Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors David Barnard and Harry Spencer-Smith.

Audio Recording – Start time of Item – 17 seconds

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Barnard and Spencer-Smith.

To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on the 6 December 2018.

To follow.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 6 December 2018 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.

Audio Recording – Start time of Item – 45 seconds

The Minutes of the previous meeting were tabled at the meeting.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 6 December 2018 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.

Audio Recording – Start time of Item – 1 minute and 5 seconds

There was no notification of other business.

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.

(1)  The Chairman welcomed those present at the meeting, especially those who had attended to give a presentation;

(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.  Members that declared a Declarable Interest, who wished to exercise a ‘Councillor Speaking Right’ must declare at the time of the interest;

(4)  In addition to the members of public listed on the agenda, there were the following speakers:

Sergeant Guy Westwood, John and Vicky Wyer.

Audio Recording – Start time of Item – 1 minute and 50 seconds

(1)  The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting, especially those who had attended to deliver a presentation.  Individuals were able to use a device to record the meeting or take photographs, but should ensure that the meeting was not disrupted

(2)  The Chairman advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting was being 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.  Any Member that wished to exercise a ‘Councillor Speaking Right’ had to declare this at the same time of the interest.

(4)    In addition to the public listed within the agenda, the Committee would also receive a presentation from Sergeant Guy Westwood on behalf of Hertfordshire Constabulary and Mrs Vicky Wyer on behalf of Churchgate Resurgance PB.

Audio Recording – Start time of Item – 2 minutes and 10 seconds

At 7.35pm Councillor Terry Tyler entered the meeting.

Sergeant Guy Westwood delivered a presentation on behalf of Hertfordshire Constabulary.

The following points were highlighted:

·         Various changes had been made to the Team;

·         A new computer system ‘Athena’ had been installed which allowed communication with 11 other forces however there were teething problems;

·         It was not possible to compare Crime figures and the accuracy of the figures was unknown due to the changes to the recording system;

·         The classification of burglaries had changed being split into dwellings and non-dwellings and this had made it difficult to compare with last year’s figures;

·         Online crime recording meant there were more ways to report crime;

·         Overlap of figures across the area affected the outcomes;

·         Crime figures had increased by 12% overall across the county - there had been double recording on some of the crimes so the accuracy was unknown;

·         Outcome rate increased over the year as the burglars were apprehended;

·         There had been a reduction in business burglaries;

·         The constabulary was trying to educate the public to secure their vehicles as car crime had increased;

·         An increase in domestic abuse numbers was seen as positive as it meant that more cases were being reported;

·         Not all cases of domestic abuse were progressed - work was needed to bring perpetrators to justice;

·         There had been 3 robberies in Hitchin compared to 53 in North Hertfordshire this year however this might be due to knife crime which was uncategorised at present;

·         Assault, both verbal and physical had increased;

·         There had been a reduction in criminal damage – a lot of work had been done however there was more to do;

·         Antisocial behaviour had decreased taking into consideration that more incidents were being reported;

·         Presentations were being made to local schools regarding knife crime;

·         Rural priorities were environmental, vehicle damage, domestic burglaries and anti-social use of vehicles however if there were other areas of concern that could be discussed with the public and Councillors in future;

In response to the presentation, questions were received from the following Councillors:

·         Councillor Frost

·         Councillor Tyler

·         Councillor Strong

The following concerns were raised:

·         Residents and Councillors had reported ongoing drug related crime in Offley and Lilley.  There were some school-aged children and older children who had drugs on their possession and were not discreet about the fact.

·         Younger children needed to be educated regarding knife crime.

Audio Recording – Start time of Item – 30 minutes and 22 seconds

Vicky Wyer of Churchgate Resurgance PB Group thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation, the main points of which were detailed below:

·         New experienced-based economy was required and one that would give a reason for people to visit the town;

·         NHDC held the freehold to Churchgate development area and was in a key position to be able to realise its potential;

·         A considerable amount of time and money had already  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

REPORT OF THE COMMUNITIES MANAGER

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.

Sergeant Guy Westwood delivered a presentation on behalf of Hertfordshire Constabulary of criminal statistics and the challenges facing the force within the Southern Rural Committee area.

Mrs Vicky Wyer of Churchgate Resurgance PB delivered a verbal presentation on ideas for Hitchin’s Churchgate area as two bids were being prepared by officers for submission as Expressions of Interest to the Future High Streets Fund.

A representative from Home-Start Hertfordshire was not in attendance at the meeting at the public participation stage of the meeting.

Mr Edison Jefferies, Breachwood Green Cricket Club, gave a verbal presentation in support of the grant application for £780 towards the cost of maintenance of the supporting two families in need in the South Rural area.

A representative from Breachwood Green Village Hall was not in attendance at the meeting.

Mr Chris White, FC Comets, gave a verbal presentation in support of the grant application of £998 towards the cost of purchasing additional goal posts.

Mr John Rolands, Kimpton Folk Festival, gave a verbal presentation in support of the grant application for £2500 towards the cost of putting on a community event.

Mrs Julie Targett and Mrs Renata Crome, Knebworth town twinning, gave a verbal presentation in support of the grant application for £1,125 towards the cost of the incoming visit from guests of the twinning town of Chatelaillon-Plage.

