Agenda item

Report from the Leader of the Council, Councillor Sarah Nelmes

 

As my first report since the local elections, I first want to comment on the voter suppression that was the introduction of the need for photo ID to be produced at polling stations, nationally it is reported that 14000 were turned away by polling station staff and no doubt more were turned away by ‘greeters’ who were used in some areas or just stayed at home because they knew they would not be able to vote. 70 people in Three Rivers applied for a ballot paper but were not issued with one! 38 were turned away and did return, this is an afront to democracy, and expensive cost to tax payers, a large sledge hammer to crack a virtually non-existent nut, Jacob Rees Mogg has publicly admitted it was jerrymandering! It was a failed experiment that should be scrapped before the next General Election, an event that cannot come too soon!

At the time of writing this I am preparing to go to the LGA Conference. This will be the first anniversary of the ‘Debate not Hate’ campaign, a campaign on civil behaviour in public life. Debating and disagreeing with one another is a healthy part of democracy but abuse and intimidation crosses the line into dangerous territory. Seven in ten councillors reported experiencing some level of abuse or intimidation in the LGA 2022 councillor census. Let us all vow that none of that should ever happen in this chamber, we should be setting a good example, not a poor one.

Another thing that is of great concern is some outright lies being told to residents both by one of our MP and in some literature, especially on matters concerning the Local Plan. Spin is one thing, but outright lies are a step way too far, those lies will be called out, will be evidenced, and will be corrected.

After much perseverance I have secured a meeting with the Director of Defra concerning the Government proposals for waste reforms. As in many things District and Boroughs tend to know what is best for residents and for Districts and Boroughs to share best practice with each other is way better than having Westminster dictate a one size fits all approach.

 

Report from the Lead Member for Public Services, Councillor Paul Rainbow

 

General Public Services Report

 

Parking Schemes

Sandy Lodge Way and Harefield Road

Currently with Consultants who are reviewing the outcomes of the recent public consultations in preparation for next stage.

Croxley CG Permit Parking Zone Review

Responses from the recent public consultation around new P&D proposals are being  reviewed by Hertsmere BC (in their capacity as Highways Engineers) in preparation for the next stage.

Primrose Hill

Closing date for Stage 3 detailed design consultation is 5 July 2023, results to be reviewed following closure.  This is being led by consultants.

Rickmansworth West

Currently with Hertsmere BC in their capacity as Highways Engineers to finalise a Statutory Notice for consultation.

 

Locally Important Schemes including Oxhey Drive area and Junction of Oxhey Drive/Gosforth Lane and Fairfield Avenue/ Gosforth Lane

Final Statutory Notice consultation has recently been completed and Officers are reviewing any responses in preparation for the next stage (Making of the Order) with anticipated implementation expected later this summer. 

Following discussions with Local Ward Councillors and funding from HCC a final Statutory Notice has been drafted for further junction improvements around Oxhey Drive/Gosforth Lane and will be put out to consultation imminently.

Ongoing discussions are progressing with Ward Councillors around wider parking scheme proposals for Gosforth Lane.

Chorleywood Area Wide

Consultants are preparing the next stage of public consultation..

 

Verge Hardening

Two schemes have been completed in South Oxhey in Ballater Close and Birstall Green. School Mead preparations are ongoing, subject to agreement from the landowner (Watford Community Housing Trust).

 

Bus Shelters

Two shelter schemes have been completed. A standard sized shelter on Prestwick Road (near Markeston Green) and a double sized shelter at the terminus on Downings Wood, Maple Cross.

 

LCWIP

The draft Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan is out for public consultation.  Three Rivers and Hertfordshire County Council Officers have a meeting arranged for 4^th July with Local Ward Councillors, Chorleywood Parish Councillors, Chorleywood Residents Association to discuss local concerns over the live consultation specifically where is relates to Chorleywood. 

The consultation is scheduled to close on 17^th July. Any comments received will be considered and could influence the final decision on how to proceed. Any final decisions and plans will be agreed with HCC as the Highways Authority.

