Agenda item

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 there was a referral from Cabinet and two referrals from the Standards Committee and these would all be considered as individual standalone items.

 

8A) Shared Prosperity Fund Process

 

RESOLVED: The Council approved up to £518,000 capital investment for the Solar for Business Programme, in addition to the £51,285 capital funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

 

REASONS FOR DECISION:

 

(1)   The Council will be provided with funding in April 2024 to allocate to schemes which were originally outlined in the Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UK SPF) Investment Plan that was submitted in July 2021. This plan was approved by Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) in January 2022.

 

(2)   The Funds regulations allow considerable flexibility in how the Council allocates funding and under which approved UK SPF Activities. Officers presented a report to the Leadership Team on 5th February 2024, which outlined how we are proposing to spend the remainder of the Fund in line with the UK SPF criteria set. The Leadership Team agreed with the proposal in principle, and therefore it has been bought to Cabinet for further consideration.

 

(3)   Once final approval has been obtained, the individual projects will be managed by the relevant North Herts Council (NHC) service areas. We are seeking approval to delegate approval of spend decisions, payments or grants made under the scheme to the relevant Executive Members and Service Directors, as identified under table 8.1 of this report.

 

8B) Standards Matter Report

 

RESOLVED: That all District Councillors undertake post, all-out election training on the Code of Conduct within 2 months of their election (or availability of the training) whichever is the later date.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure good governance within the Council.

 

8C) Members Planning Code of Good Conduct

 

RESOLVED: That Council adopted the new Code as the Appendix 1 to Section 8 of the Constitution replacement, as further amended under paragraph 4, second bullet point to include the word ‘private’.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure good governance within the Council.

Audio recording – 22 Minutes 59 seconds

 

N.B. Councillor Claire Strong left the Chamber at 19:53 and returned at 19:54.

 

N.B. Councillor Tom Tyson entered the Chamber at 19:53.

 

The Chair advised that there was a referral from Cabinet and two referrals from the Standards Committee and these would all be considered as individual standalone items.

 

8A) Shared Prosperity Fund Process

 

The Chair invited Councillor Elizabeth Dennis, Leader of the Council, to present the referral from Cabinet on this item.

 

Councillor Dennis advised that the rationale for the Cabinet decision was contained within the report and highlighted that funding had been acquired for the Solar for Business programme, which would present significant opportunities.

 

Councillor Steve Jarvis stated that the Solar for Business programme would assist in reducing the carbon emissions of the district, generate an income for the Council and have benefits for local businesses.

 

Councillor Elizabeth Dennis proposed and Councillor Ruth Brown seconded and, following a vote, it was:

 

RESOLVED: The Council approved up to £518,000 capital investment for the Solar for Business Programme, in addition to the £51,285 capital funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

 

REASONS FOR DECISION:

 

(1)   The Council will be provided with funding in April 2024 to allocate to schemes which were originally outlined in the Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UK SPF) Investment Plan that was submitted in July 2021. This plan was approved by Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) in January 2022.

 

 

(2)   The Funds regulations allow considerable flexibility in how the Council allocates funding and under which approved UK SPF Activities. Officers presented a report to the Leadership Team on 5 February 2024, which outlined how the Council proposed to spend the remainder of the Fund in line with the UK SPF criteria set. The Leadership Team agreed with the proposal in principle, and therefore was presented to the Cabinet for further consideration (and subsequent recommendation to Council).

 

(3)   The individual projects will be managed by the relevant North Herts Council (NHC) service areas. Executive Members and Service Directors will be delegated to approve spend decisions, payments or grants made under the scheme as identified under table 8.1 of the report.

 

8B) Standards Matter Report

 

The Chair invited Councillor Ruth Brown, Chair of the Standards Committee, to present the referral from the Standards Committee on this item.

 

Councillor Brown advised that there had been a robust debate on the item at the Committee meeting on whether a two month period was a reasonable timeframe in which to undertake the Code of Conduct training and it was concluded that this was acceptable.

 

The following Members asked questions:

 

·       Councillor David Levett

·       Councillor Adam Compton

·       Councillor Dominic Griffiths

 

In response to questions, Councillor Ruth Brown stated that:

 

·       This would be virtual training to make it accessible to Members and Members that had completed the training would be monitored via GrowZone.

·       Two months allowed Members flexibility for when to complete the training. It was anticipated that most Members would complete the training straight away, but also that new Members may experience IT and registration delays.

 

In response to questions, the Service Director – Legal and Community stated that:

 

·       The training should be completed as soon as possible by Members.

·       Should Council endorse this recommendation, then any Member failing to complete the training would be in breach of the Code of Conduct.

·       Should a Member not complete the training, following reminders, they would be referred to the Standards Committee, which could result in a Standards Sub Committee hearing and subsequent sanctions such as censure.

 

Councillor Ralph Muncer noted that during the debate at the Standards Committee it had been confirmed that Officers would be available for support with training and to answer any queries.

 

Councillor Ruth Brown proposed and Councillor Ian Albert seconded and, following a vote, it was:

 

RESOLVED: That all District Councillors undertake post, all-out election training on the Code of Conduct within 2 months of their election (or availability of the training) whichever is the later date.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure good governance within the Council.

 

8C) Members Planning Code of Good Conduct

 

The Chair invited Councillor Ruth Brown, Chair of the Standards Committee, to present the referral from the Standards Committee on this item. Councillor Brown advised that:

 

·       Members should refer to the supplement published as that contained the amendments to the Planning Code of Good Conduct from the Standards Committee, as tracked changes.

·       The Code summary had been moved from the end of the Code to the beginning of the new version.

·       There were some other minor tracked changes to the Code.

·       There had been a robust debate on this item at the Standards Committee meeting.

·       The Standards Committee would have the scope to review the Code against the model code.

·       The Code and its tracked amendments should be adopted by Council.

 

The following Members took part in debate:

 

·       Councillor Claire Strong

·       Councillor Adam Compton

·       Councillor Richard Thake

·       Councillor David Levett

·       Councillor Daniel Allen

 

Point raised in debate included:

 

·       Concerns that the Code implied that Members should not attend a Parish Council meeting when a developer was present unless an Officer was also present.

·       It was important that Members attended public meetings to hear comments from both sides on an application.

·       Members should use common sense and not make comments at a public meeting, to avoid the risk of predetermination.

·       The Planning Control Committee Members should have access to all available information on a planning matter, even public meetings.

·       It would be unwise for any Member of the Planning Committee to make comments at a public meeting.

 

In response to points raised in the debate, Councillor Ruth Brown stated that the intention was to avoid private meetings between Members and developers.

 

In response to points raised in debate, the Service Director – Legal and Communities stated that:

 

·       It was important the Code aligned to the national model endorsed by the Supreme Court.

·       It was important that Members, especially those on the Planning Control Committee, remained open and transparent in approaching applications and discussions at public meetings could jeopardise that.

·       If Members attend a public meeting, they should consult with the relevant service managers and adhere to the Code of Conduct. Officers would be able to advise on their conduct at such meetings.

·       The second bullet point of paragraph 4 of the code ‘Contact with Applicants, Developers and Objectors’ could be amended to include the wording ‘in private’ to resolve the concerns.

 

Councillor Ruth Brown proposed, with the amendment to paragraph 4, and Councillor Elizabeth Dennis seconded and, following a vote, it was:

 

RESOLVED: That Council adopted the new Code as the Appendix 1 to Section 8 of the Constitution replacement, as further amended under paragraph 4, second bullet point to include the word ‘in private’.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure good governance within the Council.