Agenda, decisions and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting of the council

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2017 were agreed by the Members present and were then signed by the Mayor.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2017 were agreed by the Members present and were 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 Solicitor to the Council.

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:

Councillor Williams                 Leader of the Council

Councillor Elliot                       Finance & Resources

Councillor Mrs Griffiths           Housing

Councillor Harden                   Residents & Corporate Services

Councillor G Sutton                Planning and Regeneration

Councillor Marshall                 Environmental, Sustainability and Regulatory Services

1.      By the Mayor:

There were no announcements from the Mayor

2.      By the Chief Executive:

Sally Marshall gave an update on the Flamstead Parish Council by election to be held on 23^rd March 2017.

3.      By the Group Leaders:

Councillor Williams gave apologies on behalf of Councillors Bateman Conway, Hearn, Mills, and Riddick.

Councillor Fisher gave apologises on behalf of Councillor Fethney.

4.    By the  Leader and Members of the Cabinet:

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

By the Mayor

None.

By the Chief Executive:

The Chief Executive declared that she had received notice of a vacancy at Flamstead Parish Council. The Chief Executive said she will know on Friday whether it will be a contested election or not.

By the Group Leaders: 

Councillor Williams gave apologies on behalf of Councillors Bateman, Conway, S Hearn, Mills and Riddick.

Councillor Fisher gave apologies on behalf of Councillor Fethney.

Council Leader and Members of the Cabinet:

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

The Leader had no announcements but was happy to take questions. 

Councillor England said he had received an email from a resident asking why William Stephyns name had been removed and the building renamed Jellicoe House by Bank Court. As Stephyns was the first baliff of Hemel Hempstead, he felt it was an appalling decision.

Councillor Williams said the redevelopment was undertaken by Hightown so it would be more appropriate to direct the question to them. It might have been to signal the change from commercial to residential housing.

Councillor Guest asked the Leader about Dacorum Borough Council’s support for a new hospital. It is more imperative now as there are plans to release some of the current hospital land for housing. How can the council further publicise the public meeting to be held on 22^nd March?

Councillor Williams said it has always been the case that the Trust has been looking at their presence on the site. The Council do not support the centring of services at Watford – it is widely accepted that a new site is needed but we do not feel the site at Watford provides a suitable condition or provision for residents. Regarding the meeting on 22^nd March, I will endeavour to see how to use publicity – we can use the website and the screen in the foyer.

Councillor Tindall said the CCG had announced the desire to develop new facilities but this could be delayed if they want to use the current site. Could there be an arrangement with the Council for them to build facilities on the old Market Square?

Councillor Williams said there had been considerable discussions with the Trust and there is the possibility of a one public estate bid involving local health providers, County Council and DBC. There is reluctance to use the Market Square as it is a small site and we don’t want to encourage them to provide a small service.

Councillor Tindall asked on the progress on the Berkhamsted Car Park.

Councillor Williams said as it is subject to legal action he would make no further comment.

There were no more questions for the Leader.

Councillor Elliot, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources 

Finance

The second round of draft budget proposals were presented to joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 7^th February and were also presented to Cabinet on 14^th February and are being considered by Council tonight after this robust and challenging  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

To consider questions (if any) by members of the Council of which the appropriate notice has been given to the Solicitor to the Council.

None.

None.

To consider any business referred from the previous meeting

None.

None.

To consider the following referrals from Cabinet:

7.1  CA/007/17   24 January 2017       Byelaws for selected parks and open spaces  within Dacorum.

7.2  CA/008/17 24 January 2017        Senior Officer Pay Policy

That the following be approved:

24 January 2017

7.1                   CA/007/17       BYELAWS FOR SELECTED PARKS AND OPEN SPACES WITHIN DACORUM

Decision

(1)   the Draft Byelaw to Council as attached as Appendix A of the Cabinet report for the Parks and Open Spaces in the Borough listed in paragraph 11 of the report and further draft byelaws to be drafted for consideration and consultation to prevent the feeding of wildfowl and wild animals, and permit model powered boats where appropriate.

(2)   authority be delegated to the Assistant Director (Neighbourhood Delivery) in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environmental, Sustainability and Regulatory Services to carry out the required impact assessment, consultation, agree the ‘scheme’ noted under paragraph 7 of the Cabinet report and submit the application to the Department of Communities and Local Government.

(3)   authority be delegated to the Assistant Director  (Neighbourhood Delivery) to determine which areas within the Parks and Open Spaces listed in paragraph 11 of the Cabinet report shall be permitted or designated for relevant activities

(4)   authority be delegated to the Assistant Director  (Neighbourhood Delivery) to authorise officers to issue fixed notices and/or commence prosecution proceedings to enforce breaches of the Byelaws.

(5)   authority be delegated to the Assistant Director (Neighbourhood Delivery) in consultation with the Assistant Director (Finance and Resources) to agree fee levels for any chargeable activity permissible by the Byelaws.

(6)   the revocation of the byelaws listed in paragraph 13 of the Cabinet report.