 

Electronic Vehicle

Following a pause in the procurement exercise work has recommenced on securing a wider portfolio of EVCP which will be eligible for Government funding

 

 

Report from the Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Planning Policy and Economic Development, Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst

 

Local Plan

 

The Local Plan Subcommittee on 13^th June agreed the following recommendation

That the Local Plan Sub Committee:

· Note the contents of this report

· Agree the approach to housing need and Green Belt where only sites in areas of moderate Green Belt harm or less, as set out in the Stage 2

Green Belt Review, are considered acceptable for residential development unless the site is considered strategic and the benefits of the site are

considered and can be justified with supporting evidence to outweigh the harm caused by its release from the Green Belt.

Notwithstanding the above that Officers,

1. Conduct a further search for brownfield land, with publicity to landowners and the public.

2. In preparing any draft Local Plan it will be an evidence-based approach to safeguard undeveloped Green Belt land.

3. That final decisions on any proposed Green Belt release and thus the final indicative housing numbers only be considered after all the above

has been undertaken and agreed by councillors.

 

As indicated in the report this will mean a very significant reduced housing number being including any draft Local Plan far below the original Standard Method Calculation from the Government of 12,624 new homes.  This is inline with the December Council decision on the motion I proposed. The figure could be as a low as 4,500 with 3,000 of these being in low or moderate harm Green Belt sites but officer still have much work do to evidence and justly this and any other figures and these and other sites to enable a Local Plan submission to be robust and stand up to examination by the Government appointed Planning Inspector. We will in any event consult the public again before agreeing a final plan (Regulation 19).

 

Development Management  Performance Highlights

The Government have recently released data relating to performance for planning authorities across the country. We have reviewed our performance against the other Hertfordshire authorities and are second out of 10 for speed of determining major planning applications and the fastest at determining non-major applications.  Full data will be released in the MIB.

 

Planning Appeals

Officers are currently preparing to defend appeals lodged against the refusal of two planning applications for speculative housing development on unallocated Green Belt sites in Sarratt. The two appeals, which relate to a total of 92 houses, are being dealt with by a Public Inquiry which will take place in Three Rivers House over five days at the start of September.

 

Officers have also received formal notification that the refusal of planning permission agreed by this Council of 800 homes at land east of Green Street ( Chorleywood)  in the AONB will be subject of an appeal. The appeal is  expected to be received by the time of the Council meeting and I will, if required, update verbally. The applicant has suggested this appeal will also proceed as a public inquiry, expected to last three weeks.

 

Other issues

In light of Government changes and polices from Herts CC we are now reviewing the EV procurement exercise with a view to expanding the EV proposals across the District in our car parks.  More detail will follow in due course including an updated EV Strategy

 

Rickmansworth Project Board and experimental part road closure

I attended the Batchworth Community Council public meeting on this. A range of different views were expressed on this. As already presented to the project board County Officers showed a presentation indication that numbers visiting the High St were above 2022 levels ( apart from Sundays)  and that people were staying longer in the period between 10am and 6pm.

I have asked council officers to review  signage for town especially for the many car parking options. In the meantime amendments have been made to the Northway car park to improve accessibility.

 

Report from the Lead Member for Housing, Public Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Andrew Scarth

My portfolio has recently expanded as can be seen below:-

Housing

There are currently 62 households in temporary accommodation that has been provided by the Council. This figure includes two households that are currently in refuge accommodation, six households that are in contractual lets with a registered provider (2 based in Watford and 4 in Three Rivers). This also included six households that are in nightly let accommodation outside of District. Two of these are sensitive lets, one individual has restrictions and cannot reside in our District therefore has been placed in Kingston upon Thames, another household has been placed in a disabled unit in Ealing near the Hospital for ease of access. The remaining four households will be brought back to District as soon as suitable accommodation becomes available.

