Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.  He began by highlighting some of the events he had attended in recent weeks and expressed his gratitude to the Vice-Chairman, Councillor J Jones, for his continued support in representing the Council at various events.  He also thanked Honorary Alderman Ralph Gilbert for his valuable assistance at some events.

The Chairman referred to his attendance at the Much Hadham summer fete and congratulated Councillor I Devonshire for his efforts in this regard.  He also referred to the East Herts Got Talent event in 2016 and advised that he would be looking to build on that success by staging another event on 12 March 2017.  He detailed the celebrity judges that would be involved and sought Members’ assistance in publicising the event.  He reiterated that any support would benefit the District and not just the event itself.

To approve as a correct record and authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the Council meetings held on 27 July and 22 September 2016.

In respect of Minute 327 – Members’ Questions, Question 1, Councillor C Woodward asked for an answer to one of the questions he had asked.  In reply, the Executive Member for Environment and the Public Space advised that the matter was under review and he would provide an update when available.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 27 July 2016 and the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 22 September 2016, be approved as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

Question 1

Councillor P Ballam commented that, as an enthusiastic and diligent recycler, she had been pleased by the increase in quantity and variety of recycling that East Herts, as a Council, had achieved over the last few years.  However, she had been concerned to read in the national press recently that, although recycling was increasing generally, there had been an increase in the number of loads of recyclables which had been sent to landfill, having been refused by the depots as contaminated.  It had also been reported that in some areas the men emptying the bins were receiving physical as well as verbal attacks.  Therefore, she asked the Executive Member for Environment and the Public Space if he could state what the current recycling percentage was and if East Herts Council was experiencing an increase in the number of loads being refused as contaminated.  She also asked if East Herts’ contractors were experiencing any animosity from residents.

In reply, the Executive Member for Environment and the Public Space advised that the Council’s objective was to achieve a sustainable quality of recyclables materials that was not contaminated.  To this end, staff were trained and the Council employed a full time operator to deal with any contamination before collection.  This ensured clean collections and he advised that working in close partnership with the contractor had ensured that no loads had been rejected in the last two years.

The Executive Member advised that the current recycling rate in 2016/17 was 55.77%, but that this would likely reduce slightly in the winter months as green waste collections lessened.  Attacks on staff had doubled in the last two couple of years and each incident was logged for monitoring purposes.  Finally, he referred to forthcoming publicity to assist residents by way of an article in the next issue of Link magazine and a service leaflet.

To receive a report from the Leader of the Council and to consider recommendations on the matters below:

Council noted that these Minutes had been submitted to the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 22 September 2016, at which Minutes 221 – 244 had been determined.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Executive meeting held on 6 September 2016 be received.

(see also Minutes 404 - 405)

Minute 245 refers

RESOLVED – that (A) the responses to the further public consultation be noted and the Officer responses and proposed changes to the Hertingfordbury Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan be supported;

(B)   authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Building Control, in consultation with the Executive Member for Development Management and Council Support, to make any further minor and consequential changes to the  document which may be necessary; and

(C)   the Hertingfordbury Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan be adopted.

(see also Minute 403)

Minute 246 refers

Note – Members are asked to note that Minutes 221 – 244 were determined at the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 22 September 2016.

RESOLVED – that (A) the comments of Corporate Business Scrutiny be received;

(B)   the proposed Financial Strategy be adopted; and

(C)   the planning assumptions set out in this report be adopted by the Council as the basis for framing the 2016/17 budget and Medium Term Financial Plan to 2020/21.

(see also Minute 403)

Chairman: Councillor M Allen

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Corporate Business Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 30 August 2016, be received.

Chairman: Councillor J Wyllie

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Environment Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 13 September 2016, be received.

Chairman: Councillor T Page

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Development Management Committee meeting held on 14 September 2016, be received.

Chairman: Councillor A Alder

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 20 September 2016, be received.

Chairman: Councillor M Pope

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee meeting held on 21 September 2016, be received.

Chairman: Councillor P Moore

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Community Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 27 September 2016, be received.

(To follow)

Chairman: Councillor C Woodward

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Human Resources Committee meeting held on 5 October 2016, be received.

(To follow)

Chairman: Councillor M Allen

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Corporate Business Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 11 October 2016, be received.

(To follow)

Chairman: Councillor T Page

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Development Management Committee meeting held on 12 October 2016, be received.

Report of the Acting Head of Legal and Democratic Services

The Acting Head of Legal and Democratic Services submitted a report reviewing the allocation of seats on committees, following the Puckeridge by-election.

Council noted that the Leader of the Conservative Group had advised of the Group’s wishes for Councillor P Boylan to be appointed to fill the vacant seats on Environment Scrutiny and Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committees. 

Council approved the allocation of seats as now detailed.

RESOLVED – that the allocation of the number of seats on committees be as set out in Table Two of the report submitted.

Report (to follow) of the Acting Head of Legal and Democratic Services

The Acting Head of Legal and Democratic Services submitted a report seeking an appointment to be made for the role of Independent Person to the Standards Sub Committee under the Localism Act 2011.  He detailed the proposed appointment and drew Members’ attention to the financial implications set out in the report submitted.

After a show of hands, Council approved the appointment now detailed.

RESOLVED - that Nicholas Moss be appointed as Independent Person to the Standards Sub-Committee.