Agenda and draft minutes

To confirm the minutes of Council on 15 July 2015 (Appendix A Pages 6-19)

Councillor G Sutton proposed an amendment to page 17 of the minutes of 15 July 2015. He confirmed that the planning application for Symbio House referred to 208 apartments and not 2018 apartments.

 

All Members agreed the amendment.

 

The amended minutes of the Council meeting held on 15 July 2015 were then confirmed by the Members present and then signed by the Mayor.

 

To receive any declarations of interest

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 Elliot                       Finance & Resources

Councillor Mrs Griffiths           Housing

Councillor Harden                   Residents & Regulatory Services

Councillor G Sutton                Environmental Services & Sustainability

Councillor Marshall                 Planning and Regeneration

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

1.            By the Mayor

 

There were no announcements made by the Mayor.

 

 

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 W Wyatt-Lowe and S Adshead.

 

Councillor Tindall gave apologies on behalf of Councillor Ransley.

 

To consider questions (if any) by members of the Council of which the appropriate notice has been given to the Head of Legal Services

 

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

 

The Leader of the Council made no announcements and invited any questions on his Portfolio.

 

 

Councillor Elliot, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources 

 

Finance

 

The Finance Team are working closely with the Leadership Team on the 2016/17 budget. The Medium Term Financial Strategy highlighted a savings requirement for next year of £1.4 million.

 

Officers have been asked to suggest savings proposals for the next three years to ensure longer term savings can be delivered with an adequate lead in time. Meetings are being held this month, and options for efficiencies are being collated to be considered by the Budget Review Group in early October. 

 

Revenue & Benefits

 

The Benefits team have been working with the local jobcentre to make sure that officers are ready to support residents who are affected by the introduction of Universal Credit to Dacorum which started from 21 September. This new benefit will only impact on a small number of residents in the next few months as it is being phased in gradually by central government. Relevant training has been provided to staff in the housing, customer services, benefits and council tax teams, so that we can provide assistance to any residents who need it. We are also working in partnership with Dacorum Citizens Advice Bureau to ensure the range of support required is available.

 

As part of the work that has been done to look at how we can improve the service provided to residents and minimise costs then the team will be able to provide a more efficient way of delivering a quicker service to those claiming benefits following the approval of a Risk Based Verification Policy at Audit Committee on 23^rd September.

 

Commercial Assets & Property Development

 

The Demolition of the Old Court House is now complete and we are just awaiting the final stages of demolition of Unit B which requires Transco assistance. Parking has now been reinstated and when the works are completed additional parking will be provided. We are continuing to support and provide assistance by working with the project teams to deliver the Forum.

 

We are working to maximise capital receipts and as part of the ongoing asset management strategy the disposal of a number of garage sites has now commenced and we anticipate that this will start to realise income in this financial year.

Work on a number of significant leases is progressing and the lease for 39-41 Marlowes to Health has now been signed. Officers have also commenced reviewing the Asset Management Strategy and supporting documentation and will be bringing it forward in due course for consideration and approval.

 

Questions and answers:

 

Councillor Tindall commented that given the success of the verge hardening program and other schemes to be completed this financial year, can more money be found for the programs to continue into 2016/17.

 

Councillor Elliot stated that this was certainly on top of the agenda as parking is a big problem, especially for residents,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

To consider the following motion from Councillor Tindall given in accordance with Standing Orders:

 

 

1. That the Council recognises that the UN High Commissioner for refugees has stated that Syria “has become the greatest tragedy of this century –a disgraceful humanitarian calamity with suffering and displacement unparalleled in recent history”,

 

2. That the Council notes that over six million people have been displaced in Syria and over three million people have fled to nearby countries,

 

3. That the Council notes that thousands of displaced Syrian people have attempted to cross the Mediterranean to seek asylum and have died in the process,

 

4. That the Council, mindful of the tragic events in the Mediterranean and elsewhere and noting the comments of the Prime Minister for the United Kingdom to fulfil its moral responsibility and give sanctuary to refugees from war, instructs the Chief Executive to advise the Government that Dacorum will commit to receive and support its share of refugee families, in cooperation with the County Council and other local councils in Hertfordshire.

 

5. That the Chief Executive be requested to refer to the position of the Local Government Association in her communication to the Government, highlighting the already stretched resources of local government and the extra resources such assistance will require,

 

6. That the Cabinet together with the Chief Executive take the necessary action needed to implement the assistance outlined in paragraphs 4 and 5 of this motion.

 

 

NOTICE OF MOTION

 

Councillor Tindall introduced the motion and stated that the refugee crisis is a constantly moving picture.

 

Councillor Guest described family members fleeing from the Soviet Union invasion in Hungary in 1956. Councillor Guest supported the government’s policy of taking in refugees and the UK’s long history of doing so, for example, the refugees from the Soviet Union invasions and the civil war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

Councillor Mahmood said that the whole country had been moved by the current humanitarian crisis. He also said that this issue has generated more calls and emails to him from his constituents than anything else in his eight years as a borough councillor. Councillor Mahmood stated that whilst he supports the motion, policy needs to be sensitive to the needs of the refugees but also those of the borough’s residents and therefore believes a balanced policy is the key.

 

Councillor Marshall supported the motion and said she was proud to live in a country that has enshrined in law that 0.7% of GDP is spent on overseas aid. Councillor Marshall stated that after the USA, the UK is the largest bilateral donor of aid and the money channelled into the refugee camps in Jordan and the Lebanon shows the government’s commitment to everyone affected, not just the refugees migrating into Europe.

