Decisions

To recommend to Council that the Capital Strategy 2020 Onwards, as shown in Appendix A to the report, be approved.

To recommend to Council that

(a) the Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy set out at Appendix A, including the prudential indicators discussed in paragraphs 3.6 of the report, be approved; and

(b)The credit and counterparty risk management and approved countries list discussed in paragraph 3.7 of the report be approved.

To recommend the Council adopts the new Corporate Plan.

To recommend to Council that the Master Plan Document for the East of Manor Links site, Bishop’s Stortford, as detailed at Appendix A to the report, be agreed as a material consideration for Development Management purposes.

To recommend to Council that:

a.    the East Herts share of Council Tax for a band D in 2020/21 be set at £174.09;

b.    the updated position on the Medium Term Financial Plan and Budget for 2020/21 including the budget pressures and risks be approved;

c.     the new savings and income generating proposals for 2020/21 onwards as shown in Appendix ‘B’ be approved;

d.    the Capital Programme as set out in Appendix ‘C‘ be implemented;

e.    the schedule of charges set out in Appendix ‘D’, each with an average increase of 2.5% for 2020/21, be approved; and

f.       that authority to determine the most appropriate amendments to car parking charges to achieve the increased income included in the MTFP be delegated to the Head of Operations acting in consultation with the Head of Strategic Finance and Property and the Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability.

To recommend to Council that the Masterplan Concept Document for the Bishop’s Stortford High School site, as detailed at Appendix A to the report, be agreed as a material consideration for Development Management purposes.

To recommend to Council that the Masterplanning Framework for the Mangrove Road (HERT5) site, Hertford, as detailed at Appendix A to the report, be agreed as a material consideration for Development Management purposes.

Council considered a report submitted by the Head of Housing and Health and Acting Head of Legal and Democratic Services seeking approval of an approach to other authorities within Hertfordshire to request the services of a member to fill a vacancy on the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel.

The Head of Housing and Health and Acting Head of Legal and Democratic Services said the Panel comprised five members, and that it was currently necessary to fill a vacancy.  It was expedient to do so through obtaining the services of an existing panel member from another authority. 

Councillor L Haysey proposed, and Councillor P Boylan seconded, a motion to support the recommendation as detailed.  The motion being put to the meeting and a vote taken, it was declared CARRIED. 

RESOLVED – (A) to approve that whenever a vacancy on the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel arises, other Hertfordshire authorities are approached in the first instance to request the services of the authorities’ remuneration panel members to serve on the Council’s panel; and

(B) that the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be granted delegated authority to consider and confirm appointments of Independent Panel Members approached in this way.

Councillor G Williamson left the Chamber for this item, having declared a pecuniary interest.

The Leader submitted a report setting out the case for the acquisition of land at Northgate End, Bishop’s Stortford, as part of the delivery of the Old River Lane scheme. 

Councillor L Haysey said the acquisition of the land would enable a fantastic scheme to move forward, as this plot was an essential part of the development.  It was pleasing that there had been a positive outcome to the Old River Lane judicial review.  She trusted Members would be delighted by this good news.  With Members’ approval of the recommendation to acquire this plot from Hertfordshire County Council, the project could start moving ahead.  She moved the recommendations as detailed in the report. 

Councillor K Crofton seconded the motion. 

Councillor M Goldspink said she could not support the recommendations.  She considered it was wrong to purchase land which at the moment was used for the benefit of young people, as the Council should do all it could to encourage the provision of community facilities for this age group. 

Councillor L Haysey said such facilities were not being reduced through approval of this scheme. 

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

RESOLVED – that (A) a section of the land currently in the ownership of Hertfordshire County Council at Northgate End, Bishop’s Stortford be purchased in line with the valuation presented in the exempt Essential Reference Paper B, in pursuance of delivery of the Old River Lane scheme; and

(B) authorisation be delegated to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to make all necessary arrangements to complete the purchase of the land at Northgate End, Bishop’s Stortford.

Council considered a report submitted by the Chief Executive, seeking approval of the appointment of the Council’s Monitoring Officer. 

