Full Council - 12 December 2017

To:               ALL MEMBERS OF THE THREE RIVERS DISTRICT COUNCIL

You are hereby summoned to attend an ordinary meeting of the Council to be held in the Penn Chamber, Three Rivers House, Rickmansworth, on Tuesday 12 December 2017 at 7.30pm for the purpose of transacting the under-mentioned business:- 

A G E N D A 

1.                  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE 

2.                  MINUTES To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 17 October 2017 (pages A1 to A23).

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3.                  INDEPENDENT REMUNERATION PANEL

To consider the recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel. (Pages B1 to B4)

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4.                 AMENDMENTS TO THE COUNCIL CONSTITUTION AND REVIEW OF SERVICE COMMITTEES AND RULE 17 (BUDGET SETTING)

To consider the recommendations from the Constitution Working Party meeting held on 4 December 2017. (C1A to C10)

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For Council to note and approve minor amendments to the Council Constitution which have been made under the Chief Executive’s powers to make amendments to the Constitution. Minor amendments to the Council Constitution which have been made under the Chief Executive’s powers to make amendments to the Constitution. (D1 to D2)

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5.                  SPECIAL EXPENSES This report reviews the Council’s general and special expenses. (Pages E1 to E5)

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6.                  COUNCIL TAX REDUCTION SCHEME 2018/19

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This report seeks the Council’s approval for the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2018/19. (Pages F1 to Fx)7.                  COUNCIL TAX BASE FINANCIAL YEAR 2017/2018This report details the Authority’s Council Tax Base for 2017/2018 which must be approved between 1 December 2017 and 31 January 2018. This will be dependent on Item 6. (Pages G1 to Gx)

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8.                  RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE To consider the recommendations of the Policy and Resources Committee at its meetings held on 7 November 2017 and 11 December 2017 (H1-H2).

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Background Papers

PR53/17          SHEPHERD SCHOOL PUBLIC SPACES PROTECTION ORDER

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PR55/17          The Centre – Leisure Management Contract

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PR56/17          BUDGET MONITORING – MONTH 6 (September 2017)

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BROWNFIELD LAND REGISTER

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9.                  PETITIONS UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 19

None received.

10.                QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 16

None received.

11.                CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS  

12.                REPORTS AND QUESTIONS TO THE LEADER AND LEAD MEMBERS      

 LEADER OF THE COUNCIL  SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING AND TRANSPORT Reports from the Lead Member for Economic Development, Sustainability and Transport (Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst) and the Lead Member for Housing, Planning and Strategic Schemes (Cllr Martin Trevett) and questions.

Question from Cllr Stephen Cox to Cllr Martin Trevett, Lead Member for Housing, Planning and Strategic Schemes

Who made the decision that parking in the public car park in Henbury Way, South Oxhey should be limited to that stipulated on the plates?

Question from Cllr Paula Hiscocks to Cllr Martin Trevett, Lead Member for Housing, Planning and Strategic Schemes

Can the Lead Member for Housing, Planning and Strategic Schemes please advise on the full amount of CIL monies for Rickmansworth which will be retained by this Council?  How it will be decided where and when the money will be used?  Can the Lead Member give assurances that there will be full consultation and discussion with Ward Councillors in regard to any decisions?

Question from Cllr David Sansom to Cllr Martin Trevett, Lead Member for Housing, Planning and Strategic Schemes

In the Parking Project Initiation Document (4/12/2017?) under costs it says:

“From around £78,000 (lowest possible cost, phase 2 only, cheapest machines) to around £660,000 (best likely cost for phase 2), to include TRO changes at estimated £5,000 for each iteration, new signage and publicity; most costly infrastructure is new P&D machines for which there are various costed options.

There is more detail available but on current estimates this is likely to cost from £7,000 to around £80,000 per parking place, depending on the system installed at each parking place.“

When referring to the “parking place” does this mean car park, town or district?

How much is the Council prepared to pay for parking charge machines per space? What is the expected rate of return?

How will people be required to pay for parking with these new machines?

Question from Cllr Alex Hayward to Cllr Martin Trevett, Lead Member for Housing, Planning and Strategic Schemes

This Council’s policy since 2011 is to provide 45% affordable housing on each and every development. Can you please update the Council as to how many developments as a percentage have actually achieved this and of those that haven’t? When would financial compensation be paid and how much money has been generated?

Question from Cllr Marilyn Butler to Cllr Martin Trevett, Lead Member for Housing, Planning and Strategic Schemes

How many houses are registered as empty within the Three Rivers District Council? Are any of these owned by the Council?  How many are owned by a Housing Association?

LEISURE, WELLBEING AND HEALTH Reports from the Lead Member for Leisure, Wellbeing and Health (Cllr Chris Lloyd) and the Lead Member for Health (Cllr Alison Scarth) and questions.                       GENERAL PUBLIC SERVICES AND COMMUNITY SAFETY Reports from the Lead Member for Public Services (Cllr Phil Brading) and the Lead Member for Community Safety (Cllr Roger Seabourne) and questions.

Question from Cllr Alex Hayward to Cllr Phil Brading, Lead Member for Public Services

The refuse collection service has been in-house since 2002. Can the Lead Member advise when in the past 15 years and to best serve the residents of Three Rivers this service was last commercially reviewed and put out to tender?

RESOURCES AND SHARED SERVICES Report from the Lead Member for Resources and Shared Services (Cllr Matthew Bedford) and questions.

Question from Cllr Joan King to Cllr Matthew Bedford, Lead Member for Resources and Shared Services

Is the Lead Member content that full details of progress made and upcoming developments of all natures are being provided to Members of the South Oxhey Community Board?