 

The advertisement for the Housing Navigator role closed on 3 July 2023 and interviews will take place on 14 July 2023. Ashley Russell has started in post as our Housing Development Officer and following an unsuccessful attempt to recruit a suitably qualified permanent member of staff for the Senior Housing Enforcement Officer role, we have appointed a temporary member of staff, Luisa Dos Santos, in post, to ensure the Council comply with our statutory obligations in Environmental Health. The vacant Housing Options Officer post has now been filled, with Kayleigh Ashby commencing her employment in April.

As of 23 May 2023, Three Rivers have had 173 Homes for Ukraine guests arrive in the District (133 Adults and 40 Children). It is worth noting that Hertfordshire County Council have reported to the Council that although sponsor rematching for families that have been asked to leave their current sponsors accommodation continues to take place, it is often difficult to rematch larger families to new sponsors. However, although difficulty has been communicated, since my last report to Full Council in February 2023, the Service has only had one homelessness application from a family who moved to the UK via this scheme.

 

On 29 March 2023, Central Government announced that they will be ending hotel accommodation for Afghan guests in the UK, who were housed in these hotels following Operation Pitting. Although there are none of these hotels located in Three Rivers, there are two hotels located in Hertfordshire. There have been significant resources allocated by the Home Office to work with these families currently in this hotel accommodation to find them permanent accommodation before the hotels are closed, however following the closure of these hotels, the Housing Service may receive some homelessness applications from families who were not able to secure permanent accommodation. The Service is unable to anticipate the number of applications that may be received; however, increased Government funding will be available to the Council, should this occur.

The long-awaited Renter’s Reform Bill was introduced to Parliament on 17 May 2023. The Bill aims to deliver on the Government’s commitment to “bring in a better deal for renters” including consideration of abolishing “no fault” evictions and reforming landlords possession grounds. It will legislate for reforms set out in the private sector white paper, published in June 2022. The Bill is only in its early stages, therefore, is likely to change significantly before it becomes legislation. Further information on this will be provided once it is published.

 

Public Health & Wellbeing

There are 5 projects funded through HCC Place Based Health Inequalities funding. “Man On” is a football and conversation café project being delivered in Mill End on a weekly basis by Watford FC Community Sport & Education Trust with the aim of improving mental health for men. There are currently 11 attendee’s engaging with the project. Local health providers have been engaged to encourage a higher number of attendee’s.

A project is being developed with Ascend at the Dig Deep allotment site, to engage men experiencing social isolation with an outdoors project where they will learn new skills, develop social networks and find out more about support services available in the local area.

Residents who have been invited to breast cancer screening but not engaged with the invitation, will be contacted by officers to understand barriers, support with transport and arrange an appointment, to increase the number of residents accessing breast cancer screening.

Cancer awareness events and initiatives have been taking place. Two ‘time to check’ events have been held at the South Oxhey Healthy Hub.

Breast and Prostate Cancer awareness organisations attended the recent Leavesden Community Fair and engaged with residents that attended (300+).

Funding was awarded to Watford African Caribbean Association (WACA) to increase health protective behaviours within their community. A diabetes awareness event is being organised by WACA in partnership with a local GP to share information. Work will be done in relation to hypertension and prostate cancer.

Beezee Bodies were awarded funding to deliver cooking and physical activity sessions in South Oxhey for families over the Easter and Summer holidays. 52 residents attended the Easter provision.

Three Rivers Healthy Hubs are taking place weekly in 3 locations in the district. Attendance at these locations has been improving as more residents are aware of the support available through the hubs. Advice sessions held by the Housing team, Revenue & Benefits team have been successful in providing outreach to local residents. Advice sessions are also held by Thrive Homes.

During quarter 1, 500 engagements were carried out by the Healthy Hub, both virtually and face to face. Majority of residents found out about the Healthy Hubs through the craft events held there.

Health and Wellbeing partnership will be developing an action plan based on the information provided through a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment focussing on health inequalities, and linking this into the new Community Strategy for Three Rivers Local Strategic Partnership.

