Agenda item

To consider any questions submitted by Members of the Council, in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11 (b).

In accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11(b), three questions had been submitted by Members of the Conservative Group by the deadline date for questions set out in the Council’s Constitution.

 

(A)     Unlawfully Parked Vehicles

 

Councillor Jim McNally to Councillor Paul Clark (Executive Member for Planning and Transport).

 

(B)     Progress of Work on the New Settlement

 

Councillor David Levett to Councillor Paul Clark (Executive Member for Planning and Transport).

 

(C)     Local Election Safeguards

 

Councillor Morgan Derbyshire to Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb (Leader of the Council).

Audio recording – 24 minutes 43 seconds

 

In accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11(b), three questions had been submitted by Members of the Conservative Group by the deadline date for questions set out in the Council’s

Constitution.

 

(A)       Unlawfully Parked Vehicles

 

Councillor Jim McNally to Councillor Paul Clark (Executive Member for Planning and Transport):

 

“Members were advised, via the MIS of 18 December 2020, that the minimum set period for observing vehicles unlawfully parked on yellow lines was to be reduced from 5 minutes to 2 minutes. The record of the decision taken under delegated authority states at paragraph 6.1 that ‘The Executive Member for Planning & Transport & Deputy as well as other ward councillors have been informed and are supportive of the decision taken’. Can the Executive Member inform Council which ward councillors were informed and when?”

 

Councillor Paul Clark responded as follows:

 

“We are aware of concerns raised around the District raised by residents concerning anti-social parking, one area being anti-social parking particularly outside take always and other areas such as post offices and ATMs within the town centres and also within neighbourhood centres.

 

Examples include:

 

In Baldock:

Bell Row

Issue previously raised by Cllr Muir and local residents with vehicles parking in the street and across entrance ways picking up takeaways.

       

In Hitchin:

Bancroft

With the Chicken George Takeaway

Takeaways in Nightingale Road

This has been an on-going issue and has increased during the pandemic with issues raised by residents

Pizza Kebab and Curry Houses on the corner of Bearton Road and Brampton Park Road

Issue previously raised by Councillor Judi Billing and local residents

Highbury Road Post Office

On-going issues and previously raised by local ward Councillors.

 

In Royston:

Takeaways in Melbourne Street near the pedestrian crossing

Issue raised by parking services team

 

On a general point our Parking Enforcement officers continually encounter issues with vehicles parking on double yellow lines, which has increased during the pandemic, particularly with click and collect and more restaurants offering takeaways

 

This is not to adversely affect businesses only to encourage those using these businesses to park responsibly on street;

 

We are aware of cars not moving on when a Civil Enforcement Officer asks, as they are aware of the 5 minute period;

 

It is not deemed appropriate to have a zero time period in terms of loading and unloading, Civil Enforcement Officers (CEO’s) do need an observation period;

 

Ward Councillors were made aware of the option on one particular situation where relationships between those parking illegally and anti-socially and the residents is causing concern, this is in relation to the correspondence over the Chicken George (Councillors that officers liaised with were Councillors Keith Hoskins, Judi Billing, Ian Albert, Sam Collins, County Councillor Derrick Ashley, Councillors Ian Mantle and Paul Clark);

 

Other Ward Councillors were made aware in MIS dated 18 December 2020, regarding the Delegated decision notice issued, no comments were received in respect of this delegated report from any Councillor.

 

It was also included in the Shadow Portfolio Holder briefing slides on page 17.”

 

Councillor Jim McNally asked the following supplementary question.

 

“I note that you mentioned various towns in North Herts and informing other ward Councillors, as stated in the decision sheet, but it did not include any Councillors in the town of Baldock. The observation period only seems to have been changed with regard to single and double yellow lines with no regard taken in to account regarding unlawful parking in residents’ parking bays, which is a particular problem in the towns. That is likely to lead to inconsistency with the application of parking restrictions Consultations seems to have been taken along strict party lines no Conservative Members were informed despite all four towns having elected Conservative Councillors. Why was consultations, or informing ward Councillors in this instance seemingly high handed and autocratic?”

 

Councillor Paul Clark responded:

 

“I will disagree with my colleague. As I said at the end, the Shadow Portfolio Holder for Parking and Transport was informed in the slides of the Shadow briefing in November and that was Councillor McNally. County Councillor Ashley, a Conservative was also mentioned. I don’t keep a diary of everyone I have spoken to on every single matter. There would have been other general discussions as we went round. Councillors Mantle and Stears-Hanscomb were aware as were other Councillors.”

 

(B)       Progress of Work on the New Settlement

 

Councillor David Levett to Councillor Paul Clark (Executive Member for Planning and Transport):

 

"Could the Executive Member update us on the progress of work on the New Settlement for which the previous administration secured substantial funding from central government”

 

Councillor Paul Clark advised:

 

“When this was your portfolio Councillor Levett, but things have moved on with the Growth Board. Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb (Leader of the Council) is going to answer this as he is the representative on the Growth Board”

 

Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb responded that:

 

“New settlement work has been carried out for some time under previous administrations with all-party support.  I am assuming that New Settlement MHCLG grant work referred to in the question is the application led by NHDC on behalf of ourselves, East Herts, Welwyn-Hatfield and Stevenage. This award was approximately £250k. The projects agreed to be funded within this award, which included forecasting population and economic growth through to 2050 and the typologies of settlements, are complete and there is a small amount of money left.

