding a Facebook Post;

·                Black Squirrel Credit Union;

·                Planning Application for 5 Green Drift;

·                Town Twinning Poster;

·                Health And Wellbeing Team.

Minutes:

Audio Recording – 1 hour, 6 Minutes and 18 Seconds

 

Concern Regarding a Facebook Post

 

Councillor Morris shared a concern regarding a Facebook post regarding a car following children in Therfield and has asked members to be vigilant.

 

Black Squirrel Credit Union

 

Councillor Dingley advised that the new Black Squirrel Credit Union office would be every Monday morning from 10.00am to 11:30am in the Royston Evangelical Church.

 

This will be advertised.

 

Planning Application for 5 Green Drift

 

Councillor Brown advised that following the rejection of the planning application for 5 Green Drift, the applicant has since met with local residents and had formulated a more sustainable application.

 

Town Twinning Poster

 

Councillor Green presented the poster regarding Town Twinning in North Hertfordshire.

 

Councillor Brown advised that the Town Twinning committee were still looking for hosts for French families in May.

 

Health And Wellbeing Team

 

Councillor Hunter advised that they had been successful in securing £50,000 of funding into the North Herts budget for the Health and Wellbeing Team. This Team worked to promote physical activity, wellbeing and support for the young and the elderly.

 

Planned projects included:

 

·                A toddler’s/adult cycling programme

·                Fit feed and read programme for 8-11-year-old children who receive free school meals will be taking place in the summer holidays, working with the Hertfordshire Sports Partnership;

·                MIND were currently coordinating gardening projects with Tescos, supported by NHDC.

Audio Recording of Meeting MP3 26 MB