Councillor G Cutting proposed, and Councillor J Jones seconded, a motion that the recommendation as detailed be supported.  The motion being put to the meeting and a vote taken, it was declared CARRIED. 

RESOLVED – that James Ellis be appointed as the Council’s Monitoring Officer.

Council considered a report submitted by the Interim Monitoring Officer regarding the appointment of the Chairman of the Development Management Committee. 

Councillor L Haysey said the recommendation was brought before Members as Councillor T Page had stepped down from the chairmanship of the Committee. 

Councillor T Beckett expressed gratitude to Councillor Page for his chairmanship and for his support to him as a new Member of the Development Management Committee.  His successor would, he was sure, be an excellent chairman. 

Councillor L Haysey moved, and Councillor I Kemp seconded, a motion to support the recommendation as detailed.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.  Councillor Deering abstained from the vote.

RESOLVED – that Councillor B Deering be appointed Chairman of the Development Management Committee.

Councillor Deering thanked Members for their comments.  He paid tribute to Councillor Page, who he said had been a terrific chairman, and had made the integrity of the Committee a priority.  He had undertaken a huge amount of work for the Committee and for the Council. 

Council considered a report submitted by the Leader of the Council, seeking approval of the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism and reaffirming the Council’s commitment to promoting equalities in East Hertfordshire. 

Councillor L Haysey said it was the responsibility of all to combat antisemitism, as such prejudice was totally unacceptable.

Councillor M Brady agreed and said she fully supported this motion, on behalf of the Labour Group. 

Councillor M Goldspink said the Liberal Democrat Group supported the motion most strongly.  Councillor B Crystall said he echoed these sentiments on behalf of the Green Group.

Councillor L Haysey proposed, and Councillor A Curtis seconded, a motion that the recommendations as detailed be supported.  The motion being put to the meeting and a vote taken, it was declared CARRIED. 

RESOLVED – that (A) East Hertfordshire Council adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, that is, “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”; and

(B) reaffirms that it finds antisemitism and all forms of prejudice targeted at those with a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 abhorrent and not in keeping with the council’s values and its duties under that Act. 

RESOLVED – that (A) the treasury management activity for the first 6 months of the 2019/20 financial year, be noted; and

(B) the changes to the prudential indicators as set out in  paragraph 2.6 of the report, be noted.

(See also Minute 276)

Council considered a report submitted by the Executive Member for Financial Sustainability, presenting and seeking approval of the ICT Partnership Strategy 2019/20 to 2021/22, setting out the joint approach proposed between the Council and Stevenage Borough Council. 

Councillor G Williamson said the key outcomes were listed in the report, and described the governance arrangements which included the formation last year of the IT Steering Group, and a new Member Group, which he would attend, with Councillor I Kemp, and their counterparts from Stevenage Borough Council. 

Councillor Williamson proposed, and Councillor I Kemp seconded, a motion that the recommendations as detailed be supported.  The motion being put to the meeting and a vote taken, it was declared CARRIED. 

RESOLVED – that (A) the joint ICT Partnership Strategy 2019/20 – 2021/22 between East Herts Council and Stevenage Borough Council be approved; and

(B) delegated authority be granted to the Deputy Chief Executive, acting in consultation with the Executive Member for Financial Sustainability, to negotiate and agree a new ICT Shared Service Agreement with Stevenage Borough Council for period 2019/20 – 2021/22.

Council considered the recommendation from the Executive on the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Stewardship Objectives and Principles. 

Councillor L Haysey proposed, and Councillor E Buckmaster seconded, a motion that the recommendations, as detailed below, be approved. 

Councillor M Goldspink said the Liberal Democrat Group largely supported these proposals, in that they provided community cohesion and environmental sustainability.

Councillor J Dumont said he had continued to receive representations from his Ward residents expressed concerns regarding the Gilston proposals.  He referred to a letter from the Council received by residents inviting them to a consultation, which had unfortunately not been clear. 

