DOES HITCHIN NEED A TOWN COUNCIL?
Notes of Public Meeting held at The Sun Hotel, Hitchin - 22nd October 2008
Chairperson: Morag Norgan
Arguments For: Chris Honey
Arguments Against: Rosemary Read
NHDC representative: John Robinson, Strategic Director of NHDC
Arguments For
- Hitchin is currently missing out because it is not operating on a level playing feel with other towns in North Herts
- A TC would be a voice for Hitchin on matters affecting the town
- A TC would provide more local focus – based in Hitchin and focusing only on Hitchin matters
- A TC would have a voice in Planning (statutory consultee) to help protect the special character of Hitchin
- Money raised in Hitchin would be spent on Hitchin
- A TC would bring added value to Hitchin
- A TC could make a real and visible difference to the town
Arguments Against
- TCs have 2 duties (allotments and to hold an annual meeting) but potentially wide ranging powers.
- Much of what a TC could do a District Council must do
- The work is generally not “high profile” – people may want to become Town Councillors for the wrong reasons
- Planning – how much power does a TC really have? They can comment but the decision still lies with the Planning Department. What could a TC do which Hitchin Forum and other like groups don’t already do?
- Do we have enough people wanting to stand? Vacant seats and seats filled with no opposition is hardly democratic!
- Who does the TC really represent? “Town Centre” issues seem to be the kind of things which motivate most (eg litter, dog mess), but what about issues affecting community areas?
- What can go wrong with a TC? Politiking; problems getting rid of a TC if we try it and don’t like it (eg Letchworth); no cap on the precept that can be set
- It will cost Hitchin residents money – precept is levied in addition to the council tax. Hitchin has very active community groups which achieve a great deal without any levy on local taxes.
John Robinson, Strategic Director NHDC
The government has devolved power on whether to establish a TC to the District Councils based on a series of considerations
A review process is triggered by a) a petition (10% of the population in favour), or b) a DC review
Secretary of State has made it clear that levies are not limitless, due to high overspending by some councils
A TC is a statutory consultee on planning matters – if a TC objects to an application, NHDC must look more closely at the application, but its final decision is still bound by the law
Establishing a TC is not a way of changing District policy
NHDC is encouraging debate about TCs – only Hitchin and Baldock have no TC
Central government is positively disposed in favour of TCs
If the DC enters into a review process it has 12 months to make a decision and will consider wide ranging views and take all factors into consideration in arriving at its decision. The decision regarding establishment of a TC ultimately lies with the DC.
Once established, it is highly unlikely a TC would be ab olished
Elected councillors make the decision about what they do and what levy they should raise. There is no way of knowing in advance what this is likely to be and voters don’t have the ability to influence this.
Question and Answer session
What would Hitchin taxpayers say when they see extra levy on their bill? Taxpayers are likely to be very sceptical regarding what their payment could deliver.
If the TC does all the jobs described, would the DC be able to do with less councillors? DC statutory responsibilities will not change and therefore a TC would represent an additional charge.
What has changed since the 1970s when Hitchin opted out? There is an argument that NHDC made a mistake at this point in deciding differently to Royston etc.
What will a TC cost? At present nobody can accurately predict this. The DC will set the precept for the first year and town councillors will have freedom to set the rate in subsequent years.
What will a TC do for the money? TC may be delegated powers from other organisations who own assets (eg verges, cemeteries, Town Hall …). They cannot do anything which is not delegated to them.
Are we not afraid of escalating costs of the precept if there is no cap? Independent research at the University of Aberystwyth comes to the overall conclusion that the benefits of TCs outweights the costs. Also there is a focus in their research on the additionality of what a TC offers.
What does the panel feel about paying money into existing bodies to improve the outcome from monies as opposed to spending significant amounts of a local levy just on bureaucracy? The BID process currently ongoing could be a good test bed which might be extended
There is a potential conflict between the BID process and going out to try and agree a TC process at the same time.
BID = Business Improvement District scheme and involves payments only by the businesses of a defined area of the town centre.
Will ballots and responses to this meeting be publicised and what will happen next? ITCH group will review and come up with a public statement which reflects the views collected, and this will be publicised (local press etc).
What is the voting process? Simple majority ballot, like other local elections.
What is required to get a petition set up? Petition signed by 10% of the eligible voters is required to trigger a review by the DC of whether a TC should go ahead.
Would businesses face a double whammy with a BID and TC levy?
John Robinson to revert – answer not known.
What happens next? DC is required to consult and represent the view of local people. For Letchworth, they chose a referendum, but this is not mandatory.
Option exists to use full or edited version of the electoral role.
Ultimate decision is made by the elected councillors of NHDC, ie a referendum is not a binding decision.
The meeting closed with a straw poll show of hands to determine approximate numbers in favour and against the notion of a TC for Hitchin:
Majority against
3 for
7 abstentions
(This page was updated on 11th February 2009.)
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Hitchin Urban Transport Plan - February 2009
HCC and NHDC are formulating a new Hitchin Urban Transport Plan (HUTP) to replace the Hitchin Transport Plan dating from 1998. Representatives from local organisations such as Hitchin Forum have been invited to take part.
These plans need to be updated regularly, but there are additional considerations this time. Most notably our councils are obliged to consider the impact of growth planned for the neighbouring towns of Stevenage and Luton. The main manifestation of this is that a Hitchin southern bypass is again being considered.
The HUTP process is being run by Hertfordshire Highways, who have engaged consultants Faber Maunsell to carry out study work and to run the public consultation. Part of their work will be to model traffic flows to assess the effect of a bypass on Hitchin and the surrounding area. Bypass aside, there are many other things to be considered: pedestrians, cycling, rail, buses and so on. A complete draft of the plan is not expected to be ready until early 2010.
Our councils are good at producing documents full of worthy ideas but not following up on them. The 1998 plan is a good example: the promised cycling improvements have not materialised and much of the traffic calming has not appeared. It would be nice to think that this time there will be a little more action to follow the paperwork.
The issues in the 2008 plan are complex. The following are the issues which will need to be considered by all concerned:
- Will a bypass reduce congestion (as in Shefford) or encourage more traffic, as with Newbury or Baldock?
- How would a bypass be funded? In the past developers have suggested funding one if they are allowed to build houses south of Hitchin.
- Will a bypass encourage more growth in Stevenage and Luton and hence even more traffic?
- What would be the route of a bypass? The environmental problems south of Hitchin are likely to be severe.
- Is there a danger of an "outer M25" appearing by stealth?
- What traffic reduction measures are being considered as an alternative to road-building?
- Why has there been no action on the Hitchin Cycle Network? Can work now finally start?
- Can the ideas in the Hitchin Transport Vision, which had much local input, be incorporated?
- Traffic calming and 20 mph residential zones, enforcement of speed limits?
- Can a link road be built into the industrial area, and can it be prevented from becoming a "rat-run" for drivers trying to avoid the congested A505?
- Can rail sidings be built in the industrial area to reduce heavy lorry movements, particularly for scrap metal?
- Can the unpleasant A505 underbridge at the station be improved, particularly for pedestrians?
- Is enough attention being paid to the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users?
- Can the Paynes Park racetrack be eliminated with/without a bypass?
What kind of transport system do we need to cope with the expected decline in availability of conventional oil-based fuels in coming decades?
We would also like to know your opinions as to how NHDC and HCC are managing the consultation process for the people of Hitchin. Visit our Discussion Forum now to have your say and see what others are saying.
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