Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting of the council

The minutes of the previous meeting, 23rd November 2022, were accepted as a true record.

To receive any declarations of interest

There were no declarations of interest from members.

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

There were no members of the public present.

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 Griffiths      Housing Services

Councillor Williams     Leader of the Council

Councillor Williams     Commercial Strategy and Delivery

Councillor Barrett        Neighbourhood Services

Councillor Banks         Communities

Councillor Anderson   Place

Councillor Elliot                       Corporate Services

There were no announcements from the Mayor or Chief Executive

Cllr Williams gave apologies for Cllr Suqlain Mahmood, Cllr Arslan, Cllr Bassadone,

Cllr Tindall gave apologies for Cllr Ransley, Cllr McDowell and Cllr Townsend.

Portfolio Holders Updates

Cllr Williams – Leader of the Council

Following the public notice that Amazon will be moving from Hemel, a senior representative has confirmed staff at the site are in the 45-day consultation period for transfer to Dunstable, but they are not renewing the expired lease on the building, which is too small and not automated enough. All staff will be offered alternative employment at the other site, on the same shift pattern, but they couldn't confirm the inclusion of agency staff and those directly employed by Amazon. It was also confirmed that the delivery station on Swallowdale Lane is also being transferred to Dunstable, but this is a smaller site not subject to the 45-day consultation, and all staff will transfer. Amazon confirmed that they were not looking for another site in the Hemel Hempstead or Dacorum area currently.

Cllr Williams also noted that, with immediate effect, all responsibility for the Council's non-HRA properties, being general fund properties, investment properties, and commercial estate, will move from the Place Portfolio under Cllr Anderson to Commercial Strategy and Delivery under Cllr Williams.

Cllr Tindall asked for confirmation that Amazon will no longer have a presence in Hemel Hempstead, and also asked if it was known whether Amazon was prepared to subsidies travel to Dunstable for those wishing to work at the alternate site. Cllr Williams confirmed that Amazon will have no presence in Hemel Hempstead. Amazon do provide a bus from Luton to Hemel Hempstead, but have made no comment about the transfer packages, and it isn't known if they will provide or subsidies transport in reverse.

Cllr Symington referred to a previously agreed motion, part of which included a letter to be written to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, and asked, in light of events in the Metropolitan Police involving an officer living in Hertfordshire, whether the leader would follow up on this letter and ask what actions are being taken to ensure the same thing can never happen in the Hertfordshire Police. Cllr Williams agreed to do so.

Actions:

- Cllr Williams to write to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire regarding preventative measures taken or planned.

Cllr Griffiths – Portfolio Holder for Housing

In regard to Housing Services, the Assistant Director for Housing Operations and Safer Communities has been appointed and confirmed, and the familiarisation meeting has taken place. The bid for the LGA Housing Advisory Fund, consisting of £20,000 to support the progress of temporary accommodation review within the HA, has been successful. There is to be a review of homeless out-of-hours services to determine value for money and alternative options. New domestic abuse policies have progressed to external consultation and committees, with positive feedback on the proposed approach. Successful interventions have been undertaken to improve the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.1 MOTION ONE Proposed by Councillor Sheron Wilkie

Cost of Living Crisis           

The survey conducted by Landman Economics for the TUC was widely reported in November. Highlights from the survey show:

Key worker poverty “is rampant”

The analysis reveals that child poverty “is rampant” in key worker households. In addition to care staff:

·         Nearly a tenth (9.4%) of kids with nurses as parents are living below the breadline. This represents over 70,000 children.

·         1 in 9 (10.8%) children with teaching staff as parents are growing up in poverty. This represents around 100,000 children.

·         1 in 8 (11.8 %) kids of local government workers are growing up in poverty. This represents over 220,000 children.

·         1 in 4 (25%) children with public transport workers as parents have kids growing up in poverty. This represents 50,000 children.

·         It is estimated that 1 in 5 (19%) key worker households have children living in poverty.

With this context, this Council:

A.    Notes with concern there is evidence to demonstrate that local children are going hungry while families are affected by the current Cost of Living Crisis.

