Agenda, decisions and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on  12 November 2019

Minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2019 were agreed by Members present and signed by the Chair.

Minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2019 were agreed by Members present and signed by the Chair.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To receive any declarations of interest

A member with a disclosable pecuniary interest or a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered -

(i)            must disclose the interest at the start of the meeting or when the interest becomes apparent

and, if the interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest, or a personal interest which is also prejudicial

(ii)            may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter (and must withdraw to the public seating area) unless they have been granted a dispensation.

A member who discloses at a meeting a disclosable pecuniary interest which is not registered in the Members’ Register of Interests, or is not the subject of a pending notification, must notify the Monitoring Officer of the interest within 28 days of the disclosure.

Disclosable pecuniary interests, personal and prejudicial interests are defined in Part 2 of the Code of Conduct for Members

[If a member is in any doubt as to whether they have an interest which should be declared they should seek the advice of the Monitoring Officer before the start of the meeting]

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

An opportunity for members of the public to make statements and ask questions in accordance with the rules as to Public Participation.

There was no public participation. 

There was no public participation. 

There were no referrals to Cabinet

There were no referrals to Cabinet.

There were no referrals to Cabinet.

The forward plan was noted with the following changes:

·         Item 1 – 14/01/20 – CCTV – move to April meeting.

·         Item 9 – 11/02/20 – HRA Business Case Update – move to March meeting.

The forward plan was noted with the following changes:

·         Item 1 – 14/01/20 – CCTV – move to April meeting.

·         Item 9 – 11/02/20 – HRA Business Case Update – move to March meeting.

Report to follow

1.    That the Collection Fund surplus estimate of £1,231,344.55 as at 31 March 2020 be approved. The Dacorum Borough Council share of this surplus is £150,737.13.

2.    That the calculation of the Council’s tax base for the year 2020/21 incorporating an estimated collection rate of 99.4% be approved.

3.    That, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by the Council as its tax base for the year 2020/21 shall be 58,567.40 and its constituent elements shall be:

Decision

1.    That the Collection Fund surplus estimate of £1,231,344.55 as at 31 March 2020 be approved. The Dacorum Borough Council share of this surplus is £150,737.13.

2.    That the calculation of the Council’s tax base for the year 2020/21 incorporating an estimated collection rate of 99.4% be approved.

3.    That, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by the Council as its tax base for the year 2020/21 shall be 58,567.40 and its constituent elements shall be:

Corporate objectives

Agreement of the Council Tax Base 2020/21 and the Council Tax surplus estimate as at 31 March 2020 supports sound financial planning and achievement of the corporate objective of delivering an efficient and modern Council.

Deputy Monitoring Officer

No comments to add to the report.

Section 151 Officer

This is a Section 151 officer report

Advice

Cllr Elliot confirmed the increase to Band D which is £1,300 and that the collection rates target will be 99.4% which we are confident we are able to meet.

The recommendations were agreed.

That the updated Financial Regulations 2019 be approved.

Decision

That the updated Financial Regulations 2019 be approved.

Corporate objectives

Delivering an efficient and modern council.

Deputy Monitoring Officer

Further to section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972, local authorities are required to make arrangements for the proper administration of the Council’s financial affairs.

Deputy S.151 Officer

This is Deputy S151 report and comments are enclosed in the body of the report.

Advice

Cllr Elliot introduced the report confirming that it was the framework for managing the financial affairs.  J Deane advised that some of the supplementary budget authorisations had been changed including the grant income draw down being delegated to the s151 Officer in conjunction with the Corporate Director and Group Manager, also the invoice levels for S Marshall and J Deane will be changed to £20m up to £100k will be authorised by the s151 Officer.

The financial regulations were agreed.

Resolved to recommend:

To approve the Meeting Timetable for 2020/21 as set out in Appendix A to the Cabinet report.

The following amendments were included.

·         Cabinet in April no longer needed

·         Additional Council to be added Wednesday 17 June.

·         MDSG Wednesday 17 June to be moved to Thursday 18 June.

Decision

Resolved to recommend:

To approve the Meeting Timetable for 2020/21 as set out in Appendix A to the Cabinet report.

Corporate objectives

The various meetings of the Council, Cabinet and Committees support the achievement of the Council’s Corporate Objectives.

Deputy Monitoring Officer 

No comments to add to the report.

Deputy S.151 Officer

No comments to add to the report.

Advice

The Committee Diary for 20/21 was agreed with the following changes:

·         2^nd Cabinet meeting in April no longer needed

·         Additional Council to be added Wednesday 17 June.

·         MDSG Wednesday 17 June to be moved to Thursday 18 June.

Resolved to recommend:

The adoption of the Corporate Plan 2020 to 2025.

Decision

Resolved to recommend:

The adoption of the Corporate Plan 2020 to 2025.

Corporate objectives

The Corporate Plan will support all five of the Council’s corporate objectives:

1. A Clean and safe environment

2. Building strong vibrant communities

3. Ensuring economic growth and prosperity

4. Providing good quality affordable homes, in particular to those most in need

5. Ensuring efficient, effective and modern service delivery

It sets out the updated priorities for the Council.

Monitoring Officer

No further comments to add to the report.

Deputy S.151 Officer

There are no direct financial consequences of this report. The Corporate Plan sets out the aims of the Council over the next five years and will help inform the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Advice

Cllr Tindall commented that Council were to be congratulated on progress on affordable housing in the Borough and requested that the target in the Corporate Plan be increased further to help with the Council’s waiting list, perhaps by increasing borrowing or additional government funding.  Cllr Williams highlighted that the target states over 400 affordable homes will be delivered and this target was set as it is achievable, borrowing additional money would not be prudent, but if there is new mechanisms available under a new government the target may be increased.  Cllr Williams added that the Corporate Plan should reflect what we are able to deliver.

Cllr Tindall mentioned the ambition was just looking to increase the target if we can do more.  Cllr Griffiths said we wouldn’t want to promise something we can’t deliver and clarified that we also work with other providers where the nominations go to the Council as we provide grant funding.

Cllr Williams advised that we would look to do as much as we can and S Marshall highlighted that the target says over 400 and if we can do more we will.

The Corporate Plan was agreed.

That the Memorandum of Understanding set out in Appendix 1 to this report is approved.

Decision

That the Memorandum of Understanding set out in Appendix 1 to this report is approved.

Corporate objectives

A clean, safe and enjoyable environment
Building strong and vibrant communities
Ensuring economic growth and prosperity
Providing good quality affordable homes, in particular for those most in need

Deputy Monitoring Officer

Although the MOU is not a legally binding document, by signing up to the MOU, the Council is covenanting with the other partners to observe and commit to the principles and objectives set out therein.

Deputy S.151 Officer

There are no direct financial implications proposed in the MOU. Any future financial implications, linked to development of the MOU, will need to be assessed as and when they are requested.

Advice

Cllr Williams mentioned that the Growth Board was the primary method for delivering new homes in the Borough through an understanding with all partners, which includes the LEP.

The Memorandum of Understanding was agreed.