Decisions

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the amendment of 2.4 to read ‘Failure to comply with the Rules will result in Officers conduct being examined and may be a breach under the Council’s Managing Misconduct Policy….’ The Contract Procedure Rules be adopted.

REASON FOR DECISION: That the Contract Procurement Rules are part of the Constitution (under Section 20) and are revised and updated periodically as part of the Council's governance and procurement review processes, contributing to effective organisational internal control.  In addition, the review and adoption of the Council’s Contract Procurement Rules is a key action in the Council’s Procurement Strategy.

RESOLVED:

That the amendments to the Council’s Constitution be approved as detailed in Appendix A of the submitted report, subject to the following[1]:

(a)       Section 4 Full Council and Council Procedure Rules

Proposed ‘guillotine’ provision for meeting length (Section 4.8 – new 4.8.5(e)):

That the proposed amendment to include a ‘guillotine’ provision not be inserted into the Council’s Constitution.

(b)       Motions on notice - retention (Section 4.8.12(a))

That the word ‘open’ be amended to ‘available’. ‘…Motions received will be retained in a record of motions which is available to public inspection.’

(c)       Section 6 Scrutiny – introduction (Section 6.1.2)

That the wording ‘local inhabitants and customer…’ be changed to ‘Local inhabitants and service users’.

(d)       Section 8 Regulatory Committees: Licensing and Appeals Committee; Licensing Sub-Committee (section 8.3.1):

That the status quo be maintainedand the proposed amendment not be inserted into the Council’s Constitution.

(e)       Section 8.4.5(c) (ii)/ (iii) & ‘support’ of ward Member /call in to PCC – Planning Control Committees

Insertion of the words ‘disclosable pecuniary’.

That the wording be ‘* 1 A Ward Member with a declarable and disclosable pecuniary Interest must not be involved in the referral to Committee.

This to apply to (iii):

Footnote: 3 as above.’

(f)        Section 9 Area Committee terms of reference (Section 9.8.) (additional term of reference 9.8.2 (h)):

The proposed amendment not be inserted into the Council’s Constitution.

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure the Council meets its statutory obligations and continues to improve its working practices.

The following items were considered:-

Motions regarding the following were submitted:

Increasing debt, homelessness, poverty, hardship and uncertainty caused by the rollout of Universal Credit in North Hertfordshire

Questions regarding the following were submitted:

(a)   Consultation on Permitted Development for Shale Gas Exploration

(b)   Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) for North Hertfordshire

(c)   What contingency plans has this Council put in place to deal with the implications to the Council and the District in the event Brexit goes ahead on 29 March this year?”

(d)   The area's subsidised door-to-door bus service to the Lister and New QEII.

Miss Jacqueline May McDonald, representing the Future of Hitchin Town Hall and Museum Social Media Group, spoke for five minutes regarding the delay in the completion of Hitchin Town Hall and Museum and called for a full public enquiry into the matter.

There was no other business notified.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 22 November 2018 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the Scheme attached at Appendix 1 as the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for North Hertfordshire for 2019/2020 be approved.

(2)       That, in accordance with Section 59A.1 of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme referred to in (1) above, the percentage by which each award to each recipient in the Non-Protected Groups is reduced at 25.0% for 2019/2020 - this remains the same as 2018/2019.

(3)       That the amount to be distributed to the Local Precepting Authorities for Council Tax Reduction Scheme Grant is £38,885 and that this be distributed in proportion to the total awards of CTRS in each Local Precepting area.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: To comply with the requirement to approve the local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the coming financial year.

Item referred from the Cabinet meeting on 18 December 2019 was considered as part of Agenda Item 7.b

RESOLVED: That the position of Treasury Management activity at the end of September 2018 be noted.

REASONS FOR DECISION: 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 in accordance with paragraph 4.4.1(b) of the Council’s Constitution, Full Council recognises the exceptional contribution to the community made by Chief Inspector Julie Wheatley and places on record the Council’s sincere thanks and appreciation for her service in North Hertfordshire.

