Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting

Cabinet Agreed the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the last meeting were approved.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllr Wilkie

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.

Martin Smith from Kings Langley attended and read out a statement.

Martin Smith from Kings Langley attended and read out a statement.

There were no referrals to Cabinet

There were no referrals to Cabinet

There were no referrals to Cabinet.

M Brookes added the Public Space protection Order renewal to March’s Cabinet. The Forward Plan was noted.

M Brookes requested that the PSPO item be added to the Forward plan for March.

The forward plan was noted

Cabinet

1. Approved the Building Safety Policy.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND

2. Recommended to Council that the Chief Executive be designated as the Accountable Person within the Council’s constitution and scheme of delegation and the Monitoring Officer is given delegated authority to make the required amendments to the Council’s Scheme of Delegation.

Decision

Cabinet

1. Approved the Building Safety Policy.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND

2. Recommended to Council that the Chief Executive be designated as the Accountable Person within the Council’s constitution and scheme of delegation and the Monitoring Officer is given delegated authority to make the required amendments to the Council’s Scheme of Delegation.

Advice

Recommendation agreed

Please refer to the video minutes to view this item in full.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND

Cabinet recommended that Council approves the Committee Timetable for 2024/25 as set out in Appendix A to this report

Decision

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND

Cabinet recommended that Council approves the Committee Timetable for 2024/25 as set out in Appendix A to this report.

Advice

Recommendation agreed

Please refer to the video minutes to view this item in full.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND

1.    Recommend that Full Council adopt the HRA Business Plan at Appendix A.

2.    Recommend that Full Council approve the Acquisitions and Disposals policy at Appendix B.

3.    Recommend that Full Council approve the Rent Policy at Appendix C.

Decision

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND

1.     Recommend that Full Council adopt the HRA Business Plan at Appendix A.

2.     Recommend that Full Council approve the Acquisitions and Disposals policy at Appendix B.

3.     Recommend that Full Council approve the Rent Policy at Appendix C.

Advice

Recommendation agreed

Please refer to the video minutes to view this item in full.

1.    Cabinet agreed to the proposed parking tariff increases and changes to charging policy as set out in Appendix 1 of this report, these include:

·         Off-Street Parking tariff changes for 2024,

·         Consolidating on-street (car parks) short stay sessions to introduce a new minimum stay of 2 hours,

·         Keep Limited Wait Bays (LWBs) on the peripheries of the high streets in Berkhamsted and Kings Langley as being free to use,

·         Keep all LWBs free in Apsley and Hemel Hempstead Old Town,

·         Introduce charges for LWBs in the centre of Tring and Kings Langley,

·         All chargeable LWBs (on-street parking) in the centre of Berkhamsted, Kings Langley, Tring plus Waterhouse Street and Marlowes to have maximum 1 hour stay with 2 tariffs: 30 mins for £0.80 or 1 hour for £1.50,

·         Hemel Hempstead On-street parking to reduce from the proposed 4 hours to 2 hours in:

·         Alexandra Road;

·         Cemetery Hill;

·         St John’s Road;

·         Cotterells

·         London Road

·         Introduction of an ‘Up to 10 hours’ parking option in off-street parking,

·         Parking charges to apply from 8am – 6pm Monday to Sunday for both on-street and off-street parking,

·         All evening charging to be removed,

·         Kings Langley off-street car parks to remain free but stay limited to a maximum of 4 hours between 8am – 6pm (no time restriction after 6pm),

·         Canal Fields, Berkhamsted, to remain free but stay limited to a maximum of 4 hours between 8am – 6pm (no time restriction after 6pm),

·         The introduction of a change in the TRO to enable customers to extend a parking session by using the Pay By Phone app or the pay machines, but only where this allowed under the parking restrictions (e.g. it will not be possible to extend a parking session past the maximum stay),

·         Opening up part of the upper level of the Water Gardens North car park for public use Mon – Fri,

2.     Cabinet agreed to progress with the statutory consultation on the parking tariffs and charging polices.

3.     Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Corporate & Commercial Services to make any final decision on the implementation of the parking tariff increases and changes to charging policy following the statutory consultation.

4.     Cabinet agree that the Leader of the Council liaise  with officers and the Portfolio Holder for Climate and Ecological Emergency to agree the appropriate legal route to enable the enforcement of electric vehicle charge point bays in neighbourhood shopping centres.

