Agenda, decisions and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting of the council

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2018 were agreed by the Members present and then signed by the Mayor.

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2018 were agreed by the Members present and then signed by the Mayor.

To receive any declarations of interest

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider questions (if any) by members of the public of which the appropriate notice has been given to the Assistant Director (Corporate and Contracted Services)

There was no public participation.

There was no public participation.

To receive announcements and business brought forward by the Mayor, Leader, and Members of the Cabinet or the Chief Executive.

4.1       By the Mayor:

4.2       By the Chief Executive:

4.3       By the Group Leaders:  Any apologies for absence

4.4       Council Leader and Members of the Cabinet:

Councillor Williams                 Leader of the Council
Councillor Marshall                 Environmental Services

Councillor Elliot                       Finance and Resources

Councillor Mrs Griffiths           Housing

Councillor D Collins                Corporate and Contracted Services

Councillor Harden                   Community and Regulatory Services
Councillor G Sutton                Planning and Infrastructure

4.1       By the Mayor:

None.

4.2       By the Chief Executive:

None.

4.3       By the Group Leaders:

Councillor Williams confirmed that apologies had been received from Councillors Barrett, Clark, Hicks, Howard, Mclean and SHearn.

Councillor Fisher offered apologies for Cllr Fethney

Councillors Whitman, Bateman and E Collins were not present.

Councillor Guest joined the meeting at 7.50pm.

4.4       Council Leader and Members of the Cabinet:

(Full details are in the minutes under Announcements of the Leader and Cabinet).

4.1       By the Mayor:

None.

4.2       By the Chief Executive:

None.

4.3       By the Group Leaders:

Councillor Williams confirmed that apologies had been received from Councillors Barrett, Clark, Hicks, Howard, Mclean and SHearn.

Councillor Fisher offered apologies for Cllr Fethney

Councillors Whitman, Bateman and E Collins were not present.

Councillor Guest joined the meeting at 7.50pm.

4.4       Council Leader and Members of the Cabinet:

Councillor Williams, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Community Leadership

Cllr Williams gave an update on the SW Herts Leaders meetings which have been taking place fortnightly to look at planning issues across SW Herts area.  This has been primarily focused around infrastructure and other issues that result from the plans that span across our districts and where those issues arise as people travel across SW Herts and broader Hertfordshire area.  Cllr Williams advised that they are now moving to conclusion of current round of work, a final meeting will take next week where they hope to reach agreement on memorandum of understanding.  Will then report back to Council to set up ongoing forward plan, as each of the 5 Councils in SW Herts create their own Local Plan. 

Cllr Williams referred to future housing development numbers, commenting that it is our intention that as an authority we should retain our numbers.

Cllr England referred to what he views to be the impracticality of our government to reach a Brexit deal and asked; what contingencies have been made or will have to be made, and at what cost, to manage the outcome of these negotiations?

Cllr Williams responded that it is difficult to quantify the effect Brexit will have on Dacorum, confirming that there are no contingencies that Dacorum feels it can make at this time, therefore there is no cost associated.

Cllr Tindall referred to discussions with SW Herts and asked, have any discussions taken place on the staffing issue that most Councils are having with regard to recruitment of professional and technical staff; have there been any attempts to work together to ensure Planning Depts. have adequate expertise?

Cllr Williams responded that both in SW Herts, and independently of that, discussions are taking place around sharing of officers or the bringing together of services to recruit professional staff. 

Cllr Tindall asked; in the deliberations, can agreement be made not to ‘poach’ each other’s staff as best as possible?

Cllr Tindall also asked if we have any European staff at risk due to Brexit.

Cllr Williams responded that he is sure that EU workers in UK will be safe past Brexit.

Councillor Marshall, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services

The Portfolio Holder presented her updateand invited questions.

Questions:

Cllr Tindall commented that he’s received requests from recently expressing concerns about the state of verges and green areas across area, asking; is there a cycle of maintenance for those areas that are being kept to, or have there been changes or problems keeping up with mowing and trimming?

Cllr  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider questions (if any) by members of the Council of which the appropriate notice has been given to the Solicitor to the Council.

None.

None.

To consider any business referred from the previous meeting

None.

To consider the following referrals from Cabinet:

7.1  CA/128/18  11 December 2018   Committee Timetable 2019/20

That the following be approved:

11 December 2018

7.1       CA/128/18       COMMITTEE TIMETABLE 2019/20

Decision

That Cabinet recommends Council approve the Meeting Timetable for 2019/20 as set out in Appendix A to this report.

That the following be approved:

11 December 2018

7.1       CA/128/18       COMMITTEE TIMETABLE 2019/20

Decision

That Cabinet recommends Council approve the Meeting Timetable for 2019/20 as set out in Appendix A to this report.

Corporate objectives

The various meetings of the Council, Cabinet and Committees support the achievement of the Council’s Corporate Objectives.

Seconded and agreed.

There are no overview and scrutiny referrals.

None.

None.

To consider any proposals for changes to committee membership

Cllr Tindall advised that following completion of relevant training session, he is nominating Cllr Pringle as substitute to Licensing.

Cllr Tindall advised that following completion of relevant training session, he is nominating Cllr Pringle as substitute to Licensing.

To consider any proposals for changes to committee dates

None.

None.

To consider passing a resolution in the following terms:

That, under s.100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 Schedule 12A Part 1 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006 the public be excluded during the items in Part 2 of the Agenda for this meeting, because it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that, if members of the public were present during those items, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information relating to the financial and business affairs of the Council and third party companies/organisations.

Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A, Part 1, paragraph 3.

To consider passing a resolution in the following terms:

That, under section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded during the item in Part II of the Agenda for this meeting, because it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that if members of the public were present during this item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information relating to the financial and business affairs of the Council and third party companies/organisations.

(Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A, Part 1, Paragraph 3).

To consider passing a resolution in the following terms:

That, under section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded during the item in Part II of the Agenda for this meeting, because it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that if members of the public were present during this item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information relating to the financial and business affairs of the Council and third party companies/organisations.

(Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A, Part 1, Paragraph 3).

Please refer to Part 2 minutes.