Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor David Barnard, Chris Hinchliff and Lisa Nash.

To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 23 May 2024.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 23 May 2024 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.

Members should notify the Chair of other business which they wish to be discussed at the end of either Part I or Part II business set out in the agenda. They must state the circumstances which they consider justify the business being considered as a matter of urgency.

The Chair will decide whether any item(s) raised will be considered.

There was no other business notified.

Climate Emergency

The Council has declared a climate emergency and is committed to achieving a target of zero carbon emissions by 2030 and helping local people and businesses to reduce their own carbon emissions.

A Cabinet Panel on the Environment has been established to engage with local people on matters relating to the climate emergency and advise the council on how to achieve these climate change objectives. A Climate Change Implementation group of councillors and council officers meets regularly to produce plans and monitor progress. Actions taken or currently underway include switching to green energy, incentives for low emission taxis, expanding tree planting and working to cut food waste.

In addition the council is a member of the Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership, working with other councils across Hertfordshire to reduce the county’s carbon emissions and climate impact.

The Council’s dedicated webpage on Climate Change includes details of the council’s climate change strategy, the work of the Cabinet Panel on the Environment and a monthly briefing on progress.

Ecological Emergency

The Council has declared an ecological emergency and is committed to addressing the ecological emergency and nature recovery by identifying appropriate areas for habitat restoration and biodiversity net gain whilst ensuring that development limits impact on existing habitats in its process.

The Council has set out to do that by a) setting measurable targets and standards for biodiversity increase, in both species and quantities, seeking to increase community engagement, b) to work with our partners to establish a Local Nature Partnership for Hertfordshire and to develop Nature Recovery Networks and Nature Recovery Strategy for Hertfordshire and c) to investigate new approaches to nature recovery such as habitat banking that deliver biodiversity objectives and provide new investment opportunities.

Declarations of Interest

Members are reminded that any declarations of interest in respect of any business set out in the agenda, should be declared as either a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or Declarable Interest and are required to notify the Chair of the nature of any interest declared at the commencement of the relevant item on the agenda. Members declaring a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest must withdraw from the meeting for the duration of the item. Members declaring a Declarable Interest, wishing to exercise a ‘Councillor Speaking Right’, must declare this at the same time as the interest, move to the public area before speaking to the item and then must leave the room before the debate and vote.

(1)   The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be recorded.

(2)   The Chair reminded Members that the Council had declared both a Climate Emergency and an Ecological Emergency. These are serious decisions, and mean that, as this was an emergency, all of us, Officers and Members had that in mind as we carried out our various roles and tasks for the benefit of our District.

(3)   The Chair drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question.

(4)   The Chair advised that the normal procedure rules in respect of debate and times to speak will apply.

(5)   The Chair advised that 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution applied to agenda items 15 and 16 and the corresponding referrals 8F and 8G. A comfort break would be held at an appropriate time, should proceedings continue at length.

(6)   The Chair thanked everyone involved in the General Election, specifically the Elections team. The Chair congratulated the three elected MPs covering the North Herts area and thanked those MPs that were unsuccessful in their re-election or who had stood down, for their service to North Herts.

(7)   The Chair announced that Kevin Abbiss, Helpdesk Customer Services Team Leader, had been working at North Hertfordshire for 40 years, and extended her gratitude to Kevin for his services to the Council.

It was:

RESOLVED: That the Council placed on record its sincere thanks and appreciation to Kevin Abbiss for his long and valuable service to Local Government.

To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.

Presentations were received by the Council from, Ms Catherine Beach and Ms Lynsey Moorley on behalf of SANDs and from Mr Graham Fisher regarding item 15 Land to the North of the Grange.

To consider any questions submitted by Members of the Council, in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11 (b).

In accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11, 4 question had been submitted by the required deadline set out in the Constitution.

(A)  Legal Advice Received on the Waste Contract Award

Councillor Ralph Muncer to Councillor Daniel Allen, Leader of the Council.

