Agenda, decisions and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting of the council

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2019 were agreed by the Members present and then signed by the Mayor.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2019 were agreed by the Members present and then signed by the Mayor.

To receive any declarations of interest

Councillor Taylor declared an interest in the Rail Services Motion (Agenda Item 5) as he worked for Network Rail.

Councillor Taylor declared an interest in the Rail Services Motion (Agenda Item 5) as he worked for Network Rail.

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:

4.1       By the Mayor:

The Mayor announced the sad passing of former Liberal Democrat Councillor Geoff Lawrence (1987 – 1995) and one minutes silence was held in remembrance.

The Mayor then read the following statement:

“Members will be aware that we are in the Pre-election period and I would therefore like to remind Members that this meeting should not be used to make statements regarding national political issues. If any discussion should overlap into any national political issues, they will be interrupted. I have considered the two motions and two questions on the agenda tonight and have deemed that these are acceptable as they relate to predominantly local issues”

 
4.2       By the Chief Executive:

None.

4.3       By the Group Leaders:

Councillor Williams confirmed that apologies had been received from Councillors Arslan, Bassadone, Johnson and Wyatt-Lowe.

Councillor Tindall confirmed that apologies had been received from Councillor Bowden.

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:

The Mayor announced the sad passing of former Liberal Democrat Councillor Geoff Lawrence (1987 – 1995) and one minutes silence was held in remembrance.

The Mayor then read the following statement:

“Members will be aware that we are in the Pre-election period and I would therefore like to remind Members that this meeting should not be used to make statements regarding national political issues. If any discussion should overlap into any national political issues, they will be interrupted. I have considered the two motions and two questions on the agenda tonight and have deemed that these are acceptable as they relate to predominantly local issues”

 
4.2       By the Chief Executive:

None.

4.3       By the Group Leaders:

Councillor Williams confirmed that apologies had been received from Councillors Arslan, Bassadone, Johnson and Wyatt-Lowe.

Councillor Tindall confirmed that apologies had been received from Councillor Bowden.

4.4       Council Leader and Members of the Cabinet:

Councillor Williams, Leader of the Council

Councillor Williams had nothing to report but welcomed questions.

There were no questions.

Councillor Anderson, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services

Councillor Anderson thanked the Mayor for attending the Best Kept Gardens Competition in Kings Langley which helped Parish colleagues raise over £1,000 for the British Waterways Experience. The money raised was considerably more than in previous years. 

The Portfolio Holder presented his update as follows:

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Waste

·         Roll out of the food waste collection from flats across the borough was progressing well and was on target to be finished by March. 

·         New RCV’s are due to start rolling in early November with rollout of Training for crews and techs planned over the coming weeks.

·         The next meeting of the Herts Waste Partnership will be in January and will be a conference. The Leader has or will be invited along. He hoped there would be opportunities to raise some of the waste/refuse collection issues with top level speakers there.

·         The refuse collection calendars will no longer be attached to bins. The calendar can be found on the website or can be requested by those without internet access. This has been included in Dacorum Digest. He said it was an expensive and time consuming practice.

·         Carried out targeted work for Refill Hertfordshire and now have around 150 Refill Stations in Dacorum, which makes up approx. half of all the Refill Stations in Dacorum.

·         Undertook Sustainable Clothes Swaps events in October with over 1,000 item being swapped.

·         Held a reusables stall in town to promote both Refill Hertfordshire and Remember your Reusables campaign

·         Held a stall in a supermarket for Recycle Week and ran a social media take over day. Launched a Terracycle crisp packet recycling point in the Forum to tie in with Recycle Week

Clean, Safe and Green

·         Warners End playing fields now secured access with installation of bollards to prevent traveller incursion

·         He has signed off the annual review of the council’s environmental management system which analyses the amount of electricity, gas and water we use. It is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The following motion was proposed by Councillor England, seconded by Councillor Tindall, and unanimously agreed with the following amendment from the Conservative Party:

