Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Joan King and Jonathon Solomons.

The minutes of the former meeting of the Infrastructure, Housing and Economic Development Committee held on 21 March 2023 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

Items of other business notified under Council Procedure Rule 30 to be announced, together with the special circumstances that justify their consideration as a matter of urgency. The Chair to rule on the admission of such items.

There were no items of other business.

The Committee are asked to receive a petition which requests the extension of double yellow lines at the entry to Silk Mill Road (on the junction with Eastbury Road), all the way to the junction with Brookside Road.

Residents are requesting these parking restrictions due to the lack of visibility when entering Silk Mill Road. This section attracts the parking of vans, trucks (parked in a private capacity), as well as cars. The majority of the vehicles parked here belong to the residents of the neighbourhood tower block (formerly The Happy Hour Pub), which falls within the Watford Council boundary.

Residents fear the unauthorised parking of cars and vans is an accident waiting to happen, as drivers can’t see what is coming on the other side, and at what speed. Residents would also like to request a consultation for permit parking for the rest of Silk Mill Road. In addition to the parking issues above, there is an increase in the number of cars being parked by people using the nearby Bushey Station, and dumping of cars by football fans watching the football at Vicarage Road Stadium on match days, who are at times parking dangerously on road turnings, causing visibility issues, resulting in near misses, and in some cases, accidents).

Residents therefore, primarily on safety grounds, request consideration of their petition and swift action from the Council and relevant authorities in this matter.

The Committee received a petition which requests the extension of double yellow lines at the entry to Silk Mill Road (on the junction with Eastbury Road), all the way to the junction with Brookside Road.

RESOLVED:

That the petition be received, and a letter of acknowledgement be sent to the Lead Petitioner.

This report covers this committee’s financial position over the medium term(2023-2026) as at Period 4 (end of July).

Recommendation

That Members note and comment on the contents of the report.

This report covers this committee’s financial position over the medium term (2023-2026) as at Period 4 (end of July).

A Member asked if we were getting the best deal from the contractors.

Officers advised that some of the contract figures were delivered late so cost unknown, but another report will be presented at committee in January 2024.

The Chair advised that fuel costs have risen, and the budget reflects this.

RESOLVED:

Recommendation

Members noted the report and voted 6 agree and 2 abstentions.

This report enables the Committee to comment on its draft service plans as part of Strategic, Service and Financial Planning for 2024-2027.

Recommendation

That the Committee comment on the draft service plans attached at Appendix 1 and for recommendation to Council.

That public access to the report be immediate.

That public access to the decision be immediate.

This report enables the Committee to comment on its draft service plans as part of the Strategic, Service and Financial Planning for 2024-2027.

Service Plan - Housing and Residential Services 2024-2027 DRAFT

A member asked for the number of people homeless register and the number on the housing register and what is the plan as old plan out of date and the timings.

Officers responded that as of today there are 1366 live applications on the housing register and 204 live homeless applications, (127 allocated) (34 to sign off) (43 main duty accepted)

A Housing Homelessness and rough sleeping strategy 2023-2028 a draft report will be going to Policy and Resources committee on 13 November then will go out to consultation if approved.

A Member asked for an update on the strategy but is happy to wait until Januarys committee for the update.

A member asked if page 5 New target HN11 where is the benchmark with other Local Authorities and is the percentage the same. 

Officer said they would respond to this question with a written response.

Service Plan - Regulatory Services 2024-2027 DRAFT

It is noted that on page 5 Parking that the LCWIP will be delayed until next year.

Officer advised that the GIS page 6 a growth bid is in and will be updated once this comes in.     

Head of Service confirmed the KPIs reflected national performance indicators but that the department regularly exceeded these national indicators.

Head of Service confirmed we were still recruiting for a Senior Transport Planner.

Service Plan - Strategy Partnerships 2024-2027 DRAFT

Members are asked to comment on only the core function of Community Partnerships and Health of the report.

Service Plan - Waste and Environmental Protection 2024-2027 JLT DRAFT

The Officer advised that a lot of the actions of the draft will be determined by National Policy which has been delayed and once we have the details it will be updated.

EP18 / EP 11 will be updated as figures are incorrect.

Service Plan - Planning Policy and Conservation 2024-2027 DRAFT

Members raised concerns that the Conservation areas have not been updated in the last 30 years.

Members raised concerns that some Conservation Area Appraisals have not been updated in the last 30 years.

Officers are aware of these concerns. The Conservation advice service has been outsourced and this work would need to be outsourced too. Priority for the team has been to progress the Local Plan. The concerns will be put to the Head of Planning Policy for comment.

RESOLVED: 

Committee commented and agreed on the draft service plans attached subject to amendments.

To receive the committee’s work programme.

Members asked for a meeting to make a recommendation to Item 1 Rickmansworth High Street closure, for the meeting to be changed from January.

The Chair asked to make a recommendation to the programme and have another meeting with members before County decide.

Members asked for a report on the Conservations Area Appraisals.

Officers will discuss and bring to the work programme.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee notes the items included in the work programme, subject to any amendments agreed at the meeting.

Items of other business notified under Council Procedure Rule 30 to be announced, together with the special circumstances that justify their consideration as a matter of urgency. The Chair to rule on the admission of such items.

There were no items of other business.