HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
COUNTY COUNCIL
TUESDAY 17 JULY 2007 AT 10.30 A.M.
GENERAL REPORT FROM CABINET
To inform the Council of:
(A) Cabinet's decisions since the last Council meeting, and
(B) Significant current issues in the Planning, Partnerships and Waste Portfolio
(A) CABINET DECISIONS
MEETING ON 21 MAY 2007
No. / Subject: / Portfolio: /1. / BROADFIELD INFANTS’ AND JUNIOR SCHOOLS - PROPOSED AMALGAMATION TO FORM A NEW 2 FORM OF ENTRY PRIMARY SCHOOL / Education
Cabinet agreed to publish statutory notices to close Broadfield Infants’ and Junior Schools on 31 December 2007 and open a new 2 FE primary school on 1 January 2008.
Cabinet also agreed that given the support from both schools for this proposals, the Director of CSF should ensure that the statutory processes proceed as quickly as possible; and, in the meantime, put in place the support arrangements needed to enable the two schools to function as a single primary school from 1 September, 2007.
2. / CHESHUNT, ST MARY’S HIGH SCHOOL SCHEME / Education
Cabinet:
1. Confirmed the new location for the school, at Bury Green Road, Cheshunt;
2. Amended the Capital programme provision so that the planned self-financing element of the project be in the estimated sum of £2.3m, being a grant to the school governing body of that sum and funded from the County Council’s share of the capital receipt arising from sale of the existing school buildings area;
3. Approved expenditure of £800,000 on the playing fields for the school, to be funded from any additional funds arising from the County Council’s share of the capital receipt arising from the sale of the existing school buildings area, and failing that from a review of the CSF Service capital programme for 2008/09;
4. Agreed that advance funding of the enabling highways works to Lt Ellis Way be provided in the sum of £2m pending cash flow arising from the scheme to repay that advanced funding.
3. / ALMA ROAD CENTRE, ST ALBANS / Performance & Resources
Cabinet agreed that, as the Alma Road Centre, St Albans, is not required for any County Council service use or for strategic purposes, the property was surplus to needs and should be disposed of, and the first call on the capital receipts from the sale of the property should be used to meet the cost of relocating the county music recording studio.
4. / HERTFORDSHIRE’S LOCAL AREA AGREEMENT (LAA) – POOLED GRANT EXPENDITURE / Planning, Partnerships and Waste
Cabinet agreed that:
1. Once the final grant determination for 2007/8 pooled grant is agreed with Government, the Chief Officer Group (Safer and Stronger Communities), and the Children’s Trust Partnership (Children and Young People) should reconsider their spending proposals, and report back to Cabinet for final approval.
2. The interim LAA model showing an advisory role for the Hertfordshire Leaders’ Group, be adopted.
3. Within this broad model, precise arrangements for Hertfordshire pooled grant decision making for 2008/9 should be brought before Cabinet once the national pooling regime for that year is clear.
5. / GENDER EQUALITY DUTY / Performance & Resources
Cabinet approved the Gender Equality Scheme and Action Plan.
MEETING ON 1 JUNE 2007
No. / Subject: / Portfolio: /6. / DFES CONSULTATION ON “SCHOOL, EARLY YEARS AND 14-16 FUNDING 2008-11” / Education
Cabinet agreed a response to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) consultation on a wide variety of proposals for changes to the funding methodology for Schools and Early Years Settings which will be in effect for the next three financial years.
MEETING ON 18 JUNE 2007
No. / Subject: / Portfolio: /7. / PROPOSED OPTION AGREEMENT, POSSIBLE RELOCATION OF THE HERTFORDSHIRE & ESSEX HIGH SCHOOL AND SCIENCE COLLEGE AND THE BISHOP'S STORTFORD HIGH SCHOOL / Education
Cabinet agreed:
1. To delegate authority to agree the proposed option agreement to the Corporate Director (People and Property), in consultation with the Executive Members for Performance & Resources and for Education and the Director of Children, Schools and Families and the Finance Director, on being satisfied that:
· there is a robust case to support an application for permission in the green belt for the relocation of the schools,
· there is a robust case for permission for housing development at the existing school sites and the Hadham Road reserve site, and
· the schools’ outline business case for the relocation of the schools is robust.