 

Councillor C Wyatt-Lowe stated that the crisis had brought home how lucky we are to live in a country that is free of persecution. The crisis has proved controversial and the government’s policy of accepting refugees in the camps will help to stop ISIS infiltrating the UK. Councillor C Wyatt-Lowe pledged her support to the motion and said the country should be proud of the long tradition of taking refugees and has helped to enrich society and made it was it is today.

 

Councillor Williams said that this motion was drafted some weeks ago and obviously, the situation is continually changing. In relation to paragraph 4 and 5, the Council is working with the LGA and has said it will support government policy and has indicated the Council will play a full part in rehousing refugees. Councillor Williams reiterated Councillor Mahmood’s point that councillors have received several emails with kind offers of support and collections. However, the government have advised against people housing refugees in their own properties as they would prefer to house them in independent units suitable for families. Councillor Williams was happy to support the motion and with regards to paragraph 6, he felt it would not be a good idea to take the motion to Cabinet as this would make the process more bureaucratic that it needs to be.

 

Councillor Tindall thanked the members who spoke and was pleased that all the councillors seemed united on the issue. He stated he was happy with Councillor Williams suggested in relation to paragraph 6 as events regularly outpace the system.

 

Agreed: 44

Abstained: 3

 

The motion was carried.

 

To consider any business referred from the previous meeting

None.

The referrals from Cabinet on 21 July and 15 September 2015 were submitted.  It was moved by Councillor Williams, duly seconded by Councillor Griffiths and.

 

Resolved

 

That the following be approved:

 

 

21 July 2015

 

8.1  CA/061/15 MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGY

 

Resolved:

 

That the revised Medium Term Financial Strategy for the period 2015/16 – 2019/20 be approved.

 

 

8.2 CA/063/15   TOURISM STRATEGY

 

Resolved:

 

1.    That this report be noted and the future direction of work be endorsed

2.    That the Tourism Strategy be adopted.

 

 

15 September 2015

 

8.3 CA/073/15 BUDGET MONITORING QUARTER 1 2015/16

 

Resolved:

 

1.    That the budget monitoring position for each of the detailed accounts be approved; and,

 

2. That the supplementary budgets set out below be approved. Details for these supplementary budgets are set out in the body of the Cabinet report and have a net nil impact on the General Fund Working Balance:

 

·Increase Revenues and Benefits Agency Budget by £70k

 

·Increase Other Government Grants Budget by £70k

 

·Decrease the Performance and Projects Employees Budget by £10k

 

·Decrease use of the Technology Reserve by £10k

 

·Increase Office Accommodation Budget by £52,500

 

·Increase use of The Forum Reserve by £52,500

 

·Decrease the LDF Consultancy budget by £50k

 

·Decrease use of the LDF reserve by £50k

 

 

 

 

 

8.4 CA/074/15 TREASURY MANAGEMENT OUTTURN & PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

 

Resolved:

 

That Council accept the report on Treasury Management performance in 2014/15 and the Prudential Indicators for 2014/15 actuals.

 

 

8.5 CA/076/15 FINANCIAL REGULATIONS REVIEW

 

Resolved:

 

That the amendments detailed in paragraphs 4 and 9 of the report to the Cabinet be endorsed, and Council approve the revised Financial Regulations.

 

 

8.6 CA/077/15 REVOCATION OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY CLARIFICATION NOTE

 

Resolved:

 

That to the following be approved:

(a)  Revocation of the Affordable Housing Clarification Note (March 2015) and it cease to apply  as a material planning consideration in relevant planning decisions and for use in the preparation of future planning documents; and

(b)  That the statement attached as Appendix 1 to the Cabinet report be added to the Council’s website to explain the reasons for this decision.

 

 

8.7 CA/078/15 THE FORUM: Category B Fit Out, Internal Layout And Strategies For Information Technology, Audio Visual Technology, Facilities Management And Customer Services

 

Resolved:

 

1       That the Category A elements as set out in the report to Cabinet be noted.

 

2       That the Category B elements as set out in the report to the Cabinet agreed, with the decision on the final colour schemes for laminates and glazing delegated to the Corporate Director Housing and Regeneration in consultation with the Leader of the Council

 

3       That an additional  budget of £400,000, to be drawn down from The Forum Reserve, in order to fund the final Category B elements identified in the Cabinet report be approved.

 

4       That the proposed strategies for Information Communication Technology (ICT), Audio/Visual equipment and capability, Facilities Management and Customer services be noted.

 

None.

None.

To appoint Councillor Imarni to be substitute on JNC.

 

Resolved:

That Councillors Imarni and G Adshead are appointed as substitutes for the Joint Negotiating Committee.

 

To consider any proposals for changes to committee dates

 

There were no changes.

 

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 or of any particular person, (Cabinet Minute CA/065/15 & CA/079/15)

 

Local Government Finance Act 1972, Part VA, 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 or of any particular person, (Cabinet Minute CA/065/15 & CA/079/15)

 

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

 

PART 2 CABINET REFERRALS

 

21 JULY 2015 - CA/065/15 NEW BUILD DEVELOPMENT

 

 

15 SEPTEMBER 2015 - CA/079/15 HOMELESSNESS REVIEW PROCEDURE

 

 

Full details are in the Part II Minutes.