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 16 July 2019 at 7.30pm for the purpose of transacting the under mentioned business:-

AGENDA

1.  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

2.  MINUTES

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Annual Council meeting held on 21 May 2019.

19-05-21-cl-minutes-draft

3.  RECOMMENDATION FROM THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE – 17 JUNE 2019

To receive the recommendation from the Policy and Resources Committee meeting held on 17 June 2019.

Minute PR06/19 - SUMMARY OF THE FINANCIAL OUTTURN FOR 2018/19

Council are asked to agree the following:

• That the favourable revenue outturn variance of (£792,510) to be noted.
• That the capital outturn as summarised in paragraph 2.6 and Appendix 3 be noted.
• Approves to carry forward:
• the unspent service budgets from 2018/19 to 2019/20 which total £308,900 to enable completion of projects as detailed at Appendix 2.
• the savings made from budgets in 2018/19 which total £397,000 be carried forward to 2019/20 for use on new Council initiatives as detailed at Appendix 2.
• Approves the rephasing on capital projects from 2018/19 to 2019/20 which total £4,640,744 as detailed at Appendix 4.
• Approves to write off the sum of £58,687 in respect of irrecoverable debts.
• The report from the meeting is provided below (the report will be published with the Summons but a weblink to the report is provided below).
• https://www.threerivers.gov.uk/meeting/policy-and-resources-committee-17-june-2019

-06-19-06-17-pr-i-18-19-outturn-report-final

EXLCUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

If Council wishes to consider Item 4 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 1 and 2 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.”

4.  APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM HEAD OF PAID SERVICE / CHIEF EXECUTIVE

To receive the recommendation of the Council’s Appointment Committee.

19-07-16-cl-item-4-head-of-paid-service-report

5.  TO RECEIVE ANY PETITIONS UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 18

None received.

6.  QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 15

Questions received from Mr Beck, a Member of the Public

Is the Council the freeholder of the land the Pavilion Pub South Oxhey?

Does the Council own the Car Park at the Pavilion and the changing room facilities?

What can it do about the leaseholder of the Pavilion Pub blocking off access routes to Council run leisure facilities and other users?

7.  CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

8.  REPORTS AND QUESTIONS TO THE LEADER AND LEAD MEMBERS

LEADER OF THE COUNCIL

Question to Councillor Sara Bedford, Leader of the Council, from Councillor Keith Martin, Vice-Chair of Council

Could you please advise whether the Council has given planning permission for the fence to be built across the car park at the Pavilion? What action is the Council taking to restore access to users of the Bowls Club and the Scouts HQ?

Questions to Councillor Sara Bedford, Leader of the Council, from Councillor Joan King

Please can the Leader provide full details of the issues surrounding the fencing off of areas in the vicinity of The Pavilion in Green Lane which has deeply inconvenienced the Bowls Club and the Scouts who moved to that area at the behest of this Council?

Further what action, if any, does the Council intend to take, or has taken already, to safeguard, preserve and reinstate previous access arrangements including those to the car park?

Question to Councillor Sara Bedford, Leader of the Council, from Councillor Debbie Morris

At the last Planning Committee meeting, none of the microphones worked to the detriment of all in attendance. When are they being replaced?

Questions to Councillor Sara Bedford, Leader of the Council, from Councillor David Sansom

Following the Chief Executive’s sudden departure, why did he leave?

What are the financial implications for the Council?

He is on several joint organisations/outside bodies, what are the implications for them?

Question to Councillor Sara Bedford, Lead of the Council, from Councillor David Sansom

“The public don't agree with the Councils description of Rickmansworth High Street as 'flourishing'. What is your answer to those residents?”

INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Reports from the Lead Member for Transport and Economic Development (Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst), Lead Member for Infrastructure and Planning Policy (Cllr Phil Williams), Lead Member for Housing (Cllr Andrew Scarth).

Question to Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Lead Member for Transport and Economic Development, from Councillor Alison Wall

Will this Council consider a two way cycle lane between the bottom of Scots Hill through to the centre of Rickmansworth? A number of residents have raised this and improving cycle routes will support our green strategy.

Question to Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Lead Member for Transport and Economic Development, from Councillor Joan King

What is the Council’s policy with regards to non-respondents to CPZ consultations?

Question to Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Lead Member for Transport and Economic Development, from Councillor David Sansom

As the parking deficit has now been cleared and the Council plans to raise £140,000 from low paid workers in Rickmansworth by selling parking spaces on residential streets, how does the Council plan on spending the extra money?

Question to Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Lead Member for Transport and Economic Development, from Councillor David Raw

When will this Administration bring two hours free parking back in Rickmansworth to bring it in line with the rest of the District?

LEISURE, ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY

Reports from the Lead Member for Leisure (Cllr Chris Lloyd), Lead Member for Environmental Services and Sustainability (Cllr Alex Michaels), Lead Member for Community Safety and Partnerships (Cllr Roger Seabourne) and questions.

