An apology for absence was received from Councillor S. Boulton.

To note any substitution of Panel Members in accordance with Council Procedure Rules.

The following substitution of Panel Member had been made in accordance with the Council Procedure Rules:-

Councillor T. Mitchinson for S. Boulton.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 August 2019 (previously circulated).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 1 August 2019 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.

Councillor P. Zukowskyj declared a non-pecuniary interest in items on the agenda as appropriate by virtue of being a Member of Hertfordshire County Council.

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.

The following question was received and the Chairman responded:

Question from Cathy Roe

If the Aldykes and ‘Trees’ area and Woods Avenue in Hatfield becomes a residents’ parking permit zone, which will inevitably cause even more vehicles (especially vehicles of university students) to be parked in the ‘Birds’ neighbourhood of Hatfield and will exacerbate and already dire parking situation here, what measures will the Council take to alleviate the problems that will be caused by even more non-residents that at present parking in the ‘Birds neighbourhood and will the ‘Birds’ neighbourhood be consulted urgently on becoming also a residents’ parking permit zone?

Answer

The Council receives many requests from residents and businesses demanding measures or changes to their parking restrictions.  The Council manages this demand through an approved parking work programme, this programme is reviewed and agreed by Councillors.  Regrettably, not all requests for changes to the parking restrictions can be placed on the work programme.

When projects are completed, this request along with others the Council has received, will be considered by this Panel for inclusion to the Parking Services Work Programme.

Report of the Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on the redevelopment of Hatfield Town Centre, including proposals to construct a new multi-storey car in The Common car park. The redevelopment is likely to cause a degree of parking displacement during and after the construction of the new car park.

Members considered the report of the Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on the introduction of waiting restrictions in various roads, French Horn Lane, East Ward, Hatfield.  It was noted that work would commence within the next year on the redevelopment of Hatfield Town Centre, including proposals to construct a new multi-storey car park in the ‘The Common’ car park.  It will cause a degree of parking displacement during the construction of the new car park.  Residents and businesses in the roads surrounding the town centre were being consulted on parking restrictions to minimise the effect of any displacement.  The consultation area of ‘French Horn Lane’ initially covered 23 roads to the south and east of the town centre.  The consultation area was later expanded to include Oakland’s Wood and St Albans Road East.

The report noted that in January 2018 the Council had sent out the first round of consultation letters setting out the scope of the consultation.  Options in the survey form for new restrictions included double yellow lines and permit parking zones.  The letter included a proposal to create a Verge Protection Order to prevent parking on grass verges and pavements. 

Some roads returned low number of responses, less than 20%.  These roads were given a second chance to respond in May 2018.  Residents did have the option to ‘Do nothing’ to indicate that no changes were required. The French Horn Lane Area was subsequently divided into five separate areas for further consultation and detailed parking designs.

Areas 1 and 2 have now been completed, with the implementation of new waiting restrictions together with the creation of a new resident permit parking area, Zone B15 and the expansion of existing Zone B02.  The remainder of the report related to the remaining areas 3, 4 and 5 in the French Horn Lane project. Also, this report included measures to address displacement parking which has occurred since the changes to the parking restrictions in Lemsford Road.

The result of the informal consultation, the statutory consultation and the recommended course of action was set out within the report.  One objection had been received which related to the proposed parking restrictions in Area 4 – these were set out in Appendix A attached to the report.  Members asked how many complaints had been received but an exact figure was not available.

Members sought clarification on the measures taken to address an area which has seen parking migrating from a recently created restricted zone to the opposite side.  It was clarified that as the area in question was within the zone that has been monitored for six months and part of the original planned work; work had taken place immediately to address the situation.

Attention was also drawn to the ‘Birds’ area and when this zone would be addressed to alleviate the parking problems.  Officers explained that this area will be considered and placed on the work programme once other works have been completed but unfortunately it is outside the current  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

Report of the Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on the proposed installation of double yellow lines as a safety measure on junctions to prevent dangerous and obstructive parking and a verge and footway prohibition to address parking on footways and verges.

It was agreed to defer this item for further consideration and report back.

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 570 businesses and residents have been consulted directly. Twelve objections have been received and shown within this report.

It was agreed to defer this item for further consideration and report back.

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance), which provide an update on the examination of the Local Plan, the submission of further evidence and the examination programme.

