In the past week, the North Hertfordshire Council held several meetings. Here's a summary of the key points discussed:

Finance, Audit and Risk Committee

Date: Wednesday, 19 June 2024

The notes from this meeting have not yet been summarised, and no video was provided. The Finance, Audit and Risk Committee typically reviews the council's financial performance, risk management, and audit reports. These meetings are crucial for ensuring the council's financial health and accountability.

Baldock and District Community Forum

Date: Monday, 17 June 2024

We have not been able to find a video broadcast of this meeting. Community forums like this one usually focus on local issues, resident concerns, and community projects. They are essential for fostering community engagement and addressing the needs of Baldock and the surrounding district.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Date: Tuesday, 18 June 2024

The notes from this meeting have not yet been summarised, and no video was provided. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is responsible for reviewing and scrutinising the decisions made by the council's executive and other committees. This ensures transparency and accountability in the council's operations.

Southern Rural Community Forum

Date: Thursday, 20 June 2024

This meeting has been postponed. Community forums like the Southern Rural Community Forum play a vital role in addressing local issues and engaging with residents in rural areas of North Hertfordshire.

Planning Control Committee

Date: Thursday, 20 June 2024

The Planning Control Committee meeting provided some significant insights into local development. Here are the key points discussed:

Key Decisions and Discussions:

1. Apologies for Absence: Councillor Michael Muir sent his apologies, and Councillor Joe Graziano substituted for him.

2. Notification of Other Business: There was no additional business to discuss.

3. Chair's Announcements: The Chair reminded members about the council's recording policy and the importance of declaring interests before discussing items.

4. Public Participation: The committee heard from four registered speakers, including a member advocate objector and the applicants' representatives.

5. Planning Applications:

   • The George at Baldock: The committee discussed the application for the change of use of The George at Baldock to include a restaurant, cheese and wine bar, and hotel rooms. The application was approved, with the committee noting the importance of bringing the building back into use and the potential benefits to the town centre.
   • 31 Hitchin Street, Baldock: The committee also approved the application for the change of use of 31 Hitchin Street from a restaurant to residential units. The decision was influenced by the site's location on the edge of the town centre and the challenges in maintaining it as a viable commercial space.

Quotes from the Meeting:

• Councillor Willoughby on The George at Baldock: This site is one of the oldest hospitality sites in Baldock and actually in the district. We need to ensure our town centres and our communities are viable.
• Applicant's Agent on 31 Hitchin Street: The site is on the very edge of the town centre, and the commercial units that used to reside near to that building have now disappeared. It's very much an outlier.

The decisions made during this meeting highlight the council's efforts to balance the preservation of historic sites with the need for viable commercial and residential spaces.

Stay tuned for more updates on council activities and decisions in the coming weeks.

In the past week, the North Hertfordshire Council held several meetings. Here's a summary of the key points discussed:

Joint Staff Consultative Committee

Date: Wednesday, 12 June 2024

The Joint Staff Consultative Committee convened virtually to discuss various matters, including the minutes of the Staff Consultation Forum (SCF) meetings from March, April, and May 2024, and to provide updates on HR and recruitment.

Key Decisions and Discussions:

1. Approval of Previous Minutes: The minutes from the 13 March 2024 meeting were approved, with corrections to the spelling of a committee member's name.

2. Green Spaces and Catering Team Restructures:

   • The Green Spaces team restructure includes transforming an Area & Monitoring Officer post into an Environment and Tree Officer post, reporting to a newly named Senior Tree Officer. This restructure aims to be cost-neutral.
   • The Catering Team restructure involves operating the Café Kiosk in Bancroft Gardens only on weekends and school holidays, managing the Howard Park Kiosk in-house for a year, and creating three Seasonal Kiosk Assistant roles. This restructure is also cost-neutral.

3. Solar Panel Electricity Generation: The council's solar panels have generated over 10 megawatt-hours of electricity annually in 2022 and 2023, saving approximately £2,000 each year.

4. Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme: Funding has been secured for decarbonising leisure centres, including installing more solar panels and heat pumps. The budget also includes extending fitness facilities at Royston Leisure Centre and potentially building a learner's pool.

5. Staff Survey: The Staff Survey received 228 responses, with 90% of staff recommending the council as an employer. Areas for improvement were identified, and updates will be provided to staff in the coming weeks.

6. National Pay Bargaining: The national pay bargaining process is ongoing, with unions submitting a pay claim for a £3,000 or 10% increase, whichever is greater. The national employers have made a final offer, which has been met with disappointment from the unions.

7. Apprenticeships: The council currently has seven apprentices and is actively promoting apprenticeship opportunities. The HR team attended an apprenticeship fair in March to highlight the variety of careers available at North Hertfordshire Council.