Question to Councillor Chris Lloyd, Lead Member for Leisure, from Councillor Joan King

Does the Council anticipate a reduction in revenue for football pitch hire at South Oxhey Playing Fields?

Question to Councillor Chris Lloyd, Lead Member for Leisure, from Councillor Joanna Clemens

In terms of addressing the ongoing environmental emergency, what plans has Three Rivers, working with County, to increase wild grass and wild flower verges on land Three Rivers owns around the District to improve biodiversity?

Question to Councillor Alex Michaels, Lead Member for Environmental Services and Sustainability, from Councillor Debbie Morris

What are the Council’s plans to phase out Council-owned/operated diesel vehicles where electric alternatives are available?

Question to Councillor Alex Michaels, Lead Member for Environmental Services and Sustainability, from Councillor Reena Ranger

In light of the climate emergency declared at Full Council, what can this Council do stop or deter cars idling outside schools?

RESOURCES AND SHARED SERVICES

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

Question to Councillor Matthew Bedford, Lead Member for Resources and Shared Services, from Councillor Michael Revan

How many of the new dwellings at the South Oxhey development are accessible for those in wheelchairs?

Question to Councillor Matthew Bedford, Lead Member for Resources and Shared Services, from Councillor Joanna Clemens

Further to my question at last Full Council with respect to the security of our systems, and ongoing concerns being raised in the media, can you advise whether Three Rivers has one of the 524 gov.uk sites in the UK with unpatched vulnerabilities from the CVE system? If so how many do we have and which?

Question to Councillor Matthew Bedford, Lead Member for Resources and Shared Services, from Councillor David Raw

Are the trees removed to build the Bury development to be replaced?

9.  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 Keith Martin).

PLANNING COMMITTEE

Report from and questions to the Chairman of the Planning Committee (Cllr Sarah Nelmes).

LICENSING

Report from and questions to the Chairman of the Licensing Committee (Cllr Martin Trevett).

REGULATORY SERVICES

Report from and questions to the Chairman of the Regulatory Services Committee (Cllr Steve Drury).

10.  MOTIONS UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 11

1) Councillor Sara Bedford, seconded by Councillors Sarah Nelmes and Phil Williams to move under Notice duly given as follows:

Council affirms:

1. Its declaration of a climate emergency.
2. A strong desire that new homes in the District should be built to high levels of energy efficiency, for the benefit of both the environment and future occupiers.
3. A wish to for Government to take steps to decarbonise the country’s economy.

Council notes that the current Three Rivers Local Plan made provision for all new homes to be Zero Carbon by 2016.

Council therefore regrets that:

1. The current Government published a document in July 2015 entitled ‘Fixing the foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation’, which effectively ended the policy for homes to be zero carbon by 2016, non- domestic properties to be zero carbon by 2019 and supporting revisions to the Building Regulations.
2. Whilst Paragraph 150 of NPPF states new development should be planned for in ways that avoid increased vulnerability to the range of impacts arising from climate change, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as through its location, orientation and design, there are no national technical standards for carbon emission reductions in the same way that there are technical standards for space, water and access.
3. Attempts by other Councils to set higher standards for energy efficiency in Local Plans has been met with threats by Planning Inspectors to find the Plan unsound if the Policy is not removed from the Draft Plan.

Council therefore calls for:

1. An immediate return to the obligation for Councils to plan for Zero Carbon Homes, and for homes with a lower reliance on other resources during their building and lifetime.
2. The introduction of Building Regulations which support and extend these sustainable moves.

2. Councillor Sara Bedford, seconded by Councillor Stephanie Singer, to move under Notice duly given as follows:

Council adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism and the Home Affairs Select Committee proposed definition of Islamophobia (from the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims). For information, the two definitions are:

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

“Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.”

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

To amend Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution regarding the appointment if substitutes to the Planning Committee so that it reads:

Either:

Substitutes are only permitted from a designated named pool of substitute Members with each Group allowed to appoint up to the same number of substitute Members as Members of the Committee. All substitute Members serving on the Planning Committee to have undertaken suitable training on the planning process prior to serving on the Committee.

Or

Substitutes are only permitted from a designated named pool of substitute Members. All substitute Members serving on the Planning Committee to have undertaken suitable training on the planning process prior to serving on the Committee.

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

This Council supports the objective of Watford Rural Parish Council to obtain Village Green status for South Oxhey Playing Fields.  Accordingly, it instructs Officers to provide the fullest possible pro-active assistance and liaise with both Hertfordshire County Council and the Parish Council itself to ensure this land receives much-needed added protection as a public open space as soon as possible.

Joanne Wagstaffe, Interim Head of Paid Service/CEO

8 July 2019