Agenda
AGENDA for a meeting of the ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING AND TRANSPORT CABINET PANEL in the ASHBOURNE ROOM at County Hall, Hertford on WEDNESDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2016 at 10.00AM ______
MEMBERS OF THE PANEL (11) (Quorum 3)
D Andrews (Vice-Chairman), D A Ashley (Chairman), D J Barnard, N Bell, H K Crofton, A S B Walkington, N A Hollinghurst, M D M Muir, S J Taylor, R Sangster, R H Smith
Meetings of the Cabinet Panel are open to the public (this includes the press) and attendance is welcomed. However, there may be occasions when the public are excluded from the meeting for particular items of business. Any such items are taken at the end of the public part of the meeting and are listed under “Part II (‘closed’) agenda”.
The Ashbourne Room is fitted with an audio system to assist those with hearing impairment. Anyone who wishes to use this should contact main (front) reception.
Members are reminded that all equalities implications and equalities impact assessments undertaken in relation to any matter on this agenda must be rigorously considered prior to any decision being reached on that matter .
PART I (PUBLIC) AGENDA
1. MINUTES
To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 September 2016 (attached).
2. PUBLIC PETITIONS
The opportunity for any member of the public, being resident in or a registered local government elector of Hertfordshire to present a petition relating to a matter with which the Council is concerned, and is relevant to the remit of this Cabinet Panel, containing 100 or more signatures of residents or business ratepayers of Hertfordshire.
Notification of intent to present a petition must have been given to the Chief Legal Officer at least 20 clear days before the meeting where an item relating to the subject matter of the petition does not appear in the agenda, or at least 5 clear days where the item is the subject of a report already on the agenda.
[Members of the public who are considering raising an issue of concern via a petition are advised to contact their local member of the Council. The Council's arrangements forAgenda the receipt Pack of1 ofpetitions 157 are set out in Annex 22 -
1 Petitions Scheme of the Constitution.]
If you have any queries about the procedure please contact Nicola Cahill, by telephone on (01992 555554) or by e-mail to [email protected]
3. ADOPTION OF THE REVISED MINERALS AND WASTE DEVELOPMENT SCHEME (MWDS)
Report of the Chief Executive & Director of Environment
4. LOCAL AGGREGATE ASSESSMENT 2016
Report of the Chief Executive & Director of Environment
5. REVIEW OF BUS SERVICE POLICY CHANGES
Report of the Chief Executive & Director of Environment
6. SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL TRANSITION YEAR: ST ALBANS CONNECTIVITY HYBRID SHUTTLE Report of the Chief Executive & Director of Environment
7. THAMESLINK 2018 TIMETABLE CONSULTATION
Report of the Chief Executive & Director of Environment
8. ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING & TRANSPORT PERFORMANCE MONITOR
Report of the Chief Executive & Director of Environment
9. OTHER PART I BUSINESS
Such Part I (public) business which, if the Chairman agrees, is of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration.
PART II (‘CLOSED’) AGENDA
EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
There are no items of Part II business on this agenda. If Part II business is notified the Chairman will move:-
“That under Section 100(A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item/s of business on the grounds that it/they involve/s the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph/s . of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the said Act and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.” Agenda Pack 2 of 157
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If you require further information about this agenda please contact Nicola Cahill, Democratic Services, telephone number (01992) 555554 or email [email protected].
Agenda documents are also available on the internet at: https://cmis.hertsdirect.org/hertfordshire/Calendarofcouncilmeetings.aspx.
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Minutes
To: All Members of the From: Legal, Democratic & Statutory Services Environment, Planning and Ask for: Theresa Baker Transport Cabinet Panel, Chief Ext: 26545 Executive, Chief Officers, All officers named for ‘actions’
ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING AND TRANSPORT CABINET PANEL, 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
ATTENDANCE
MEMBERS OF THE PANEL
D Andrews (Vice Chairman), D A Ashley (Chairman), N Bell, H K Crofton, N A Hollinghurst, M D M Muir, R Sangster, R H Smith, I M Reay (substituting for D J Barnard),S J Taylor, A S B Walkington
Upon consideration of the agenda for the Environment, Planning and Transport Cabinet Panel meeting on 14 September 2016 as circulated, copy annexed, conclusions were reached and are recorded below:
Note: Declarations of interest were made by D A Ashley and S J Taylor in relation to the matters on which conclusions were reached at this meeting and is recorded at item 5.
PART I (‘OPEN’) BUSINESS ACTION 1. MINUTES
1.1 The Minutes of the Cabinet Panel meeting held on 30 June 2016 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.
2. PUBLIC PETITIONS
2.1 There were no public petitions.
In order to accommodate officer commitments, the Chairman agreed to vary the order of business and take item 5 immediately after item 3.
3. INFORMATION REPORT ON GROUNDWORK HERTFORDSHIRE
[Officer Contact: Tony Bradford, Head of CountrysideAgenda Pack Management 4 of 157 Service
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(Tel: 01992 556028)
3.1 The Cabinet Panel considered a presentation which updated them as to the work of Groundwork within the county and across the east of England.
3.2 Members heard that Groundwork Hertfordshire, which was part of the national Groundwork Federation, had been established in 1985 with the support of Hertfordshire County Council. Members heard that as an environmental community charity Groundwork worked towards a vision of a society of sustainable, vibrant, healthy and safe communities.
3.3 The Cabinet Panel were advised that Groundwork’s main areas of activity were to; improve people’s prospects, create better places and to promote greener living and working by assisting people to understand the impact their activities have on the environment.
3.4 Groundwork Hertfordshire delivered projects and programmes across the county, funding for which could be attributed to sources such as Landfill Communities fund, Private Sector, Housing Associations and a recent addition, the Tesco ‘Bags of Help’. Schemes included ‘Sprouting out’, which helps residents at homeless shelters learn to grow their own fruit and vegetables and to eat healthily, ‘Green Aiders’ which worked to assist vulnerable and elderly Hertfordshire residents for whom garden overgrowth presented access and safety concerns, ‘Herts Healthy Homes’ a free information and support service that helps vulnerable individuals to stay healthy and safe in their home all year round and the ‘Green Team’ a volunteer initiative established for young people not in employment or education.
3.5 It was noted that a joined up approach between Hertfordshire County Council’s Countryside Management Service and Groundwork would prove time and cost effective. However, pension obligations and TUPE arrangements had proved challenging in the past and would need to be fully addressed before any further steps could be taken.
Conclusions:
3.6 The Cabinet Panel noted the presentation and acknowledged the valuable work undertaken by Groundwork and its volunteers.
4. BUS SERVICES BILL
[Officer Contact: Matt Lale (Tel: 01992 588633)]
4.1 Members considered a report which informed them as to the emerging Bus Services Bill which was being processed through 2 CHAIRMAN’S INITIALS Agenda Pack 5 of 157
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parliament.
4.2 Members heard that the Bill was expected to provide the option for combined authority areas with directly elected Mayors, or if the Secretary of State so provides in regulations, other suitable governance arrangements to be responsible for the running of their local bus services.
4.3 The Cabinet Panel noted that the Government had described the main benefits of the Bill as:
• Providing the option of franchise bus services to areas willing to strengthen their governance with a directly elected Mayor; • Supporting a thriving local bus market with the passenger at its centre; • Allowing cities to promote an integrated transport system supporting the growth and development of their areas.
4.4 In debate members welcomed the letter sent by the Executive Member to The Minister for Transport. Members asserted that in the interests of upholding the principals of Localism, access to franchising powers should remain as flexible as possible to facilitate local decision-making.
4.5 Members requested that the Executive Member write again to the Minister to express their disappointment at the response received, particularly in relation to the last paragraph which stated that access to franchising powers would be limited to Mayoral Combined Authorities in the first instance.
4.6 Members welcomed the news that Hertfordshire would be well- placed to take advantage of partnership powers, as the Intalink Quality Partnership was well-established. Officers advised that a report identifying future options would be brought to the December meeting of the Cabinet Panel.
Conclusions:
4.7 The Cabinet Panel noted the report and requested that a follow up letter be sent to the Minister for Transport.
5. HERTFORDSHIRE ENVIRO -TECH ENTERPRISE ZONE - PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
[Officer Contact: Claire Cook (Tel: 01992 555573)]
D A Ashley and S J Taylor declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to item 5 of the agenda as members of the Local Enterprise
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Partnership Board. They remained in the room and participated in the debate and vote.
5.1 The Cabinet Panel considered a report which outlined proposals for a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Dacorum Borough Council, St Albans City and District Council and the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to develop and operate the Hertfordshire Enviro-Tech Enterprise Zone.
5.2 Members heard that the EZ presented the opportunity for significant higher value employment growth in the west of the county and up to £240m of retained business rates growth to invest in the county. Members welcomed the news that the partnership between the LEP, the County Council, District Councils, major industry and Hertfordshire University had the potential to unlock key sites to attract major business to the area and provide an estimated additional 8000 jobs.
5.3 Officers advised that in order to ring-fence the retained business rates, the County Council and partners were required to submit a Memorandum of Understanding to the DCLG to signal their intentions to work together in September 2016. Once submitted further key decisions would be brought back for consideration by the Cabinet Panel, time scales would be subject to planning applications. It was anticipated that business rates would be available to the EZ from 2018 onwards.
5.4 It was highlighted that the reference at 4.2 to ‘Maylands Avenue’ should be amended to read ‘Maylands’ as the site comprised a wider area of land.
Conclusions:
5.5 The Cabinet Panel noted the proposed arrangements for the establishment of the Hertfordshire Enterprise Zone and recommended to Cabinet that Cabinet;
i)agrees to enter into the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and;
ii) delegates the final agreement of the terms of the MOU to the Director of Resources in consultation with the relevant Executive Members.
6 WEST MIDLANDS & CHILTERNS ROUTE STUDY 4 CHAIRMAN’S INITIALS Agenda Pack 7 of 157
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[Officer Contact: Trevor Mason (Tel: 01992 556117)]
6.1 The Cabinet Panel considered a report which outlined County Council’s response to Network Rail’s draft West Midlands & Chilterns Route Study.
6.2 Members heard that whilst much of the study area associated with the study was outside of Hertfordshire, there were implications for Rickmansworth and Chorleywood Stations. It was noted that section of track affected was part of London Underground’s infrastructure, but was also used by Chiltern Trains on the Marylebone to Aylesbury line.
6.3 The Cabinet Panel were advised that the strategy raised two issues which directly affected Hertfordshire; train lengthening and electrification. In order to accommodate lengthened trains for creating additional capacity, Rickmansworth station would require a major intervention or alternatively calling patterns would have to be altered to avoid interventions to make the station 6-car capable. Members highlighted that loss of service at Rickmansworth would be detrimental to the area and as such should be avoided and alternatives sought.
Conclusions:
6.4 The Cabinet Panel acknowledged the draft consultation and commented as outlined above.
7. ENVIR ONMENT, PLANNING AND TRANSPORT PERFORMANCE MONITOR
[Officer Contact: Simon Aries, Assistant Director Transport, Waste and Environmental Management (Tel: 01992 555255)]
7.1 The Cabinet Panel considered a report which provided a performance update for Environment, Planning and Transport for the first quarter of 2016 against the Environment Department Service Plan 2016-2020 including key performance indicators, major projects, contracts and identified risks.
7.2 It was highlighted that since 2008, with the exception of a dip across the county in 2013, Hertfordshire had seen a gradual upward trend in bus passenger numbers of 12% up to 2014.
7.3 Members noted the valuable contributions made by volunteers in relation to the Countryside Management Service. There had been a total of 8,914 volunteer hours in Quarter 1 in relation to Health walks and conservation volunteering. 5 CHAIRMAN’S INITIALS Agenda Pack 8 of 157
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7.4 Rights of Way had struggled to meet its performance objectives, as wet weather in spring led to high levels of vegetation growth in quarter 1. It was confirmed that the maintenance of the most heavily used rights of way were prioritised.
7.5 Members heard that there had been an increase in the number of tree pests and diseases, in particular Ash Dieback and the arrival of the Oak Processionary Moth in Hertfordshire. Officers advised that an update report would be submitted for the Cabinet Panel’s December meeting. The importance of raising awareness of the Oak Processionary Month was highlighted as the nests presented a Public Health risk. Officers confirmed that the Director of Public Health had contacted GP surgeries in Hertfordshire to advise them as to the risks associated with the moths caterpillars.
7.6 Members welcomed the news that the latest data had shown that 3533 new homes had been built in 2015/16 compared with 2649 in the previous year. Whilst some way from achieving targets, it demonstrated that the development industry was beginning to recover post-recession.
Conclusions:
7.7 The Cabinet Panel noted the performance monitor for Quarter 1 2016/17.
KATHRYN PETTITT CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER CHAIRMAN
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. Agenda Item No HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING & TRANSPORT 3 CABINET PANEL
WEDNESDAY 2, NOVEMBER 2016 AT 10.00AM
ADOPTION OF THE REVISED MINERALS AND WASTE DEVELOPMENT SCHEME (MWDS)
Report of the Chief Executive and Director of Environment
Author: Gemma Nicholson, Planning Officer - Policy (Tel: 01992 556 732)
Executive Member: Derrick Ashley
1. Purpose of Report 1.1 To advise the Cabinet Panel of the changes made to the Hertfordshire Minerals and Waste Development Scheme (MWDS) (attached to appendix 1) and consequently the new timetable (attached to appendix 2) for document production.
2. Summary 2.1 Statutory local plan making regulations 1 require Hertfordshire County Council (“the County Council”) as Minerals and Waste Planning Authority to produce a MWDS. The scheme details the planning documents the Council intends to produce, the timetable for their production and indicates opportunities for public participation. The County Council has produced a number of these schemes since 2005, which are revised when necessary.
2.2 The previous Minerals and Waste Development Scheme (MWDS) was presented to the Community Safety and Planning Cabinet Panel and adopted by the County Council in November 2014.
2.3 The reasons for updating the MWDS are set out below:
• Following the first stages of the review of the Minerals Local Plan (Initial consultation, stakeholder event and call for sites) the Minerals and Waste Planning Authority has reviewed the work undertaken so far and the elements needed within the next stages of plan production. Further technical work is needed to ensure that a robust evidence base supports the MLP this includes site assessment, sustainability appraisal and Habitats Regulation Assessment. The technical work will inform the next stages of the review process and is a curial stage for the Draft Plan. The time needed to complete the technical work in full and ensure a robust evidence base for the Draft Plan needs be reflected in a revised MWDS.
1 The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012. Agenda Pack 10 of 157 1
• Since the MWDS was adopted in 2014, the Employment Land Areas of Search Supplementary Planning Document has been adopted by the County Council. Therefore the MWDS should reflect this position.
• It is proposed that the MWDS should also set out the proposed timeline to review the Waste Local Plan. The Waste Site Allocations document (2014), which forms part of the Waste Local Plan states that ‘the plan will be reviewed in full every five years and a partial review may be undertaken sooner than that if required’.
2.4 The MWDS and timetable has, therefore, been amended to reflect these changes, and is set out in further detail in Section 5 below. The scheme covers the period 2016 to 2020. The timetable attached to appendix 2 of this report sets out the estimated plan production timescale during this time.
3. Recommendation/s 3.1 The Cabinet Panel is asked to consider the revised MWDS and new timetable and recommend approval at the forthcoming meetings of Cabinet and County Council.
4. Background 4.1 Under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, local planning authorities are required to produce a Local Development Scheme. For the County Council, this is known as Minerals and Waste Development Scheme (MWDS). This document should set out what documents are to be prepared, the timescale, and key milestones for their preparation over the coming three years, the resources required and any identifiable risks.
4.2 The County Council approved its first MWDS in April 2005 with subsequent updates in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014.
4.3 The chapters within the MWDS for Hertfordshire cover the requirements identified in paragraph 4.1. Section 2 covers the adopted minerals and waste planning documents in addition to other planning documents such as the Statement of Community Involvement, Authority’s Monitoring Report, the Local Aggregate Assessment and Supplementary Planning Documents produced by the County Council.
4.4 Section 3 highlights the relationship between national policy, local plans and strategies which the County Council need to take into account when producing planning documents.
4.5 The MWDS also includes a section on review and monitoring which sets out the stages of preparation for the review of the Minerals and Waste Planning documents. Whilst the MWDS provides an overview of the milestones for plan production, the County Council is also required to produce additional documents for monitoring purposes in the form of the Authority’s Monitoring Report and the Local Aggregate Assessment (LAA). The Minerals and Waste Development Scheme specifies that these will be carried out
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annually. The AMR contains monitoring information relating to whether the County Council has met the MWDS targets and milestones and whether there is a need to update the MWDS.
4.6 The timetable included within the MWDS and set out in appendix 2 of this report, also shows the documents that will either be continually monitored or produced during the timescale of the revised MWDS.
4.7 The Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document sets out the strategic, spatial element of the waste development framework and contains development management policies, for waste management in the County. This document was adopted in November 2012. It is listed within the timetable to be monitored on an annual basis through the Authority’s Monitoring Report (AMR).
4.8 The Waste Site Allocations document identifies sites and areas for waste management facilities. The document includes maps and planning briefs for sites identified as existing strategic sites, Allocated Sites and Employment Land Areas of Search. The Waste Site Allocations document was adopted in July 2014. The document will be monitored on an annual basis through the Authority’s Monitoring Report (AMR). This document would record any issues which may trigger a review, for example changes in data, site circumstances or change in strategy direction.
4.9 The Employment Land Areas of Search Supplementary Planning Document is designed to assist developers submitting waste related developments within the 60 Employment Land Areas of Search (ELAS) that are identified in the adopted Waste Site Allocations document. Following public consultation in May – June 2015, this document was adopted at County Council in November 2015. It is listed within the timetable to be monitored on an annual basis through the Authority’s Monitoring Report (AMR) along with the Waste Site Allocations.
4.10 Section 5 sets out the resources for staffing and support, budget provision and the management process for document production. In addition, this section includes risks and contingencies for the programming of work and within the decision making context.
5. Key Changes 5.1 The timetable outlined in the previous MWDS, covered the period July 2014-December 2018 and set out the documents that the County Council intended to produce over that time. The MWDS has been updated to reflect the adoption of the Employment Land Area of Search Supplementary Planning Document (“SPD”) and to provide an up-to-date, accurate timescale of plan production for the Minerals Local Plan and to incorporate the review of the Waste Local Plan, taking account of anticipated council meeting dates and possible extensions to consultations to allow for holiday periods.
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Minerals Local Plan review
5.2 The main changes to the MWDS for the Minerals Local Plan are set out below. The key milestones for the Minerals Local Plan are also set out in Section 4 of the MWDS. The key milestones are considered to be realistic and achievable, barring unforeseen circumstances. 5.3 The main change is the delay to the MLP Draft Plan consultation due to further technical work needed to inform the Draft Plan to ensure that a robust evidence base supports the MLP. This will, consequently have a knock on affect to the subsequent stages of the review process. Milestone MWDS 2014 Proposed MWDS 2016 Initial Consultation (Public Included as part of August 2015 – Engagement) evidence gathering October 2015 Call for Sites Included as part of February – April evidence gathering 2016 Draft MLP Plan consultation September- August – October (Public Engagement) October 2016 (Six 2017 weeks) Date for Publication of MLP June-July 2017 August – October Proposed Submission (Six week) 2018 (Public Participation)
Submission to the Secretary August 2017 November 2018 of State for independent
examination Possible independent September- January – March examination period November 2017 2019 (depending upon the
precise date when the document is submitted to the Secretary of State) Publication of the December 2017- April - June 2019 Inspector’s Report into the February 2018 examination of the
document (this is dependent upon the precise dates of the independent examination) Presentation of the Minerals June-July 2018 October – Local Plan to Cabinet November 2019 Panel, Cabinet and County Council for adoption
Proposed Date for Adoption July 2018 November 2019 of the Minerals Local Plan
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Waste Local Plan review
5.4 The timeline for the Waste Local Plan review is set out below. These key milestones are also set out in Section 4 of the MWDS. The timeline shows the initial evidence base work to be undertaken through 2017 – 2019. It is anticipated that within this time at least one stage of public consultation would be undertaken and if required a call for sites. Following this, it is the intention that the Draft Waste Local Plan consultation would be undertaken in summer 2019 and subsequent plan making stages following this. The key milestones are considered to be realistic and achievable, barring unforeseen circumstances.
Milestone Proposed MWDS 2016 Timeline
Initial stages including 2017 -2019 evidence gathering, initial consultation and call for sites (if required) Draft WLP Plan consultation August – October 2019 (Public Engagement) Publication of Proposed August – October 2020 Submission (Public Participation) Submission to the Secretary November/December 2020 of State Possible Examination and 2021 Adoption of the Waste Local Plan
6. Next Steps 6.1 The MWDS is not subject to independent examination and will not be published for the public to make formal comment. However, in order for it to be brought into effect there needs to be a resolution. This requirement is specified in Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 as amended by the Localism Act 2011:
‘To bring the scheme into effect, the local planning authority must resolve that the scheme is to have effect and in the resolution specify the date from which the scheme is to have effect’.
6.2 It is therefore intended that the Minerals and Waste Development Scheme be considered by Cabinet on 9 November 2016 and for adoption at County Council on 15 November 2016.
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7. Financial Implications
7.1 The cost of producing the Minerals and Waste Development Scheme can be met from existing budgets. The approximate costs of document production are set out in the Minerals Waste Development Scheme.
8. Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) 8.1 When considering proposals placed before Members it is important that they are fully aware of, and have themselves rigorously considered, the equality implications of the decision that they are making.
8.2 Rigorous consideration will ensure that proper appreciation of any potential impact of that decision on the County Council’s statutory obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty. As a minimum this requires decision makers to read and carefully consider the content of any Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) produced by officers.
8.3 The Equality Act 2010 requires the County Council when exercising its functions to have due regard to the need to (a) eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and other conduct prohibited under the Act; (b) advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it and (c) foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it. The protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 are age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.
8.4 It is not anticipated that people with protected characteristics will be affected disproportionately by the proposals set out in the report. Each stage of plan production will be subject to its own Equalities Impact Assessment.
Appendix 1 – Minerals and Waste Development Scheme
Appendix 2 – Minerals and Waste Development Scheme Timetable 2016
Background documents referred to and used in writing this report:
The National Planning Policy Framework (2012), DCLG https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/607 7/2116950.pdf
National Planning Practice Guidance (2014), DCLG http://planningguidance.communities.gov.uk/blog/guidance/minerals/
Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/767/pdfs/uksi_20120767_en.pdf
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The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/5/contents
The Localism Act 2011 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/20/contents/enacted
Hertfordshire Statement of Community Involvement (2013) http://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/envplan/plan/hccdevplan/sci1/
Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document (adopted November 2012) http://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/envplan/plan/hccdevplan/wasteplan/wstd evfrmrk/
Waste Site Allocations document (adopted July 2014) http://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/envplan/plan/hccdevplan/wasteplan/wstd evfrmrk/wastesiteallocationsdocument/
Employment Land Area of Search SPD (adopted November 2015) http://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/envplan/plan/hccdevplan/wasteplan/wstd evfrmrk/18791775/
Minerals Local Plan (adopted March 2007) http://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/envplan/plan/hccdevplan/mlp/mlpadoptio nmarch2007/
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Hertfordshire County Council
Minerals and Waste Development Scheme
November 2016
If you have any comments on this Minerals and Waste Development Scheme please contact: Minerals and Waste Policy Team Spatial Planning & Economy Unit Environment Department CHN 216 County Hall Hertford SG13 8DN
Tel 01992 556266 e-mail: [email protected]
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Table of contents
1.0 Introduction ...... 4 Purpose of the Hertfordshire Minerals and Waste Development Scheme4 2.0 Hertfordshire Minerals and Waste Planning Documents ...... 6 Minerals and Waste Planning Documents ...... 6 Other Minerals and Waste Planning Documents ...... 9 Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) ...... 10 3.0 Relationship between National Policy and Local Plans and Strategies ...... 13 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) and National Planning Policy for Waste (NPPW) ..... 14 Other Local Plans and Strategies ...... 14 4.0 Review and Monitoring ...... 15 Stages of Preparation for the review of Minerals and Waste Planning Documents ...... 15 Monitoring ...... 18 5.0 Resources ...... 21 Staffing and Support ...... 21 Budget Provision ...... 22 Management Process ...... 25 Risk Assessment and Contingencies ...... 25 Risk in Political and Decision-Making Context ...... 26 Appendix 1: Minerals and Waste Local Plan Programme Timetable ...... 27 Appendix 2: Saved Policies from the Adopted Minerals Local Plan ...... 28 Appendix 3: Acronyms and Glossary ...... 29 Useful contacts: ...... 31
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1.0 Introduction
Purpose of the Hertfordshire Minerals and Waste Development Scheme 1.1 The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires every local plan making authority (LPA) in England to produce a development scheme, which sets out the timetable and details of planning policy documents that each LPA will produce.
1.2 To fulfil this requirement, Hertfordshire County Council (“the County Council”) as Minerals and Waste Planning Authority (MWPA) has been producing a development scheme known as the Minerals and Waste Development Scheme (MWDS) since 2005. This, and previous versions outline the minerals and waste planning policy documents that are to be produced, the timetable for their production and timings when public participation is likely to take place.
1.3 Although the requirement for producing a development scheme in the 2004 Act remains the same, the process of plan and document production has been amended by a number of subsequent Acts.
1.4 This development scheme has been updated to provide a more accurate timetable for the production of the new Minerals Local Plan1 following the first stages of the review (Initial Consultation and stakeholder event). In addition to provide an update following the adoption of the Employment Land Areas of Search Supplementary Planning Document and to set out the future review timeline for the Waste Local Plan. This scheme covers the period 2016 to 2020.
Document Minerals and Waste Development Scheme (MWDS) Status Project plan for minerals and waste planning documents Description Sets out the documents that the County Council will produce for minerals and waste in the county. It also sets out the programme for the preparation and review of these documents for the coming four years (up to December 2020). Proposed Date November 2016 for Adoption
1.5 In line with the 2004 Act, this revised MWDS contains the following information:
1 Once adopted, this will replace the current Minerals Local Plan, which was adopted in March 2007 and covers the plan period 2002-2016. Agenda Pack 20 of 157 4 The planning policy documents that are to be prepared by the authority; The subject matter of each of the planning policy documents; The timetable for their preparation, including details of public participation stages where applicable. Existing policies and their status.2 The resources needed to ensure that the planning policy documents are produced in a timely fashion. How the progress of document production will be monitored against development scheme.
1.6 In order for this MWDS to be brought into effect, it must be presented to County Council for adoption. The scheme will be kept under review and subsequent revisions taken through the appropriate process for approval. Once adopted, this MWDS will be published on the County Council’s website: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk.
2 For Hertfordshire, this currently consists of the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document (November 2012), the Waste Site Allocations document (July 2014) and the ‘saved policies’ in the Minerals Local Plan (March 2007). Agenda Pack 21 of 157 5 2.0 Hertfordshire Minerals and Waste Planning Documents
Minerals and Waste Planning Documents 2.1 The minerals and waste planning policy documents that are listed below, have been produced by the MWPA and set out the County Council’s objectives and policies for minerals and waste development in the county. Relevant planning applications that are submitted to the County Council for determination, will be tested against these documents, which form part of the statutory development plan for Hertfordshire.
Adopted Waste Policies
2.2 The Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies and Waste Site Allocations documents that constitute the Waste Local Plan have now been adopted. The policies and sites that are contained within them are continually monitored and reported on an annual basis in the Authority’s Monitoring Report (AMR) as set out in Section 4.
2.3 The policies in the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document along with the Waste Site Allocations document, replaced all of the previously ‘saved’ Waste Local Plan policies, from January 1999.
Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies Document 2011-2026 The Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document (adopted November 2012) is a strategic document setting out the spatial vision and strategic objectives for waste planning in Hertfordshire. This document contains the core policies needed to implement these objectives, as well as detailed development management policies to be used when making decisions on waste planning applications. This is to ensure that proposed waste development takes place in accordance with the highest standards and to meet sustainable development objectives as set out in the document. This document identifies
areas of search for local authority collected waste management facilities, but does not identify specific sites. The Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document has a 15 year plan period from 2011-2026. Agenda Pack 22 of 157 6 Timetable Adopted November 2012 Status Local Plan - Development Plan Document Geographical Coverage County wide Conformity NPPF, MWDS, SCI, District/ Borough Local Plans Review and Monitoring This document has a 15 year plan period from 2011-2026. It will be annually monitored through the Authority’s Monitoring Report (see Section 4). Any future review timetable for this document is set out in Section 4. Resources and See Section 5 and table under paragraph 5.7 Management
Waste Site Allocations document (2011 – 2026) The Waste Site Allocations document (adopted July 2014) identifies Allocated Sites and Employment Land Areas of Search required to meet the need for additional waste management capacity in the county to meet the sustainable development objectives as set out in the Waste Core Strategy and Development management Policies document. This document includes maps and waste site briefs for allocated sites and identified Employment Land Areas of Search (ELAS). The document also identifies existing strategic sites to be safeguarded for waste management facilities. This document has been written to be in conformity with the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management
Policies document and so should be read in conjunction. The Waste Site Allocations document has a 15 year plan period from 2011- 2026.
Timetable Adopted July 2014 Status Local Plan - Development Plan Document Geographical Coverage County wide Conformity NPPF, Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document, MWDS, SCI, District/ Borough Local Plans Review and Monitoring This document has the same 15 year plan period as the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document (2011-2026). It will be annually monitored through the Authority’s Monitoring Report (see Section 4). Any future review timetable for this document is set out in Section 4.
Agenda Pack 23 of 157 7 Resources and See Section 5 and table under paragraph 5.7 Management
Adopted Minerals Policies
2.4 The Minerals Local Plan Review was adopted in March 2007 and the policies were immediately saved for three years. After this three year period an application was made to save the policies for a further period from March 2010 for development management purposes, until they are replaced with new minerals policies. The list of ‘saved’ Minerals Local Plan policies are outlined in Appendix 2 and will be reviewed during the review of the Minerals Local Plan. As part of the continual monitoring process, subsequent Authority’s Monitoring Reports will contain more detail regarding the status of each of these policies, how the policies are to be replaced, merged or deleted as the plan develops.
Minerals Local Plan The Minerals Local Plan (adopted March 2007) is a strategic document setting out the aims, objectives and spatial strategy for minerals planning in Hertfordshire during the period 2002- 2016. This document includes strategic policies in order to meet the need for mineral extraction together with more detailed development management policies to be used when determining planning applications for minerals related development. The document also identifies preferred areas for sand and gravel extraction along with other safeguarded mineral extraction sites and rail
aggregate depots.
Timetable Adopted March 2007 Status Local Plan Geographical Coverage County wide Conformity NPPF, MWDS, SCI and District/Borough Local Plans Review and Monitoring The effectiveness of the policies and allocated sites within the Minerals Local Plan will be reported annually and published in the Authority’s Monitoring Report. The initial stages of reviewing of this plan commenced in 2014 with a detailed project management plan outlining the stages required to deliver a sound Minerals Local Plan. See Section 4 for progress and next stages for the
Agenda Pack 24 of 157 8 review. Resources and See Section 5 and table under paragraph 5.7 Management
Other Minerals and Waste Planning Documents 2.5 In addition to this MWDS there are a number of other documents that the County Council is required to produce and these are explained below. However, these documents do not form part of the statutory development plan for the county.
Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) 2.6 The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 introduced the requirement for local planning authorities to produce a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI). The County Council’s SCI sets out the policy for the involvement of communities in relation to the preparation of the minerals and waste planning documents. The consideration of planning applications for which Hertfordshire County Council is the planning authority (i.e. all planning applications relating to mineral extraction and waste management as well as development for County Council services such as schools, libraries etc.) is set out in the SCI.
2.7 The SCI was adopted by the County Council in March 2013 and reflects changes made to national planning legislation. The current SCI can be viewed on the County Council’s website: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk. The County Council will consider the need to review the SCI through the AMR.
Authority’s Monitoring Report (AMR) 2.8 The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, require the County Council to produce an Authority’s Monitoring Report (AMR) containing information on the implementation of the MWDS and the extent to which the policies in the minerals and waste development planning documents are being achieved. Performance against any targets or monitoring indicators that are within the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document and the Waste Site Allocations document will also be reported.
2.9 The AMR is an annual report produced by the Minerals and Waste Planning Authority. All AMRs are placed on the County Council’s website: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk. Prior to the publication of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, the AMR was referred to as the Annual Monitoring Report.
Agenda Pack 25 of 157 9 Local Aggregates Assessment (LAA) 2.10 Previously, minerals information formed part of the AMR. However, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in March 2012 introduced a new duty to produce a Local Aggregates Assessment (LAA). The NPPF stipulates that the LAA should be ‘based on a rolling average of 10 years sales data and other relevant local information, and an assessment of all supply options (including marine dredged, secondary and recycled resources).’3
2.11 In addition to the requirements of the NPPF, the National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG), published in March 2014, specifically outlines what a LAA should contain, which are the following three elements:4
a forecast of the demand for aggregates based on both the rolling average of 10-years sales data and other relevant local information; an analysis of all aggregate supply options, as indicated by landbanks, mineral plan allocations and capacity data e.g. marine licences for marine aggregate extraction, recycled aggregates and the potential throughputs from wharves. This analysis should be informed by planning information, the aggregate industry and other bodies such as local enterprise partnerships; and an assessment of the balance between demand and supply, and the economic and environmental opportunities and constraints that might influence the situation. It should conclude if there is a shortage or a surplus of supply and, if the former, how this is being addressed.
2.12 LAAs that are produced by the MWPA, are presented to the relevant Cabinet Panel. The MWPA is also required to submit the LAA to the East of England Aggregate Working Party.
Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) 2.13 There is no statutory requirement to produce a SPD, but if a local planning authority wishes to produce one, The Town & Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 stipulate how this should be done.
Minerals 2.14 The adopted Mineral Consultation Area SPD identifies areas of the county where particular considerations are needed to prevent the unnecessary sterilisation of sand and gravel resources, and sets out
3 National Planning Policy Framework, March 2012 (paragraph 145). 4 National Planning Practice Guidance, March 2014 (paragraph 62, reference ID: 27-062- 20140306). Agenda Pack 26 of 157 10 the procedure in which the District/Borough councils will work together to protect the resources in those areas. 2.15 The MWPA will consider the need to review this SPD as part of the Minerals Local Plan review process.
Waste
Employment Land Areas of Search Supplementary Planning Document
2.16 Following the completion of the examination into the Waste Site Allocations document in November 2013, the County Council agreed to produce a SPD that would be designed to assist developers submitting waste related developments within the 60 Employment Land Areas of Search (ELAS) that are identified in the adopted Waste Site Allocations document.
Progress since the last adopted scheme – November 2014
2.17 Although not officially part of the development plan, the production of the Employment Land Areas of Search SPD was included within the Minerals and Waste Development Scheme timetable. Since the adoption of the Minerals and Waste Development Scheme in 2014, the ELAS SPD has been subject to a six week public consultation on the draft document during May-June 2015. 2.18 The responses to the consultation were reviewed and a draft SPD for adoption presented to the Cabinet Panel, Cabinet and County Council in November 2015. SPDs do not need to be submitted to the Secretary of State for examination. The SPD was adopted at County Council on 10 November 2015.
The Employment Land Areas of Search (ELAS) Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) (adopted November 2015) provides further planning guidance into the suitability of waste related development on each of the 60 ELAS and is linked to the General ELAS Waste Brief that is contained in the Waste Site Allocations document. This document can be used as a material consideration in the decision of relevant waste related planning applications on the Employment Land Areas of Search. The SPD is in conformity with the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document and the Waste Site Allocations document.
Timetable Evidence Gathering – 2014
Agenda Pack 27 of 157 11 Public Consultation on Draft SPD - 2015 Adopted November 2015 Status Supplementary Planning Document Geographical Coverage County wide Local Conformity NPPF, Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document, Waste Site Allocations document, MWDS, SCI, District/ Borough Local Plans Review and Monitoring Monitored on an annual basis as part of AMR. See Section 4 and 5. Resources and See Section 5 and table under paragraph 5.7 Management
Agenda Pack 28 of 157 12
3.0 Relationship between National Policy and Local Plans and Strategies
3.1 The diagram below illustrates the relationship between the national and local level plans and the minerals and waste planning documents that are produced by the County Council. This is known as the chain of conformity.
National Planning Policy Government Legislation and Framework (NPPF) and Regulations including: National Planning Practice - Localism Act 2011 Guidance (NPPG) - Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012
National Planning Policy for Waste (NNPW)
Minerals and Waste District/Borough Planning Local Plans Documents (County Level)
Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) Waste Core Strategy, DM Policies and Site Minerals and Waste Allocations Development Scheme (MWDS)
Authority’s Minerals Local Plan Monitoring Report (AMR) and Local Aggregates Assessment (LAA)
Mineral Supplementary Employment Land Consultation Planning Documents Area of Search SPD Areas SPD (SPD)
Agenda Pack 29 of 157 13 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) and National Planning Policy for Waste (NPPW) 3.2 In March 2012, the government published the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which replaced the majority of previous national planning guidance that included Planning Policy Statements, Planning Policy Guidance and some Circulars. All planning policy documents must therefore be in conformity with the NPPF.
3.3 Since the publication of the NPPF, the government has produced and published the National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG). The NPPG was launched as a web-based resource in March 2014, with its purpose being to supplement the NPPF and provide further guidance on it where necessary. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has made it clear that the NPPG will be continually reviewed and updated, to ensure that it is effective and relevant.
3.4 In October 2014, the government published the National Planning Policy for Waste (NPPW) which replaced the previous planning guidance (Planning Policy Statement 10 (PPS10): Planning for Sustainable Waste Management).
Other Local Plans and Strategies 3.5 The Minerals and Waste Planning Authority also takes into account other local plans and strategies when producing planning documents. This includes, but not limited to, documents related to Waste in Hertfordshire, local transport issues, neighbourhood plans, the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) and Hertfordshire’s Local Nature Partnership.
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4.0 Review and Monitoring
Stages of Preparation for the review of Minerals and Waste Planning Documents
4.1 This section of the MWDS identifies the key milestones and the resources required to undertake the review and plan preparation for new Minerals and Waste planning documents.
Review of the Minerals Local Plan 2007 4.2 Changes to national planning legislation through the Localism Act 2011, the publication of the NPPF in 2012 and the plan period of the adopted Minerals Local Plan ending in 2016, means that a review of minerals policy within the county is required to be undertaken.
4.3 The MLP will set out the vision, objectives and strategy for minerals development in the county and the strategic policies and proposals to deliver that vision. The review of the Minerals Local Plan will need to identify future allocated sites for sand and gravel extraction in the county, identify safeguarding areas and also set out detailed development policies by which minerals planning applications will be judged. It will also need to take into account the need to identify additional reserves that are required to meet the county’s aggregates supply figures.
4.4 Given the need to carry out a Sustainability Appraisal (incorporating Strategic Environmental Assessment) and also the requirement to undertake a Habitats Regulation Assessment, it is considered appropriate to combine these and appoint external consultants to undertake the work. A list of other documents for which the County Council is proposing to appoint external consultants is outlined in paragraph 5.4 and 5.5. The appointment of external consultants will ensure specific expertise is employed and impartiality.
4.5 The plan production timetable outlined in Appendix 1 outlines the key milestones for plan production. During this time, there will be both formal and informal public participation including consultations through stakeholder events.
4.6 Work on background documents and the evidence base commenced in 2014/2015 for the review of the adopted Minerals Local Plan (2007). An initial consultation took place in August - October 2015, with the Initial Consultation document setting out the issues and potential options for the matters that needed to be addressed in the review of the MLP. The responses to the initial consultation were presented back to the Cabinet Panel in February 2016. A call for sites also took place in February to April 2016.
Agenda Pack 31 of 157 15 4.7 Following these first stages of the review of the Minerals Local Plan, the Minerals and Waste Planning Authority has a clearer idea of the key stages to be undertaken and the elements within each stage needed moving forward. Further technical work is needed to inform the Draft Plan to ensure that a robust evidence base supports the MLP. The timeline for the MLP has therefore been revised to reflect this change and the revised dates for the continued plan production, consultations and public participation in line with the timetable in Appendix 1 including submission, examination and adoption are outlined below:
Once adopted, the MLP will set out the overall approach to minerals planning in the county and be used by County Council officers when determining planning applications. The Minerals Local Plan will be accompanied by a Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment, HRA and SFRA.
Timetable Initial Consultation August 2015 – October 2015
Call for Sites February – April 2016 (6 weeks) Date for Draft Plan August – October 2017 consultation Date for Publication of August – October 2018 Proposed Submission Date for Submission to November 2018 the Secretary of State Possible independent January – March 2019 examination period Publication of the April - June 2019 Inspector’s Report into the examination Presentation of the October –November Minerals Local Plan to 2019 Cabinet Panel, Cabinet and County Council for Adoption
Agenda Pack 32 of 157 16 Proposed Date for November 2019 Adoption Status Local Plan - under preparation Geographical Coverage County wide Conformity NPPF, NPPG, MWDS, SCI and District/Borough Local Plans Review and Monitoring Once the MLP is adopted, policies will be monitored against appropriate targets and indicators, which will monitor the effectiveness of the policies and sites contained within the document. This will be carried out and reported annually as part of the Authority’s Monitoring Report. Resources and See Section 5 and table under paragraph 5.7 Management
Review of the Waste Local Plan 4.8 The Waste Local Plan comprises the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document (2012) and the Waste Site Allocations document (2014).
4.9 The delivery of waste management facilities, capacity requirements for waste and the list of safeguarded waste sites has been continuously monitored, reviewed and updated on an annual basis through the Authority’s Monitoring Report. The results from these monitoring reports will inform how often the plan is reviewed and form part of the evidence base for future plan reviews.
4.10 Paragraph 3.10 of the Waste Site Allocation states that ‘the plan will be reviewed in full every five years and a partial review may be undertaken sooner than that if required’. The WSA was adopted in 2014 and as it forms part of the Waste Local Plan, it is considered reasonable, therefore, to schedule the review process to commence within the next two years.
4.11 The WLP will set out the vision, objectives and strategy for waste planning in the county and will be used by County Council officers when determining planning applications.
4.12 The review of the Waste Local Plan may need to identify future allocated sites for waste development in the county and also set out detailed development management policies by which waste planning applications will be judged.
4.13 The proposed plan production timetable outlined in Appendix 1 outlines the key milestones for plan production. During this time, there will be both formal and informal public participation including consultations through stakeholder events.
Agenda Pack 33 of 157 17
4.14 The estimated dates for the production and public participation in line with the timetable in Appendix 1 including submission, examination and adoption are outlined below:
Indicative Timetable- Initial Stages including 2017 - 2019 Waste Local Plan review evidence gathering, initial consultation and call for sites (if required)
Draft Plan consultation August – October 2019
Date for Publication of August – October 2020 Proposed Submission Date for Submission to November/December the Secretary of State 2020 Possible Examination 2021 and Adoption Status Local Plan - in preparation Geographical Coverage County wide Conformity NPPF, NPPG, NPPW, MWDS, SCI and District/Borough Local Plans Review and Monitoring Once the WLP is adopted, policies will be monitored against appropriate targets and indicators, which will monitor the effectiveness of the policies and sites contained within the document. This will be carried out and reported annually as part of the Authority’s Monitoring Report. Resources and See Section 5 and table under paragraph 5.7 Management
4.15 Given the need to carry out a Sustainability Appraisal (incorporating Strategic Environmental Assessment) and also the requirement to undertake a Habitats Regulation Assessment, it is considered appropriate to combine these and appoint external consultants to undertake the work. A list of other documents that the County Council is proposing to appoint external consultants for is outlined in paragraph 5.6. The appointment of external consultants will ensure impartially and that specific expertise are employed.
Monitoring
4.16 The County Council has an obligation to regularly monitor the effectiveness of the policies in the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document and the allocated sites Agenda Pack 34 of 157 18 and employment land areas of search in the Waste Site Allocations document. The AMR is the mechanism by which the County Council monitors these documents along with the ‘saved policies’ in the current Minerals Local Plan and its timetable for review which is outlined in Appendix 1 of this MWDS.
4.17 With regards to the MWDS, the AMR contains specific monitoring information relating to whether the County Council:
i. has met the MWDS targets and milestones; ii. is falling behind schedule or has failed to meet a target or milestone and the reasons for this; and iii. needs to update the MWDS, particularly in light of (ii). Where it is necessary to update the MWDS, the steps and the timetable needed for the revision will be indicated.
Waste Local Plan Targets and Indicators
4.18 The adopted Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document contains 28 Targets and 35 Indicators that are designed to assess how effectively the policies within it are being implemented.
4.19 At the Environment, Planning and Transport Cabinet Panel in July 2015, it was proposed that the targets and indicators were reviewed in order to streamline, remove duplication and remove any complications to enable the implementation of the Plan to be monitored effectively. It is important that waste data is monitored in order to see any trends within the county.
4.20 As such, the Waste Planning Authority has revised the targets and related indicators by combining some targets and indicators to remove repetition and adapting others to capture the data that is available to report on or removing irrelevant targets and indicators to streamline the reporting process.
4.21 In summary, the number of targets reduced from 28 to 17 and the number of indicators reduced from 35 to 18.
4.22 The AMR will report on the new targets and indicators as to whether these targets and indicators are being met, and if appropriate, what steps should be undertaken to ensure that that they are met in the future. The AMR also monitors which policies have been used throughout the period of the AMR, including the ‘saved policies’ in the Minerals Local Plan. Explanations as to why any policies have not been used to determine minerals and waste related planning applications are also given where appropriate.
4.23 Monitoring also utilises consultation statements produced for each stage of the plan production prepared in the relevant year under Agenda Pack 35 of 157 19 review, and the completed legal audit. It also involves an assessment of public participation feedback from relevant community involvement exercises for the relevant year, and any formal feedback received from government agencies.
Agenda Pack 36 of 157 20
5.0 Resources
Staffing and Support 5.1 The existing Minerals and Waste Policy team in the Spatial Planning & Economy Unit includes one full-time Team Leader, three full-time Policy Officers and one two year fixed post Apprentice Planner. Input from unit support staff is also required from time to time, mainly in relation to public participation exercises. This is provided to both the Minerals and Waste Policy and Development Management teams, by one full-time equivalent staff member. It is anticipated that this resource should be adequate for the requirements of the MWDS and the review of the Minerals Local Plan.
5.2 Throughout the review of both the Minerals and Waste Local Plans, input and assistance from other Environment Department staff within the County Council and partner agencies is sought as follows:
GIS and mapping; Review of Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA);5 Review of Strategic Environmental Assessment/Sustainability Appraisal/Appropriate Assessment reports; and Data gathering and other technical input from most sections of the Environment Department. Specifically, this includes: o Communications Team; o Environmental Resource Planning Team (includes the Lead Local Flood Authority, Historic Environment, Ecology, Landscape and the Built Environment); o Highways Operations and Strategy Team; o Information Management Team; o Access and Rights of Way Team; o Transportation Policy Team.
5.3 In addition to the above, the County Council considers it to be appropriate to obtain assistance from external consultants, when preparing some technical studies that will form part of the evidence base for both the Minerals and Waste Local Plans.
5.4 The following technical studies were identified as requiring specialist input by external independent consultants for the Minerals Local Plan: Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment for every stage of the review of the Minerals Local Plan;
5 Input may also be required from the Environment Agency and the County Council as Lead Local Flood Authority for Hertfordshire. Agenda Pack 37 of 157 21 Habitats Regulation Assessment; Minerals Site Selection Study and Strategic Flood Risk Assessment.
5.5 Consultants have been appointed to undertake the Sustainability Assessment/Strategic Environment Assessment, Habitats Regulation Assessment for the Minerals Local Plan and the Minerals Site Selection Study following a procurement process in Autumn/Winter 2014. These studies are now underway and therefore the expense of undertaking these studies have been taken into account in budget provision table below. However there may be future studies which will need to be accounted for.
5.6 In regards to the Waste Local Plan review it is considered appropriate to obtain assistance from external consultants to assist with the technical studies for: Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment for every stage of the review of the Waste Local Plan; Habitats Regulation Assessment; Strategic Flood Risk Assessment. Waste Capacity Study
Budget Provision 5.7 An estimate of budget required for the next three years is as follows:
Agenda Pack 38 of 157 22
2016/17 2017/18 2018/2019 Comments (April 2016 – (April 2017 – (April 2018 – March 2017) March 2018) March 2019) Staff £209,000 £211,000 £213,000 Current establishment (1FTE manager, 3FTE officers) plus new 1 FTE Apprentice Public Participation
Waste DPDs £0 £2,000 £2,000 Written consultations and workshops in the early stages of the WLP review. Minerals £0 £2,000 £2,000 Written DPDs consultations (Draft Plan) and proposed submission for the MLP, plus associated stakeholder workshops etc. Sub Total £0 £4,000 £4,000 Printing Waste DPDs £0 £2,000 £2,000 Minerals £0 £2,000 £4,500 DPDs Sub Total £0 £4,000 £6,500 Consultants Waste DPDs £0 £50,000 £50,000 SEA/SA, HRA, Site Selection studies, SFRA, Waste Capacity study Minerals £50,000 £20,000 £20,000 SEA/SA , HRA, DPDs Site Selection study,
Agenda Pack23 39 of 157
2016/17 2017/18 2018/2019 Comments (April 2016 – (April 2017 – (April 2018 – March 2017) March 2018) March 2019) attendance at examination and other preparation work for examination Sub Total £50,000 £70,000 £70,000 Legal £5,000 £5,000 £5,000 Legal Advice for Policy Matters Examination6 Waste DPDs £0 £0 £0 Minerals £0 £0 £120,0006 Employ DPDs Programme Officer for Minerals Local Plan Sub Total £0 £0 £120,000
Sub-Totals (excluding staff and legal advice) Waste DPDs £0 £54,000 £54,000 Minerals £50,000 £24,000 £146,500 DPDs Sub-total £50,000 £78,000 £200,500 Grand Total £264,000 £294,000 £418,500 including staff and legal costs
Notes: Staff commitments are included in existing budgets. This is an estimate of budget requirements
6 Public Examination programmed for 18/19 for the Minerals Local Plan £120,000. The cost of the Examination, including the Programme Officer is met from an Inquiries budget. Agenda Pack 40 of 157 24
Management Process 5.8 Preparation of the minerals and waste planning documents is the responsibility of the Spatial Planning & Economy Unit, Hertfordshire County Council. All reports and publications involving Council policy (i.e. Local Plan documents under the current system) require the review and approval of full Council, and prior to this, advice from the relevant Cabinet Panel.
5.9 Reports and publications not considered to be part of the Development Plan (e.g. Supplementary Planning Documents) may also need to be reviewed by Members and formally adopted by the Council as advised by the respective Cabinet Panel in line with the Council Constitution.
5.10 Where possible, the Environment Department’s Plans Management Group will be informed of the preparation of the minerals and waste planning documents and internal office comments sought during plan production.
Risk Assessment and Contingencies Risk and uncertainty in programming 5.11 As far as possible the scheduling and programme outlined in the timetable in Appendix 1, have allowed for key Panel, Cabinet and County Council meetings. However, the following points are noted:
i) Panel, Cabinet and Council meetings have been noted on the programme as far as possible, although at the time of writing, no dates are available beyond July 2017. Future dates beyond this where it is anticipated that these documents will need to be presented to Cabinet Panel, Cabinet and County Council have been highlighted with an asterix. ii) Existing ‘saved’ policies in the current Minerals Local Plan will be extant until new policies replace them as they are adopted. iii) The timetable set out in Appendix 1 has considered the following inherent risks and uncertainties during the plan making phase:
a) Changes in current scheduled dates for the Cabinet Panel, Cabinet and County Council meetings. b) Delay in the examination process of the Minerals Local Plan (due to the availability of the Inspector). c) The timing of receipt of the Inspector’s report has allowed for a longer period between the Examination and receipt of the report, due to its possible controversial nature and the potential for further consultation.
Agenda Pack25 41 of 157
d) Timings may be affected if any “omission” sites7 are put forward post submission. e) Depending upon the number, size and scale of allocated minerals sites the Minerals Local Plan could attract a large number of representations and sites could be put forward late in the process. f) Future changes to legislation and/or guidance may introduce unforeseen processes that will need to be taken into account.
5.12 The following factors may also need to be taken into account, but which have not been explicitly programmed into the timetable:
The risk of challenge that correct procedures have not been followed. This is mitigated by the use of a Legal Audit Process, together with the Soundness Self-Assessment toolkit. Both of these are provided by the Planning Advisory Service (PAS). The cost for the Examination of the Minerals Local Plan is based on existing charges by the Planning Inspectorate and assume the equivalent of two-week examination plus site visits. The recruitment and retention of staff within the planning profession remains an issue of concern.
Risk in Political and Decision-Making Context 5.13 The County Council will monitor any changes to National policy and ensure that the documents produced by the Minerals and Waste Policy Team are reviewed as necessary.
7 “Omission” sites are proposals and sites that have not been put forward or considered throughout the document preparation and consultation process. Agenda Pack 42 of 157 26 Appendix 1: Minerals and Waste Local Plan Programme Timetable
Agenda Pack 43 of 157 27
Appendix 2: Saved Policies from the Adopted Minerals Local Plan
Minerals Local Plan 2002 – 2016 (Adopted March 2007)
This table outlines the existing saved Minerals Local Plan policies. These policies, were ‘saved’ by a Direction of the Secretary of State in March 2010, and have therefore remained part of the Development Plan for Hertfordshire. Policies that will supersede the current saved policies listed below have yet to be written
Policy Policy Title Saved Policy To be Number Status replaced by (/) which plan
1 Aggregates Supply MLP Review 2 Need for Mineral Working MLP Review 3 Sites for Sand and Gravel MLP Review Extraction and the Working of Preferred Areas 4 Applications Outside Preferred MLP Review Areas 5 Mineral Sterilisation MLP Review 6 Other Non-Energy Minerals MLP Review 7 Secondary and Recycled MLP Review Materials 8 Recycling Facilities on Mineral MLP Review Sites 9 Contribution to Biodiversity MLP Review 10 Railheads and Wharves MLP Review 11 Cumulative Impact MLP Review 12 Landscape MLP Review 13 Reclamation Scheme MLP Review 14 Afteruse MLP Review 15 Landfill MLP Review 16 Transport MLP Review 17 Criteria for the Control of Mineral MLP Review Development to Protect Critical Capital and Other Environmental Assets 18 Operational Criteria for the MLP Review Control of Mineral Development 19 Enforcement of Planning Control MLP Review
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Appendix 3: Acronyms and Glossary
AA: Appropriate Assessment
Annual/Authority’s Monitoring Report (AMR): An annual monitoring report to assess: i) the implementation of the Minerals and Waste Development Scheme; and ii) the extent to which policies in local development documents are being achieved. Area Action Plan Used, as required, to provide a planning framework for areas of change and areas of conservation. Area Action Plans will be classified as Development Plan Documents.
Adopted Policies Map: Expresses geographically the adopted development plan policies of the local planning authority. It must be revised as each new Development Plan Document is adopted.
Chain of Conformity: The detailed schedule of planning documents must list the Chain of Conformity for each document. This is also shown in the diagram in section 3. It refers to the hierarchy of documents, i.e. the waste site allocations must be in conformity with the waste core strategy, which in turn must be in conformity with the National Policy.
