Decisions

Mr Paul Dee thanked the Chairman for the opportunity to address the Committee and gave a verbal presentation regarding the grant funding application for Hitchin Allotment Association.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the expenditure of £5.574million in 2018/19 on the capital programme, paragraph 8.2 refers, and in particular the changes detailed in table 3 which resulted in a net  increase on the working estimate of £0.620million be noted;

(2)       That the adjustments to the capital programme for 2019/20 as a result of the revised timetable of schemes detailed in table 2, increasing the estimated spend in 2019/20 by £0.542million (re-profiled from 2018/19) be approved;

(3)       That the position of the availability of capital resources, as detailed in table 4 paragraph 8.6 and the requirement to keep the capital programme under review for affordability be noted;

(4)       That the application of £0.626million of capital receipts towards the 2018/19 capital programme and the drawdown of £4.431million from set aside receipts, paragraph 8.6 refers be approved

REASON FOR DECISIONS: Cabinet is required to approve adjustments to the capital programme and ensure that the capital programme is fully funded.

The Leader of the council advised that a paper would be presented to a special meeting of Cabinet due to be held on 27 June 2019 to consider the implementation of a Cabinet Panel on the Environment.

Further papers would be considered regarding joining the Co-operative Councils Innovation Network and a Modern Day Slavery Charter.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the Examiner’s report for the Wymondley Neighbourhood Plan be noted;

(2)       That following the inclusion of the Examiner’s proposed modifications to the Wymondley Neighbourhood Plan, as set out in Appendix B, it be approved to proceed to a referendum;

(3)       That the Retuning Officer be instructed to conduct a referendum on the Wymondley Neighbourhood Plan;

(4)       That the decision to “make” the Wymondley Neighbourhood Plan be delegated to the Service Director – Regulatory in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Transport.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To progress the Wymondley Neighbourhood Plan, enable a referendum to take place and, following a vote of more than 50% in favour of the Wymondley Neighbourhood Plan, to “make” the Wymondley Neighbourhood Plan.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the report on strategic planning matters be noted;

(2)       That the submission(s) in Appendices A to C be noted and endorsed.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To keep Cabinet informed of recent development on strategic planning matters and progress on the North Hertfordshire Local Plan.

There were no presentations by members of the public.

(1)    The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting;

(2)    The Chairman explained that this was now a joint Administration consisting of Members of the Labour and Co-operative and Liberal Democrat parties;

(3)    The Chairman advised that members of the public were welcomed to attend meetings and encouraged to take part. There were various ways that members of the public could take part;

(4)    The Chairman welcomed the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

(5)    The Chairman reminded those present that the meeting was being audio recorded:

(6)    The Chairman announced that Members of the public and the press may use their devices to film/photograph, or do a sound recording of the meeting, but she asked them to not use flash and to disable any beeps or other sound notifications that emitted from their devices’

(7)    The Chairman 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;

(8)    The Chairman asked that, for the benefit of any members of the public present at the meeting, Officers announce their name and their designation to the meeting when invited to speak.

There was no other business notified.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 26 March 2019 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.

There were no referrals from other Committees.

RESOLVED: That the position of Treasury Management activity as at the end of March 2019 be noted.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: That the report entitled Annual Treasury Management Review 2018/19 be noted and that:

(i)         the actual 2018/19 prudential and treasury indicators be approved;

(ii)        the annual Treasury Report for 2018/19 be noted.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To ensure the Council’s continued compliance with both the CIPFA code of Practice on Treasury Management and the Local Government Act 2003, and that the Council manages its exposure to interest and capital risk.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the context for the introduction of the Housing Delivery Test (HDT) and the first result for North Hertfordshire District Council be noted;

(2)       That the actions undertaken to date be endorsed and that officers be instructed to continue to implement the activities identified in the Action Plan;

(3)       That the Housing Delivery Test Action Plan, attached as Appendix 1, be approved for publication.

REASON FOR DECISION: To meet the requirements of national planning policy.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Keith Hoskins

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the Internal Audit Progress Report for the period to 17 May 2019 be noted;

(2)       That the proposed amendments to the 2019/20 Audit Plan be noted; and

(3)       That the implementation status of High Priority recommendations be noted.

REASON FOR DECISION:  To allow the Committee to review, comment and challenge the current status of the Internal Audit Plan.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the Annual Assurance Statement and Internal Audit Report be noted;

(2)       That the results of the self-assessment, as required by both the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS) and the Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme (QAIP) be noted;

(3)       That the SIAS Audit Charter be accepted; and

(4)       That the assurance from management that the scope and resources for internal audit had been subject to no inappropriate limitations in 2018/19 be noted.

REASON FOR DECISION:  To review and note the Annual Assurance Statement and the Internal Audit Annual Report for 2018/19.

RESOLVED:

That the Annual Report of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee 2018/2019 be noted.

REASON FOR DECISION:  To comply with the requirements of the Council’s Constitution.

RESOLVED:  That the Annual Treasury Management Review 2018/19 be noted.

REASON FOR DECISION:  To provide an opportunity for the Committee to comment as appropriate on the Annual Treasury Management Review 2018/19.

RESOLVED: 

That the Capital Programme Outturn 2018/19 report be noted.

REASON FOR DECISION:  To provide an opportunity for the Committee to comment as appropriate on the Capital Programme Outturn 2018/19.

RESOLVED:

That the draft Annual Governance Statement Action Plan for 2018/19 be noted in order for it to be finalised for approval in July 2019.

REASON FOR DECISION:  To offer Members of the Committee the opportunity to assess and comment on the Annual Governance Statement before it is finalised; and to provide the Committee with assurances that NHDC is examining and, where necessary, improving its governance arrangements.

The Chairman requested that should any Members have any suggestions for agenda items at future meetings would they please advise herself, officers or the Committee Clerk.

The meeting closed at 9.06pm.

There was no public participation.

(1)    The Chairman thanked those who were no longer Members of this Committee, Councillor's Terry Hone, Simon Harwood, Ian Albert, Jim McNally, Ian Moody and Terry Tyler;

(2)    The Chairman welcomed Councilor's Morgan Derbyshire, Steve Jarvis, Sam North, Kay Tart and Michael Weeks who were new to the Committee;

(3)    The Chairman announced that in accordance with Council Policy that the 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, but she asked them to not use flash and to disable any beeps or other sound notifications that emitted from their devices;  and

(4)   The Chairman 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.

There was no other business notified.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 21 March 2019 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Steve Deakin-Davies.

Having given due notice Councillor Sam Collins advised that he would be substituting for Councillor Steve Jarvis.