Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Sarah Nelmes, Kevin Raeburn and Joan King, substitutes being Councillors Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Elinor Gazzard and Stephen Cox.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the General Public Services, Community Safety & Infrastructure Committee held on 15 October 2024.

RESOLVED: The minutes of the General Public Services, Community Safety & Infrastructure committee held on 15 October 2024 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair of the meeting.

The amended minutes of the General Public Services, Community Safety & Infrastructure committee held on 23 July 2024 were also confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair of 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.

To receive any declarations of interest.

Councillor Narinder Sian declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 5 by virtue of being a Governor of Breakspear school on Gallows Hill Lane.

Councillors Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Andrew Scarth and Louise Price declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 7 by virtue of owning, or having the use of, an electric vehicle.

The Committee is asked to receive a petition which requests a review of the issue of parked cars at the top of Kindersley Way and the top northern side of Gallows Hill Lane to manage parking demands in the area.  The petition has been signed by 41 residents.

“We, the undersigned, petition Three Rivers District Council to review the issue of parked cars at the top of Kindersley Way and the top northern side of Gallows Hill Lane to manage parking demands in the area.  The issue of cars parking in this area arose when new parking charges were introduced in the Manor House Gardens Car Park which incentivized vehicle owners to find parking on nearby residential roads.  This resulted in access issues for residents at the top of Gallows Hill Lane.  It has also created visibility issues at the top of Kindersley Way and reduced the flow of vehicle movements.  In particular, residents request a stretch of double yellow lines between the top of Kindersley Way and 108 Kindersley Way to create a passing place for vehicles.”

Mr. Cowderoy, the Lead petitioner presented the petition which requests a review of the issue of parked cars at the top of Kindersley Way and the top northern side of Gallows Hill Lane to manage parking demands in the area.

As the Lead Member, Councillor Sarah Nelmes was not present at the meeting, Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst responded to the petitioner, assuring him that officers will investigate the matter and will discuss with all Ward Members what scheme may come forward as a result of the petition.

RESOLVED:

The committee noted the petition.

The District Council as the statutory Local Parking Authority (and as agent to the local Highway Authority, Hertfordshire County Council) manages the provision of on- and off-street parking in the Three Rivers District through the Parking Management Programme.

Three Rivers District Council has a specific role in creating parking schemes which help manage parking demand. Hertfordshire County Council is responsible for maintaining and managing public roads as the local Highway Authority and is responsible for parking schemes to address road danger and traffic flow.

This report reviews the success of the programme and proposes additions to the programme for the financial years 2025/26.

Recommendation

That:

i)          Members note the report and approve the proposed additions, as detailed in 4.7 of this report, to the Parking Management Programme;

ii)        Officers continue to develop the Parking Management Programme as outlined in this report for 24 months before bringing the next report in 2027, unless an interim report is required as outlined in 4.5;

iii)       Once the programme has been set it shall be adhered to as the current Parking Management Programme, with any significant additions being limited to exceptions to the prioritisation procedure requested by the Lead Member, to be delegated to the Director of Finance;

iv)       The programme will be progressed in line with all relevant current practice, policy and standards; and that decisions on scheme details and programme, including the consideration of objections to Traffic Regulation Orders developed through this programme of works and to any items remaining from earlier programmes of works, be delegated to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Lead Member and relevant Ward Councillors.

The Sustainable Transport Officer introduced the report and listed the 11 additions that officers were proposing to the parking management programme.

Members raised concerns regarding the governance and management of the new parking schemes being introduced. While in support of the 11 schemes, they highlighted a misidentification of issues at the Ferry car park, clarifying that commuter traffic is not the problem, as commuters are currently prohibited from using it. Instead, the pressure is on nearby residential roads. They emphasised the need for more frequent reviews of the schemes, suggesting that an interim report should be mandated within a year, instead of two years. This would ensure better oversight and responsiveness to community needs, particularly for schemes like the Rickmansworth West scheme, that have drawn significant public feedback. They advocated for quicker progression of certain schemes, urging amendments to the recommendations for timely evaluations. Officers acknowledged the concerns raised by Members and emphasised their awareness of the challenges and the community’s concerns. Following the discussion, Councillor Oliver Cooper proposed an amendment to paragraph ii. of the recommendation to state that an interim progress report will be put forward to the committee to note in 2026.