 

 

Report from Lead Member for Leisure, Councillor Chris Lloyd

 

Parkrun

·        New Junior Parkrun at King George V playing field (opposite William Penn Leisure Centre) started on 23^rd April. It is for ages 4 to 14. It is a 2Km run and parents can run with their children.

·        Parkrun we now have 2 Junior Parkruns – Leavesden and King George V at 9am on a Sunday.

·        On Saturday at 9am with 3 Parkruns – South Oxhey, Rickmansworth and Leavesden County

·        I have volunteering at all 5 events this year.

·        If any Councillor would like to volunteer at any event please contact me.

·        Link to Blog

Parkrun: a 5K event making strides in boosting health - BJSM blog - social media's leading SEM voice (bmj.com)

 

Grazing

Grazing at 4 locations -

·        Croxley Common Moor – April 2023

·        The Withy Beds – April 2023

·        Chorleywood House Estate – July 2023

·        Leavesden Country Park – July 2023

Management Plans

Final Versions of two management plans presented to July meeting of Climate Change , Leisure and Community

·        Bishops Wood (inc. Batchworth Heath) Management Plan is out to public consultation.

 

·        CWHE Management Plans out to public consultation

 

The management plans can be found on the Three Rovers website at https://www.threerivers.gov.uk/services/trees-landscape/open-space-management-plans

 

Herts Sport Partnership

·        Had a meeting with Herts Sports Partnership about the project they started on Long Covid and exercise.

·        The Herts School games on Friday July 7^th were cancelled due to Teachers strike. No other date could be found.

·        There will be no awards ceremony in 2023 as venue not available.

·        Link to website Home - Herts Sports Partnership (sportinherts.org.uk)

Three Rivers Sports Partnership

·        June attended Awards Evening at Watersmeet. Guest speaker – Danielle Brown MBE Double Paralympic archery gold medallist.

·        Attended finals of Year 5 Tag Rugby in June

·        Link to website HOME | TRWSSP (threeriverswatfordssp.co.uk)

Outdoor Gyms , Denham Way , South Oxhey , Barton Way

·        New outdoor fitness zones across the district

·        Denham Way leisure facilities upgrade and partnership with Get Set 4 Tennis to deliver activity programme, including the refurbishment of the pavilion to provide a multifunctional space.

·        Works at South Oxhey playing fields are progressing well, which will include a new skate zone, dog park, multi-use games area, tennis courts and improved footpaths.

·        Barton Way MUGA is re-opened (Partnership Parish and TRDC), new path built for access.

Watersmeet

·        Capital works:

o   Phase 1 of the bar rewire is complete, the stage 2 works will be undertaken in August.

o   The projection server and associated works are expected to be completed in August.

·        Box office:

o   The new box office system launched in September 2022 is a big improvement over the previous system providing a more customer friendly system.

o   New self-serve box office system (iPad in lower foyer) will be implemented. This allows patrons to purchase tickets whilst the venue is open but the box office is closed e.g. after a film or show, or during a hire which is not using the box office.

 

Report from Lead Member for Sustainability and Climate, Councillor JonTankard

 

Introduction

 

I am pleased to present my inaugural sustainability and climate report highlighting our commitment at Three Rivers District Council towards a sustainable future. In this report I've aimed to provide an overview ofour efforts, achievements, and future plans in addressing climate change and promoting sustainability across our Three Rivers population.

Being new in post, over the last month I have spenttime meeting and establishing relationships with the officers and understanding their parameters and responsibilities.

I can honestly report back that whilst the local authority may lack funding for the decarbonisation of our district, the officers of the principle council teams whom I have met have made up for that by enthusiasm and an utter commitment to meet the targets set. As such I am even more enthused about working with you all and I look forward to progressing and building upon the work carried out by my predecessor Councillor Williams.

