Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ian Albert, David Barnard, Ruth Clifton and Paul Ward.

Audio recording – 1 minute 53 seconds

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ian Albert, David Barnard, Ruth Clifton and Paul Ward.

To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 10 July 2025.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 10 July 2025 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.

Audio Recording – 2 minutes 10 seconds

Councillor Keith Hoskins, as Chair, proposed and Councillor Daniel Allen seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 10 July 2025 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.

Audio recording – 2 minutes 42 seconds

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 did not apply to this meeting. A comfort break would be held at an appropriate time, should proceedings continue at length.

(6)         The Chair reminded Members to respond to the Youth Democracy Day invite in November and encouraged them to spread awareness of the event to schools within their wards.

Audio recording – 2 minutes 46 seconds

(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 did not apply to this meeting. A comfort break would be held at an appropriate time, should proceedings continue at length.

(6)   The Chair reminded Members to respond to the Youth Democracy Day invite in November and encouraged them to spread awareness of the event to schools within their wards.

To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.

Representatives of Citizens’ Advice North Herts, North Herts CVS and North Herts Minority Ethnic Forum provided presentations on their respective organisations and, following each presentation, Members asked questions.

Audio recording – 5 minutes 14 seconds

The Chair invited the first Public Speaker, Ms Rosie Waters, Chief Executive Officer of North Herts Citizens’ Advice Bureau to speak about their organisation. Ms Waters thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided a verbal presentation which highlighted the following:

·                They advised people on a range of issues including housing, debt, benefits, employment and they were active in every community across the district.

·                7,193 residents in North Herts had been helped by their services last year which was a 7% increase on the previous year.

·                Their services had positive, lifechanging and sometimes lifesaving impacts and helped the Council to address their Thriving Communities priority. 

·                Many clients reported better mental and physical health after using their services.

·                Their services significantly reduced demand for statutory public services.

·                1,380 people had been reached via their preventative workshops and events.

·                They had worked to make their service more accessible and they supported digitally challenged residents to navigate increasingly online public services.

·                Housing advice they provided had saved the Council an estimated £200,000.

·                Their Energy Champion provided trusted information to residents and they had applied for grants to expand their green energy offer in this area.

·                They offered value for money as every £1 invested returned an estimated £11 to residents and £18 in wider, socioeconomic benefits.

·                Financial outcomes of £2.8 million had been achieved by their services.

·                The previous Council grant had helped them to attract an additional £600,000 of funding from other sources.

·                A new, multi-year grant from the Council would help them to maintain their capacity and develop their services further to improve the lives of residents and help the Council to achieve its priorities. 

N.B. Councillor Martin Prescott entered the Chamber at 19.37 and Councillor Sam Collins entered the Chamber at 19.41.

The following Members asked questions:

·                Councillor Vijaiya Poopalasingham

·                Councillor Bryony May

·                Councillor Daniel Allen

·                Councillor Val Bryant

·                Councillor Sadie Billing

In response to questions, Ms Waters advised that:

·                Residents could contact them through multiple channels including telephone, email and face-to-face and could also access their self-help online materials.

·                They would reach those that did not already use their services through their communication strategy and increasing the comfortability of their services.  

·                Volunteer recruitment decreased dramatically after the COVID-19 pandemic and had not recovered to the same level since. 

·                To increase recruitment, they had made volunteering easier and more flexible.

·                Young people were underrepresented in their client numbers and they would address this by improving their digital accessibility and engaging schools to introduce schemes such as their financial capability programme.

·                The North Herts Cost of Living Alliance was a monthly meet up attended by partner organisations in North Herts as well as Officers from the Council Revenues and Benefits Team with the aim of working together to better help residents that were struggling with the cost of living.

·                Disability benefit claims had reportedly increased.

·                Housing issues in North Herts were more prevalent than in neighbouring districts and boroughs as housing affordability was becoming  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

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 referral from Cabinet would be taken with the respective item on the Agenda.

Audio recording – 53 minutes 45 seconds

The Chair advised that the referral from Cabinet would be taken with the respective item on the agenda.

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES

For Council to approve a capital budget for the Government’s new energy efficiency Warm Homes Scheme. 

RESOLVED: That Council approved a capital budget of £1.275M (£0.319M in 25/26, £0.478M in 26/27 and £0.478M in 27/28) for the Government’s new energy efficiency Warm Homes Scheme. This would be fully funded from Government grants as paragraph 8.5 of the report referred.

