MEMORANDUM May 2007

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To:All Members of the Panel,
Derrick Ashley, Stuart Pile,
John Wood, Jan Hayes-Griffin,
Jon Tiley, John Pryor,Sue Davidson, Dave Humby / From:CountySecretary’s Department
Ask for: David Roberts
Ext: 25562
My ref:
Your ref:

PLANNING AND PARTNERSHIPS PANEL

16 MAY2007

M I N U T E S

ATTENDANCE
MEMBERS OF THE PANEL

N E Agar, M V Bayes, C L Berry, R S Clements, A D Dodd,D J Drake, D S Drury,

S E Jones, J T Metcalf,A Mitchell,R Roberts (Chairman),P A Ruffles,R A C Thake

OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT:

W A Storey

Upon consideration of the agenda for the Planning and Partnerships Panel meeting on 16 May2007 as circulated, copy annexed, conclusions were reached and are recorded below:

PART 1

ACTION
1. /

MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2007were confirmed as anaccurate record.
2. / RESPONSE TO STANSTED SURFACE ACCESS CONSULTATION AND AIRPORTS UPDATE PRESENTATION
The Panel received a presentation and report on the ‘Response toStansted Surface Access Consultation’ and an Airports UpdatefromSteve Bailesand Dave Humby.
(Note: Owing to the relevance of the presentation to the Highways & Transport Panel, Members of the Highways & Transport Panel had been invited to attend. Copies of the slides can be found at )
The Panel expressed concerns at the significant shortfall in funding for transport.
When considering the proposed changes to the M11 the Panel noted that junction 7 needs improvement to prevent queuing traffic in Sawbridgeworth.
Conclusions
The Panelrecommendedthat the Executive Member responds to BAA and the Highways Agency on the following lines:
  • The West Anglia rail line is already under severe capacity pressure from airport and other users. Longer trains can only be a short term solution and at present there is no certainty when these will be introduced. In the longer term major additional rail infrastructure (new tracks) will be required and if Stansted were to be further developed BAA should contribute financially to their provision. Without an assurance on implementation from DfT Rail the County Council is unconvinced necessary improvements will be provided at the right time.
  • There are no specific proposals for Bus and Coach provision or for financial contributions to their provision. The problem of providing a fast and reliable service along the Stansted Bishop’s Stortford Sawbridgeworth Harlow corridor is not being addressed.
  • The County Council would need to be assured that traffic conditions on the local network do not deteriorate as a result of airport growth and the potential for that growth to occur in advance of infrastructure improvements being implemented even where planned. This is particularly the case for the M11 Junction 8.
  • There are no proposals to address local road issues, such as those on the A120 west. It is accepted that these cannot be addressed by BAA alone but the County Council needs some certainty as to the funding to be made available by Government (the Region) and by BAA if solutions are to be found.
  • Regardless of the G2 proposal it is considered that forecourt charging should be introduced at the Airport provided the revenue is used to support bus and coach provision. The potential for park and ride sites which could serve both Stansted and Bishop’s Stortford should also be investigated.

3. /

MINERALS SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENT: MINERALS CONSULTATION AREAS

(Officer contact: Julie Greaves 01992 556227)
A report was provided for the Panel to consider the content ofthe draft Supplementary Planning Document on Mineral Consultation Areasand accompanying Sustainability Appraisal for progression to formal consultation stage.
The Panel questioned which minerals were currently extracted within the county? Officers informed the Panel that currently Gravel and Sand are extracted but there are Chalk and Clay deposits in Hertfordshire.
Conclusions
The Panel recommendedto the Executive Member that the consultation proceed for consideration and challenge, indicating that Option 2 is the preferred option.
4. / REGENERATION PROJECTS UPDATE
(Officer contact: David Hughes and Tom Hennessey 01992 555210 and 01992 556243)
A report and presentation were delivered by David Hughes and Tom Hennessey to update Panel Members on the regeneration initiatives supported by the Forward Planning Unit.
Conclusions
The Panel noted the current progress on the major projects at Stevenage and Maylands and requested that a regular report be brought back to the Panel every 6 months. / JHG / NT
5. / GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION ON THE DRAFT CLIMATE CHANGE BILL
(Officer contact: Lydia Dye 01992 556287)
A report was presented to the Panel by Jon Tiley and Lydia Dyeseeking the Panel’sviews on the County Council’s proposed response to the Government’s consultation on the Draft Climate Change Bill.
The Panel noted that proposals to introduce secondary legislation in the future to assign responsibility and accountability for carbon reduction across key sectors will have implications for the authority. These will need to be considered as and when they arise as part of the County Council’s Climate Change Strategy.
Conclusions
The Panel endorsed the response put forward by Officers.

Andrew Laycock

County Secretary

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070516 Minutes