Decisions

Decisions taken by the Council, Executive, Committees, Executive Members and Officers can be viewed by using the filter options:
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Decisions published

09/12/2020 - Cessation of the charge levied to homeless people temporarily housed in bed and breakfast accommodation for costs not eligible for housing benefit (NKD20/19) ref: 1415    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Executive Member for Neighbourhoods

Decision published: 27/11/2020

Effective from: 17/12/2020

Wards affected: (All Wards);

Lead officer: Jonathan Geall


24/11/2020 - Review of Outcomes of the Parking Task and Finish Group ref: 1407    For Determination

To present to the Executive on the outcome of work of the parking task and finish group in the context of the medium term financial plan

Decision Maker: Executive

Made at meeting: 24/11/2020 - Executive

Decision published: 26/11/2020

Effective from: 03/12/2020

Decision:

(A)           the findings of the review of the parking task and finish group recommendations be received and considered.

 

(B)           To approve the cessation of the following recommendations within the Parking Task and Finish group report:

a.    Recommendation 3: improve the accessibility and availability of short stay parking including an increase to the number of limited waiting, free bays where possible, throughout the town.

b.    Recommendation 10:Support Watton at Stone Parish council the lobbying for an increase in the number of parking spaces in the station car park.

c.     Recommendation 17: The Council to challenge station car park operators to reduce their charges to reflect closer to the all-day charge in East Herts Town Centre station car parks.

 

 

(C)           To approve the following recommendations for deferral:

a.    Recommendations 1:  Design and implement measures to encourage rail commuters to park in station car parks

b.    Recommendation 16: Revise the designation of Council owned car parks

 

(D)          To note that the following recommendations will be incorporated in service plans for officers to monitor, reporting periodically to the portfolio holder for parking:

a.    Recommendation 2:Revise the designation of Council owned car parks

b.    Recommendation 6: Review Blue Badge provision in Council-owned car parks

c.     Recommendation 9: Implement a permit parking scheme for Town Centre workers

d.    Recommendation 11: Lobby for improved cycle parking facilities and improved public transport

e.    Recommendation 13: Establish EV charging bays in EHDC car parks

f.      Recommendation 15: Implementing and lobbying for sustainability improvements including solar canopies, on-street EV charging and car clubs.

 

 

Wards affected: (All Wards);

Lead officer: Jess Khanom-Metaman


24/11/2020 - Budget 2021/22 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2021 – 2024 Proposals ref: 1409    Recommendations Approved

The Council is required to set a balanced budget each year. The Local Government Finance Act 1992 requires the Council to estimate revenue expenditure and income for the forthcoming year from all sources, together with contributions from reserves, in order to determine a net budget requirement to be met by government grant, Business Rates and Council Tax.

Decision Maker: Executive

Made at meeting: 24/11/2020 - Executive

Decision published: 26/11/2020

Effective from: 03/12/2020

Decision:

 

(A)     Confirm the savings proposals, after consideration of the comments from Audit and Governance Committee, to be taken forward, subject to detailed impact assessments and accepting that some may need to be reconsidered in the light of the current pandemic;

(B)     Agree, as guidance to officers, that the budget proposals should be based on a Council Tax increase of £5, general inflation assumption of up to 1% and that the provision for the national pay award will be up to 2%;

(C)     Endorse the production of a phased capital programme over 5 years to better reflect actual phasing of delivery and more realistic revenue impacts of capital financing; and

(D)     Endorse the additional programme of work to transform the Council and place it on a financially sustainable footing as set out in paragraph 4.7.

Wards affected: (All Wards);

Lead officer: Steven Linnett


24/11/2020 - Quarterly Corporate Budget Monitor – Quarter 2 September ref: 1410    Recommendations Approved

To provide a report on financial monitoring for East Herts Council for 2020/21 as at 30th September 2020.

 

The net revenue budget for 2020/21 is £10.667m as set out in table 1, this is funded by Council Tax. The forecast outturn as at 30th September 2020 predicts an overspend of £168k at the year end.

 

The revised capital budget for 2020/21 is £70.499m, of which £20.224m is estimated to be carried forward to future years.

Decision Maker: Executive

Made at meeting: 24/11/2020 - Executive

Decision published: 26/11/2020

Effective from: 03/12/2020

Decision:

(A)     Welcome that the net revenue budget 2020/21 forecast overspend at the end of quarter 2 has been contained at £168k; and

 

(B)     Endorse the revised capital budget for 2020/21 of £70.499m, of which £20.224m is estimated to be carried forward to future years.