(B)  Local Authority Flex Collect Scheme Rollout

Councillor Joe Graziano to Councillor Dave Winstanley, Executive Member for Housing and Environmental Health.

(C)  Electric Vehicle Chargers in North Hertfordshire

Councillor Ralph Muncer to Councillor Chris Hinchliff, Executive Member for Planning and Transport.

(D)  Planning Control Committee Agenda Management

Councillor Ruth Brown to Councillor Elizabeth Dennis, Chair of Planning Control Committee.

To consider any motions, due notice of which have been given in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12.

There were no motions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12.

To consider any items referred from other Committees.

8A)      Annual Report on Risk Management Governance – to be considered with item 12

8B)      Referral from Cabinet: Investment Strategy (Capital and Treasury) End of Year Review 2023/24  - to be considered with item 13

8C)      Referral from Cabinet: Revenue Budget Outturn 2023/24 – to be considered with item 14

8D)      Annual report of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee – to be considered with item 17

8E)      Referral from Cabinet: Leisure Investment Options – to be considered with item 20

Any further referrals from other Committees will be circulated as soon as they are available.

The Chair advised that the items referred from Cabinet and the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee would be taken with the respective items on the agenda.

REPORT OF THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL

To inform the Council of any occasions over the past year where provisions relating to "Special Urgency" have been used in connection with the publication of an intention to make a Key Decision, as required by legislation.

RESOLVED: That Council noted the report.

REASON FOR DECISION: To comply with Regulation 19 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 (“the Regulations”).

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – CUSTOMERS

To consider the adoption of a policy which ensures that members of the armed forces who have been disabled during service or the widows, widowers or surviving civil partner of those who died in service are recognised and not financially penalised when calculating entitlement to housing benefit.

RESOLVED: That Council adopted the policy at Appendix B.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

(1)   The Housing Benefit Regulations make provision for the first £10 of a war disablement or war widow’s pension to be disregarded when calculating an applicant’s income relating to an application for housing benefit. The cost of this disregard is fully reimbursed to the Council by government.

(2)   The legislation also allows the Council to disregard any other part of these pensions and this Council has wholly disregarded the payments for a number of years when calculating housing benefit or council tax reduction entitlement.

(3)   The Council’s council tax reduction scheme is aligned to housing benefit regulations and disregards war disablement or war widow pension.

REPORT OF: DEMOCRATIC SERVICES MANAGER

For Council to agree the Terms of Reference for the Community Governance Review (CGR) - to signify the formal start of the Review and launch of the first stage of consultation.

RESOLVED:

(1)   That Council agreed the Terms of Reference for the Community Governance Review, signifying the formal start of the Review and commencement of the first stage consultation.

(2)   That Council approved the additional budget of £20k required for the use of the Association of Electoral Administrators consultancy service to assist with delivering the Community Governance Review.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: The Council is required to keep parish electoral arrangements under review. Following the LGBCE review of district electoral arrangements (Council size and warding patterns), it is necessary to review parish arrangements across the district to bring them into alignment, ensure they remain fit for purpose, and to ensure they continue to reflect local needs.

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES

A year end report on the Councils' Risk Management Governance for 2023/24.

RESOLVED: That Full Council noted the report.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

(1)   The responsibility for ensuring the management of risks is that of Cabinet, they are assisted by Finance, Audit and Risk Committee who monitor the effective development and operation of Risk Management.

(2)   The Risk Management Strategy and Financial Regulations determine that Council should have overall oversight of Risk Management.

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES

To consider the Investment Strategy (Capital and Treasury) End of Year Review.

RESOLVED:

(1)   That Council approved the actual 2023/24 prudential and treasury indicators.

(2)   That Council noted the annual Treasury Report for 2023/24.

(3)   That Council approved a change to the Investment Strategy allowing investments to be placed on Lloyds Call Account so the combined total of Current Account and Call Account is up to £5M.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)   Cabinet is required to approve adjustments to the capital programme and ensure the capital programme is fully funded.