National Policy Update and implications for Three Rivers District Council (TRDC)

On 28^th June the Climate Change Committee published the 2023 Progress Report to Parliament. This report focused on Carbon budgets, targets and progress and saw the release of new detail on the Government’s plans for Net Zero with the publication of the carbon budget delivery plan (CBDP) prompted by last year's High Court judgement. (https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/2023-progress-report-to-parliament/ )

Reflecting on this plan the Climate Change Committee state:

“despite new detail from government, our confidence in the UK meeting its medium term targets has decreased in the past year………..the CBDP is welcome, but a key opportunity to raise the overall pace of delivery has been missed”

Overall, the report is critical of the Government’s lack of urgency, lack of delivery of existing commitments and loss of leadership. 

Sadly, this evidence clearly suggests that should we as a Council want to protect and promote the health, wellbeing and happiness of our children’s and future generations, we do not have the luxury of awaiting guidance or direction from our current Government. We (TRDC and our residents) must set the pace now.

 

District Wide Carbon Emissions and Net Zero Trajectory

·        We have now received last years’ Three Rivers ‘District Wide Carbon Emissions and Net Zero Trajectory’. This demonstrates a Carbon footprint of each house.

·        The Base Line report, demonstrates that we have to cut Carbon emission by 48% by 2030, and by 75% by 2050 in order to reach Net Zero

·        We also have access to the Community Carbon Calculator. This is a digital visualisation tool that helps you understand your community’s carbon footprint, giving a ‘per-household’ value based on council/ward/parish (see image below).

·        As way of example, I have calculated that my own personal Carbon Footprint is approximately 11.5 tonnes per year, this means that by 2030, I have to reduce to 5.72 tonnes, and by 2050 to 2.75 tonnes.

·        There are items within my footprint that are outside of my control, but my major emissions are within my control, namely, Consumerism, Food and Travel. Currently they account for about 9 tonnes of the 11.5. Now whilst I cannot completely eliminate any of these elements, I can make more informed choices in order to reduce that down.

·        I am looking to record those variations in an online blog on the council website and I invite you all to access this, and see where we can all make reductions, and where we are held back.

 

Community Carbon Calculator:

 

Enable and Engage

·        The consultation on the draft Climate Emergency and Sustainability strategy is underway and live on the Council’s new Community engagement platform https://haveyoursay.threerivers.gov.uk/hub-page/environment-and-climate-change.

Please look at, assess, and respond. Please also promote this to your residents and local groups.

·        The TRDC Greener Living e-newsletter continues to be sent to residents and businesses to give updates on campaigns and Green news items.

·        #Worth Saving campaign: We are currently awaiting the analysis of the pilot scheme and a waste compositional analysis in TRDC. Following the analysis, we are expecting the campaign to go county-wide later this year.

·        HCCSP Behaviour Change Strategic Action Plan: We are actively working with and inputting into this plan which explores behaviour change as a methodological, systematic approach to engagement with individuals. Behaviour change has a central role to play in helping Hertfordshire on the journey to Net Zero and this plan will be a key driver for our future TRDC plans. 

·        Tree Giveaway commenced mid-June, with half of the district’s allocation given away with the first week. Given the demand locally the Council has secured additional trees under the programme.

Energy

·        Fast Followers (Project funded by Innovate UK) Following the Council’s success in securing external grant funding through Innovate UK, project planning has commenced. We will shortly be recruiting a new grant funded officer to support this project. As part of this project, we are looking to identify some hard-to-treat property owners who would be willing participants in a retrofit project and for a localised community in either Abbots Langley, Leavesden, Penn and Mill End, or Rickmansworth to take part in a Transition Street programme encompassing a major module on retrofit.

Domestic Retrofit Programmes

·        Officers have advised HCCSP of the councils continued participation in Solar Together Round 2

·        Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 1 coming to an end but has incurred difficulties with the subcontractor. Completion extended to end August.

·        SHDF Wave 2 (120 Thrive Homes, 34 infill) retrofit assessor appointed, still waiting to start procurement on managing agent.

