Decisions

Councillor G Williamson submitted a report proposing the membership and terms of reference for a new Financial Sustainability Committee.  He said the Council had set up a Financial Sustainability Group, which at its March meeting, was established as a Board, and that the Council had agreed a capital sum of £3m to invest in commercial income-generating activity. As the Board was effectively a Committee of the Council, the approval of the Council was now sought to constitute this Board as a politically balanced Committee and to provide for the capital sum to be allocated to it.  He referred to the earlier approval of a change in political groups, and noted the membership of the new Committee would include a Member of either the Labour or the Green Groups. 

Councillor G Williamson moved, and Councillor D Andrews seconded, a motion that the recommendations as detailed in the report submitted be approved. 

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that (A) a Financial Sustainability Committee be established as a committee of the Council with ten Members to reflect the Council’s political proportionality according to the political balance regulations;

(B) the proposed terms of reference for the Committee as set out in the report at Essential Reference Paper C be approved;

(C) the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to amend the Constitution to incorporate the Financial Sustainability Committee; and

(D) that authority to allocate resources for financial sustainability from the budget approved for this purpose by Council at its meeting of 5 March 2019 be delegated to the Financial Sustainability Committee.

Councillor J Goodeve submitted a report on the publication of an action plan setting out how the Council intended to improve housing delivery.  She said currently the measures proposed were small scale, so consequently it would take time to improve the numbers.  She moved and Councillor L Haysey seconded, a motion that the recommendations as detailed in the report submitted, be approved.

Councillor M Goldspink said she supported the recommendation.  The report highlighted how difficult it was for the Council to provide social housing across the District.  It was distressing that there were 2,000 families on the waiting list. 

After being put to the meeting, and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED. 

RESOLVED - that the Housing Delivery Test Action Plan, as set out in the report at Essential Reference Paper B, be agreed and published on the Council’s website.

Councillor E Buckmaster submitted a report seeking approval for additional funding for the completion of the leisure centre projects.  He explained the reasons for the request were that inflation had risen more than the forecast; additional works had been identified following more detailed surveys and there was an opportunity to enhance sustainable energy features.  Without additional funding some elements would need to be omitted.  The project would in time generate money, and this was a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to provide first-class leisure facilities for the community to a high standard. 

Councillor Buckmaster moved, and Councillor G Williamson seconded a motion that the recommendations as detailed in the report submitted be approved. Councillor Williamson said as a fellow member of the Leisure Project Board and as the Executive Member for Financial Sustainability he was keen to support the additional investment.

Councillor T Beckett commended the project, and said that it was right to agree the additional spend.  However, if at the outset a concept design had been encouraged, these additional costs could have been minimised.  He acknowledged that future projects would be taking that aspect into account.  He said it should also be noted the Bishop’s Stortford Climate Group felt there had been a missed opportunity at the Grange Paddocks site to supply the District with energy.  

Councillor K Crofton said this was a fantastic scheme.  He asked how scrutiny of the finances would ensure that no further unforeseen increases in budget would be required.  Would such scrutiny be carried out by the Financial Sustainability Committee? 

Councillor M Brady asked whether the cycle hub could be incorporated into the project and questioned from which budget the proposed pavilion would be funded. 

Councillor J Jones said the Task and Finish Group had taken a stringent approach to the costings, so it was of concern to see an increase in funding being sought.  He questioned whether the temporary gym facilities were needed; whether this was the final figure and whether the figure covered three rather than two swimming pools. 

Councillor S Bell said she thought it was important to provide temporary gym facilities for Hartham as without such provision there was a risk that for a three month closure, some customers would not return. 

Councillor Buckmaster responded to Members’ queries.  He agreed with Councillor Bell that mitigation of potential loss of customers was important via provision of temporary facilities as it cost more to win new customers than to retain existing ones.  Responding to Councillor Beckett, he agreed, the Task and Finish Group had looked at options, but there were lessons that could be learned from any projects.  Responding to Councillor Jones, he considered there would be no further unforeseen costs, but in any event there was still a 5% margin available if necessary.  The largest element of the funding related to the construction sector  being more vibrant than expected.  In terms of the cycle hub, he felt the needs of Mudlarks were different, and their needs would not be met by offering the cycle hub as their café. The proposed leisure centre café was an important part of the offer, and it would be accessible to park and leisure centre customers, to ensure all had a first-class provision.  He confirmed the amount was for the entire project, so did include all three pools (although no additional funding was being requested for the Leventhorpe Pool refurbishment).

