Agenda, decisions and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 14 April and 12 May 2021.

The minutes of the meetings held on 14 April and 12 May 2021 were agreed by the members present and then signed by the Mayor.

The minutes of the meetings held on 14 April and 12 May 2021 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).

None.

None.

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 Griffiths                        Housing

Councillor Williams                       Corporate and Contracted Services

Councillor Barrett                          Environmental Services

Councillor Banks                           Community and Regulatory Services

Councillor Anderson                     Planning and Infrastructure

Councillor Elliot                             Finance and Resources

4.1       By the Mayor:

The Mayor announced the sad passing of former Dacorum Borough Councillor and Mayor, Allan Lawson. One minutes silence was held in remembrance.

4.2       By the Chief Executive:

None.

4.3       By the Group Leaders:

Councillor Williams gave apologies on behalf of Councillors Arslan, Banks, Bassadone, Bhinder, Elliot, Harden, Sinha and Sutton.

Councillor Tindall gave apologies on behalf of Councillors McDowell, Stevens, Symington, Townsend and Woolner.

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 Dacorum Borough Councillor and Mayor, Allan Lawson.

Councillors Williams, Tindall and Guest shared their fond memories of Allan.

Councillor Williams: “Allan served as a Councillor for Adeyfield East from 2007 to 2015 and as Mayor of Dacorum in 2014/15. Allan was very committed to Adeyfield serving not only as a Councillor but also as a Governor of Adeyfield School for many years, as well as a Trustee of Adeyfield Community Centre; a role to which he gave a lot of time in supporting the centre.

Prior to his retirement Allan had a long career as a police officer, rising to a senior rank in the Metropolitan Police and in the later part of his service working overseas in Africa helping train and develop their police officers. Following his retirement and prior to being elected, he briefly worked for Dacorum in the CCTV control room.

Allan will be remembered as a gentleman who was always happy to help and support colleagues, he will be greatly missed.”

Councillor Tindall: “Although Allan was a Councillor in a neighbouring ward, we meet on occasions, particularly at the Adeyfield Neighbourhood Group meetings.  A pleasure to be with, Allan was a thoroughly nice man, and our conversations ranged across a number of subjects, mainly to the benefit of local residents, and very seldom on politics.  He will be missed.”

Councillor Guest: “I have fond memories of how when one year Sir Mike Penning MP was not available to switch on the Warners End Christmas lights, Allan as Mayor stepped up to the mark and did so, making the Warners End Christmas switch-on a memorable occasion. He was not just a good councillor, but a human being. When my husband and I often visited the Crown and Sceptre at Bridens Camp on a Saturday lunchtime, Allan would be habitually found propping up the bar. We would have a chat and the conversation would always turn around to the Council.  He will be sorely missed.”

4.2       By the Chief Executive:

None.

4.3       By the Group Leaders:

Councillor Williams gave apologies on behalf of Councillors Arslan, Banks, Bassadone, Bhinder, Elliot, Harden, Sinha and Sutton.

Councillor Tindall gave apologies on behalf of Councillors McDowell, Stevens, Symington, Townsend and Woolner.

4.4       Council Leader and Members of the Cabinet:

Councillor Williams, Leader of the Council

The Leader had nothing specific to update but welcomed questions.

Questions

Councillor Tindall asked if the Leader agreed with him that the present situation was undemocratic for the members having to self-isolate and therefore not being able to participate in hybrid meetings.

The Leader agreed and felt that the guidance should have been extended even though he wasn’t a supporter of the virtual meetings and wouldn’t have wanted them long-term. He said he would have fully supported an extension of the rules but we have to follow the guidance issued by the government.

Councillor Wilkie asked if the Leader accepted it was a complete contradiction  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The following Motion was proposed by Councillor Anderson and seconded by Councillor Williams:

Planning Bill

Whilst welcoming and participating in some of the Government’s proposed changes to the Planning system, for example the use of design codes and mapping, this Council is opposed to the reduction in community involvement, and requests that the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Planning write to the Secretary of State at Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government to express the Council’s objection to the reduction.

The Council has concerns about the removal of local policies from the Development Plans part of the system, and the other consequences of allowing certain planning proposals to bypass local decision making in the Development Management part of the system altogether through further permitted development and prior approval, and asks that these matters are included too in objecting to the Secretary of State.

An amendment to the Motion was proposed by Councillor Tindall and seconded by Councillor England. The amendment was to include the following paragraph to the preliminary Motion:

Further, following the passage of the Bill, with consequential amendments and additions to the draft Local Plan

a.    The Council recognises that community involvement would benefit from a re-run of the Regulation 18 consultation, and

b.     The Council believes that the draft Local Plan would be strengthened for local people by added provisions for social housing, distinct from affordable housing.

A vote was held on the amended Motion:

15 for,

20 against,

0 abstentions,

Therefore the motion was denied.

A vote was then held on the original Motion:

22 for,

0 against,

12 abstentions,

Therefore the motion was carried.

The following Motion was proposed by Councillor Anderson and seconded by Councillor Williams:

Planning Bill

Whilst welcoming and participating in some of the Government’s proposed changes to the Planning system, for example the use of design codes and mapping, this Council is opposed to the reduction in community involvement, and requests that the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Planning write to the Secretary of State at Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government to express the Council’s objection to the reduction.

The Council has concerns about the removal of local policies from the Development Plans part of the system, and the other consequences of allowing certain planning proposals to bypass local decision making in the Development Management part of the system altogether through further permitted development and prior approval, and asks that these matters are included too in objecting to the Secretary of State.

An amendment to the Motion was proposed by Councillor Tindall and seconded by Councillor England. The amendment was to include the following paragraph to the preliminary Motion:

Further, following the passage of the Bill, with consequential amendments and additions to the draft Local Plan

1. The Council recognises that community involvement would benefit from a re-run of the Regulation 18 consultation, and
2. The Council believes that the draft Local Plan would be strengthened for local people by added provisions for social housing, distinct from affordable housing.