RESOLVED:

1.         The following grant funding to the organisations outlined below:

a)         £920 to Home-Start Herts towards the cost supporting two families in need in the Southern Rural Area as outlined in 8.1.1 of the submitted report;

b)         £1,248 to Breachwood Green Village Hall, of which £390 was from Councillor Claire Strong’s Ward Member Budget, towards the purchasing of a defibrillator and training to use the machine as outlined in 8.1.2 of the submitted report;

c)         £1,125 to Knebworth town twinning, of which £390 was from Councillor Lisa Nash’s and £390 was from Councillor Steve Deakin-Davies’ Ward Member Budget, for support for the incoming visit from guests of the twinned town of Chatelaillon-Plage as outlined in 8.1.3 of the submitted report;

d)         £998 to FC Comets Football towards the cost of purchasing additional goals posts as        outlined in 8.1.4 of the submitted report;

f)          £390 from Councillor John Bishop’s Ward Member Budget to Kimpton Folk Festival towards the cost putting on a community event as outlined in 8.1.5 of the submitted report;

g)         £780 to Breachwood Green Cricket Club towards the cost of maintenance of the Cricket Club Facilities to be split as follows: £265 from Councillor David Barnard’s Ward Member Budget, £265 from Councillor Faye Frost’s Ward Member Budget and £250 from the main development budget, as outlined in 8.1.6 of the submitted report.

2.         That the actions taken by the Community Officer to promote greater community capacity and well-being for the Southern Rural Area be endorsed

3.         The Committee support the grant application of £350 to Offley Tennis Club for a leaf blowing machine, not included within the agenda, which could be determined  ...  view the full decision text for item 52.

Audio Recording – Start time of Item – 1 hour, 11 minutes and 47 seconds

The Senior Communities Officer presented a report to advise the Committee of the current expenditure and balances of the Area Committee budgets; to inform the Committee of recent requests received for Area Committee Grant Funding, made by community groups and local organisations, which conformed to the Authority’s Grants Policy approved by Cabinet on June 14th 2016; and to advise the Committee of the activities and schemes with which the Community Officer had been involved.

GRANT APPLICATION:      HOME START HERTS

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

Regarding alternative options there were none proposed other than those detailed in the report. 

As no one was in attendance at the meeting for ‘public participation’ the Committee did not receive a presentation.  However, the Senior Communities Officer noted that a good presentation had been delivered to the other area committees and had determined to award Home Start Herts a grant.  There were two people on the waiting list and the grant would provide a volunteer to support a family for six months.  This would provide a vast amount of support to these families and would be part funded by the County Council. 

There was concern expressed by some Members of the Committee regarding how the grant accorded to the eligibility criteria:

The following Councillors took part in the debate:

·         Councillor Bishop

·         Councillor Henry

·         Councillor Frost

·         Councillor Nash

·         Councillor Strong

RESOLVED:

That grant funding of £920 be awarded to Home Start Herts towards the cost supporting two families in need in the Southern Rural Area as outlined in 8.1.1 of the submitted report;

At 8.58pm the meeting was adjourned for a comfort break.  The meeting resumed at 9.02pm.

Audio Recording – Start time of Item – 1 hour 26 minutes and 30 seconds

GRANT APPLICATION:      FC COMETS

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

Regarding alternative options there were none proposed other than those detailed in the report. 

Councillor Frost made a statement.

RESOLVED:

That grant funding of £998 be awarded to FC Comets Football towards the cost of purchasing additional goals posts as outlined in 8.1.4 of the submitted report;

Audio Recording – Start time of Item – 1 hour 28 minutes and 0 seconds

GRANT APPLICATION:      KIMPTON FOLK FESTIVAL

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

Regarding alternative options there alternative funding options considered in addition to those detailed in the report. 

The following Councillors took part in the debate:

·         Councillor Frost

·         Councillor Henry

·         Councillor Bishop

·         Councillor Tyler

·         Councillor Nash

·         Councillor Strong

It was felt by some Councillors that the application could not be justified purely to reduce the cost of the ticket prices as income generated should be able to cover  costs and make a surplus even if it meant charging for some of the activities on the day. 

It was proposed by Councillor Tyler and seconded by Councillor Nash to offer £1,000 which on being put to the vote was lost.

Councillor Henry stated that the activities would not be free as the grant funding was paid for by Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

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

Members gave verbal reports regarding the following:

·         East and North Herts NHS Trust

·         Arts Council North Herts

·         Knebworth Parish Council

Audio Recording – Start time of Item – 1 hour, 57 minutes and 27 seconds

Members gave verbal reports regarding the following:

·                     East and North Herts NHS Trust

Councillor Deakin-Davies had a meeting on 13^th March with David Brewer to discuss the huge phlebotomy queues and also how there were working to improve the link between elderly hospital admissions and the County Council’s support of the elderly care provision when hospital treatment was no longer required. 

Councillor Deakin-Davies was to spend a day with Hertfordshire County Council within the next few weeks at the East and North Herts Trust NHS at Lister and QEII and also the Care Commissioning Group whose plans would be reviewed at that meeting.

·                     Arts Council North Herts

Was to be dissolved in four weeks’ time as funding had ceased and the last of their money had been spent.  They were not prepared to embrace new commercial ideas of how to continue to promote the arts. 

·                     Knebworth Parish Council

Councillor Nash and Councillor Deakin-Davies were at a meeting with Knebworth Parish Council and the two landowners of KB1, 2 and 4 where there would be hundreds of homes built.  The concept of a charitable trust was being looked at.  These existed to take care of the money that was paid to some of the landowners and Section 106 money and other negotiated grants to become a trust to provide for Knebworth in the future. 

Prior to concluding the meeting the Chairman expressed appreciation, on behalf of the Committee, to Councillor Henry who had decided to not stand for election in May.