8. Inclusion Group: The Inclusion Group discussed neurodiversity in the workplace in April, with recommendations made to support neurodivergent employees.

9. Absence Rates: Short-term absence rates have fallen, while long-term absences remain consistent, with mental health being a significant factor. The HR team continues to support managers and staff in managing absences.

Quotes from the Meeting:

• Rebecca Webb on Recruitment: Although the number of jobs advertised has reduced, we have seen an increase in the overall applicants with the revenues officer and planning compliance officer being particularly popular vacancies.
• Councillor Rona Cameron on Apprenticeships: I'd like to see more of them. Can you tell me just either now or is there anything written down about the policy towards apprenticeships?

The committee also discussed future topics, agreeing to focus on coaching and mentoring at the next meeting, along with feedback from the staff consultation.

Planning Control Committee

Date: Thursday, 13 June 2024

The transcript for this meeting is not available. However, Planning Control Committee meetings typically involve reviewing planning applications, considering objections, and making decisions on development proposals. These meetings are crucial for managing local development and ensuring that it aligns with community needs and planning policies.

Royston and District Community Forum

Date: Tuesday, 11 June 2024

We have not been able to find a video broadcast of this meeting. Community forums like this one usually focus on local issues, resident concerns, and community projects. They are essential for fostering community engagement and addressing the needs of Royston and the surrounding district.

Hitchin Community Forum

Date: Tuesday, 11 June 2024

We have not been able to find a video broadcast of this meeting. Similar to other community forums, the Hitchin Community Forum likely discussed local issues, resident concerns, and community projects, playing a vital role in community engagement.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the Public reports pack and the Decisions document.

Stay tuned for more updates on council activities and decisions in the coming weeks.

In the past week, the North Hertfordshire Council held two meetings. Here's a summary of the key points discussed:

Letchworth Community Forum

Date: Wednesday, 05 June 2024

The transcript for this meeting is not available. However, community forums typically focus on local issues, resident concerns, and community projects. These forums are essential for fostering community engagement and addressing the needs of Letchworth residents.

Licensing Sub-Committee

Date: Thursday, 06 June 2024

This meeting was conducted virtually via Zoom and livestreamed on YouTube. The primary focus was on an application for a standard temporary event notice under Section 100 of the Licensing Act 2003. The event in question was a 60th birthday party at the Orange Tree in Baldock, featuring live music and a barbecue.

Key participants included:

• Councillor Ian Albert (Chair)
• Councillor Keith Hoskins
• Councillor Tim Johnson
• Councillor Stephen Patmore
• Melanie Gillespie (Officer)
• Jasmine Jennings (Officer)
• Simio Paxi-Cato (Legal Advisor)
• Alan Stone (Environmental Health Officer)
• Michael Curtis (Applicant)
• Rob Scottfield (Representative for the premises)

Key Points Discussed:

1. Election of Chair and Reserve Member: Councillor Ian Albert was elected as the chair, and Councillor Stephen Patmore was nominated as the reserve member.

2. Hearing Procedure: The committee clerk outlined the hearing procedure, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a quorum and the process for handling technical issues during the virtual meeting.

3. Application Details: The application was for a temporary event notice for a 60th birthday party at the Orange Tree, including live music and a barbecue. The event was planned to take place in the garden and marquee area of the pub.

4. Environmental Health Concerns: Alan Stone, the Environmental Health Officer, raised concerns about noise levels and the potential for public nuisance. He referenced the Code of Practice on Environmental Noise at Concerts and other guidelines, noting that the proposed noise levels might exceed acceptable limits.

5. Applicant's Response: Rob Scottfield, representing the premises, argued that the event should be allowed to proceed and proposed using the event as a test case to gather data on noise levels. He emphasized the importance of finding a balance between providing live music and respecting the neighbors' peace.

6. Decision: The subcommittee decided to grant the application, considering the time of the event, its private nature, and the existing condition of six events per year on the premises license. They also advised that Alan Stone attend the event to gather evidence for future applications.

Quotes from the Meeting:

• Alan Stone: The premises license for the Orange Tree was reviewed in 2021 by a member of the public complainant, who was concerned about noise from previous events.
• Rob Scottfield: We are trying to be compliant. We have an opportunity here to go forward and get that compliance without looking back and maybe arguing about what has or hasn't happened in the past three years.

The decision to grant the application highlights the council's effort to balance community enjoyment with the need to minimize public nuisance. The advice to gather data during the event underscores the importance of evidence-based decision-making for future applications.

Stay tuned for more updates on council activities and decisions in the coming weeks.