DCLG: Department for Communities and Local Government
Development Plan: This includes adopted Local Plans, neighbourhood plans and the London Plan, and is defined in section 38 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. For Hertfordshire, this consists of the NPPF, the Waste Development Framework, the saved policies of the Minerals Local Plan and the respective district/borough Local Plan.
Local Plan (Development Plan Document - DPD): Development Plan Documents refer to Core Strategies, Site Specific Allocations of Land, Local Development Documents and Local Plans, and that are subject to independent examination. The Waste Local Plan was published at the time when the terminology used for the documents was DPDs.
Local Development Scheme (LDS)/Minerals and Waste Development Scheme (MWDS): A public statement of the local planning authority's programme for the production of local development documents. For County Councils this is known as the Minerals and Waste Development Scheme (MWDS).
‘The Regs’: The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012
Saved policies: Existing adopted development plan policies are saved for three years from the date of commencement of the Act (Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004). Any policies in old style development plans adopted after commencement of the Act will be saved policies for three years from their adoption or approval. The Local Development Scheme should explain the authority’s approach to saved policies. Agenda Pack 45 of 157 29
Site Allocations: Allocations of sites for specific or mixed uses or development to be contained in Development Plan Documents. Policies will identify any specific requirements for individual proposals.
Statement of Community Involvement (SCI): The statement sets out the authority's vision and strategy for community involvement in the preparation of local development documents and development control decisions. The statement will also set out how this links with other community involvement initiatives, for example, the community strategy. It should identify the community groups that need to be involved and the techniques required to effectively involve them both informally and formally. The Statement of Community Involvement is not part of the Development Plan.
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): A generic term used to describe environmental assessment as applied to policies, plans and programmes. The European ‘SEA Directive’ (2001/42/EC) requires a formal ‘environmental assessment of certain plans and programmes, including those in the field of planning and land use’.
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA): A desk based assessment which forms the basis for preparing appropriate policies for flood risk management at a local level.
Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD): Supplementary planning documents may cover a range of issues, both thematic and site specific, which may expand policy or provide further detail to policies in a development plan document. Supplementary planning documents may take the form of design guides, area development briefs, master plan or issue-based documents, which supplement policies in a development plan document. However, they do not form part of the Development Plan and are not subject to independent examination.
Sustainability Appraisal (SA): Tool for appraising policies to ensure they reflect sustainable development objectives (i.e. social, environmental and economic factors) and required in the Act to be undertaken for all local development documents.
Agenda Pack 46 of 157 30
Useful contacts:
Hertfordshire County [email protected] Council, Spatial Planning and Economy Unit
Minerals and Waste Policy [email protected] Team
Minerals and Waste www.hertfordshire.gov.uk Planning
Department for www.gov.uk Communities and Local Government (DCLG)
The Planning Inspectorate https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/plan ning-inspectorate
Agenda Pack 47 of 157 31 Hertfordshire County Council: Minerals and Waste Local Plan Production Timetable 2016 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Document J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D
Minerals and Waste Development Scheme 1 1 2 2
Minerals Local Plan review including Policies Map 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 8 8 9 9
Waste Core Strategy and Development Management 1 1 1 1 1 1 Policies Document
Waste Site Allocations Document incluidng Policies 1 1 1 1 1 1 Map
Employment Land Areas of Search SPD (Waste) 1 1 1 1 1 1
Waste Local Plan review including Policies Map 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5
Authority's Monitoring Report 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2
Local Aggregates Assessment 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2
Cabinet Panel Meetings (date reference where known) 2 8 10 30 2 7 1 29 * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Cabinet Meetings (date reference where known) 22 14 20 11 9 20 13 10 * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
County Council Meetings (date reference where 23 22 17 19 15 21 21 18 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * known)
Key Document Preparation Submission Examination Finalisation and Adoption
Authority's Monitoring Report and Local Minerals Local Plan Process Stage Waste Local Plan Review Aggregates Assessment 1. Evidence Gathering 1. Evidence Gathering 1. Preparation 2. Draft Plan consultation 2. Draft Plan Consultation 2. Approval 3. Consider representations and prepare for Proposed Submission Publication 3. Consider representations and prepare for Proposed Submission Publication 4. Proposed Submission Public Participation 4. Proposed Submission Public Participation 5. Submission 5. Submission Minerals and Waste Development Scheme 6. Examination 6. Examination 7. Inspector's Report 7. Inspector's Report 1. Preparation 8. Finalisation 8. Finalisation 2. Adoption 9. Adoption 9. Adoption
Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies Document, Waste Site * Anticipated Cabinet Panel/Cabinet and County Council Meetings for document approval/adoption. Allocations Document incluidng Policies Map and Employment Land Areas of Search SPD (Waste)
1. Monitoring Notes: County Council Elections in 2017 and 2020. General Elections 2020
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S:\ORG\SPATIAL PLANNING & ECONOMY UNIT\MINERALS\A2_ Policy_Main\Local Development Framework\Minerals & Waste Development Scheme\2016\MWDS 2016 HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Agenda Item No
ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING & TRANSPORT CABINET PANEL 4
WEDNESDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2016, AT 10:00AM
LOCAL AGGREGATE ASSESSMENT 2016
Report of the Chief Executive and Director of Environment
Author: Trish Carter-Lyons, Planning Officer - Policy (Tel: 01992 556254)
Executive Member: Derrick Ashley
1. Purpose of Report
1.1 To advise the Cabinet Panel of the updates to the annually revised Hertfordshire Local Aggregate Assessment (LAA) (attached at Appendix 1), which assesses the current local sand and gravel provision against the requirements set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 1.
2. Summary
2.1 Hertfordshire County Council (the County Council) has a duty under the NPPF to produce a Local Aggregate Assessment (LAA). The requirement was introduced in 2012 and the County Council produced a draft LAA in 2012 and the first published version in 2013. Subsequently the document has been reviewed annually.
2.2 The LAA is an evidence base document for the Minerals Local Plan. The review of which is underway. The initial consultation ran from 3 August until 16 October 2015 and the Call for Sites exercise from 29 February until 10 April 2016. The primary purpose of the LAA is to set out the county’s current position regarding aggregate supply and demand. It details the sand and gravel reserves and sales in the county over the last ten years and compares this with the predicted future land-won aggregate need, whilst taking into account the imports and exports of sand and gravel and secondary and recycled aggregates.
2.3 Hertfordshire does not have any reserves of hard rock and therefore only imports of crushed rock are included in the document.
2.4 The import and export data for minerals, as far as is obtainable, is set out within section 5 of the LAA. This enables us to identify authorities with whom it is necessary to plan strategically for minerals to meet development
1 Paragraph 145 Agenda Pack 49 of 157 requirements that cannot be wholly met within Hertfordshire in light of the County Council’s Duty to Co-operate (requirement under the Localism Act 2011).
2.5 In turn, the LAA is used to inform the review of the Minerals Local Plan by establishing the county’s evidence base for forecasting the need for sand and gravel over the Local Plan period and identifying the amount of aggregate that needs to be planned for. The LAA will represent an important evidence base document for the review of the Minerals Local Plan.
2.6 The National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) 2 provides guidance on the information that needs to be included in a LAA, and the County Council has followed that guidance. The format of the document is similar to that of other authorities’ LAAs in the East of England. As a requirement of the NPPF, Hertfordshire County Council’s LAA will be considered by the members of the East of England Aggregate Working Party (EEAWP) at the next meeting which is scheduled for 2 November 2016. Any suggested changes will be reported as an update to Cabinet Panel Members.
2.7 The LAA will be made available on the County Council’s website. It will also be available on CD and printed copy upon request.
3. Recommendation
3.1 The Cabinet Panel is asked to consider the LAA as attached at appendix 1 of this report showing the current minerals supply and demand and acknowledge that it will be placed on the County Council’s website.
4. Background to the LAA
4.1 In order to plan for a steady and adequate supply of aggregates, the County Council is required to produce a LAA. This in turn will inform the Minerals Local Plan which is currently being reviewed. At present work is taking place on writing the Draft Minerals Local Plan which will contain policies and sites for sand and gravel extraction.
4.2 The NPPF stipulates that the LAA should be ‘ based on a rolling average of 10 years sales data and other relevant local information, and an assessment of all supply options (including marine dredged, secondary and recycled resources) ’.
4.3 Hertfordshire’s minerals include sand and gravel and brick clay which need to be reported in the LAA. Chalk is also found in the county although in small quantities and is used primarily for agricultural purposes. This is stated within the LAA but no further detail is provided. In addition, other imports which Hertfordshire relies upon also need to be taken into account. It is for Hertfordshire County Council to determine what other local information is included and how this may affect the need for further planning.
2 Paragraphs 61-71 Agenda Pack 50 of 157 4.4 The County Council continues to attend the Aggregates Working Party alongside other authorities in the East of England and also attends the Minerals and Waste Learning Group which is comprised of a number of Minerals and Waste Planning Authorities in the country. Future attendance at these meetings will continue to ensure that Hertfordshire County Council is participating in discussions and takes advice of the groups when preparing our LAA, setting future mineral apportionments and sharing advice on the plan making process in relation to the Minerals Local Plan.
5. Hertfordshire County Council’s LAA
5.1 The headline figures from the 2016 LAA at appendix 1 (showing data for 2015) show that extraction is steadily continuing at the active sand and gravel sites. As a result the reserves are showing a steady decline. There is one inactive site in the county, which would not add significantly to the reserves. The permitted reserves can supply aggregate for a period of 9.5 years based on Hertfordshire’s current apportionment of 1.39 million tonnes.
5.2 Sales of sand and gravel are increasing, as they did last year. At 1.22 million tonnes, they are above the ten year and three year averages as they were last year.
5.3 In terms of the apportionment of sand and gravel to plan for, the EEAWP authority members collectively agreed to the sub-regional apportionment for aggregate provision. This is set out in the National and Regional Guidelines in 2009 across England for the time period 2005-2020. The EEAWP still considers this means of apportioning the sand and gravel figure to be the most appropriate figure to plan for sand and gravel compared with the other option of using the ten year average sales figures for plan making.
5.4 The sand and gravel apportionment for Hertfordshire is a figure of 1.39 million tonnes per year. This figure varies between authorities within the East of England dependent upon the geology, the available reserves and the projected demand for the minerals.
5.5 The apportionment figure differs from the ten year average sales figure and the three year average sales figures as shown in the table below:
Sales and apportionment Million tonnes per annum Sub-regional apportionment 1.39 10 year sales average 1.16 3 year sales average 1.19
5.6 At present the review of the Minerals Local Plan uses the sub-national apportionment figure to set out the requirement for sand and gravel and sites for extraction over the plan period. This will provide for flexibility to maintain supply as the economy recovers and to ensure that an adequate and steady supply of aggregate is achieved over the longer term. The LAA 2016 states this position and will be reviewed annually. Should there be any change in the opinion of the EEAWP, this can be considered at that time. Agenda Pack 51 of 157
5.7 The LAA also reports on secondary and recycled aggregates where the information is available. Figures collected by the County Council for 2015 show that 317,314 tonnes of secondary and recycled aggregate was processed by eleven sites within the county, according to the survey returns that were received. Demand for this type of material is on the rise and the amount produced has grown considerably over the last ten years when figures were around 78,000 tonnes.
5.8 The LAA is not subject to independent examination and is not published for the public to make formal comment. It will however, be published online and will be used to inform the review of the Minerals Local Plan as part of the evidence base for that document’s examination. The LAA will assist in determining whether Hertfordshire is meeting its apportionment figure and could act as a trigger for an early review of the Minerals Local Plan.
6. Next Steps
6.1 Hertfordshire County Council’s LAA will be presented at the next EEAWP meeting which is scheduled for 2 November 2016. Any suggested changes will be reported as an update to Cabinet Panel Members.
6.2 The LAA is an influential document in the review of the Minerals Local Plan in order to plan for a steady and adequate supply of aggregates. It continues to be important to be considered by Cabinet Panel on an annual basis in order that up-to-date national and local legislative requirements and aggregate production and sales data can be added.
7. Financial Implications
7.1 The cost of producing the LAA can be met from existing budgets. The approximate costs of document production are set out in the Minerals Waste Development Scheme.
8. Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) 8.1 When considering proposals placed before Members it is important that they are fully aware of, and have themselves rigorously considered the equality implications of the decision that they are making.
8.2 Rigorous consideration will ensure that proper appreciation of any potential impact of that decision on the County Council’s statutory obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty. As a minimum, this requires decision makers to read and carefully consider the content of any Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) produced by officers.
8.3 The Equality Act 2010 requires the County Council, when exercising its functions, to have due regard to the need to (a) eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and other conduct prohibited under the Act; (b) advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it and (c) foster good Agenda Pack 52 of 157 relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it. The protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 are age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.
8.4 It is not anticipated that people with protected characteristics will be affected disproportionately by the proposals set out in the report.
Appendix 1 – Local Aggregate Assessment 2016
Background documents referred to and used in writing this report:
Annual Monitoring Report 2015, HCC 22 October 2015 Environment, Planning and Transport Cabinet Panel https://cmis.hertsdirect.org/hertfordshire/Calendarofcouncilmeetings/tabid/70/ctl/View MeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/444/Committee/52/SelectedTab/Documents/Default. aspx
National Planning Policy Framework (2012), DCLG https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6077/2 116950.pdf
National Planning Practice Guidance, DCLG http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/
Local Aggregate Assessment 2015, HCC http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/envplan/plan/hccdevplan/mlp/locaggassmt/
Practice Guidance on the production and use of Local Aggregate Assessments, Living Document (April 2015), Planning Officers Society and Minerals Products Association http://www.mineralproducts.org/documents/LAA_Guidance.pdf
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Hertfordshire Minerals Planning
DRAFT Local Aggregate Assessment
2016
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Contents Contents 1 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 2 Introduction 3 3 GEOLOGY OF HERTFORDSHIRE 3 Sand and Gravel 4 Chalk 6 Clay 6 Hard Rock 7 Marine Aggregates 7 4 SAND AND GRAVEL SALES 7 Extraction Sites 9 Apportionments 11 Local approach to determining apportionment figures 12 Landbank of permitted mineral reserves 13 Timeline for mineral planning 14 5 IMPORTS AND EXPORTS 15 Imports – Sand and Gravel 16 Imports – Marine sources 16 Imports – Crushed Rock 16 Exports – Sand and Gravel 17 Sales and Construction 18 Rail Aggregate Depots 19 Brick Clay 20 Chalk 21 6 SECONDARY AND RECYCLED AGGREGATE 21 Inert Waste Management in Hertfordshire 22 Secondary and Recycled Aggregate Sources 23 Expected Contribution to Supply 24 7 FUTURE AGGREGATES SUPPLY AND DEMAND 25 Supply 25 Potential Future Supply from Preferred Areas 27 Demand 28 Population Projections 28 Housing completions and forecast 28 Key Planned Infrastructure Requirements 30 8 CONCLUSION 31 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Sand and gravel sales compared with permitted reserves in Hertfordshire since 2007 Table 2: Permitted sand and gravel extraction in Hertfordshire Table 3: Sales and apportionment Table 4: Landbanks for sand and gravel in Hertfordshire in 2015 Table 5: Hertfordshire’s primary aggregates imports and exports (2009) Table 6: Sales and consumption in 2015 Table 7: Permitted chalk extraction sites in Hertfordshire Table 8: Total recycled and secondary aggregate processed over the last 10 years Table 9: Secondary and recycled aggregate sites Table 10: Requirement for sand and gravel in Hertfordshire over the Plan period of 15 years to 2031 Table 11: Planned housing requirements at the district/borough councils LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Geological map of the main mineral resources of Hertfordshire Figure 2: Sales of sand and gravel in Hertfordshire 2006-2015 compared with apportionment Figure 3: Geology of Hertfordshire with permitted sand and gravel sites Figure 4: Hertfordshire’s rail aggregate depots Figure 5: Location of permitted sites in Hertfordshire for the production of recycled/secondary aggregates Agenda Pack 55 of 157
Local Aggregate Assessment 2015 1
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.1 The county council has a duty under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to produce a Local Aggregate Assessment (LAA). The LAA will be considered by the members of the East of England Aggregates Working Party.
1.2 The LAA is an evidence base document for the review of the Minerals Local Plan. Its primary purpose is to set out aggregate supply and demand to calculate landbanks and acts as a monitoring report for aggregates. For Hertfordshire the aggregates reported are land won sand and gravel and secondary and recycled aggregates. The county does not have any reserves of hard rock. The LAA is updated annually to provide an up-to-date picture of the sand and gravel reserves and sales in the county over the last ten years and compares this with the predicted future land-won aggregate need whilst taking into account the imports and exports of sand and gravel and secondary and recycled aggregates.
1.3 This document covers the calendar year for 2015. The headline figures for 2015 show that extraction is steadily continuing at the active sand and gravel sites. As a result the reserves are showing a steady decline. There remains one other inactive site in the county. The permitted reserves can supply aggregate for a period of 9.5 years based on Hertfordshire’s current apportionment of 1.39 million tonnes.
1.4 Sales of sand and gravel are increasing, as they did last year. At 1.22 million tonnes, they are above the ten year and three year averages as they were last year. As a comparison, the ten year average sales figure is 1.16 million tonnes and the three year average is 1.19 million tonnes. In terms of the destination of these sales for which we have data from 2014, 57% was sold within Herts with 22% to the rest of the East of England area and 21% to other destinations in the UK.
1.5 The county council intends to continue to use the sub-regional apportionment figure for the planning of sand and gravel in Hertfordshire, which is in line with the East of England Aggregates Working Party’s collectively agreed approach to plan making.
1.6 Of the sites listed in the adopted Minerals Local Plan with potential to extract sand and gravel, all three Preferred Areas have come forward for extraction. The third and final Preferred Area (BAE, Land at Hatfield Aerodrome) has a current planning application (submitted January 2016) for extraction which is being determined. Land at Ware Park covers the southern part of Preferred Area 2 at Rickneys Quarry which also has a current planning application (submitted March 2016) for extraction which is being determined.
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Local Aggregate Assessment 2015 2
2 INTRODUCTION
2.1 The Government recognises the importance of minerals to support sustainable economic growth and our quality of life. They are a finite resource and can only be worked where they are found. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (March 2012) paragraph 145 requires Minerals Planning Authorities to monitor aggregate production and plan for a steady and adequate supply of aggregates.
2.2 This document has been prepared to fulfil the requirement introduced within the NPPF to produce an annual Local Aggregate Assessment (LAA). It has been prepared in line with guidance within the National Planning Policy Guidance (NPPG) and POS/MPA Practice Guidance on the production and use of LAAs living document (April 2015).
2.3 The purpose of the LAA is to assess the current local mineral provision against the requirements detailed in the NPPF and NPPG, including the Government’s Guidance on Managed Aggregate Supply System which has now been incorporated into the NPPG. The document details performance in line with the East of England Aggregates Working Party. It also reviews guidance from the government’s Department for Communities and Local Government relating to the NPPF. The county council will update this document on an annual basis and will use its contents to inform the review of Hertfordshire’s Minerals Local Plan.
2.4 This LAA details the current supply and demand in Hertfordshire, from which information relating to existing sites, reserves and aggregate apportionment levels to 2031 (plan period for the new Minerals Local Plan), based on the agreed East of England apportionment figure and rolling average of ten years sales data and other relevant local information, is included within this document. Other potential sources of aggregates are included, namely secondary and recycled aggregates, imports and exports.
3 GEOLOGY OF HERTFORDSHIRE
3.1 The main mineral resources in Hertfordshire are sand and gravel with smaller deposits of chalk and brick clay (as shown in Figure 1).
3.2 The geology of Hertfordshire is largely Chalk of the Cretaceous period, overlain in the south and east by London Clay. In the far north and northwest of the county are small areas of Gault Clay. Throughout much of the county, the superficial deposits which overlay the solid geology complicate the picture. These include the Clay-with-flints of much of west Hertfordshire; including the
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Chilterns dip slope; the boulder clay of central and east Hertfordshire; and the gravels of the Vale of St Albans and the river valleys.1
3.3 Sand, gravel, crushed rock, chalk and clay all provide the construction industry with the raw materials required for constructing and maintaining roads, buildings and other infrastructure. Minerals are also essential elements in the production of a variety of other products. An adequate and steady supply of minerals is essential if current standards of living are to be maintained in society as well as meeting basic needs for quality of life, such as shelter.
Figure 1: Geological map of the main mineral resources of Hertfordshire 2
© Crown copyright and database rights 2016 Ordnance Survey 100019606 Reproduced with the permission of the British Geological Survey ©NERC. All rights Reserved Sand and Gravel
3.4 Sand and gravel resources occur in Hertfordshire within superficial or ‘drift’ deposits, subdivided into fluvioglacial sand and gravel, glacial sand and gravel, river terrace deposits and sub-alluvial deposits.3
1 Biodiversity Action Plan for Hertfordshire 2006, www.hef.org.uk 2 BGS & ODPM, 2003, Technical report CR/03/075/N Mineral Resource Information in support of National, Regional and Local Planning: Hertfordshire and Northwest London Boroughs 3 BGS & ODPM, 2003, Technical report CR/03/075/N Mineral Resource Information in support of National, Regional and Local Planning: Hertfordshire and Northwest London Boroughs Agenda Pack 58 of 157
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3.5 Sand and gravel deposits are found in most parts of the county although they are concentrated in an area south of a line between Bishops Stortford in the east and Hemel Hempstead in the west (often referred to as the sand and gravel belt). This area covers the whole of the District Council areas of Three Rivers, Watford, Hertsmere, Welwyn Hatfield and Broxbourne. Large parts of the City and District of St Albans and East Hertfordshire are covered, together with a small part of Dacorum. North Hertfordshire and Stevenage Districts fall outside the sand and gravel belt.
3.6 Of the sub-alluvial gravel deposits, these occur within the valleys of the rivers Mimram, Ver and Colne of St Albans and Hemel Hempstead areas. Resources have in many cases been extensively worked and exhausted in the Ver and Colne valleys.
3.7 Sand and gravel from Hertfordshire is mostly used by the construction industry. Most is washed and screened to remove clay particles and to separate the various sized stones and larger stones are usually crushed and screened again. Most sand extracted in Hertfordshire is sharp sand and is suitable for making concrete (when mixed with various selections of gravel sizes, cement and water).
3.8 Crushed rock (imported to Hertfordshire) may be used in place of local gravel, but sand may only be substituted by fines from crushed rock which is more costly to use because of its lesser binding properties. Building sand, for use in mortars, may also be washed and screened before use. Known as soft sand it is less commonly found in the county and is mostly imported.
3.9 Currently sand and gravel extraction takes place at four quarries in Hertfordshire;
Sand and Gravel Sites
o Panshanger Quarry, Hertford o Tyttenhanger Quarry, Colney Heath; o Westmill Quarry, Ware; o Hatfield Quarry with the linked Symondshyde extraction site.
3.10 Another site has extant planning permission for sand and gravel extraction, although no extraction is now taking place, which is at Water Hall.(see Table 2 for further details). It was previously reported that there was extant permission also at Dobbs Weir, on a part of the site which has now been re-established as a caravan park. This matter has been looked into further and relates to a RoMPP. It is concluded that there cannot be any extraction without a new planning application and therefore there are no permitted reserves at the site which need to be recorded now or in subsequent documents.
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Chalk
3.11 Chalk occurs as bedrock throughout much of the county. It is a major aquifer and is the most important source of groundwater in the county. The White Chalk runs through Watford and Hertford although much is covered by superficial deposits and chalk crops out along the sides of the valleys of the rivers Ash and Lea near Hertford and the Colne valley. The Grey Chalk is found in the north and far west of the county.
3.12 The Chilterns area within Hertfordshire is an area that consists of rolling chalk hills capped with Clay-with-Flints superficial deposits. This area runs from Tring to Hitchin, through Welwyn, St Albans and Watford. Steep chalk scarp slopes are found in Tring with gentler slopes covering a larger area. Gentler chalk hills than the Chilterns are found in the East Anglian Chalk area which runs from the Chilterns through Hertfordshire and South Cambridgeshire.
3.13 There were many chalk extraction sites in the past, essentially for local use. However today, the scale of working is relatively small and chalk is mainly quarried at a small number of sites to the north and west of the sand and gravel belt. Chalk in Hertfordshire is extracted for use as an agricultural lime on farms both within and outside the county.
3.14 There are currently three chalk extraction sites in Hertfordshire:
Chalk sites o Codicote; o Bedwell Park (just outside of Hertford); and o Anstey.
Clay
3.15 Hertfordshire sits within the Northern Thames Basin Character Area with geology of mostly London Clay overlain with superficial deposits of sand and gravel. The west Anglian Plain with geology of Gault Clay adjoins the northern part of the county and the Eastern Anglian Plain covers a large part of the East of the county with underlying chalk with a covering of Boulder Clay.
3.16 The scale of working for brick clay is relatively small. The only brick clay is located in the Hemel Hempstead area. Brick clay is extracted for use at specialist brickworks in the county, of which there is one remaining in the county, in Bovingdon. The bricks are made from mottled clays of Reading Formation and Clay-with-Flints.
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Hard Rock
3.17 There is no hard rock found in the county. Hertfordshire imports crushed rock into the county via the rail aggregate depots. Reserves from outside of Hertfordshire will be relied upon for this source of mineral.
Marine Aggregates
3.18 Hertfordshire is a land locked county and as such contains no areas suitable for the dredging of marine aggregates. A relatively small amount of marine sand and gravel is consumed in the county which is imported via Kent and London.
4 SAND AND GRAVEL SALES
4.1 Sales of sand and gravel (including soft sands) for the ten year period between 2006 and 2015 inclusive are shown in Figure 2. The figures are based on actual sales data retrieved from the county’s Aggregate Monitoring Surveys 2015 and the BGS Aggregate Minerals Survey 2014 for England and Wales collated data for Hertfordshire’s aggregate sales and destinations.
4.2 However, there have historically been difficulties in obtaining mineral data and this problem is recognised nationally. Only some minerals data is made available to the minerals planning authority or can be inaccurate, inconsistent and incomplete. The county council is part of the East of England Aggregates Working Party (EEAWP), which is a technical working group comprising mineral planning authorities and other interested parties that are working together to obtain better survey data which is used by individual authorities and collated in the East of England Authorities’ Monitoring Report. It is hoped that in the years to come the data available for both minerals and waste will be more available and consistent.
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Figure 2: Sales of sand and gravel in Hertfordshire 2006 – 2015 compared with apportionments
Sand and Gravel sales compared with apportionments 2.00
1.50
Sales
1.00 Apportionment
Million Million tonnes 3 year average sales 1.23 1.27 1.22 1.21 1.17 1.12 1.13 1.21 0.50 1.01 0.99 10 year average sales 0.00
Year
Source: HCC Authority Monitoring Report 2016 and EEAWP Aggregate Monitoring Survey return for 2015
4.3 Sand and gravel production in 2015 was very similar to that in previous years. Sales have reached 1.20 million tonnes and above, five times over the last 10 year period.
4.4 The average sales of sand and gravel in Hertfordshire over the last 10 years is 1.16 million tonnes (2006-2015). As a comparison, this figure was 1.13 million tonnes as of 2014, 1.12 million tonnes as of 2013, 1.13 million tonnes as of 2012, and 1.17 million tonnes as of 2011, thereby remaining relatively constant over the last few years.
4.5 The rolling 3 year average is 1.16 million tonnes per annum (2013-2015). This was 1.15 million tonnes per annum in 2014, 1.13 million tonnes per annum in 2013, 1.19 million tonnes per annum in 2012 and 1.22 million tonnes per annum recorded for the end of 2011.
4.6 Based on 2015 levels, Hertfordshire contributed 11% and in 2014 contributed 10% of the sand and gravel sales in the East of England region 4.