2. That an application for planning permission for housing development on the Hadham Road reserve site be submitted at the same time as the other permissions are sought.
3. That a further report on the overall funding implications be made at the appropriate time.
8. / FIRE AND RESCUE: COMMUNITY SAFETY PLAN - 2007 ONWARDS / Community Safety & Culture
Cabinet approved the Community Safety Plan and the consultation arrangements.
9. / COUNTY COUNCIL REVENUE AND CAPITAL BUDGET MONITOR 2006/07 / Performance & Resources
Cabinet noted the final outturn for Revenue and Capital Budgets in respect of 2006/07.
10. / HERTFORDSHIRE ALCOHOL HARM REDUCTION PLAN / Community Safety & Culture
Cabinet endorsed the Alcohol Harm Reduction Plan and the related funding allocations for 2007/08.
11. / MINERALS LOCAL PLAN REVIEW – SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENT ON MINERAL CONSULTATION AREAS / Planning, Partnerships and Waste
Cabinet made a recommendation to this meeting of the Council – see Order of Business.
SPECIAL MEETINGS
12. / OBJECTIONS TO SCHOOL ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS / EducationAt a series of special meetings Cabinet determined whether the Council were required by Section 84 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to refer the admission arrangements of certain schools to the Schools Adjudicator.
(B). SIGNIFICANT CURRENT ISSUES IN THE PLANNING, PARTNERSHIPS & WASTE PORTFOLIO
(Report from D A Ashley, Executive Member).
Forward Planning
· East of England Plan
The publication of the final version of the Plan has been delayed until “Autumn at the earliest”. The letter from the Government Office for the East of England (GoEast) informing the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) of the delay explains that this is because of the need to undertake further work in order to meet the requirements of the European Habitats Directive (in relation to Appropriate Assessment).
It is understood that the work required will lead to the Plan being delayed until November at the earliest and potentially into the New Year.
· East of England Plan – Single Issue Review to address the provision of Gypsy and Traveller Sites
The Consultation period on the Issues and Options consultation stage of this document runs until 31 July.
The County Council’s response to this consultation was considered by Planning and Partnerships Panel on 16 July and will be agreed at Cabinet on 23 July.
· Airports
ú Luton
Luton Airport will be making a statement imminently about their programme for taking forward development proposals.
ú Stansted
The Public Inquiry into the application for expansion of Stansted to 35 m.p.p.a. started on 30 May, and is now scheduled to sit until October. County Council officers will be giving evidence in support of our points of concern on transportation matters in September.
Following consultation on the surface access proposals, it now appears that a planning application for the second runway at Stansted will be submitted later this year.
· Other Major Developments
An appeal against the decision of St Albans City and District Council’s refusal of the planning application for the Rail Freight Terminal proposals at Park Street, has been submitted. The Public Inquiry could commence in November, at which County Council officers will be involved in connection with the transportation impacts of the proposal.
· Growth Areas
ú Luton Dunstable
Consultation on an Issues and Options document is still scheduled to commence this month.
The Order to establish the Joint Planning Committee was laid before Parliament on 15 May and came into force on 13 June.
The County Council has been asked to comment on an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) scoping report for East Luton, indicating that an application is in the pipeline.
ú Harlow
Work is progressing in relation to general transportation issues around Harlow, through the Harlow - Stansted Gateway Transportation Board.
Discussions are also taking place between Harlow, Epping Forest and East Hertfordshire District about the potential for joint working and co-ordination of Local Development Documents.
However, the delay to the Regional Plan will impact on the timetable for more focussed work around the Regional Plan’s proposals at Harlow.
ú West of Stevenage
The Secretary of State is still considering the various submissions relating to Section 106 matters at West of Stevenage.
To assist the process, the Authorities have all agreed to accept the withdrawal of the original Unilateral Undertaking which was submitted by the Consortium back in 2004, which was acknowledged by all parties as no longer being fit for purpose.
County Development Unit
· Minerals and Waste Development Framework
Draft Supplementary Planning Document on Mineral Consultation Areas was presented to the Planning and Partnerships Panel 16 May 2007. Panel recommending to 18 June Cabinet/ July County Council meeting for approval for consultation during July – September.
The Waste Core Strategy Issues and Preferred Options is now out for consultation during June/July 2007.
