Agenda and minutes

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the Strategic Planning and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 21 September 2016 were confirmed by the members present and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors G Adshead, Ashbourn and S Hearn.

Councillor Birnie substituted on behalf of Councillor Ashbourn.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

None.

There was no public participation.

None.

None.

D Austin briefly introduced the item to members and handed over to R Cassidy who ran through the report.
R Cassidy said these byelaws in the parks would help prevent metal detecting, unauthorised boot camps, horse-riding, fires, camping which are becoming issues. The byelaws would be a tool to help combat the problem.
B Lisgarten said these byelaws were based on the model laws provided by the government for Local Authorities to use. The proposed draft laws are set out in the report. When the report was presented at CMT, it was felt that the feeding of wild foul was not dealt with adequately and therefore it is suggested that two drafts are provided: 1) dealing with wild geese and 2) the model byelaws.
After the consultation, the Secretary of State must approve the laws. The model byelaws are a framework to use but allow for keeping or deleting laws, there isn’t really a process for adding byelaws.
Chipperfield Common is a Green Flag park and can be added to the list of parks covered by these byelaws.

Councillor Anderson said this was a break with tradition from the Council's past.  It had previously been said that bylaws were not enforceable or workable, that one risked opening a 'pandoras box', and that there was too much detail involved.  Members were worried about the desirability or need for the bylaws, and would need some convincing, including evidence that this was the only option left available.

R Cassidy said it was not just about prosecution. It would be a tool to help the public understand the behaviours accepted in Dacorum’s parks. Also, it does give the option of a Fixed Penalty Notice for repeat offenders. Other councils have been consulted and the byelaws are to help back up staff.

B Lisgarten said when these byelaws were being drafted other local authorities’ websites were looked at. Many of them use byelaws to state what behaviours they expect from visitors and to help celebrate the parks.

Councillor Ransley asked what happens when a public footpath goes through a park covered by these byelaws? Do these laws apply? A large number of children use skateboards through a park in Tring.

B Lisgarten said it is about the behaviour shown whilst using these skateboards. A consultation will take place with youth centres to find out the thoughts of younger people.

Councillor Birnie said he was not happy about the principle of byelaws as they are not suitable in all areas of the borough. How will it be enforced?

R Cassidy said the byelaws would not be enforced literally. For example, one byelaw excludes over 14 year olds from using play equipment. However, if that over 14 year old is well behaved, the byelaw would not be used. If the person over 14 years old is behaving anti-socially, then the laws can be used. They are not a blanket for everyone.

Councillor Birnie said he was not convinced and said this was a level of policing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 213.

P Rayner introduced the report and said the focus was on retail and the delivery of the Town Centre Strategy:

-       The acquisition of the Marlowes Shopping Centre by Capital and Regional will bring in £53 million investment.

-       The Town Centre Partnership is looking into the feasibility of a business improvement district.

-       Work is ongoing with the market to ensure it continues to be vibrant after the regeneration works.

-       Vacancy rates dropped in the Town Centre from 16.5% in October 2014 to just 6% in July 2016. The national average is 10.1%.

-       There has been a lot of independent investment. Little Beans play Café, PEP &Co and Cappuccios for example.

-       There are two large events planned before the end of the year: the Halloween Party in the Old Town at the end of October and the Christmas Light Switch on in the Town Centre in November.

-       Pinpointer Media have been appointed to manage town centre promotional bookings.

S Lea gave members an update on the tourism service:

-       In 2013, the tourism role became available to maximise the impact of tourism in Dacorum.

-       47 businesses have joined the Tourism Partnership, generating £8,000 income.

-       There have been successes with marketing and there is an increase of traffic on the website.

-       The Canal and River Trust and Red Lion Pub in Nash Mills have partnered up, resulting in the pub acquiring more land.

-       A new tourism map has been produced. 37,000 copies were printed with 35,000 distributed across the South East of England.

-       Hertfordshire Tourism is now worth about £1.9 billion and Dacorum Tourism is valued at £230 million, making up 12% of total tourism in Herts. 

-       A hotel survey was done to understand occupancy rates. In 2014, the average occupancy was 73% and in 2015, this increased to 77%.

-       Enjoy Dacorum has played a key role in increased footfall and spending into the area. From April 2017, Enjoy Dacorum will be contracted out to Visit Herts which is hoped will take the project to the next level.

Councillor Birnie was concerned about the decrease in markets stalls and asked why they were positioned the way they were.

P Rayner said they are working closely with the market. New paving was laid which brought some restrictions. The preference was to have the stalls in a linear fashion but the feedback was that it didn’t have the feel of a market so now trialling bunching the stalls towards the north of the Marlowes and new gazebos bought.

Councillor Birnie asked it the tourism officer will be contracted out to Visit Herts along with the service.

S Lea said yes, possibly for a two year period with an extension to four years. Herts LEP contracted their tourism to Gotoplaces who own and run Visit Kent. This has been very successful and will be the same model for Hertfordshire. By contracting it out, they can reach different strategic partners that the Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 214.

Report to follow

J Doe said the Housing and Planning Act Implications report had been delayed. It is due to go to Cabinet in November so the report should hopefully be before this committee at the November meeting.

J Doe gave a brief update on the hearing into the Site Allocations. The purpose is to look at the detail of the Local Plan which follows on from the Core Strategy in 2013. There is no date yet for when the report will be received but it normally takes a few weeks after the hearing closes.

It was agreed by the committee to move the Housing and Planning Act Implications to the meeting on 22^nd November and the Two Waters Update be moved to the meeting on 6^th December.