Agenda, decisions and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting of the council

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 February 2018 were agreed by the Members present and then signed by the Mayor.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 February 2018 were agreed by the Members present and then signed by the Mayor.

To receive any declarations of interest

Councillor England declared an interest, he is the named admin of the non-profitable Facebook group for the leisure facilities.

Councillor England declared an interest, he is the named admin of the non-profitable Facebook group for the leisure facilities.

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

Questions can be found in the full minutes.

Four members of the public registered to speak in relation to the Notice of Motion from Councillor Tindall regarding the Adventure Playground, Agenda item 6.2.

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 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:

The Mayor welcomed Councillor Pringle to her first meeting.

2.      By the Chief Executive:

There were no announcements from the Chief Executive.

3.      By the Group Leaders:

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors W Wyatt Lowe, C Wyatt-Lowe, Clark, Chapman, Conway, Griffiths and Whitman, Collins

4.    By the Leader and Members of the Cabinet:

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

1          By the Mayor:

The Mayor welcomed Councillor Pringle to her first meeting.

2          By the Chief Executive:

There were no announcements from the Chief Executive.

3          By the Group Leaders: 

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Clark, Chapman, E Collins, Conway, Griffiths Whitman, C Wyatt-Lowe and W Wyatt Lowe,

4.         Council Leader and Members of the Cabinet:

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

The Leader did not make a report at this time but he offered to take questions.

Councillor Harden, Portfolio Holder for Residents & Corporate Services

PEOPLE & PERFORMANCE

Community Partnerships

Dacorum Volunteer Centre – Are merging with Community Action Dacorum.  

Community Grant Awards – Held 26 March 2018. Many volunteer groups attending to pick up their awards in the inaugural awards evening.   It was a real celebration of how our community grant money has supported the community. 

Community Safety

Support for Staff Project – We have just commenced a project that looks at what support is available for staff that deal with difficult/high needs people.  This was identified as key project to improve our current support package.

Human Resources

Appraisals – Roll out phase on new process and system – holding manager briefing sessions and appraisal training.  This new approach supports more regular one to one meetings between manager/staff and streamlines the system to support more engaging discussions

Customer Services

Service Review – Project underway which is looking at performance, training, current service offering, channel shift and staff structure.

Old Town Hall

Building Maintenance – We are planning to implement a building structure survey to establish a planned maintenance schedule to assist with some of the problems that are occurring

LEGAL GOVERNANCE

On 14^th March, the Council exchanged contracts for the sale of land adjacent to the Forum (former Magistrates Court and Health Centre land) to Hill Residential Limited.  Completion of the sale is due to complete by 1^st August.  Hill are now working up their reserved matters planning application which will be submitted by the end of June.

The Leisure Contract with Sports and Leisure Management Limited was completed on 29^th March for running the leisure services across the borough.  The contract is for a period of 10 years with an option to extend for a further 5 years. 

The address management service (now run by Legal Governance) has achieved Gold Standard.  As part of the service – we have to submit every domestic and commercial property to the Geoplace Hub and our own gazetteer forms part of the National Gazetteer maintained by the hub.  Geoplace measure the accuracy of the data submitted.  When the legal team took over the service in September 2016 from Luton Borough Council it was assessed as Below National Standard and there has been significant improvement in the service from the team which has now achieved ‘Gold’. The team have also introduced charging for the service which has brought in over £6,000 of income from the start of the year.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

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

Questions can be found in the full minutes.

None.

6.1                               To consider the following motion from Councillor Guest;

Motion to Council from Health in Dacorum Committee

“This Council believes that the people of Dacorum deserve the best possible healthcare available. This Council believes that adequate NHS cover is an essential part of the infrastructure required to support the increased house building that is coming to Dacorum.

This Council remembers the promise of 24 hours a day, seven days a week Urgent Care Cover when the Accident and Emergency Department at Hemel Hempstead Hospital was closed in 2009.

This Council supports the Urgent Treatment Centre at Hemel Hempstead Hospital being open 24 hours a day, seven days a week with doctors on call in Hemel Hempstead for all that time, and urges the NHS to open the Urgent Treatment Centre for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with doctor cover”.

6.2                               To consider the following motion from Councillor Tindall;

‘’This Council believes that access to Adventure Playgrounds should be all-year round as they play an important role in the safeguarding of vulnerable children and contribute to the healthy development of all children, and further believes that such provision should continue’’

The following motion from Councillor Guest was agreed.

“This Council believes that the people of Dacorum deserve the best possible healthcare available. This Council believes that adequate NHS cover is an essential part of the infrastructure required to support the increased house building that is coming to Dacorum.

