Agenda and draft minutes

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council

The minutes of the meeting of 13^th November 2024 were agreed.

To receive any declarations of interest

The Mayor invited declarations of interest, there were 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 Services)

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

Before commencing proceedings, the Mayor asked members to ensure they remain respectful and adhere to the rulings of the Mayor at all times and be mindful of their behaviour throughout the meeting.  The Mayor also reminded members that any Standards matters or councillor complaints should be raised directly with the Monitoring Officer and not during this meeting.

4.1       The Mayor announced the sad passing of former Cllr John Mottershead who represented the Tring West & Rural ward from May 2023 to February 2024

The Mayor invited any reflections from members before holding a 1 minute silence.

The Mayor then announced the sad passing of former Cllr Ann Ryan, who represented the Grovehill ward from May 2007 to May 2015.

The Mayor invited any reflections from members before holding 1 minute silence.

The Mayor then advised that this is the last Council meeting for Chief Executive Claire Hamilton and invited members to join her in thanking Claire of her service to Dacorum Borough Council.

Cllr England made a presentation to Claire on behalf of all members, well wishes were also offered by Cllr Dhyani and CHamilton addressed the chamber to say a few words of thanks to her member and officer colleauges.

Full details of all items under the Mayor’s announcements can be viewed via the video minutes.

4.2       Under Chief Executive’s announcements, CHamilton advised that a by-election will take place on Thursday the 27th of February 2025 to fill a vacancy on Tring Town Council in the Bunstrux Ward.

4.3       The Mayor invited Group Leaders to give any announcements and submit apologies on behalf of their groups.

            Cllr England addressed the Council and announced that he is to stand down as the Leader of the Liberal Democrat group and further advised of his intention stand down as Leader of the Council in due course.  Cllr England advised that Cllr Sally Symington has been appointed as the Leader of the Liberal Democrat group and advised it is likely that an Extraordinary Council will be arranged to appoint the new Leader of the Council.

            Cllr England went on to record apologies on behalf of Cllrs Stewart and Deacon.

            Cllr Williams responded to Cllr England’s announcement and thanked him for the way they have worked together over the previous months.  Cllr Williams then gave apologies on behalf of Cllrs Durrant and Timmis.

            Cllr Mitchell echoed the comments Cllr Williams addressed to Cllr England and also welcomed Cllr Greenfield who was recently appointed as a member of the Labour group.

Apologies were also recorded on behalf of independent Cllrs Tindall, Capozzi, Weston and Wilkie.

The Mayor referred to the Portfolio Holder updates as published with the agenda and advised that she would take these as read and would invite questions against each update in turn.

Before doing so, the Mayor invited Cllr England to give any verbal update as Leader of the Council; of which there were no questions.

The Mayor then introduced the People & Transformation – Climate & Ecological Emergency portfolio and invited any questions to be addressed to Cllr Smith-Wright regarding her update.

Questions were posed by Cllrs Gale, Patterson, Taylor, Barradell and Mitchell; full details can be viewed via the video minutes.

Action:

Cllr Smith-Wright to provide a written response to Cllr Barradell’s question; with reference to the new staff induction process, can we please have a walk-through of exactly what has changed in that process? 

Action:

Cllr Smith-Wright to provide a written response to Cllr Mitchell’s question; please provide more information about the Inspire Management Training Programme.

The Mayor introduced the Housing & Property portfolio and invited any questions to be addressed to Cllr Dhyani regarding her update.

Questions were posed by Cllrs Freedman, Taylor, Hannell and Douris; full details can be viewed via the video minutes.    

The Mayor then introduced the Corporate & Commercial portfolio and invited any questions to be addressed to Cllr Allen regarding his update.

Questions were posed by Cllrs Guest and Barradell; full details can be viewed via the video minutes.

The Mayor introduced the Neighbourhood Operations portfolio and invited any questions to be addressed to Cllr Bromham regarding his update.

Questions were posed by Cllrs Maddern, Guest, Gale and Mitchell; full details can be viewed via the video minutes.

The Mayor then introduced the final portfolio, Place, and invited any questions to be addressed to Cllr England regarding his update.

Questions were posed by Cllrs Stevens, Freedman and A Williams; full details can be viewed via the video minutes. 

