Climate Emergency
Members are reminded that this Council has declared a Climate Emergency. This is a serious decision and means that, as this is an emergency, all of us, officers and members have that in mind as we carry out our various roles and tasks for the benefit of our District.
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 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, 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.
Decision:
(1) Fire Announcement
The Chairman advised that no testing of the fire alarms was expected. If the alarm did sound to please leave the building by the fire exits.
(2) Former Councillor Allison Ashley
The Chairman advised that It was with much regret that she had to announce that, former Councillor Allison Ashley passed away before Christmas. She would be sadly missed.
Allison was a North Herts District Councillor for 15 years representing the Hitchin Priory Ward from 2002 to 2017. During her service with the NHDC she served on a variety of Committees and represented the Council on several Outside Bodies. Allison was also the Chairman of the Council in the 2008 – 2009 Civic Year.
The Chairman asked those present to stand and observe a minute's silence in memory of former Councillor Allison Ashley.
Councillor Judi Billing requested that a letter of condolence be send on behalf of the Council to County Councillor Derrick Ashley.
(3) Mobile Phones
The Chairman asked that those present ensure that their mobile phones were turned off or the ring tone and other sounds muted.
(4) Climate Emergency
Members were reminded that this Council has declared a Climate Emergency. This was a serious decision and meant 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.
(5) Audio Recording
The Chairman advised that, in accordance with Council policy this meeting was being audio recorded. Members of the public and the press may use their devices to film/photograph, or do a sound recording of the meeting.
(6) Long Service Award – Geraldine Goodwin
The Chairman advised that, it is with great pleasure that we are recognising the long service of Geraldine Goodwin.
Geraldine commenced employment with the Council as a Senior Fraud Investigator on 6 December 1994, having spent eight years at the Department for Works and Pensions, the last two working in the Organised Fraud Team.
In 1999, Geraldine took up the post of Management Trainee and started studying for her professional qualification with the Institute of Revenues Rating & Valuation. Geraldine qualified in 2003. In 2000, Geraldine moved into the Recovery Team and in 2003 became the Team’s Assistant Manager. In 2005 Geraldine was promoted to the post of Revenues Manager.
In her role, Geraldine is responsible for ensuring that the Council efficiently administers and collects its Council Tax, Business Rates and BIDS and collects other amounts due to the Council such as Sales Ledger, Car Parking Penalty Charge Notices and Housing Benefit Overpayments.
Geraldine has been instrumental in developing processes and procedures that strike the right balance between helping those in difficulty and maintaining healthy collection rates.
Geraldine also contributes to wider corporate activities with a qualification in coaching & mentoring, being a Job Evaluator and being on the Gender Pay Gap Group.
Geraldine is a shining example of someone who has seized the opportunities to progress her career at North Herts and her positive attitude and dedication make her a great asset to the Council.
Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb paid tribute to the contribution that Geraldine made to the Council and pondered on how fortunate the Council was to have dedicated staff such as Geraldine and others.
(7) Declarations of Interest
Members were reminded to make declarations of interest before an item, the detailed reminder about this and speaking rights was set out under Chairman’s Announcements on the agenda.
(8) Refreshments
All Councillors were invited to refreshments after the meeting in Committee Rooms 2/3.
(9) Comfort break
The Chairman advised that, if the meeting went on beyond 9pm she would call a 5 minute comfort break. She reminded Member to remain in the room prior to this to ensure that they could vote.
(10) Rules of Debate
The Chairman advised that, in accordance with the Constitution please could Members ensure that no speech exceeded five minutes without the consent of the Chairman.
(11) Civic Service
The Chairman advised that her Civic Service was being held this Sunday at 3pm at Royston Catholic Church. It would be a pleasure to see you there.
(12) Civic Awards Ceremony
The Chairman advised that her Civic Awards Ceremony would be held on 28 February 2020 at Hitchin Town Hall.