·        Looking to assist and support District Schools in bidding for retrofitting and decarbonisation grants. We have noted in previous meetings the complications with these bids and how incredibly frustrating (given the severity of the Climate Emergency) there are such hurdles in place for schools to be able to achieve funding.  Whilst we feel it beneficial to give out officers time to such matters, we all be making the Local MP Mr Dean Russell, aware of our frustrations of having to commit local resources to what should be a government led ‘roll out’.

Tree protection and woodland

·        HCC have secured £145,500 revenue funding from Defra to deliver a Tree Planting Concierge Service for landowners, which aims to facilitate the planting of 300,000 trees over the next 24 months – funding will deliver a range of measures to create behaviour change in landowners including technology mapping and 2 woodland creation officers to identify, design and support landowners with planting schemes. TRDC have committed £5k match funding to this fund from Sustainability budgets.  Planting will begin from November 2023 and completed by March 2024.

TRDC Tree Management

·        Ash Die Back – July will see inspection of Ash trees in high-risk areas of TRDC land to identify those which are in particularly poor health and may need to be pruned or felled.

·        Oak Processionary moth – Low levels reported / detected so far, this season.

Biodiversity

·        Noted that there have been several concerns regarding areas of uncut amenity space. We are continuing to engage, educate and if necessary, adjust the management. to ensure a greener and more Bio Diverse district whilst maintaining support of residents. It is essential that we continue to engage with residents, as every amenity space we gain, we lose when a resident removes a hedge, or a garden is paved over.

·        Cattle are being grazed on Croxley Common Moor and The Withey Beds already. Cattle are due at Chorleywood House Estate and Leavesden Country Park from W/c 3^rd July.

·        Horses Field (Leavesden) is looking fantastic, in the years that I have followed this project, it has moved from a rather managed field of wild flowers, to a large grass area with flowers interspersed in it, the local reaction is fantastic, and I know the community are looking forward to the re-introduction of the cows.

·        Hay cutting of open space by contractor and grounds maintenance will be undertaken during July.

·        An Exec summary of the Nature Recovery Strategy is being prepared for use on the website alongside the full version.  

·        The Bury, Rickmansworth: Initial meeting held with Batchworth Community Council to discuss development of a partnership project on the site.  Improvements may include, conservation of surviving garden features, river habitat improvements, woodland management works, new interpretation, and tree planting.

Air and Noise Pollution

·        Clean Air Day: Behaviour change comms took place on June 15th with over 6000 views and 1200 opens

Cemeteries and Crematoriums

·        A report is being written to go to Policy and Resources Committee for members to consider extending the Exclusive Right of Burial for a further 50 years, once the original lease (of 100 years) expires following requests from current plot holding families. 

Environmental Forum and Water Partnership

·        Water Partnership: Officers are liaising with Colne CAN (Catchment Action Network), to establish how the Council can support the Smarter Water Catchment application.

·        Work needed to review enforcement approach to river pollution incidences.

·        Myself and Councillor Lloyd will be meeting with The Chiltern AONB to see projects being carried out in the Chess Catchment area.

Report from Lead Member for Resources and Shared Services, Councillor Keith Martin

 

1.     General Environment.

In common with all local authorities, TRDC continues to face inflation-driven cost increases, whilst our revenue remains static. The Bank of England raised the base rate by 0.5% in June, in the face of core inflation being at 30-year high. This all makes for a challenging externally driven economic environment for TRDC. There is no reason to expect conditions to significantly ease during this Council year. As such, colleagues are advised that the 2024-25 budget formation process will be a difficult one.

 

2.     2022-3 Council Year Financial Position.

The final year-end figures were approved during the June Policy & Resources Committee and form a separate agenda item for this meeting.

 

3.     Foxgrove Path Development, South Oxhey.

The purchase of the Foxgrove Path site from Herts County Council was expected to have completed by 31/03/23, i.e. in the previous Council year. For reasons beyond TRDC’s control this did not happen. The transaction did, however, complete in April 2023, as did the transfer to Watford Community Housing Trust, who will be responsible for developing this site. A planning application has been submitted for the construction of 53 affordable homes. We expect the first tenants to move into their new homes by late spring 2024.