6.1 Motion proposed by the Leader of the Council, Cllr Adrian England

STOP NONSENSICAL LUTON EXPANSION

This Council notes that a government decision on the proposed large expansion of Luton Airport is now expected in April 2025, after the Chancellor of the Exchequer intimated that it should be granted. This Council has previously expressed strong objections to the proposed expansion of Luton Airport. On Luton Airport’s doorstop, residents from Dacorum are extremely concerned about the upcoming decision because of:

1.     aircraft noise,

2.     the impact on our local roads with overcrowding, in light of the growth agenda

3.     the impact of CO2 emissions and air pollution, compounding  the likelihood of the airport completely failing, to reach  Net Zero by 2050

This Council notes that Luton Airport had already breached their aircraft noise limits for three consecutive years up to 2019. Promises of quieter aircraft have since failed to materialise. Luton Airport has failed to deliver on their promises.

This Council further notes that the claim that the airport expansion will lead to economic growth, fails to consider that despite significant growth in air passenger numbers over the past two decades:

·         There has been no net growth in air travel for business purposes.

·         There has been no net growth in jobs in air transport.

·         Real wages in air transport jobs have fallen significantly.

·         The UK’s domestic overnight tourism industry has shrunk significantly.

·         Growth has primarily driven leisure travel abroad and increased the travel spending deficit, with the greatest spending losses seen in the UK’s wider regions.

This Council also notes that advice from the UK Climate Change Committee is clear: “no airport expansions should proceed until a UK-wide capacity management framework is in place to assess annually and, if required, control sector CO2 emissions and non-CO2 effects.”

In 2021 The Climate Change Committee, submitted a report to the previous government, advising that not only is aviation likely to be the largest emitter of CO2 by 2050, but that relative emissions from aviation can only be reduced by around 20% using fuel efficiency measures.

As such, this proposed 77% increase to Luton Airport capacity fundamentally undermines the UK’s commitment to reach Net Zero by 2050.

This Council agrees that the Leader will write to the Secretary of State to urge a common sense decision to (focus construction workforce on affordable homes and Net Zero infrastructure) and urge the government to oppose this expansion before a UK-wide air travel capacity framework is in place.

The Mayor invited Cllr England to present his motion and reminded members that a written copy is included in the published agenda pack.

Cllr Guest declared a personal interest in that she is a member of a Flying Club at Dunstable Airfield and therefore will not be taking part in the debate and vote.

Cllr England introduced his motion titled ‘Stop the nonsensical Luton expansion’ and addressed the chamber with the reasons for it being raised.

Cllr Douris seconded the motion and reserved his right to speak.

Cllrs Smith-Wright and Hannell spoke to share their views.

Cllr Douris then spoke as the seconder of the motion, advising he was seconding in place of Cllr Timmis who was unfortunately not able to be at the meeting this evening.

All discussion can be viewed via the video minutes.

The Mayor took the motion to a vote;

Those for the motion = 34

Those against the motion = 2

Those who abstained to vote = 6

The Mayor declared the motion was therefore carried.

To consider any business referred from the previous meeting

The Mayor advised that all updates against actions arising from the previous meeting have been published with the agenda.

The action update was agreed as noted.

To consider the following referrals from Cabinet:

The Mayor invited Cllr England to introduce the referrals from Cabinet.

8.1       Cllr England introduced CA/103/24 from the Cabinet meeting of 25/11/2024 ‘Treasury Management Outturn and Performance Indicators’, which was seconded by Cllr Dhyani and agreed.

            Decision: Recommendations agreed

8.2       Cllr England introduced CA/111/24 from the Cabinet meeting of 10/12/2024 ‘Treasury Management 2024/25 Mid-Year Performance Report’ which was seconded by Cllr Dhyani and agreed.

            Decision: Recommendations agreed

8.3       Cllr England introduced CA/118/24 from the Cabinet meeting of 10/12/2024 ‘Council Tax Base Report’, which was seconded by Cllr Dhyani and agreed.

            Decision: Recommendations agreed

8.4       Cllr England introduced CA/08/25 from the Cabinet meeting of 28/01/25 ‘Review of Scrutiny by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny’, which was seconded by Cllr Dhyani and agreed.

