Issue - meetings

To consider and decide on the recommendations as set out in the attached report. 

RESOLVED – That the Street Naming and Numbering Policy as set out at Appendix A to the report be adopted.

REASON FOR DECISION:

To adopt the updated policy to allow the service to be delivered in line with national addressing conventions and to allow the delegation of authority to update the policy when amendments are made.

Councillor Tom Dawlings, Portfolio holder for Finance and Governance introduced the report from Ian Hirst, Head of Digital Services and Communications that recommended the adoption of the updated Street Naming and Numbering Policy.

RESOLVED – That the Street Naming and Numbering Policy as set out at Appendix A to the report be adopted.

REASON FOR DECISION:

To adopt the updated policy to allow the service to be delivered in line with national addressing conventions and to allow the delegation of authority to update the policy when amendments are made.

To consider and provide a recommendation to Cabinet on the proposals set out in the attached Report. 

Ian Hirst, Head of Digital Services and Communications introduced this report that sought to update the policy to ensure the service was delivered in line with national addressing conventions and to maintain and update as necessary.

Discussion and responses to members questions included the following matters:

-       The policy was last updated in 2007.

-       The proposed changes included:

o   It would now include an additional step to consider/reconsider invalid applications and time to resubmit a valid application. 

o   Clarification of eligibility criteria for submitting an application.

o   Suggestions for street names would now need to include reasoning for the name selection.

o   Parish Councils and Ward Councillors would now be able to submit suggestions.

o   10 houses would be required in order to qualify for a street name.

o   Examples of how street names would be assessed would be included.  Numbers as part of a road name would not be allowed.

o   Further clarification would be included when consideration was given to naming a street after a deceased person.  Also if the applicant requested the inclusion of the word ‘Royal’.

o   Clarification would also be included on street numbering and flat numbering.  It would also state that numbering could not be removed from an address.

-       It was suggested that the request to consider names with a local theme be more formalised e.g. Water themed names for Tunbridge Wells.  It was agreed that consideration be given to a revision in the current wording.

-       Although legislation existed that would allow the Council to insist on a name, this had not been done in practice.  Current measures allowed for 3 suggestions to be submitted by the Developers and for the Council to also make alternative suggestions. 

RESOLVED -  That subject to consideration being given to a more formalised instruction to developers to choose names that have a connection to the local area,  the recommendations to Cabinet set out in the Report be supported.