Councillor I Devonshire said 5% contingency was not a huge amount of leeway, given the fact that unforeseen circumstances tended only to become apparent once groundworks started. 

Councillor Buckmaster replied this was the final funding request, he acknowledged the point made, but some elements could be less than expected and the project needed to be taken forward with a view to achieving best value with the professional advice of the consultants.

Councillor Pope, as Chairman of the Performance, Audit and Governance Oversight Committee, said this project could be monitored by that Committee.  Councillors Williamson and Buckmaster agreed with that approach.

Councillor Beckett commented that whilst a large part of the costs would relate to the roof for Hartham, in his view, there was likely to be further financial leeway on the environmental CHP system at Grange Paddocks. 

After being put to the meeting, and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED. 

RESOLVED – that (A) additional funding of £1.558m is agreed for the completion of the Hartham Leisure Centre refurbishment, to be funded from a combination of future s.106 receipts, new homes bonus, borrowing and/or any other opportunities identified;

(B) additional funding of £1.024m is agreed for the completion of the new Grange Paddocks Leisure Centre, to be funded from a combination of future s.106 receipts, new homes bonus, borrowing and/or any other opportunities identified;

(C) authority be delegated to the Head of Strategic Finance and Property and the Head of Planning and Building Control to identify and agree the specific funding referred to in recommendations (A) and (B); and

(D) additional funding of up to £1m is agreed to provide extra sustainable energy features at Hartham and Grange Paddocks leisure centres, to be funded from a combination of future s.106 receipts, new homes bonus, borrowing and/or any other opportunities identified, with the decision on the specific features delegated to the Head of Strategic Finance and Property. 

Councillor S Bell submitted the following motion on notice:

“Man-made climate change is the biggest threat that humanity faces. In 2018 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report stated that we have just 12 years to act on climate change if global temperatures rises are to be kept within the recommended 1.5 degrees celsius.

 All governments whether national, regional or local have a duty to limit the negative impacts of climate change and need to commit to aggressive reduction targets and carbon neutrality as quickly as possible.

 East Herts District Council has a pivotal role to play in tackling climate change and enabling sustainable living. 

 We recognise the importance of tackling climate change both in the terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to minimise future global climate change and planning for the unavoidable local impacts of climate change.

 Therefore, East Herts District Council will :-

1)  Join with other Councils in recognising and declaring a Climate Emergency,   

2)  Pledge to do everything within the Council’s power to support the whole of East Herts District to become carbon neutral by 2030,

3)   Develop an ambitious sustainability strategy for reducing the Council’s own emissions, with an objective that the Council becomes carbon neutral by 2030,

4) Include in all planning regulations and the Local Plan measures to cut carbon emissions and reduce the impact on the environment,

5)  Call on National Government for more powers and resources to make this pledge possible, and ask the Council’s Leader to write to the Secretary of state for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to this effect,

6)  Continue to work with partners across the District, County and Region to deliver this new goal, through all relevant strategies and plans,

7)  Take account of climate impacts within existing decision-making processes,

8)  Set up an Environmental and Climate Emergency Forum, in line with the recommendation D16 from the Task and Finish Group which was approved by this Council on 5^th March, 2019,

9)  Reconvene the Climate Change task and finish Group, and require it to monitor progress on delivering the pledge, and to report back to the Council every 6 months,

10)  Dedicate enough staff and budget to achieve these aims, including the most appropriate training for members and officers to promote carbon neutral policies and to achieve these aims.”

Councillor Bell spoke in support of the motion.  Regarding the amendment proposed by Councillor G McAndrew, she questioned why the amendment omitted the word “emergency”, when numerous other councils including the government and Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) had declared a climate emergency.  She said her proposals gave a framework for practical measures to be taken by the Council in view of the global imperative to stop emissions of greenhouse gases.  She urged the Council to support the motion. 

Councillor J Frecknall seconded the motion.  He said Government had declared a climate emergency, and all levels of government should take action.  Using Cllr McAndrew’s work from the task and finish group last year, the Council was in a position to become a leading local authority in future-proofing communities.  This was an emergency and the Council must act accordingly. 

Councillor G McAndrew proposed an amendment to the motion as follows: 

“that Man-made climate change is the biggest threat that humanity faces.  In 2018 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report stated that we have just 12 years to act on climate change if global temperatures rises are to be kept within the recommended 1.5 degrees celsius.

All governments whether national, regional or local have a duty to limit the negative impacts of climate change and need to commit to aggressive reduction targets and carbon neutrality as quickly as possible.  East Herts District Council has a pivotal role to play in tackling climate change and enabling sustainable living. 