Question from Cllr David Sansom to Cllr Matthew Bedford, Lead Member for Resources and Shared Services

In the Policy and Resources minutes for the meeting on the 4 September 2017 under variances it shows “£191,200 - Increase in cost of agency staff for IT” at the meeting we were told that this was a temporary increase in costs.

In the Policy and Resources papers from 7 November 2017 under Budget monitoring it shows:-

“The report highlighted that this level of budget [£191,200 increase] is required under the current resources model in order to provide a functioning service that delivers acceptable levels of performance.”

Which of these reports is correct? Will next year’s IT budget be increased by £191,200 next year or not?

13.                REPORTS AND QUESTIONS TO THE CHAIRMEN OF THE AUDIT, PLANNING, LICENSING AND REGULATORY SERVICES COMMITTEES (RULE 14)                      AUDIT COMMITTEE Report from and questions to the Chairman of the Audit Committee (Cllr Sarah Nelmes).                      PLANNING COMMITTEE Report from and questions to the Chairman of the Planning Committee (Cllr Chris Whately-Smith).                      LICENSING Report from and questions to the Chairman of the Licensing Committee (Cllr Steve Drury).                     REGULATORY SERVICES Report from and questions to the Chairman of the Regulatory Services Committee (Cllr Steve Drury). To consider the recommendation of the Regulatory Services Committee at its meeting held on 6 December 2017 as follows: Minute RG13/17 - REVIEW OF BYELAWS: NEW MODEL BYELAWS FOR PLEASURE GROUNDS, PUBLIC WALKS AND OPEN SPACES

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Background Papers                      REGULATORY SERVICES COMMITTEE – 6 DECEMBER 2017 REVIEW OF BYELAWS: NEW MODEL BYELAWS FOR PLEASURE GROUNDS, PUBLIC WALKS AND OPEN SPACES

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14.                MOTIONS UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 11

1. Councillor Joan King, seconded by Councillor Stephen Cox, to move under Notice duly given as follows:

This Council writes to Countryside PLC to inform them that:

A – the proposed rents for existing shopkeepers are exorbitant and that they should be significantly reduced;

B – that shopkeepers should not be asked to pay one year’s rent upfront and to be held by a third party, in order for them to have new retail premises as part of the South Oxhey Initiative; and

C – that existing shopkeepers should be shown the same loyalty that they have shown to the residents of South Oxhey for many years.

2. Councillor Reena Ranger, seconded by Councillor Alex Hayward, to move under Notice duly given as follows:

This Council expresses its concern at Councillors and Candidates having to disclose their home address publicly for the purposes of their Local Government service or candidature.  Accordingly, Council requests the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government asking the Government to legislate to allow choice in this respect.

3. Councillor Sara Bedford, seconded by Councillor Alison Scarth, to move under Notice duly given as follows:

Council notes the disappointing decision by Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group (HVCCG) on 16 November 2017 to withdraw funding from Nascot Lawn Children’s respite centre.

Council calls on:

1. Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) to fulfil its duty to provide short breaks and respite care for all families who need the service.

2. HCC and HVCCG to have a full discussion regarding the medical and care needs of current and future users of Nascot Lawn, which includes parents and caters, to prevent children ‘falling through’ gaps in provision.

3. The MPs representing parts of Three Rivers to request from the Government sufficient funding to enable a facility such as Nascot Lawn to continue to serve families with a severely disabled child.

4. Councillor Andrew Scarth, seconded by Councillor Sara Bedford, to move under Notice duly given as follows:

Council notes with interest the research of the Energy  Saving Trust regarding environmental measures on new-build homes, and supports their concept of an energy-efficient, near carbon-zero new homes policy, known as ‘2050-ready’.

Council further notes that:

1. Achieving carbon savings in buildings will be key to hitting the UK’s legally binding target of an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. Currently 18% of UK carbon emissions come from buildings – most of them homes – with a further 15% of emissions from the generation of electricity subsequently used in buildings.

2. The Government were previously committed to introducing such a policy, but scrapped it after the 2015 General Election, despite widespread support for the policy from industry and the third sector.

3. The Mayor of London has recently introduced a similar policy as part of the London Plan.

4. The additional costs of building such a home are negligible, and will be rapidly reversed by lower running costs.

Council therefore calls for the Three Rivers Local Plan to use all available mechanisms to introduce a policy requiring all new buildings to be 2050-ready,and to write to the DCLG to request that such a policy should be required in all new Local Plans, in order for them to be found compliant.

5. Proposed by Councillor Roger Seabourne, seconded by Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst and Councillor Sara Bedford.

1. Council notes that:1. There have been increases in levels of crime and antisocial behaviour, and in the fear of crime.2. According to independent figures, under the current Police and Crime Commissioner, the number of Police staff has fallen by 331 across Hertfordshire.3. A recent report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary “Officers and staff too often fail to make correct crime-recording decisions.. [...] This is due to deficiencies in the constabulary’s crime-recording processes, insufficient understanding of crime-recording requirements, and limited supervision to correct the decisions of officers and staff and improve standards from the outset. This means that the constabulary is letting down too many victims of crime.”Council believes that whilst Hertfordshire and Three Rivers remains a low crime, it is essential that these increases are addressed before they rise further.Council therefore calls on the Police and Crime Commissioner to secure the resources to increase the numbers of police officers and PCSOs on the streets of SW Hertfordshire.

Chief Executive

4 December 2017

Three Rivers House

Northway

Rickmansworth

Herts WD3 1RL