Councillor Anderson said he wouldn’t accept the amendment and asked that his colleagues reject it. He explained we already had debate and Q&A’s on this very point this evening and now wasn’t the time to be prejudging whether we will be doing it or not.

Councillor Williams agreed with Councillor Anderson and said he couldn’t support the amendment. He advised he was sympathetic to the amendment but these two matters weren’t in the same Bill and if we passed the amended motion we would leave ourselves open to challenge.

Councillor Pringle spoke in support of the amendment. She said many of the residents she had interacted with were frustrated by the lack of social housing and some are living in completely unacceptable living conditions, yet the government continue to conflate the need for social housing with a free for all to allow developer’s access to our Green Belt.

Councillor England said: “This original Motion identifies that Community Involvement is important – The Local Plan is certainly the issue which brings the most public participation, but we need to make a commitment to build proper trust with residents:

We’ve convinced ourselves that 3% of the population commenting is great – it isn’t! The bar for considering a Local Plan consultation a strong success is set very low, by those about to jump it!

And it is my conviction that with a different approach to the R18 consultation many-fold more responses and ideas could be garnered. Those of us who dove into the engagement of this know that many more people have opinions, but are not willing to enter into the detail,  ...  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).

None.

None.

To consider any business referred from the previous meeting

None.

None.

To consider the following referrals from Cabinet:

8.1  CA/027/21  20 April 2021  Hemel Hempstead Place Strategy

8.2  CA/037/21  22 June 2021  Transformation Phase 2 Business Case

8.3  CA/039/21  22 June 2021  Leisure Contract (Part 2)

8.4  CA/040/21  22 June 2021  Water Charges (Part 2)

8.5  CA/041/21  22 June 2021  Provisional Financial Outturn          

Resolved:

That the following be approved:

20 April 2021

8.1       CA/027/21       HEMEL HEMPSTEAD PLACE STRATEGY

Decision

That Council approves a budget of £500K to be drawn down from the Dacorum Development Reserve as required to fund the work to develop the Place Strategy.

22 June 2021

8.2       CA/037/21       TRANSFORMATION PHASE 2 BUSINESS CASE

Decision

1.     A draw down of £361k from the Management of Change reserve to fund the General Fund elements of the programme.

2.     A reduction of £305k in the HRA contribution to capital to fund the HRA elements of the programme

8.3 was considered under item 14.

8.4 was considered under item 14.

8.5       CA/041/21       PROVISIONAL FINANCIAL OUTTURN

Decision

That Council approve the following supplementary capital budgets in financial year 2021/22:

1.   £95k for Fire Door improvement works at Hemel Hempstead Leisure Centre.

2.   £50k for Hemel Hempstead swimming pool dosing equipment.

Resolved:

That the following be approved:

20 April 2021

8.1       CA/027/21       HEMEL HEMPSTEAD PLACE STRATEGY

Decision

That Council approves a budget of £500K to be drawn down from the Dacorum Development Reserve as required to fund the work to develop the Place Strategy.

22 June 2021

8.2       CA/037/21       TRANSFORMATION PHASE 2 BUSINESS CASE

Decision

1.    A draw down of £361k from the Management of Change reserve to fund the General Fund elements of the programme.

2.    A reduction of £305k in the HRA contribution to capital to fund the HRA elements of the programme

8.3 was considered under item 14 (Part 2 Cabinet Referrals).

8.4 was considered under item 14 (Part 2 Cabinet Referrals).

8.5       CA/041/21       PROVISIONAL FINANCIAL OUTTURN

Decision

That Council approve the following supplementary capital budgets in financial year 2021/22:

1.   £95k for Fire Door improvement works at Hemel Hempstead Leisure Centre.

2.   £50k for Hemel Hempstead swimming pool dosing equipment.

None.

None.

To consider any proposals for changes to committee membership.

The following changes to committee membership were agreed:

·        Councillor Beauchamp to replace Councillor Wyatt-Lowe as Vice-Chairman of the Development Management Committee.

·        Councillor Beauchamp to replace Councillor Bhinder on the Hertfordshire Health Scrutiny Committee.

The following changes to committee membership were agreed:

·        Councillor Beauchamp to replace Councillor Wyatt-Lowe as Vice-Chairman of the Development Management Committee.

·        Councillor Beauchamp to replace Councillor Bhinder on the Hertfordshire Health Scrutiny Committee.

To consider the following changes to committee dates:

Ø  Reschedule Licensing Committee from Tuesday 27 July to Tuesday 20 July.

Ø  Reschedule Cabinet from Tuesday 20 July to Tuesday 27 July.

The following changes to committee dates were agreed:

·        Reschedule Licensing Committee from Tuesday 27 July to Tuesday 20 July.

·        Reschedule Cabinet from Tuesday 20 July to Tuesday 27 July.

The following changes to committee dates were agreed:

·        Reschedule Licensing Committee from Tuesday 27 July to Tuesday 20 July.

·        Reschedule Cabinet from Tuesday 20 July to Tuesday 27 July.

The Council noted the following urgent Portfolio Holder Decision:

PH/013/21 - Additional Restrictions Grant Phase 2 – Covid-19 Support For Local Businesses.

The Council noted the following urgent Portfolio Holder Decision:

PH/013/21 - Additional Restrictions Grant Phase 2 – Covid-19 Support For Local Businesses.

Resolved:

That, under s.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 affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) (Item 14).

Resolved:

That, under s.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 affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) (Item 14).

Full details can be found in the Part 2 Decision Sheet.

Full details can be found in the Part 2 Minutes.