We recognise the importance of tackling climate change both in the terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to minimise future global climate change and planning for the unavoidable local impacts of climate change.

Therefore, East Herts District Council will: -

1)  Join with other Councils in recognising and declaring formally the necessity to do everything within the authority’s power to reduce its impact on the climate and moreover do everything we can in supporting the whole of East Herts District to become carbon neutral by 2030,

2)  Develop an ambitious sustainability strategy for reducing the Council’s own emissions, with an objective that the Council becomes carbon neutral by 2030,

3)  Work with national and regional partners to ensure that where at all possible we support climate friendly planning and building controlregulations and seek where possible to include the very best measures intothe Local Plan to minimise any negative impact on the environment,

4)  Call on National Government for more powers and resources to make this pledge possible, and ask the Council’s Leader to write to the Secretary of state for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to this effect,

5)  Continue to work with partners across the District, County and Region to deliver this new goal, through all relevant strategies and plans,

6)  Take account of climate impacts within existing decision-making processes,

7)  Set up an Environmental and Climate Forum, in line with the recommendations from the Task and Finish Group which were approved by this Council on 5^th March, 2019,

8)  The Environmental Forum to monitor progress regularly, and to report back,

9)  Commit to making availablethe appropriate training to members and officers to promote carbon neutral policies in order to achieve these aims.”

Councillor McAndrew detailed the work already being done and the need to consider mitigation and adaptation.  He said East Herts had a significant role to play in maximising its contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, both in reducing its own carbon footprint, and in promoting and facilitating wider behaviour changes via leadership and policy changes.  He moved the amendment. 

Councillor D Andrews seconded the amendment. 

Councillor M Goldspink said she opposed the amendment.  The changes proposed undermined the purpose of the motion, by removing the word “emergency”.  She said it was important that the language was strong and determined, and she detailed her objections to the proposed changes.  She urged councillors to reject the amendments and support the original motion. 

Councillor B Deering said he supported the amendment.  In 2018/19 the task and finish group had produced a report, demonstrating that this Council had been addressing climate change issues, which should be acknowledged.  

Councillor L Corpe said he opposed the amendment.  The changes robbed the motion of its powers to give authority to act and to dedicate the necessary resources and staff.  In his view, no adequate reasons had been stated for removing the reference to an emergency. He questioned why if numerous councils including HCC and the government could declare an emergency, this Council found it impossible to do the same. 

Councillor D Snowdon said he supported the amendment.  Amongst other actions, the Council was instituting environmentally friendly measures such as new waste collection lorries and electric vehicle charging points. 

Councillor J Dumont said residents had urged him to ensure the Council acted on climate change.  He did not understand the reason why the Council should not debate a motion including the word “emergency”, when action was needed to stop an emergency. 

Councillor E Buckmaster said he had last week spoken at HCC, but actions spoke louder than words, and the amended motion stated what had been and would be done.  It was not letting the Council off the hook, as the Council was doing more than required by legislation in place-shaping, via master planning to achieve change.   The amendment went further than the original motion. 

Councillor M Stevenson agreed actions spoke louder than words, and said she was surprised no reference had been made to aspects such as ensuring insect populations did not decline.   

Councillor C Wilson spoke against the amendment, referring to the air quality in the District, particularly at Hockerill junction, the monitoring of which was the Council’s responsibility.  He acknowledged this Council had been addressing air quality in the area but there were still breaches.  Passing the original motion would concentrate minds.  The Council should require cycle and public transport provision from all new development, for instance in the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town (HGGT) proposals, for accessing the Hospital in Harlow. 

Councillor A Ward-Booth detailed the actions the Council had taken for reducing emissions. He cited the example of the Hertford Hydro project that will contribute energy to the National Grid. The Council was committed to promoting electric vehicle use through the electric car club, the installation of charging points and rapid chargers for taxis. He stated that a motion at Council could not bind developers. The Local Plan and supporting plan documents were the route to produce results, not grandstanding at a Council meeting.

Councillor T Beckett said the main amendment issue was with planning.  Members needed to work with Officers to strengthen environmental aspects of developments.  The amendment watered down the intention and would set a precedent that the Council would act only if possible. 

