Decisions

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:

(1)   Adopted the Digital Strategy (Appendix A).

(2)   Agreed to delegate any minor changes (to include reference to Council priorities) in relation to the Digital Strategy to the Service Director – Customers in consultation with the Executive Member for the Finance and IT.

 REASON FOR DECISIONS:  To ensure the Council has an approved digital strategy.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: The following changes to the Council Tax premiums on empty and second homes:

(1)   That from 1 April 2024 until 31 March 2025 the following interim premiums are introduced:

 ·   Properties empty for one year but less than two will not receive a Premium

 ·   Properties empty for more than two years, but less than five years will receive a 100% Premium.

 ·   Properties empty for five years but less than ten years a 150% Premium.

 ·   Properties empty for more than ten years a 200% Premium.

(2)   That from 1 April 2025 the Council adopts the following full Premium levy rates:

·       Properties empty for one year but less than five will receive a 100% Premium.

·       Properties empty for five years but less than ten years a 200% Premium.

·       Properties empty for more than ten years a 300% Premium.

(3)   That from 1 April 2025 a 100% Premium is levied on all properties that are determined as a second home, subject to any exceptions once these have been confirmed by Regulations and that the Service Director – Customers in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance and IT is delegated authority to make any amendments following further confirmation of the Regulations.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:

(1)   To support the principle of bringing unoccupied properties back into occupation in line with the proposed empty homes strategy. At the time of writing there are 43 properties that have been unoccupied for over five years.

(2)   The introduction of a phased approach of increasing the premiums enables us to advertise the changes. As the introduction of premiums for properties unoccupied for between one and two years is new there will be no expectation on the owners of these properties of an additional premium and therefore it is recommended that this aspect is deferred until 2025 to allow time to advertise the change.

(3)   In respect of a premium on Second Homes the Council is required to give one year’s notice as this is the Councils first determination in this regard and therefore a resolution must be made before the end of the 2023/24 financial year in order to bring in the premium from 01 April 2025.

(4)   The Council does have the ability to revoke the decision in relation to Second Homes premium, during the year should any consultation that is carried out provide evidence that this would not be effective.

There was no public participation at this meeting.

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

(2)        Members were reminded that this Council had declared both a Climate Emergency and an Ecological Emergency. These are serious decisions and meant that, as they were emergencies, 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.

(3)        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.

(4)        The Chair advised for the purposes of clarification that 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution did not apply to this meeting.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:

(1)   Adopted the Empty Homes Strategy 2024-29.

(2)   Noted that although there is no legal requirement for the Council to have an Empty Homes Strategy, there have been several significant Government-focussed documents and papers highlighting their importance, including a House of Commons Briefing Paper stating that each local authority should have such a strategy to help reduce the number of long-tern empty homes in their districts.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)   The recommendation and considerations are being made to allow the Council to formerly adopt the 5-year Empty Homes Strategy 2024-29 to allow the Environmental Health service to work directly or with others to identify and deliver the most appropriate intervention programme to allow the Council to aim to bring as many long-term empty homes back into occupation as practicable.

(2)   The strategy allows the Council to state its intention to consider every aspect linked to the housing sector to bring into use as many opportunities as it can to meet the district’s housing needs, without having to rely solely on new build. Whilst the number of long-term empty homes is small, and the number likely to be brought back into occupation will be smaller still, this strategy does address this sector which would otherwise be omitted from the overall resource potentially available to form our housing stock.

(3)   By adopting the strategy and allowing for the development of a culture of greater awareness of vacant homes, allows for homes which become vacant to be highlighted sooner, and so they can be monitored and their owners challenged at an earlier point, thus also contributing to hopefully having more homes available for the residents of the district.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet approved the decrease in the 2023/24 working budget of £301k, as detailed in table 7.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

(1)   To note the position on the Collection Fund and how it will be funded.

(2)   To note the position relating to the General Fund balance and that due to the risks identified a minimum balance of £2.48 million is recommended.

(3)   To note the net revenue savings that are likely to be required in future years, combined with the Chief Finance Officer’s section 25 report (Appendix D) which provides a commentary on the risks and reliability of estimates contained in the budget.

(4)   To approve the revenue savings and investments as detailed in Appendix B.

(5)   To approve a net expenditure budget of £20.365m, as detailed in Appendix C.

(6)   To approve a Council Tax increase of 2.99%, which is in line with the provisions in the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: To ensure that all relevant factors are considered in arriving at a budget and Council Tax level for 2024/25. To ensure that the budget is aligned to Council priorities for 2024/25 as set out in the Council Plan.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:

(1)   Approved the updated Common Housing Allocation Scheme.

