To note any substitution of Committee Members in accordance with Council Procedure Rules 19 – 22.

The following substitutions of Panel members had been made in accordance with Council Procedure Rules 19-22:-

Councillor H. Bromley for S. Kasumu

Councillor M. Cowan for A. Rohale

Councillor M. Larkins for A. Chesterman

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A. Chesterman,    S. Kasumu and A. Rohale.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2018 (previously circulated).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

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.

Up to fifteen 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.

The following questions were received and the Chairman responded as below:

Question One – Mrs Pat Petterson, 4 Parkway Close

The proposed parking changes remove 8 to 10 parking spaces (crossovers/hard standings) from AO3. How will this increase parking capacity, particularly for residents in the cul-de-sac? "

Council’s Response

This mitigated by the proposal to merge A03 and part of A04 into one scheme and by further restricting zone A04 to remove all non-resident parking during the day this will benefit the residents of zone A03 by increasing the opportunity to find parking as their pool of parking spaces will grow from 16 to 48

Question Two - Denise Slark, 10 Parkway Close

“Regarding the proposed A03 parking scheme changes, when the initial letter was sent out asking if residents wanted to change the scheme they were asked to express a view around (a) 'do nothing and leave things as they are', (b) 'I am in favour of the proposed changes', or (c) ' I agree with the proposed verge and footway prohibition' (3rd May 2017). It was not until 9th June 2018 (after the responses were submitted) that parking services clarified that verge protection covers the parking on crossovers and that residents were able to fully understand that the question implied the removal of parking capacity. Why was it not made clear to residents from the outset that verge protection encompasses stopping of parking on crossovers/hardstandings?”

Council’s Response

In response to the Council’s initial letter, some residents asked for clarity on what areas the Verge Protection Order would include. Therefore, when the letter with the results of the initial survey was sent to residents, more detail was included:

“This proposal is an extension of the practice recently adopted in Longcroft Lane and surrounding roads. Residents should note that a verge protection order extends from hedgerow to hedgerow and includes vehicle crossovers in addition to footways and grassed verges”

Residents were invited to comment further on these proposals with this in mind.

Question Three – Carole Bloom, 78 Parkway

Are Councillors aware of the support being provided to the residents of the Parkway Close scheme (A03) by Grant Shapps MP, and have they been given the opportunity to review the letter he wrote to Councillor Stephen Boulton that he requested be circulated to all Panel members?

Council’s Response

The letter received by Grant Shapps MP was circulated to all Panel members in advance of the meeting.

Question Four – Question Two – Susan Busse, 11 Parkway Close

Regarding the proposed parking scheme changes, how will the rights and needs of the disabled and elderly residents who currently park on the concrete crossovers/hardstandings be protected with the proposed single advisory disabled parking space and existing cobbled parking island which is unsuitable for wheelchairs and crutches?

Councils Response

The Council would consider any specific requirements from residents and try and find a solution. When the Council were notified by a particular resident concerning their disability, provision was then made for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

Report of the Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services), which sets out the results of the informal consultation, the statutory consultation and the recommended course of action. A total of 258 properties and businesses have been consulted.

The Chairman announced that there had been a number of late representations made which the Panel have not been able to give due consideration to and that on this occasion the information circulated/presented at the meeting would be taken into account but reiterated that this was not good practise. 

The recommendation in the published report was:

That the Panel consider the objections received in 4.1, 4.3, 4.5 and 4.7; in particular the issues raised in Section 12 around equalities and diversity. Having considered all the detailed issues in this report including any proposed mitigating actions; recommends to Cabinet to proceed with the creation of both the Orders as advertised (Appendix B), for the reasons set out in this report.

Due to the late representations received relating to The Borough of Welwyn Hatfield (Various Roads, Handside, Welwyn Garden City) (Prohibition of Stopping and Waiting on Verge or Footway) Order 2017, the recommendation was split into two parts

1.    That the Panel consider the objections received relating to The Borough of Welwyn Hatfield (Various Roads, Handside, Welwyn Garden City) (Prohibition of Stopping and Waiting on Verge or Footway) Order 2017  which are located in 4.1, 4.3, 4.5 and 4.7; in particular the issues raised in Section 12 around equalities and diversity. Having considered all the detailed issues in this report including any proposed mitigating actions; recommends to Cabinet to proceed with the creation of this Order as advertised (Appendix B), for the reasons set out in this report.

2.    That the Panel consider the objections received relating to The Borough of Welwyn Hatfield (Various Roads, Welwyn Garden City) (Restriction of Waiting and Permit Parking Zones) Order 2017 which are located in 4.1, 4.3, 4.5 and 4.7; in particular the issues raised in Section 12 around equalities and diversity. Having considered all the detailed issues in this report including any proposed mitigating actions; recommends to Cabinet to proceed with the creation of this Order as advertised (Appendix B), for the reasons set out in this report.

Members considered the report of the Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on the review of waiting restrictions and introduction of verge protection order in various roads, Handside Ward in Welwyn Garden City (WGC). The Panel was advised that the first recommendation relating to the Verge Protection Order would not be dealt with at this meeting, as further consideration was required and this would be deferred to a future meeting.

Members considered the second recommendation relating to the resident parking permit areas and sections of double yellow lines. The report noted that residents and businesses in parts of Parkway, WGC and surrounding roads were consulted about proposals based upon the findings of a general parking survey in 2015.  As well as a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for waiting restrictions devised from the recent parking consultation. 

Parkway, due to its length and varying characteristics was divided into four separate sections; A, B, C and D. In addition to these areas, separate consultations also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.