Full Council - 26 February 2019

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 26 February 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 Full Council meeting held on 11 December 2018 (pages 1 to 18).

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3.  RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

To receive the recommendation from the Policy and Resources Committee meeting held on 22 January 2019.

FIXED PENALTY NOTICES; OFFENCES UNDER SECTION 34(6) RELATING TO SECTION 34(2A) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT 1990 WHICH DEAL WITH THE UNAUTHORISED DISPOSAL OF HOUSEHOLD WASTE BY OCCUPIERS OF DOMESTIC PROPERTY

• The amendment to the Council’s Constitution – Scheme of Delegation (para 11.18.4) to include authorisation for all Environmental Enforcement Officers both to require an occupier of domestic property to give the occupier’s name and address if the officer proposes to give the occupier an FPN and to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for offences under section 34 (6) relating to section 34 (2A) Environmental Protection Act 1990.
• The level of FPN is set at £300 (reduced to £200 if paid within 10 days).
• To delegate to the Chief Executive the ability to amend the scheme of delegation to authorise other relevant officers both to require an occupier of domestic property to give the occupier’s name and address if the officer proposes to give the occupier an FPN and to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for offences under section 34 (6) relating to section 34 (2A) Environmental Protection Act 1990.

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4.  COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE REVIEW ABBOTS LANGLEY

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5.  SOUTH WEST HERTS PARTNERSHIP MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

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6.  PUBLIC SPACES PROTECTION ORDER WITH RESTRICTIONS FOR DOGS

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7.  COUNCIL PAY POLICY STATEMENT 2019

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8.  AMENDMENTS TO THE COUNCIL CONSTITUTION

For Council to note minor amendments to the Council Constitution which have been made under the Chief Executive’s powers to make amendments to the Constitution.

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9.  FINANCIAL PLANNING

To consider the recommendations from the Administration on the Financial Plan.

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(Members are referred to Procedural Rule 17 for budget setting provided below)

RULE 17

PROCEDURE RULES FOR BUDGET SETTING

(1)     The budget shall be proposed by a member of the Administration who will be allowed a maximum of ten minutes to present the budget.

Electronic copies of the budget proposal and of any related visual presentation must be circulated electronically to all Councillors 5 working days before the meeting.  The proposal must be accompanied by a statement from the Council’s Chief Financial Officer as to the robustness of any estimates used and the adequacy of the financial reserves resulting from the budget proposal, in accordance with Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003.  The proposals must also be agreed by the Chief Executive or relevant Director to ensure that they are deliverable and that any associated risks are identified.  Electronic Copies of all budget proposals must have been supplied to the Chief Financial Officer 10 working days prior to the meeting.

(2)     The Leaders of other parties (or nominated Member) or any individual Member may each propose an alternative budget and will be allowed a maximum of ten minutes to present their budget.  These proposals will be circulated electronically to all Councillors 5 working days prior to the meeting and must be accompanied by a statement from the Council’s Chief Financial Officer as to the robustness of any estimates used and the adequacy of the financial reserves resulting from the budget proposal, in accordance with Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003.  The proposals must also be agreed by the Chief Executive or relevant Director to ensure that they are deliverable and that any associated risks are identified.  Electronic Copies of all budget proposals must have been supplied to the Chief Financial Officer 10 working days prior to the meeting.

(3)     Each budget will be seconded and the seconder may reserve the right to speak later in the debate for up to five minutes.

(4)     After all budgets have been proposed, there will be one debate covering all the propositions,

(5)     All other Members may have the opportunity to comment/ask questions but they may only speak once during the debate and for no longer than five minutes, apart from points of order.

(6)     The proposer of each budget may sum up/answer questions for no more than ten minutes each, in the reverse order of being proposed.

(7)     A vote will be taken in reverse order of being proposed until a majority of Members present vote in favour of one budget.”

(8)     In accordance with regulations, voting on resolutions setting the budget and Council Tax shall be by means of recorded vote.

10.  COUNCIL TAX – DISTRICT ELEMENT

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11.  SETTING THE COUNCIL TAX

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12.  TO RECEIVE ANY PETITIONS UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 18

None received.

13.  QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 15

None received.

14.  CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

15.  REPORTS AND QUESTIONS TO THE LEADER AND LEAD MEMBERS

LEADER OF THE COUNCIL

INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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

Question to Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Lead Member for Economic Development, from Councillor Diana Barber

As allegations that parking charges have had a negative impact on traders in Rickmansworth are continually being denied, can we have the income breakdown for the parking meters, information about the percentage of tickets for one hour only and those for more than an hour would be useful.