(2)   Delegated to the Director of Housing and Environmental Health in conjunction with the Executive Member for Housing and Environmental Health, the power to make minor amendments to the Common Housing Allocation Scheme from time to time and to agree the date for its commencement.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To update the Common Housing Allocation Scheme (CHAS), to ensure that scarce affordable housing in the district continues to be prioritised for households in the greatest need. Also to ensure that the CHAS remains up-to-date following changes in the policy environment and working practices.

There was no other business notified.

No apologies for absence were received.

The Chair advised that items 5A, 5B and 5D, referred from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, would be taken with their respective items on the agenda. Item 5C would be considered as a standalone item.

5C)      Finance, Audit and Risk Committee – Second Quarter Investment Strategy (Capital and Treasury) Review 2023/24

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: That Council:

(1)   Approve the adoption of the Investment Strategy (as attached at Appendix A), including the capital programme and prudential indicators. This incorporates the changes referenced in paragraphs 5.1 to 5.3.

(2)   Approve the adoption of the four clauses in relation to the Code of Practice on Treasury Management (as detailed in paragraphs 8.10 to 8.16).

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:

(1)   To ensure that the capital programme meets the Council’s objectives and officers can plan the implementation of the approved schemes.

(2)   To ensure the Council’s compliance with CIPFA’s code of practice on Treasury Management, the Local Government Act 2003, statutory guidance from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and the CIPFA Prudential Code. As well as determining and managing the Councils risk appetite in respect of investments.

RESOLVED: That the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee provided comments on and recommended the Revenue Budget 2024/25 to Cabinet.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO CABINET:

(1)   That Cabinet approves the decrease in the 2023/24 working budget of £301k, as detailed in table 7.

That Cabinet recommends to Council that it:

(2)   Notes the position on the Collection Fund and how it will be funded.

(3)   Notes the position relating to the General Fund balance and that due to the risks identified a minimum balance of £2.48 million is recommended.

(4)   Notes the net revenue savings that are likely to be required in future years, combined with the Chief Finance Officer’s section 25 report (Appendix D) which provides a commentary on the risks and reliability of estimates contained in the budget.

(5)   Approves the revenue savings and investments as detailed in Appendix B.

(6)   Approves a net expenditure budget of £20.265m, as detailed in Appendix C.

(7)   Approves a Council Tax increase of 2.99%, which is in line with the provisions in the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: To ensure that all relevant factors are considered in arriving at a budget and Council Tax level for 2024/25. To ensure that the budget is aligned to Council priorities for 2024/25 as set out in the Council Plan.

RESOLVED: That the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee provided comments on and recommended the Investment Strategy (Integrated Capital and Treasury) to Cabinet.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO CABINET:

That Cabinet recommends to Council that they:

(1)   Approve the adoption of the Investment Strategy (as attached at Appendix A), including the capital programme and prudential indicators. This incorporates the changes referenced in paragraphs 5.1 to 5.3.

(2)   That Council approve the adoption of the four clauses in relation to the Code of Practice on Treasury Management (as detailed in paragraphs 8.10 to 8.16).

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:

(1)   To ensure that the capital programme meets the Council’s objectives and officers can plan the implementation of the approved schemes.

(2)   To ensure the Council’s compliance with CIPFA’s code of practice on Treasury Management, the Local Government Act 2003, statutory guidance from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and the CIPFA Prudential Code. As well as determining and managing the Councils risk appetite in respect of investments.

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

(1) Noted the SIAS Progress Report for the period to 12 January 2024.

(2) Noted the implementation status of the reported high priority recommendations.

(3) Noted the plan amendments to the 2023/24 Annual Audit Plan.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Terry Tyler.

The Chair led a discussion regarding possible agenda items for future meetings and it was suggested that the Committee could receive updates on whether new contracts had any impact on future budgets. This was agreed with the Committee.

There was no public participation at this meeting.

(1)        The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be audio 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 advised that section 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution applied to this meeting.

There was no other business notified.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 13 December 2023 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED: That Full Council

(1)   Approved the proposed amendments to the Planning Control Committee’s Terms of Reference as per 8.1 of this report, with the deletion of the word “Ward”, in lines 2 and 11 of the proposed changes to section 8.4.5(c)(iii) of the Planning Control Committee’s Terms of Reference.

(2)   Approved the removal of Appendices 1-2 to Section 8 of the Constitution.

(3)   Agreed the proposed Procedure for Speaking at the Planning Control Committee (Appendix A), with the replacement of the words “Ward Member with Member” in paragraphs 1.5, and with the deletion of paragraph 1.9.