(2)   To ensure the Council’s continued compliance with CIPFA’s code of practice on Treasury Management and the Local Government Act 2003 and that the Council manages its exposure to interest and capital risk.

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR - RESOURCES

To consider the Revenue Budget Outturn 2023/24.

RESOLVED: That Council approved the net transfer to earmarked reserves, as identified in table 9, of £2.028million.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

(1)   Members are able to monitor, make adjustments within the overall budgetary framework and request appropriate action of Services who do not meet the budget targets set as part of the Corporate Business Planning process.

(2)   Changes to the Council’s balances are monitored and approved.

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – REGULATORY

To approve the Strategic Masterplan Framework for land to the north of Letchworth Garden City.

RESOLVED:  That the Strategic Masterplan Framework for Land to the North of the Grange (LG1), attached at Appendix A, is approved and adopted as a material planning consideration for relevant planning decisions relating to the site.

REASON FOR DECISION: To facilitate the delivery of a strategic site within the Council’s adopted Local Plan. To accord with policy requirements of the Local Plan.

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – REGULATORY

To approve the Strategic Masterplan Framework for land to the north of Stevenage.

RESOLVED:  That the motion was lost.

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES

To consider the Annual Report of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee for the 2023/24 Civic Year.

RESOLVED: That Council noted the Annual Report of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee as attached at Appendix A.

REASON FOR DECISION: To provide Full Council with assurance as to the effectiveness of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.

RESOLVED: That the Annual Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee 2023/2024 as attached at Appendix A was noted.

REASON FOR DECISION: To enable Council to consider and comment on the report of the Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding the work of the Committee in the 2023/2024 Civic Year.

REPORT OF MONITORING OFFICER

This is the Annual Report in relation to ethical standards for the last year. It covers the work of the Committee as well as the issues that have arisen locally and nationally on ethical standards matters.

RESOLVED: That Council received and noted the Annual Report, as Appendix A.

REASON FOR DECISION: In line with recommended good governance practice to report the work of Standards Committee to the full Membership, to promote and maintain high standards of conduct and to demonstrate a strong commitment to ethical values.

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – PLACE

This report provides an update to Council on Phase 3c of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) project for the Council’s three leisure centres and seeks approval to take the next steps to deliver the project. It also seeks an increase in the capital allocation for the fitness extension at Royston Leisure Centre.

RESOLVED:

(1)   That Council approves an increase in capital expenditure of £2.4m into the capital programme for the decarbonisation work to the three leisure centres. The overall budget will be profiled across 2024/25 and 2025/26.

(2)   That Council approves an increase in the capital budget of £250k for the Royston Leisure Centre (RLC) gym extension, to ensure the extension is built to net zero carbon standards.

(3)   That Council approves revenue expenditure of up to £757k for termination and removal fees of the gas CHPs at North Herts Leisure Centre and Hitchin Fitness and Swimming Centre. This would be funded from General Fund reserves.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)   In May 2019, North Herts Council passed a climate emergency motion. This declaration asserted the council’s commitment toward climate action beyond current government targets and international agreements. This is currently pursued through the North Herts Climate Change Strategy 2022-2027 which sets out what the council will aim to do to reduce its own carbon emissions to achieve Carbon Neutrality for the Council’s own operations by 2030 and a Net Zero Carbon district by 2040.

(2)   Gas use from our leisure centres is a significant contributor towards the Council’s own emissions. In 2022-23, gas use across the three leisure centres accounted for 1,428 tonnes CO2e. This equates to 45% of the Council’s Scope 1-3 emissions. Taking action to replace gas heating for our leisure centres with low carbon alternatives is the single most effective action we can take towards meeting our target of being carbon neutral by 2030.

(3)   There is currently a capital allocation in the 2024/25 budget to build a gym extension at Royston Leisure Centre.