Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of Council on 18 November 2015 (Appendix A Pages 7-16)

A minutes silence was held in remembrance of Ex-Mayor, Councillor Mick Young who died on Friday 15 January 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2015 were agreed by the Members present and were then signed by the Mayor.

Councillor Imarni arrived at 7.35pm

A minutes silence was held in remembrance of Ex-Mayor, Councillor Mick Young who died on Friday 15 January 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2015 were agreed by the Members present and were then signed by the Mayor.

Councillor Imarni arrived at 7.35pm

To receive any declarations of interest

None.

None.

To consider questions (if any) by members of the public of which the appropriate notice has been given to the Assistant Director (Chief Executive’s Unit).

Questions were asked by the following to the Leader of the Council.

1.    Anne Lyne

2.    Stuart Batchelor

3.    Heather Ebdon

4.    Catherine Duvall

5.    Julie James

6.    Henry Wallis

7.    Lee Royal (on behalf of WHAG)

8.    Leo Bedford

9.    Sam Graham

(The full questions and responses are detailed in the minutes)

Question from Anne Lyne to the Leader of the Council

The Core Strategy and assumed housing demand on which the Local Allocations are quantified, was set in 2013. Some 3 years later, how does proposed housing supply outside the LAs exceed the Core Strategy assumptions; what is the current status of the five year consented supply of housing; and to what extent does this reduce the numbers of houses required in the LAs?

Answer from the Leader of the Council.

Currently the Council can demonstrate a supply of available sites for housing for a period of 5.9 years. This Government’s requirement is for us to demonstrate a minimum of 5 years. 

All sites, including the six Local Allocations are required to meet the housing delivery targets in the Core Strategy. Delivery of new housing has been below the annual target of 430 new homes in the past 2 years. While the supply of housing through planning permissions has increased recently, at the present time the Council does not anticipate the Core Strategy assumptions over housing provision being exceeded

The Mayor presented a question on behalf of Stuart Batchelor.

As I can't attend the meeting regarding the building of housing on Greenbelt land in Potten end/Chaulden lane area 20/01/16, I would like the Mayor to read this below question out on my behalf please. Thanking you in advance Can the council guarantee or give me assurances that all companies involved in the development of land for housing within the Dacorum area on Greenbelt land between Chaulden Lane and Potten End and any other Greenbelt land that it intends to build on are registered here in the UK and that they pay their correct amount of UK taxes, as after looking up the various developments within Dacorum's post code areas on the below website they all appear to be registered overseas for tax avoidance purposes and I don't think the council should be seen doing business with these sort of companies. Thank you S Batchelor I include the website address below so that others can also look this up themselves http://www.private-eye.co.uk/registry

Answer from the Leader of the Council.

The developers interested in building new housing at LA3 are Barratt Homes and Taylor Wimpey. Both are large, well established housebuilders within the UK.  The Council has no contractual relationship between these companies or others in their capacity to deliver the Local Allocation sites.  The purpose of the Core Strategy and Site Allocation documents is to set the proper planning policy, context and requirements for the development of these sites. Checking any company’s tax or financial credentials is therefore not necessary nor a material planning factor in the identification and selection of LA3 and other sites.

The Mayor presented a question on behalf of Heather Ebdon.

Would the Council agree that their strategy for growth in their Borough is one which allows the unbridled expansion of Hemel Hempstead whilst protecting the tranquillity of other communities such as Bovingdon, Berkhamsted and Tring? I cannot be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

The Leader of the Council, with agreement of Members proposed to move Item 7.5 forward for debate (Cabinet Referral CA/120/15 Consideration of Responses to Pre-Submission Focused Changes and Submission of Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD for debate).

15 December 2015

7.5       CA/120/15       CONSIDERATION OF RESPONSES TO PRE-SUBMISSION FOCUSED CHANGES AND SUBMISSION OF SITE ALLOCATIONS DEVELOPMENT PLAN DOCUMENT (DPD)

Decision

a)    that the changes set out in Table 4 of the Report of Representations are made to the Pre-Submission Site Allocations DPD as a result of representations received; and

b)    that the Site Allocations DPD incorporating Focused Change, together with other appropriate supporting documents is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.

(Voting; 33 For, 7 against and 7 abstained.)

Full details can be found in the Minutes.

The Leader of the Council, with agreement of Members proposed to move Item 7.5 forward for debate (Cabinet Referral CA/120/15 Consideration of Responses to Pre-Submission Focused Changes and Submission of Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD for debate).