Question to Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Lead Member for Economic Development, from Councillor Paula Hiscocks

How are we checking that Hertsmere is complying with our parking enforcement contract and that residents are getting value for money?

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

The Council’s parking review for Croxley Green has not been circulated, as further analysis has been requested.  Can we please be told why and what exactly is being requested?

Question to Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Lead Member for Economic Development, from Councillor Alex Hayward

Can we be advised what position this Council is taking in response to the Heathrow Consultation?

Question to Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Lead Member for Economic Development, from Councillor Angela Killick

Has there been any TRDC involvement with EXTRA regarding the possible construction of a motorway service station between Junctions 16/17 of the M25

Question to Councillor Martin Trevett, Lead Member for Infrastructure and Planning Policy, from Councillor Stephen Cox

Does he agree with me that it would be a shame if land previously used for sports and leisure activities were to be given over to housing in the new Local Plan presently being formalised?

Question to Councillor Andrew Scarth, Lead Member for Housing, from Councillor Diana Barber

How many people remain stuck in accommodation in other Districts outside TRDC as a result of the delay at the Bury?

Questions to Councillor Andrew Scarth, Lead Member for Housing, from Councillor Paula Hiscocks

When will the homeless hostel in The Bury, Rickmansworth be finished and when will our first Three Rivers homeless families be moving in?

Apart from the initial drainage problems what exactly has caused the delay of The Bury hostel?

LEISURE, ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY

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

Question to Councillor Alex Michaels, Lead Member for Environmental Services, from Councillor Angela Killick

When will this Council ensure that routine litter picking takes place along the Junction 17 Motorway spur to Maple Cross, and in what months of each year will these litter picks take place?

Question to Councillor Roger Seabourne, Lead Member for Community Safety and Partnerships, from Councillor Alex Hayward

Sarratt Parish Council has arranged free lifeline alarms for their elderly residents. Can the Lead Member advise what other initiatives either by TRDC or other Parish Councils are operating to provide community safety to the residents of TRDC?

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 Joan King

The proposed market square in the South Oxhey redevelopment should be a space to encourage people to visit the market and shops being proposed for this area.  However, in order to ensure that the envisaged market thrives and provides an environment that makes shopping a pleasant experience, it is imperative that the traders are encouraged to use this space.

Watford Rural Parish Council has been told by developers that a toilet for stallholders may be installed but no details have been provided despite frequent requests.  As with the parking provision, this has been discussed with Three Rivers Officers but, despite discussions and requests from the Parish Council for this problem to be resolved, nothing has been received.

The Parish Council cannot commence negotiations with market managers until these two questions are resolved.  So, in order to ensure that a vibrant and commercially viable market is ready to be put in place when the market square is ready, please could you advise why the issues regarding parking for stall holders and the provision of toilets and washing facilities for them to use has not yet been resolved?

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

Will the accounts for the three limited companies that the Council has set up with residents’ money be included in the budget?

If not when will the annual accounts for the three new TRDC limited companies be reported to the Council?

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

Can I please have a complete list of the names of all our computer hardware providers, not the companies that sell them to us but the companies which make our computers, servers etc.

16.  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 Steve Drury).

REGULATORY SERVICES

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

17.  MOTIONS UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 11

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

This Council believes modern day slavery should be tackled and eradicated at every opportunity.  In furtherance of that the Council resolves to:

1. Train staff who undertake procurement tasks to understand modern slavery through the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply’s (CIPS) online course on Ethical Procurement and Supply.
2. Require its contractors to comply fully with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, wherever it applies, with contract termination as a potential sanction for non-compliance.
3. Challenge any abnormally low-cost tenders to ensure they do not rely upon the potential contractor practising modern slavery.
4. Highlight to its suppliers that contracted workers are free to join a trade union and are not to be treated unfairly for belonging to one.
5. Publicise its whistle-blowing system for staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.
6. Require its tendered contractors to adopt a whistle-blowing policy which enables their staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.
7. Review its contractual spending regularly to identify any potential issues with modern slavery.
8. Highlight for its suppliers any risks identified concerning modern slavery and refer them to the relevant agencies to be addressed.
9. Refer for investigation via the National Crime Agency’s national referral mechanism any of its contractors identified as a cause for concern regarding modern slavery.
10. Report publicly on the implementation of this policy annually.

Chief Executive

18 February 2019