Issue - meetings

(A report by Christian Allen, Assistant Director – Regulatory)

Councillor John Baxter presented the Street Naming and Numbering Policy report, a partnership policy that sought to align and harmonise current best practice and procedures across the three Partnership Councils of Boston, East Lindsey and South Holland.

Members discussed the report and noted their support to the policy which would benefit everyone, with a special mention to emergency and delivery services.

The recommendations were moved by Councillor John Baxter and seconded by Councillor Callum Butler.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the report, policy and feedback from Corporate and Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee, attached at Appendix 2, be noted;

2.     That the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Street Naming and Numbering Policy for adoption by Boston Borough Council be approved; and

3.     That authority be delegated to the Group Manager Building Control and the Assistant Director Regulatory to make such amendments to this policy as may from time to time be required in order to (i) reference any links or amended links to other documents as may be required; and (ii) reflect any issues over which the Council has no discretion including, but not limited to, references to any legislative changes and amended guidance. Any material amendments to the policy will be subject to the usual approval process in line with the Constitution.

A report by the Group Manager – Building Control

The Portfolio Holder presented the report supported by the Group Manager, Building Control and the Assistant Director for Regulatory, which sought feedback on the proposed South East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Street Naming and Numbering Policy. Members were advised that the Council had a duty to ensure that all roads in the district were named and all properties were numbered or named. Maintaining a comprehensive and high standard for naming streets and numbering or naming properties was essential to ensure post was delivered efficiently, to facilitate emergency services finding a property without undue delay, to provide consistency of property-based information across local government and national data sets, to facilitate the reliable delivery of services and products, and to enable the public to find where they wanted to go. The Portfolio Holder emphasised that a single policy would ensure there was a consistent approach across all three Councils within the Partnership, as well to deliver the objectives of the regulatory service review in facilitating the function within Regulatory Building Control. The proposed Street Naming and Numbering Policy was attached as Appendix A within the report.

Committee deliberation followed which included:

As a result of a previous experience where complaints had been received regarding a road in Wyberton in which properties were named but not numbered, causing issues in locating specific addresses, and being unable to resolve the matter by providing numbers due to the lack of take up by residents the following changes were suggested in respect of paragraph 8.1 of the Appendix: 1) the heading should include the words ‘or numbering’ to read: Renumbering existing properties or numbering existing properties’.; 2) that a 50% threshold should be included to make it a more sensible proportion; and 3) where there were no numbers on properties on a street or lane, they should be listed in the electoral list in their proper order. The importance of recognising local Bostonian community heroes by prioritising the naming of Boston Borough Council’s streets after them was suggested, which would present an opportunity to inspire people, particularly young residents. An example was provided where a member noted that two streets had been named after a local fisherman and a local boxer who had won a Commonwealth medal. Consensus was that the preference was for a 2/3 threshold in order to avoid residents’ frustration with a 50% split. Responding to a question regarding paragraph 6.3 within the Appendix about using a 'Development Name' for marketing purposes, the Group Manager, Building Control advised that it meant that if a developer was advertising a development in their name, it did not necessarily mean that when the formal address schedule was finalised, that the development name would be used as the actual street name. Appendix 2 Members were encouraged to receive confirmation that all street names would be subject to consultation with Parish and Ward Councillors. It was noted that the Council had no powers in respect of enforcing the display of house names in a prominent position, residents could only  ...  view the full minutes text for item 116