To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.
Decision:
(a) Mr Colin Dunham (Hitchin resident) re: NHDC communication with residents
(b) Mrs Helen Oliver (Letchworth Garden City resident) re: Proposed Closure of Linnet Close Play Area
Minutes:
(a) Mr Colin Dunham (Hitchin resident) re: NHDC communication with residents
Mr Dunham considered that people like himself, who had no computers, had been bypassed by the Council, officers and councillors.
As an example, Mr Dunham referred to the new Waste Contract and charging for brown bin collections. There was no reference in the policy to any refund of the charge should people die, go into a nursing home or move house.
As a further example, Mr Dunham referred to the Churchgate/Hitchin Market consultation. Why did people like himself have to go to the Council Offices in Letchworth Garden City to collect a hard copy? Copies could have been supplied locally to libraries, the Hitchin Market Office and Hitchin Initiative Office.
Mr Dunham commented that in the most recent edition of the Council’s Outlook Magazine, there were no updates on the North Hertfordshire Museum/Hitchin Town Hall or Churchgate. Why?
Mr Dunham asked it if was the role of the Council’s Monitoring Officer to help residents with these types of issues? If not, who would be the person best placed to assist residents?
Mr Dunham concluded by mentioning that he had yet to receive a reply from the Chief Executive responding to the issues raised by him at the Cabinet meeting held on 23 January 2018 in respect of the North Hertfordshire Museum/Hitchin Town Hall.
The Chairman thanked Mr Dunham for his presentation.
(b) Mrs Helen Oliver (Letchworth Garden City resident) re: Proposed Closure of Linnet Close Play Area
Mrs Oliver advised that Linnet Close play area was small, but in good condition. It had benefitted from recent repairs to the rubber floor surface. The play area did not suffer vandalism as it was overlooked by nearby residential properties and watched by local residents.
Mrs Oliver stated that it was watched because it was treasured by the local community. A year ago, 50 or more local residents and children had attended a “play-in” at the play area in order to show support for its retention.
Mr Oliver commented that it was confusing to residents in Linnet Close and the surrounding streets that the consultation on the future of play spaces was over before they heard about the planned closure.
Mrs Oliver and others residents did not believe that the information supplied to councillors from the consultation reflected genuine levels of use, because they felt that a different decision would have been made had this information been provided. Residents were more than keen to conduct a more accurate usage survey if this would be useful to the Council.
Mrs Oliver advised that fundraising to help to maintain the play area was something that local residents were keen to engage in. However, the option given to them to take on the play area themselves appeared to reveal a lack of insight into the lives of ordinary residents, many of whom had limited income. They believed that the Council had the necessary skills and experience to administer public liability insurance, understand health and safety obligations, and provide ownership of the public play space for children.
Mr Oliver explained that the residents were also deeply concerned with the lack of clarity on future plans for the site. Plans for the sale of the site would worry residents hugely; plans which would render the site redundant and increase the chances of fly tipping or parking also weighed heavily on residents’ minds. The lack of communication did not inspire good faith.
Mrs Oliver stated that it seemed that there was some belief that an inability amongst local residents to come up with the funds and expertise needed to run the playground demonstrated a lack of care for the space. However, local children did use the play area, loved it and cared about it. She felt that this view of residents seemed a little out of touch and showed a very poor opinion of the residents the Council served, coming as it did on top of the recent Council Office refurbishment and increases in Councillors’ allowances.
Mrs Oliver asked that the Council looks again at this matter, not viewing the closure of play areas as an easy saving option. The residents wanted to work with the Council to see how the decision may be reviewed and the closure put on hold, even at this late stage. She therefore urged the Cabinet to take a further look at the matter.
The Chairman thanked Mrs Oliver for her presentation.