B.    Therefore urges Officers of the Council to work with the Voluntary and Community Sectors, and local schools, to ensure that all children of school age have access to at least one nutritious meal a day.

In addition,

This Council recognises the work of Council Officers in collaboration with the Voluntary Sector to bring forward proposals to benefit residents of Dacorum and asks that every effort is made on the Council website to clearly signpost residents to the locations of the Warm Spaces, and other information and assistance available from the Council and Voluntary Sector in the current Cost of Living Crisis – this to also include clear non-internet communications for those that need the information.

5.2 MOTION TWO Proposed by Councillor Adrian England

Re-cycling Targets 

This Council notes that Dacorum Council is on track for 60% recycling by 2030 and is currently 4th in Hertfordshire for its recycling percentage.  In order to signal a drive for more and faster progress, this Council asks that the Council sets out an ambitious plan to increase the recycling percentage target by 2% points per year in order to reach the Hertfordshire Waste Partnership 2030 target.

5.3 MOTION THREE Proposed by Councillor Adrian England

Grants for Heat Source Pumps

This Council notes that just 17.8% of the funds available to residents in England and Wales for Heat Source Pump Grants have been claimed in the first three quarters of the life of the scheme.  It is further noted that the value of the Grants, at £5,000 each, would appear to be a deterrent to applicants in England and Wales.

The Council asks the Portfolio Holder to write to the Government to ask for an improved and enhanced scheme which will match the Scotland offer of £7.500 to £9,000 grants together with the availability of a top-up interest free loan of £7,500. 

5.1. MOTION ONE Proposed by Councillor Sheron Wilkie

The survey conducted by Landman Economics for TUC was widely reported in November. Highlights show that key worker poverty is rising, and child poverty has risen in key worker households, with 19% having children living in poverty. 9.4% of children with nurses as parents, over 70,000 children. 10.8% of children with teaching staff as parents, around 100,000 children. 11.8% of children with local government workers as parents, over 220,000 children. 25% of children with public transport workers as parents, 50,000 children. Within this context, this council (a) notes with concern that there is evidence some families are struggling in the current cost of living crisis, (b) acknowledges the extensive support through various government schemes that has benefited some lower-income households, (c) welcomes the largest ever increase in the national living rate wage of 9.7% from April, (d) recognises the work being undertaken by officers of the council with its voluntary and community partners to coordinate a local response to the crisis, (e) recognises that the cost of living project group is leading this activity in Dacorum and working closely with county colleagues, (f) supports the county council to ensure all children of school age have access to at least one nutritious meal a day.

Moved by Cllr Wilkie, seconded by Cllr Williams.

Cllr Harden raised a minor point of etiquette, and wondered if 'kids' could be converted to 'children' throughout. Cllr Wilkie was happy to make this amendment.

Cllr Griffiths noted that the issue is not just a public services one.

Cllr England noted that nurses, ambulance workers, train workers, and retail workers should be paid properly, and the cost of living crisis is a result of not doing so.

Cllr Peter suggested an amendment from 'poverty' to 'relative poverty' to keep things in perspective, and suggested not doing so was disrespectful to less fortunate individuals in second, third, and fourth-world countries. Cllr Barry-Mears noted that the UK has seen the death of a child from mould, and objected to the suggested amendment.

Cllr Williams noted that food banks are not new, and the support given by the government over the past 2.5 years has impacted national finances, leading to difficult decisions about where what money there is, is spent. Cllr Freedman agreed that food banks are not new, but noted that in-work poverty is.

Cllr Wilkie summarised that the figures are appalling and no one is happy about them, which is why everyone is there.

Motion carried unanimously.

5.2 MOTION TWO Proposed by Councillor Adrian England

This council notes that Dacorum council is on track for 60% recycling by 2030, which is 4th in Hertfordshire. This council asks the council to set out an ambitious plan to increase the recycling percentage target by 2% each year to reach the Hertfordshire Waste Partnership target for 2030.

Moved by Cllr England, seconded by Cllr Freedman.