 

A further MHCLG grant application under the previous administration to continue this work and bring Broxbourne into the project was unsuccessful.

 

This administration fully intends to continue this work as we are able, working with the same partners with the addition of Broxbourne.  I am chairing and Anthony is leading a Growth Locations/New Settlement/ Infrastructure work stream as part of the North East and Central Herts Strategic Planning Group which is part of the Herts Growth Board. We are using the remaining grant, circa £30k, to map out the next steps on this work.

 

In summary, the work undertaken so far is being rolled forward into the Growth Board work, specifically the NEC group (which meets the joint working criteria of the award) and the workstream led by Anthony with the support of Ian Fullstone and planning colleagues on growth and new settlements.”

 

Councillor David Levett asked the following supplementary question:

 

“Do you think that it is important that new settlement work is progressed as we are hopefully looking to get a Local Plan agreed soon. As mentioned at previous meetings, a new settlement could be a viable alternative to further growth around our towns?”

 

Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb responded as follows:

 

“Yes we do feel it is important that the new settlement work goes forward. As you know the time horizon for a new settlement is a very long one, therefore, much as we all wish that the work was done earlier and was an alternative to our current Local Plan, the reality is we are talking about the next Local Plan. So in answer to your question, yes it is important and hopefully will avoid any future incursion around our existing towns.”

 

(C)       Local Election Safeguards

 

Councillor Morgan Derbyshire to Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb (Leader of the Council):

 

"Would the Leader of the Council please outline the safeguards that have been put in place

to protect poll workers and voters if the local elections are to go ahead this May?"

 

Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb gave the following response:

 

“I should first make it clear that making arrangements for elections is the responsibility of the Returning Officer and is not within my remit or any other executive member. Having said that, in order to reassure Members and our voters I have consulted the Returning Officer who is happy for the following information to be provided.

 

Given that there is continued uncertainty that the elections in May will take place, we must continue to plan that the elections will indeed happen in May – and under these ‘unprecedented’ conditions. 

 

The Electoral Commission has published various key consideration documents for the delivery of the May 2021 Poll – one in particular with regards to Polling Stations. These documents have been developed in consultation with the Association of Electoral Administrators, Solace and the Cabinet Office.

 

The general public health principles, to help to mitigate the risk of the spread of the virus, are expected to be followed by both the electorate and polling station staff:

 

•           Maintain social distancing

•           Clean hands regularly

•           Avoid touching face

•           Limit the number of contacts

•           Wear a face covering, where necessary

•           Self-isolate and get a test, where necessary

 

There will be regular cleaning throughout the day of touchpoints such as doors, polling booths and any writing implements, although voters will be encouraged to bring their own pen or pencil to the polling station.

 

Additional staff will be employed to stand at the entrance of the busier polling stations to manage entry to the station for social distancing purposes, as well as to encourage voters and other stakeholders attending the polling station to abide by the public health measures in place, such as the wearing of face coverings, sanitising hands on entry and exit, and to answer any questions about what to expect inside the venue.

 

Polling station staff will be encouraged to take regular breaks, wherever possible, to allow a rest from wearing face coverings.

 

There will be additional signage to remind voters of the need to follow public health guidelines such as social distancing, the wearing of face-coverings and only entering if symptom-free.

 

Hand sanitiser will be available at the polling station, with voters encouraged to clean their hands on entry and exit.

 

The use of face-coverings will be required for all individuals in a polling station (unless they are subject to an exemption or are a member of staff working behind an individual screen) in line with government regulations. Spare masks will be available to those who have not brought their own face covering.

 

Where stations allow, a one-way system will be adopted to ensure that social distancing can be maintained.

 

The Polling Stations are being assessed to consider the most appropriate layout of desks and polling booths, to help maintain distance between the polling staff, and between polling staff and voters.

 

The UK Government have currently confirmed that there will be no test and trace requirement to record the contact details of those entering a polling station for the purposes of voting, even where the polling station is located in a building where it would usually be required.

 

There will be some documents and papers that will be shared and staff will be reminded that they should only be present if they are well, avoid touching their faces, and regularly and frequently wash their hands.

 

There are many other electoral processes which need safeguards in place and this just a sample of the measures that can be expected at Polling Stations. This is under review on an ongoing basis through the Council’s Elections Project Board and meetings that the Returning Officer has held with her Herts counterparts. The safety of everyone is of paramount importance and I encourage you to contact the Returning Officer should an Member have any other queries or concerns.”

 

Councillor Morgan Derbyshire asked the following supplementary question:

 

“Would you agree with me that it is dangerous for any political party asking its candidates and volunteers to hand deliver campaign literature while the District i in the highest tier and the Government’s message is still Stay Home, Stay Safe”

 

Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb responded:

 

“Yes I agree and thank you for a simple supplementary to answer”