 

4.     Red Cross Building, Barton Way

The Red Cross Centre in Barton Way is still leased to the British Red Cross. At the time of writing a meeting is being arranged with local District Councillors and members of Croxley Green Parish Council. The objective of this meeting is to answer those questions that Councillors have and which would not breach commercial confidentiality. That meeting is expected to have taken place shortly after Full Council is held.

Noted the written reports from the Leader and Lead Members and oral updates provided as appropriate.  Some oral questions raised on the written reports were provided with oral responses at the meeting while on other oral questions it was agreed a written response be provided after the meeting.  Details of these are provided below.

 

A link to the reports is provided below under item 10 of the summons

 

Agenda for Full Council on Tuesday, 11th July, 2023, 7.30 pm - Modern Council (threerivers.gov.uk)

 

Councillor Sarah Nelmes, Leader of the Council

Noted report and no questions raised.

 

Councillor Paul Rainbow, Lead Member for Public Services

Noted the report.

 

Question from Councillor Philip Hearn

In October 2022 the IHED Committee agreed to go out for consultation on the LCWIP and that any further comments, as appropriate, would be integrated into the consultation.  Chorleywood Parish Council and Chorleywood Residents Association put a lot of effort into their response, including some alternative proposals and asked why these proposals did not appear in the consultation document.

 

Response provided after the meeting:

Whilst comments received were considered, and the Senior Transport Planner spoke with some Ward Councillors following the IHED Committee, it was not considered the consultation draft should be significantly amended.  The concerns about specific routes, specifically in Chorleywood, were noted but these were routes derived from a detailed evidence base and it was considered appropriate that the Plan should go out to consultation with these routes detailed so wider resident/public comments on the proposals could be considered.

 

Question from Councillor Oliver Cooper

Why is there inconsistency between the leaflet that was distributed by the Liberal Democrats at the Chorleywood Village Day on Saturday stating that the Three Rivers and Watford LCWIP was drafted by Herts County Council consultants and owned by the County Council when the first line of the LCWIP states it was developed with TRDC and Watford Borough Council

 

Response provided after the meeting:

The LCWIP is a document prepared by and on behalf of 3 authorities: Hertfordshire County Council, Watford Borough Council and Three Rivers DC. The original consultants were commissioned by HCC on behalf of all 3 authorities.

 

Question from Councillor Debbie Morris

Can you provide a date on when the parking consultant’s report will be provided with regard to Sandy Lodge Way.

 

Response provided after the meeting

This report is awaited from our consultants, it is expected by the end of July.

 

Question from Councillor Reena Ranger

What does the Lead Member feel a reduce parking standard in our local plan for new homes will do to help this District to make it an easier place to walk and cycle when anti-social parking or existing pressures are high.

Response provided after the meeting

Any reduction in parking standards is a tool which can be used to discourage car ownership and private car usage and conversely encourage further sustainable and active travel.  However, it is often necessary to consider this as one of a number of measures to encourage more walking and cycling.

 

Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Lead Member for Planning Policy and Economic Development

Noted the report.

 

Thank you for the Head of Planning Policy and Conservation and the team on the work they are doing on the Local Plan.

 

Question from Councillor Reena Ranger

Electric vehicles are heavier than cars.  Could you please tell me if any provision has been made to check what level of EV occupancy there is at our multi storey or raised car parks and are they adequately robust to take the weight and also robust to have solar panels on them.

 

Response provided after the meeting:

No work has been taken on this to date but given the parking of larger vehicles in the two Council multi storey car parks.  The presence of EVs is not considered to raise an issue but this will be considered in work going forward.

 

Councillor Andrew Scarth, Lead Member for Housing, Public Health and Wellbeing

 

Noted the report.

 

Question from Councillor Joan King

There are currently 62 households in temporary accommodation which has been provided by the Council could comparable figures be provided for this time last year.