15 December 2015

7.5       CA/120/15       CONSIDERATION OF RESPONSES TO PRE-SUBMISSION FOCUSED CHANGES AND SUBMISSION OF SITE ALLOCATIONS DEVELOPMENT PLAN DOCUMENT (DPD)

Decision

a)    that the changes set out in Table 4 of the Report of Representations are made to the Pre-Submission Site Allocations DPD as a result of representations received; and

b)    that the Site Allocations DPD incorporating Focused Change, together with other appropriate supporting documents is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.

(Voting; 33 For, 7 against and 7 abstained.)

Full details can be found in the Minutes.

To receive announcements and business brought forward by the Mayor, the Leader of the Council, Members of the Cabinet, Group Leaders 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       Leader of the Council and Members of the Cabinet:

Councillor Williams                  Leader of the Council

Councillor Harden                   Residents & Corporate Services

Councillor G Sutton              Planning and Regeneration

Councillor Marshall                Environmental, Sustainability and Regulatory Services

Councillor Elliot                       Finance & Resources

Councillor Mrs Griffiths            Housing

1.      By the Mayor:

None

2.      By the Chief Executive:

None

3.      By the Group Leaders:

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Chapman, Fethney, Matthews and Whitman. Councillor

4.    By the Leader and Members of the Cabinet:

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

1.             By the Mayor

None.

2.            By the Chief Executive:

There were no announcements made by the Chief Executive.

3.            By the Group Leaders: 

Councillor Williams gave apologies on behalf of Councillors Chapman, Fethney, Matthews and Whitman.

4.            Members of the Cabinet:

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

The Leader of the Council made no announcements.

Councillor Harden, Portfolio Holder for Residents and Corporate Services

Legal Governance:

Working with the ASB team obtained a possession order to evict a Council tenant in Waterside, Kings Langley using new powers for possession because of rent arrears and criminal offences (burglary and drug offences) under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014. Also obtained a Suspended Possession Order against a tenant in Marnham Rise, Warners End for drug related matters.

Also obtained a Class A Closure order against a tenant in Martian Avenue, Highfield – proceedings started after drug paraphernalia was found in the property by DBC contractors.

Digital Services:

LGA research pilot with Hull University on channel shift is complete. The academic report has been finished by the University and we are finalising our channel shift menu of options for future consideration.

We ran a digital campaign ‘Go on...help your family/friends get online’ throughout Dec and Jan on both social media and in Dacorum Digest – we will replicate this again after the go-live of the new website.

Our website design has been approved (following extensive consultation with residents, Members and staff) and we are now working on the implementation of the new design ready for launch at the late February / early March. There will be lots of publicity and communications about this over the coming weeks. We are running a Dacorum Digital Week (7^th – 12^th March) which will comprise of a series of events for residents, charities and businesses covering digital inclusion and using services online.

We have developed a new online benefits process which is awaiting Chief                Executive approval (in line with DWP requirements) with the aim to pilot with residents at the end of January.

Project & Performance Management had an audit on performance from Mazars and received a ‘full, full’ in our compliance scores which was an excellent result.

Corporate Admin:

We re-implemented our cashless policy from 1^st December 2015.

Next week we will be upgrading the Capita Payments system. In part this is just a standard upgrade which we need to do to maintain support from Capita and for PSN compliance. However, it is also a pre-cursor to the Payment Kiosk being made available for use by residents in the foyer of the CSU.

Questions and answers

Councillor G Adshead asked if the Portfolio Holder would pass on his thanks for the “Love your neighbour” event for all of their efforts involved.

Councillor Harden said that he would pass his comments on.

Councillor Madden informed Members of the success of Max Whitlock the British Championship in Gymnastics.

N Harden said that his success should be recognised.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

To consider questions (if any) by members of the Council of which the appropriate notice has been given to the Assistant Director (Chief Executive’s Unit).

None.

None.

To consider any business referred from the previous meeting

None.

None.

Resolved

That the following be approved:

24 November 2015

7.1 CA/102/15 BUDGET MONITORING QUARTER 2 2015/16

Decision

1.    The supplementary budgets set out below be agreed. Details for these supplementary budgets are set out in the body of the report to cabinet and have a net nil impact on the General Fund Working Balance:

·The Increase Electoral Registration Budget by £42k

·The Increase Other Government Grants Budget by £42k

·The Decrease the budget for Conducting Elections by £30k

·The Decrease use of the Elections Reserve by £30k

·The recommended virement of underspends set out in Section 6 of the report to cabinet.