4.7 Figures for reserves are available from 2007. The table below shows the sales figure alongside the reserves figure for sand and gravel in Hertfordshire.
4 East of England Aggregates Working Party Annual Monitoring Report 2014&2015, published July 2016 Agenda Pack 62 of 157
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Table 1: Sand and gravel sales compared with permitted reserves in Hertfordshire since 2007 Year Sales of soft sand Permitted reserves of and sharp sands soft sand and sharp and gravel (tonnes) sands and gravel (tonnes)
2006 1,230,885 - 2007 1,010,466 10,840,668 2008 988,517 10,869,000
2009 1,214,3065 10,619,000 2010 1,172,890 10,786,465 2011 1,268,465 16,700,000 2012 1,123,645 15,792,000 2013 1,130,295 16,260,000 2014 1,209,532 14,440,000 2015 1,224,284 13,215,716
Source: HCC Authority Monitoring Report 2016 & Annual East of England Aggregates Working Party Aggregates Monitoring Survey return for 2015
4.8 The table above shows that between 2007 and 2010 the permitted reserves of sand and gravel in the county remained fairly constant; however this is now at a higher level due to additional planning permissions and reassessment of actual reserves by operators.
Extraction Sites
4.9 There are currently six quarries in Hertfordshire with planning permission for the extraction of sand and gravel, with five currently extracting. The details of these are presented in Table 2 below.
4.10 Based on 2015 levels Hertfordshire contains 10% of the permitted sand and gravel reserves in the East of England region6.
4.11 As in previous years, anecdotal evidence suggests that sites are not producing enough sand and gravel to keep up with demand which has increased due to the upturn in development as the economy recovers out of recession.
5 There is a slight difference between the figure in the HCC Annual Monitoring Report 2010 and the figure recorded by the East of England Aggregate Monitoring Survey for 2009 (1,214,306t and 1,207,000t respectively) 6 East of England Aggregates Working Party Annual Monitoring Report 2014&5, published July 2016 Agenda Pack 63 of 157
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Table 2: Permitted sand and gravel extraction sites in Hertfordshire Active Operator Status Restoration Cessation dates Extraction Site Westmill Cemex UK Active. Non-hazardous Extraction Quarry Ltd landfill 31-12-2015 Ware Site permission 31-12-2017. Hatfield Cemex UK Active. Inert landfill Extraction and site Quarry Ltd Processing plant on permission Symondshyde original Hatfield Quarry site 01-10-2020. Farm area. Tyttenhanger Lafarge Active. Inert landfill Extraction and site Quarry Tarmac Ltd Permission in February permission Colney Heath 2011, for the extraction on 31-12-2032. land identified as Preferred Area No.3 in the Minerals Local Plan Review 2002- 2016. Panshanger Lafarge Inert landfill Extraction Active. Quarry Tarmac Ltd 31-12-2030. Hertford Thorley Hall David Agricultural 5 years after Active Farm Tinney reservoir commencement date (3 years to implement permission dated 13/5/2014) - 13/5/2022 at the latest Permitted but Operator Status Restoration Cessation dates Inactive Extraction Site Waterhall Waterhall Inert landfill Extraction Inactive extraction. Hertford (England) 21-02-2017. Ltd/Frank Only sand and gravel Lyons reserves under plant site.
4.12 In addition there are two sand and gravel quarry sites that are currently in the restoration phase. These sites are as follows:
o Great Westwood Quarry near Watford (final restoration stage; o Waterhall in Bayfordbury near Hertford (Bunker’s Hill part of the site - inert landfill permission expires 31-12-2017).
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Figure 3: Geology of Hertfordshire with permitted sand and gravel sites
Apportionments
4.13 The current annual apportionment for Hertfordshire is 1.39 million tonnes of sand and gravel.
4.14 The county’s sand and gravel apportionment figure has changed over time due to periodic reviews. In 1998 the annual apportionment was set at 2.4 million tonnes. The annual apportionment in the current adopted Minerals Local Plan was set at 1.99 million tonnes for the time period 2002-2016 (as detailed in former Minerals Planning Guidance Note 6: Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England, 1994-2016, dated April 1994, as amended June 2003). This figure was subsequently reviewed through the National and Regional guidelines in 2009 and now stands at 1.39 million tonnes for the time period 2005-2020. This sub-regional apportionment was approved by the East of England Aggregates Working Party based on the Managed Aggregate Supply System (MASS) which was in operation at the time and now forms part of the NPPG.
4.15 Figure 2 provides a comparison of Hertfordshire’s sales figures over the ten year period 2006 to 2015 against the county’s apportionments during this period. Agenda Pack 65 of 157
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4.16 The apportionment level changed in 20057 from 1.99mtpa to 1.39mtpa. It can be seen in the graph that sales have been below apportionment levels and do not meet apportionments for any year, although came close in 2006 and 2011.
4.17 The government has revised the apportionment over time. It announced revised requirements for national and regional aggregates provision in 2009, which were lower than the previous requirements published in 2003. When regional planning was in place, the review of the East of England Regional Plan recommended an annual apportionment of 1.44 million tonnes. However, publication in September 2009 of the National and Local Guidelines for Aggregate Provision in England from 2005-20208 provided a figure of 1.39 million tonnes and with the abolition of regional planning this apportionment figure has been agreed and set locally for Hertfordshire by the East of England Aggregates Working Party.
4.18 The 2009 guidelines states in Annex A that the revised apportionment reflects an overall fall in national demand for sand and gravel and crushed rock, an increase in the assumed contribution use of alternatives to primary aggregates notably construction and demolition waste, an increase in the assumed contribution of marine sand and gravel and decrease in the assumed contribution of net imports.
4.19 Figure 2 illustrates how this lower apportionment level reduces the gap between sales and apportionments.
Local approach to determining apportionment figures 10 year and 3 year sales average
4.20 The NPPF states in paragraph 145 that Mineral Planning Authorities (MPAs) should prepare an annual LAA ‘based on a rolling average of 10 years sales data, and other relevant information, and an assessment of all supply options (including marine dredged, secondary and recycled sources)’. When planning for a steady and adequate supply of aggregates, such local information includes geology, environmental issues, local demand and past patterns of supply.
4.21 The government’s aim is to provide a simpler and more transparent approach to calculating the apportionment than the sub-regional apportionment method that relies on a complex model incorporating a range of confidential variables.
4.22 The NPPG suggests the use of the 3 year sales average to identify a general trend in sales and consider increasing supply if this is appropriate. The NPPG suggests that the rolling 10 year average, 3 year average sales and sub-regional guidelines should all be had regard to in order to establish a broad view of planned provision.
7 As set out in DCLG, 2009, National and regional guidelines for aggregates provision in England 2005-2020; 8 DCLG, 2009, National and regional guidelines for aggregates provision in England 2005-2020; Agenda Pack 66 of 157
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4.23 The difference in the agreed apportionment and average sales are as follows:
Table 3: Sales and apportionment Sales and apportionment Million tonnes per annum Agreed apportionment 1.39 10 year sales average 1.16 (2006-2015) 3 year sales average 1.19 (2013-2015)
4.24 The NPPG states MPAs can plan for more or less than the figure set out in the sub-regional guidelines based on their LAA and ‘in those areas where apportionment of the land-won element has already taken place, those figures may be used as an indicator as to how much should be planned for’ (NPPG, paragraph 071).
4.25 There may be advantages of taking into account average sales data over a period of time which levels out the peaks and troughs of an economic cycle by accounting for periods of slow (2008-2011) and high (2001-2007) economic growth. However, the table above shows that if the current ten or three year sales averages were used to calculate the sand and gravel landbank for Hertfordshire, this would result in a lower provision being planned for. This figure will change yearly due to the rolling average of sales data, but at present would place additional pressure on neighbouring MPAs to meet any shortfall if the demand for aggregates rises such as increased certainty of a higher level of future growth in the county as Local Planning Authorities set their housing figures.
Landbank of permitted mineral reserves
4.26 Permitted reserves of sand and gravel in Hertfordshire (i.e. sites with planning permission to extract) are currently 13,215,716tonnes (as of the end of 2015) (see table 1). The annual apportionment for Hertfordshire is 1,390,000 tonnes based on the DCLG 2009 guidance.
4.27 By using the permitted reserves and dividing this figure by the annual apportionment figure, this shows the landbank in years. A landbank is defined in the Minerals Local Plan as ‘a stock of planning permissions for the winning and working of minerals’.
4.28 The current landbank (as of the end of 2015) for Hertfordshire is 9.5 years. This happens to be the same as the landbank for the East of England9
4.29 As a comparison, landbanks for the previous years (all based on 1.39mtpa since 2005) were as follows:
9 East of England Aggregates Monitoring Report 2014&2015, published July 2016. Agenda Pack 67 of 157
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o 10.4 years in 2014. Minimal reserves were approved o 11.7 years in 2013. A reassessment of reserves took place and additional reserves approved. o 11.4 years in 2012. No additional reserves were approved. o 12 years in 2011 when additional reserves were approved; o 7.8 years in 2010. The reason for this lower figure is due to the fact that Rickneys eastern extension was not permitted at this time which is reflected in the subsequent years up until December 2013.
4.30 Sand and gravel permitted reserves that make up the figure to calculate the landbank are contained in six sites in Table 2 (Westmill, Hatfield, Tyttenhanger, Panshanger, Waterhall and Thorley Hall Farm).
4.31 Table 3 shows the most up-to-date landbank calculations based on the reserves and showing the difference when sales figures are used compared with the apportionment figure.
Table4: Landbanks for sand and gravel in Hertfordshire in 2015 Permitted reserves as at 31/12/2015 13,215,716 East of England AWP apportionment for Herts 2005-2020 1,390,000 Landbank based on EEAWP apportionment (years) 9.5
Permitted reserves as at 31/12/2015 13,215,716 10 year average sales 2006-2015 1,157,329 Landbank based on 10 year average sales (years) 11.4
Permitted reserves as at 31/12/2015 13,215,716 3 year average sales 2013-2015 1,188,037 Landbank based on 3 year average sales (years) 11.1
4.32 The NPPF states that MPAs should make provision for the maintenance of landbanks of at least seven years for sand and gravel and should prepare an LAA based on a rolling average of 10 years sales data and other relevant information. This is provided by way of securing planning permissions for sites that will provide aggregate over this period to fulfil the apportionment on a yearly basis. As stated in the table above, the landbank in the county is currently above the recommended seven year level, when based on the agreed EEAWP apportionment. The level of provision of sand and gravel would be extended by further years when calculating it against the ten and three year sales averages.
Timeline for mineral planning
4.33 For mineral planning purposes the landbank is crucial. The council will consider the existing high level of planned provision when reviewing the Minerals Local Plan. Based on the reserves and given the end date of the existing Minerals Local Plan (2002-2016) and time for working up the review document from now, Agenda Pack 68 of 157
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it is considered that a reasonable time frame would be 2016-2031. This is in line with the NPPF, in paragraph 157 which states that ‘Local Plans should be drawn up over an appropriate time scale, preferably a 15-year time horizon, take account of longer term requirements, and be kept up to date;’
Start of plan End of plan 2016 2018 (adoption) (10.4-12.8 year landbank) 2026-2028 2031 (15 year period)
5 IMPORTS AND EXPORTS
5.1 Data relating to the sales and consumption of aggregates are collected and collated at the national and regional level. The most up to date published figures have been used in this report.
5.2 A national four-yearly Aggregate Minerals Survey (AMS) provides in–depth and up to date information of regional and national sales, inter–regional flows, transportation, consumption and permitted reserves of primary aggregates in England and Wales. Conducted by DCLG and BGS the latest survey was carried out in 2015 to capture data for 2014. Table 4 has been compiled using the AMS 2009 report with additional information obtained through direct correspondence with the BGS relating to the origin and destination of aggregates.
Table 5: Hertfordshire's primary aggregates imports and exports (2009) Mineral Import Consumption Export Balance amount (tonnes)11 (tonnes)12 (imports- 10 (tonnes) exports) (tonnes) Land won sand and 163,000 1,053,000 317,000 - 154,000 gravel Marine sand and 1,000 1,000 0 + 1,000 gravel Total sand and 164,000 1,054,000 317,000 - 153,000 gravel
Crushed rock 413,000 413,000 0 + 413,000 Total aggregates 577,000 1,467,000 317,000 + 260,000 Note: In balance column, a ‘-‘ prefix indicates a net export, and a ‘+’ prefix indicates a net import.
5.3 The results of the Aggregate Minerals Survey in 2009 showed that movements of sand and gravel into and out of Hertfordshire are not self-balancing (Table 5). Overall, Hertfordshire is a net exporter of sand and gravel, although there is a
10 DCLG & BGS, 20014, Collation of the results of the 20014 aggregate minerals survey for England and Wales 11 DCLG & BGS, 20014, Collation of the results of the 20014 aggregate minerals survey for England and Wales 12 Table 9d (calculation of land won sand and gravel to the East of England plus elsewhere) DCLG & BGS, 2009, Collation of the results of the 2009 aggregate minerals survey for England and Wales Agenda Pack 69 of 157
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small amount of marine sand and gravel imported. Hertfordshire relies on imports of crushed rock, as this is not found in the county.
Imports – Sand and Gravel
5.4 Of the total sand and gravel consumed in Hertfordshire (1,146,000 tonnes) as reported in the AMS 2014:
o 60-70%% came from within Hertfordshire; o 10-20% came from Essex; o 1-10% came from Bedford Borough, o Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire & Suffolk (within the East of England) and Windsor & Maidenhead District and Great London East (outside of East of England); o <1% came from Wiltshire, Hampshire, Kent, Oxfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire & Staffordshire.
Imports – Marine sources
5.5 Of the 1,000 tonnes of marine sand and gravel consumed in Hertfordshire as reported in the AMS 2009 (Table 11):
o 49% was supplied via Kent; o 51% was supplied via London. 13
5.6 In summary, of the imports of sand and gravel into Hertfordshire, 94% came from within the East of England area and 6% from outside the East of England area. 14
Imports – Crushed Rock
5.7 Of the total crushed rock consumed in Hertfordshire (413,000 tonnes) as reported in the AMS 2009 (Table 11):
o 58% came from Leicestershire; o 20-25% came from Derbyshire; o 5-10% came from Somerset; o 5-10% came from Yorkshire Dales NP; o 1-5% came from Powys; o Northamptonshire, Rutland, Cumbria and Oxfordshire each supplied less than 1%.15 5.8 In summary, of the imports of crushed rock, 100% came from outside the East of England area. 16
13 Information supplied directly by BGS 14 Information supplied directly by BGS 15 Information supplied directly by BGS 16 Information supplied directly by BGS Agenda Pack 70 of 157
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Exports – Sand and Gravel
5.9 Of the total land won sand and gravel sales from quarries in Hertfordshire (1,209,532 tonnes) for which year there is a breakdown of sales destinations as reported in the AMS 2014: 17
5.10 57% was within Hertfordshire (692,000 tonnes), 22% was to the rest of the East of England (265,000 tonnes) and 21% was to other destinations (252,000 tonnes).
From a national perspective the UK Minerals Yearbook 201518 reports the following: 5.11 In GB there were:
o 56 million tonnes of sand and gravel consumed; (2014)19 and o 99 million tonnes of crushed rock consumed (2014); o 535 sand and gravel workings in the UK (as at March 2016); 20
5.12 Of the aggregates produced in the UK in 201421:
o 46.8million tonnes was land-won sand and gravel; o 14.3 million tonnes was marine dredged sand and gravel; o 110.3 million tonnes was crushed rock; and o 6.8 million tonnes was clay and shale (for bricks22).
Total imports of sand and gravel and crushed rock into the UK in 2012 were 39.2 million tonnes and total exports from the UK were 68.2 million tonnes23
The Annual Minerals Raised Inquiry (AMRI) 2014 reports the following:
o A total of 4.7 million tonnes was extracted in Great Britain24. There are no figures reported for clay extracted and sold for Hertfordshire. o The UK had a rise in total clay sales from 6,464 to 6,806 thousand tonnes 2013-2014; o The UK had a rise in sales from 3,528 thousand tonnes 2012- 2013 to 3,312 thousand tonnes 2013-2014. There are no figures reported for chalk extracted and sold for Hertfordshire;25 o Hertfordshire is listed as one of only 13 areas in Great Britain that produce chalk; o UK total sales of sand and gravel rose from 51,925 in 2012-2013 to 56,129 thousand tonnes.26
17 Access database supplied with the AM2014 Survey 18 Page 22, BGS, 2015, United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook 2015, Minerals and Waste Programme Open Report OR/16/021 19 Page 15, BGS, 2015, United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook 2015, Minerals and Waste Programme Open Report OR/16/021 20 Page 18 of BGS, 2015, United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook 2015, Minerals and Waste Programme Open Report OR/16/021 21 Page BGS, 2015, United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook 2015, Minerals and Waste Programme Open Report OR/16/021 22 Page 23 BGS, 2015, United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook 2015, Minerals and Waste Programme Open Report OR/16/021 23 Page 19 of BGS, 2014, United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook 2013, Minerals and Waste Programme Open Report OR/14/036 22 Table 8, DCLG & ONS, March 2016, Annual Mineral Raised Inquiry (AMRI) ‘Mineral extraction in Great Britain 2014’, Business Monitor PA1007 25 Table 9, DCLG & ONS, March 2016, Annual Mineral Raised Inquiry (AMRI) ‘ mineral extraction in Great Britain 2014,’ Business Monitor PA1007 Agenda Pack 71 of 157
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From the East of England area perspective the Area’s Annual Monitoring Report 2014 reports the following:
o Hertfordshire contributed 10% of sand and gravel sales in the East of England in 2014 and 11% in 2015; 27 o Cambridgeshire & Peterborough and Bedford, Central Bedfordshire & Luton have a higher landbank of sand and gravel than Hertfordshire in the East of England; 28 o The East of England landbank (average over all authorities) stands at 9.5 years using the sub-regional apportionment figure derived from the National and regional Guidelines 2005-2020; 29 o Cambridgeshire & Peterborough and Norfolk are the only authorities in the East of England that extract rock and propose to maintain current extraction rates;30 o Although likely to be under-representations, in 2015 the EEAWP area imported over 2.2 million tonnes of aggregate (sand and gravel and crushed rock) from outside the area by rail depots and wharfs. In comparison exports of aggregates from the area by rail were over 100,000 tonnes. 31
Sales and Construction
5.13 The following table shows the comparison of sales and consumption in Hertfordshire in 2014.
Table 6: Sales and consumption in 2014 Destination Proportion Assumed Figure Hertfordshire 57% 689,433t East of England 22% 266,097t Elsewhere 21% 254,002t Total Sales of Land Won Sand & Gravel (2014) 100% 1,209,532t Consumption 1,146,000t Source: DCLG & BGS, 2014, Collation of the results of the 2014 Aggregate Minerals Survey for England and Wales
5.14 The AMS indicated that most of Hertfordshire’s sand and gravel produced is consumed in the county (57%). Of the exports, the majority of the sand and gravel is used outside of the East of England region (21%).
26 Table 2, DCLG & ONS, March 2016, Annual Mineral Raised Inquiry (AMRI) ‘Mineral extraction in Great Britain 2014’, Business Monitor PA1007 27 Figure 2 of East of England Aggregates Working Party, Annual Monitoring Report 2014-2015 28 Table 3, East of England Aggregates Working Party, Annual Monitoring Report 2014-2015 29 Table 3, East of England Aggregates Working Party, Annual Monitoring Report 2014-2015 30 Table 1, East of England Aggregates Working Party, Annual Monitoring Report 2014-2015 31 Page14, East of England Aggregates Working Party, Annual Monitoring Report 2014-2015 Agenda Pack 72 of 157
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Rail Aggregate Depots
5.15 Linked with the mineral industry is the need for rail aggregate depots within the county. Currently Hertfordshire has a total of five such sites which are at:
o Langley Sidings, Stevenage; o Rye House, Hoddesdon; o Harper Lane, Radlett; o Orphanage Road, Watford; and o Hitchin.
5.16 These are shown on the proposals map in the Hertfordshire Minerals Local Plan, 2007 and Minerals Consultation Areas Supplementary Planning document, and are safeguarded facilities. However, Hitchin rail aggregate depot is not currently operating.
32 5.17 Imports of minerals at the operational rail aggregate depots :
Mineral imported at RADs Total tonnage
Crushed rock 453,889
Sharp sands and gravels 34613
Total 488,502
5.18 Crushed rock passes through Langley Sidings. Concrete batching is carried out at Orphanage Road, ready mix at Langley Sidings and Harper Lane and asphalt plants at Langley Sidings and Harper Lane. The asphalt plant is no longer operating at Rye House, instead the site only handles dry stone.
5.19 Further discussions are planned to be carried out with the rail aggregate depots to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the destinations of minerals to and from these sites.
5.20 The Mineral Planning Authority responds to District/Borough Council Local Plan consultations requesting the safeguarding of rail aggregate depots. Where there is pressure on the continued operation of these sites due to other development proposals, the county council will be an active member of any discussion group to shape proposals so as to retain the rail aggregate depot or assist with the relocation to another site. The county council has one rail aggregate depot that may be at risk from other development over the time period of the next Minerals Local Plan, namely Orphanage Road, Watford.
32 HCC Rail Aggregate Depots, Aggregate Monitoring Surveys 2014 (only received figures from 3 of the 5 RADs) Agenda Pack 73 of 157
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Figure 4: Hertfordshire's rail aggregate depots
© Crown copyright and database rights 2016 Ordnance Survey 100019606
Brick Clay
5.21 Hertfordshire has one site which excavates brick clay for the use on-site in the production of specialist bricks. The current planning permission at the site runs until 31 December 2025 for extraction.
5.22 There is no apportionment for clay provision; however the NPPF requires that a stock of permitted reserves of at least 25 years for brick clay is required. The adopted Minerals Local Plan did not require a landbank of brick clay. The review of the Minerals Local Plan therefore needs to address this issue. This will be planned for in the review of the Minerals Local Plan and could be shown as a Mineral Safeguarded Area(s).
5.23 Reserves at the site are unpredictable due to the nature of the deposit. In accordance with the current planning permission, there are reserves at the site for approximately 9 years. It is therefore unlikely that at present reserves will remain over the life of the proposed plan period.
5.24 The existing policies in the adopted Minerals Local Plan 2002-2016 can be relied upon by decision makers to determine any planning applications that may come forward until the Minerals Local Plan is reviewed. The NPPF is a material Agenda Pack 74 of 157
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planning consideration and therefore would need to be taken into account. Therefore reference to the NPPF may be necessary should any issues relating to clay come forward before the review of the Minerals Local Plan.
Chalk
5.25 Chalk is extracted in Hertfordshire for use as an agricultural lime on farms to improve soil quality and is therefore classed as an industrial mineral rather than an aggregate used in construction (e.g. for use in cement).Hertfordshire does not have a working cement plant and therefore it is not necessary to plan for a separate landbank for this resource.
5.26 The Annual Minerals Raised Inquiry Survey 2014 states that there were sales of 30 thousand tonnes of chalk in Hertfordshire for agricultural uses33. For information purposes and the monitoring of sites the table below provides further information on these sites with permitted reserves:-
Table 7: Permitted chalk extraction sites in Hertfordshire Site Operator Status Cessation date for planning permission Codicote Currently active. Extraction to cease by Codicote Quarry Quarry Extraction since 1948, in 21/2/2042 Ltd two parts: RoMPP (northern part) and IDO (southern part). Bedwell Currently active. Extraction to cease by BP Mitchell Park 21/2/2042 Haulage Quarry Contractors Ltd Anstey Winning and working of Extraction to be completed Anstey Quarry Chalk chalk and reclamation of by 31/12/2018 and Company Ltd Quarry the site by the importation by 30/06/20. importation of inert waste.
6 SECONDARY AND RECYCLED AGGREGATE
6.1 Mineral Planning Authorities are expected to plan for aggregates, taking account of all sources and having regard to the overall objective to minimise the amount of primary extraction. Secondary and recycled aggregates play their part in providing a source of material for construction which reduces the need for extraction at quarry sites and reduces the amount of waste from construction sites needing to be landfilled. With these obvious benefits, the use of this material is encouraged. The county council is monitoring in its AMR, under target 8 of the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document,
33 Table 9, DCLG, 2014, Annual Minerals Raised Inquiry Survey ‘Minerals extraction in Great Britain 2012, Business Monitor PA1007’ Agenda Pack 75 of 157
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the annual percentage diversion of C,D&E waste from landfill. A considerable amount of inert waste is currently being used in the restoration of extraction sites.
6.2 Secondary aggregates are usually by-product wastes from construction, industrial or mineral extraction processes. This includes both natural and manufactured materials such as glass, incinerator bottom ash, fine ceramic waste, scrap tyres, flue ash, slag, china clay, coal and slate extraction and spent foundry sand.
6.3 Recycled aggregates are aggregates produced from reprocessed construction, demolition and excavation (CD&E) waste. This includes crushed concrete, stone and brick, asphalt road planings and railway ballast.
6.4 The processing of aggregate occurs both on construction sites for reuse on the same site or off site for use in other construction works.
Inert Waste Management in Hertfordshire
6.5 The data available on recovered material that can be sold as recycled and particularly secondary aggregate is variable and not considered completely reliable. The county council receives limited data provided by site operators in the annual surveys relating to aggregate recovery. Of the data provided by operators, in 2015 there was 317,314 tonnes of secondary and recycled
aggregate produced in Hertfordshire. 34
Table 8: Total recycled and secondary aggregate processed over the last 10 years Year Recycled and Secondary Aggregate Processing (tonnes)35
2006 172,238
2007 267,210
2008 229,769
2009 258,427
2010 346,560
2011 303,869
2012 316,941
34 Hertfordshire County Council annual waste survey 2016 35 Please note there may be a difference in the figures available from difference sources, including HCC operator data, Environment Agency data and other studies. Agenda Pack 76 of 157
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2013 329,457
2014 362,203
2015 317,314
6.6 According to the Environment Agency’s Waste Data Interrogator, figures of inert CD&E waste treated in the county may be different to the figures received from operator returns. The Environment Agency’s figure does not include figures at waste transfer stations that bulk up and transfer aggregate on to recycling
facilities for processing. 36
6.7 At the sub-regional level, the most recent study on secondary and recycled aggregate arisings was undertaken in 2005 by a contractor on behalf of DCLG. The figures for Hertfordshire featured in the report as a combined figure with Bedfordshire to show that these two authorities produced a combined 1,269,259
tonnes of recycled aggregates. 37
6.8 The adopted Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document concludes that there is sufficient permitted capacity within the county
for the disposal and treatment of this waste stream. 38
Secondary and Recycled Aggregate Sources
6.9 There are currently eleven sites with planning permission for the recovery of inert CD&E waste in Hertfordshire, as listed below. Some sites also process C&I waste. Figure 6 shows the location of these sites in the county.
Table 9: Secondary and recycled aggregate sites
SITE COMPANY STATUS 5 Hunting Gate, Hitchin Winters Haulage Permanent Anstey Quarry The Anstey Quarry Temporarily permitted until Company Ltd June 2020 Burnside, Hatfield Peter Brothers Ltd Permanent Cavendish Road Depot, Stevenage Borough Permanent Stevenage Council Codicote Quarry The Anstey Quarry Temporarily permitted until Company Ltd February 2042 Harper Lane (Rail Loop) Tarmac Ltd Permanent
36 HCC, 2013, Authority Monitoring Report 37 DCLG, 2007, Survey of Arisings and Use of Alternatives to Primary Aggregates in England, 2005 Construction, Demolition and Excavation Waste 38 Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies Development Plan Document, p. 30, paragraphs 3.20 and 3.21. Agenda Pack 77 of 157
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Harper Lodge Farm, Ground Waste Recycling Permanent Radlett Ltd Birchall Lane, Cole BP Mitchell Ltd Permanent Green, Welwyn Garden City Jacks Hill Graveley Brycelands Removals Ltd Permanent Land adjacent to B197, Envirowaste (Inc) Permanent north of Graveley Ltd/Stevenage Skips Waverley Nursery, H. Dent & Sons Permanent Wormley
Figure 5: Location of permitted sites in Hertfordshire for the production of recycled/secondary aggregates
© Crown copyright and database rights 2016 Ordnance Survey 100019606
Expected Contribution to Supply
6.10 In terms of relying on secondary and recycled aggregate and thereby reducing the need for extracting land won sand and gravel to meet the demand in Hertfordshire, precise data on this supply option needs to be available to factor this into mineral planning. This is not always available. The county council Agenda Pack 78 of 157
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surveyed operators of known recycled and secondary aggregate sites and figures have been provided.