Members also raised concerns about digital exclusions among seniors and questions whether the Council is addressing these issues. Additionally, they enquired about any carbon impact assessment related to the parking schemes. Officers clarified that the app-based parking solution will be an additional option rather than a replacement for existing payment methods

The functionality of the parking meters at the Ferry car park were raised, particularly, in light of the nearby library’s impact on parking demand. Members highlighted that the parking meter was out of use recently and questioned how such issues are reported to the Council, emphasising the potential loss of revenue. Officers responded by explaining that there is a form available online for reporting broken meters, and acknowledged recent widespread issues with meters. They clarified that there are currently no parking restrictions in the Ferry car park, which is why the meter was covered and appeared out of use. Officers also indicated that a traffic regulation order (TRO) would be necessary for a meter to be installed if parking restrictions were implemented.

Members revisited the points made earlier of the importance of clarifying the wording in paragraph 4.5 of the report regarding the timeline for reports. They emphasised again the need for an interim report in 2026, prior to the scheduled report in 2027, suggesting that this would provide insight into progress over the 24 month programme.

Members also expressed concerns regarding the rapid developments and resident feedback, seeking clarity on how quickly adjustments can be made, specifically in relation to the Rickmansworth West scheme. Officers responded by highlighting the complexities involved, noting that the timeline for changes will depend on the scale of issues identified during the review. They emphasised that if significant changes are necessary, it could involve a lengthy statutory consultation process.

The committee briefly touched on the scheme listed under  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

Officers have been exploring opportunities to install Electric Vehicle Charge Points (EVCP) in council owned car parks using external government grants and/or Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding and a decision was made at the General Public Services and Economic Development Committee in March 2024 to progress a scheme.  The Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy sits alongside and develops these proposals further for the provision of a publicly available electric vehicle charging network and details the Council’s future rollout of EV charging infrastructure.

This report provides an update on the development of the Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy including the key findings from the public consultation on the draft Strategy and proposes a final Strategy for adoption.

Recommendation

That:

i)        Members agree the Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy for adoption; and

ii)       Members agree that the Strategy is progressed to Policy and Resources Committee and Full Council for final adoption.

The Sustainable Transport Officer introduced the report.

Members raised concerns regarding the On-street Residential Charge point Scheme (ORCS), emphasising the importance of meeting the 1 March deadline for project completion to secure the funding from Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). Officers reassured the committee that they are working diligently with the operator to meet the deadline, and had received positive feedback from officers at the Energy Saving Trust representing the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles regarding project timelines. Officers also advised that certain sites funded through different allocations will be deprioritised to ensure ORCS funded sites are completed on time.

In response to questions raised regarding on-street charging solutions related to the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) project, officers highlighted various options for charging operators and enforcement mechanisms, such as the use of sensors to monitor vehicle occupancy at charging stations. Officers acknowledged the challenges of ensuring that electric vehicle charging spaces are respected by users and highlighted recent regulations that mandate charging operators to provide helplines for technical support and ensure a certain uptime for the chargers. They also noted the collaborative efforts with charging operators to maintain the functionality of the charging points and the financial incentives for operators to maximise usage. In addition, officers expressed confidence in the reliability of the current charging infrastructure, particularly, with the involvement of Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) in establishing Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for future developments. Furthermore, officers explained the terminology and concepts related to risk assessment; focusing on the terms ‘tolerate’, ‘treat’, ‘terminate’ and ‘transfer’. They emphasised that the current risk rating is very low, which allows for a tolerance of that risk level, due to existing control measures.

Members raised concerns about the costs associated with charging and the quality of service, emphasising the need for a balance approach that accommodates both EV users and non-EV users. Officers in response advised of the potential for dual-use charging bays, particularly for slower charging options, and highlighted the importance of managing parking pressure in high demand areas.

In discussion Members also raised concerns regarding the disparities in funding received by different local authorities for EV infrastructure, specifically noting that the Council received significantly less funding compared to other local authorities’ funding. Furthermore, Members expressed concern about the late and minimal bid submitted by the Council, which resulted in the reduced funding received and the greater financial burden on the Council. However, some Members argued that while other local authorities received funding for on-street charging points, the Council was unable to secure similar dispensation. In addition, the government’s changing guidelines on funding bids have complicated the process. They highlighted reliance on expert advice for navigating these challenges, and noted that despite difficulties, the Council had allocated CIL funds to enhance the charging infrastructure.