Decision

1.    Cabinet agreed to the proposed parking tariff increases and changes to charging policy as set out in Appendix 1 of this report, these include:

·         Off-Street Parking tariff changes for 2024,

·         Consolidating on-street (car parks) short stay sessions to introduce a new minimum stay of 2 hours,

·         Keep Limited Wait Bays (LWBs) on the peripheries of the high streets in Berkhamsted and Kings Langley as being free to use,

·         Keep all LWBs free in Apsley and Hemel Hempstead Old Town,

·         Introduce charges for LWBs in the centre of Tring and Kings Langley,

·         All chargeable LWBs (on-street parking) in the centre of Berkhamsted, Kings Langley, Tring plus Waterhouse Street and Marlowes to have maximum 1 hour stay with 2 tariffs: 30 mins for £0.80 or 1 hour for £1.50,

·         Hemel Hempstead On-street parking to reduce from the proposed 4 hours to 2 hours in:

·         Alexandra Road;

·         Cemetery Hill;

·         St John’s Road;

·         Cotterells

·         London Road

·         Introduction of an ‘Up to 10 hours’ parking option in off-street parking,

·         Parking charges to apply from 8am – 6pm Monday to Sunday for both on-street and off-street parking,

·         All evening charging to be removed,

·         Kings Langley off-street car parks to remain free but stay limited to a maximum of 4 hours between 8am – 6pm (no time restriction after 6pm),

·         Canal Fields, Berkhamsted, to remain free but stay limited to a maximum of 4 hours between 8am – 6pm (no time restriction after 6pm),

·         The introduction of a change in the TRO to enable customers to extend a parking session by using the Pay By Phone app or the pay machines, but only where this allowed under the parking restrictions (e.g. it will not be possible to extend a parking session past the maximum stay),

·         Opening up part of the upper level of the Water Gardens North car park for public use Mon – Fri,

2.     Cabinet agreed to progress with the statutory consultation on the parking tariffs and charging polices.

3.     Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Corporate & Commercial Services to make any final decision on the implementation of the parking tariff increases and changes to charging policy following the statutory consultation.

4.     Cabinet agree that the Leader of the Council liaise  with officers and the Portfolio Holder for Climate  and Ecological Emergency to agree the appropriate legal route to enable the enforcement of electric vehicle charge point bays in neighbourhood shopping centres.

Advice

Recommendation agreed

Please refer to the video minutes to view this item in full.

Cabinet:

Approved the interim Housing Asset Management Strategy 2024 – 2026

Decision

Cabinet:

Approved the interim Housing Asset Management Strategy 2024 – 2026

Advice

Recommendation agreed

Please refer to the video minutes to view this item in full.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND

Cabinet recommends Councilto:

General Fund Revenue Estimate

1. Set a Dacorum Borough Council General Fund Council Tax requirement of £13.821m, and a provisional amount of £15.144m for the combined Borough Council and Parish Councils’ requirement for 2024/25;

2. Approve a Band D Council Tax increase of £6.66 (2.99%) for Dacorum Borough Council;

3. Approve the base estimates for 2024/25, as shown in Appendix A1, and the indicative budget forecasts for 2024/25 – 2027/28, as shown in Appendix A2;

4. Approve the forecast balances of Revenue Reserves as shown in Appendix J, and approve section 10 of this report as the updated Reserves Strategy;

5. Approve increases in Fees and Charges for 2024/25 as set out in Appendices C3, D3, and E3;

6. Approve and adopt the Treasury Management Strategy for 2024/25, attached at Appendix K;

7. Approve and adopt the Capital Strategy for 2024/25, attached at Appendix L;

8. Note that this budget paper, if approved by Council, will form part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Capital Programme

9. Approve the Capital Programme for 2024/25 to 2028/29, as detailed in Appendix I;

10. Approve the financing proposals in Appendix I subject to an annual review of the financing options by the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, during the preparation of the Statement of Accounts.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA)

11. Set dwelling rents according to DLUHC guidance, which provides for a rent increase of CPI plus 1% which equates to 7.7%. The average dwelling rent is proposed to be £127.73 per week in 2024/25 (based on 52 weeks);

12. Approve the HRA budget for 2024/25 as shown in Appendix F

Employer Terms and Conditions

13. Note that the hourly rate of all Council employees continues to exceed the rate proposed by the rates of the Living Wage Foundation, for 2024/25 (to be reviewed annually thereafter).

Statement by Chief Finance Officer

14. Approve the statement by the Chief Finance Officer regarding the robustness of the budget estimates and level of reserves as set out in Appendix M.

Decision

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND

Cabinet recommends Councilto:

General Fund Revenue Estimate

1. Set a Dacorum Borough Council General Fund Council Tax requirement of £13.821m, and a provisional amount of £15.144m for the combined Borough Council and Parish Councils’ requirement for 2024/25;

2. Approve a Band D Council Tax increase of £6.66 (2.99%) for Dacorum Borough Council;

3. Approve the base estimates for 2024/25, as shown in Appendix A1, and the indicative budget forecasts for 2024/25 – 2027/28, as shown in Appendix A2;

4. Approve the forecast balances of Revenue Reserves as shown in Appendix J, and approve section 10 of this report as the updated Reserves Strategy;

5. Approve increases in Fees and Charges for 2024/25 as set out in Appendices C3, D3, and E3;

6. Approve and adopt the Treasury Management Strategy for 2024/25, attached at Appendix K;

7. Approve and adopt the Capital Strategy for 2024/25, attached at Appendix L;

8. Note that this budget paper, if approved by Council, will form part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Capital Programme

9. Approve the Capital Programme for 2024/25 to 2028/29, as detailed in Appendix I;

10. Approve the financing proposals in Appendix I subject to an annual review of the financing options by the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, during the preparation of the Statement of Accounts.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA)

11. Set dwelling rents according to DLUHC guidance, which provides for a rent increase of CPI plus 1% which equates to 7.7%. The average dwelling rent is proposed to be £127.73 per week in 2024/25 (based on 52 weeks);

12. Approve the HRA budget for 2024/25 as shown in Appendix F

Employer Terms and Conditions

13. Note that the hourly rate of all Council employees continues to exceed the rate proposed by the rates of the Living Wage Foundation, for 2024/25 (to be reviewed annually thereafter).