Cllr England noted a drafting error, and Cllr Tindall made a proposal to amend the motion wording,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Question 6.1 from Councillor Sally Symington to Councillor Margaret Griffiths

Written Question to the Portfolio Holder for Housing

How many properties within Dacorum’s council owned housing portfolio have an up to date EPC rating?

Question 6.2 from Councillor Sally Symington to Councillor Margaret Griffiths

Written Question to the Portfolio Holder for Housing

How many reports of empty homes has the council received in the last 3 years?

Question 6.3 from Councillor Sally Symington to Councillor Andrew Williams

Written Question to the Portfolio Holder for Leader of the Council.

Residents in my ward are concerned that Dacorum has just one quarter of the national average of publicly available electric vehicle charge points. What actions is the portfolio holder taking to accelerate the installation of rapid and fast electric charging devices across the Borough’s publicly owned car parks and ensure that on-street electric charging devices are provided for residents?

6.1 From Councillor Sally Symington to Councillor Margaret Griffiths

Cllr Symington wondered how many properties within Dacorum's council-owned housing portfolio had an up-to-date EPC rating. Cllr Griffiths confirmed that DBS had 1,577 checked and verified EPC certificates. Cllr Symington further wondered how many of that 15% had an ABC rating. Cllr Griffiths noted that she didn't have those figures to hand. Cllr Symington additionally wondered how many properties were due to be retrofitted to improve the insulation, or if there was no policy to do that. Cllr Griffiths confirmed there is a policy for retrofitting, and noted that the EPC is not required unless selling, but will be included as part of the Whole Home surveys starting in April.

6.2 From Councillor Sally Symington to Councillor Margaret Griffiths

Cllr Symington wondered how many reports of empty homes the council had received in the last three years. Cllr Griffiths noted that 19 to 20 homes had been reported date, via 33 complaints from the general public. Cllr Symington wondered what level of confidence Cllr Griffiths had in the reporting system, and noted that residents who had reported empty properties were also reporting a lack of response to those reports. Cllr Griffiths stated that she had 100% confidence in the process, and noted that the website had been upgraded in the last year, encouraging people to report, with one specific case that was missed being an ongoing case at the time. Cllr Symington additionally noted that Action on Empty Homes had identified 659 empty homes in Dacorum, and wondered what the cause of the discrepancy was. Cllr Griffiths noted that she had not seen this information, and that the legal definition of empty is being used, that is, properties that can be evidenced to have been empty for two years.

Cllr Symington observed that cutting out question preamble leaves the portfolio holder without context, and unable to answer questions. Cllr Griffiths noted that the preamble information could have been sent beforehand. Cllr Symington confirmed that it had been submitted to the legal department, and suggested a revision to procedure.

Actions:

- Procedure to be revised, with question preamble sent to both the legal department and the portfolio holder prior to the meeting.

6.3 From Councillor Sally Symington to Councillor Andrew Williams

Cllr Symington noted that Dacorum only has one quarter the national average of public electric vehicle charge points, and wondered what actions Cllr Williams was taking to accelerate the installation of such devices across the borough's public car parks, and ensure their availability for residents without off-street parking. Cllr Williams noted the same question comes up frequently at scrutiny committees, and explained that the decision to work with two companies had been made in May 2022, leading to a funding submission at the end of October, with the expectation that a decision would be received in December, however the Energy Saving Trust had received a significant number of applications, and had not yet given an answer to the application,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider any business referred from the previous meeting

None

To consider the following referrals from Cabinet:

CA/109/22       KINGS LANGLEY NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

CA/110/22       TREASURY MANAGEMENT

CA/109/22 Kings Langley neighbourhood plan

Cllr Williams moved. Cllr Griffiths seconded.

Agreed by the Council

CA/110/22 Treasury management, the results recommended

Cllr Williams moved. Cllr Griffiths seconded.

Agreed by the Council

There are no referrals from the Overview & Scrutiny committees

No referrals.

To consider any proposals for changes to committee membership

No changes to committee membership.

To consider any proposals for changes to committee dates

Cllr Williams noted that the annual council was originally on Wednesday 10th May after the elections, but this has been moved to Wednesday 17th May.