Environment Policy and Review Panel - Tuesday, 7th June, 2016 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chairman of the Panel for the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED:  That R.L.G. Dibbs be appointed Chairman for the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Panel for the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED:  That Cr. Sophia Choudhary be appointed Vice-Chairman for the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 5th April, 2016 (copy attached).

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 5th April, 2016 were approved and signed by the Chairman.

To receive an update from the Head of Community Services on the parking service and to consider the approach to developing a new parking strategy.

The Panel received a presentation from the Head of Community and Environmental Services on the parking service and was asked to consider the approach to developing a new parking strategy.  There were a number of areas that needed to be considered when developing a parking strategy including the increase in car ownership, environmental issues, provision of on street and off street parking, community safety and sustainable transport.  There had been some recent improvements introduced relating to the use of blue badges, improving the patrol system through the use of technology, redesigning patrols to provide comprehensive coverage and visibility and preparation for installing new pay and display machines.

There were a number of issues highlighted across the Borough which needed addressing.  In Aldershot there was a demand for more short-stay parking in the town centre which could be achieved by maximising the use of the long-stay car parks and re-designating others as short-stay only.  Other issues to be considered for Aldershot were the potential for more residents’ parking schemes, a consultation on overnight parking in the town centre and whether lower tariffs in car parks would increase footfall.  The main issues in Farnborough related to parking in and around Farnborough Sixth Form College and the pricing policies in car parks owned by other operators.

The Panel was informed of the current tariffs in the car parks and the income generated.  The income generated from on-street parking and fines offset expenditure and any surplus was invested in highway improvements across the Borough.

The Panel discussed parking in the Borough and suggested areas where improvements were required.  It was acknowledged that any suggested improvements would need to be prioritised against other schemes put forward.  A report would be brought to the September Panel meeting setting out a priority list of improvements.

The Panel NOTED the presentation.

To receive a presentation from the Head of Planning and the Planning Policy and Conservation Manager on conservation areas in the Borough and how development within them is assessed.

The Panel received a presentation from the Head of Planning and the Planning Policy and Conservation Manager on conservation areas in the Borough and how development within them was assessed.  There were over 8,000 conservation areas in England which were designated for their special architectural and historic interest.  There were eight conservation areas in Rushmoor which were: Aldershot Military Town; Aldershot West; Basingstoke Canal; Cargate Avenue; Farnborough Hill; Manor Park; St Michael’s Abbey; and, South Farnborough.

There were additional considerations required of proposals that were in conservation areas to ensure that historic architectural features were retained.  When considering planning applications in a conservation area there were a number of policies that needed to be adhered to which related to preserving the area.  The policies set out in the Rushmoor Local Plan Review (2000), Rushmoor’s Core Strategy (2011), the Emerging Rushmoor Local Plan Preferred Approach, June 2015 and the National Planning Policy Framework all set out the requirements that needed to be met before development would be approved.  There was also extra protection for heritage assets, of which there were 94 listed buildings/structures in Rushmoor and 156 locally listed heritage assets.

The current priority for the Planning Policy and Conservation Team was to prepare the new Local Plan.  Once the Local Plan had been completed a programme for the conservation area appraisal work would be prepared.  The Panel discussed the presentation and a request was made for the Council’s website to contain more background information on conservation areas.  A request was also made for a representative from Historic England to be invited to a future Panel meeting to provide some information on conservation area assessments.

The Panel NOTED the presentation.

(1)       Mid Cycle Meetings –

To appoint the Membership of the Mid-Cycle Meeting. In 2015/16, the representatives appointed were the Chairman (Cr. D.E. Clifford) and Vice-Chairman (Cr. Sophia Choudhary) and Cr. L.A. Taylor.

(2)       Recycling Task and Finish Group

To appoint the Membership of the Recycling Task and Finish Group. In 2015/16, the representatives appointed were the Crs. Mrs. D.B. Bedford, D.E. Clifford, C.P. Grattan, Barbara Hurst, G.B. Lyon and L.A. Taylor.

(3)       Farnborough Town Centre Task and Finish Group –

To appoint the Membership of the Farnborough Town Centre Task and Finish Group. The Membership in 2015/16 was Crs. Liz Corps, M.D. Smith, L.A. Taylor and P.G. Taylor.

(4)       Aldershot Town Centre Task and Finish Group –

To appoint the Membership of the Aldershot Town Centre Task and Finish Group. The Membership in 2015/16 was Crs. Sophia Choudhary, A.H. Crawford, P.I.C. Crerar, Sue Dibble, Jennifer Evans, R. Hughes, J.J. Preece, B.A. Thomas and D.M. Welch.

(1)     Mid-Cycle Meetings –

It was agreed that Cr. J.J. Preece would attend the mid-cycle meetings in 2016/17 as the representative of his political group, along with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

(2)     Recycling Task and Finish Group –

It was agreed that the work of the Recycling Task and Finish Group had been completed therefore appointments were not required for 2016/17. 

(2)     Farnborough Town Centre Working Group –

It was agreed that Crs. P.J. Moyle, Marina Munro, L.A. Taylor and P.G. Taylor would comprise the Farnborough Town Centre Working Group during 2016/17.  The Terms of Reference for the Working Group would be reviewed at the first Environment Panel mid-cycle meeting.

(3)     Aldershot Town Centre Task and Finish Group –

The Panel was informed that the Cabinet had set up an Aldershot Town Centre Regeneration Group and therefore the Aldershot Town Centre Task and Finish Group was no longer needed.  The Terms of Reference for the Regeneration Group were being developed by the Leader of the Council and invitations to join the Regeneration Group would be sent out shortly.  Reports would be submitted to future Panel meetings.

To note the Panel’s Current work programme (copy attached).

The Panel NOTED the current work programme.  It was proposed that the Contracts Manager should be invited to the September Panel meeting to provide an update on recycling rates.  The Panel was asked to send any suggestions for areas of work to be looked at to the Panel Administrator for it to be considered at the following mid-cycle meeting.