Decisions

RESOLVED: That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting on the grounds that the following report will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act (as amended).

RESOLVED: That Full Council approved the proposed amendments to the Constitution as set out in section 8.4 of this report.

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure certainty around wording to cover the post all-out elections and better reflect potential situations where an election of a Leader may arise.

RESOLVED:

(1)   Subject to 2.4, Full Council granted approval for the Council to enter into a binding contract with the purchaser, conditional upon the grant of planning permission for a residential development as described in Part 2 of this report.

(2)   That Full Council approved the sale to be entered into jointly with the neighbouring landowner and to share the proceeds on the basis of an apportionment equivalent to the percentage of ownership.

(3)   That Full Council approved that the costs of sale and allowable expenses be shared in proportion as stated in 2.2.

(4)   That any objections received in response to the public notice (up to 25 April 2024) be considered by Service Director – Enterprise in consultation with the Executive Members for Finance & IT and Enterprise & Arts and Service Director – Resources, with delegation to determine whether to proceed with the sale or not.  

REASON FOR DECISIONS: These recommendations are made as a result of extensive marketing by the Council’s appointed agents and take into consideration current Council policies on sustainability and carbon emissions, whilst achieving best consideration.

There was no other business notified.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meetings of the Committee held on 25 January 2024 and 29 February 2024 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.

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.

There were no motions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Raj Bhakar, Cathy Brownjohn, James Denselow, Daniel Marsh, Gerald Morris, Sean Nolan, Tamsin Thomas, Terry Tyler, Michael Weeks, Sean Prendergast, Faye Frost, Juan Cowell, David Barnard and Lisa Nash.

There were no questions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11.

There was no public participation.

(1)   The Chair advised that this year marked the 50^th Anniversary of North Hertfordshire District Council.

(2)   The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be recorded.

(3)   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.

(4)   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.

(5)   The Chair advised that the normal procedure rules in respect of debate and times to speak will apply.

(6)   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.

(7)   The Chair thanks attendees to his Civic Event and confirmed that £2,365 had been raised for his chosen charities. .

(8)   The Chair advised that there had been some changes to Polling Station locations at the upcoming election, with posters available for Members to display at suitable locations around their wards.

(9)   The Chair advised on the process for those Members not standing or unsuccessful with their re-election to return their IT equipment.  

(10)         The Chair thanked those Members not standing at the forthcoming election for their service to the Council.

(11)         The Chair reminded Members to submit the required elections expenses forms by 6 June 2024.

RESOLVED: That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting on the grounds that the following report will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act (as amended).

The Principal Planning Officer presented the Information Note entitled ‘Current Enforcement Notices’.

The Development and Conservation Manager presented the report entitled ‘Planning Appeals’.

The Chair confirmed that the registered speakers were in attendance.

(1)   The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be recorded.

(2)   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.

(3)   The Chair clarified matters for the registered speakers.

(4)   The Chair advised that Section 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution applied to the meeting.

There was no other business notified.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 7 March 2024 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ian Moody, Sean Nolan and Terry Tyler.

Having given due notice Councillor Dave Winstanley substituted for Councillor Nolan.

RESOLVED: That application 23/01220/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager, and the following amendments to Conditions 8 and 9 and the addition of Conditions 10 and 11, as follows:

“Condition 8

The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the recommended mitigation and enhancements set out in the submitted ecology report by Cherryfield Ecology dated January 2023 and the Emergence & Activity Bat Survey dated June 2023 unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: In the interests of nature conservation and to comply with Policy NE4 of the North Herts Local Plan 2011 – 2031.

Condition 9

Prior to the commencement of the development approved a scheme of sustainable energy saving measures to be incorporated into the dwelling shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority and implemented on site.

Reason: To address the climate emergency in accordance with Local Plan Policy D1 of the North Herts Local Plan.

Condition 11

Notwithstanding the detail show on the submitted drawings further details of shuttering to the north facing primary entrance shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of works. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: To safeguard the character and appearance of the listed building to which this consent relates and to comply with Policies SP13 and HE1 of the North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011 to 2031.

Condition 12

Notwithstanding the detail show on the submitted drawings further details of the opening size and design of the north facing rooflight shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of works. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: To safeguard the character and appearance of the listed building to which this consent relates and to comply with Policies SP13 and HE1 of the North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011 to 2031”.