7.2                   CA/008/17       SENIOR OFFICER PAY POLICY

Decision

1.       That the Pay Policy for 2017/18 as set out in appendix 1 to the report be adopted

14 February 2017

CA/020/17       HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT BUSINESS PLAN ANNUAL REVIEW 2016/17

Decision

1.     That the updated Housing Revenue Account Business Plan be approved

2.      That the revised development programme budgets as set out in Section 6.3 of the Cabinet report and the budget for the Martindale Development in Appendix 2, in part II of the Cabinet report be approved  

CA/021/17       BUDGET 2017/18 AND COUNCIL TAX DECLARATION

That the following be approved

Decision

General Fund Revenue Estimate

a)       a Dacorum Borough Council General Fund Council Tax  requirement of £10.709m, and of £11.448m for the combined Borough Council and Parish Councils’ requirement for 2017/18;

b)       an increase of 2.71% in Council Tax for Dacorum Borough Council;

c)       the base estimates for 2017/18, as shown in Appendix A1, and the indicative budget forecasts for 2017/18 – 2020/21, as shown in Appendix A2;

d)     the forecast balances of Revenue Reserves as shown in Appendix J, and approve paragraphs 10-20 of this report as the updated Reserves Strategy;

e)       increases in Fees and Charges for 2017/18 as set out in Appendices C3, D3, and E3;

f)        the Treasury Management Strategy for 2017/18, attached at Appendix K;

g)       the Treasury Management Principles and Practices for 2017/18, attached at Appendix L;

h)       that this budget paper will form part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Capital Programme

i)        the revised Capital Programme for 2016/17, and for 2017/18 to 2021/22,  ...  view the full decision text for item 21.

CABINET REFERRALS

The referrals from Cabinet on 24 January and 14 February 2017 were submitted.  It was moved by Councillor Williams, duly seconded and

Resolved

That the following be approved:

24 January 2017

7.1                   CA/007/17       BYELAWS FOR SELECTED PARKS AND OPEN SPACES WITHIN DACORUM

Councillor Ransley said she was concerned about the byelaws covering open areas intercepted by public footpaths and right of ways.
Councillor Marshall thanked Councillor Ransley for her comments. She said there was a phrase missing that is suggested by government as it does currently imply children cannot ride scooters. The slight amendment would add “if not causing danger and annoyance to others”. Councillor Marshall said the more eyes that read the document, the more helpful it is and was happy to hear any suggested amendments.

Decision

(1)   the Draft Byelaw to Council as attached as Appendix A of the Cabinet report for the Parks and Open Spaces in the Borough listed in paragraph 11 of the report and further draft byelaws to be drafted for consideration and consultation to prevent the feeding of wildfowl and wild animals, and permit model powered boats where appropriate.

(2)   authority be delegated to the Assistant Director (Neighbourhood Delivery) in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environmental, Sustainability and Regulatory Services to carry out the required impact assessment, consultation, agree the ‘scheme’ noted under paragraph 7 of the Cabinet report and submit the application to the Department of Communities and Local Government.

(3)   authority be delegated to the Assistant Director  (Neighbourhood Delivery) to determine which areas within the Parks and Open Spaces listed in paragraph 11 of the Cabinet report shall be permitted or designated for relevant activities

(4)   authority be delegated to the Assistant Director  (Neighbourhood Delivery) to authorise officers to issue fixed notices and/or commence prosecution proceedings to enforce breaches of the Byelaws.

(5)   authority be delegated to the Assistant Director (Neighbourhood Delivery) in consultation with the Assistant Director (Finance and Resources) to agree fee levels for any chargeable activity permissible by the Byelaws.

(6)   the revocation of the byelaws listed in paragraph 13 of the Cabinet report.

7.2                   CA/008/17       SENIOR OFFICER PAY POLICY

1.       That the Pay Policy for 2017/18 as set out in appendix 1 to the report be adopted

14 February 2017

7.3                   CA/020/17       HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT BUSINESS PLAN ANNUAL REVIEW 2016/17

1.     That the updated Housing Revenue Account Business Plan be approved

2.      That the revised development programme budgets as set out in Section 6.3 of the Cabinet report and the budget for the Martindale Development in Appendix 2, in part II of the Cabinet report be approved  

7.4                   CA/021/17       BUDGET 2017/18

Councillor Elliot introduced the report and moved the motion to debate.

Councillor Tindall said the opposition will not be proposing an alternative budget. He congratulated officers on producing a balanced budget despite pressures from central government. Councillor Tindall said he was concerned about business rates and the impact that could have on local businesses in the town. The Right to Buy policy meant  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

Resolved:

1. That the suggested changes and their inclusion in the wording of the constitution be delegated to the Solicitor for the Council.
2.  That he changes to the DCC dates from May 2017 – May 2018 as set out in Appendix 1 be agreed.

RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO DEVELOPMENT CONTROL COMMITTEE

1.    That the suggested changes and their inclusion in the wording of the constitution be delegated to the Solicitor for the Council.

2.     That he changes to the DCC dates from May 2017 – May 2018 as set out in Appendix 1 be agreed.

None.

None.

None.

To consider any proposals for changes to committee membership

None.

See Development Control Report Item 8

Member Development moved from 14^th September to 7^th September 2017.

Remove the MDSG meetings on 14^th June and 6^th December 2017

Resolved:

The changes to DCC dates from May 2017 – May 2018 as included in agenda item 8

Member Development moved from 14th September to 7th September 2017.

The changes to DCC dates from May 2017 – May 2018 as included in agenda item 8

Member Development moved from 14th September to 7th September 2017.