Decisions

RESOLVED:  That grant funding of £850 be awarded to BEEE Creative to assist with running costs for 60 Creative Movement Workshops to be held at Royston & District Museum and Art Gallery.

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

The Community Engagement Officer gave a verbal presentation on behalf of BEEE Creative regarding their Grant Application.

The Community Engagement Officer advised Members that Enterprise East had withdrawn their grant application.

(1)     The Chairman welcomed those present; particularly speakers at Public Participation.

(2)     The Chairman introduced and welcomed Matthew Hepburn a new Committee, Member Services & Scrutiny Officer, who will be clerking future meetings’ of that Committee.

(3)     In accordance with Council policy the meeting was being audio recorded. Members of the public and the press may use their devices to film/photograph, or do a sound recording of the meeting.

(4)     Members were 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 were required to notify the Chairman of the nature of any interest declared at the commencement of the relevant item on the agenda.

There was no other business notified.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 3 July 2019 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 12 September 2018 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Gerald Morris.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 13 March 2019 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 28 November 2018 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.

RESOLVED:

(1)       Royston and District Committee trial a Town Talk prior to the next Committee Meeting due to be held on Wednesday 4 December 2019; and

(2)       That the Committee endorsed the actions taken by the Community Engagement Officer to promote greater community capacity and well-being for Royston.

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. It draws attention to the current budgetary situation by assisting in the effective financial management of the Area Committee’s budget. This ensures that all actions are performed in line with the Authority’s Financial Regulations, the Council’s Constitution, and the guidance of the existing Grants policy as agreed by Cabinet in June 2016.

RESOLVED: That Polling Places, as illustrated in the Returning Officer’s Proposals set out in Appendices A and C be designated.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: The Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 introduced a change to the timing of compulsory reviews of UK Parliamentary Polling Districts and Polling Places. The compulsory review must commence and conclude between 1 October 2018 and 31 January 2020 (inclusive).

A number of ward matters were raised by Members including:

Royston Christmas Tree

Royston Town Twinning

Royston BID

Royston Cinema.

The next meeting of the Royston and District Committee would be held on 4 December 2019.

The Committee was informed of on-going and forthcoming highways matters in Royston by Hertfordshire County Councillors, Fiona Hill and Steve Jarvis.

(1)       The Chairman welcomed those present; particularly speakers at Public Participation;

(2)       The Chairman introduced and welcomed Matthew Hepburn, a new Committee, Member and Scrutiny Officer, who would be clerking future meetings of the Committee;

(3)       In accordance with Council policy the meeting was being audio recorded. Members of the public and the press may use their devices to film/photograph, or do a sound recording of the meeting;

(4)       Members were 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 were required to notify the Chairman of the nature of any interest declared at the commencement of the relevant item on the agenda.

`RESOLVED:  That grant funding of £906.50 be awarded from the discretionary budget to Ravidassia Community Centre towards the cost of a new commercial cooker.

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

RESOLVED:  That grant funding of £1,500 be awarded from the discretionary budget to Keech Hospice towards the cost of the expansion of a 24hr telephone advice line.

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

RESOLVED:  That grant funding of £2,434.13 be awarded from the discretionary budget to Hitchin Senior Citizens Welfare Committee to pay for transport costs for members.

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

Mr Vijai Mehar, Ravidassa Community Centre, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding their grant application.

Ms Meg Davies, Keech Hospice, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding their grant application.

Mrs Joan Kirby, Hitchin Senior Citizens Welfare Committee, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding their grant application.

Mr Colin Dunham thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation on the impact of making Hitchin Town Centre free of commercial delivery vehicles.

Ms Nicky Clark, Climate Action Group, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation on the impact of Climate Change and what measures can be taken by the Council to combat it.

Ms Anni Sander, Plastic Free Hitchin, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding the objectives of Plastic Free Hitchin.

Ms Penny Metcalf, Development Director settle, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a PowerPoint presentation regarding the re-development of John Barker Place.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That Polling Places, as illustrated in the Returning Officer’s Proposals set out in Appendices A and C be designated;

(2)       That the Returning Officer be requested to keep the Polling Place and Stations at Whitehill School under review;

REASON FOR DECISIONS: The Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 introduced a change to the timing of compulsory reviews of UK Parliamentary Polling Districts and Polling Places. The compulsory review must commence and conclude between 1 October 2018 and 31 January 2020 (inclusive).