This Council remembers the promise of 24 hours a day, seven days a week Urgent Care Cover when the Accident and Emergency Department at Hemel Hempstead Hospital was closed in 2009.

This Council supports the Urgent Treatment Centre at Hemel Hempstead Hospital being open 24 hours a day, seven days a week with doctors on call in Hemel Hempstead for all that time, and urges the NHS to open the Urgent Treatment Centre for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with doctor cover”.

The following motion from Councillor Tindall was lost.

‘’This council believes that access to Adventure Playgrounds should be all-year round as they play an important role in the safeguarding of vulnerable children and contribute to the healthy development of all children, and further believes that such provision should continue’’

1.                     Cllr Guest read out Motion submitted and commented that in 2009 the closure of the A&E at Hemel Hempstead was met by anger by local people.  Despite all the meetings and petitions it still happened.  We, the people of Dacorum, were told that when it was closed, it would be replaced with an urgent care centre open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Alas, it is no longer 24/7.  When it was decided to close it at night we were told it was on a temporary basis as a  doctor was not always available at night.  It has since been changed to an Urgent Treatment Centre.  Watford has A&E with a separate children’s A&E and acute beds.  St Albans has acute beds.  Hemel Hempstead is one of the biggest towns in Hertfordshire and has nothing.  As a Council we do not deliver healthcare, but we do speak on behalf of our residents.  Opening the treatment centre 24/7 will honour a promise made at the closing of A&E.

Mayor asked, do you have a seconder. Cllr Taylor seconded the motion.

Cllr England advised that he wished to move an amendment and proposed the following Amendment:

(1) In the first line of paragraph 3, delete the words 'at Hemel Hempstead Hospital', and replace with 'in Hemel Hempstead'.

(2) Add to the motion a fourth paragraph that reads :-

‘We further call upon Dacorum Borough Council together with Herts Valleys CCG to make representations to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to provide the necessary finance for the Urgent Treatment Centre to be established in Hemel Hempstead.’

Councillor England spoke to the reason for the amendment:

Aren’t we realists enough to recognise that promises worth the name have to be paid for?

If we are willing the outcome we as a Council must will the means, otherwise this Motion is just cosmetic.

For that reason, I would like to see the Motion amended to present the HVCCG with the tangible support of a practical and resident-supported Dacorum Borough Council call for new NHS funding, funding on which it can lean in order to actually ask for the needed resources which all of us can then expect to make the difference we also seek by the Motion.

Cllr Tindall explained the reason for part (1) of the Amendment.

The amendment was seconded by Cllr Tindall.

Cllr Taylor responded to the amendment and advised that the motion put forward has taken a lot of time, effort and energy to ensure we are making a concise proposal.  It is our opinion that the words we have put before Council this evening are the words we would like to stick with.

The Mayor moved the amendment to debate.

Cllr Williams asked for explanation for reason for the amendment.

Cllr England responded that the purpose for the second part of the amendment is to give some sense of purpose to the entire motion; what we are asking for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

To consider a waiver of the six month non-attendance at meetings of the authority rule due to the ill health and recovery of a Councillor for a six month period up to 16 October 2018 pursuant to Section 85 (1) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Agreed

Agreed

To consider any business referred from the previous meeting

None.

None.

To consider the following referrals from Cabinet:

9.1       CA/034/18       27 March 2018            Two Waters Master Plan

9.2       CA/035/18       27 March 2018            Senior Officer Pay Policy

9.3       CA/037/18       27 March 2018            Joint Strategic Plan for South West Hertfordshire

9.4       CA/039/18       27 March 2018            Housing Revenue Account Business Plan Annual Review 2017/18

Resolved:

That the following be approved:

CA/034/18       TWO WATERS MASTER PLAN

That the Two Waters Masterplan Guidance (as set out Appendix 1 of the report to Cabinet) be adopted as a Planning Statement until the new Dacorum Borough Local Plan is in place when it will be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document.

CA/035/18       SENIOR PAY POLICY

1. That the Council adopt the Pay Policy for 2018/19 as set out in appendix 1 of the report to the Cabinet.

2. That any amendments to the Pay Policy throughout the financial year 2018/2019 which are required as a result of legislative changes be approved by the Chief Executive in conjunction with the Council’s Monitoring Officer.

CA/037/18       SOUTH WEST HERTS JOINT STRATEGIC PLAN

1. That the Council work with the other South West Herts Authorities (Three Rivers, Watford, Hertsmere and St. Albans Councils) and Hertfordshire County Council to prepare a Joint Strategic Plan.

2. That a Memorandum of Understanding be progressed as the framework for governing future joint working arrangements and for the final terms of this Memorandum of Understanding to be delegated to the Assistant Director – Planning, Development and Regeneration, in consultation with the Planning and Regeneration Portfolio Holder, for agreement.