Delete paragraph 2.i and renumber ii and iii as I and ii

Chalk Streams

Dacorum has internationally recognised rare natural chalk streams deserving protection and support, rarity to the point where even the World Wildlife Fund have suggested that they should be given special protection.  The existing Dacorum Core Strategy documents acknowledge the importance of this asset in supporting endangered species  and it is noted that the quality of these chalk streams is measured according to the amount of water present, balance of the water chemistry and the biodiversity of the water habitats supported by flow.  Therefore

1. This Council

a.  notes with concern the perilous state of the Gade and Bulbourne rivers in respect of vitality and water levels, and

b. expresses concern about the depletion of water resources by groundwater abstraction  and the harm being caused to the ecology and biodiversity of the local chalk streams.

2.  This Council

a. instructs officers to:

i. Write to the Dacorum Environmental Forum – Water Group to ask for their comments as to how the Rivers Gade, Ver and Bulbourne could be managed in the future so that they are maintained as healthy and vibrant chalk streams, these comments to be forwarded to the Environment Agency as part of the following letter to the EA,

ii. write to the Environment Agency (EA) to express the alarm of this Council as to the current poor environmental health of these important chalk streams and to ask the EA to explain to the Council how they intend to retain, protect and manage the rivers Gade, Ver and Bulbourne in the future, this explanation to also set out the EA’s requirements of Affinity Water and Thames Water to adapt the sourcing of water

iii. Consider the increased water resources that will need to be provided by Affinity Water and Thames Water for the anticipated local increase in housing development, and write to the Planning Inspectorate and the Environment Agency, making them aware of the issues and seeking their The following motion was proposed by Councillor England, seconded by Councillor Tindall, and unanimously agreed with the following amendment from the Conservative Party:

Delete paragraph 2.i and renumber ii and iii as I and ii

Chalk Streams

Dacorum has internationally recognised rare natural chalk streams deserving protection and support, rarity to the point where even the World Wildlife Fund have suggested that they should be given special protection.  The existing Dacorum Core Strategy documents acknowledge the importance of this asset in supporting endangered species  and it is noted that the quality of these chalk streams is measured according to the amount of water present, balance of the water chemistry and the biodiversity of the water habitats supported by flow.  Therefore

1. This Council

a.  notes with concern the perilous state of the Gade and Bulbourne rivers in respect of  ...  view the full decision text for item 5.

The following motion was proposed by Councillor England, seconded by Councillor Tindall, and unanimously agreed with the following amendment from the Conservative Party:

Delete paragraph 2.i and renumber ii and iii as I and ii

Chalk Streams

Dacorum has internationally recognised rare natural chalk streams deserving protection and support, rarity to the point where even the World Wildlife Fund have suggested that they should be given special protection.  The existing Dacorum Core Strategy documents acknowledge the importance of this asset in supporting endangered species  and it is noted that the quality of these chalk streams is measured according to the amount of water present, balance of the water chemistry and the biodiversity of the water habitats supported by flow.  Therefore

1. This Council

a.  notes with concern the perilous state of the Gade and Bulbourne rivers in respect of vitality and water levels, and

b. expresses concern about the depletion of water resources by groundwater abstraction  and the harm being caused to the ecology and biodiversity of the local chalk streams.

2.  This Council

a. instructs officers to:

i. Write to the Dacorum Environmental Forum – Water Group to ask for their comments as to how the Rivers Gade, Ver and Bulbourne could be managed in the future so that they are maintained as healthy and vibrant chalk streams, these comments to be forwarded to the Environment Agency as part of the following letter to the EA,

ii. write to the Environment Agency (EA) to express the alarm of this Council as to the current poor environmental health of these important chalk streams and to ask the EA to explain to the Council how they intend to retain, protect and manage the rivers Gade, Ver and Bulbourne in the future, this explanation to also set out the EA’s requirements of Affinity Water and Thames Water to adapt the sourcing of water

iii. Consider the increased water resources that will need to be provided by Affinity Water and Thames Water for the anticipated local increase in housing development, and write to the Planning Inspectorate and the Environment Agency, making them aware of the issues and seeking their The following motion was proposed by Councillor England, seconded by Councillor Tindall, and unanimously agreed with the following amendment from the Conservative Party:

Delete paragraph 2.i and renumber ii and iii as I and ii

Chalk Streams

Dacorum has internationally recognised rare natural chalk streams deserving protection and support, rarity to the point where even the World Wildlife Fund have suggested that they should be given special protection.  The existing Dacorum Core Strategy documents acknowledge the importance of this asset in supporting endangered species  and it is noted that the quality of these chalk streams is measured according to the amount of water present, balance of the water chemistry and the biodiversity of the water habitats supported by flow.  Therefore

1. This Council

a.  notes with concern the perilous state of the Gade and Bulbourne rivers in respect of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

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

Written question to the Leader of the Council from Councillor Uttley:

(1) The Climate Emergency was declared on 17th July and notwithstanding the need for planning, there has not, as yet been what could be called an “emergency” reaction.

At the last Full Council, Liberal Democrat Councillors queried the cabinet on climate emergency action taken by the Council and were offered a general confirmation that work was ongoing towards this. For the Council to show that it is taking the climate change emergency seriously, it is important that initial benchmarks and metrics are put in place, so that we can evidence our progress towards net zero.

(2) Therefore, in seeking to ensure that the Council and the public are as well informed as possible, both of:

A) the current position of Dacorum in relation to Climate Emergency metrics, and

B) the actions being taken by the Council as first steps to prevent the Climate Emergency

this written question tries to identify some important potential routes the Borough could take:

3) Carbon emissions data collected by the government for road transport, domestic, commercial, agricultural and industrial emissions show that for the Dacorum area, per capita carbon emissions as calculated in 2017 currently stand at 4.4 tons per annum. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-local-authority-and-regional-carbon-dioxide-emissions-national-statistics-2005-to-2017

These metrics, although useful, take a long time to collect and as such do not allow for real time tracking of progress. They also do not include estimates for carbon emissions which relate to individual action, such as that embedded in our dietary and transport choices.

(4) However, this effort from central government could be usefully supplemented by DBC through setting our own metrics, which measure local progress in areas such as:

A- energy efficiency of council owned properties (improved insulation and use of LED lighting);?

B)- carbon emissions relating to the provision of heat and power to those properties, (switch to efficient equipment, from Gas to Electricity where environmentally economic to do so, and switch to renewable tariffs);

C)- Waste and recycling (improvements in proportion of waste recycled in the UK, and reductions in overall waste created) ; 

D)- trees (notional CO2 sequestered by trees in Dacorum, reflecting the net number of trees planted);

E)- habitat (notional CO2 sequestered by habitat improvements across Dacorum).

F)- Carbon emitted by council owned and contractor transport (switching to electric vans, buses and other commercial vehicles);

G)- Passenger figures for buses on local routes (to train station or town);

(5) we should define metrics (or use those already in place such as SAP for energy rating residential properties) which will allow DBC to take regular stock of and track our progress towards net zero in 2030, with the reasonable expectation that these local improvements would then be reflected in the high level government data for Dacorum.

(6) Therefore will the Leader of the Council explain:

a. What action is being taken to establish climate emergency metrics such as those listed above?

b. What structures have been set up to undertake the urgent tasks needed  ...  view the full decision text for item 6.

Written question to the Leader of the Council from Councillor Uttley:

(1) The Climate Emergency was declared on 17th July and notwithstanding the need for planning, there has not, as yet been what could be called an “emergency” reaction.

At the last Full Council, Liberal Democrat Councillors queried the cabinet on climate emergency action taken by the Council and were offered a general confirmation that work was ongoing towards this. For the Council to show that it is taking the climate change emergency seriously, it is important that initial benchmarks and metrics are put in place, so that we can evidence our progress towards net zero.