6.11 In addition, there is the use of some inert material that is reprocessed on demolition sites and used in their redevelopment as groundworks and basic engineering fill. Whilst this is potentially a lower grade aggregate, its use can also offset the need for primary won extraction of sand and gravel. Again, the difficulty is obtaining reliable data to quantify how much of this material can be relied upon.
6.12 Issues with data availability and reliability for secondary and recycled aggregates does not allow for a firm figure for local supply of this source of aggregate in Hertfordshire. It is considered reasonable to assume that as the economy recovers out of recession, volumes of secondary and recycled aggregates similar to those of recent years will continue to be available in the county. As such there should not be any significant effect on the demand for newly extracted land won sand and gravel.
6.13 In a similar way, a small amount of marine dredged sand and gravel as detailed in table 4 and paragraph 5.5 is imported for use in the county. It is considered reasonable to assume that this supply of sand and gravel will continue to be used in the county at a similar volume in future years and therefore there should not be a significant effect on the amount of newly extracted sand and gravel required. As stated in table 4 and paragraph 5.7, hard rock is supplied from other counties as Hertfordshire does not have any of this resource. As the economy grows it is assumed that as this aggregate is already within the supply chain it is considered reasonable to assume that the proportions of market demand currently being met from these sources will continue to be met.
7 FUTURE AGGREGATES SUPPLY AND DEMAND Supply
7.1 As shown in the calculations of sand and gravel landbanks in table 4, using the EEAWP sub-regional apportionment of 1.39mtpa (9.5 years), the 10 year rolling average sales (11.4 years) or the 3 year average sales figures (11.1 years), the county does not have sufficient permitted reserves to fulfil the requirement for a 15 year Minerals Local Plan period. As such the county council will seek to address this by allocating sufficient land in the review of the Minerals Local Plan.
7.2 A comparison of the sub-regional apportionment with the shortfall is shown below:
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Table10: Requirement for sand and gravel in Hertfordshire over the plan period of 15 years to 2031
10 year EEAWP average apportionment sales (2006- 2009 (Mt) 2015)(Mt) Annual provision 1.16 1.39 Total Plan Requirement: 17.40 20.85 Annual provision x plan period (15 years)
Permitted Reserves (2015) 13.22 13.22 Minus this figure
Shortfall 4.18 7.63
7.3 Historically the nationally prescribed regional apportionment figure for mineral provision was sub divided proportionally between authorities within the Region under the Managed Aggregates Supply System which was in operation at the time. This approach to calculating apportionments has now changed with the introduction of new national guidelines in the NPPF and the NPPG. The NPPG states in paragraph 060 (Reference ID: 27-060-20140306) that the MASS ‘requires mineral planning authorities which have adequate resources of aggregates to make an appropriate contribution to national as well as local supply, while making due allowance for the need to control any environmental damage to an acceptable level’.
7.4 The NPPF seeks to plan for a steady and adequate supply of aggregates by preparing an annual Local Aggregate Assessment which should be ‘based on a rolling average of 10 years data and other relevant local information, and an assessment of all supply options (including marine dredged, secondary and recycled sources);’. In addition, the NPPG states in paragraph 064 (Reference ID: 27-064-20140306) that ‘Mineral Planning Authorities should also look at average sales over the last three years in particular to identify the general trend of demand as part of the consideration of whether it might be appropriate to increase supply’.
7.5 Whilst the average rolling 10 years sales could be one way of calculating provision, needing to be reported within the LAA, the NPPF also states that there is still heavy emphasis on the role of Aggregate Working Parties. The Government continues to encourage MPAs to be members of Aggregate Working Parties in addition to aggregate industry representatives. The East of England AWP is continuing in its capacity as it was when working under the regional planning system, and has collective sign up by authorities that it is appropriate for all MPAs in the East of England to continue to work with the 2009 EEAWP sub-regional apportionment figure for the foreseeable future.
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7.6 In addition, when planning for mineral provision the NPPF provides the option for MPAs to factor in ‘other relevant information’. This therefore provides the scope for MPAs to assess other influences on the demand for aggregates. This links with the localism agenda whereby authorities are given the opportunity to factor in local issues that may influence the need for minerals in their area. However, determining what other relevant information consists of is a matter for the MPA to decide. For Hertfordshire it is considered that an assessment of the state of the local economy, will provide data that can be used to determine the purpose and timing that minerals will be required for development, which can be fed into the review of the MLP.
7.7 The county council needs to consider the potential constraints on the ability to supply aggregate from different sources. The use of marine aggregate is minimal due to Hertfordshire being land locked. If it were to become a source that it utilised more readily in the future, this will require transportation from and reliance upon other mineral planning authority areas and therefore is not as sustainable a source. The market would need to require this material and negotiation would need to take place with other mineral planning authorities. It appears that there is now an established market for secondary and recycled aggregates to be used in development projects and as a result the available material is being recycled. How far this can be expanded upon is an option to explore but is dependent upon the construction and demolition material being available in the first instance to recycle. In terms of practical limitations on the supply of land won aggregate from Hertfordshire, this may be impacted upon by the development being proposed in the ten district/borough councils within the county to deliver their Local Plan visions with increased housing provision. Negotiations will continue to be had with districts/boroughs. Another consideration is the adequacy of the transportation network to move material around the county. The highway network is heavily used within the county and therefore the movement of additional mineral from sites needs careful consideration. In addition, over half of Hertfordshire is covered by Green Belt, as a result this policy needs to be fully considered.
7.8 From these potential constraints described above, we can conclude that DtC meetings with other authorities is essential, mineral sterilisation, transportation, Green Belt and secondary and recycled aggregates all need to continue to be included within the review of the Minerals Local Plan.
Potential Future Supply from Preferred Areas
7.9 The adopted Minerals Local Plan 2002-2016, adopted in 2007 contains 3 Preferred Areas:
o PA1 – BAE o PA2 – Rickneys; & o PA3 – Coursers Road (Tyttenhanger) Agenda Pack 81 of 157
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7.10 Of these sites, all three of them have come forward for extraction. Extraction of sand and gravel was permitted at Coursers Road, Tyttenhanger and is currently taking place. The figures for reserves are included within Table 1 above. Planning permission has lapsed for extraction of sand and gravel at Rickneys. The site had been mothballed and the operator is not currently extracting from this site. There is no plant and machinery at the site. A planning application is currently being determined on Land at Ware Park which covers the southern part of Preferred Area 2 adjacent to Rickneys quarry. BAE, Hatfield has a current planning application on the site which has yet to be determined. The figure for the two current applications is not included in table 1.
7.11 As stated within the adopted Minerals Local Plan, estimated resources at BAE Preferred Area 1 is 8 million tonnes of sand and gravel and the remainder of the Preferred Area 2 site which is 5-6 million tonnes as stated within the Minerals Local Plan. Therefore should there be a supply of mineral from these sites in the future it could assist with meeting the sand and gravel requirements to be planned for in the county. The unworked Preferred Area sites will be considered alongside the site selection criteria within the site selection methodology for the review of the Minerals Local Plan which is taking place.
Demand
7.12 District and borough councils in Hertfordshire will plan for objectively assessed needs. Development will require aggregate materials for the construction of dwellings and associated infrastructure such as employment, roads, schools and retail. This includes both the need for land won aggregates and secondary and recycled aggregates.
Population Projections
7.13 The latest estimate of the usual resident population of Hertfordshire is 1,166,300 as at 30/6/15. 39 This is an increase of 11,50040 in the last year. Using the Office of National Statistic’s published data of the 2014-based subnational population projections for England, population projections for Hertfordshire suggest an increase of approximately 276400 (23.93%) in population over the 25 year period from 2014 to 2039. 41
Housing completions and forecast
7.14 The Spatial Planning and Economy Unit at Hertfordshire County Council annually surveys the county to check on the permitted housing developments
39 ONS mid-2015 population estimates, as reported in Hertfordshire’s Local Information System (www.hertslis.org) 40 www.hertslis.org 41 ONS mid-2014 population estimates, as reported in Hertfordshire’s Local Information System (www.hertslis.org) Agenda Pack 82 of 157
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that have been started and completed. Information obtained for 2015 (financial year) shows42:
o There were 3,889 housing completions. This figure is higher than that of previous years. o There were 5,074 housing starts. This figure is higher than that of previous years. o Compared with previous years there has been a dramatic upturn in completions (highest since 2008/9). At the same time the number of housing starts has increased to pre-recession levels. This year has seen a significant rise in dwelling commitments outstripping the last 12 years records by approximately 6000 extra dwellings. Most commitments recorded have planning permission but have not yet been implemented.
7.15 The Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Strategic Economic Plan (LEP SEP) is planning for housing provision of 16,600 homes and 38,600 additional jobs by 2030.43
7.16 The following table shows a summary of the housing projections that each District/Borough Councils have decided will need to be constructed based on each authority areas objectively assessed housing needs:
Table 11: Planned housing requirements at the district/borough councils District/Borough Planned housing requirement Source of housing Council figure Broxbourne (7,000 homes until 2031) This Duty to Cooperate works out to be just over 466 per meeting 9/6/15 annum Dacorum 430 per annum (10,750 from Core Strategy 2006-2031 2006-2031) adopted 25/9/2013 East Herts 745 per annum (16,390 from Duty to Cooperate 2011-2033) meeting 6/6/16 Hertsmere (4,200 from 2012-2027) This Site Allocations and works out to be 280 per annum Development Management Policies Submission 16 November 2015 & Duty to Cooperate meeting 15/6/16 North Herts (16,500 from 2011-2031) This Duty to Cooperate works out to be 825 per annum meeting 7/6/16 (This includes an allowance of 2,100 to meet unmet needs from the Luton market area.) St Albans (9,000 from 2011-2031) This Duty to Cooperate works out to be 450 per annum meeting 24/5/16
42 Spatial Planning and Economy Unit, October 2016 43 http://www.hertfordshirelep.com/about-us/our-priorities.aspx Agenda Pack 83 of 157
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Stevenage 380 per annum (7,600 from Duty to Cooperate 2011-2031) meeting 23/5/16 Three Rivers 180 per annum (4,500 by Core Strategy 2011-2026 2025/26) adopted 17/10/2011 & Duty to Cooperate meeting 2/6/16 Watford 260 per annum (6,500 from Core Strategy 2006-2031 2006-2031) adopted 30/1/2013 & Duty to Cooperate meeting 20/5/16 Welwyn Hatfield (11,789 from 2013-2032) This Local Plan Selection works out to be 620 per annum Committee Paper 16/6/16
Key Planned Infrastructure Requirements
7.17 The requirement for minerals will increase in the event of the development of major infrastructure within Hertfordshire or in the surrounding areas. The council is mindful of other planned development that will be required to support additional housing growth in and around the county. Whilst mineral miles will be a consideration in the supply of minerals, specific quality of mineral may be required for schemes that is not readily available in the immediate vicinity of the project. As such Hertfordshire may be required to provide minerals to development schemes in neighbouring authority areas. Other significant schemes will be required to accommodate growth and will be monitored annually.
7.18 The certainty of some projects is unknown as is the timing for their delivery therefore it is difficult to programme this requirement into the supply of material for such projects. The known major development schemes and that are being planned in and around Hertfordshire that may require minerals to be supplied are as follows:
Potential schemes detailed within Hertfordshire’s Local Enterprise Partnership Strategic Economic Plan (LEP SEP):
o Station Access Improvements – Broxbourne, Bishops Stortford, Hertford East & Rye House; o A120 bypass Little Hadham; o A602 improvements Stevenage to Ware; o A1(M) improvements; o Croxley Rail Link (Metropolitan Line Extension – MLX).
Proposed large development schemes within the county recently considered planning applications44:
o The Broxbourne School (Broxbourne) - 153 dwelllings & leisure hub; o Spencer’s Park Phase 1, Maylands (Dacorum) – 350 dwellings;
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o The Beacon, Symbio House (Dacorum) – 272 dwellings; o Heart of Maylands (Dacorum) – 200 dwellings; o The Forum, Civic Centre (Dacorum) – 200 dwellings; o West Herts College (Dacorum) – 400-600 dwellings; o Manor Estate (Dacorum) – 350 dwellings; o West of Buntingford (East Herts) – 400 dwellings; o Goods Yard, Bishops Stortford (East Herts) – 700 dwellings; o Hertswood School (Hertsmere) – 300 dwellings; o Croxdale Road (Hertsmere) – 170 dwellings; o Harperbury Hospital (St Albans) – 206 dwellings; o BRE site near Watford (St Albans) – 100 dwellings; o A602 improvement, Hertford Road roundabout (Stevenage) – highway works – traffic signals and widening road; o Woodside Road (Three Rivers) - 95 dwellings; o South Oxhey (Three Rivers) – 514 dwellings; o Watford Health Campus, Watford (Watford) - new hospital/healthcare accommodation, together with business, retail, office, food and drink, hotel, and leisure uses, and up to 900 new dwellings, safeguarding of land for the expansion of Laurence Haines primary school, new public spaces and construction of three industrial business units; o Croxley Rail Link (Metropolitan Line Extension – MLX) (Watford); o Ascot Road, Watford (Watford) – 750 dwellings & employment land; o Former Shredded Wheat Factory, Welwyn Garden City (Welwyn Hatfield) - 850 dwellings, hotel, offices, pubs/restaurants/cafes/bars, gym/dance/exercise studio, community use, healthcare, crèche, allotments, skate park, play are and footbridge; o The Holdings (Welwyn Hatfield) – office and employment land.
Other potential developments that could come forward
o Oaklands College Campus, Smallford (St Albans) - scoping opinion for 350 dwellings; o Watford Junction redevelopment – masterplan September 2016 (1500 dwellings, offices, hotel, two primary schools)
Other development potentially affecting Hertfordshire
o HS2 development; o Crossrail.
8 CONCLUSION
8.1 Planning for mineral provision must be seen in the context of the wider economy and the government’s growth agenda. In light of the current economic recession which began in 2007, average sales of sand and gravel are likely to be skewed. Whilst there may be less of a need for minerals in the short term, mineral planning is concerned with longer term provision. We would not want for there to be an under supply that could restrict future development and hinder future economic growth which is currently being planned for at Local Planning Authority Agenda Pack 85 of 157
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level. As such it is not considered to be a viable approach to simply plan for mineral provision on the average of the last 10 years of sales.
8.2 Whilst the option of using the 3 year average sales to plan for minerals may identify a local influence that requires either more or less minerals to be extracted, this is only a short term requirement. Data from the last 3 years (2013- 2015) shows average sales of sand and gravel in Hertfordshire at 1.19 mtpa which is 0.03mtpa higher than the 10 year average sales. There were fluctuating sand and gravel sales in the last 10 years with a marginal increase in the last three years and no general trend that has occurred. The use of the 3 year average sales data provides an indication but does not provide a clear direction for the 15 year MLP.
8.3 The rolling 10 year sales average may be a better indicator of the need for minerals by using a reasonable time span to judge the need for minerals in the county. However this level of mineral provision is below the last 3 years sales given that it has spanned the period of recession in latter years and a continuous decline in sales until 2005 in the lead up to the recession. It can be seen in Figure 2, when looking at the sales figures over the last 10 years that there is a possibility of a rise in sales just as easily as a decline. To this end, paragraph 14 of the NPPF refers to maintaining sufficient flexibility to adapt to rapid change.
8.4 Planning for mineral provision at the lowest of levels will not allow for any economic recovery out from recession. Paragraph 145 of the NPPF also states that the AWP figures should still be taken into consideration for the purposes of calculating future demand and supply of aggregates. Whilst it is recognised that secondary and recycled aggregates may reduce demand for land won provision of sand and gravel, the local data is not considered sufficiently reliable to properly take account of this and adjust the land won provision requirement that has been debated by EEAWP members and based on a sound and thorough assessment of national need. The small amount of marine aggregates is not significant to adjust the apportionment figure either.
8.5 As such the council considers it sensible to plan in line with the EEAWP agreement and continue to plan for the sub-regional apportionment level to provide for flexibility to maintain supply when the economy recovers. This will ensure that an adequate and steady supply of aggregate is achieved over the longer term.
8.6 This LAA and subsequent annual updates will inform the Minerals Local Plan review and continue to monitor the supply and demand for aggregates. In addition, the Minerals Local Plan will include monitoring targets and indicators to ensure that monitoring of the delivery of sites and use of the policies takes place.
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References BGS, 2016, United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook 2015, Minerals and Waste Programme Open Report OR/16/021
BGS & ODPM, 2003, Technical report CR/03/075/N, Mineral Resource Information in Support of National, Regional and Local Planning: Hertfordshire and Northwest London Boroughs;
BGS, 2008, Aggregates supply in England, Issues for Planning;
DCLG & ONS, March 2016, Annual Mineral Raised Inquiry (AMRI) Mineral extraction in Great Britain 2014, Business Monitor PA1007 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mineral-extraction-in-great-britain-2014
DCLG & BGS, 2011 (second edition), Collation of the results of the 2009 aggregate minerals survey for England and Wales;
DCLG & BGS, Aggregate Mineral Survey AM2014 source of primary aggregates by sub-region – percent categories
DCLG, 2009, National and regional guidelines for aggregates provision in England 2005-2020;
DCLG, 2007, Survey of Arisings and Use of Alternatives to Primary Aggregates in England, 2005 Construction, Demolition and Excavation Waste;
EoEAWP, July 2016, East of England Aggregates Annual Monitoring Report 2014&2015
East of England Aggregates Working Party Survey MPA Collation Form 2011;
HCC. Hertfordshire Authority Monitoring Report 2014;
HCC, Hertfordshire Minerals Local Plan Review 2002-2016, adopted 2007;
HCC Site Monitoring Reports, Spatial Planning and Economy Unit;
Hertfordshire Environmental Forum, 2006, Biodiversity Action Plan for Hertfordshire, www.hef.org.uk
Hertfordshire Partnership, A Biodiversity Action Plan for Hertfordshire, March 2006.
Hertfordshire Quality of Life Report 2014 - http://www.hertslis.org/env/qualityoflife/
Mineral Produced in the UK in 2010 - http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/statistics/downloads/MineralsProducedInTheUnited Kingdom.pdf
National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (in particular paragraphs 145-146) Agenda Pack 87 of 157
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National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) (in particular paragraphs 060-071
Practice Guidance on the production and use of Local Aggregate Assessments, Living Document (April 2015), Planning Officers Society and Minerals Products Association http://www.mineralproducts.org/documents/LAA_Guidance.pdf
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Further Information This document has been produced by the Spatial Planning and Economy Unit, Hertfordshire County Council. Should you have any questions in relation to this document please email [email protected].
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HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Agenda Item No. ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING & TRANSPORT PANEL CABINET PANEL
WEDNESDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2016 10:00 AM 5 REVIEW OF BUS SERVICE POLICY CHANGES
Report of the Chief Executive & Director of Environment
Executive Member: Derrick Ashley - Environment, Planning and Transport
Report author: Tom Hennessey – Head of Transport, Access & Road Safety
1. Purpose of report
1.1 This information note provides Members with an update one year on from the changes to the policy on how the County Council directly supports local (contracted) bus services, and on progress against the Action Plan detailed in the Equalities Impact Assessment considered by Cabinet on 18 May 2015 (Appendix B),
1.2 To remind the Cabinet Panel how the value for money criteria are applied by officers to inform decisions on which local contracted bus services should be supported within available resources and to outline how local Members are informed prior to changes being implemented. 2. Summary
2.1 In May 2015 following two public consultations, the Highways and Waste Management Cabinet Panel concluded that h aving considered the feedback from the public consultation; the council’s statutory duties under the Transport Act 1985; the council’s equalities duties, the contents of the Equalities Impact Assessment and the County Council’s financial position that it would recommend that Cabinet agree to :
1. Withdraw funding from contracted bus services which operate after 7.30pm 2. Withdraw funding from contracted bus services on Sundays, except for routes which directly serve hospitals until 7.30pm 3. Amend the value for money criteria used to determine which routes and services receive funding as set out in the consultation document 4. Adopt the amendments to the Bus strategy as detailed in the consultation document and authorises the Chief Executive and Director of Environment, in consultation with the relevant Executive Member, to make any consequential amendments to the Bus Strategy as necessary to give effect to Cabinet’s decisions 5. Continue to explore options for third sector and community transport services so as to secure replacement services wherever possible in areas where services cease to operate. 6. Continue to work with commercial bus operators to develop services throughout the county. Agenda Pack 90 of 157 Page 1
7. Report back to the appropriate panel, on progress against the Action Plan detailed in the Equalities Impact Assessment (Appendix A), in one year’s time.
2.2 Cabinet made the recommended decisions on 18 May 2015 and the policy changes were endorsed at the meeting of Full Council on 19 May 2015. The changes were subsequently implemented in September 2015, with a full year effect from April 2016.
2.3 Prior to the policy changes in September 2015 the County Council provided financial support to around 11% of the 34.67 million passenger journeys undertaken across the public bus network in Hertfordshire, equating to approximately 3.8 million supported passenger journeys each year. The latest available data indicates that the County Council is supporting around 2.4 million passenger journeys (6.3%) out of a total of 37.87 million passenger journeys.
3. Background
3.1 The policy changes described in 2.1 above were implemented in September 2015 and delivered on-going year on year savings in the region of £1.47m.
3.2 The latest available data for passenger journeys made in Hertfordshire shows that 37.87 million passenger journeys were made in the county during 2015/16, the highest number since 1988/9. This means that in 2015/16 the County Council subsidised approximately 6.3% of all passenger journeys made. Table 1 below shows the trend in overall numbers of bus passenger journeys in the county from 2006 has been rising at the same time the volume of County Council supported services has been reducing since 2010-11.
Table 1 Trend in passenger numbers in Hertfordshire 2006-16
Bus Passenger Journeys - Hertfordshire 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 Passenger Journeys Millions Journeys Passenger 0
Total Passengers HCC Contracts
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4 Implementing the Policy Changes – September 2015
4.1 Following the consultation and member process in May 2015, officers gave notice on a number of contracts and services affected by the policy change. Detailed discussions took place with operators on implementing the policy changes in an attempt to mitigate the impact on passengers.
4.2 Evening Services 4.2.1 It was anticipated that when implemented the policy changes would affect 11 contracted evening services all of which could have ceased operating at about 19.30hrs. This could have affected as many as 500,000 passenger journeys.
4.2.2 However, 50% of these services were taken on by commercial operators albeit in some cases at a reduced level of service. Therefore the anticipated impact on passenger journeys was mitigated by transferring a significant number of passenger journeys to the commercial sector.
4.3 Sunday Services 4.3.1 In the same way it was anticipated that the policy changes would affect 18 Sunday contracted services comprising 20 routes. This would have put approximately 170,000 passenger journeys at risk. Similarly, of the Sunday services identified, 8 contracts (12 routes) were maintained by the commercial operators therefore reducing the anticipated impact.
4.4 Value for money savings 4.4.1 The new policy assesses contracts on a prioritised basis using eight value for money criteria (Appendix A)
4.4.2 Applying the VFM criteria at the time the policy changes were implemented resulted in support being withdrawn from routes and services that would have impacted on approximately 330,000 passenger journeys per annum although again a number of these transferred to the commercial sector.
4.5 Overall Impact 4.5.1 It is not possible to give accurate figures on the actual passenger journeys that have transferred from contracted services to commercial routes because operators are not obliged to provide data on passenger journeys of commercial services (by route). However, given the number of the services taken on by commercial operators and the continued upward trend in passenger journeys made it is reasonable to assert that a significant number of previously subsidised journeys have been maintained.
4.5.2 The available data illustrates that the county council supported (contracted) services now provide for approximately 2.4million passenger journeys which is 6.3% of the total passenger journeys made each year. This is to be viewed within the context of overall passenger journeys are continuing to increase across the county as shown in Table 1 above.
4.5.3 The routes and elements of services taken on by commercial operators have been subject to price rises and alterations to make them more viable and in some cases to protect other commercial services. For example operators have taken on some evening services to protect their commercial day time Agenda Pack 92 of 157 Page 3
services as passengers may not commute by bus in the morning if their return journey home is restricted. Other services which received relatively small subsidies per passenger journey have been taken on by commercial operators as a calculated risk to see if they could become profitable.
5. Equalities impact Assessment
5.1 In addition to its general equality duty under the Equality Act, s63 (8) Transport Act 1985 requires the council to have regard to the transport needs of members of the public who are elderly or disabled, when considering proposals that may lead to service changes. As part of the consultation process in 2014 and 2015, Equalities Impact Assessments were prepared by officers in advance of the decision-making process and presented to Members to ensure that rigorous consideration was given to the potential impact of decisions on those with protected characteristics .
5.2 The resulting Action Plan (Appendix B) for the Equalities Impact Assessment contained five areas for action which are set out below, together with details of the progress made in respect of each.
5.3 The proposals may reduce the ability of groups with protected characteristics access to key services including hospitals and health centres after 7:30 pm as well as take part in social activities.
5.3.1 It was proposed to work with health service colleagues to ensure that they take access into account when allocating appointments and that we would explore opportunities with commercial and community transport providers
5.3.2 Non-emergency Patient Transport Schemes continue to provide transport to hospital appointments between the hours of 08:00 & 22:00. Community Transport schemes will attempt to provide volunteer drivers if requested but most provision is during the day 08:00 – 18:00.
5.4 The proposals may reduce the ability of other groups of people with protected characteristics to live independently with possible implications for other services.
5.4.1 It was proposed to explore with Health and Community Services, Dial-a-Ride and Community Transport schemes alternative provision of transport schemes that offer some mitigation
5.4.2 Dial-a-Ride moved to Health and Community Services in April 2016. The service is currently being reviewed with options for service delivery to meet the needs of different service users. We are further supporting developing schemes in Harpenden and Albury and Tewin Parish Councils with community based transport alternatives for local services.
5.5 Withdrawal of some Sunday and evening services for all faiths will affect access to places of worship and related religious activities.
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5.5.1 It was proposed to offer travel planning services to places of worship
5.5.2 Although no specific requests for travel planning support have been made by places of worship, the service is still available. Businesses, residential developers and schools also continue to be engaged in and supported with developing travel plans through planning obligations and on a voluntary basis.
5.6 Withdrawal of evening services will impact on shift workers who are predominantly women.
5.6.1 It was proposed to expand working with businesses to develop travel plans including car sharing schemes.
5.6.2 Further data analysis (Census and Labour Force Survey) has identified that while part-time workers are predominantly female, those working non- standard shift patterns and therefore likely to be affected by evening service reductions are predominantly male. The county council continues to provide travel planning support for businesses, to encourage commuting by transport modes other than single-occupancy cars. This has included initiatives to promote opportunities for cycling, walking and car sharing alongside buses for sustainable travel.
5.7 Carers may rely on public transport to help them with their caring roles including supporting in the ability for people to live independently and needing to make hospital visits
5.7.1 As stated above, the county council continues to promote sustainable transport and works closely with operators to provide cost effective access to local bus services.
