Agenda item

Council noted the written reports provided by the Leader and Lead Members. 

It was reported that since the Local Plan Regulation 18 consultation had been launched there had been over 4000 views of the consultation web pages and 2078 active engagements with the site.  A total of 815 responses had been submitted through the online platform and written responses were being accepted until 22^nd December 2023.  The Lead Member thanked officers for their work on the consultation.  The outcomes of the consultation would be available in the New Year.

It was questioned whether a comprehensive District wide review of car parking schemes across the District should be carried out rather than the current seeming piecemeal approach and it was agreed that a written response would be provided.

It was confirmed that maintenance of the bike stands was the responsibility of Hertfordshire County Council. 

It was confirmed that the budget for the 2024/25 financial year would be taken to the Policy and Resources Committee on 29^th January 2024.  The possibility of providing a briefing for members beforehand would be discussed with officers.

The written responses to the questions submitted to Lead Members and the following  responses to supplementary questions were noted:

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Reena Ranger, it was confirmed that it was not the business of Councillors to comment on Human Resources investigations.

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Chris Lloyd, it was clarified that the Department for Levelling Up, Homes and Communities had confirmed that a Brown Field First approach to housing site allocations in the Local Plan must be taken.  If it wasn’t then there was a risk that Local Plans would be found to be unsound at Examination.

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Paul Rainbow, it was confirmed that an update on the extension of the Metropolitan underground line into the Borough would be given at the next Public Services Committee meeting in January.  It was acknowledged that it was important that unless the Council had a planned scheme ready to go it was there was the possibility that any funding opportunities would be missed due to the tight deadlines being imposed by the Government.  It was stressed that the Council would only support an extension if it linked directly into Croxley station.

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Sian, it was agreed that a written response would be provided setting out how much Community Infrastructure Levy funding had been received from the Killingdown Farm development..

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Philip Hearn it was stressed that planning applications for any of the sites listed in the Regulation 18 Consultation document would be considered on their merits and site constraints would be taken into account in relation to planning policies in place at the time an application was submitted.

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst it was confirmed that a response from Hertfordshire County Council on the outcomes of the Local Cycling and Walking Implementation Plan consultation was expected in the new year.

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Chris Mitchell, it was confirmed that payment machines had now been installed in Croxley Green and the lining was due to be completed imminently.  Following a short grace period enforcement would commence in the New Year.

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Narinder Sian it was agreed that details of success metric for the Beryl Bike Pilot scheme would be provided in a written answer.

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Philip Hearn it was clarified that no funding was available for additional car parks at the current time.

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Chris Mitchell it was agreed that the possibility of widening access to water fountains in Barton Way Recreation Ground would be followed up with officers however it was stressed that budgets were limited.

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Abbas Merali it was agreed that a written answer would be provided.

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Chris Mitchell it was acknowledged that the lack of any financial settlements being detailed in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement was concerning.  It was incumbent on local authorities to produce a balanced budget and it was expected that more local authorities would find themselves in financial difficulties in the coming year.

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Chris Mitchell it was agreed that a written answer setting out the investment in indoor community space in Croxley since the 1960s would be provided.

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Ciaran Reed it was stressed that it was the Government’s audit system that was failing and it was for the Government to resolve.

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Andrea Fraser it was agreed that a written response would be provided in respect of the ongoing cleaning of the war memorial in Rickmansworth.