Audio recording – 53 minutes 53 seconds

Councillor Daniel Allen, as Leader of the Council, presented Referral 6A from Cabinet and the report entitled ‘First Quarter Capital Budget Monitoring Review 2025/26’ and advised that:

·                The report was presented to Cabinet to provide an update on the impact upon the approved Capital Budget for 2025/26.

·                There was an estimated decrease in spend of £0.412M for 2025/26, and an estimated increase in spend of £1.446M in future years.

·                The most significant budget change was the removal of £0.563M for the Solar for Business scheme.

·                £0.250M would be reprofiled into 2026/27 for resurfacing Broadway Gardens and £0.122M into Phase 2 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund.

·                Paragraph 8.5 referred to a fully Government grant funded Warm Homes scheme that would provide energy efficiency improvements to 26 low-income households across North Herts.

·                The Council were asked to approve £1.275M of funding for this across 3 years.

In response to a question from Councillor Matt Barnes, the Director – Resources advised that there would be no revenue impact from the removal of the Solar for Business scheme from the Capital Budget.

Councillor Daniel Allen proposed and Councillor Val Bryant seconded the recommendations within the report.

N.B. Councillor Nigel Mason left the Chamber at 20.27 and returned at 20.29.

As part of the debate, Councillor Ruth Brown made the following points:

·                Whilst the Warm Homes grant scheme and the additional funding for Phase 2 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund were welcomed, the removal of the funding for the Solar for Business scheme was not as the introduction of the scheme had been investigated since 2019.

·                The Council had declared a climate emergency, there were pressures on the Green Belt due to housing construction, and there was a lack of solar panels in industrial areas.

Councillor Ruth Brown proposed an additional recommendation to the motion that ‘the Executive Member for Environment and Officers should conduct a lessons learnt exercise on the issues with the Solar for Business scheme to date and produce a concrete, fully costed plan to overcome these by the end of 2025 for inclusion in the 2026/27 Budget’. This amendment was seconded by Councillor David Chalmers.

The following Members took part in the debate on the amendment:

·                Councillor Daniel Allen

·                Councillor Steve Jarvis

·                Councillor Mick Debenham

·                Councillor David Chalmers

·                Councillor Ralph Muncer

·                Councillor Elizabeth Dennis

·                Councillor Sam Collins

·                Councillor Martin Prescott

·                Councillor Jon Clayden

The following points were made as part of the debate on the amendment:

·                The Administration had tried to engage businesses on the Solar for Business scheme, but it had not been successful.

·                Being unable to make the scheme work while other local authorities had been operating it for several years reflected poorly on the Council.

·                Extensive information was provided to businesses on the scheme and three businesses showed interest, however, none of them wanted to proceed.

·                The scheme could have been implemented by one of the previous administrations at the Council.

·                A Climate Emergency had been declared by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

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

There were three motions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12.

(A)        Use of Asylum Hotels in North Hertfordshire

RESOLVED: That the motion was lost.

(B)        Local Government Pension Scheme and Responsible Investment

The Chair advised that this motion had been withdrawn and would be considered at a future meeting of Full Council. This was confirmed by the proposer and seconder.

(C)        Waste Service Rollout

RESOLVED: That the motion was lost.

Audio recording – 1 hour 14 minutes 44 seconds

There were four motions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12.

(A)      Use of Asylum Hotels in North Hertfordshire

The Chair advised Members to refrain from referencing specific hotels in use for asylum accommodation both in and outside the district during the course of the motion.

Councillor Ralph Muncer proposed the motion as follows:

‘2025 has been the worst year ever for small boat crossings with over 30,000 people having crossed the Channel, meaning since the Labour Government came to power in July 2024, over 50,000 people have now crossed the Channel leaving the immigration policy of this Government in tatters.

The number of asylum seekers being housed in hotels is still higher than when the Conservative Government left office despite Labour pledging to end the use of asylum hotels.

According to a Home Office report, as of 30 June 2025, 156 asylum seekers are being housed in hotels in North Hertfordshire, with most being housed in Needham House Hotel in Little Wymondley, a location which is wholly unsuitable for this purpose and has resulted in Hertfordshire Constabulary attending the hotel on a regular basis.

The use of local hotels as long-term accommodation for asylum seekers is not a sustainable solution and places disproportionate pressures on local infrastructure and services, as well as threatening community cohesion.

