Agenda item

The Council had statutory functions under Sections 17, 18 and 19 of the Public Health Act 1925 for the naming of streets within the Borough and for the numbering of houses and other buildings in the Borough under Sections 64 and 65 of the Town Improvement Clauses Act 1847.

The Board considered a report which set out the background to the proposed Street Naming and Numbering (SNN) policy and charging proposal together with options for new Borough wide standard street signs to be considered for all new signage.  The report consulted the Board prior to public consultation on the proposals which would inform final recommendations to the Executive for a decision in autumn 2018.

The policy included a proposal to charge fees for certain types of work currently undertaken for commercial organisations without any form of cost recovery by the Council.  It was expected this change, if adopted, would generate income of approximately £30,000 per annum to offset the costs of the services.  Fees were already levied by other councils in Surrey for these services and this proposal would align the Council with those authorities.

Appended to the report for information was a Street Nameplate Maintenance Operational Change Proposal, which had been agreed by the Council’s Corporate Management Team, to transfer non-ICT tasks related to SNN to more appropriate service areas of the Council.

The report recommended that the ICT Manager, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Infrastructure and Governance, undertake a public consultation incorporating feedback from the Board and report the outcome of the consultations and recommendations in respect of the policy, charges and signage to the Executive for a decision regarding final approval of the scheme.  This would provide policy and standards in respect of statutory functions relating to SNN in the interests of the efficient administration of public services.

The Board was advised that the SNN Policy provided a clear and transparent framework for SNN and enabled the Council to defend against poor or inappropriate naming and challenges.  The proposed new automated electronic process would improve efficiency and effectiveness of the SNN service and reduce costs.  There were currently three types of sign format across the Borough and the Board was invited to indicate a preference from the two options proposed for the new standard signs which would bring consistency.  Option 1 was signage in the Kindersley font with the Borough crest and branding, town / parish name and postcode whilst Option 2 was plain signage in transport heavy font with the postcode.  Option 1 offered a positive sense of place and identity for the Borough.  The public consultation, which would include the local Access Group, would give the public an opportunity to express their views in respect of the signage and engage with the process.  It was considered necessary for the Council to recover its signage costs, which would increase in the event of proposed new developments taking place.

The following points arose as a result of questions and discussion in respect of the SNN Policy:

·             The 14 calendar day consultation period for consultees to respond to a proposed street name was set in legislation and failure to respond within that timeframe could lead to a default acceptance of a street name.  Ward Councillors would be involved and there would be merit in amenity groups and residents’ associations being included as consultees.

·             The town or relevant parish name with postcode would be utilised for Option 1 signage and this should be made clear during the public consultation.

·             The Council was not permitted to derive a profit through the SNN Policy.

·             All new signs would be the agreed option and existing signs would be replaced on a rolling basis as required unless there were name or boundary changes.  Without damage, the life of a street sign could be as long as 50 years and there were historic signs in Guildford town centre.

·             The customers of the SNN Policy were mainly developers, the Post Office emergency services and occasionally householders wishing to change house names.

·             The proposed new electronic process would be automated as far as possible and feature a filtering tool to weed out inappropriate names.  Parish clerks should be notified of proposed names as part of the process

·             All relevant bodies had been consulted in respect of the SNN Policy.  28 days was the statutory consultation period regarding the charging policy and it was suggested that this be extended to involve more potential consultees.

·             The street signs would require specialist manufacturing through a joint contract with Waverley Borough Council.

·             The Board expressed its support for the proposed SNN Policy with an extended consultation period and expressed a preference for Option 1 signage.  It was suggested that the Borough branding be deleted from this option and there was mixed support for the option with or without the branding.