3. That officers progress work on the joint plan and report this to Cabinet and Council for approval at key stages.

4. That the arrangements for the appointment of staff to be jointly managed between the five Local Authorities and to delegate to the Assistant Director – Planning, Development and Regeneration in consultation with the Corporate Director Finance and Operations and the Assistant Director Performance, Policy and Innovation to make the necessary arrangements and agreement with the other Local Authorities for recruitment, appointment, joint management and sharing of costs and liabilities.

5. That the support of Hertfordshire County Council and the Hertfordshire LEP for this process be noted.

6. That the recruitment arrangements for an urban design officer, shared with St Albans City and District Council, to provide specialist advice be commenced.

CA/039/18       REVIEW OF HRA BUSINESS PLAN

That the Council approve

1.    The updated Housing Revenue Account Business Plan.

2.    The revised development programme budgets as set out in Section 8 of the report; and the budget for the Martindale Development in Appendix 2 of the report to the Cabinet.

The referrals from Cabinet on 27 March 2018 were submitted.  It was moved by Councillor Williams, duly seconded and

Resolved:

That the following be approved:

CA/034/18       TWO WATERS MASTER PLAN

That the Two Waters Masterplan Guidance (as set out Appendix 1 of the report to Cabinet) be adopted as a Planning Statement until the new Dacorum Borough Local Plan is in place when it will be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document.

CA/035/18       SENIOR PAY POLICY

1.    That the Council adopt the Pay Policy for 2018/19 as set out in appendix 1 of the report to the Cabinet.

2.    That any amendments to the Pay Policy throughout the financial year 2018/2019 which are required as a result of legislative changes be approved by the Chief Executive in conjunction with the Council’s Monitoring Officer.

CA/037/18       SOUTH WEST HERTS JOINT STRATEGIC PLAN

1.    That the Council work with the other South West Herts Authorities (Three Rivers, Watford, Hertsmere and St. Albans Councils) and Hertfordshire County Council to prepare a Joint Strategic Plan.

2.    That a Memorandum of Understanding be progressed as the framework for governing future joint working arrangements and for the final terms of this Memorandum of Understanding to be delegated to the Assistant Director – Planning, Development and Regeneration, in consultation with the Planning and Regeneration Portfolio Holder, for agreement.

3.    That officers progress work on the joint plan and report this to Cabinet and Council for approval at key stages.

4.    That the arrangements for the appointment of staff to be jointly managed between the five Local Authorities and to delegate to the Assistant Director – Planning, Development and Regeneration in consultation with the Corporate Director Finance and Operations and the Assistant Director Performance, Policy and Innovation to make the necessary arrangements and agreement with the other Local Authorities for recruitment, appointment, joint management and sharing of costs and liabilities.

5.    That the support of Hertfordshire County Council and the Hertfordshire LEP for this process be noted.

6.    That the recruitment arrangements for an urban design officer, shared with St Albans City and District Council, to provide specialist advice be commenced.

CA/039/18       REVIEW OF HRA BUSINESS PLAN

That the Council approve

1.    The updated Housing Revenue Account Business Plan.

2.    The revised development programme budgets as set out in Section 8 of the report; and the budget for the Martindale Development in Appendix 2 of the report to the Cabinet.

To provide clarification on the aggregate Council Tax for 2018/19.

That it be noted that:

1)For the year 2018/19, the precepts issued to the Council are set out in table 3(a) of Appendix A to this report, by category of dwelling.

2) For the year 2018/19, aggregate precepts are set out in table 3(b) of Appendix A to this report, by category of dwelling.

Agreed.

The Chairman of the Strategic Planning and Environment Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Anderson, to introduce the Annual Reports of the Overview and Scrutiny Groups to the Council and certain aspects of the work carried out by the individual committees will be highlighted.

Overview and Scrutiny reports can be found in the full minutes.

The Chairman of the Strategic Planning and Environment Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Anderson gave an update to the committee covering all Overview and Scrutiny committee’s full reports can be found in the agenda

None.

There were no referrals from Overview & Scrutiny.

There were no referrals from Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

To consider any proposals for changes to committee membership

There were no changes to committee membership.

There were no changes to committee membership.

To consider any proposals for changes to committee dates

There were no changes to committee dates.

There were no changes to committee dates.

To consider passing a resolution in the following terms:

That, under s.100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 Schedule 12A Part 1 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006 the public be excluded during the items 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 those items, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information relating to the financial and business affairs of the Council and third party companies/organisations.

There were no items for consideration under exclusion of the public.

There were no items for consideration under exclusion of the public.