Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Customer Experience

RESOLVED –

That the new Street Naming and Numbering Policy be approved.

Cabinet received a report of the Head of Customer Experience which included the new Street Naming and Numbering Policy.

The Mayor set out the context for the new policy, which had arisen following a motion to Council.  A cross party task group was then established to review the existing arrangements for naming streets.  The majority of the policy was about future street names but also set out the procedures if residents or businesses wanted to change existing ones.  There were no current plans to change any existing names.  He invited Councillor Watkin to expand further.

Councillor Watkin noted that the proposed policy had attracted national interest and had appeared in a national newspaper.  The policy set out the procedures to ensure everyone understood how the council selected names for new roads or buildings.  A database of acceptable names would be compiled and provided to developers for reference.  If a developer chose a name that had not been included in the database the suggestion would be considered by the Mayor, relevant Portfolio Holder and ward councillors.  He reminded everyone that this had always been a chargeable policy and was not different to the existing policy.  He commented that it appeared that there was an indication that the council wanted to change some existing street names but this was not correct.  If the council did wish to change any street names then residents and businesses affected by the alteration would be consulted and their comments considered before a final decision was made.

Councillor Bell noted the process outlined by Councillor Watkin, but was concerned that if residents did want a street name changed that obstacles would be put in their way.  He also asked whether the council could provide financial support or fund any change.

The Mayor reiterated that this had always been a chargeable service and was not uncommon across local authorities.  However, the policy placed the power into the hands of residents or businesses who lived or worked on a particular street. 

Councillor Watkin emphasised that it was unlikely that the Mayor or councillors would ignore residents’ or businesses’ views if the request met the criteria set out in the policy.

Councillor Bell then referred to the reference about naming roads after people several years after they had died.

The Mayor confirmed this was the usual procedure that was adopted by other councils.  He noted that when this subject had arisen following the original motion, some of those mentioned agreed with the council’s views as shown in the policy.

Councillor Johnson commented that in his opinion the new policy made sense and was easy to follow.

RESOLVED –

That the new Street Naming and Numbering Policy be approved.