Therefore, the Council resolves to:

(1)       Instruct the Chief Executive and Director – Governance to urgently assess the merits of seeking legal advice to prevent local hotels from being used as accommodation for asylum seekers, considering every option including the use of injunctions, stop notices and other planning enforcement mechanisms.

(2)       Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for the Home Department expressing this Council's concern about the use of hotels in North Hertfordshire for asylum seeker accommodation, requesting the Government close the remaining hotels currently in use for this purpose and do not open any further asylum hotels within the District, nor employ the use of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in North Hertfordshire for the purpose of providing accommodation to asylum seekers.

(3)       Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, calling on the Government to adopt the Conservative proposals to clarify in law and policy beyond doubt that such asylum hotels should always require a change of use application.

(4)       Reverse the decision of Council in September 2023 and withdraw from the City of Sanctuary's Local Authorities Network.’

Councillor Steven Patmore seconded the motion.

The following Members took part in the debate:

·                Councillor Elizabeth Dennis

·                Councillor Nigel Mason

·                Councillor Mick Debenham

·                Councillor Clare Billing

·                Councillor Alistair Willoughby

·                Councillor Sean Prendergast

·                Councillor Val Bryant

·                Councillor Tim Johnson

·                Councillor Sadie Billing

·                Councillor Vijaiya Poopalasingham

·                Councillor Keith Hoskins

The following points were made as part of the debate:

·                Net migration had fallen 52% since its peak in 2024.

·                Councillor actions had consequences and Members should encourage hope rather  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

To consider any questions submitted by Members of the Council, in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11 (b). Questions received will be published as a supplementary document following the deadline for the submission of questions.

In accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11, four questions were submitted by the required deadline set out in the Constitution.

(A)        Local Government Reorganisation Options

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

(B)        Penalty Charge Notices – Free After 3

Councillor Matt Barnes to Councillor Donna Wright (Executive Member for Place).

(C)        Events on Council Land

Councillor Chris Lucas to Councillor Mick Debenham (Executive Member for Regulatory).

(D)        Hitchin Lido Closure

Councillor Louise Peace to Councillor Amy Allen (Executive Member for Environment).

Audio recording – 2 hours 47 minutes 4 seconds

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

(A)      Local Government Reorganisation Options

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

‘To ask the Leader of the Council to outline the Administration’s preferred option for Local Government Reorganisation in Hertfordshire?’

Councillor Daniel Allen provided the following response:

‘At this point, the Administration did not have a preferred option for Local Government Reorganisation in Hertfordshire although I am sure a lot of individual councillors do. The Administration are waiting to receive all available evidence, information and proposals that will allow for a full assessment of the potential impacts. As with any significant decision, it is important that the councillors are able to consider the facts carefully, and there is a full debate at Full Council before any position is taken. Until then, it would be premature for the Administration to express a preference.’

Councillor Ralph Muncer asked a supplementary question, as follows:

‘Will the Leader of the Council guarantee his Members a free vote on the matter of Local Government Reorganisation at the meeting on the 13 November of this year?’

Councillor Daniel Allen responded:

‘It is an internal Labour matter that is not for discussion at Full Council.’

(B)      Penalty Charge Notices – Free After 3

Councillor Matt Barnes to Councillor Donna Wright, Executive Member for Place:

‘What advice has the Council received about issuing penalty charge notices for non-registration during the Free After 3 parking period in Royston?’

Councillor Donna Wright provided the following response:

‘The Parking Team has reviewed the Council’s Parking Contravention Codes with the British Parking Association and with other Local Authorities to identify which of the national codes might be mostly appropriately used, and a proposed approach for Royston is currently being reviewed by the Council’s Legal Team.’

Councillor Matt Barnes asked a supplementary question, as follows:

‘Have you considered removing the requirement altogether and simply counting cars with a clipboard and pen instead?’

Councillor Donna Wright responded:

‘I just want to state for clarification that the Council is not issuing fines after 3:00pm in Royston. People are being reminded to register for their session by way of a notice on their windscreens. We have been relying on voluntary registrations but this could not reliably tell us what proportion of parking sessions after 3:00pm this is capturing. The difficulty was that they needed to collect reliable and comprehensive data as this was part of the original agreement with Royston Town Council and Royston First BID. As Council will know, these two bodies have offered a total maximum subsidy of £35,000 for the Free After 3pm tariff to continue in 25/26 but it was agreed that the usage data had to be monitored to ensure that the Council doesn’t end up having to cover more of the costs. It wouldn’t be fair for Council Taxpayers in other parts of the district to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.