Decisions

Council considered a report proposing changes in the discretionary community grants policy in order to maximise health and wellbeing outcomes for residents in East Herts.  The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing highlighted the key changes and advised that these would simplify the application process.  The proposed changes had arisen from a review undertaken by an informal group of Members.

Council approved the recommendations as now detailed.

RESOLVED – that (A) the new grants policy as detailed in Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ of the report submitted, be approved, including proposals listed in paragraph 2.7 to:

·           open the fund up to not-for-profit organisations;

·                        remove the requirement of match funding for building projects;

·                        increase the maximum revenue grant from £1,000 to £3,000; and

(B)      new priorities and outcomes, as detailed in Appendix 1, Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ of the report submitted, be approved.

Councillor M Allen, on behalf of the 2016/17 Scrutiny Chairmen, presented the Scrutiny Annual report 2016/17. 

Council approved the report for publication.

RESOLVED – that the Annual Report on the work of the East Herts Scrutiny Committees during 2016/17 be received and approved for publication.

RESOLVED – that no changes to the scheme design for 2018/19 be made.

(see also Minute 113)

RESOLVED – that (A) the responses to the public consultation be noted and the Officer responses and proposed changes to the Furneux Pelham Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Proposals, 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 Furneux Pelham Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Proposals be approved for adoption.

(see also Minute 113)

The Executive Member for Economic Development advised Members that a steering group, Shaping Stortford, had now been set up to facilitate projects consistent with the framework.  Its membership included business representatives, residents and the three tiers of local government.

RESOLVED – that the Bishop’s Stortford Town Centre Framework (March 2017) be approved for Development Management decisions.

(see also Minute 111)

Part 1 – Funding approval to support a proposed future direction of travel for Council managed leisure facilities.

Part 2 – Funding consideration for a proposal to develop the leisure and sports provision in Bishop’s Stortford.

The Leader of the Council referred to an error contained in the original report that had been submitted to the Executive in that paragraph 4.9 should have referred to the current leisure contract expiry date as December 2018 and not December 2022.  The correct contract date had been reflected in the Minutes of the Executive meeting.

The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing referred to the recommendations set out in both Parts 1 and 2 of the report and proposed some amendments.

Part 1

In respect of recommendation (E), he proposed an amendment so that it read “public consultation and further investigation of the options for Fanshawe Pool and Gym are carried out and a report is presented in October 2017”.  Councillor D Oldridge seconded this amendment and asked for details of what the consultation would involve.

The Head of Operations advised that Officers would continue to engage with the public and look at all the options available.  This would include all the correspondence received to date as well the comments made in the petitions.  Discussions with the schools would continue and all market options would be examined.

In respect of recommendation (F), the Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing proposed an amendment so that it read “public consultation and further investigation of the options for Leventhorpe Pool and Gym are carried out and a report is presented in October 2017”.  This was seconded by Councillor A Alder.

In respect of recommendation (J), the Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing proposed an amendment so that it read “subject to funding approval, delegated authority to make decisions relating to the leisure development projects is provided to the Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing with the support of a leisure project board.  The board will consist of the Executive Members of Health and Wellbeing and Finance and Support Services, the Head of Operations, the Chief Finance Officer, Monitoring Officer and a Director.”  Councillor D Oldridge seconded this amendment.

Council approved the recommendations as now amended.

RESOLVED – that (A) the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the recommendations of the Executive, be noted;

(B)      investment and development for Grange Paddocks as reflected in paragraph 4.8 of the report submitted, including costs for the submission of outline planning permission, be approved;

(C)      investment and development for Hartham Leisure Centre as reflected in paragraph 4.8 of the report submitted, including costs of the submission of outline planning permission, be approved;

(D)      investment and development for Ward Freman as reflected in paragraph 4.8 of the report submitted, be approved;

(E)      public consultation and further investigation of the options for Fanshawe Pool and Gym are carried out and a report is presented in October 2017;

(F)       public consultation and further investigation of the options for Leventhorpe Pool and Gym are carried out and a report is presented in October 2017;

(G)      the Design, Build, Operate and Maintain model for Grange Paddocks Leisure Centre, be approved;

(H)      the Design, Build, Operate and Maintain model for Hartham Leisure Centre, be approved;

(I)        the leisure operating contract (with minor works included) model in respect of Ward Freman Centre, be approved; and

(J)       subject to funding approval, delegated authority to make decisions relating to the leisure development projects is provided to the Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing with the support of a leisure project board.  The board will consist of the Executive Members of Health and Wellbeing and Finance and Support Services, the Head of Operations, the Chief Finance Officer, Monitoring Officer and a Director.

Part 2

The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing emphasised the due diligence that would need to be carried out if recommendation (C) was approved.

In respect of recommendation (D), the Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing proposed an amendment so that it read “subject to funding approval, delegated authority to make decisions relating to the leisure development projects is provided to the Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing with the support of a leisure project board.  The board will consist of the Executive Members of Health and Wellbeing and Finance and Support Services, the Head of Operations, the Chief Finance Officer, Monitoring Officer and a Director.”  Councillor J Wyllie seconded this amendment.

Council approved the recommendations as now amended.

RESOLVED – that (A) the views of Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the recommendations of the Executive be noted;

(B)      £1m allocated from Bishop’s Stortford North section 106 funds, to be forward funded by the Council until such time as the s106 funds are received by the Council, be approved;

(C)      an interest-bearing  loan to the school to complete the funding requirement for the project as presented, be approved subject to due diligence to be carried out by the Chief Finance Officer and Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Executive Members for Finance and Support Services and Health and Wellbeing; and

(D)      subject to funding approval, delegated authority to make decisions relating to the leisure development projects is provided to the Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing with the support of a leisure project board.  The board will consist of the Executive Members of Health and Wellbeing and Finance and Support Services, the Head of Operations, the Chief Finance Officer, Monitoring Officer and a Director.

(see also Minute 113)

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services submitted a report updating Members on the progress of the review of the Constitution, which also sought agreement to transitional arrangements for dealing with Standards complaints presented before 1 March 2017.

Council approved the recommendations as now detailed.

RESOLVED – that (A) the report on the review of the Constitution be noted; and

(B)      current Members of the Standards Sub Committee remaining in place to deal with any matters presented to them before 1 March 2017, be approved.