Statement by Chief Finance Officer

14. Approve the statement by the Chief Finance Officer regarding the robustness of the budget estimates and level of reserves as set out in Appendix M.

Advice

Recommendation agreed

Please refer to the video minutes to view this item in full.

1. That the update on CBSAC Mitigation Strategy matters presented be noted.

2. That Gadebridge Park, Margaret Lloyd Park, Howe Grove, and an extension to Bunkers Park, be considered and, if appropriate, taken forward as the next phase of Council SANG sites.

3. That the relevant Ward members and Town and Parish Councils be involved in the drafting and finalising of SANG Management Plans for Council owned sites.

4. That a Dacorum SANG Strategy be prepared to support identified future needs for Council led SANG arising from development.

5. That authority be delegated for the CBSAC Mitigation Strategy decisions, Section 106 Legal Agreements for appeals and Development Consent Orders as set out in table 2.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND

6. Cabinet recommended that Council delegates authority to the Monitoring Officer to amend the Constitution to give effect to recommendation 5 above.

Decision

1. That the update on CBSAC Mitigation Strategy matters presented be noted.

2. That Gadebridge Park, Margaret Lloyd Park, Howe Grove, and an extension to Bunkers Park, be considered and, if appropriate, taken forward as the next phase of Council SANG sites.

3. That the relevant Ward members and Town and Parish Councils be involved in the drafting and finalising of SANG Management Plans for Council owned sites.

4. That a Dacorum SANG Strategy be prepared to support identified future needs for Council led SANG arising from development.

5. That authority be delegated for the CBSAC Mitigation Strategy decisions, Section 106 Legal Agreements for appeals and Development Consent Orders as set out in table 2.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND

6. Cabinet recommended that Council delegates authority to the Monitoring Officer to amend the Constitution to give effect to recommendation 5 above.

Advice

Recommendation agreed

Please refer to the video minutes to view this item in full.

1. That Cabinet notes the financial position for 2023-24 as at Quarter 3.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND

    2. That Cabinet recommends to Council to approve the following Reserve Drawdowns:

a.     £0.100m Funding for Luton Airport Legal costs - £0.050m from the Dacorum Development reserve and £0.050m from the Local Development Framework reserve.

b.     £0.025m drawdown to fund additional Customer Support Unit (CSU) support for Garden waste renewals  from the Management of Change reserve

3.     That Cabinet recommends to Council to approve the following reserve transfer:

a.     £0.020m for funding of an update to the Council Human Resources System Itrent in 2024-25.  There is one off provision in 2023-24 budgets for this upgrade, work on which has now slipped to 2024-25.

4.     That Cabinet recommends to Council to approve the following supplementary capital budgets representing growth to the Capital Programme:

·         £2.265m relating to a payment to Hightown Housing Association for the provision for affordable housing in the borough at 66 Books, Wood End Lane. This expenditure was approved by Cabinet in February 2023. Full Council approval is now required to increase the capital programme budget accordingly.

·         Provision of Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCP) in the borough, funded entirely by government grant £0.415m.

5.     That Cabinet notes the following additional slippage on the capital programme to future years:

·         General Fund £1.404m

·         Housing Revenue Account £6.804m

Decision

1. That Cabinet notes the financial position for 2023-24 as at Quarter 3.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND

    2. That Cabinet recommends to Council to approve the following Reserve Drawdowns:

a.     £0.100m Funding for Luton Airport Legal costs - £0.050m from the Dacorum Development reserve and £0.050m from the Local Development Framework reserve.

b.     £0.025m drawdown to fund additional Customer Support Unit (CSU) support for Garden waste renewals  from the Management of Change reserve

3.     That Cabinet recommends to Council to approve the following reserve transfer:

a.     £0.020m for funding of an update to the Council Human Resources System Itrent in 2024-25.  There is one off provision in 2023-24 budgets for this upgrade, work on which has now slipped to 2024-25.

4.     That Cabinet recommends to Council to approve the following supplementary capital budgets representing growth to the Capital Programme:

·         £2.265m relating to a payment to Hightown Housing Association for the provision for affordable housing in the borough at 66 Books, Wood End Lane. This expenditure was approved by Cabinet in February 2023. Full Council approval is now required to increase the capital programme budget accordingly.

·         Provision of Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCP) in the borough, funded entirely by government grant £0.415m.

5.     That Cabinet notes the following additional slippage on the capital programme to future years:

·         General Fund £1.404m

Housing Revenue Account £6.804m

Advice

Recommendation agreed

Please refer to the video minutes to view this item in full.