            Decision: Recommendations agreed

8.5       Cllr England introduced CA/10/25 from the Cabinet meeting of 28/01/205 ‘Climate and Ecological Emergency Spending Proposal’, which was seconded by Cllr Dhyani and agreed.

            Decision: Recommendations agreed

8.6       Cllr England introduced CA/11/25 from the Cabinet meeting of 28/01/2025 ‘Transforming Public Procurement Update & Impact – Procurement Act 2023’, which was seconded by Cllr Dhyani and agreed.

            Decision: Recommendations agreed

8.7       Cllr England introduced CA/12/25 from the Cabinet meeting of 28/01/2025 ‘Council Tax Setting Committee’, which was seconded by Cllr Dhyani and agreed.

            Decision: Recommendations agreed

8.8       Cllr England introduced CA/19/25 from the Cabinet meeting of 11/02/2025 ‘HRA Business Plan’, which was seconded by Cllr Dhyani and agreed.

            Decision: Recommendations agreed

8.9       Cllr England introduced CA/20/25 from the Cabinet meeting of 11/02/2025 ‘Budget 2025/26’, which was seconded by Cllr Dhyani.

            Cllrs A Williams, Allen, Guest, Freedman, Barradell, Bromham and England offered their comments on the proposed budget; full discussion can be viewed via the video minutes.

The Mayor then took the recommendations as set out in the referral from Cabinet under item CA/20/25 ‘Budget 2025/26’ to a recorded vote;

            The recorded vote is as follows;

            Total voting ‘for’ the recommendations: 18

            Total voting ‘against’ the recommendations: 0

            Total who abstained to vote: 23

            Total who did not cast a vote: 2

            Decision: The Mayor announced that the vote carried and the recommendations are agreed.

The Mayor advised that there are no referrals for consideration from the Overview &  Scrutiny committees.

The Mayor invited Cllr England to introduce the report.

Full details can be viewed via the video minutes.

Decision: recommendations agreed

The Mayor invited Cllr England to introduce the report.

Full details can be viewed via the video minutes.

Decision: recommendation agreed

It is proposed by Cllr Mitchell that Cllr Greenfield is to replace Cllr Silwal on the Finance & Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

The proposed membership of the Council Tax Setting Committee be agreed as Cllr Adrian England, Cllr Garrick Stevens, Cllr Andrew William, Cllr Graeme Elliot with a vacancy for an Independent member.

The Mayor invited the Group Leaders to give any changes to committee membership.

Cllr England advised that Cllr Freedman will replace Cllr Deacon on the Housing & Community Overview & Scrutiny Committee.  Cllr Allen will be joining the Development Management Committee.

Cllr England also confirmed the membership of the newly formed Council Tax Setting Committee as; The Leader of the Council along with Cllrs Stevens, A Williams, Elliott and 1 x vacancy for an independent.

Cllr Mitchell advised that Cllr Greenfield will replace Cllr Silwal on the Finance & Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Cllr Williams advised that Cllr Harden will replace Cllr B Williams on the Housing & Community Overview & Scrutiny Committee. 

To consider any proposals for changes to committee dates

It is proposed that the Council meeting diarised to take place on 23 April 2025 be moved to 2 April 2025; this is to avoid Easter Holiday dates and enable the release of the Council Chamber for the storage and preparation of ballot papers in relation to the HCC Elections taking place on 2 May 2025.

The Mayor addressed Cllr England to seek any changes to committee dates.

Cllr England advised that the next meeting of the Full Council will move from 23^rd April to a new date of 2^nd April 2025.

Decision: agreed

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.

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

The Mayor advised that the final item on the agenda tonight will be Item 15, the appointment of Interim Chief Executive. 

The Mayor reminded members that the report associated to this item is Part 2 and so is excluded from the public.  The Mayor however noted that, unless any confidential information needs to be discussed, she propose the meeting remain in Part 1 to confirm this appointment.

The Mayor requested that if anyone should have anything of a confidential or personal nature to discuss, to please advise now so she could consider passing the resolution to exclude the public?

Decision: It was agreed that the meeting remain in Part 1 unless otherwise requested during discussion.

The Mayor invited Cllr England to introduce the report.

Cllr England set out the proposal to appoint Darren Welsh as the Interim Chief Executive.

Full details can be viewed via the video minutes.

Decision: agreed

The Mayor advised that this concludes the business of the meeting.