Agenda and minutes

To receive any announcements.

The Chairman welcomed Members and reminded them that the meeting was being webcast.

He was pleased to announce that the recent “Elvis Lives” event had been well attended and had raised over £1800 for Isabel Hospice.  He reminded Members of the arrangements for his Civic Dinner on 20 March 2015.

The Chairman referred to the next Council meeting on 4 March 2014, as being the last of this term and thus, the last for some retiring Members.  He highlighted Councillor Ranger’s 42 years’ service and advised that refreshments would be available after that meeting.

Finally, the Chairman drew Members’ attention to the leaflets in the chamber advertising two forthcoming events for prospective candidates for Local Council elections in May 2015.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 28 January 2015 be approved a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Executive meeting held on 3 February 2015 be received.

(see also Minutes 539 – 540)

RESOLVED – that (A) the Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy, as now submitted, be approved;

(B)      the Prudential Indicators, as now submitted, be  approved; and

(C)      the counterparty listing, as now submitted, be  approved.

(see also Minute 538)

Note – Members are asked to bring their copy of the Executive agenda to the meeting.

The Leader gave a presentation on the Executive’s budget proposals for 2015/16 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy until 2017/18.

He looked back to the start of this Council’s term in 2011 and reminded Members of the aim of freezing Council Tax levels whilst maintaining front line services as the basis underpinning the Budget Strategy.  He referred to the impact of various external factors and the continuing uncertainties in which local authorities operated, with reduced funding from central government.  Council had taken a balanced approach in allocating funds to maintain services, whilst looking to make savings where possible.  He referred to the shared services agenda, where greater resilience had been achieved in the Revenues and Benefits service and huge savings had been achieved in the IT shared service.  Council was investigating such arrangements for other areas, such as anti-fraud and building control.

The Leader referred to the Council’s balanced approach to its Reserves and placed these in context with neighbouring Authorities.  The position would continue to be monitored in the coming year.  He also highlighted the Council’s work in supporting and encouraging businesses in East Herts using New Homes Bonus (NHB) growth investment and working in tandem with the Local Enterprise Partnership.  He expressed thanks to the Economic Development team for their efforts.

The Leader also highlighted Council’s approach to car parks and the introduction of a free 30 minute time band.  The early indications of this support for town centres were showing an increase in footfall.  He also referred to the decrease in vacant shops in both Bishop’s Stortford and Hertford.  The Executive Member for Economic Development would be working with Officers to extend the scheme to Buntingford and Sawbridgeworth.

The Leader outlined some of the successes of the previous term, such as the allocation of NHB funds to parish and town councils and for supporting health and wellbeing initiatives.  He also referred to increased recycling rates, reduced waste going to landfill and increased public satisfaction levels with the waste and recycling service in general.  The Leader gave details of the grants distributed to voluntary organisations, which supported activities such as playschemes, Citizens Advice and Police and Community Safety Officers.

The Leader referred to the ongoing work on the emerging District Plan and the reserves set aside to ensure that the current timetable was not compromised.  Members were reminded of the Local Mortgage Scheme, in which, to date, 24 loan agreements had been signed.  In terms of the capital programme, the Leader highlighted the funds allocated for leisure improvements at Grange Paddocks, Hartham and open spaces in general.

The Leader concluded by stating that Council had exceeded its objectives, with council tax having been reduced by 1% and grants to voluntary organisations and support for businesses having been increased.  He placed on record his thanks to Officers for their efforts in meeting and exceeding these objectives.

The Leader proposed two additional items.  Firstly, that fees and charges for 2015/16 be frozen.  This had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 540.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Development Management Committee meeting held on 4 February 2015, be received.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the joint meeting of Scrutiny Committees held on 10 February 2015, be received.

To receive a report of the Head of Democratic and Legal Support Services.

The Head of Democratic and Legal Support Services submitted a report containing the recommendations of the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) following its review of Members Allowances.

The IRP had recommended that allowance levels within the 2014/15 scheme be retained for 2015/16 (1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016), save for the maximum hourly rates claimable for dependant care being increased to £10.15 per hour.

Council also considered the size of the IRP, given that one resignation had been received.

The Leader proposed that the IRP’s recommendations be accepted and that the size of the Panel be increased to 7 members.  Various Members supported this proposal.

Councillor C Woodward questioned the evidence for the IRP’s contention that most Members used their own IT equipment.  The Head of Democratic and Legal Support Services surmised that this view might have been formed based on Member responses to the IRP’s questionnaire.

The Executive Member for Community Partnership and Liaison clarified the agreed IT provision for Members from May 2015 onwards.

Council approved the recommendations as now detailed.

RESOLVED – that (A) allowance levels within the 2014/15 scheme be retained for 2015/16 (1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016), save for the maximum hourly rates claimable for dependant care being increased to £10.15 per hour; and

(B)      the size of the Independent Remuneration Panel be increased from 6 to 7 members, with existing appointees being retained and Officers being authorised to fill the two vacancies.

Council considered a report which provided a broad overview of a number of the key provisions contained within the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.  The report had been considered by the Executive meeting on 6 January 2015, and the community trigger procedure had been approved.  The Executive had also supported the proposed scheme of delegations, however, the recommendations had not been included in the agenda for the last Council meeting.  Therefore, Council was requested to approve the delegations which would ensure that appropriate officers and organisations were authorised under the Act. 

Council approved the delegations as now detailed.

RESOLVED – that the scheme of delegations to Officers be amended as follows:

1.        The Head of Environmental Services and the Head of Community Safety and Health Services in consultation with the Legal Services Manager be granted delegated authority to seek an Injunction to Prevent Nuisance and Annoyance in accordance with Part 1 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

2.        The Head of Environmental Services and the Head of Community Safety and Health Services in consultation with the Legal Services Manager be granted delegated authority to apply for Closure Orders and to authorise their officers to issue Closure Notices and in accordance with Part 3 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

3.        The Head of Environmental Services and the Head of Community Safety and Health Services in consultation with the Legal Services Manager be granted delegated authority to authorise Officers to serve Community Protection Notices, and Fixed Penalty Notices in the event of a breach, in accordance with Part 4 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

4.        The Head of Community Safety and Health Services in consultation with the Legal Services Manager be granted delegated authority to may make a public spaces protection order, in accordance with Part 4 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.