Executive Committee - 6 April 2009

NOTICE AND AGENDA

For a meeting to be held in the Penn Chamber, Three Rivers House, Rickmansworth, on Monday 6 April 2009 at 7.30pm.

Members of the Committee (portfolio responsibility in brackets):-

Councillors Ann Shaw OBE (Chairman), Matthew Bedford (Vice-Chairman) (Resources)

Phil Brading (Public Services and Health)       Roger Seabourne (Community Safety)

Chris Hayward       Ron Spellen

David Sansom       Martin Trevett (Environment)

Alison Scarth (Sustainability)       Chris Whately-Smith (Leisure and Community)

David Gardner, Director of Corporate Resources and Governance

27 March 2009

The Executive Committee welcomes contributions from Members of the public to its discussion on agenda items. Contributions will be limited to one person speaking for and one against each item for not more than three minutes. Please note that in the event of registering your interest to speak on an agenda item but not taking up that right because the item is deferred, you will automatically be given the right to speak on that item at the next meeting of the Committee. Details of the procedure and the list for registering the wish to speak will be available for a short period before the meeting.

1.APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

2. MINUTES

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Executive Committee meeting held on 9 March 2009.

3. NOTICE OF OTHER BUSINESS

Items of other business notified under Council Procedure Rule 31 to be announced, together with the special circumstances which justify their consideration as a matter of urgency. The Chairman to rule on the admission of such items.

4. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

To receive any declarations of interest.

RESOURCES

5. BUDGET MONITORING REPORT – FEBRUARY 2009 (MONTH 11)

This report seeks approval to changes in the approved medium-term financial plan based on information contained in the Financial Position Statement for the period ending on 25 February (Month 11)

6. CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATION FROM THE RESOURCES POLICY AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

To receive the recommendation of the Resources Policy and Scrutiny Committee held on 26 March 2009 in relation to the following items on the agenda for the Executive Committee on 6 April 2009.

6a BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS AND EFFICIENCY SAVINGS

This report is presented to enable the Committee to respond to the request of the Council that it considers the assumptions affecting the Council’s budget in the longer term, and any changes required to financial procedure rules to ensure that the efficiency savings included in the budget are achieved.

6bSHARED SERVICES TASK AND FINISH GROUP

This report provides the findings from the Shared Services Task and Finish Group (“the T&F group”).

Attached is an amended copy of this report which includes revised wording in respect of the recommendations by the Task and Finish Group. The wording has been agreed by the Task and Finish Group and Chairman of the Resources Policy and Scrutiny Committee. It is a clearer representation of the Group’s original wording and has no material effect on the intended content of the recommendations. The revised report also incorporates amendments to paragraph 7.23 agreed at the meeting of the Resources Policy and Scrutiny Committee on 26 March.

LEISURE AND COMMUNITY

7. CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATION FROM THE LEISURE AND COMMUNITY SAFETY POLICY AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

To receive the recommendation of the Leisure and Community Safety Policy and Scrutiny Committee held on 10 March 2009 in relation to the following item on the agenda for the Executive Committee on 6 April 2009.

7a PRIORITISATION OF DISCRETIONARY AWARDS TO ALIGN WITH STRATEGY

To consider a recommendation to align National Non-Domestic Rate Relief and awards of discretionary grants with the Strategic Plan, National Guidance and other Council strategies.

8. AMENDMENT TO COUNCIL PROCEDURAL RULES – COMMUNITYSAFETY

On 30th April 2009 the Government intends to introduce the Crime and Disorder (Overview and Scrutiny) Regulations 2009 and bring into force sections 19, 20 and 21 of the Police and Justice Act 2006. Section 19 of the Police and Justice Act 2006 places a duty on all local authorities to establish a crime and disorder scrutiny committee.

9.CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATION FROM THE SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT POLICY AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

To receive the recommendations of the Sustainable Environment Policy and Scrutiny Committee held on 17 March 2009 in relation to the following items on the agenda for the Executive Committee on 6 April 2009.

9a NEW PARKING SCHEMES

To review a programme of new parking restrictions for implementation, following consultation.

9b CONSIDERATION OF ‘PUMP-PRIMING’ MEASURES IN RELATION TO THE DELIVERY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THREE RIVERS

The current downturn in the housing market and wider economy highlights the pressing need for the Council to explore all possible avenues to help ‘pump-prime’ development that can deliver affordable housing. This report explores ways of helping to deliver more affordable housing in the District, particularly in relation to the Council’s role. This ranges from the Council directly promoting land and buildings in its ownership for affordable housing to working with others as part of a partnership approach towards provision. It also looks at the Council’s role as a ‘facilitator’ for development in the widest sense. The report is essentially a scoping report that identifies ideas for further exploration. The Committee is asked to consider these.

9c COUNCILLOR CALL FOR ACTION – NEW ROAD, CROXLEY GREEN

To advise Members on Environmental Health and Planning powers and any actions taken to date in respect of High Rise Scaffolding.

PUBLIC SERVICES AND HEALTH

10.CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC SERVICES AND HEALTH POLICY AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

To receive the recommendations of the Public Services and Health Policy and Scrutiny Committee held on 12 March 2009 in relation to the following item on the agenda for the Executive Committee on 6 April 2009.

10a THREE RIVERS CEMETERIES

To provide members with an update on the memorial safety testing in Chorleywood Road cemetery, together with a Management Plan for the woodland section in Woodcock Hill Cemetery and revised Rules and Regulations for both cemeteries.

11.APPOINTMENT OF CONSULTANT - EXCEPTION TO PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE

This report seeks authority to engage a consultant to assist with elections should costs exceed Ten thousand pounds (£10,000) in the current financial year.

12.OTHER BUSINESS -  if approved under item 3 above

12A RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION DOCUMENT “THE END OF AN EERA” (EAST OF ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY)

This report seeks comments on this consultation document.

13.EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

If the Committee wishes to consider the remaining item in private, it will be appropriate for a resolution to be passed in the following terms:-

“that under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public 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 under paragraphs 3 and 5 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act. It has been decided by the Council that in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.”

(Note: If other confidential business is approved under item 3, it will also be necessary to specify the class of exempt or confidential information in the additional items).

1. WILLIAM PENN LEISURE CENTRE REFURBISHMENT

This report updates Members on matters relating to the refurbishment of William Penn Leisure Centre, and recommends that authority is delegated to the Chief Executive to initiate action if appropriate.

2. OTHER BUSINESS