6. Implementing the Value for Money decision making process
6.1 Appendix C contains a list of all current contracted services and shows net cost and the Value For Money rating using the eight point criteria agreed in May 2015. These are (in order of priority):
1. the availability of commercial /other bus services in the area 2. the cost per passenger on each service 3. the number of passengers 4. the level of use by elderly and disabled passengers 5. other alternatives available, including choice of destinations and other travel modes, including community transport options 6. the net cost of contracts 7. the likely future role of the service. 8. travel by young people for whom the county council has a statutory duty to provide transport between home and school/college
6.2 All services are assessed against the above criteria at least once a year. Such reviews can occur at any time and may be stimulated by a contract review, a withdrawal of a commercial contract or budget pressures. The
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above criteria are listed in priority order with greater weighting given to the criteria at the top of the list when the value for money assessments is made.
6.3 Officers use professional judgement in applying the criteria to produce a ranked order of supported services (see Appendix C).
6.4 In practice this means if a commercial service was to be de-registered and after consideration by officers of the unmet needs of the passengers affected it was concluded that the council should step in and take on that service (or part thereof) then the implication would be that lower ranking contracted services may have to be withdrawn or reduced to save money to pay for the new service taken on.
6.5 Similarly if a contract is renewed and comes back with a higher price but still attracts a high value for money score then one or more lower value for money routes will need to be withdrawn or reduced in order for the overall budget to be maintained.
6.6 Figure 1 below shows the decision making process of how officers assess demand and allocate resources to support local bus services. Key to this is communication with local Members in providing information of potential changes to local bus services before decisions are made.
6.7 General email bulletins are circulated to Members each month regarding changes to commercial and County Council supported bus services. However, from September 2016 this process has been further enhanced so that before a decision to withdraw or reduce a contracted bus service is confirmed, prior notice is given to local County Council members, districts and parish councils to inform them of the situation and to explore opportunities to secure alternative non-county council funding. If no alternative funding can be secured then formal notice is given to the bus operators of the contracted service. Passengers affected by a change in service are informed through notices on the website, on local buses and at key bus stopping points along a route 1.
6.8 The policy changes agreed by Members in May 2015 attracted a number of complaints and petitions all of which were considered and responded to. Again when the new policy was implemented in September 2015 and as a result a number of services were withdrawn and reduced, this generated a number of calls and letters expressing concerns by those affected along with letters from the county’s Members of Parliament.
6.9 Complaint letters and calls to the council are to be expected each time a service is withdrawn or reduced. Despite the widely publicised consultation and the measures taken to notify passengers of pending changes, not every passenger will have been aware of proposed changes which inevitably causes them a great deal of concern. Where possible every opportunity is explored to maintain and secure a service however given the pressures on budgets and limited budget available this is not always achievable.
1 Notices will be put at key stopping points along a route such as bus stations and traffic objectives such as town centres, hospitals and rail stations. It is not possible to put notices on every bus stop along a route.
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Figure 1
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7. Financial Implications
7.1 There are no financial implications arising from this report. 8. Conclusions 8.1 The implementation of the new bus policy was a significant change for the County council and attracted a great deal of publicity and public reaction. Officers have and will continue to work closely with commercial bus operators to minimise the impacts of the policy changes. 8.2 A significant proportion of the passenger journeys that were put at risk following the implementation of the new policy have been absorbed into existing and new commercial routes. 8.3 Overall, bus passenger numbers in Hertfordshire have been on an upward trend while the proportion of County Council subsidised services has been reducing since 2010. The County Council is obliged to secure the provision of such passenger transport services as it considers appropriate to meet any public transport requirements within Hertfordshire which would not otherwise be met and uses agreed value for money criteria to inform decisions on which services to support. 8.4 As a result the County Council only supports those journeys which are not commercially viable, are mainly rural and or service smaller residential areas which are of little interest to commercial operators. 8.5 Reviews of supported services are conducted regularly and can be stimulated by contract renewal prices, deregistration of services by commercial operators and budget pressures. 8.6 Members may also be interested to know that from April 2016 the County Council has ceased its contribution to five routes operated by Transport for London (TfL) which serve the bordering districts. This has saved £390k a year with no loss of service. TfL have confirmed there are no current plans to alter any of the routes that affect Hertfordshire. If in the future they decide to make changes to any of the routes which cross the county’s border they have assured the council that full consultation will take place.
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Appendices
Appendix A - Bus Strategy - Value for Money Criteria
Appendix B: Equalities Impact assessment Action Plan (April 2015)
Appendix C: Contracted Local Bus Services
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Appendix A - Bus Strategy Value for Money Criteria
The Bus Strategy underpins the policy changes agreed by members in May 2015. The Value for Money Criteria as set out in the Strategy states:
In general the county council will not provide funding for:
a) Services or journeys operating in the evenings after 1930 hours. b) Services or journeys operating on Sundays unless they directly serve hospitals in which case they would run until 1930 hours. c) Special services for home to school transport unless there is a statutory requirement to provide free transport. d) Services operating beyond the nearest suitable destination outside the county unless there is a funding contribution from the relevant neighbouring authority or a reciprocal cross boundary agreement.
To manage within available financial resources at any given time for the bus network as a whole, the county council will take account of the following factors and needs in the order set out below in determining route and service patterns:
9. the availability of commercial /other bus services in the area 10. the cost per passenger on each service 11. the number of passengers 12. the level of use by elderly and disabled passengers 13. other alternatives available, including choice of destinations and other travel modes, including community transport options 14. the net cost of contracts 15. the likely future role of the service. 16. travel by young people for whom the county council has a statutory duty to provide transport between home and school/college
All services will be kept under review and the criteria may be applied to individual journeys or sections of route where the service as a whole meets the criteria.
For services where the county council contributes to a contract provided by another authority, the criteria adopted by the contracting authority will apply, subject to the county council estimating whether the service within Hertfordshire would meet its own criteria and whether it could provide the service more effectively itself.
For services funded through development, by other authorities or from other external sources, the above criteria will not apply during the funding period but the county council will adopt its own criteria if the service is transferred to county council funding.
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Appendix B - Equalities Impact assessment Action Plan (April 2015)
Issue or opportunity identified relating to: − Mitigation measures Officer Responsible and target Action proposed − Further research date − Consultation proposal − Monitor and review The proposals may reduce the Work with health service Tom Hennessey ability of groups with protected to ensure that access is characteristics access to key taken into account when One year from date of implementation services including hospitals and allocating appointments. health centres after 7:30 pm as well as take part in social Explore opportunities with activities. commercial and community transport providers The proposals may reduce the Explore with HCS, Dial- Tom Hennessey ability of other groups of people a-Ride and Community with protected characteristics to Trust schemes One year from date of implementation live independently with possible alternative provision of implications for other services. transport schemes that offer some mitigation Withdrawal of some Sunday and Offer travel planning Tom Hennessey evening services for all faiths will services to places of affect access to places of worship One year from date of implementation worship and related religious activities.
Withdrawal of evening services Expand working with Tom Hennessey will impact on shift workers who businesses to develop are predominantly women. travel plans including car One year from date of implementation sharing schemes.
Carers may rely on public Explore with HCS, Dial-a- Tom Hennessey transport to help them with their Ride and Community caring roles including supporting Trust schemes to provide One year from date of implementation in the ability for people to live alternative transport independently and needing to schemes that offer some make hospital visits. mitigation
This EqIA has been reviewed and signed off by:
Head of Service or Business Manager: Tom Hennessey Date: March 2015
Reviewed by Project Board: Rob Smith Date: April 2015
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Appendix C - All current contracted services
Operator Contract name Services Notes Type Notional Pax VFM Ex Annual £k Cost Revenue Net k pa cost Redline S4/5 S4, S5 St Albans City, Monday-Saturday VFM 79.5 0.0 79.5 232.7 38 Metroline PB1 PB1 Potters Bar Town VFM 103.1 66.2 36.9 56.7 36 Centrebus 80 diversion de 80 Stevenage/Wymondley sections VFM 23.3 0.0 23.3 20.9 35 minimis Arriva 331 331 Royston - Hertford VFM 185.6 0.0 185.6 111.9 35 Vale S8/9 S8, S9 St Albans City VFM 92.8 50.4 42.4 53.0 35 Travel Arriva 8MV de minimis 8 Oxhey - Mt Vernon Hospital section Mon-Sat VFM 22.5 0.0 22.5 80.7 34 uno 215 GP 200/1/3/4/5/6/15, Mid-Herts schools/shoppers' services inc. The VFM/Ex 86.8 39.3 47.6 26.0 34 2.3 312 Frythe uno 655 655 Borehamwood - Hatfield Ex 133.6 0.0 133.6 183.2 34 133.6 Landmark 53 53 Letchworth Town VFM 113.2 68.5 44.7 64.0 33 Richmonds 16 16 Royston Town VFM 53.9 0.0 53.9 67.1 32 Coaches Centrebus 333 333, H3 Hertford Town (H3 Sundays) VFM/Ex 56.4 0.0 56.4 81.0 32 9.0 Red Rose 387 387 Aldbury/Wigginton - Tring VFM 114.2 0.0 114.2 65.0 32 Little Jim's 532 de minimis 532 Potten End facilities VFM 20.6 0.0 20.6 15.3 32 Centrebus H3/4 GP H1, H3, H4 Hertford Town Mon-Sat VFM 148.6 53.9 94.6 50.5 32 Centrebus 315 315 Kimpton - Welwyn Garden City VFM/Ex 33.6 0.0 33.6 19.0 31 12.4 Centrebus 390 de minimis 390 Aston facilities VFM 4.4 0.0 3.7 3.0 31 Red Eagle W20 W20 Watford Town VFM 31.4 0.0 31.4 32.4 31 Dacorum 207 de minimis 207 Dacorum rural VFM 1.8 0.0 1.8 1.6 30 CVS Vale 354 354 Northchurch - Chesham VFM 88.2 60.0 28.1 52.6 30 Travel
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Centrebus 390 Sat 10, 390 Stevenage Town/Hertford - Stevenage, VFM 7.8 0.0 7.8 7.7 30 Saturdays Arriva 395Su 395 Hertford - Ware local Sun 5.8 0.0 5.8 9.2 30 uno 610Sa 610 Potters Bar - Hatfield (Saturday) VFM 18.6 11.5 7.1 7.3 30 Arriva SB8 de minimis SB8 Stevenage Town, evening jnys Mon-Sat Evng 2.1 0.0 2.1 11.2 30 Centrebus 82Sa 81, 81A Hitchin Town, Purwell section all day Sat VFM 11.0 0.0 11.0 6.5 29 Centrebus 89 89 Henlow Camp - Hitchin VFM 55.9 0.0 55.9 27.8 29 uno 607 607 Hatfield Business Park (residential) Ex 137.1 0.0 137.1 60.1 29 154.9 Red Rose H10 H10 Hemel Town VFM 72.1 36.7 35.5 34.7 29 Red Eagle H11 de minimis H11 Hemel Town Monday-Friday VFM 30.5 0.0 30.5 22.2 29 Arriva 2 de minimis 2 Hemel Town, certain journeys Sun 1.2 0.0 1.2 2.1 28 Arriva 3 de minimis 3 Hemel Town, certain journeys Sun 2.8 0.0 2.8 2.8 28 Red Eagle 30/31 30, 31 Dacorum rural VFM 36.9 10.8 26.1 8.5 28 Centrebus 44/45 10, 44, 45 Luton - Stevenage plus Sat Stevenage Town VFM 58.5 0.0 58.5 18.3 28 Centrebus Hitchin Town 80 Sunday service Ex 19.7 6.6 13.1 5.6 28 13.1 Service Trustybus 242Su 242 Welwyn Garden City - Waltham Cross Sun 23.2 12.2 11.0 18.5 28 uno 341/641 341, 641 Hertford - Hatfield/Broxbourne VFM 159.7 0.0 159.7 107.2 28 Red Eagle 361 361 Bricket Wood - St Albans VFM 90.6 60.3 30.4 37.0 28 Sullivan B3 B3 Borehamwood Town VFM 65.5 0.0 65.5 48.4 28 Buses Red Eagle R4 R1, R2 Maple X/Chorleywood - Mt Vernon VFM 68.1 19.0 49.1 18.7 28 Hosp/Watford Arriva 10E de minimis 10 Woodside - Holywell, evening jnys Daily Evng 13.2 0.0 13.2 16.9 27 Centrebus 88 88 Luton - Hitchin VFM 66.9 0.0 66.9 32.7 27 Centrebus 308/380 GP 308, 378, 379, 380 Cuffley - Hertford VFM 79.4 27.6 51.8 18.0 27 Centrebus 314 de minimis 314 Welwyn Garden City - Hitchin VFM 61.4 0.0 61.4 32.9 27 Centrebus 383/384 383, 384 Hertford - Stevenage VFM 99.5 0.0 99.5 43.6 27 uno 404/4055Su 404, 405 South Hatfield - Welwyn Garden City local Sun 10.1 0.0 10.1 6.8 27 uno 658 658 Borehamwood - St Albans VFM 137.4 0.0 137.4 99.2 27
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Centrebus 34 de minimis 34 Dunstable - St Albans, certain peak Mon-Fri VFM 30.5 0.0 30.5 20.5 26 jnys Red Eagle H13/9, 51, 319 H19, 51, 319 Dacorum /Three Rivers/Watford shoppers' VFM/Ex 73.7 18.1 55.6 18.7 26 30.4 services Red Rose W1Su W1 Garston - Maple Cross, Sunday Sun 27.6 0.0 27.6 11.2 26 Red Rose W18 W18 Watford Town VFM/Ex 39.5 0.0 39.5 18.3 26 10.0 Centrebus 10 de minimis 10 Stevenage 10 last bus Mon-Fri VFM 9.3 0.0 9.3 2.1 25 Arriva 54, 97/9Su 55 Letchworth - Stevenage Sun 10.8 0.0 10.8 8.6 25 Richmonds 90/91 90, 91 Letchworth - Royston VFM 113.2 39.6 73.6 22.5 25 Coaches Landmark 202 202 Ashwell Station Link VFM 25.4 12.2 13.2 8.0 25 Arriva 301 de minimis 301 Hemel Hempstead - Stevenage, jnys Sat & Sun Evng/Sun 9.4 0.0 9.4 7.1 25 uno 304/657Su 304, 657 SADC Sunday services Ex 12.6 0.0 12.6 4.8 25 12.6 Trustybus 351 351 Hertford - Bishop's Stortford, certain journeys VFM 113.5 0.0 113.5 31.2 25 Richmonds 386 386 Stevenage - Bishop's Stortford VFM 256.4 108.3 148.1 51.5 25 Coaches Arriva H4/5Su 4 Hemel Hempstead Town Sun 5.8 0.0 5.8 11.3 25 Arriva 8 de minimis 8 Woodside - Mt Vernon Hospital, evening jnys Evng/Sun 13.2 0.0 13.2 8.4 24 Daily C Myall & 20 GP 20, 24, 27, 28, 386 Stortford/Buntingford/Royston rural VFM 80.4 24.3 56.2 16.0 24 Son Centrebus 304/5 de minimis 304, 305 Hitchin - St Albans Sat/Sandridge - B'kmans Pk VFM 82.2 0.0 82.2 38.9 24 M-Sat Sullivan 306 de minimis 306 Watford - B'wood M-Sat/B'wood local Sat Evng/VFM 19.6 0.0 19.6 11.3 24 Buses Red Rose H11 H11 Hemel Town Saturday VFM 10.4 2.6 7.8 2.5 24 Arriva SB8/9Su SB8, SB9 Evening journeys Sundays Sun 4.1 0.0 4.1 1.7 24 Arriva 34/657E 34, 657 SADC evening services Ex 61.1 0.0 61.1 6.1 23 61.1 Arriva 320 de minimis 320 Hemel Hempstead - Maple Cross Evng/Sun 20.0 0.0 20.0 18.3 23 Red Eagle HA1 HA1, 307 Harpenden Town/Harpenden - Redbourn VFM 97.8 21.3 76.5 18.5 23 Red Rose W30 de minimis W30 Watford Business Parks, certain journeys VFM 7.6 0.0 7.6 4.8 23 Red Rose 352 352 Hemel - Watford, certain journeys VFM 124.5 32.1 92.4 23.5 22
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Centrebus M1-5 M1--5 Ware Town/Wareside VFM/Ex 235.1 45.2 189.9 33.2 22 108.8 Centrebus 80 peak de min 80 Stevernage - Hitchin, certain peak journeys VFM 24.0 0.0 24.0 9.0 21 Centrebus 82M-F 81, 81A Hitchin Town, early/late journeys Mon-Fri VFM 12.4 0.0 12.4 2.4 21 Red Rose 353Su 353 Amersham - Hemel Hempstead Sun 15.6 4.9 10.7 3.0 21 Travel Sullivan 306PH 306 Watford - Borehamwood PH 2.5 0.0 2.5 0.5 20 Buses Centrebus 390P 390 Hertford - Stevenage, certain peak jnys Mon- VFM 21.4 0.0 21.4 6.2 20 Fri Arriva 500 de minimis 500 Northchurch - Hemel Hempstead evening jny Evng 5.8 0.0 5.8 1.2 20 Arriva 97/98PH 97, 98 Stotfold/Baldock - Hitchin PH 1.8 0.0 1.8 0.2 19 Metroline 242 de minimis 242 Potters Bar - Waltham Cross, one journey Evng 10.7 0.0 10.7 2.1 18 Red Rose 501Su de minimis 501 Watford - Aylesbury, evening journeys Sun 3.3 0.0 3.3 0.9 18 Travel Red Eagle H13/9, 51, 319 R16, R17 TRDC shoppers' services Ex 19.0 2.8 16.2 3.5 18 16.2 uno S1-4Su 653 St Albans City Sun 43.6 0.0 43.6 17.0 18 Arriva 101 de minimis 101 Stevenage - Luton, early Sun evening jnys Sun 8.3 0.0 8.3 4.6 17 uno 600/650 600 Hatfield Business Park Ex 98.0 19.3 78.7 18.8 17 89.0 uno S1/4PH S1, S4 St Albans City, public holidays PH 3.0 0.7 2.2 0.5 17 Red Rose W1 de minimis W1 Watford - Maple Cross, evening journey Evng 9.2 0.0 9.2 0.8 13 Centrebus SB16 SB16 Stevenage Town VFM 30.1 0.0 30.1 3.9 11 4520.7 854.4 3666.4 2394.0 653.4
Evng = Evenings (Mondays-Fridays up to 1930 hrs) PH = Public Holidays Sun = Sundays serving hospitals VFM = Value for money Ex = External funding (S.106, district council etc)
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Agenda Pack 105 of 157 Page 16
Agenda Item No.
HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL 6
ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING AND TRANSPORT CABINET PANEL
WEDNESDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2016
SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL TRANSITION YEAR: ST ALBANS CONNECTIVITY HYBRID SHUTTLE
Report of the Chief Executive and Director of Environment
Author: Leanne Melvill (Intalink Coordinator 01992 588644)
Executive Member: Derrick Ashley (Environment, Planning & Transport)
1 Purpose of report
1.1 The purpose of the report is to update and inform the Cabinet Panel of the St Albans Connectivity Hybrid Shuttle Pilot, which will be named The Abbey Shuttle. Funding for this pilot has come from the Department for Transport’s Sustainable Travel Transition Year (STTY) funding.
2 Summary
2.1 Following a bid made to the Department for Transport’s Sustainable Travel Transition Year Fund, Hertfordshire County Council was successful in securing a total amount of £405k for a range of projects to enhance the attractiveness and use of linkages between stations and town centres to encourage modal shift to sustainable forms of transport (cycling and walking), increase access to employment and boost tourism.
2.2 £180k has been allocated to commission and market an innovative hybrid bus shuttle pilot to improve connectivity between St Albans Abbey Station and St Albans City Station. The 12 month local bus service will be a cost neutral pilot to investigate the demand and usage of a direct service tailored to improve connectivity between the two stations.
3 Recommendation
3.1 The Cabinet Panel is invited to note the report.
4 Background
4.1 The Sustainable Travel Transition Year was put in place by the DfT to support the transition between the end of the local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) period and the launch of the Access funding which will start in 2017/18. The aim of the fund is to initiate projects that will improve access to jobs, skills, training and education Agenda Pack 106 of 157 1
4.2 Currently very few bus services are scheduled to coincide with train services and there is no dedicated bus service connecting the two rail stations in St Albans. This pilot bus service is being implemented with the desire to provide direct connectivity between the two locations travelling via St Peters Street.
4.3 In 2004 The Peahen Junction in St Albans was declared as an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) due to levels of nitrogen dioxide being deemed above a level of acceptable pollution. Since then the district council has implemented an Action Plan (see Appendix 1) to develop initiatives in order to improve the air quality and revoke this declaration. The Hybrid vehicle aspect of the pilot will promote greener sustainable travel, assist in reducing levels of nitrogen dioxide and overall will positively contribute to the County Council’s corporate objectives. Hybrid electric buses use a combination of an electric battery pack and a diesel engine to provide power, and produce around 40% less carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than traditional diesel engine buses. Appendix 2 provides a map showing the AQMA zone with the route of the bus service travelling directly through it.
5 The Opportunity
5.1 The pilot will be operated and marketed as a local bus service with all revenues from fares recycled into further enhancement of the service. This revenue will make it possible for a potential extension of the contract past the 12 month pilot if it proves to be a success.
5.2 The pilot will be tendered for a 12 month initial period and will be awarded to the successful operator towards the end of October 2016.
5.3 It is anticipated that the pilot will launch the week commencing 20 th November 2016. This date coincides with the ‘Sustainable St Albans’ annual event and will be marketed in the lead up to the Christmas Shopping period in order to attract shoppers into St Albans, potentially boosting local economy.
5.4 The timetable for the service has been designed to integrate with the Abbey Line timetable, thus encouraging train to bus connectivity.
5.5 An incentivised fare structure has been designed for the service, where passengers in possession of a valid train ticket for travel from Watford Junction and all stations along the Abbey Line will pay a discounted fare on the shuttle. This promotional offer will be maintained until at least 31 st December 2016 with scope to extend further.
5.5 A stipulation within the tender was for the operator to investigate the possibility of installing a cycle rack on the back of the vehicle. If possible this will be integrated into the pilot in the Spring of 2017.
5.6 A small portion of the awarded funding is allocated towards marketing of the service. The marketing activity of the Abbey Shuttle is based on a model applied to the Local Sustainable Transport Fund funded Maylands Link 1 (ML1) bus service in Hemel Hempstead which pump-primed a new shuttle service from the railway station to a main employment area. The service has now been taken on by a commercial operator. The objective being that with a similar marketing strategy the potential of the service becoming commercially viable after the pilot period will be enhanced. Agenda Pack 107 of 157 2
5.7 The project has received support from a number of key stakeholders including London Midland, Thameslink, St Albans District Council and intu Watford. Hertfordshire County Council will be working closely with the Intalink Quality Partnership and London Midland to promote the pilot.
6 SWOT Analysis for the Hybrid Shuttle
Strengths Weaknesses
• Providing sustainable transport in • Existing services along the route an Air Quality Management Area. will provide competition for the • Direct connectivity between two service. key locations. • Passengers on the Abbey Line • Working in partnership with may not have valid tickets to transport operators and local travel due to stations along the businesses. line not having ticket machines • Hertfordshire County Council installed. piloting innovative sustainable transport options. • Supported by Intalink Partners.
Opportunities Threats
• Sustainable commuting options • The pilot may not generate for key employers along the sufficient revenue to become Abbey Line such as BRE, KPMG, commercially viable. intu Watford, Watford General • Congestion in St Albans may Hospital. delay the service in providing • Access to Education – West direct connectivity. Herts College and Oaklands College. • Ticketing initiatives to encourage tourists and shoppers to visit St Albans. • Piloting a connectivity model that may become viable to be used in other areas of the county.
7 Monitoring
7.1 The operator will provide regular fare data and passenger usage to allow monthly monitoring of the bus usage. Revenue figures will provide officers with evidence of how successful the pilot is and the potential for it to become commercially viable.
7.2 Officers will carry out physical monitoring of the service and gather evidence in the form of customer/ service user surveys to measure the effectiveness of the bus service.
7.3 There is a monthly Sustainable Travel Transition Year steering group at which the monitoring will be reported.
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8 Equalities issues 8.1 When considering proposals placed before Members it is important that they are fully aware of, and have themselves considered the equality implications of the decision that they are making.
8.2 Rigorous consideration will ensure the proper appreciation of any potential impact of that decision on the Council’s statutory obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty. As a minimum this requires decision makers to read and carefully consider the content of any Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) produced by officers.
8.3 The Equality Act 2010 requires the county council when exercising its functions to have due regard to the need to (a) eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and other conduct prohibited under the Act; (b) advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it and (c) foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it, The protected characteristics under the Equalities Act 2010 are age; disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity; race; religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.
8.4 The Hybrid vehicle will meet full accessibility requirements as stipulated under the Equalities Act 2010.
9 Conclusion
9.1 Due to the successful bid to the Department for Transport’s Sustainable Travel Transition Year Fund the St Albans “Abbey Shuttle” will launch the week commencing 20 th November 2016, providing a more environmentally focused, sustainable link from St Albans Abbey Station through the AQMA at Peahen Junction, travelling on to City Station.
9.2 The pilot will be an innovative attempt to investigate the demand and requirements for improved connectivity within towns and key transportation modes. It will provide management data as to whether similar services would make a positive contribution across other towns and key locations as well as promoting transport that improves air quality and the environment.
Agenda Pack 109 of 157 4
ACTION PLAN FOR
THE ST ALBANS CITY AND DISTRICT COUNCIL
AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT AREA ORDERS 2004/2009
Update following meeting - July 2010
Agenda Pack 110 of 157 COUNTYWIDE ACTIONS
Item Action Responsibility/Organisation Lead Timescale Effect on Progress with measure Comments Officer(s) air quality 1 To set up an inter SADC/HCC Tara Murphy Jan 2010 No direct The first meeting took Date for next meeting? authority steering group to effect place on 15 January 09 th December 2010 deliver the Action Plan 2010, attended by RT, Indicators and cost which will report to the BP, AB, SD, SH, DI. effectiveness need to Visible Street Scene Apologies from TG and be included in the AP Board and St Albans AR. where possible. For Road Improvement Plan There will be a six example: (Strip). monthly review by BVPI102 – Public STRIP followed by a transport patronage report to the LTP4 – Mode share of Sustainability Project journeys to school Board. The meeting is LTP6 – changes in to report annually to the peak period traffic Highways Joint flows to urban centres Members Panel. LTP7 – congestion (vehicle delay) Seven Oaks Council has an example of good practice. TM to download Seven Oak’s AP. RT advised that Sue Jackson from HCC can provide traffic modelling data and figure for traffic passing though Scoot. A new list of targets and indicators being developed for April 2011 onwards. 2 Investigate the status of Led by SADC Car Parking Brian 31/12/2010 Low Investigations into QNP budget of £10K on-street parking in the Working Party (CPWP) Peers/Rupert parking at the top of has been given AQMA and determine if and assisted by HCC. Thacker Victoria Street and the parking is contributing to Agenda Pack 111 of 157 bottom of Holywell Hill traffic congestion at each have already Problems with Item Action Responsibility/Organisation Lead Timescale Effect on Progress with measure Comments Officer(s) air quality junction. commenced. To disabled badge consider pinch points holders who can park and displacement unrestricted. Particular problems. The Quality problem on Victoria Network Partnership Street for significant (QNP) to consider the length of the road on problem of parked the approach to the vehicles. Banning right traffic signals at turns would increase Chequer street rat runs. junction. Further consideration to be Investigate the provision given to existing of on street loading The Traffic Sunday requirements. facilities and co-ordinated Management Act timings of deliveries. provides new powers to Consultation on (previously 12). deal with obstruction – Holywell Hill Scheme – these are being Summer 2010 for investigated for implementation in the suitability of use at Autumn. Holywell Hill. During peak periods to discourage trader deliveries during the day which create pinch points. Peak time loading is banned. Deliveries are now restricted and loading cannot take place between the following times 7.00 – 09.00 and 15.30 – 16.30 Monday to Friday Further consideration to Sunday Agenda Pack 112 of 157 requirements. 3 SADC will assert SADC Deirdre Annually Low All processes are risk comprehensive control Illingworth rated annually and Item Action Responsibility/Organisation Lead Timescale Effect on Progress with measure Comments Officer(s) air quality over Part B/Part A2 inspection frequency processes for smaller determined based upon scale industries under the risk. Programmed Environmental permitting annual inspections April (England and Wales) 09 – March 10 are Regulations 2007 currently up to date, and ongoing. Processes operating without a permit are identified and the appropriate enforcement action taken. 4 SADC will investigate SADC Stephen Annually Low Complaints are complaints about Hide investigated as and nuisance (domestic and when received. industrial emissions).