Wards affected: (All Wards);

Lead officer: Steven Linnett


24/11/2020 - 2019/20 Treasury Management Outturn ref: 1412    For Determination

Decision Maker: Executive

Made at meeting: 24/11/2020 - Executive

Decision published: 26/11/2020

Effective from: 24/11/2020

Decision:

The Executive Member for Financial Sustainability submitted a report which reviewed the Council’s treasury management activities for 2019/20 including the prudential indicators and identified the associated impact on the 2020/21 treasury management strategy. 

 

There being no comments, Councillor Williamson proposed and Councillor Rutland-Barsby seconded a motion supporting the recommendations in the report. On being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED – to recommend to Council, that Annual Treasury Management Review 2019/20 be approved.

 

Wards affected: (All Wards);

Lead officer: Steven Linnett


24/11/2020 - 2020/21 Mid-Year Treasury Management Update Report ref: 1411    For Determination

Decision Maker: Executive

Made at meeting: 24/11/2020 - Executive

Decision published: 26/11/2020

Effective from: 24/11/2020

Decision:

The Executive Member for Financial Sustainability submitted a report which reviewed the Council’s treasury management activity for first six months of 2020/21 financial year, including the prudential indicators. He added that references to 2019/20 should be 2020/21

 

Appendix A contained the review and Members were being asked to recommend this to Council. He explained that the recommendation to increase the counter party limited from £20M to £30M was brought on by the receipt of a large sum of Government funding for Covid-19 related business support grants which had briefly exceeded the current limits. 

 

There being no comments, Councillor Williamson proposed and Councillor Buckmaster seconded a motion supporting the recommendations in the report. On being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED – that the Executive recommends to Council (A) the approval of the Treasury Management Mid-Year Review 2019/20;

 

(B)       the revised Prudential Indicators as shown in Appendix A (columns, entitled revised estimates, highlighted ‘green’ within tables); and

 

(C)       increase the counter party limit, from £20m to £30m, for the National Westminster Bank.

 

Wards affected: (All Wards);

Lead officer: Steven Linnett


24/11/2020 - European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme - Launchpad 2 ref: 1408    Recommendations Approved

That Executive agree to begin the Launchpad 2 project following agreement in February 2019 to make a bid for ERDF funds.

Decision Maker: Executive

Made at meeting: 24/11/2020 - Executive

Decision published: 26/11/2020

Effective from: 03/12/2020

Decision:

That, subject to the outcome of a procurement process for awarding a contract for business support, the ERDF-supported Launchpad 2 project proceeds.

Lead officer: Ben Wood


24/11/2020 - Sustainable Travel Town Bids ref: 1413    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Executive

Made at meeting: 24/11/2020 - Executive

Decision published: 26/11/2020

Effective from: 24/11/2020

Decision:

The Executive Member for Sustainability submitted a report which set out the Council’s aspirations within Hertfordshire County Council’s Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4) and the principles relating to the conditions for achieving Sustainable Travel Town status. The Executive Member said that the Council championed sustainability and that it would influence and encourage others to be more environmentally sustainable. He referred to the criteria developed by HCC which was being introduced to support travel towns sustainability. 

 

The Executive Member said that meeting the criteria would be challenging. He said that the principles fitted those of this Council and that he would be recommending to full Council that East Herts supported the aspirations of the LTP4 and the Sustainable Travel Town criteria and would support towns who wished to submit bids to achieve this status. 

 

The Leader said that the report set out our aspirations and that the Council would support towns who wished to do this as a way forward as it supported the Council’s commitment to the “green” agenda.

 

Councillor Goldspink queried the authority of “Shaping Stortford” to submit a bid on Bishop’s Stortford behalf, and whether this committee reported to East Herts Council.  She felt that it should report to Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Councillor McAndrew explained the group’s composition. The Deputy Chief Executive further expanded on this information including the remit of the group.  She explained that any entity could submit a sustainability travel bid. She said that the minutes and any other documents of their meeting were transparent and were publically available and on their website. The Leader asked that the Member be provided with a link to the “Shaping Stortford” website Minutes.

 

Councillor Crystall said that of the three towns only Bishop’s Stortford Town was directly supported by East Herts in the report. He queried whether Officers had looked at the three towns and whether the Council should support any of the other towns to help them achieve travel town sustainability status? The Executive Member for Sustainability explained that 10 applications had been submitted, three from East Herts, none had gone through the District Council. He said the first week of December would determine who had been successful but for those who had not been successful, HCC would work with the applicants to get them further along to match the criteria. 

