Agenda and draft minutes

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting of the council

The minutes of the Annual Council meeting held on 20 May 2015 were confirmed by the Members present and then signed by the Mayor.

To receive any declarations of interest

None

To consider questions (if any) by members of the public of which the appropriate notice has been given to the Assistant Director (Legal, Democratic & Regulatory)

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 G Sutton                Environmental Services & Sustainability

Councillor Elliot                       Finance & Resources

Councillor Mrs Griffiths           Housing

Councillor Harden                   Residents & Regulatory Services

Councillor Marshall                 Planning and Regeneration

4.3       By the Group Leaders:

Councillor Williams gave apologies for absence on behalf of Councillors G Adshead, S Adshead, Elliot, Mills, Brown and W Wyatt-Lowe.

Councillor Fisher gave apologies for absence on behalf of Councillor Fethney.

4.4       Leader of the Council and Members of the Cabinet:

Councillor Williams had nothing to announce.

Councillor Marshall made her announcement.

4.         Members of the Cabinet:

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

Councillor Williams had nothing to announce.

Councillor Marshall, Portfolio Holder for Environmental, Sustainability and Regulatory Services

Environmental Services

On Sunday 10 May 2015 we ran a compost awareness event where we gave away ten tons of free compost to keen gardeners as part of National Compost Week. Hundreds of residents headed to the giveaway event at Cupid Green Depot to pick up their two bags of compost made from the contents of the Borough's green wheeled bins. Last year residents helped to divert about 15,600 tons of food waste, cardboard and garden waste away from landfill and into the green wheeled bins. The compost was provided by D Williams and Co, the company responsible for turning the contents of the green wheeled bin into nutrient-rich compost.

For more information: http://www.dacorum.gov.uk/home/news/all-news/2015/05/12/free-compost-giveaway---ten-tonnes-given-to-residents

In June we announced that we can accept plastic carrier bags for food waste disposal in the food caddy. This will make it easier for residents to continue to participate in recycling food waste even after the free compostable liners run out.  After extensive trials at the composting facility (Anaerobic Digestion Facility in Chertsey) , residents now have the option to dispose of food waste in plastic carrier bags, as well as compostable liners and newspapers.

Residents can continue to wrap food waste in newspaper and use compostable liners, which are available to buy from the Civic Centres, online at www.thebincompany.co.uk or from supermarkets. Residents have been urged not to place food in plastic trays or containers or in any other plastic wrapping in the kerbside caddy as it will not be collected. 

The ‘breaking’ good news was announced on Facebook and it led to 80 likes, 92 shares and 29 comments (all positive).

For more information:

 http://www.dacorum.gov.uk/home/news/all-news/2015/06/03/food-waste-recycling-made-easy

To celebrate National Recycle Week (22 - 28 June) we've been out and about encouraging people to expand their recycling routine to include items from every part of their home.  Shoppers in the Sainsburys store in Woodhall Farm and Tesco store in Jarman Park took part in demonstrations and competitions to test what items can be placed in the mixed recycling bin and the refuse bin from different rooms in the house. Those who gave the right answers won recycled merchandise, including bottle opener key rings, mini wheeled bins and reusable bags. Many residents and supermarket staff showed their enthusiasm for recycling, with the pledge "I'm recycling right for Herts".

For more information:

 http://www.dacorum.gov.uk/home/news/all-news/2015/06/23/you're-recycling-right

The Clean Safe and Green (CSG) team had the official opening of Walled Garden summer flower display where the Mayor very  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

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

To consider any business referred from the previous meeting

To consider the following referrals from Cabinet:

13.                   CABINET REFERRALS

The referrals from Cabinet on 26 May and 29 June 2015 were submitted.  It was moved by Councillor Williams, duly seconded by Councillor Griffiths and agreed by Members.

Resolved

That the following be approved:

26 May 2015

7.1  CA/039/15 HOUSING ALLOCATIONS POLICY REVIEW

Decision

1.         That the amendments to the Housing Allocations Policy as set out in paragraph 3 of the report to Cabinet be approved.

2.         That the proposed communications strategy regarding the Housing Allocations Policy be approved.

29 June 2015

7.2       CA/048/15   AMENDMENT OF STANDING ORDERS REGARDING DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Decision

That Council approve the  amendment to Part 4 of the Constitution ‘Officer Employment Procedure Rules’ as set out in the Appendix to  the report to Cabinet pursuant to the provisions of the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2015.

7.3 CA/050/15 HEMEL HEMPSTEAD AMBASSADORS – START- UP FUNDING

Decision

That a supplementary estimate of £140,000, funded from the Dacorum Development Reserve, in order to finance the Ambassadors programme for two years be approved.

None.

None

Under Article 8 of the Council’s Constitution ‘Measures For Standards of Conduct’, the membership of the Standards Committee shall include two co-opted independent members with no voting rights. The terms of office of the current independent members on the Standards Committee have now expired and the Standards Committee is in the process of recruiting two new independent members.

The roles have been advertised, a shortlist of candidates has been agreed and interviews are being conducted on the 8^th and 13^th July. The Assistant Director (Chief Executive’s Unit) will submit a report for the Council meeting on 15 July advising members of the outcome of the recruitment process and containing the Standards Committee’s recommendations on the appointment of persons to serve as independent members on the Committee.      

That John Ebdon and Brendan Henry be appointed as Co-opted Independent Members of the Standards Committee until Annual Council 2019.

To consider any proposals for changes to committee membership

That Councillors Mrs Bassadone and Mills be appointed as substitutes for the Development Control Committee.

That Councillor Tindall be appointed to the Standards Committee.

To consider any proposals for changes to committee dates

There were no changes but an additional meeting of the Development Control Committee has been scheduled for Thursday 30 July 2015

For information, circulated at the meeting will be a list of appointments to Outside Organisations.

 Some representatives on outside organisations were still to be confirmed and an updated list would be circulated to members

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/041/15)

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

It was proposed by Councillor Williams and seconded by Councillor Griffiths to exclude the public and move to Part 2 of the agenda.

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/041/15)

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

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

Resolved:

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/041/15)

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

20.       PART 2 CABINET REFERRAL – DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (CA/041/15)

26 MAY 2015

7.2 CA/041/15 DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

That the following be approved:

1.         The disposal of the Council garage site in West Dene, Great Gaddesden for the sum of £60,000 to Hastoe Housing Association, for the development of six affordable housing units (subject to planning permission)

2.         The award of the main contract in connection with the construction of 5 new Council homes at the former Tring Depot in Queen Street, Tring to Modplan Building & Refurbishment Contractors Ltd for up to £836,000.

3.         An additional build cost budget of £286,000 to develop 5 new homes at the former Tring Depot in Queen Street, Tring.

4.         An additional consultant budget of £20,000 to develop 5 new homes at the former Tring Depot in Queen Street, Tring.