(4)   Agreed to the principle, that if the Procedure at 2.2 required further amendment, that the Monitoring Officer may do so in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of Planning Control Committee, and the Group Leaders, including changes to 6.1 and 6.2 to make them conform with the procedure as amended in 8.4.5 (c)(iii).

(4) A)   Whilst this is not a formal resolution, the following should be taken into account by the Monitoring Officer, in finalising the Procedure, in respect of section 1.5 to 1.8 be amended as follows:

(i)             Section 1.5, bullet points 1 and 3:

“Objectors” Group – a maximum of 3 persons against approval of the application, the speaking time will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, and the right to address the Committee is confined to persons who have previously made written representations on the application (either as an individual or as part of a consulted group during the consultation). 

“Supporters” Group – a maximum of 3 persons in favour of approval of the application and the right to address the Committee is confined to persons who have previously made written representations on the application (either as an individual or as part of a consulted groups during the consultation).

(ii)            Section 1.6 

In the case of “Objectors” and “Supporters”, no more than three people may speak on an application.

(iii)           Section 1.7

In the case of “Objectors” and “Supporters” the time allocated to each speaker is 3 minutes, however, should there be only one objector or support the time allocated to each speaker is 5 minutes. This time limit is strictly adhered to.

(iv)           Section 1.8

In the case of a Major application or being of significant public interest, the Chair may agree to extend the speaking time allocated to each “group”. Any request to extend the speaking time should be made to the Chair in writing by 5pm, three clear working days prior to the meeting date. The Committee, Member & Scrutiny Team will be advised/ and then advise all registered speakers of the extension. Any agreed extension of time shall be offered to all registered speakers.

(5)   Approved the amendments detailed in 8.6 regarding delegations to attest the affixing of the Council’s Common Seal.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: Recommendations 2.1-2.3 are to deal with a number of situations that have arisen over the last year (or so). Recommendation 2.3-2.4 allows for greater flexibility to update a Council Procedure, rather than making this a Constitutional matter, when amendments are required. Recommendation 2.5 is for practical resource reasons for attesting/ sealing documents.

RESOLVEDThat Council:

(1)   Approved the new banded scheme for working age applicants which remained unchanged for 2024/2025.

(2)   Noted that the new scheme has had a greater financial impact than expected, and any resultant Collection Fund shortfall would be split between the Council and its Major Precepting Authorities. The Councils share would be around 12%.

(3)   Noted that the Discretionary Exceptional Hardship Scheme, previously agreed to provide additional transitional support, had been underspent, largely due to the positive impacts of the main scheme. (The surplus of this would be used to off-set the impact on the District Council in relation to the main scheme).

(4)   Noted a further review was being undertaken during 2024/2025, to ascertain any further changes to be considered for the scheme in 2025/2026.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

To ensure that the Council had a Council Tax Reduction Scheme that continued to:

(1)   Provide the greatest support to the lowest income households.

(2)   Reduce the administrative burden that has been placed on the Council since the introduction of Universal Credit (UC).

(3)   Be simple to understand, meaning that customers will be able to calculate entitlement and assess the impact of potential changes in circumstances.

The Chair advised that the items referred from Cabinet would be taken with the respective items on the agenda.

RESOLVED:

(1)   That Council noted the position of Treasury Management activity as at the end of September 2023 including the new Capital items.

(2)   That Council confirmed the addition of the Local Authority Housing Fund Phase 2 to the capital programme for 2023/24 and approved the reprofiling of Bancroft & Priory Splash Pads from 2024/25 into 2023/24. Both as detailed in table 3.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)   Cabinet is required to approve adjustments to the capital programme and ensure the capital programme is fully funded.

(2)   To ensure the Council’s continued compliance with CIPFA’s 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:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 23 November 2023 as amended be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Raj Bhakar, Adam Compton, Faye Frost, Ian Moody, Michael Muir, Lisa Nash and Michael Weeks.

RESOLVEDThat Council:

(1)   Considered the report and recommendations of the IRP, as attached as Appendix A of the submitted report.

(2)   Agreed the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2024/2025 as set out in Appendix B of the submitted report.

(3)   Expressed appreciation to the IRP for their work over the last year on this report.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To ensure that the Council meets its statutory requirements of an annual review and adoption of the scheme.

There were three motions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12.

A)    Anti Luton-Airport Expansion

RESOLVED: The Council resolved that the Leader and the Deputy Leader write jointly to the Leader, Deputy Leader, Luton Borough Council’s Chief Executive, the Managing Director of Luton Rising (the trading name of LLAOL), the Leaders/Deputy Leaders of all surrounding local government authorities, all relevant (local) members of parliament, the Secretary of State and the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport clearly stating that we as a Council are opposed to any further expansion of Luton Airport.