RESOLVED:

(1)       That £3,658 carried forward from 2018/19 and previously allocated to signage at Woodside Car Park, be reallocated to the general development budget;

(2)       That the actions taken by the Community Engagement officer to promote greater community capacity and well-being for Hitchin be endorsed.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

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

(2)       To inform Members of the financial resources available to the Committee. It draws attention to the current budgetary situation by assisting in the effective financial management of the Committee’s budget. This ensures that all actions are performed in line with the Authority’s Financial Regulations, the Council’s Constitution, and the guidance of the existing Grants policy as agreed by Cabinet in June 2016.

RESOLVED:

(1)          That the content of the report entitled Annual Report on S106 Obligations for Hitchin Committee be noted;

(2)          That the Development and Conservation Manager be requested to present a report regarding Section 106 contributions to the Hitchin Committee on an annual basis;

(3)          That, other than where a contribution has been negotiated for a specific purpose or project, Ward Members of the area where the Section 106 Obligation or Unilateral Undertaking funding is generated and the Hitchin Committee be consulted prior to funding being allocated away from that area;

(4)          The it be noted that the discretionary funds are rapidly diminishing and will not be replaced under current legislation and practice, for reasons that are set out in the report entitled Annual Update on S106 Obligations for Hitchin Committee;

(5)          That the Community Engagement Team Leader be requested to maintain a “wish list” of projects for the Hitchin area that can be used for the negotiation of Section 106 contributions and that this list be reported in future Grant and Community Update reports;

(6)          That the Development and Conservation Manager be requested to investigate how large sums of Section 106 funding allocated to Hitchin was spent on the Hitchin Town Hall and District Museum and report the findings to all Members of this Committee.

.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)       To ensure that there is a robust system for negotiating and managing Section 106 Obligations and Unilateral Undertakings, that records activity for each financial year and is placed in the public domain.

(2)       To ensure that the process is kept under constant review and Member scrutiny and that the risk associated with this activity is managed in an appropriate manner.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 18 June 2019 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.

RESOLVED: That the following be discussed at future meetings of this Committee:

3 December 2019:

·                The Former Hitchin Museum building;

·                The Dell.

10 March 2020:

·                Air Quality.

To be scheduled for future meetings:

·                Parking Strategy.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To keep the Hitchin Committee apprised of issues affecting the Hitchin area.

Members gave updates on the following issues:

·                King George V Playing Fields – Councillor Simon Harwood.

Mr Tom Hardy, Hitchin BID Manager, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding the issues and activities in Hitchin Town Centre.

(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;

(4)       The Chairman welcomed Matthew Hepburn, Committee, Member and Scrutiny Officer, who was a new member of the Committee Team.

(5)       The Chairman advised that he was amending the order of items on the agenda as follows:

(i)         Item 6 - Hitchin BID Manager would be taken before Item 6 -  Public Participation, as he had another appointment to attend;

(ii)        Item 11 - Grants and Community Update would be taken immediately following Item 6 - Public Participation.

There was no other business notified.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 5 March 2019 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Paul Clark, Sam Collins and Martin Stears-Handscomb.

Ms Nicky Clark, North Herts and Stevenage Climate Action Group thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Panel.

The Chairman thanked Ms Clark for her presentation.

Mr John Webb, Herts Without Waste, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Panel

NB Mr Webb also provided a written submission.

The Chairman thanked Mr Webb for his presentation.

Ms Julia Sonander , Plastic Free Letchworth and Ms Anni Sander, Plastic Free Hitchin,  thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Panel

The Chairman thanked Ms Sonander and Ms Sander for their presentation.

Ms Rak Dimmock, Climate Action Group, thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Panel.

The Chairman thanked Ms Dimmock for her presentation.

Ms Suzi Holding, Best Before Café  and Ms Emma Goulding, Hitchin Food Rescue thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Panel.

The Chairman thanked Ms Holding and Ms Goulding for their presentation.