Developing Draft Waste Site Allocations and Development Policies Issues and Preferred Options Documents (strategic direction) to be considered by Planning & Partnerships Panel 16 July. Aiming for Issues and Preferred Options Documents to be agreed at Cabinet in November for consultation during January/ February 2008
· Development Control
Planning performance on County matter applications determined within 13 weeks currently at 100% (April/May figures).
Draft Validation checklist for planning applications out to consultation. Report back to Development Control Committee in September.
ATRIUMplanning (new applications and sites management system) is due to go live in July. The public facing elements should also make it easier for the public and developers to track progress on planning applications dealt with by the County Council.
· Key Planning Applications
– Planning applications for proposed extension to Rickneys Quarry and Tyttenhanger Quarry approved by Development Control Committee on 29 May 2007 subject to conditions and legal agreements for both
– Planning application for in-vessel composting facility for biodegradable source separated waste at Rye Meads, Stanstead Abbotts submitted in April 2007, together with associated waste transfer station at Potters Bar. Objections by the Environment Agency to the Rye Meads application need to be resolved before it can be determined. There are also objections from English Nature, RSPB, Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust and comments from EHDC on matters to be taken into account in reaching a decision.
– A number of Children’s Centre applications are working their way through the system. The proposed Centre at Royston was withdrawn due to insuperable planning concerns.
· Enforcement
Flaunden Quarry – buildings and structures used in the winning of minerals have now been cleared in accordance with the Enforcement Notice. Restoration is due to be completed by 6 August with the final requirements of the remaining buildings, hardstandings etc. to be removed by 6 November 2007. Officers are monitoring the site regularly to ensure compliance.
Strategic Rail
Consultation response on Greater Anglia Route Utilisation Strategy to be considered by Highways and Transport Panel on 5 July.
East Coast Mainline Route Utilisation Strategy recently issued for consultation. Response needed by 21 September.
Government expected to announce High Level Output Specification and Statement of funding available for rail on 17/18 July 2007
Recent announcements on successful franchise operators for West Midlands and Cross Country to commence later this year.
Strategic Partnerships
Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS)
· Local Business Initiative - Doing Business with the Public Sector
Hertfordshire County Council joined forces on the 8 June 2007 with Hertfordshire Prosperity, Business Link East and District Councils to promote how local businesses and social enterprises can do business with local authorities. The event called ‘Doing business with the Public Sector’ attracted over 120 people who were able to receive information on tendering processes and how bid for contracts. Over 40 people also took the opportunity in special one-to-one sessions to speak directly with procurement officers to get advice and information relevant to their business.
· Valuing Volunteers in Hertfordshire
In Hertfordshire, we are fortunate to have a range of public services delivered by the voluntary and community sector. They play a crucial role in improving the quality of life for thousands of people, so it is essential that we encourage and support them. During Volunteers Week 2007 (4-8 June), the ‘Valuing Volunteers’ campaign was launched to increase the profile of volunteering in Hertfordshire and support the activities of these key organisations. Volunteering can also be a great way to help others, have fun and meet new people, while gaining valuable new skills and experiences. Running over the next two years, the campaign will emphasize these points and develop a range of initiatives aimed at recruiting more volunteers and improving awareness of volunteering opportunities such as:
· Working with young homeless people
· Befriending older people
· Providing transport to people without mobility
· Supporting victims of crime
· Working on a range of environmental and community programmes
For more information on the wide range of opportunities available, please visit: www.volunteeringherts.org
Community Leadership
Hertfordshire Forward is leading on the development of a new sustainable community strategy for the county 2006-2021. It is designed to be the umbrella strategy which ultimately informs the strategic plans of various partner organisations in Hertfordshire. Key areas of work will be around:
· Sustaining the knowledge economy and addressing the Hertfordshire skills gap (a ‘brighter Hertfordshire’)
· Addressing areas of disadvantage and improving social cohesion
· Strengthening the voluntary sector
· Tackling congestion
· Tackling housing affordability
The strategy will also address the emerging challenges of housing growth, climate change and community cohesion. We are currently gathering and reviewing all the necessary evidence to inform the strategy and will test this through a series of workshops with all key stakeholders in July, and a series of strategic conversations with leading partners during June and July. A three month consultation on a draft will begin at the Hertfordshire Forward annual conference (26 October 2007). The target for final publication is Spring 2008.