Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 12th December 2017.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 12th December 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary and other interests in relation to any Agenda item.

No declarations of interest were received.

A copy of the current Notice of Key Executive Decisions is attached. Members are invited to note the Plan and to comment as appropriate on any items contained therein.

The Panel received and noted the current Notice of Key Executive Decisions (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which has been prepared by the Executive Leader for the period 1st January 2018 to 30th April 2018.

Members were informed that, due to events, the Memorandum of Understanding with the Local Enterprise Partnership has been removed from the Notice of Key Executive Decisions.

The Panel are to receive a Civil Parking Enforcement Overview Presentation.

Mr Peter Lowe, R.T.A. Associates, was in attendance to give the Panel an overview presentation on Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE). Before beginning the presentation Mr Lowe informed Members of his background and experience in the area of CPE.

The Panel was informed of the legislation underpinning CPE. Specifically, that Road Traffic Act 1991 and the Traffic Management Act 2004 gives local authorities to power to enforce parking contraventions.

When informing Members of the benefits of CPE, Mr Lowe stated that: the revenue of the Penalty Charge Notice go to the Local Authority, as opposed to a Police Fixed Penalty Notice which goes to central government; the Council decides the enforcement required and applied; new traffic management schemes, such as resident parking schemes, can be introduced and enforced; and CPE provides encouragement for motorists to use car parks.

Members were informed of the disadvantages including: there is no going back once CPE is introduced; there is an increased workload for the Council with increased expectations on service provision and CPE is not a major revenue earner.

Mr Lowe also informed Members of: the national position, background issues, the steps to implementation, service delivery options, charging for parking and the way forward.

The Chairman reminded Members of the background CPE has at Huntingdonshire District Council, including that the Council had considered taking on CPE in 2015 but at the time the Cabinet did not support adopting it.

A Member asked could a Parish or Town Council take on CPE if the District Council does not. In response, Members were informed that the County Council would have to submit an application, for CPE, to the Government on behalf of the District Council to cover every Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) within the boundary of Huntingdonshire. If the District Council does not take on CPE then Parish and Town Councils cannot bypass the District and enforce themselves. If the District Council does take on CPE, then Parish or Town Councils have the option to purchase additional resources from the District to specifically enforce TROs within their Parish or Town.

Following a question, in regards to which authority has to pay for the painting and maintenance of lines, the Panel was informed that the responsibility lies with the County Council. Although, the District, Parish or Town Councils can fund the painting of and maintenance of lines. In addition, it was clarified that the Highways Authority doesn’t have to paint lines and erect sign and that this could be done by the District, Parish or Town Council so long as the County Council agrees and completes the administration.

A concern was raised that CPE would be expensive to set up and run, in response Members were informed that there is a feasibility study which the Strategic Review of Car Parking Task and Finish Group will review before a recommendation is made from the Group to Cabinet. It was reiterated that the recommendation would be seen by Overview and Scrutiny before it was presented to Cabinet.

Another Member  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

The Houghton and Wyton Neighbourhood Plan will be presented to the Panel.

With the aid of a report by the Senior Planning Policy Officer (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Houghton and Wyton Neighbourhood Plan was presented to the Panel.

The Senior Planning Policy Officer introduced the report to Members and in doing so stated that the Neighbourhood Plan meets the basic requirements and should proceed to referendum. In addition, the Houghton and Wyton Parish Councillors are content for the Neighbourhood Plan to proceed to referendum.

Members were informed that the statutory requirement before the referendum is held is a 28 working days’ notice. In addition there is a requirement that the referendum is held within 56 working days of the decision that the Neighbourhood Plan should proceed to referendum.

In response to a question regarding the amendments, the Panel was informed that the first examiner suggested amendments to the Neighbourhood Plan, these amendments were made and reviewed by the second examiner. The second examiner decided that the modified plan had met the minimum requirements.

The Panel recommends to Cabinet that the Neighbourhood Plan progresses to referendum.

(At 7.56pm, during the consideration of this item, Councillor Mrs P A Jordan left the meeting and did not return.)

(At 8.00pm, during the consideration of this item, Councillor M F Shellens left the meeting and did not return.)

Members are to receive the work programmes for all Overview and Scrutiny Panels.

With the aid of a report by the Democratic Services Officer (Scrutiny) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Panel reviewed the work programmes for all Overview and Scrutiny Panels since the last meeting.

In response to a question regarding the collapse of Carillion, the Panel was informed this only affects the Council in respect to the works on the A14 upgrade, where Carillion has a contract in conjunction with Skanska.