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance), which provided an update on the examination of the Local Plan, the submission of further evidence and the examination programme.  The Inspector wrote to the Council in August expressing concern at the delay of the Local Plan programme and asking for the immediate publication of outstanding work.  The Head of Planning had written to the Inspector setting a revised programme for submitting further evidence to the examination.  (Attached as Appendix A). 

Members were reminded that on 7 March 2019 this Panel had agreed a work programme for progressing the Local Plan.  This followed a call-for-sites exercise which took place between 7 January and 4 February 2019. Six week public consultation on these sites took place between May and June which this had resulted in over 10,000 responses. The unusually large number of responses had resulted in a delay to the programme.

Since the publication of the report the Head of Planning had received a letter from the Inspector; a copy which will be circulated to Panel Members and published on the website suggesting that Members may wish to carry out further consultation. Members were advised that with the General Election on 12 December and the purdah period; these would have an impact on the proposed timescales.  Also the Head of Planning would be consulting with the Executive Member for Planning and the Programme Officer before responding to the Inspector’s letter.

Members were advised of the results of the consultation on housing and job numbers and a potential change to the plan period. Officers advised that there would be debate at the examination on the issues raised. Officers advised that at the hearing session they would advocate a change to the plan period from 2013-32 to 2016-35 but if there was a delay to the examination programme this may result in the need for the plan period to run to 2036.

Clarification was sought on the comments made by the Inspector in terms of the Council considering using a ‘Green Wedge’ policy designation to provide protection to the open breaks between settlement rather than relying on a Green Belt policy.  A Member asked for clarification on the status of the interim Green Gap Policy approach and how it could be incorporated into the Local Plan. Officers advised that the Green Gap policy document was intended to be a Supplementary Planning Document which would need to relate to a policy in the Local Plan and would be finalised once the Local Plan was adopted.

The report set out that there were no climate change considerations associated with the report. Officers clarified that this related to consideration of the report itself whilst proposals for development in the Local Plan clearly would have climate change impacts. These impacts would be assessed in the Sustainability Appraisal whilst the Plan itself has policies which mitigate that impact.

The Officer reported evidence had been forwarded to the examination on the Landscape Sensitivity and the Green Gap Study.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

Report of the Corporate Director (Public, Protection, Planning and Governance) which sets out details of the sites included in the Council’s 2019 Brownfield Land Register. No sites have been included on Part 2 of the Register again this year, meaning that ‘Permission in Principle’ has not been granted for any proposals on any site.

Members considered the report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the 2019 Brownfield Land Register (BLR).  It was noted that in early 2017 the government introduced new legislation which required planning authorities to prepare and maintain a Brownfield Land Register.  The first register was published in December 2017 for this Council.  The Register is reviewed once a year.  The report set out details of the sites included in the Council’s 2019 Brownfield Land Register.  No sites had been included on Part 2 of the Register again this year, meaning that ‘Permission in Principle’ has not been granted for any proposals on any site.

Officers clarified that sites promoted through the Call for Sites 2019 which are found suitable through the HELAA process and meet the criteria for inclusion on the BLR would be included on the Register next year.  The reason for not including them on the Register this year is that the process is still on-going.  It was explained that sites identified in the BLR can count towards the five year land supply.  There are currently 60 sites suitable for inclusion on the BLR with a total dwelling capacity of 3,234.  It was noted that sites were only included where some or all of the dwelling on a site had not yet been completed.  Sites which are fully developed do not appear on the Register.  This compared with a dwelling capacity of 2,758 across 63 sites in 2018 on the BLR. 

RESOLVED

That the Panel notes the quantum of sites and dwelling capacity on the 2019 Brownfield Land Register and that the Register will now be published on the Council’s website.

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the agreed response sent to Hertfordshire LEP on 13 October 2019. The report is presented for information.

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (Herts LEP) Local Industrial Strategy draft for consultation.  Hertfordshire LEP have been tasked to drive growth and the creation of jobs and have been asked by Government to prepare a Local Industrial Strategy to help deliver national ambitions to improve productivity and tackle future challenges.  This report summarised the content of the draft strategy and set out the Council’s proposed response. The report was presented to Cabinet on 8 October 2019 and the agreed response was sent to Herts LEP on 13 October 2019 and the report was presented to the Panel for information.

RESOLVED

1.    That Members note the contents of the strategy and offer comments.

2.    That Members authorise the Head of Planning in consultation with Corporate Director and the Executive Member for Planning and Executive Member for Business to respond to the consultation.