Councillor Buckmaster said that he did not feel that it was necessary to show preferential support as this was inherent within the principle and recommendation.

 

Councillor McAndrew then proposed and Councillor Goodeve seconded a motion to support the recommendations in the report. On being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED – to recommend to Council that (A) East Herts Council supports in principle, the aspirations of the LTP4 and the Sustainable Travel Town criteria; and

 

(B)East Herts supports, in principle, towns wishing to submit bids for Sustainable Travel Town Status.

 

Lead officer: Helen Standen


24/11/2020 - Hertfordshire Growth Board ref: 1406    Recommendations Approved

To advise the Executive of proposals to establish the Hertfordshire Growth Board and Hertfordshire Growth Board Scrutiny Committee as formal joint committees under the Local Government Act 1972 and Local Government Act 2000 and to set out the actions required to do this.

Decision Maker: Executive

Made at meeting: 24/11/2020 - Executive

Decision published: 26/11/2020

Effective from: 03/12/2020

Decision:

(A)           Notes the content of this report and attached joint cover report at Appendix A: “Hertfordshire Growth Board Integrated Governance Framework”;

 

(B) Agrees to recommend to Council endorsement of the establishment of the Hertfordshire Growth Board Joint Committee and Hertfordshire Growth Board Scrutiny Joint Committee as Joint Committees

 

(C) Nominates the Leader as the Council’s representative on the Hertfordshire Growth Board Joint Committee, should Council endorse the establishment of the joint committee and the council’s membership, with delegated authority to appoint a substitute representative as required.

 

Wards affected: (All Wards);


24/11/2020 - Garden Waste Service - Policy ref: 1404    Recommendations Approved

To approve the key policies, principles and service standards for the charged garden waste service that was approved by Council on 29 January 2020 as part of the council’s Medium Term Financial Plan .

Decision Maker: Executive

Made at meeting: 24/11/2020 - Executive

Decision published: 24/11/2020

Effective from: 03/12/2020

Decision:

To approve the key principles of a chargeable garden waste scheme as highlighted in paragraph 1 for the purpose of public consultation prior to a decision on implementation by Council

 

 

Lead officer: Jess Khanom-Metaman


24/11/2020 - Shared Waste Service – Alignment of Commercial Waste and Recycling Services ref: 1403    For Determination

The introduction of a new common pricing structure for services within the shared waste service.

The introduction of new procedures and charging for EHC regarding event waste management and the management of fly-tipping, residual waste and recycling at flats for the shared service.

 

Decision Maker: Executive

Made at meeting: 24/11/2020 - Executive

Decision published: 24/11/2020

Effective from: 03/12/2020

Decision:

(A)     To agree to the alignment in pricing and a common pricing structure for the shared waste service, for residual commercial and chargeable household waste; within the 2020-21 financial year. To agree to the introduction of charges for recyclable commercial and recyclable chargeable household waste in line with existing shared waste service charging; within the 2020-21 financial year;

(B)     To agree to a new pricing structure for chargeable household bulky waste collections; within the 2020-21 financial year;

 

(C)     To agree to the introduction of event waste management charges to align procedures in the shared service; within the 2020-21 financial year;

 

(D)     To agree to the introduction of new procedures for the management of fly-tipping, residual waste and recycling at flats to align procedures and charging within the shared service; within the 2020-21 financial year;

 

 

Wards affected: (All Wards);

Lead officer: Jess Khanom-Metaman


24/11/2020 - Gilston Area Community Engagement Strategy ref: 1405    Recommendations Approved

This report seeks agreement for the Gilston Area Community Engagement Strategy to be a material consideration in planning matters associated with the development of the Gilston Area, and for it to be published alongside the other planning guidance documents that support implementation of the District Plan

Decision Maker: Executive

Made at meeting: 24/11/2020 - Executive

Decision published: 24/11/2020

Effective from: 03/12/2020

Decision:

(A)     That the Gilston Area Community Engagement Strategy is approved as a material consideration in the production of planning policy/guidance documents and the processing of planning applications associated with the Gilston Area.

 

(B)     That the Gilston Area Community Engagement Strategy is published alongside the other planning guidance documents that support implementation of the District Plan.

Wards affected: Hunsdon;


04/12/2020 - Hertford Heath Neighbourhood Plan: Pre-submission – Regulation 14 Consultation (NKD20/18) ref: 1414    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Executive Member for Planning and Growth

Decision published: 24/11/2020

Effective from: 12/12/2020

Wards affected: Hertford Heath and Brickendon;

Lead officer: George Pavey