Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors David Barnard, Judi Billing, Faye S. Frost, Jean Green, Gary Grindal, Ian Mantle, Frank Radcliffe, Valentine Shanley and Terry Tyler.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors David Barnard, Judi Billing, Faye S. Frost, Jean Green, Gary Grindal, Ian Mantle, Frank Radcliffe, Valentine Shanley and Terry Tyler.

To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 19 July 2017.

RESOLVED: That, subject to the inclusion of the name of Councillor Nicola Harris in the list of those who had given their apologies for absence, the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 19 July 2017 be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

It was moved by Councillor Mrs L.A. Needham, seconded by Councillor Julian Cunningham, and

RESOLVED: That, subject to the inclusion of the name of Councillor Nicola Harris in the list of those who had given their apologies for absence, the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 19 July 2017 be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

Members should notify the Chairman of other business which they wish to be discussed by the Council at the end of the 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 Chairman will decide whether the item(s) raised will be considered.

No additional was presented for consideration by the Council.

No additional was presented for consideration by the Council.

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 Chairman 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 which requires they leave the room under Paragraph 7.4 of the Code of Conduct, can speak on the item, but must leave the room before the debate and vote.

(1)        Councillor John Booth

It was with great pleasure that the Chairman presented an engraved picture, together with the framed Council resolution of thanks, to the past Chairman, Councillor John Booth.  Councillor Booth thanked the Council for the gift.

(2)        Councillor Jim McNally

The Chairman conveyed his congratulations to Jim McNally and his partner, Barbara, on their recent success at the FINA World Masters Diving Championships in Budapest.  They won a total of eight medals in various categories, including a gold in a mixed synchronised diving event.

Councillor Weeks also paid tribute to Councillor McNally’s achievement, and asked that this be recorded in the minutes.  Councillor McNally thanked the Chairman and Councillor Weeks for their kind words.

(3)        Declarations of Interest

The Chairman 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.

(1)        Councillor John Booth

It was with great pleasure that the Chairman presented an engraved picture, together with the framed Council resolution of thanks, to the past Chairman, Councillor John Booth.  Councillor Booth thanked the Council for the gift.

(2)        Councillor Jim McNally

The Chairman conveyed his congratulations to Jim McNally and his partner, Barbara, on their recent success at the FINA World Masters Diving Championships in Budapest.  They won a total of eight medals in various categories, including a gold in a mixed synchronised diving event.

Councillor Weeks also paid tribute to Councillor McNally’s achievement, and asked that this be recorded in the minutes.  Councillor McNally thanked the Chairman and Councillor Weeks for their kind words.

(3)        Declarations of Interest

The Chairman 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.

To receive petitions, comments and questions from members of the public.

(i)         Mr David Leal-Bennett (Director and Company Secretary - HTH Finance Ltd)

(ii)        Stephen Pike (Hitchin Town Hall Limited)

(i)         Mr David Leal-Bennett (Director and Company Secretary - HTH Finance Ltd)

            Mr Leal-Bennett stated that there had been a lot of misinformation circulating, and so he would like to clarify the role of HTH Finance Ltd, which was banker to Hitchin Town Hall Ltd.

            Mr Leal-Bennett advised that HTH Finance Ltd was created to secure 14/15 Brand Street, the entrance to the North Hertfordshire Museum in Hitchin.  The property had been put up for sale by the bank, SIB, with whom NHDC officers had several meetings, but never agreed anything.  The property was formerly two shops, in the centre of Hitchin with upstairs flats and, during the sale process last year, this was not lost on developers.  He knew of at least two developers who were interested, so the threat was very real that the building could be lost forever.

            Mr Leal-Bennett organised a meeting with various local businessmen to see what could be done. They considered putting in an offer, but this would not necessarily secure a purchase, as they could be outbid.  He suggested that they approached SIB to see if they could be persuaded to take it off the market and buy their loan - they were offering to step into their shoes as secured banker.  SIB would not take it off the market but, if they could act quickly, agreed to extend the time period for offers.  It was extended by a month while finance and documentation was sorted out.

            Mr Leal-Bennett and his associates then established HTH Finance Ltd, who then appointed lawyers and, after some negotiation, an agreement was signed with SIB.  The property was then taken off the market and SIB agreed it would refer all enquiries to HTH Finance Ltd - this was over a year ago.  Their concerns were validated by SIB, who advised that they had received several bids and that NHDC had been informed they were “a significant under bidder”; they further stated that “if NHDC had been close they could have secured the purchase, but they were not even within three and sixpence”, in fact NHDC were off the mark by hundreds of thousands of pounds.

            Mr Leal Bennett commented that some Members had been informed that had we not stepped in, NHDC’s bid would have secured the property.  He absolutely categorically stated that this would not have been the case, and that this was misinformation of the worse kind.  He confirmed that one of NHDC’s Cabinet Members had also heard this direct from SIB.

            Mr Leal-Bennett explained that HTH Finance was not making any money and, in negotiations with NHDC, they had agreed to take a “haircut” to secure a deal.  This was because the business backers wished the Town Hall to always be available for the community of North Hertfordshire.  We wish to ensure that NHDC purchase 14/15 Brand Street to enable the Museum to be open and that a fair arrangement be sought, which would secure the Town Hall for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

RESOLVED:  That the Corporate Plan 2018 to 2023, as attached at Appendix A to the report, be adopted.

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure that a suitable, high level policy document is in place to inform the Council’s Corporate Business Planning process.