Councillor Haysey said all needed to take personal responsibility for sustainability.  She did not agree that the original motion would have accomplished more than the amendment in imposing requirements on developers. With regard to HGGT she would ensure building for communities included sustainable transport.  The Herts Infrastructure Planning Partnership met regularly to look at cross-Hertfordshire sustainability and as chairman of the Partnership she aimed to ensure a common approach.  She had visited the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) faculty in Watford in order to produce a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to examine sustainable aspects of planning.  The Council also needed to lobby Government, as indicated in the original motion, to ask for further powers.  Developers were listening, and knew the Council’s aims. 

Councillor D Andrews referred to the definition of “emergency”, which included “sudden and unexpected”; he preferred wording such as “crisis”.  There was a great deal of work the Council did already.  This Council could commit resources and take steps within its power.  He had seconded the amendment and he commended it to the Council.

Councillor J Frecknall spoke in objection to the amendment and said if this was a crisis then why not use that word? 

Councillor Bell as the proposer of the motion responded to the debate on the amendment.  She referred to Councillor Ward-Booth’s statement that the Council had reduced emissions but she believed that figure fell short of the targets, in which case it should invest more funds.  She had proposed the Council should do everything in its power in the District, and she opposed the amendment.  

Councillor McAndrew said he had sought from the minority Groups their ideal demands to be included in an SPD for developments and all Members should work together to achieve these aims. 

The Chairman read out the amendment to the motion, as detailed above. 

At the request of five Members, as per paragraph 18.5.1 of the Council’s Constitution, a recorded vote was taken, the result being:

FOR

Councillors Alder, Andrews, Bolton, Boylan, E Buckmaster, R Buckmaster, Bull, Burmicz, Crofton, Cutting, Deering, Devonshire, Drake, Fernando, Goodeve, Hall, Haysey, Huggins, Jones, Kemp, McAndrew, McMullen, Newton, Page, Pope, Ranger, Reed, Ruffles, Rutland-Barsby, Snowdon, Stevenson, Stowe, Symonds, Ward-Booth, Williamson and Wyllie. 

AGAINST

Councillors Beckett, Bell, Brady, Corpe, Dumont, Frecknall, Goldspink, Redfern and Wilson.

ABSTENTIONS

Councillor Kaye.

For:  36

Against:  9

Abstentions: 1

The amendment was therefore CARRIED and became the substantive motion.

The substantive motion being put to the meeting, and a vote taken, the substantive motion was declared CARRIED. 

RESOLVED – that Man-made climate change is the biggest threat that humanity faces.  In 2018 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report stated that we have just 12 years to act on climate change if global temperatures rises are to be kept within the recommended 1.5 degrees celsius.

All governments whether national, regional or local have a duty to limit the negative impacts of climate change and need to commit to aggressive reduction targets and carbon neutrality as quickly as possible.  East Herts District Council has a pivotal role to play in tackling climate change and enabling sustainable living. 

We recognise the importance of tackling climate change both in the terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to minimise future global climate change and planning for the unavoidable local impacts of climate change.

Therefore, East Herts District Council will: -

1)  Join with other Councils in recognising and declaring formally the necessity to do everything within the authority’s power to reduce its impact on the climate and moreover do everything we can in supporting the whole of East Herts District to become carbon neutral by 2030,

2)  Develop an ambitious sustainability strategy for reducing the Council’s own emissions, with an objective that the Council becomes carbon neutral by 2030,

3)  Work with national and regional partners to ensure that where at all possible we support climate friendly planning and building controlregulations and seek where possible to include the very best measures intothe Local Plan to minimise any negative impact on the environment,

4)  Call on National Government for more powers and resources to make this pledge possible, and ask the Council’s Leader to write to the Secretary of state for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to this effect,

5)  Continue to work with partners across the District, County and Region to deliver this new goal, through all relevant strategies and plans,

6)  Take account of climate impacts within existing decision-making processes,

7)  Set up an Environmental and Climate Forum, in line with the recommendations from the Task and Finish Group which were approved by this Council on 5^th March, 2019,

8)  The Environmental Forum to monitor progress regularly, and to report back,

9)  Commit to making available the appropriate training to members and officers to promote carbon neutral policies in order to achieve these aims.

To enable the Executive to consider key documents relating to the extent and provision of infrastructure associated with the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town.

Please refer to Minute X above for the proposal, seconding and debate of this resolution. 

RESOLVED - that: (A) the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Infrastructure Delivery Plan, Strategic Viability Assessment and “How To” Guide for Planning Obligations, Land Value Capture and Development Viability be agreed as material considerations for Development Management purposes; and

(B)        the Leader be delegated authority to make minor consequential changes necessitated by the publication of the National Planning

Guidance.