REASON FOR DECISION:  To recognise the exceptional contribution to the Community made by Chief Inspector Julie Wheatley.  After 8 years serving the North Hertfordshire community in various positions, the Leader explained that Chief Inspector Julie Wheatley had been promoted to Superintendent and would therefore be leaving her role in the New Year.  During the four years that Chief Inspector Wheatley had been the North Hertfordshire Chief Inspector she had worked hard to build strong partnerships with the Authority and other local partners to improve community safety and reduce antisocial behaviour and crime and disorder.  It was noted that North Hertfordshire is one of the highest performing Community Safety Partnerships in the county, is one of the safest places to live in Hertfordshire and the country and has the highest rates of victim satisfaction in the county. 

There were no apologies for absence received from Councillors.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held on 18 December  2018 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held on 10 December  2018 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held on 20 November  2018 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman.

RECOMMENDS TO COUNCIL:

      i.        The adoption of the Investment Strategy (as attached as Appendix A of the submitted report), including the capital programme and prudential indicators.

     ii.        The adoption of the four clauses in relation to the Code of Practice on Treasury Management (as detailed in paragraphs 8.17 to 8.23 of the report).

REASON FOR DECISION:

To ensure that the capital programme meets the Council’s objectives and officers can

plan the implementation of the approved schemes.

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

RESOLVED:

      i.        That the report on strategic planning matters be noted.

     ii.        That the submission in Appendix A is noted and endorsed by Cabinet.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

To keep Cabinet informed of recent developments on strategic planning matters and

progress on the North Hertfordshire Local Plan.

RESOLVED:

      i.        That the expected Central Government funding levels be noted.

     ii.        That the estimated position on the Collection Fund and how this will be funded be noted.

    iii.        That the Council Tax increase for 2019/20 be in line with the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

   iv.        That the position relating to the General Fund balance be noted and, that due to the risks identified, a minimum balance of £1.96 million is recommended.

    v.        That the increase in the 2018/19 working budget of £116k be approved, the expected impact in 2019/20 of a £164k reduction in budget be noted.

   vi.        That the requests for the carry-forward of budget of £41k from 2018/19 to 2019/20 be agreed.

  vii.        That the inclusion of the efficiencies and investment be approved.

 viii.        That the savings target in future years be noted.

   ix.        That the Service Director – Resources reflect the following inclusions and consequential amendments into the budget to be presented to Council:

a.    Electric Vehicle Charging Points - A sum of £15k be added to the 2019/2020 budget to engage suitable consultants in order to progress this element within the proposed action plan of the Parking Strategy.

b.    North Hertfordshire Transport Users Forum – That a one off sum of £50k be allocated in the 2019/2020 budget to enable this Forum.

c.    North Hertfordshire Ethnic Minority Forum – That a one off grant of £25k in 2019/20 be allocated to allow for its restructure (subject to formal confirmation of its Terms of Reference).

d.    Regarding Appendix B of the submitted report, ‘Revenue Efficiencies and Investment Proposals’ – that funding for the ‘Area Wide Parking Reviews’ (reference E2) not be removed from the budget for 2020/2021 onwards and it be renamed to reflect that it will be used to undertake reviews of the transport implications of the town centre strategies.  The saving in 2019/20 to be retained.  

RECOMMENDS TO COUNCIL

That the estimated 2019/20 net expenditure of £15.2 million, as amended, and as detailed in the amended Appendix A (see addendum report) be approved.

REASON FOR DECISION:

To ensure that all relevant factors are taken into consideration when arriving at the

proposed Council Tax precept for 2019/20.

To ensure that the Cabinet recommends a balanced budget to Council on 7 February 2019.

Subsequent to Minute No. 84, the Deputy Chief Executive provided a verbal update regarding North Hertfordshire Museum and Hitchin Town Hall - acquisition of 14/15 Brand Street.

Item referred from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 22 January 2019 regarding the Commercial Strategy.

RESOLVED: That consideration of this referral is considered with agenda item 11 (Commercial Strategy).

There was no public participation at the meeting.

(1)     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 requested not to use flash and to disable any beeps or other sound notifications that emitted from their devices.  In addition, the Chairman had arranged for the sound at this particular meeting to be recorded;

(2)     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;

(3)     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.

The Report of the Licensing Officer was noted.

RESOLVED:  That the application for a new Premises License is approved subject to the conditions and hours as are set out in decision notice.