The Council considered the Minute of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 25 July 2017, in respect of Corporate Plan 2018 to 2023 (Minute 20 refers).  A copy of the report considered by the Cabinet was included with the agenda, as was the following appendix:

Appendix A – Corporate Plan 2018-2023.

It was moved by Councillor Ray Shakespeare-Smith, seconded by Councillor Mrs L.A. Needham and, following debate and upon being put to the vote, it was

RESOLVED:  That the Corporate Plan 2018 to 2023, as attached at Appendix A to the report, be adopted.

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure that a suitable, high level policy document is in place to inform the Council’s Corporate Business Planning process.

RESOLVED:  That the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018-2023, as attached at Appendix A to the report, be adopted.

REASON FOR DECISION: To assist in the process of forward planning the use of Council resources and in budget setting for 2018/19 to 2022/23, culminating in the setting of the Council Tax precept for 2018/19 in February 2018.

The Council considered the Minute of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 25 July 2017, in respect of the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018-2023 (Minute 21 refers).  A copy of the report considered by the Cabinet was included with the agenda, as was the following appendix:

Appendix A – Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018-2023.

It was moved by Councillor Julian Cunningham, seconded by Councillor Mrs L.A. Needham and, following debate and upon being put to the vote, it was

RESOLVED:  That the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018-2023, as attached at Appendix A to the report, be adopted.

REASON FOR DECISION: To assist in the process of forward planning the use of Council resources and in budget setting for 2018/19 to 2022/23, culminating in the setting of the Council Tax precept for 2018/19 in February 2018.

RESOLVED: That the project for the purchase of Cardio and Resistance fitness equipment for the Hitchin and Royston Leisure Centres, as detailed in the report, be approved and added to the Council’s Capital Programme for 2017/18 onwards.

REASON FOR DECISION: To help in achieving the Council’s Attractive and Thriving corporate objective, through increasing health and wellbeing, and ensure customer satisfaction is maintained within the Council’s Leisure Facilities.

The Council considered the Minute of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 25 July 2017, in respect of the Capital proposal to purchase Cardio and Resistance fitness equipment for the Council’s Hitchin and Royston Leisure Facilities (Minute 24 refers).  A copy of the report considered by the Cabinet was included with the agenda, as was the following appendix:

Appendix A – Proposed repayment schedule.

It was moved by Councillor Jane Gray, seconded by Councillor Mrs L.A. Needham and, upon being put to the vote, it was

RESOLVED: That the project for the purchase of Cardio and Resistance fitness equipment for the Hitchin and Royston Leisure Centres, as detailed in the report, be approved and added to the Council’s Capital Programme for 2017/18 onwards.

REASON FOR DECISION: To help in achieving the Council’s Attractive and Thriving corporate objective, through increasing health and wellbeing, and ensure customer satisfaction is maintained within the Council’s Leisure Facilities.

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

Members submitted questions on the following:

(A)        Homelessness

(B)        Commercialisation

(C)        Charges for collection of garden waste

(A)        Homelessness

In accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11(b), the following question had been submitted by Councillor Clare Billing to Councillor Bernard Lovewell (Cabinet Member for Housing and Environmental Health):

“Could the Executive Member for  Housing and Environmental Health update the Council on the number of homeless people recorded in North Hertfordshire, including Street Homeless, people ‘sofa surfing’ and those ‘rural homeless’ who might be living in cars, tents and farm buildings, and what measures are being taken to manage the increasing number of rough sleepers we see in the towns of North Hertfordshire, especially Hitchin and Letchworth, which are causing so much concern to residents and business owners?”

Councillor Lovewell replied that reliable statistics concerning different levels of homelessness were not always available.  For example, those that sofa surfed were often referred to as the “hidden homeless” because of their concealed nature.  In terms of rural homelessness in cars, tents and farm buildings the numbers were not known, but officer experience suggested that it was very limited and transitory.

Councillor Lovewell explained that the Council had current data concerning local housing stress.  Following a recent exercise carried out in urban areas by Stevenage Haven (who also managed the North Herts Sanctuary) they, together with the Police and NHDC officers, had identified 22 individuals, some of whom could be termed Rough Sleepers, but there was an element who were street drinkers and/or beggars who may not be actually homeless.  It was considered that of these 22, 13 may be homeless, but that number was subject to fluctuation due to the transient nature of the situation.

Councillor Lovewell stated that the current number of households in temporary accommodation was 79, which equated to 207 people.  The Council had a legal duty to accommodate these people.  Of the 79 households, 4 were in Bed and Breakfast accommodation.

Councillor Lovewell turned to the measures the Council was taking to support those people seen on the streets of the District’s towns and the action being taken to control those who would not engage and displayed criminal and anti-social behaviour.  As the question correctly stated, they were causing a lot of concern to residents and business owners, especially in Hitchin and Letchworth Garden City.  The Council had embarked on the three pronged strategy.

Firstly, the Council was commissioning an outreach service to be run by a highly reputable local charity which was experienced in dealing with homelessness.  They would do this in partnership with another dedicated local charity who were experts in this field.  The aim of the service was to assist rough sleepers off the street into settled independent accommodation.  The service provider would work with specialist agencies to ensure that appropriate support was provided for rough sleepers although, of course, engagement by the individual was crucial to providing them with the support they needed.

Secondly, the Police and Council were working together to tackle those people who would not engage and who displayed evidence of criminal or anti-social behaviour.  Community Protection Notice warnings (which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

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

There were no notices of motions.

There were no notices of motions.