Agenda item

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

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: 

(1)       That consideration be given to the need for community space in Hitchin for a  number of organisations, including Hitchin Band, Citizens Advice North Herts and Hitchin Bridge Club;

(2)       That Officers be encouraged to engage with these groups in order to make initial enquiries regarding need and future options that may be available.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION: To promote the development of local organisations which provide benefits to the Hitchin community.

The Chair led a discussion on the proposed 2021/2022 Inflationary Tariff Increases for NHDC Off-Street Managed Car Parks.

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET:

(1)       That the Proposed 2021/2022 Inflationary Tariff Increases for NHDC Off-Street Managed Car Parks be implemented;

(2)       That Officers be encouraged to review the balance of short, mid-term and long stay spaces in the car parking estate in Hitchin;

(3)       That Officers be encouraged to explore options for pay-on-exit or other alternative payment collection systems to facilitate ease of use and accurate charges.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: To protect and support the economic vitality of Hitchin town centre while respecting the need to meet revenue needs in the car parking estate.

N.B the foregoing is the minute of the discussion and decision regarding accommodation for Hitchin Band.

Audio Recording: 1 hour 5 minutes.

Mr Keith Birch – Hitchin Band presented their paper entitled “A permanent home for Hitchin Band” and highlighted the following:

·                Hitchin Band had been established and representing the town for 155 years at competitions and concerts;

·                35% of its members were women and it had an average age of 42 with a growing number of young members;

·                They had a successful Championship section which competed on the national and international stage in competitive brass band events;

·                The Hitchin Youth Brass Band was formed in 2009 providing tuition to children, outreach in schools, with a subscription of very low subscription fee to maximise accessibility;

·                Youth Band members have progressed on to the senior band section or have joined the Community Brass section which provides a forum for members to play music without the pressure of a competitive environment;

·                Hitchin Band represents the town, provides entertainment, and has a worldwide reach online, and raises money for other charities as well as providing education and skills development for members;

·                The Band required suitable premises that could accommodate their storage needs and sound proofing requirements;

·                With adequate space the Band could expand to have two youth groups and an intermediate contest band to bridge the gap between the youth section and the senior band which many members find difficult;

·                Hitchin Band has been in dialogue with other brass bands of a similar kind which have had success in finding suitable premises to address these issues;

·                The Band had been based at Hitchin Rugby Club for over 13 years which was more comfortable than some previous accommodations – with heating and toilets – but was not perfect for their needs;

·                The Rugby Club was also planning to move;

·                The Band needed a home to accommodate use 3 to 4 nights a week with storage, rehearsal space, and noise dampening;

·                Rental options were not felt to be viable; lack of certainty for the future of the band was hampering progress;

·                The options which had been considered in detail were purpose building a site or conversion of an existing building;

·                Amersham Brass Band, a similar organisation to Hitchin Band, had success raising around £1 million in 5 years to purpose build their premises, and it was felt that Hitchin Band could achieve similar results;

·                Key to fundraising would be finding a building available for long term lease as an option on a site would form the focus of fundraising;

·                The Band requested the Council to consider whether a suitable plot of land or an existing site was available.

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

·                Councillor Simon Harwood

·                Councillor Judi Billing

·                Councillor Keith Hoskins

·                Councillor Ian Albert

·                Councillor Paul Clark

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: 

(1)       That consideration be given to the need for community space in Hitchin for a  number of organisations, including Hitchin Band, Citizens Advice North Herts and Hitchin Bridge Club;

(2)       That Officers be encouraged to engage with these groups in order to make initial enquiries regarding need and future options that may be available.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION: To promote the development of local organisations which provide benefits to the Hitchin community.

Audio Recording – 2 hours 34 minutes.

The Chair led a discussion on the proposed 2021/2022 Inflationary Tariff Increases for NHDC Off-Street Managed Car Parks.

The following Members took part in the discussion:

·                Councillor Paul Clark

·                Councillor Richard Thake

·                Councillor Keith Hoskins

·                Councillor Simon Harwood

·                Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb

Issues raised included:

·                Charges were not raised last year and if they are not raised this year revenues would struggle to break even in view of increased costs;

·                Members were conscious that raising charges during a post-pandemic recovery period could have an impact on businesses;

·                The 1 hour charge had remained static;

·                Rounding up to the nearest 5 pence was related to the prevalence of app/telephone based payments

·                There was the option to delay the increase in charges to June/July/September to accommodate a pandemic recovery period;

·                There was widespread disruption when responsibility for parking charges and enforcement came in to NHDC control without notice;

·                The balance of car parking available in the estate should be re-evaluated to feature less expensive short to medium term parking with high charges for very long stays to encourage access to the town and shops;

·                Price increases should be based on the rate of inflation;

·                Raising parking charges always led to ill feeling and should be counterbalanced by improvements in alternative payment methods, more accurate time recording, discounts for electric vehicles;

·                It was important that cash- or card- at terminal payment options continued for accessibility reasons;

·                Other methods of payment should be explored for convenience and accuracy.

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET:

(1)       That the Proposed 2021/2022 Inflationary Tariff Increases for NHDC Off-Street Managed Car Parks be implemented;

(2)       That Officers be encouraged to review the balance of short, mid-term and long stay spaces in the car parking estate in Hitchin;

(3)       That Officers be encouraged to explore options for pay-on-exit or other alternative payment collection systems to facilitate ease of use and accurate charges.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: To protect and support the economic vitality of Hitchin town centre while respecting the need to meet revenue needs in the car parking estate.