(2) Therefore, in seeking to ensure that the Council and the public are as well informed as possible, both of:

A) the current position of Dacorum in relation to Climate Emergency metrics, and

B) the actions being taken by the Council as first steps to prevent the Climate Emergency

this written question tries to identify some important potential routes the Borough could take:

3) Carbon emissions data collected by the government for road transport, domestic, commercial, agricultural and industrial emissions show that for the Dacorum area, per capita carbon emissions as calculated in 2017 currently stand at 4.4 tons per annum. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-local-authority-and-regional-carbon-dioxide-emissions-national-statistics-2005-to-2017

These metrics, although useful, take a long time to collect and as such do not allow for real time tracking of progress. They also do not include estimates for carbon emissions which relate to individual action, such as that embedded in our dietary and transport choices.

(4) However, this effort from central government could be usefully supplemented by DBC through setting our own metrics, which measure local progress in areas such as:

A- energy efficiency of council owned properties (improved insulation and use of LED lighting);?

B)- carbon emissions relating to the provision of heat and power to those properties, (switch to efficient equipment, from Gas to Electricity where environmentally economic to do so, and switch to renewable tariffs);

C)- Waste and recycling (improvements in proportion of waste recycled in the UK, and reductions in overall waste created) ; 

D)- trees (notional CO2 sequestered by trees in Dacorum, reflecting the net number of trees planted);

E)- habitat (notional CO2 sequestered by habitat improvements across Dacorum).

F)- Carbon emitted by council owned and contractor transport (switching to electric vans, buses and other commercial vehicles);

G)- Passenger figures for buses on local routes (to train station or town);

(5) we should define metrics (or use those already in place such as SAP for energy rating residential properties) which will allow DBC to take regular stock of and track our progress towards net zero in 2030, with the reasonable expectation that these local improvements would then be reflected in the high level government data for Dacorum.

(6) Therefore will the Leader of the Council explain:

a. What action is being taken to establish climate emergency metrics such as those listed above?

b. What structures have been set up to undertake the urgent tasks needed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider any business referred from the previous meeting

None.

None.

To consider the following referrals from Cabinet:

8.1  CA/096/19            15 October 2019        Tring Conservation Area Review

8.2  CA/097/19            15 October 2019         HRA Business Plan

8.3  CA/105/19            12 November 2019     Budget Monitoring Q2 Report

8.4  CA/106/19            12 November 2019     Council Tax Support Scheme 2020/21

8.5  CA/109/19            12 November 2019     Review of Commissioning and                     Procurement Standing Orders and Strategy

8.6  CA/110/19            12 November 2019     New Normal Technology Pilot Projects

That the following be approved:

15 October 2019

8.1 CA/096/19 Tring Conservation Area Review

Decision

1)    the Tring Conservation Area: Character Appraisal and Management Proposals be adopted as:

a)    Technical guidance for use in development management and to inform the Dacorum Borough Local Plan.

b)    A material planning consideration for use in the determination of planning applications.

Delegate authority to the Assistant Director, Planning, Development & Regeneration to undertake all steps required for the completion of the ‘Locally Listed Buildings’ section of the Appraisal, to be attached as an Appendix. This includes the assessment, consultation and adoption of this Appendix.

8.2 CA/097/19 HRA Business Plan

Decision

1)    The Housing Revenue Account Business Plan be approved

2)    revised development programme budgets as set out in Section 8.3 of the Cabinet report be approved

12 November 2019

8.3 CA/105/19 Budget Monitoring Q2 Report

Decision

2. The approval of the revised capital programme to move £3.1m slippage identified at Quarter 2 into financial year 2020/21 as detailed in Appendix C;

3. the approval of a supplementary revenue budget funded from reserves:

·         Supplementary budget of £30k in the Garage service, funded from the Invest to Save reserve, to fund a specialist project manager to lead on improvements to the garage letting process

4. the approval of supplementary capital budgets required to deliver several service changes as set out below:

·         A capital budget of £25k to fund payment kiosks in the Customer Services Unit.

·         Additional capital budget of £400k to deliver the Bunkers Farm project.

·         Supplementary budget of £161k in the HRA capital budget Strategic Acquisitions, to fund buy-back of a leasehold property.

