Decisions

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Sam Collins, Gary Grindal and Ruth Brown.

The Chair advised Members that, following the death of Councillor Paul Clark who was the Executive Member for Planning, a minute’s silence in remembrance would be held.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

(1)  That Council notes the CTRS position relating to this and previous financial years.

(2)  That Council notes that a full review of the CTRS had commenced and has been postponed due to the consequences on the scheme of the COVID-19 pandemic.

(3)  That the funding allocated for distribution to Parish, Town & Community Councils in relation to CTRS in 2022/2023 is unchanged from 2021/2022.

(4)  That no changes to the CTRS be made for 2022/2023.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: To update Cabinet on how the Scheme is working and to note that the full review planned to take place was postponed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and this remains the case. However, work is planned to start in January 2022.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That Cabinet noted the update on the Corporate Risks for the quarter, namely:

·         The review of the Covid-19 Leisure Management Contract Corporate risk with an unchanged risk score of 9 and a Target risk score of 6.

·         The review of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Recovery Corporate risk with a current risk score of 9 and a target risk score of 6.

·         The review of the Managing the Councils Finances Corporate risk with an unchanged current risk score of 9, and a target risk score of 3

·         The proposal to downgrade the Impact of Anti-Social Behaviour on Council Facilities Corporate risk to a service risk.

(2)  That Cabinet approved the annual review of the Risk Management Framework.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)  The responsibility for ensuring the management of risks is that of Cabinet.

(2)  The Finance, Audit and Risk Committee has responsibility to monitor the effective development and operation of Risk Management.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That Cabinet noted this report.

(2)  That Cabinet approved the changes to the 2021/22 General Fund budget, as identified in table 3 and paragraph 8.2, a £1.256million decrease in net expenditure.

(3)  That Cabinet noted the changes to the 2022/23 General Fund budget, as identified in table 3 and paragraph 8.2, a total £68k decrease in net expenditure. These will be incorporated in the draft revenue budget for 2022/23.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: Members are able to monitor, make adjustments within the overall budget framework and request appropriate action of Services who do not meet the budget targets set as part of the Corporate Business Planning process.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet supported and approved the dissolution of the LSP for the reasons set out in the report.

REASON FOR DECISION: North Hertfordshire Council widely engages with statutory and voluntary and community organisation in numerous ways. Much has changes since the establishment of the LSP in 2001. Due to a range of factors: the emergence of new thematic partnerships and networks, the complete allocation of the Performance Reward Grant (PRG) and the reduced attendance and engagement of external partners at the Partnership meeting, consideration must be made to dissolving the LSP.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the report on strategic planning matters was noted.

(2)  That the correspondence and information in Appendices A to C was noted and endorsed by Cabinet.

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

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the Examiner’s report for the Ashwell Neighbourhood Plan was noted.

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

(3)  That the Counting Officer be instructed to conduct a referendum on the Ashwell Parish Neighbourhood Plan.

(4)  That the decision to “make” the Ashwell Neighbourhood Plan was delegated to the Service Director – Regulatory in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning, as previously agreed by Cabinet in July 2018 (Minute 21).

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

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 21 September 2021 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That Cabinet noted the latest funding forecasts for 2022/23 and the significant uncertainty around inflation and Central Government funding, and that these estimates provided could be subject to significant change.

(2)  That Cabinet noted the comments made at the budget workshops, and comment on the inclusion of the revenue savings and investments in the budget to be brought back for consideration in January, for referral on to Council in February.

(3)  That Cabinet noted the comments made at the budget workshops, and comment on the inclusion of the capital investments in the Investment Strategy to be brought back for consideration in January, for referral on to Council in February.

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure that all relevant factors are considered in arriving at a proposed budget, Investment Strategy and Council Tax level for 2022/23, to be considered by Full Council on 10 February 2022.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet noted the recovery progress of our leisure facilities across the district.

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure the Council continues to deliver leisure services that support the health and wellbeing of our residents throughout the Coronavirus pandemic.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That Cabinet noted the forecast expenditure of £3.045million in 2021/22 on the capital programme, paragraph 8.3 refers.

(2)  That Cabinet approved the adjustments to the capital programme for 2021/22 onwards, as a result of the revised timetable of schemes detailed in table 2 and 3, decreasing the estimated spend in 2022/23 by £2.661million.

(3)  That Cabinet noted 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.

RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL: That Council note the position of Treasury Management activity as at the end of September 2021.

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.

7a. Referral from Finance, Audit and Risk Committee – 15 December 2021 – Draft Budget 2022/23

The Chair advised this referral would be taken with Item 8.

7b. Referral from Finance, Audit and Risk Committee – 15 December 2021 – Quarterly Risk Management Update

The Chair advised this referral would be taken with Item 9.

7c. Referral from Finance, Audit and Risk Committee – 15 December 2021 – Second Quarter Investment Strategy (Capital and Treasury) Review 2021/22

The Chair advised this referral would be taken with Item 10.

7d. Referral from Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 14 December 2021 and Finance, Audit and Risk Committee – 15 December 2021 – Integrated Performance Management

RESOLVED: That the proposals set out in the report were approved which relate to the relation and monitoring of an Integrated Council Delivery Plan.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: That Council approves the changes to the Constitution as detailed in Section 9.

REASON FOR DECISION: To improve the current processes that are in place which do not seem to be well integrated with each other or the Council Plan.

7e. Referral from Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 14 December 2021 – Q2 Performance Indicators 2021-22

The Chair advised that this item had been included in error and would be referred to the Cabinet meeting in January.

There was no public participation at this meeting.

(1)  The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council policy, the meeting would be audio and video 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.

There was no other business notified.

RESOLVED:

(1)  To consider the information in the Part 2 report;

(2)  To approve the acquisition of the group of companies and delegate the Service Director: Regulatory to vote accordingly on behalf of the Council.

(3)  To delegate any action required to complete the acquisition to the Service Directors for Regulatory and Legal and Community on behalf of the Council as shareholder.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To seek to enable the acquisition of the group of companies to proceed subject to the support of the other 7 shareholders.

RESOLVED:  That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act (as amended).

There was none.

(1)  The Chair welcomed those present at the meeting;

(2)  The Chair advised that much of the meeting would be conducted in Part 2 private session and that if/when the meeting moved in to Part 2 the live stream would be ended. When the meeting returned to public session the live stream would not resume. Public notice of any decisions taken would be made in the usual way.

(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.

There was no other business notified.