B)    White Ribbon

RESOLVED: The Council resolved to:

(1)   Encourage all male councillors to take the White Ribbon pledge to never to take part in, condone or stay silent about violence against women.

(2)   Work towards White Ribbon accreditation, joining the large number of public sector bodies that have already done so.

(3)   Mark White Ribbon Day on 25 November each year (aim for 2024, if not 2025) and encourage participation among councillors, council staff and local organisations.

(4)   Continue to work with organisations and support campaigns for the end of violence against women and the promotion of healthy relationships.

(5)   Ask the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Education to request further work be done in support of all elements of this motion.

(6)   Call out all forms of sexual objectification and all its negative outcomes and encourage others to do the same. Championing the wellbeing of everyone, particularly of women and girls, and encouraging the education of everyone, particularly of men and boys.

C)    Health Intervention

RESOLVED: The Council would incorporate the following into service planning and funding streams and:

(1)   Look to include the consideration of health and well-being implications in the decision-making process across all portfolios and service directorates, with increased support resources for officers (such as toolkits, assessment logic flows etc.);

(2)   Ask Officers to ensure that, as the Council’s policies are routinely reviewed, specific consideration is given to how policies and our related decisions and actions, affect our contribution to health interventions and outcomes, and where necessary, update these policies to have better impacts wherever possible. As part of this, Overview & Scrutiny should be given the opportunity to review policy changes and regularly review progress on health interventions;

(3)   Ask Officers to continue to liaise with Hertfordshire County Council colleagues and continue to work with the Herts and West Essex and Cambridge and Peterborough Integrated Care Boards in their work on this, to take account of the findings in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, and to encourage the Chair of Overview & Scrutiny and each Area Forum Chair to invite presentation of information on population health, health initiatives, and service provision for consideration by their respective committees and the wider public, at least once annually.

(4)   Ask officers to investigate the most appropriate training for Members and officers about how to promote health interventions, outcomes, and policies for consideration by Council;

(5)   Request that the Leader and Deputy Leader write to the Secretary of State for Health requesting that they provide the necessary powers and resources to make local action on health interventions and outcomes easier and to support the implementation of the recommendations of the joint LGA and NHS Confederation report on Integrated Care Partnerships (Integrated Care Partnerships: Driving the future vision for health and care | Local Government Association).

(6)   Request that the Leader and Deputy Leader write to the Chief Executive of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB requesting that they initiate a process of constitutional variation (as provided for under section 1.6 of the ICB constitution), with a view to inviting a third Local Authority partner member to join the ICB, and to consider allowing for that member to be drawn from either Hertfordshire County Council or North Hertfordshire District Council.

(7)   Continue to work with partners across the District, County and wider region to deliver widespread positive health interventions and outcomes.

There were two questions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11.

(A)   Home Internet for Officers

Councillor Ralph Muncer to Councillor Ian Albert (Executive Member for Finance and IT).

(B)   Impact of Waste Service Design on Rural Communities

Councillor Ralph Muncer to Councillor Amy Allen (Executive Member for Recycling and Waste Management).

There were no public participants.

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

(2)   Members were reminded that this Council had 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.

(3)   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.

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

(5)   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.

(6)   The Chair reminded the Committee about the upcoming Chair’s Civic Event and Awards, being held on Friday 1 March 2024.

(7)   The Chair held a minute’s silence to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

There was no other business notified.

RESOLVED:

(1)   That the Draft NNDR 1 was approved.

(2)   That it was noted that a 2nd draft version of the NNDR was sent to Councils by the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) on Monday 8th January 2024. The final version of the NNDR 1 would need to be returned to DLUHC by Wednesday 31st January 2024.

(3)   That the Committee delegated any amendments to the return resulting from changes to the form and any additional guidance, to the Service Director – Customers in consultation with the Service Director – Resources and the Committee Chair.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To comply with statutory requirements.

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

(1)   Set a non-collection rate of 1% for 2024/2025.

(2)   Set the Council Tax Base for 2024/2025 at 50,562.6 and that the individual sums shown in Appendix A for each Parish was agreed.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To fulfil the statutory requirement to set a Council Tax Base for the District and to enable Major and Local Precepting Authorities to set their levels of Council Tax for 2024/2025.

There was no public participation at this meeting.

(1)        The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be audio 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 advised that Members were required to be present for the entire item at this meeting in order to take part in the vote.

There was no other business notified.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 28 February 2023 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.

No apologies for absence were received from Councillors.