Councillor L Haysey asked that he send a copy of the letter to her, and said she would be happy to talk to residents in Councillor Dumont’s ward.  The proposals had been taken through the District Plan process and would be subject to extensive consultation as part of the Masterplanning Framework.  Nearly half of the site within Gilston would be left as open space, and the aim was to build communities, not just houses. 

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

RESOLVED - that the Stewardship objectives and principles, relating to development proposals coming forward as part of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town, be endorsed.

Council considered the recommendation from the Executive on Council Tax Long Term Empty Properties. 

Councillor G Williamson proposed, and Councillor L Haysey seconded, a motion that the recommendations, as detailed in the report, be approved. 

Councillor M Goldspink spoke in support of the proposal, which she said was fair and brought the Council’s position into line with that of a number of other authorities.

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

RESOLVED – that a Council Tax premium of 100% be adopted for long term empty homes.

Council considered a report submitted by the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, setting out the recommendations made by the Licensing Committee at its meeting of 30 October 2019. 

Councillor P Boylan referred to results of the survey on unmet demand and the conclusion of the Committee that there was no significant unmet demand.  A limit on the number of hackney carriage licences was proposed.

In reply to a question from Councillor T Beckett, Councillor Boylan confirmed that the reduction of licences would be achieved through natural wastage. 

Councillor P Boylan proposed, and Councillor G McAndrew seconded, a motion that the recommendations as detailed be supported. 

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

RESOLVED – that a limit of 200 be imposed on the number of hackney carriage vehicle licences that are issued from 1 January 2020.

Council considered two reports submitted by the Executive Member for Financial Sustainability, reviewing the Council’s treasury management activities for 2018/19, and reviewing the treasury management activities for the first six months of the 2019/20 financial year. 

Councillor G Williamson highlighted the main points contained within the reports, which had been considered by the  Performance, Audit and Governance Oversight Committee on 29 October 2019.  He said he intended to alter the recommendation in each report to state that the items be noted rather than approved, as the activity had in fact already been approved. 

Councillor G Williamson moved, and Councillor M Pope seconded, a motion that the recommendations in each report as detailed be supported.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the   motion was declared CARRIED. 

RESOLVED – that the 2018/19 treasury management activity and prudential indicators be noted. 

(See also Minute 277)

Council considered a report presented by the Executive Member for Financial Sustainability recommending the calculation of the Council Tax base for the District, and for parish and town councils, for 2020/21.

Councillor G Williamson proposed and Councillor J Wyllie seconded, a motion that the recommendations as detailed below be supported. 

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

RESOLVED – that (A) the calculation of the Council’s tax base for the whole district, and for the parish areas, for 2020/21 be approved; and

(B) pursuant to the report and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by East Hertfordshire District Council as its council tax base for the whole area for 2020/21 shall be 61272.0 and for the parish areas listed below for 2020/21 shall be as set out in the report.  

Councillor M Goldspink proposed a motion on notice as follows:  “This Council is extremely concerned about the inadequate provision of affordable and social housing within the district.  There are 2,000 families on the housing ‘waiting list’, and the prices being charged for so-called affordable homes are way beyond the reach of many people in our community.  This Council therefore resolves to conduct an investigation into the possibility of building its own council houses once more (as was done in the past).”

Councillor Goldspink said the number of people on the housing waiting list had remained the same for the last five years.  The Council did not own any housing.  There was provision for developers to provide a percentage of affordable housing, but none were for social rent.  Other Councils such as Cheltenham and Norwich had started building again, and there was no reason why this Council could not do so. 

Councillor T Beckett seconded the motion. 

Councillor P Boylan said good quality housing was the foundation for healthy prosperous communities.  The Council had made a great deal of progress in identifying and meeting the needs of those requiring affordable housing, supported by policies in the District Plan and the draft Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document.

He said developers of all strategic sites had committed to building 40% affordable homes.  “Affordable housing” comprised various types of housing, including social rented, affordable rented and low cost home ownership tenures.  Eligibility was impacted by local incomes and local house prices.  In East Hertfordshire, housing association housing stock currently totalled 8,005 homes, comprising social rented and affordable rented accommodation.