Councillor Louise Price moved the recommendation that:

i)        Members agree the Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy for adoption; and

ii)       Members agree that the Strategy is progressed to Policy and Resources Committee and Full Council for final adoption.

On  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

This report updates Members on the new powers conveyed by The Animals (Penalty Notices) (England) Regulations 2023 and the accompanying Statutory Guidance which officers must consider when using these powers and seeks authority from Members to consider and as appropriate make use of fixed penalty notices.

Recommendation

That:

i)        the Committee agrees delegation to officers to consider and, as appropriate, make use of, fixed penalty notices when determining the appropriate level of enforcement action to be taken against any person/body corporate whom they are satisfied has committed a relevant offence as listed in the schedules of the Animals (Penalty Notices) Act 2022.

The Associate Director for Environment introduced the report.

In response to a question raised regarding the issuance of fixed penalty notices related to dog walkers and other regulations, officers clarified that the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) concerning dog regulation is a separate legislative matter that is currently undergoing public consultation. Officers mentioned that feedback from stakeholders, including the police and kennel clubs, is being evaluated, and a report including the number of fixed penalty notices issued, is being prepared for the next committee meeting.

Councillor Louise Price moved the recommendation that:

i.       The Committee agrees delegation to officers to consider and, as appropriate, make use of, fixed penalty notices when determining the appropriate level of enforcement action to be taken against any person/body corporate whom they are satisfied has committed a relevant offence as listed in the schedules of the Animals (Penalty Notices) Act 2022.

On being put to the committee the motion was declared CARRIED by the Chair, the voting being by general assent.

RESOLVED:

That:

i.       The Committee agrees delegation to officers to consider and, as appropriate, make use of, fixed penalty notices when determining the appropriate level of enforcement action to be taken against any person/body corporate whom they are satisfied has committed a relevant offence as listed in the schedules of the Animals (Penalty Notices) Act 2022.

This report covers this Committees financial position over the medium term (2024 – 2027) as at Period 6 (end of September).

The Period 6 comprehensive Budget Management report has already been presented to the Policy & Resources Committee at its meeting on 11 November 2024 which sought approval to a change in the Council’s 2024 - 2027 medium-term financial plan.

Recommendation

That:

i)        Members note and comment on the contents of the report.

The Finance Business Partner presented the report which had already been to Policy & Resources Committee and Full Council in December.

There were some concerned raised regarding the recent variance of £35,000 in Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) attributed to changes in the parking enforcement plan. While acknowledging the positive financial outcome, Members expressed the need for clarity on the specifics of the deployment plan changes, how to amend it in the future, and the process for reporting on the success of these changes. Officers responded by explaining that the deployment planning is an internal mechanism that is regularly reviewed and highlighted the challenges faced in recruitment that have affected enforcement. Officers also mentioned that limited responses were received regarding enforcement concerns, particularly about out of hours enforcement, but noted that discussions with Hertsmere are ongoing to address these issues and potential funding for additional enforcement hours.

Members pointed out that despite stable revenue, the projected shortfall against the budget is around £50,000. They emphasised the need for a review of the trade waste offering due to the implications of business choosing alternative providers, which could lead to increased traffic and waste management issues. Officers acknowledged the fluctuating nature of the trade waste market, driven by new recycling regulations, and suggested that a detailed report on the service should be prepared after the upcoming changes are implemented.

Members expressed frustration regarding the timing of receiving the budget monitoring period 6 report in January for the period ending in September. They emphasised that receiving a report after it has been to Policy & Resources Committee and Full Council, hampers proper scrutiny. Officers pointed out that similar concerns were raised the previous year, highlighting that the issue is still ongoing. It was suggested that organising additional committee meetings will address this issue more promptly.

In response to a request on tracking and reporting of food waste management, officers offered to circulate an annual report which details the collection, processing and transformation of food waste.

RESOLVED:

That:

i)        Members note and comment on the contents of the report.

To comment on the Committee’s work programme.

A report on trade waste is to be added to the work programme.

RESOLVED:

To comment on the committee’s work programme.

There was no other business.