Agenda

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.

Community Governance Review

Council have resolved to launch the second public consultation of draft proposals for the Community Governance Review.  This will launch on Friday 14 March and the deadline for responses is 9 May.

For each parish there is the proposal to change the electoral cycle so that all scheduled parish elections are held on the same year as the district council elections.

For some parishes there are proposals to change boundaries and / or the number of parish councillors.

There is also the suggestion to establish a new town council for Hitchin, Letchworth and Baldock.

Note that these are only draft proposals, and the final recommendations will be considered at a future Council meeting, taking the results of the public consultation into account.

The second public consultation will again encourage online responses.  However, should anyone not have access or confident responding online they can visit the council offices and use the computers in the main reception with assistance by members of staff or they can make contact either on the phone, letter, in person, email, and a paper version can be supplied.  These paper versions will also be made available at the monthly Councillor Surgeries in the four market towns.

Whether you agree or disagree with the draft proposals, please do respond to the consultation and with any alternative proposal you may have.

There’s a dedicated webpage on the Council’s website titled ‘Community Governance Review’ which will include a link to the survey once live. 

To consider community grant applications for recommendation to the Executive Member for Community and Partnerships.

Presentation by North Herts Safer Neighbourhood Team.

Information about the new bin deliveries starting in May, ready for the new collection service in August.

Information about the Energy Company Obligation Flexible Eligibility (ECO Flex) scheme.

To provide the Forum with an update to ensure Members are kept informed of the work of the Community and Partnerships Team.

To receive any verbal reports from Members and questions from members of the public regarding Ward matters and Outside Organisations.

To discuss topics for future meetings.