7.2 CA/104/15 ANNUAL REVIEW OF HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT BUSINESS PLAN 2015/16

Decision

1. The updated HRA Business Plan was adopted.

2. The revised development programme budgets as set out in the Part II appendix to the report to Cabinet was approved.

7.3 CA/107/15 TWO WATERS REGENERATION FRAMEWORK

Decision

1. The Two Waters Strategic Framework, as attached at Appendix 1 of the report to Cabinet, be used as a material planning consideration in the determination of planning applications and guide future strategic planning in the area.

7.4 CA/109/15 REVIEW OF SCRUTINY & PORTFOLIO HOLDER ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Decision

·      The amendment of the Council’s Constitution to adopt the new roles and responsibilities for individual Overview and Scrutiny Committees as set out in appendix B of the report to Cabinet was approved.

15 December 2015

7.6 CA/121/15 LOCAL PLANNNING FRAMEWORK AUTHORITY MONITORING REPORT LOCAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME UPDATE

Decision

·      The adoption of the new Local Development Scheme as set out in the report to Cabinet.

7.7 CA/123/15 COMMITTEE TIMETABLE 2016/17

Decision

The Committee Meeting Timetable for 2016/17 as set out in Annex A to the Cabinet report was approved.

24 November 2015

7.8 CA/111/15 Maylands Business Centre Extension

Full details can be found in the Part 2 of the Minutes.

Resolved

That the following be approved:

24 November 2015

7.1 CA/102/15 BUDGET MONITORING QUARTER 2 2015/16

Decision

1.    The supplementary budgets set out below be agreed. Details for these supplementary budgets are set out in the body of the report to cabinet and have a net nil impact on the General Fund Working Balance:

·The Increase Electoral Registration Budget by £42k

·The Increase Other Government Grants Budget by £42k

·The Decrease the budget for Conducting Elections by £30k

·The Decrease use of the Elections Reserve by £30k

·The recommended virement of underspends set out in Section 6 of the report to cabinet.

7.2 CA/104/15 ANNUAL REVIEW OF HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT BUSINESS PLAN 2015/16

Decision

1. The updated HRA Business Plan was adopted.

2. The revised development programme budgets as set out in the Part II appendix to the report to Cabinet was approved.

7.3 CA/107/15 TWO WATERS REGENERATION FRAMEWORK

Decision

1. The Two Waters Strategic Framework, as attached at Appendix 1 of the report to Cabinet, be used as a material planning consideration in the determination of planning applications and guide future strategic planning in the area.

7.4 CA/109/15 REVIEW OF SCRUTINY & PORTFOLIO HOLDER ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Decision

·      The amendment of the Council’s Constitution to adopt the new roles and responsibilities for individual Overview and Scrutiny Committees as set out in appendix B of the report to Cabinet was approved.

15 December 2015

7.6 CA/121/15 LOCAL PLANNNING FRAMEWORK AUTHORITY MONITORING REPORT LOCAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME UPDATE

Decision

·      The adoption of the new Local Development Scheme as set out in the report to Cabinet.

7.7 CA/123/15 COMMITTEE TIMETABLE 2016/17

Decision

The Committee Meeting Timetable for 2016/17 as set out in Annex A to the Cabinet report was approved.

24 November 2015

7.8 CA/111/15 Maylands Business Centre Extension

Full details can be found in the Part 2 of the Minutes.

None.

None.

None.

To consider any proposals for changes in membership – Any changes notified beforehand to Member Support will be tabled at the meeting.

Councillor Tina Howard was appointed to the Finance and Resources Overview & Scrutiny committee in place of Councillor S Mills.

Councillor Tina Howard was appointed to the Finance and Resources Overview & Scrutiny committee in place of Councillor S Mills.

To consider any proposals for changes to committee dates

None.

None.

Resolved:

That, under section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded during the item 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 this item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).  (Cabinet Referral CA/111/15)

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

Resolved:

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 or of any particular person (CA/111/15).

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

Resolved:

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 or of any particular person (CA/111/15).

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

24 November 2015

7.8 CA/111/15 Maylands Business Centre Extension

Full details can be found in the Part 2 of the Minutes.