8.4 CA/106/19 Council Tax Support Scheme 2020/21

Decision

To not revise or replace the current Council Tax Support scheme for 2020/21.

8.5 CA/109/19 Review of Commissioning and Procurement Standing Orders and Strategy

Decision

To agree the Commissioning & Procurement Strategy (appendix 1) and the revised Commissioning and Procurement Standing Orders (appendix 3).

8.6 CA/110/19 New Normal Technology Pilot Projects

Decision

The approval to release £93,495 from the Management of Change reserve to fund this work.

That the following be approved:

15 October 2019

8.1 CA/096/19 Tring Conservation Area Review

Decision

1)    the Tring Conservation Area: Character Appraisal and Management Proposals be adopted as:

a)    Technical guidance for use in development management and to inform the Dacorum Borough Local Plan.

b)    A material planning consideration for use in the determination of planning applications.

Delegate authority to the Assistant Director, Planning, Development & Regeneration to undertake all steps required for the completion of the ‘Locally Listed Buildings’ section of the Appraisal, to be attached as an Appendix. This includes the assessment, consultation and adoption of this Appendix.

8.2 CA/097/19 HRA Business Plan

Decision

1)    The Housing Revenue Account Business Plan be approved

2)    revised development programme budgets as set out in Section 8.3 of the Cabinet report be approved

12 November 2019

8.3 CA/105/19 Budget Monitoring Q2 Report

Decision

2. The approval of the revised capital programme to move £3.1m slippage identified at Quarter 2 into financial year 2020/21 as detailed in Appendix C;

3. the approval of a supplementary revenue budget funded from reserves:

·         Supplementary budget of £30k in the Garage service, funded from the Invest to Save reserve, to fund a specialist project manager to lead on improvements to the garage letting process

4. the approval of supplementary capital budgets required to deliver several service changes as set out below:

·         A capital budget of £25k to fund payment kiosks in the Customer Services Unit.

·         Additional capital budget of £400k to deliver the Bunkers Farm project.

·         Supplementary budget of £161k in the HRA capital budget Strategic Acquisitions, to fund buy-back of a leasehold property.

8.4 CA/106/19 Council Tax Support Scheme 2020/21

Decision

To not revise or replace the current Council Tax Support scheme for 2020/21.

8.5 CA/109/19 Review of Commissioning and Procurement Standing Orders and Strategy

Decision

To agree the Commissioning & Procurement Strategy (appendix 1) and the revised Commissioning and Procurement Standing Orders (appendix 3).

8.6 CA/110/19 New Normal Technology Pilot Projects

Decision

The approval to release £93,495 from the Management of Change reserve to fund this work.

None.

None.

None.

To consider any proposals for changes to committee membership

None.

None.

To consider the following changes to committee dates:

Ø  Move Member Development Steering Group from 4 December 2019 to 7 January 2020.

Ø  Move Health in Dacorum from 11 December 2019 to 29 January 2020.

Ø  Move Development Management Committee from 12 December 2019 to 17 December 2019.

Ø  Schedule an additional Cabinet meeting to be held on 7 April 2020.

The following changes to committee dates were agreed:

• Move Member Development Steering Group from 4 December 2019 to 7January 2020.
• Move Health in Dacorum from 11 December 2019 to 29 January 2020.
• Move Development Management Committee from 12 December 2019 to 17 December 2019.
• Schedule an additional Cabinet meeting to be held on 7 April 2020 (if required).

The following changes to committee dates were agreed:

• Move Member Development Steering Group from 4 December 2019 to 7January 2020.
• Move Health in Dacorum from 11 December 2019 to 29 January 2020.
• Move Development Management Committee from 12 December 2019 to 17 December 2019.
• Schedule an additional Cabinet meeting to be held on 7 April 2020 (if required).

The use of Camelot RFC as a Polling Station for the UK Parliamentary Election on 12 December 2019 was agreed.

The use of Camelot RFC as a Polling Station for the UK Parliamentary Election on 12 December 2019 was agreed.