 

Response provided after the meeting

Please see the table below for comparison purposes of the number of households in temporary accommodation, data provided is as a snapshot on the last day of the month.  

Jul-21	Jul-22	Jul-23
58	53	62

 

Councillor Chris Lloyd, Lead Member for Leisure

Noted the report.  There were no questions.

 

Councillor Jon Tankard, Lead Member for Sustainability and Climate

Noted the report.

 

Question from Councillor Chris Mitchell

Can you please add Croxley Green to the Fast Followers

 

Supplementary response provided after the meeting:

Under the Fast Followers programme, TRDC and Grand Union Community Energy (GUCE) are working in partnership to launch the “Transition Streets” programme in Three Rivers over the next two years as a pilot. Transition Streets aims to bring neighbours together on a street-by-street basis to inspire them to make sustainability improvements to their homes and lifestyles, while saving money on their bills. Participating neighbours would meet together over a few months to complete a free programme of 7 short, home-based workshops covering key topics: Energy, Food, Travel, Water, Resource Use, and Biodiversity.

 

As Fast Followers is seeking to pilot the approach in Three Rivers as an innovative means of inspiring pro-environmental behavioural changes, and GUCE only has one part time officer to deliver the pilot project in our District over the 2-year Fast Followers programme and therefore are only able to facilitate 1-2 streets through the programme at any one time. Direct marketing will be sent to target areas that we believe are best suited to the trial, based on geodemographic data and other factors. Generic marketing will take place on a district wide basis. It is hope that the direct mail campaign will provide more encouragement for the targeted communities to apply, however it does not restrict others from applying and all applicants will be assessed against the criteria.

 

While anyone can participate in Transition Streets and it is a programme designed with inclusivity at its core, we are keen to use the pilot project to trial the approach with groups that would be representative of the wider community, so that relatable case studies can be created to inspire further engagement beyond the Fast Followers programme.

 

Using CACI’s Acorn data and stakeholder insights, we have identified Abbots Langley and Bedmond, Leavesden, Penn and Mill End, and Rickmansworth Town wards as wards with the highest proportion of residents in the demographics that Transition Streets aims to engage. The primary demographic target for Transition Streets is “Comfortable Communities” defined as containing “much of middle-of-the-road Britain, whether in the suburbs, smaller towns or the countryside. They are stable families and empty nesters in suburban or semi-rural areas”, but other demographic categories of “Rising Prosperity” and “Financially Stretched” can be candidates too.

 

As Transition Streets emphasises the cost savings of sustainable changes, it is important that residents participating in the pilot project are motivated by the prospect of saving some money (and therefore we discounted wards with the highest proportions of “Affluent Achievers”), yet they should also have the financial means to be able to implement some changes which may have longer pay-back times such as home retrofit. We also recognised that residents facing the greatest socio-economic hardships are less likely to be able to commit their time and energy to a several month-long programme focusing on sustainability when they may be dealing with multiple deprivations (and therefore discounted wards with the highest proportions of “Urban Adversity”).

 

We also decided to avoid areas that have already had extensive involvement in past and current retrofit projects such as South Oxhey and Carpenders Park, as the Transition Streets pilot programme has an emphasis on retrofit, which many people in these areas would already have been exposed to.

 

Though we have initially identified wards to focus our marketing of Transition Streets in, the project is ultimately dependent on the willingness of residents to take part, and we are therefore open to having residents from anywhere in the District express their interest in participating. Following the pilot project, we hope to expand Transition Streets across the District so that more residents from a diverse range of communities can join in.  

If you do know of a street (a group of 6-8 households) that may be interested in participating in Transition Streets, then we would welcome any suggestions you have. Residents can also register their interest in the programme here: https://forms.gle/YH9zqMYyRSiiKTmB7

 

Councillor Steve Drury, Lead Member for Community Partnerships

Not in attendance.

 

Councillor Keith Martin, Lead Member for Resources

Noted the report and no questions.