Councillor Boylan said the register was not a “waiting list”, but was a points based system based on individual needs. It included those who did not live within the district and those who wished to upsize or downsize.  Not all applicants were families, as 49% were single person households or couples requiring one bedroom accommodation.

Councillor Boylan referred to the approaches of neighbouring authorities.  He said Broxbourne and North Herts also worked with housing associations.  Welwyn Hatfield had the highest numbers on their housing needs register, followed by Stevenage.  These authorities were the only two districts with their own housing stock.  Whilst acknowledging there were particular challenges for these two authorities due to their having some areas with significant social deprivation, such comparison did not provide convincing evidence that for East Hertfordshire to build its own council housing would reduce the number of households on its housing needs register.

Councillor Boylan said he therefore could not support the narrow format of the motion.  However, to ensure the Council was able to consider a broad range of potential solutions, he had commissioned a report to better understand all options available, to increase and improve the range of social rented housing available in the district, as well as any other affordable tenures which would benefit local people.  Following completion of the report, a decision would be taken on how best to take forward the options.

Councillor E Buckmaster said a further aspect was availability.  The right to buy one’s home was for many people a positive factor.  However where homes were owned by a council’s partner organisations, their continued availability tended to be more protected.  The District Plan aimed to meet the demand for homes of all sizes and tenures.  The population was increasing, yet the number of people on the housing needs register had remained stable.  The District Plan provided for future demand, and there were other ways in which needs were met, such as working in partnership with the County Council regarding care homes.  Although he accepted the motion was written with good intentions, he could not support it as drafted.

Councillor C Wilson said sections of the community found it difficult to meet their housing needs.  Mortgages were several times the average salary, and the local housing allowance was indexed to local housing prices.  If developers could not make a profit then social housing provision was affected, and if the right to buy was exercised there was no guarantee that the level of provision would continue to be sufficient.  The charity Shelter recommended increasing the numbers of social rented, affordable rented and low cost homes.

Councillor T Beckett said notwithstanding the right to buy and protection of affordable housing stock, it was an option within that to negotiate land to be given to create housing stock and acknowledge there were issues.  But he would encourage the Executive Member not to rule out options including the Council holding some stock. 

Councillor L Corpe said there was a difference between addressing demand and addressing need.  Upsizing could not be said to alleviate the numbers on the housing needs register, as it included situations where people were in unsuitable accommodation too small for their needs.  The Council should not rule out the possibility of owning its own housing stock.  One of the disadvantages of not owning stock was that the Council could not plan in advance.  He welcomed the report which Councillor Boylan had referred to. 

Councillor J Dumont said this was about actions rather than the correct terminology for referring to the housing register.  There was a need to highlight the plight of a large number of families that might not join the register because the number of people on the register did not reduceso the actual number of those in need was higher.  People were concerned about insecure accommodation. 

Members continued to debate the motion. 

At the conclusion of the debate, Councillor M Goldspink welcomed the comments made by the Executive Member.

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

Councillor J Goodeve proposed, and Councillor L Haysey seconded, a motion that the recommendations of the Executive, as detailed below, be approved.

Councillor K Crofton spoke in support of the motion, and thanked Officers for the extraordinary work carried out on this and other area appraisals.  He referred to the historical features which contributed to the exceptional character of Benington.

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

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

(B) the Head of Planning and Building Control, in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Growth, be authorised to make any further minor and consequential changes to the  document which may be necessary; and

(C) the Benington Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan, set out as Essential Reference Paper A to the report, be adopted.

Council considered a report submitted by the Executive Member for Communities on proposed revisions to the Council’s Community Grants Policy, which included provision for annual review.

Councillor S Rutland-Barsby said the policy supported investment in the District’s communities, to improve the health and wellbeing of residents.  She highlighted key proposals and changes to the existing scheme, which widened the offer but remained in line with the principles of the policy.  These changes were proposed on a pilot basis. 

Councillor S Rutland-Barsby proposed, and Councillor R Fernando seconded, a motion that the recommendations as detailed be supported.  The motion being put to the meeting and a vote taken, it was declared CARRIED.