Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors David Chalmers, Elizabeth Dennis, Joe Graziano, Lisa Nash and Tamsin Thomas.

To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 19 September 2024.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 19 September 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 audio 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.

The Monitoring Officer informed Members that a general dispensation had been granted for Agenda Item 9 - Land North of Great Ashby (GA2) Strategic Masterplan Framework.

(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 9 and 10 and the corresponding referrals.

(6)   The Chair advised Members that there were changes to the order of the published agenda.

(7)   The Chair welcomed newly elected Councillor Sarah Lucas to her first Council Meeting.

(8)   The Chair advised that tickets were now available to purchase for the Chair’s Civic Event and Awards 2025, being held on Friday 28 February 2025.

(9)   The Chair and Members paid tribute to former Councillor Ray Bloxham.

(10)         The Chair and Members paid tribute to former Councillor Anthony Burrows.

 A minutes silence was observed in memory of both former Councillors.

(11)         A donation was made to the Chair’s Charity – SANDS on behalf of the estate of the former Cllr Michael Weeks.

To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.

Immediately before each of the respective Agenda Items, a presentation was received from Silke Gruner, Emanuele Lo Faro and Edward Keyner regarding Agenda Item 9 - Land North of Great Ashby (GA2) Strategic Masterplan Framework and from Richard Kelly regarding Agenda Item 10 - North Stevenage Strategic Masterplan Framework.

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 five questions had been submitted by the required deadline set out in the Constitution.

(A)  Removal of Public Bins

Councillor Matt Barnes to Councillor Amy Allen (Executive Member for Recycling and Waste Management).

(B)  Royston Leaner Pool

Councillor Tim Johnson to Councillor Mick Debenham (Executive Member for Environment, Leisure and Green Spaces).

(C) Churchgate Regeneration

Councillor Ralph Muncer to Councillor Daniel Allen (Leader of the Council).

(D) Single Person Council Tax Discount

Councillor Ralph Muncer to CouncillorIan Albert (Executive Member for Finance and IT).

(E) Civil Enforcement Officer Roles

Councillor Ralph Muncer to Councillor Daniel Allen (Interim Executive Member for Planning and Transport).

To consider any motions, due notice of which have been given in accordance with Standing Orders 4.8.12 and 4.8.15.

There was one motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.15 and there were three motions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12.

(A)  Motion Similar to One Previously Rejected

RESOLVED: That Full Council would consider the report and recommendations on the North of Stevenage Masterplan at its meeting on 28 November 2024, following reconsiderations by the Project Board and any similar referral motions from Cabinet.

(B)  Hitchin industrial Estate Fires

RESOLVED: That Council

(1)   Instructed the Leader of the Council and the Executive Member for Housing and Environmental Health to write promptly to the Environment Agency, to express North Herts Council’s serious concerns about the safety of recycling sites on the Hitchin industrial estate, and request that their operators’ licences be reviewed urgently.

(2)   Work proactively to instigate a system of air quality monitoring in the residential areas closest to the industrial estate.

(3)   Further instructed the Executive Member for Housing and Environmental Health to report back to Council within six months with details of any action that has been taken by the competent authorities in the intervening period to monitor pollution and mitigate the risks of future fires.

(C)  A1(M) Junction 6 (Welwyn) to 8 (Hitchin and Stevenage) Upgrade

RESOLVED:

(1)   That the Leader of the Council writes to the Secretary of State for Transport calling on the Government to reinstate plans to upgrade the A1(M) between Junction 6 (Welwyn) to Junction 8 (Hitchin and Stevenage) that were cancelled by the prior Conservative government.

(2)   That the Leader of the Council writes to the Member of Parliament for Hitchin, the Member of Parliament for North East Hertfordshire and the Member of Parliament for Stevenage, urging them to call on the Secretary of State for Transport to reinstate plans to upgrade the A1(M) between Junction 6 (Welwyn) to Junction 8 (Hitchin and Stevenage) and mitigate the impact of needed housing growth for North Hertfordshire residents living near the A602, B197 and B656

(D)  Impact of Family Farm Tax on Rural Communities in North Hertfordshire

The Chair advised that due to the time already taken to determine the business on the agenda this item would be deferred to the Extraordinary meeting of Full Council in December 2024.

To consider any items referred from other Committees. Any items referred to this meeting will be published as a supplementary document.

The Chair advised that the referrals 8B and 8C from Cabinet would be taken with the respective items on the agenda.

8A) Statement of Gambling Principles 2025-2028

RESOLVED: That Council adopted the Statement of Gambling Principles 2025-2028 policy.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

(1)   Licensing authorities are required to publish a policy every three years by virtue of section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005 (“the Act”).

(2)   A new policy must be published by 3 January 2025 to comply with this statutory requirement.

(3)   The policy builds on the effectiveness of the existing policy with minor amendments to reflect changes in legislation.

REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING MANAGER

This report asks Cabinet to recommend the approval of the Strategic Masterplan Framework for land to the north-east of Great Ashby to Full Council. This site is allocated for development in the Council’s adopted Local Plan (Site GA2, Policy SP18) as a strategic site for approximately 600 homes and supporting infrastructure.

RESOLVED: That the Strategic Masterplan Framework for the land North-East of Great Ashby (Local Plan site GA2), attached at Appendix A, was approved and adopted as a material planning consideration for relevant planning decisions relating to the site.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

(1)   To set an agreed design framework for the delivery of a strategic site within the Council’s adopted Local Plan.

(2)   To accord with policy requirements of the Local Plan.

REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING MANAGER

This report sets out how the issues raised in debate at Full Council have been considered or will be addressed through the planning processes for this site as a whole. The report asks Cabinet to recommend the approval of the updated Strategic Masterplan Framework to Full Council.

RESOLVED:

(1)   That following the Full Council decision not to adopt the masterplan in July 2024, Council noted the additional information and clarification in the report.

(2)   That the Strategic Masterplan Framework for North Stevenage, attached at Appendix A, was approved and adopted as a material planning consideration for relevant planning decisions relating to the site.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)   To facilitate the delivery of a strategic site within the Council’s adopted Local Plan.

(2)   To accord with policy requirements of the Local Plan.

REPORT OF SERVICE DIRECTOR: LEGAL & COMMUNITY & MONITORING OFFICER

This report presents a summary of the areas reviewed and any in principle recommendations of the Constitutional & Governance Working Group (‘Working Group’) in relation to the following:

·       The Planning Control Committee meetings and Sub-Committees (including start times/ potential end times).

·       Standards Committee – recommendation to review the Terms of Reference to include other meaningful areas of remit.

·       Council Procedure Rules to be reviewed and amended in respect of Member Motions and Questions, (including agenda management, number, length of time on debate/ remit/ and Member speeches).         

The report also covers areas considered but not recommended for change at this stage.

The Chair advised that due to the time already taken to determine the business on the agenda this item would be deferred to the Extraordinary meeting of Full Council in December 2024.