5 Continue to monitor air SADC Tara Murphy Ongoing Low The details of diffusion Additional NO2 tube quality within the district tube and continuous for monitoring outside and as necessary review monitoring are the Town Hall to be the suitability of recorded on provided. monitoring locations. hertsbedsair.org.uk . Applied for Defra Monitoring sites to be funding for monitoring reviewed periodically survey at Peahen Junction. Awaiting outcome. RT advised it would be helpful to have real time readings for NO2 to assess AM and PM AQ peaks. To be run in conjunction with monitoring CCTV camera info relating to the type of behaviour Agenda Pack 113 of 157 of traffic. One or two day survey.
ST ALBANS – AIR QUALITY ACTION PLAN (AQMA – Peahen Junction)
Item Action Responsibility/Organisation Lead Officer Timescale Effect on Progress with measure Comments Responsibility air quality QUALITY NETWORK PARTNERSHIP 6 To improve the reliability HCC Passenger Transport Keith White 31/12/2010 Low Currently being Applied for ‘Kick of bus services and Unit developed by the Start’ funding but increase patronage and (PTU) and Quality Network existing Quality Network has not heard yet. encourage modal shift Partnership (QNP) Partnership Funding would be from the car to public used to buy new transport. ‘cleaner’ buses. Some buses would be replaced but overall increase in bus fleet. Details of current fleet required to include in AP. Rupert Thacker to provide. Kick Start funding - awarded 1M in Apr 2010 but subsequently withdrawn by new Gov in May 2010. 7 To investigate the HCC (Highways) and Rupert 2010 Low Will be assessed as Herts Highways are creation of a “Low SADC QNP Thacker/Brian part of wider area traffic looking at the Emission Zone”. (Was Peers modelling and feasibility of carrying 17) management. (Item 11) out this work and are in discussions with other authorities. Ongoing 8 Local Strategic SADC/QNP/ Brian Peers Commenced Low Travel plan co-ordinator To feedback to the Partnership (LSP) STRIP and due to in post and located at Local Strategic funding to employ a travel Agenda Pack 114complete of 157 30 the University of Partnership (LSP). plan co-ordinator. Their June 2010 Hertfordshire. role is to study parking Item Action Responsibility/Organisation Lead Officer Timescale Effect on Progress with measure Comments Responsibility air quality pressures, business parking, traffic movements, and congestion within the city centre. (Was 19)
9 Pilot the Station Travel HCC/SADC QNP Trevor 2010 Low The county and district Some work has been Plan (Was 26) Mason/ Brian councils, together with undertaken and is Peers the rail and bus now being operators, are part of evaluated. the DFT’s pilot programme of station travel plans. For Hertfordshire, it is a combined plan covering St Albans City, St Albans Abbey and Hatfield Stations. This combination has caused some difficulties in progressing the plan as fast as anticipated – most pilot plans involve only one rail operator and one District Council. The Hertfordshire plan is thus behind schedule, HCC intend to have a major push to get it back on track in the new year. In the meantime, there is on- going joint work with both First Capital Connect and London Agenda Pack 115 of 157 Midland to continue investigating any further improvements at both Item Action Responsibility/Organisation Lead Officer Timescale Effect on Progress with measure Comments Responsibility air quality St Albans stations. 10 Community Rail HCC Passenger Transport PTU Unit at 2010 Low The Community Rail In process of Partnership Unit/SADC/ HCC Partnership covers the arranging a meeting The Abbey Line (Was 29) QNP Alissa Ede line from St Albans with Members. (Community Abbey to Watford Consultation is at the Rail Junction. Whilst not end of March and Partnership actually part of the feedback will be Officer) partnership’s work, the given to Department main news for the line is of Transport. the proposal to convert The track will be the line to tram leased to HCC operation. This will Approval given in allow an increase in June 2010 to frequency from every proceed to next 45 mins to every 30 stage – Market mins, increasing the Testing to find number of services and operator of tram way. allowing a clockface timetable. The proposals have the backing of DFT but are subject to consultation. Trams could be running on the line in 2011. Recent improvements include the refurbishment of Abbey station, completed in March 2009, and a trial of new access ‘hump’ on the platform to provide easier access onto trains by wheelchair users, passengers with buggies or luggage etc. Agenda Pack 116 of 157
Item Action Responsibility/Organisation Lead Officer Timescale Effect on Progress with measure Comments Responsibility air quality 11 To carry out modelling for HCC Highways Rupert 31/12/2009 N/A Currently in progress Base modelling by the partial traffic Thacker Feb/March 2010. management of St Option modelling Peter’s Street, Chequer April/May and will be St, Market Place and reported to Cabinet Victoria Street. in June.
Base model completed June 2010. Proposed changes to be modelled in summer 2010. Cabinet report Dec 2010. 12 Implementation of traffic SADC/HCC Rupert Summer Medium Dependent on results of management scheme in Thacker/Brian 2011 item 7 + 11 St Peter`s Street, Peers Chequer Street and Market Place.
13 Investigate the possibility HCC/SADC Rupert 31/12/2010 Low - Research has been SADC to lead the of informative signing on Thacker/Brian medium carried out to assess if research on whether the approaches to the Peers this is a viable option. this is a viable Peahen crossroads to Conflicting advice option. If yes, can encourage drivers to Tara Murphy ranging from switching this information go switch off their engines engine off if idle for over on the scrolling whilst waiting in queuing 10 seconds to switching notice boards. Also traffic. off if idling for over 3 consider posters minutes. Other rather than signs. authorities have Peahen Junction on implemented measures a 121 second cycle. for encouraging drivers Concerns from to switch engines off Steering group whilst waiting in members whether queuing traffic. switching engines off Monitoring of car idling would cause more Agenda Pack 117 of 157 at peak times to be congestion, for carried out by TM . example if cars have trouble starting up Item Action Responsibility/Organisation Lead Officer Timescale Effect on Progress with measure Comments Responsibility air quality again, or don’t start up in time for traffic to flow through green light. Could the traffic lights at Westminster Lodge be linked up with Scoot to prevent large volumes of traffic queuing on Holywell Hill? More monitoring of peak hours/congestion required. Councils have the powers to issue a fixed penalty notice of £20 to motorists who leave their car engines idling, under the Road Traffic (Vehicle emissions) (Fixed Penalties) (England) Regs 2002. Should not issue a notice without first giving a warning. Would be impractical to issue FPN to queuing traffic as could hold traffic up more if traffic moves. Newer cars coming onto market with Agenda Pack 118 of 157 stop/start function built into vehicle. Renders action from Item Action Responsibility/Organisation Lead Officer Timescale Effect on Progress with measure Comments Responsibility air quality driver/enforcer unnecessary. General affluence in area will result in more newer vehicles on road with consequential result of lower CO2 emissions. 14 Investigate possibility of HCC Rupert 31/12/2010 Low New signage and The car park variable road signs to discourage Thacker routings are planned for message signs are through traffic installation at the up and running and junction and the set to expand to approach to the city. cover other car parks. Phase 2 is to revisit direction signage. Phase 2 area wide direction signage due to start this financial year (city area) and the possibility of a further ring of VMS signs to be used at a more strategic level for traffic information. 2011 subject to funding
15 ‘Wizzgo Car Club’, a fleet SADC. Brian Peers 31/03/2010 Low Wizzgo was in Two companies are of Citroen CV1’s made operation but ceased on interested in available to St Albans the 6 November. providing car clubs residents to encourage Alternative options and business cases one car per household being assessed. Also are awaited for ownership. look at installation of consideration. Agenda Pack 119 of 157 electric charging points. Vehicles for this scheme need to be traditional and not Item Action Responsibility/Organisation Lead Officer Timescale Effect on Progress with measure Comments Responsibility air quality electric. ‘Street Cars’ are fully committed and can provide their own vehicles. ‘Com Wheels’ require us to provide vehicles Cooperating with Herts CC and Watford BC to see if a larger scheme could be developed which could be more financially attractive. 16 Refresh current business HCC-Travel Wise team & Rupert 31/12/2010 Low See item 21 HCC have a specific travel plans in the area SADC. Thacker business travel plan. and contact local Network St Albans businesses to encourage QNP have travel plans, in particular successfully bid for St Albans District Council monies for new and AE COM and St technologies and a Albans City Hospital. business travel plan. QNP is a county wide system. Automatic vehicle locator. Realtime travel news. Currently procuring at HCC under contract and will be trailing Summer 2010. Can be accessed via mobile, computer, scrolling flags. New HCC Business Agenda Pack 120 of 157 Travel Plan co- ordinator starting on 1 Feb, Richard Item Action Responsibility/Organisation Lead Officer Timescale Effect on Progress with measure Comments Responsibility air quality Turner (maternity cover). 17 Market “lift-share” service SADC Jerome 31/12/2010 Low The scheme is run by Re-launch proposed (Stalbanstravel.com) Veriter “Liftshare” which is run to extend to internally, to local by HCC (contact at businesses in the businesses and to the County Hall is Lilian city centre. Looking broader community Goldberg). The website to combine with address is Watford who have Car sharing is when two www.hertsliftshare.org the same system. or more people share a Liftshare is the largest car and travel together. It car-share network in the allows people to benefit UK. St Albans Travel is from the convenience of our personal portal to the car, whilst alleviating access this database. the associated problems Individual can join for of congestion and free to search for pollution. people going the same way. Businesses can pay a fee to create their own group so that colleague can organise shared journey just among themselves.
The Council will develop a marketing pack to distribute to the local businesses and engage with them early 2010. Once the business have picked up we will engage with the local population (press release, banners, leaflet, promotion at Agenda Pack 121 of 157 events)
Item Action Responsibility/Organisation Lead Officer Timescale Effect on Progress with measure Comments Responsibility air quality ELECTRIC VEHICLES BP advised that decisions on electric vehicles on hold until late 2011 pending increase in number of choices for electric vehicles and government grants
18 Implementation of the SADC. Brian Peers 31/12/20 11 Low To initiate discussions Also to assess ‘Buzz Scheme’ where with NCP on feasibility whether an electric free charging is provided of this option. charging point can for electric vehicles at be included at the NCP car parks within St Wizz Go Point. Albans. Gov is making grants available from 2011/2012. The range of vehicles available at the moment are limited. The grant will be £5K Applied to EEDA for charging point grant. Unlikely given demise of EEDA. 19 Investigate introducing SADC Brian Peers Medium Low NCP – Contracted cheaper car parking for Term car parks can not be lower polluting vehicles. Pending used without SADC (was 16). Buzz compensating for Scheme trial loss of income. results. 20 Consider requiring SADC Brian Peers To be discussed with Mainstream developers to install the Planning manufacturers electric car points in new Department in 2010. bringing out new developments under electric vehicles Section 106 agreements Agenda Pack 122 of 157 towards end of (was 22). 2011. Electric Item Action Responsibility/Organisation Lead Officer Timescale Effect on Progress with measure Comments Responsibility air quality bicycles purchased July 2010. Linda Batham (Planning) deals with Section 106 agreements. Is there any money secured against AQMA’s. Look at best practice with other authorities. Supplementary planning document ‘Community Infrastructure’ (being developed) will supersede Section 106. Would be useful for a contact in Planning to attend Steering Group meeting regarding Section 106 agreements. The use of electric SADC Brian Peers Vehicle tested during vehicles for staff including the summer of 2009. bikes (was 30). Now being assessed to determine if can be brought into operation in 2010.
21 Consider an increase in SADC. Brian Peers 31/12/2012 Low To be considered by the This may create car parking charges with car parking working parking problems in the view to making bus party at a future other areas. This travel a more attractive meeting could create alternative. Agenda Pack 123 of 157 problems by putting people off from using St Albans Item Action Responsibility/Organisation Lead Officer Timescale Effect on Progress with measure Comments Responsibility air quality shops/market. Needs to be tackled on a Countywide Basis
22 Continue the Trees SADC. Andrew Ongoing Low Under review by Trees Limitations on where Against Pollution (TAP) Branch/Brian and Woodlands Officer to plant trees. Some project. Peers open space already occupied by trees. Problems with underground services (e.g. telecom wires, etc), and planting too near to buildings causing structural damage. Areas of land in private ownership. Input into planning is limited as new applications need to have a design which allow the space . Applications tend to have little amenity space. Planting can also cause difficulties with obscuring CCTV. However, large number of trees to be planted In the Wheathampstead Forest. Reduces CO2 rather than NO2. Budget of Agenda Pack 124 of 157 £10K per annum for planting trees. £50- 60 per tree. Planting Item Action Responsibility/Organisation Lead Officer Timescale Effect on Progress with measure Comments Responsibility air quality aprox 170-200 throughout the district. M25 widening works. Trees taken down for widening but will be replaced to stabilise the banks. 23 Application to the East of SADC Brian Peers Decision Low - Application made England Development expected by medium Successful (Money from Agency for the 31/12/2009. EU, not affected by introduction of 80 small to If successful demise of EEDA, medium size business project Approx ½ M awarded travel plans (Business launch 2010 May 2010. Work Smiles). commences July 2010. 24 Car free day event in SADC Jerome 2010 Low Event staged in Sept September (and hoping Veriter 2009. to continue annually Will be repeated Sept potentially with road 2010. closure).
25 Cycling and walking SADC/HCC Jerome 2010 Low Cycling (2008) and SADC Green Travel strategy Veriter/David Walking (2009) Plan: Burt (County Strategies in place. 6 Council pool Cycling Include improvement to bicycles Officer) cycle paths, increased * +2 Electric Bicycles provision of cycle have been provided parking, production of a with lockers. district-wide cycling Currently only 5 staff map, improved have been using provision for them. Uptake may pedestrians and the improve when the development of scenic weather improves. and safe walking RT would like use of routes. bicycles to extend to Agenda Pack 125 of 157 HCC officers. Council insurance Item Action Responsibility/Organisation Lead Officer Timescale Effect on Progress with measure Comments Responsibility air quality would not extend to HCC. RT to check HCC insurance.
26 Signage for pedestrians. HCC/SADC Rupert 2010 Low This scheme was Will need reviewing Thacker/Brian delivered by St Albans to see if it has had Peers City and District Council any impact on the on behalf of number of Hertfordshire Highways pedestrians and the in 2008/2009 impact on the AQMA.
To be linked to the walking strategy and provide details to Tourist Information
27 Mini Park and Ride HCC/SADC Rupert 2010 Low HCC will be meeting This is in the Urban Thacker/Brian with SADC to discuss Transport Plan and a Peers development of viability study will be feasibility study carried out in early 2010. Feasibility study completed June 2010. 28 Taxi emissions Investigate measures to Hillingdon Council update taxi fleet. has produced a leaflet for economical Investigate emission driving techniques monitoring of taxis. which provides an overview of Emissions controlled technologies that are through Certificate of available of use by Compliance at garage taxi fleets. check. Annually if vehicle is less than 5 Agenda Pack 126 of 157 yrs old- Bi-annually if over 5 yrs and Tri- Item Action Responsibility/Organisation Lead Officer Timescale Effect on Progress with measure Comments Responsibility air quality annually over 7 yrs old.
Discount for hybrid vehicles (Prius) £60. off licence fee which is £300 or £360 depending on if applicant is a resident or not. 29 Investigate whether the HCC Rupert The traffic light Issue raised at traffic light sequence at Thacker sequences at the Overview and the Peahen Junction has peahen have not Scrutiny Meeting been changed. changed significantly since the works were completed in spring 2005. They run an intelligent sequencing that responds to traffic flows and are linked to the High Street crossing. . 30 Investigate whether a set HCC Rupert This is a significant Issue raised at of holding signals can be Thacker scheme and needs to Overview and installed at the bottom of be considered Scrutiny Meeting Holywell Hill. alongside other possible schemes including the removal of through traffic from St Peters Street etc. As such at this point in time a straight forward answer to the question cannot be given. It could be a possibility but needs to have been Agenda Pack 127 of 157 fully investigated. Should be considered further to item 11. Item Action Responsibility/Organisation Lead Officer Timescale Effect on Progress with measure Comments Responsibility air quality Officers discussed and felt it might actually exacerbate the problem and result in a further extension of the AQMA
Agenda Pack 128 of 157 Appendix 2: Abbey Shuttle Bus Route, St Albans
! October 2016
!
Peahen Junction " !
KEY " St Albans City station " St Albans Abbey station ! ! Bus stops Bus route Ü ! Air Quality Management Area
© Crown copyright and database rights 2016 Ordnance Survey EUL 100019606. " Agenda Pack 129 of 157 You are permitted to use this data solely to enable you to respond to, or interact with, the organisation that provided you with the data. You are not permitted to copy, sub- licence, distribute or sell any of this data to third parties in any form.
HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Agenda Item No.
ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING & TRANSPORT CABINET PANEL 7
2 NOVEMBER 2016 AT 10.00AM
THAMESLINK 2018 TIMETABLE CONSULTATION
Report of the Chief Executive& Director of Environment
Author:- Trevor Mason, Team Leader Rail Strategy & Liaison (Tel: 01992 556117)
Executive Member/s:- Derrick Ashley, Environment, Planning & Transport
1. Purpose of report
1.1 To consider the County Council’s response to Govia Thameslink Railway’s consultation on the 2018 timetable.
2. Summary
2.1 GTR is consulting on major timetable changes which would be introduced in 2018. These changes affect nearly half of all Hertfordshire stations.
2.2 There are significant benefits to Hertfordshire rail users in terms of overall service levels and destinations served. Rail users will also benefit from new trains. There, however, some negative implications for certain services at particular locations.
2.3 This paper sets out a draft response to GTR’s proposals. The deadline for responses is 8 December.
3. Recommendation/s
3.1 For the Cabinet Panel to agree the draft consultation response as set out in Appendix 2
3.2 For the Executive Member to write to the Secretary of State to press for early delivery of the new platform at Stevenage station and /or other appropriate solutions to enable full delivery of the 2018 timetable without the need for bus substitution between Watton-at-Stone and Stevenage.
Agenda Pack 130 of 157 1 4. Background
4.1 Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has issued a consultation on the proposed new timetable for 2018. The consultation runs to 8 December.
4.2 The routes affected in Hertfordshire are the current Thameslink route through St Albans, the Great Northern routes via Stevenage and the Hertford loop, and the West London Line services via Watford Junction.
4.3 The consultation thus has implications for the following stations: Baldock, Bayford, Berkhamsted, Brookmans Park, Cuffley, Elstree & Borehamwood, Harpenden, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Hertford North, Hitchin, Knebworth, Letchworth, Potters Bar, Radlett, Royston, St Albans City, Stevenage, Tring, Watford Junction, Watton at Stone, Welham Green, Welwyn Garden City, and Welwyn North.
4.4 The proposed changes result from the completion of the Thameslink Programme, which will see the connection of the Great Northern line to the Thameslink tunnel via St Pancras, the introduction of a new train fleet, and the full re-opening of London Bridge station.
4.5 The current consultation covers the main principles of the new timetable, for example service frequency and destinations served. A further round of consultation, setting out the proposed actual timetable, is due to be held in Spring 2017.
4.6 The GTR consultation documents can be found at http://www.thameslinkrailway.com/your-journey/timetable-consultation .
5. Changes to Hertfordshire Services
5.1 The overall changes to rail services in Hertfordshire are set out below. Further detail is included in Appendix 1 to this report.
(a) Thameslink Route
5.2 The Thameslink route covers the services from Bedford to St Pancras and to the south of London. The stations in Hertfordshire served by this route are Elstree & Borehamwood, Harpenden, Radlett and St Albans.
5.3 The key changes for the route are: • An increased service frequency; • The introduction of a new service to Rainham via Greenwich and Dartford; • The introduction of the new Class 700 trains Agenda Pack 131 of 157 2
(b) Great Northern Mainline
5.4 The Great Northern Mainline covers the services from Peterborough and Cambridge to London via Stevenage. The stations in Hertfordshire served by this route are Baldock, Hatfield, Hitchin, Knebworth, Letchworth, Potters Bar, Royston, Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, and Welwyn North.
5.5 The key changes for this route are: • An increase in service frequency; • An increase in the number of directly-served destinations by diverting most services via the Thameslink tunnel rather than terminating at London Kings Cross; • The introduction of the new Class 700 trains for services via the Thameslink tunnel and the cascade of 2014-built trains for the other services.
(c) Great Northern Metro
5.6 The Great Northern Metro covers the services into Moorgate. The stations in Hertfordshire served by this route are Baldock, Bayford, Brookmans Park, Cuffley, Hatfield, Hertford North, Hitchin, Letchworth, Potters Bar, Stevenage, Watton at Stone, Welham Green, and Welwyn Garden City.
5.7 The key changes for this route are: • An increase in service frequency; • The withdrawal of services between Letchworth and Stevenage (these stations will continue to be served by the Great Northern Mainline route); • The introduction of new Class 717 trains which will be in fixed 6-car formations.
(d) West London Line
5.8 The GTR Southern services on the West London Line provide trains between Milton Keynes and East Croydon via Watford Junction. The stations in Hertfordshire severed by this route are Tring, Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead and Watford Junction (although it should be noted that the majority of services at these stations are provided by London Midland and are not included in this consultation).
5.9 The key changes for this route are:
• Exploration of increasing train lengths to 8-car throughout the day; • Improved reliability by extending services to Purley or Coulsdon Town, or stopping them at Selhurst.
Agenda Pack 132 of 157 3
6. Issues for Hertfordshire
6.1 The proposed new timetable is overall beneficial for Hertfordshire rail users, with increased frequency of train services, new destinations from the Great Northern Mainline, and the introduction of new rolling stock. However, there are a number of issues which would, or could, be detrimental or do not accord with the county council’s aspirations set out in the Rail Strategy. These issues are: • Temporary bus substitution of Hertford North to Stevenage services; • Possible increased overnight engineering possessions; • West London Line services; • Changes to some off-peak and weekend services at particular stations.
Hertford North to Stevenage Services
6.2 GTR’s overall 2018 timetable planning included the assumption that a fifth platform would have been built at Stevenage in order to allow trains to reverse without blocking mainline services. However, the Hendy review of Network Rail’s work programme postponed the new platform into the next funding period (2019 – 2024). This means that it will not be available for the start of the new timetable.
6.3 GTR’s proposed temporary solution to this is to terminate northbound trains at Watton at Stone as from May 2018. This would be supplemented by two shuttle bus services; one running direct from Hertford North to Stevenage, and the other running from Watton at Stone to Stevenage. Conversations with GTR suggest that these bus services would be at a half-hourly frequency.
6.4 GTR estimates that 1,100 passengers would be affected each day.
6.5 There is no specific date for delivery of the fifth platform. Network Rail’s East Coast Route Study will be published for consultation in Spring 2017. It is likely that the Stevenage platform will be a high priority within this study, but there is no guarantee when it will be built. Network Rail is unable to provide details of how long it would take to build the platform, but it would be reasonable to assume that the earliest it would be made available is early 2020. This would imply that bus substitution would be in place for at least two years.
6.6 The draft consultation response in Appendix 2(a) (Question 81) proposes that the county council firstly opposes the bus substitution and urges GTR to investigate other options, but secondly if there is no alternative to seek high frequency bus services to offset the extra and unpredictable journey times. Agenda Pack 133 of 157 4
6.7 It is also proposed that the county council writes to the Department for Transport, urging the delivery of the Stevenage platform at the earliest opportunity.
Overnight Engineering Possessions
6.8 The consultation document sets out that “Network Rail’s maintenance programme will need to be enhanced in response to the increase and changes to services throughout the network to ensure on-going reliable and robust infrastructure”.
6.9 GTR is therefore seeking views on options such as reduced frequency after 23.00, earlier last trains on Monday to Wednesday, and later first trains on Sundays.
6.10 The draft response set out in Appendix 2(a) (Question 14) opposes any changes to first or last trains for routes serving Hertfordshire.
West London Line
6.11 GTR provides Southern services from Milton Keynes to East Croydon via the West London Line. These services call at Tring, Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead and Watford Junction.
6.12 The county council’s Rail Strategy sets out an aspiration for these services to be extended to serve Gatwick Airport. This is not included in GTR’s consultation, and therefore the draft response to Question 63 is worded accordingly.
Reduction in Off-peak and Weekend Services
6.13 The consultation material focuses on peak services to/from London, which for Hertfordshire is the main flow. For these services the overall pattern is an increase or no change in the number of trains per hour. However, there are a number of stations where there is a reduction in the number of off-peak or weekend services, and where off-peak services are downgraded from semi-fast to all-stoppers.
6.14 The detail of these off-peak / weekend service changes is less clear in the consultation material, and work is continuing with districts, local user groups and discussions with GTR to clarify all the changes.
6.15 It has therefore not been possible to consider these changes within this paper. A list of such changes will be presented to the Panel meeting, but this may require further updating before the consultation closes on 8 December.
7. Draft Response
Agenda Pack 134 of 157 5 7.1 The draft response to GTR’s consultation is set out in Appendix 2. The first section (2(a)) provides responses to those questions which have direct relevance to Hertfordshire. All other questions are included in Appendix 2(b). It is proposed that the standard response to all these questions is “No comment – not directly relevant to Hertfordshire”.
7.2 The deadline for responses is 8 December.
7.3 As referred to in 6.15 above, further changes may be required to the draft response as and when further information is obtained on some of the detailed proposed timetable changes.
8. Next Steps
8.1 The consultation sets out a complicated set of changes to rail services which cover a large part of Hertfordshire. Whilst every attempt has been made to identify the issues for Hertfordshire, further points may arise before the consultation deadline of 8 December following dialogue with GTR, district councils, rail user groups and other interested parties. Where these have implications for the county council’s response, it is proposed that changes are made through the agreement of the Executive Member.
8.2 Following receipt of the consultation responses, GTR propose to issue a detailed draft train service timetable in Spring 2017 for further comment.
8.3 GTR’s overall timetable for the process is as follows:
8 December 2016 Close of consultation Spring 2017 Consultation on detailed timetable August 2017 Completion of 2018 timetable January 2018 Initial changes to current Thameslink services May 2018 Significant changes to all services, including Great Northern route December 2018 Full implementation of new timetable
It should be noted that Network Rail’s East Coast Route Study is expected to be published for consultation in Spring 2017. This study will look at infrastructure needs for the route, including the fifth platform at Stevenage.
9. Financial Implications
9.1 The consultation sets out proposals which will be delivered by GTR. There are no financial implications for the county council.
Agenda Pack 135 of 157 6 10. Equalities
10.1 This paper covers the response to an external consultation, and does not affect the county council’s policies or scheme implementation.
10.2 It is expected that Govia Thameslink Railways, as consultating body, will consider any equalities issues.
10.3 However, the nature of the consultation is such that there are no equalities issues that are apparent to the county council. If any issues do become apparent they will be raised within the county council’s response.
