Agenda for Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel on Thursday 2nd July 2020, 7.30 pm

Agenda and minutes

Contact: Gurdip Paddan 

Media

Items
No. Item

71.

MINUTES

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 June 2020 (previously circulated).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 4 June 2020 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

72.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS BY MEMBERS

To note declarations of Members’ disclosable pecuniary interests, non-disclosable pecuniary interests and non-pecuniary interests in respect of items on this Agenda.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillors S. Boulton and P. Zukowskyj declared a non-pecuniary interest in items on the agenda as appropriate by virtue of being Members of Hertfordshire County Council.

 

73.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME AND PETITIONS

Up to thirty minutes will be made available for questions from members of the public on issues relating to the work of the Committee and to receive any petitions.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The following question were received and the Chairman responded:

 

On behalf of the North Mymms District Green Belt Society, I wish to submit the following question to the CPPP.

"What steps will the Council take to review the OAN in the Local Plan given that the figure of 16000 dwellings is totally unrealistic in the light of the economic damage to the country being caused by the Covid-19 pandemic?”

Further to my question to the CPPP I should like to like add the following rider:

 

"In reporting to the previous meeting of the CPPP, Head of Planning Colin Haigh said that the council intended to instruct its consultants to review the OAN in the light of new population and household projection figures published by the ONS. He also said that they would be asked to look the possibility of impact on the OAN of the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, will the Committee confirm that this review will also include a detailed reassessment of the economic assumptions of growth and development for the Borough over the Plan period and confirm that these assumptions are realistic and sensible in the changed economic circumstances of the country post covid."

 

 

Council’s Response

 

“Our consultants, Turleys, have been asked to consider the implications of the recently published 2018 household projections, as well as the possible impacts of Covid-19 and Brexit, on the Objective Assessment of Housing Need (OAN).

 

As part of this consideration will also be given to different migration trends which are influenced by economic growth.  The methodology for calculating the OAN is set out in National Planning Practice Guidance on Housing and Economic Development Needs published in 2015.  It will also need to consider the extent to which household formation will continue to be constrained, as well as the affordability of housing, but economic forecasts do not feature in the methodology.

 

At the December 2019 hearing sessions a change in approach to forecasting the need for employment land was debated.  This looked at the needs arising from a growth in the economically active population.  This resulted in a lower figure than the economic forecasts which in any event can no longer be met because of the scale of the loss of employment land over the last few years.  The Council will therefore need to review whether there are likely to be any significant changes in the size of the economically active population and any impacts that has on the need for employment land.

 

Economic forecasts are not required for the calculation of the OAN or the need for employment land and no decision has yet been made on whether these should be updated.

A point of clarification was sought in respect of the data from our consultants, Turleys being shared with the Panel.  The Head of Planning advised that he did not know when that work would be completed, but would enquire and aim to report back to the Panel on 30 July 2020 if  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

74.

INTRODUCTION OF WAITING RESTRICTIONS AND VERGE AND FOOTWAY PROHIBITION IN VARIOUS ROADS, SALISBURY VILLAGE, HATFIELD pdf icon PDF 128 KB

Report of the Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on the introduction of waiting restrictions and verge and footway prohibition in various road, Salisbury village, Hatfield.  It sets out the results of the informal consultation.

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered the report of the Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on the introduction of waiting restrictions and verge and footway prohibition in various roads, Salisbury Village, Hatfield and noted that Salisbury Village is a predominantly residential area encircled by the Ellenbrook Fields sport and leisure area, the University of Hertfordshire de Havilland Campus and the Hatfield Business Park. Salisbury Village contains 355 known, confirmed Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and student accommodation properties.  The exact number could be higher, due to the high-turnover of its partially transient population.

 

Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) is currently working on plans to adopt the highway in this area. Presently, there are some parking controls within some roads, however, once the highway is adopted, all private parking restrictions on public highways would cease immediately. This will include all permit schemes or yellow lines that currently sit within Salisbury Village.

There was a drop-in surgery held at the Howe Dell Community Hall.  The turnout for the event was good in comparison to other drop-in sessions the Council has held in Hatfield, with at least 12 varied requests arising.  There were several comments and requests relating to the current restrictions, which are operational 24/7 and why this cannot be considered. The Council’s parking enforcement contract covers the period Monday – Saturday 8am-6pm with three days of later finishes of 7pm and Sundays 10am-5pm. Therefore, we would not be able to accommodate this request.

In March 2020, parking survey forms along with a covering letter and a self-addressed envelope (SAE) were sent to all properties within the Salisbury Village area (Appendix A). The survey was also available online using Survey Monkey. Residents were offered several options such as a resident permit scheme, single yellow line or nothing. Junction protection in the form of double yellow lines and a verge protection order (VPO) was also consulted on. Due to a low response rate, both online and postal returns, the survey was sent again with a covering letter encouraging residents to complete the form and return it in the SAE (Appendix B). The online survey was also available.  Each survey was accompanied by the relevant maps. As is standard practice all documents posted to residents are available on the WHBC website.

 

The report set out the results of the informal consultation. A total of 1515 properties and all landlords of properties had been consulted. Of which, 355 properties are listed and registered as being HMOs and/or occupied by students.

Members debated the following:

·         Parking around the school area, especially during drop off and pick up times.  Would it be possible to allocate a period whereby enforcement could be relaxed for approximately 45 minutes to an hour for parents at the start of the day and at the end of school day?  It was clarified that this may not be possible.  The Officers explained that they have consulted with the school and had no response. However, the Council will again contact and work  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.