The venue’s sound and acoustics had been much improved.
It would be a great pleasure to see you at this event.
Minutes:
Audio recording – Session 1 – 2 minutes 26 seconds
(1) Fire Announcement
The Chairman advised that no testing of the fire alarms was expected. If the alarm did sound to please leave the building by the fire exits.
(2) Former Councillor Allison Ashley
The Chairman advised that It was with much regret that she had to announce that, former Councillor Allison Ashley passed away before Christmas. She would be sadly missed.
Allison was a North Herts District Councillor for 15 years representing the Hitchin Priory Ward from 2002 to 2017. During her service with the NHDC she served on a variety of Committees and represented the Council on several Outside Bodies. Allison was also the Chairman of the Council in the 2008 – 2009 Civic Year.
The Chairman asked those present to stand and observe a minute's silence in memory of former Councillor Allison Ashley.
Councillor Judi Billing requested that a letter of condolence be send on behalf of the Council to County Councillor Derrick Ashley.
(3) Mobile Phones
The Chairman asked that those present ensure that their mobile phones were turned off or the ring tone and other sounds muted.
(4) Climate Emergency
Members were reminded that this Council has declared a Climate Emergency. This was a serious decision and meant 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.
(5) Audio Recording
The Chairman advised that, in accordance with Council policy this meeting was being audio recorded. Members of the public and the press may use their devices to film/photograph, or do a sound recording of the meeting.
(6) Long Service Award – Geraldine Goodwin
The Chairman advised that, it is with great pleasure that we are recognising the long service of Geraldine Goodwin.
Geraldine commenced employment with the Council as a Senior Fraud Investigator on 6 December 1994, having spent eight years at the Department for Works and Pensions, the last two working in the Organised Fraud Team.
In 1999, Geraldine took up the post of Management Trainee and started studying for her professional qualification with the Institute of Revenues Rating & Valuation. Geraldine qualified in 2003. In 2000, Geraldine moved into the Recovery Team and in 2003 became the Team’s Assistant Manager. In 2005 Geraldine was promoted to the post of Revenues Manager.
In her role, Geraldine is responsible for ensuring that the Council efficiently administers and collects its Council Tax, Business Rates and BIDS and collects other amounts due to the Council such as Sales Ledger, Car Parking Penalty Charge Notices and Housing Benefit Overpayments.
Geraldine has been instrumental in developing processes and procedures that strike the right balance between helping those in difficulty and maintaining healthy collection rates.
Geraldine also contributes to wider corporate activities with a qualification in coaching & mentoring, being a Job Evaluator and being on the Gender Pay Gap Group.
Geraldine is a shining example of someone who has seized the opportunities to progress her career at North Herts and her positive attitude and dedication make her a great asset to the Council.
Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb paid tribute to the contribution that Geraldine made to the Council and pondered on how fortunate the Council was to have dedicated staff such as Geraldine and others.
(7) Declarations of Interest
Members were reminded to make declarations of interest before an item, the detailed reminder about this and speaking rights was set out under Chairman’s Announcements on the agenda.
(8) Refreshments
All Councillors were invited to refreshments after the meeting in Committee Rooms 2/3.
(9) Comfort break
The Chairman advised that, if the meeting went on beyond 9pm she would call a 5 minute comfort break. She reminded Member to remain in the room prior to this to ensure that they could vote.
(10) Rules of Debate
The Chairman advised that, in accordance with the Constitution please could Members ensure that no speech exceeded five minutes without the consent of the Chairman.
(11) Civic Service
The Chairman advised that her Civic Service was being held this Sunday at 3pm at Royston Catholic Church. It would be a pleasure to see you there.
(12) Civic Awards Ceremony
The Chairman advised that her Civic Awards Ceremony would be held on 28 February 2020 at Hitchin Town Hall.
The venue’s sound and acoustics had been much improved.
It would be a great pleasure to see you at this event.