Background Information
GTR 2018 Timetable Consultation (September 2016)
Agenda Pack 136 of 157 7 Appendix 1 Proposed Service Pattern
Key / Notes to Appendices 1 (a) to (d)
Appendices 1(a) to 1 (d) set out the proposed 2018 timetable for each of the four service patterns which directly affect Hertfordshire. The diagrams focus on services to London, and omit services northwards e.g. to Luton, Peterborough and Cambridge.
Key to diagrams:
TL1 – service patterns shown in GTR consultation document
Monday – Saturday
Off Peak Peak = 07.00 – 09.59 High Peak (10.00 – 15.59) = 08.00 – 08.59
Sunday Peak High M – S Sun Peak 36 12 8 8 Change from current +12 +1 +2 +2 timetable
No. of trains in 3 hour period No. of trains per hour
No. of trains in peak hour
Destinations:
Brighton Existing destinations
Rainham New destinations
Kings Cross Destinations no longer served
Agenda Pack 137 of 157 8 Appendix 1(a) Proposed Service Pattern - Thameslink TL1 / TL2/ TL3 / TL4 / TL9 / TL10 / TL11 / TL12
Peak High M – S Sun Peak Harpenden 36 12 8 8 +12 +1 +2 +2
Peak High M – S Sun Peak 48 16 10 10 St Albans +6 +1 +2 +2
Radlett
Peak High M – S Sun Peak 24 8 6 6 +6 +2 +2 +2
Elstree & Borehamwood
Dartford / Rainham (new)
Sutton / Wimbledon Bromley South / Orpington / Seven Oaks Gatwick Airport / Brighton
Agenda Pack 138 of 157 9 Appendix 1(b) Proposed Service Pattern – Great Northern TL5 / TL6 / TL7 / TL8 / GN2 / GN3
Royston Peak High M – S Sun Baldock Peak Peak High M – S Sun 18 6 4 2 Peak +1 +2 +2 n/c Letchworth 24 8 4 2 +7 +1 +2 n/c
Hitchin Peak High M – S Sun Peak High M – S Sun Peak Peak 12 4 2 1 24 8 6 4 +3 +1 +1 -1 +4 n/c +2 +1
Peak High M – S Sun Peak 24 8 6 4 Stevenage +6 +1 +2 n/c Excludes Great Northern Metro services (see Appendix 1(c))
Peak High M – S Sun Peak 12 4 2 1 Knebworth +2 +1 n/c n/c
Peak High M – S Sun Peak 10 6 2 1 Welwyn North +2 n/c n/c n/c
Peak High M – S Sun Peak 12 4 2 1 Welwyn Garden City n/c n/c n/c n/c
Hatfield Peak High M – S Sun Peak 12 4 2 1 +3 +2 n/c n/c Potters Bar
St Pancras / Thameslink core Kings Cross Gatwick / Brighton / Maidstone Kings Cross (some peak and Agenda Pack 139 of 157 Sunday services only 10 Appendix 1(c) Proposed Service Pattern – Great Northern Metro GN4.1 / GN4.2 / GN5
Letchworth * Services between Watton at Stone and Stevenage will be replaced by buses until the Stevenage fifth Peak High M – S Sun platform is built. Peak 0 0 0 0 -2 n/c -1 n/c Hitchin
Peak High M – S Sun Peak High M – S Sun Peak Peak 6 2 2 2 6 2 2 2 Stevenage -1 +1 +1 +1 -1 +1 +1 +1 * Watton at Stone
Peak High M – S Sun Hertford North Peak High M – S Sun Welwyn Peak Peak Garden City 18 6 6 6 12 4 4 4 +3 n/c +3 +4 +2 n/c +1 +2 Hatfield
Peak High M – S Sun Bayford Peak 18 6 4 6 +10 +3 +1 +4 Welham Green Peak High M – S Sun Peak 12 4 2 4 +2 n/c -1 +2 Cuffley Brookmans Park Peak High M – S Sun Peak Peak High M – S Sun Potters Bar 18 6 6 6 Peak +3 n/c +3 +4 12 4 4 4 +2 n/c +1 +2
Excludes Great Northern Mainline Moorgate services (see Appendix 1(b))
Agenda Pack 140 of 157 11 Appendix 1(d) Proposed Service Pattern – West London Line SN2
This diagram shows GTR services only. The majority of services at these stations are provided by London Midland and run into London Euston.
Tring
Peak High M – S Sun Peak 3 1 1 0 n/c n/c n/c n/c Berkhamsted
Hemel Hempstead
Peak High M – S Sun Watford Peak Junction 5 2 1 1 +2 n/c n/c n/c
The additional peak trains shown at Watford Junction operate between Watford Junction and Clapham Junction only.
East Croydon (Clapham Junction on Sundays)
Agenda Pack 141 of 157 12 Appendix 2(a) Draft Hertfordshire County Council Response
Question 14: Do you support proposals to approach engineering works differently? Please select all options you support. Reduced frequency on some routes after 2300 on Weekdays and Saturdays Earlier last trains on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays on some routes Later first trains on Sunday mornings on some routes I don’t support proposals to change the current engineering works hours Any further comments on this proposal?
The county council opposes in principle any increase in overnight engineering works which would have an impact on train services. Hertfordshire residents rely on early morning trains to commute into central London, and on late night trains from central London to facilitate changing work patterns and attendance at evening leisure events. There also continues to be increased activity on Sundays.
Question 15: Do you support the proposed frequency increase for Thameslink services at Luton, Luton Airport Parkway, Harpenden, St Albans City, Radlett, Elstree & Borehamwood, Mill Hill Broadway and West Hampstead Thameslink with the introduction of a new semi fast service?
Yes. The increased frequency of services is welcomed, and the proposals meet the county council’s Rail Strategy aspirations to increase frequencies at Radlett and Elstree & Borehamwood.
Question 16: Do you support the proposal for Thameslink services on the North Kent line serving Greenwich, Abbey Wood, Dartford and Medway Towns?
Yes. The new service would provide additional direct journey options for Hertfordshire residents.
Question 20: Any other comments in relation to the expanded Thameslink network from 2018?
The Thameslink services from Harpenden, St Albans, Radlett and Elstree & Borehamwood provide a vital commuting link for Hertfordshire residents. It is essential that the overall capacity on these services, especially at peak times, is expanded to overcome existing overcrowding issues and predicted growth.
Question 21: Thameslink Mainline Route TL1: Bedford – Luton – St Albans City – Central London (via London Bridge) – East Croydon – Gatwick Airport – Brighton Agenda Pack 142 of 157 13
The increased frequency of services is welcomed. It is essential that further capacity, especially during peak times, is provided for trains serving Harpenden and St Albans.
Question 22: Thameslink Mainline Route TL2: Bedford – Luton – St Albans City – Central London (via London Bridge) – East Croydon – Redhill – Gatwick Airport
The increased frequency of services is welcomed. It is essential that further capacity, especially during peak times, is provided for trains serving Harpenden and St Albans.
Question 23: Thameslink Mainline Route TL3: Bedford – Luton – St Albans City – Central London (via London Bridge) – East Croydon – Oxted – East Grinstead
The increased frequency of services is welcomed. It is essential that further capacity, especially during peak times, is provided for trains serving Harpenden and St Albans.
Question 24: Thameslink Mainline Route TL4: Bedford – Luton – St Albans City – Central London (via London Bridge) – East Croydon – Three Bridges – Hove – Worthing – Littlehampton
The consultation document is not clear on what the exact proposals are.
Question 25: Thameslink Mainline Route TL5: Peterborough – Stevenage – Central London (via London Bridge) – East Croydon – Redhill – Gatwick Airport – Horsham
The diversion through the central core of services on the Stevenage route is welcome because of the increase journey opportunities that this provides, particularly to central London destinations and to connections to Crossrail.
Question 26: Thameslink Mainline Route TL6: Cambridge (semi-fast) – Stevenage – Central London (via London Bridge) – East Croydon – Gatwick Airport – Brighton
The diversion through the central core of services on the Stevenage route is welcome because of the increase journey opportunities that this provides, particularly to central London destinations and to connections to Crossrail.
Question 27:
Agenda Pack 143 of 157 14 Thameslink Mainline Route TL7: Cambridge (stopping) – Stevenage – Central London (via London Bridge) – Swanley – Maidstone East – (Ashford International)
The diversion through the central core of services on the Stevenage route is welcome because of the increase journey opportunities that this provides, particularly to central London destinations and to connections to Crossrail.
Question 29: Thameslink Metro Route TL8: (Welwyn Garden City) – Central London (via Elephant & Castle) – Catford – Bromley South – Swanley – Otford – Sevenoaks
No comment.
Question 30: Thameslink Metro Route TL9: (Luton) – Kentish Town – Central London (via Elephant & Castle) – Catford – Bromley South – Orpington
No comment.
Question 31: Thameslink Metro Route TL10: Luton – Central London (via London Bridge) – Greenwich – Abbey Wood – Dartford – Rochester – Rainham
The new service is welcomed as it would provide additional direct journey options for Hertfordshire residents.
Question 32: Thameslink Metro Route TL11: St Albans City – Central London (via Elephant & Castle) – Tulse Hill – Sutton – Wimbledon (Loop)
No comment.
Question 33: Thameslink Metro Route TL12: St Albans City – Central London (via Elephant & Castle) – Tulse Hill – Wimbledon – Sutton (Loop)
No comment.
Question 63: Which proposal do you support? Extend services to or from Purley or Coulsdon Town No longer operate beyond Selhurst The proposed change does not affect me Any further comments on this proposal?
The county council’s Rail Strategy has an aspiration for these services to be extended to Gatwick Airport. It therefore: • Opposes the proposal to no longer operate beyond Selhurst. Agenda Pack 144 of 157 15 • Has no view on whether services should be extended to Purley or Coulsdon Town. • Requests that services are extended to Gatwick Airport.
Question 64: Do you have any specific comments in relation to West London Line services?
The West London line services provide direct connections from west Hertfordshire to the south of London, avoiding the need to travel by central London. The county council is disappointed that there are no significant improvements proposed for this service. It would like to see the frequency of this service increased to half-hourly, and for the route to be extended to serve Gatwick Airport.
Question 66: Southern Metro Route SN2 (West London Line): Milton Keynes – Watford Junction – Shepherds Bush – Clapham Junction – Norbury – East Croydon – (Purley) – (Coulsdon Town)
The West London line services provide direct connections from west Hertfordshire to the south of London, avoiding the need to travel by central London. The county council is disappointed that there are no significant improvements proposed for this service. It would like to see the frequency of this service increased to half-hourly, and for the route to be extended to serve Gatwick Airport.
Question 76: Do you support the proposed frequency improvements throughout the Great Northern Metro routes? Yes No Any further comments on this proposal?
The proposed frequency improvements are welcomed in principle. However, it is not yet fully clear what the implications of this may be on the pattern of semi-fast and stopping services at individual stations. It is important that journey times for direct services , especially to central London, are not increased.
Question 77: Do you support the proposed changes which will see Knebworth, Welwyn North, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and Potters Bar served by half hourly trains to and from Cambridge instead of hourly trains to both Cambridge and Peterborough? Yes No Any further comments on this proposal?
Agenda Pack 145 of 157 16 In principle, the county council is not opposed to these changes as the majority of rail trips from these stations are to/from central London. However, the county council does note that this proposal reduces the options for direct services from these stations.
Question 78: Do you support the proposed frequency improvements throughout the Great Northern Metro routes and proposed changes to some calling patterns? Yes
The proposals support the county council’s aspirations for a higher frequency service on this route. However, the consultation does not make clear whether the existing skip-stop peak services will be retained.
Any further comments on this proposal? Question 79 & 80: These proposals would remove the direct service between the Welwyn Garden City route and Harringay and Hornsey during Monday to Friday peak times only. Passengers wishing to travel between Welwyn Garden City and Haringey or Hornsey during peak times would be required to change trains at Alexandra Palace for frequent connecting trains.
How often do you travel from stations between Welwyn Garden City and Harringay and Hornsey?
Never Daily Weekly Monthly Couple of times a year
How inconvenienced would you be if a change if train was required? Not at all Slightly Significantly Any further comments on this proposal?
Question 81:
In light of these developments, on balance do you agree that curtailing the Moorgate to Stevenage services at Watton-at-Stone from May 2018 until further notice to protect proposed frequency increases on the Hertford North, Cambridge and Peterborough routes is the right approach?
No
The county council finds the proposals unacceptable. Although there might be relatively small numbers of people affected, the disruption to individual Agenda Pack 146 of 157 17 journeys will be significant, will last for at least two years, and has no definitive end date. The overall effect will be to reduce rail travel in the long-term. The county council therefore urges GTR to consider alternative interim arrangements which will maintain the train service.
In the event that alternative arrangements cannot be found, the bus replacement service needs to be at a frequency that will help to offset the increase and variance in journey time, with services at least every 15 minutes. The vehicles used should also be of a high standard, and fully accessible to those with a disability, with luggage or with bicycles.
Question 83: Great Northern Mainline Route GN2 (Cambridge local): Royston – Stevenage – Welwyn North – London Kings Cross Question 84: Great Northern Mainline Route GN3 (Peterborough): Peterborough – Huntingdon – Biggleswade – London Kings Cross Question 85: Route GN4.1: Stevenage – Hertford North – Gordon Hill – Alexandra Palace – Finsbury Park – Highbury & Islington – Old Street – Moorgate Question 86: Route GN4.2: Hertford North – Gordon Hill – Alexandra Palace – Finsbury Park – Highbury & Islington – Old Street – Moorgate Question 87: Route GN4.3: Gordon Hill – Alexandra Palace – Finsbury Park – Highbury & Islington – Old Street – Moorgate Question 88: Great Northern Metro Route GN5 (Welwyn): Welwyn Garden City – Hatfield – Potters Bar – New Barnet – Alexandra Palace – Finsbury Park – Highbury & Islington – Old Street – Moorgate
Further comments to be added on local issues under Q83 – 88 as approrpriate.
Agenda Pack 147 of 157 18 Appendix 2(b) Consultation Questions Not Directly Relevant to Hertfordshire
The following consultation questions are not directly relevant to Hertfordshire. It is proposed that the answer to all of these questions is “No comment – not directly relevant to Hertfordshire”.
Question 17: Do you support the proposed increase in frequency of Thameslink services on the Catford Loop line?
Question 18: Do you support the proposal for Thameslink Maidstone East services to operate via London Bridge instead of Elephant & Castle restoring train services previously withdrawn in 2009?
Question 19: On balance do you support the retention of Caterham and Tattenham Corner services as part of Southern South London Metro?
Question 28: The proposed Thameslink service between Cambridge and Maidstone East is only able to serve either St Mary Cray or Swanley due to insufficient time to enable the train to arrive in time to start its return journey from Maidstone East. Please select which station you would prefer the train to call. St Mary Cray / Swanley
Question 34: Do you support proposals to change Sunday services between London Victoria and the West Coastway, to enable faster journeys between London, Chichester and Portsmouth similar to weekdays?
Question 35: Cooksbridge and Plumpton Do you support retaining the current hourly service at Plumpton? Do you support reducing the current hourly service at Plumpton to a two hourly to enable a two hourly service at Cooksbridge on Mondays to Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays?
Question 36: Please provide feedback on this proposal to improve the overall journey times between London, Eastbourne, Bexhill and Hastings
Question 37: In relation to trains between Lewes and Seaford, which option do you prefer?
Regular peak service between Brighton and Seaford with direct London to Seaford trains discontinued. Agenda Pack 148 of 157 19 Continuation of direct London to Seaford peak trains with a gap of one hour between Brighton and Seaford.
Question 38: Do you support the proposal to operate Southern Mainline services between London Victoria and Hastings only?
Question 39 Proposals affecting trains services serving Redhill Do you support this proposal?
Question 40 Proposals affecting train services serving Merstham and Coulsdon South: Do you support this proposal?
Question 41 Proposals affecting train services serving Horley, Salfords and Earlswood Do you support this proposal?
Question 42 Proposals affecting train services at Purley Do you support this proposal?
Question 43: Do you have any specific comments in relation to services between Redhill and Tonbridge?
Question 44: Which option do you support? Regular shuttle (up to six trains per hour when combined with Great Western Railway) connecting with regular Thameslink and Southern trains to and from London Direct peak services to London Victoria at half hourly intervals joining with other carriages at Redhill (passengers for London Bridge would be required to change at Redhill or East Croydon)
Question 45 and 46: These proposals would remove the direct Monday to Saturday off peak journey opportunities from Gatwick Airport, Horley, Salfords, Earlswood, Redhill, Merstham, Coulsdon South and Purley to and from New Cross Gate. Passengers wishing to travel between the affected stations and New Cross Gate would be required to change trains at Norwood Junction.
Question 47 Which option do you support? Revising evening and Sunday services to be consistent with the proposed Monday to Saturday daytime frequency which would include direct trains between London Victoria, Reigate and Tonbridge Retain the current evening and Sunday train frequency with direct trains to Bognor Regis (evenings and Sundays) and Brighton on Sundays only. Trains Agenda Pack 149 of 157 20 to Reigate and Tonbridge would be provided as shuttle trains starting from and terminating at Redhill
Question 48 Do you have any specific comments in relation to services on Coastway West routes?
Question 49 Proposals for increased train services between Brighton and Lewes Do you support this proposal?
Question 50 Proposals affecting train services between Brighton and Seaford Do you support this proposal?
Question 51 Proposals for faster journeys between Brighton, Lewes, Eastbourne, Hastings and Ore Do you support this proposal?
Question 52 Which option do you support? Operate longer electric trains between Brighton and Eastbourne with connections to and from a two carriage diesel train between Eastbourne and Ashford International. Operate longer electric trains between Brighton and Hastings with connections to and from a two carriage diesel train between Hastings and Ashford International Continue to operate through trains between Brighton and Ashford International with the understanding that current capacity issues on the route are unlikely to be addressed in the short and medium term.
Question 53: Do you have any specific comments in relation to services on Oxted routes?
Question 54: We propose to introduce a new all day direct train service between Epsom, Sutton, West Croydon and London Bridge, increase the train frequency between Sutton and Epsom Downs (from 1tph to 2tph all day) and continue four trains per hour between Sutton, West Croydon, Norbury and London Victoria? To enable this we will need to remove the current direct train services between Sutton, West Croydon, Crystal Palace and Streatham Hill to enable these improvements. Do you support this?
Question 55: Do you support the proposal to improve overall performance of the network by reducing the number of Monday to Friday and Saturday daytime trains between London Victoria and Selhurst via Norbury from 6tph (every 10 minutes) to 4tph (every 15 minutes)? Agenda Pack 150 of 157 21
Question 56 and 57 These proposals would remove the direct Monday to Saturday off peak journey opportunities from Gatwick Airport, Horley, Salfords, Earlswood, Redhill, Merstham, Coulsdon South and Purley to and from New Cross Gate. Passengers wishing to travel between the affected stations and New Cross Gate would be required to change trains at Norwood Junction.
Question 58: Are you in favour of Monday to Friday and Saturday daytime trains between Streatham Hill, Crystal Palace and Norwood Junction serving East Croydon, Purley and Coulsdon Town instead of West Croydon?
Question 59: Are you in favour of introducing a faster all day service between Caterham and London Bridge instead of a stopping service via Sydenham?
Question 60: Do you support the diversion of stopping trains between New Cross Gate and Norwood Junction via Sydenham from East Croydon to West Croydon instead?
Question 61: Do you support the diversion of stopping trains between London Bridge and Selhurst via Peckham Rye, Tulse Hill and Norbury from West Croydon to East Croydon, Purley and Caterham instead?
Question 62: Do you have any other specific comments in relation to South London Metro services?
Question 65: Southern Mainline Route SN1 (Brighton Main Line): London Victoria – East Croydon – Gatwick Airport – Brighton
Question 67: Route SN3.1: London Victoria – Balham – Streatham Hill – Crystal Palace – London Bridge
Question 68: Route SN3.2 / SN3.2A: London Victoria – Balham – Streatham Hill – Crystal Palace – Norwood Junction then West Croydon (Route 3.2) or East Croydon – Purley – Coulsdon Town (Route 3.2A)
Question 69: Route SN3.3: London Victoria – Balham – Mitcham Eastfields – Sutton – Epsom Question 70: Route SN3.4: London Victoria – Sutton – Epsom – Dorking – Horsham
Agenda Pack 151 of 157 22 Question 71: Route SN3.5: London Victoria – Balham – Norbury – Selhurst – West Croydon – Sutton – (Epsom Downs)
Question 72: Route SN3.6: London Bridge – Norwood Junction – West Croydon – Sutton – Epsom – (Leatherhead) – (Guildford)
Question 73: Route SN3.7: London Bridge – East Croydon – Purley – Caterham and Tattenham Corner
Question 74: Do you have any other specific comments in relation to Gatwick Express services?
Question 75: Do you have any specific comments in relation to services between London Kings Cross and Kings Lynn?
Question 82: Great Northern Mainline Route GN1 (Kings Lynn and Cambridge): Kings Lynn – Ely – Cambridge – London Kings Cross
Agenda Pack 152 of 157 23 Agenda Item No. HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING & TRANSPORT CABINET PANEL 8 WEDNESDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2016 at 10.00 AM
ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING & TRANSPORT PERFORMANCE MONITOR
Report of the Chief Executive & Director of Environment
Author: Simon Aries, Assistant Director Transport, Waste & Environmental Management Environment (Tel: 01992 555255)
Jan Hayes-Griffin, Assistant Director Planning, Strategy & Communications (Tel: 01992 555203)
Executive Member: Derrick Ashley, Environment, Planning & Transport
1. Purpose of report
1.1 To allow the Cabinet Panel to review the performance of Environment, Planning and Transport for the second quarter of this year (July - September 2016) against the Environment Department Service Plan 2016-2020 including key performance indicators, major projects, contracts and identified risks.
2. Summary
2.1 The Cabinet Panel receives a suite of Annual Performance Reports including:
• Local Transport Plan (LTP) – Annual Performance Report (APR) (Q1 or Q2 depending on external data from Government and other sources). • TD APR – Traffic and Data Annual Performance Report
3. Recommendation
3.1 The Cabinet Panel is invited to note the report and comment on the performance monitor for Quarter 2 2016-17.
4. Strategic Performance Indicators, Contracts and Projects
4.1 % of bus stops with comprehensive and up-to-date information Total number of Marked Hertfordshire Stops - 4284 Total number of Marked Hertfordshire Stops with Display Panels -3948
Agenda Pack 153 of 157 1 4.1.1 Performance has maintained its high level above target, and has held its position at 92+% since Quarter 3 of 2014/15. Transport Access & Road Safety are continually aiming to install information where this is not present, though opportunities to do so are becoming more limited due generally to physical constraints at the stops affected.
4.2 Hertfordshire Health Walks
4.2.1 Hertfordshire Health Walks is a countywide initiative of free, led walks and is coordinated by Countryside Management Service (CMS). It aims to help promote walking and encourage more people (all ages, backgrounds and abilities) to get outdoors, get more active and reap the benefits.
4.2.2 Walks Participation
CMS achieved a very good outcome for Q2 with 12,639 people attending the Health Walks. This exceeds their target of 12,000 however, the focus is on health outcomes rather that absolute participation figures. Walks are therefore targeted to locations and participants which have most impact. Therefore, the result is fewer attendances per £ invested but greater health benefits for those in the target demographic.
4.2.3 Walks Led
For Q2, 766 Health walks were delivered against a target of 685.
4.2.4 Volunteer Participation - Volunteer Hours
There were 3,515 and 3,880 volunteering hours committed to the Health Walks and conservation volunteering respectively. Conservation volunteering numbers were down on the previous quarter due to the summer holidays. Herts regional college figures included in this, usually 300, during term time. Thus, a total of 7,395 volunteering hours in this quarter which is just short of the target 7,500 hours.
4.2.5 Project Income Secured from Sources External to the CMS
Countryside Management Service prepares plans that set out how green space is to be enhanced for people and for wildlife. These plans are used to engage local communities in decision making as well as forming the basis to recruit external funding to enable the actions set out within. External funding is also secured to expand coverage of Hertfordshire Health Walks and enable volunteering activity in the environment. To date £319,541 has been secured from external sources this year to enable the delivery of these land management plans and other CMS activity.
Agenda Pack 154 of 157 2 4.3 We will aim to deal with and resolve a minimum of 75% of reports received about the rights of way network within a year.
4.3.1 The service exceeded their target by 4% with 413 out of 523 reports resolved. The quarter had a lot of vegetation growth, which generated more reports than the previous quarter.
4.4 The number of decisions & orders made and public enquiries held for definitive map cases each year.
4.4.1 Rights of Way (RoW) were on target for the number of cases completed in Q2 with 23 achieved against a target of 23. This is nearly double the number completed (12) in the same quarter last year with the same target. New solicitors have now been recruited plus the service is directly funding a Barrister for RoW work in the Legal Team. Robust procedures are in place in the RoW Service for case decisions to help maintain turnover.
4.4.2 National, regional and best comparator data puts Hertfordshire at 7th highest (out of the 80 Local Authorities which responded) for number of cases processed.
4.5 The timeliness of decisions for all County Matter planning applications
4.5.1 The Q2 figure was 100% or 3 out of 3 against a national target of 40%. Of those three applications, two were determined under a written agreement for an extension of time.
4.6 Area of greenfield land lost other than to development that accords with development plans
4.6.1 For the third consecutive year there has been a rise in greenfield land lost to development other than that according with the development plan. 51.61 hectares of greenfield land was lost in 2015/16 compare to 40.17 hectares in the previous year.
4.6.2 Government policies towards growth and increased housing supply, together with the "presumption in favour of sustainable development" mean that more greenfield and green belt sites are being permitted on appeal in the absence of an up to date development plan or a demonstrated five year housing land supply. As previously identified North East Hertfordshire is being hit quite hard by this issue, with significant sites around Buntingford now under construction.
4.6.3 This situation should start to ease as Local Plans are now moving forward with allocated sites being identified.
Agenda Pack 155 of 157 3 4.6.4 The development of garden land appears to be bottoming out with the now 5 year old policy of presumption against garden land development; this triggered a significant increase in 2011/12 onwards.
5. Risks
5.1 Environment, Planning and Transport has 1 corporate level risk and it is as follows:
5.2 Tree Health (Risk ENV0142)
5.2.1 The spread of Ash Dieback into Hertfordshire has continued with confirmed cases now across the county. Furthermore, several of these have been on more mature trees suggesting that its arrival was earlier than previously thought. Oak Processionary Moth (OPM), which has been largely confined to areas of London, has now been confirmed in Watford Borough. New and past nests were found and immediately destroyed by the Forestry Commission (FC). Presence of past nests suggests it has extended its range into Hertfordshire undetected for up to two years. It is likely to become more commonplace in the county over the next few years with implications for the public purse and public health. Controls are in progress and Hertfordshire’s tree health network widening.
5.2.2 This corporate risk is currently rated as “severe” with a score of 40.
5.2.3 An update report will be presented to this panel in December 2016.
6. Financial Implications
6.1 There are no financial implications arising from this report.
7. Equalities Implications
7.1 When considering proposals placed before Members it is important that they are fully aware of, and have themselves rigorously considered the equality implications of the decision that they are making.
7.2 Rigorous consideration will ensure that proper appreciation of any potential impact of that decision on the County Council’s statutory obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty. As a minimum this requires decision makers to read and carefully consider the content of any Equalities Impact Assessment (EQiA) produced by officers.
7.3 The Equality Act 2010 requires the County Council when exercising its functions to have due regard to the need to (a) eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and other conduct prohibited under the Act; (b) advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it and (c) foster good relations between persons who share a Agenda Pack 156 of 157 4 relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it. The protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 are age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.
7.4 No equality implications have been identified in relation to this report although Panel will not make a decision in respect of its contents.
8. Internal Audit
8.1 There were no internal audits in Q2.
9. Background
9.1 None
Agenda Pack 157 of 157 5