Agenda and minutes

To receive any announcements.

The Chairman thanked Hertfordshire County Council for allowing East Herts Council to use their Council Chamber for the meeting.

The Chairman announced that he had recently attended ten events and thanked the Vice-Chairman for attending events when he was unable to. He encouraged Members to invite the Chairman to events to support local causes. He was pleased to announce that he held a quiz night on 15 October 2021 at Cottered Village Hall that raised £3,112 for Macmillan Cancer Support. He gave his thanks to those who attended and Esther Piper for arranging the event. He asked Members to save 24 April 2022 in their diaries for a ‘Thank You’ event.

The Chairman referred to the tragic death of Sir David Amess MP last week. He said Members would be able to pay tribute later under the motion submitted but he referenced Sir David Amess’ 40 years of service and his dedication to resolving his constituents’ issues in the Southend West constituency. He said that there had been several attacks on MPs in recent years and he said that those in public service should not be deterred from serving. He sent his condolences to Sir David’s family on behalf of the Council.

The Chairman also announced that former Councillor Roger Martin had passed away. He said that Roger Martin had served as an East Herts Councillor for Hertford Bengeo ward from 1987 – 1995 and was also appointed Chairman of the Council between 1990 – 1992. He invited Members to pay tribute to the former Councillor.

Councillor Ruffles said that he lived most of his life in parallel with Roger having gone to the same school and then both becoming Heads of English in secondary schools. They also worked closely together as Chief Examiners for the whole of East Anglia. Councillor Ruffles said Roger had been elected to Hertford Town Council in 1976 and became a Reverend of a local Church. He said he was a hardworking and dedicated individual and he would miss him.

Councillor Goldspink said that she recalled Roger from her early days at the Council. She said that he was kind, respectful and treated everyone equally no matter what party they were affiliated to. She said that she would remember him with affection.

Councillor Bull said that he was privileged to have met Roger who was a very gentle and quiet man but people listened to him. He said that he always made time to attend events like the Remembrance Day Service and the Christmas Lights in Buntingford when he was Chairman. Councillor Bull said that he had also attended some of Roger’s Church services and he said that he would be sadly missed.

A minute’s silence was held to remember Sir David Amess, former Councillor Roger Martin and all those who have recently passed away.

To receive any Members’ apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Beckett, Crystall, Hollebon and Stevenson

To approve as a correct record and authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 28 July 2021.

Councillor Newton proposed and Councillor Jones seconded a motion, that the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 July 2021be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 July 2021 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman

To receive any Members' declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any petitions.

There were no petitions.

To receive any public questions.

There were no public questions.

To receive any Members' questions.

Councillor James Frecknall, on behalf of Councillor Ben Crystall to ask Councillor Graham McAndrew, Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability:

In September, the World Health Organisation slashed its recommended air quality limits for six pollutants including particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5, and nitrogen dioxide. For example, the annual average recommended limit for PM2.5 has been halved, and the annual limit for nitrogen dioxide has been reduced by three quarters. This change is a response to the huge, and growing, body of evidence showing that air pollution causes serious harm at much lower levels than previously thought.

Given that these pollutants are known to cause lung and cardiovascular disease, and play a major role in a host of other illnesses including diabetes, cancers and dementia, and given that the latest available air pollution data for a number of roads in East Hertfordshire's AQMAs shows that they breached current limits, what action will EHC take to cut the levels of damaging air pollution that our residents are exposed to?

Response from Councillor Graham McAndrew:

“The council has been committed to tackling the scourge of air pollution for a number of years but there is no time for complacency.”

“The council is concerned about particulate levels. PM?_.?, that is, particulate matter of less than 2.5 microns, can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream, with cardiovascular and respiratory impacts.”

“In 2005, the World Health Organisation set a guideline of an annual average of no more than 10 micrograms of this particulate matter per cubic metre. I am pleased to inform members that data from our monitoring station in Hertford show steady drops over recent years to only 8.1 micrograms in 2019, with just a small and hopefully temporary increase in 2020. I hope our continued efforts will see the downward trend continue towards the World Health Organisation updated guideline of just 5 micrograms.”

“Levels of NO₂ continue to steadily drop in all three of our Air Quality Management Areas continue to steadily drop; this is not just a one-off result of less traffic last year due to Covid. In 2020, the average across all sites was 23.1 micrograms per cubic metre, well under the World Health Organisation’s previous guideline and indeed the national target of 40 micrograms.”

“Let me briefly explain our ongoing work that I hope will lead to further reductions toward the World Health Organisation’s new guideline of just 10 micrograms.”

“Air pollution in East Herts largely stems from fossil-fuelled road transport and so the need to reduce these emissions is fundamental to the updated Air Quality Action Plan officers are currently preparing. This will be informed by the Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership’s new Transport Action Plan.”

“Our work across Hertfordshire highlights that we are just one part of the solution, however, I believe we are punching above our weight. For example, of the 50 or so e-vehicle chargers in the district currently available for public use, a quarter are provided by the council with this number set  ...  view the full minutes text for item 204.

To receive a report from the Leader of the Council and to consider recommendations on the matters below:

The Leader of the Council said that there was a motion later in the agenda condemning the murder of Sir David Amess MP. She wanted to highlight that everyone in public life was vulnerable and the Council took it seriously. Members would be provided with personal alarms when out in their communities.

Councillor Haysey announced that the new leisure facility at Grange Paddocks would be opened on Saturday 23 October. All Members had received an invite to the opening and she hoped the new facility would improve the quality of life and wellbeing of residents.

Councillor Haysey then presented a report setting out recommendations to the Council made by the Executive at its meeting on 28 September 2021.

The Executive Member for Financial Sustainability presented the recommendation, which was referred to in the Executive report of 28 September 2021. Councillor Williamson said the council had reviewed its policy on charging for empty homes and evidence has shown that it has been successful and some homes had been brought back into use. The recommendation, if agreed, would increase the premium for homes left empty for five years to 200% and homes empty for ten years to 300%. He said that the other change recommended was that the liability premium would be suspended for 12 months when there was a change of ownership.

Councillor Williamson proposed that the recommendations in the Executive report be supported. Councillor Pope seconded the proposal.  

Councillor Goldspink confirmed that the Liberal Democrat Group were happy to support the recommendation.

Councillor Andrews said he was concerned about the dispensation on the premium for new owners and hoped that this would not encourage sales of convenience.

Councillor Williamson said the department would give consideration of that issue when implementing the policy.

Councillor Wilson said that he agreed with the recommendation. Government figures showed there were 268,000 empty homes in the UK and if those homes could be brought back into use then fewer new homes would need to be built.

The motion to support the recommendation having been proposed and seconded, was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, it was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED ­- That an increase in the Long Term Empty Premium from April 2022 be agreed, including the discretion to remove the premium for up to 12 months when new owners occupy within 12 months of purchase.

The Executive Member for Financial Sustainability presented the recommendation, which was referred to in the Executive report of 28 September 2021. Councillor Williamson said that the scheme had to be reviewed annually and the review recommended no changes.

Councillor Williamson proposed that the recommendations in the Executive report be supported. Councillor Huggins seconded the proposal.

Councillor Goldspink confirmed that the Liberal Democrat Group were happy to support the recommendation. She also gave her thanks to the Officers for their hard work.

The motion to support the recommendation having been proposed and seconded, was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, it was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED - That there be no changes to the local Council Tax Support scheme for April 2022.

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods presented the recommendation, which was referred to in the Executive report of 28 September 2021, regarding the Tenancy Strategy.

He said that each local authority was required to produce and review a Tenancy Strategy under the Localism Act. The Act was clear about what the strategy should cover and the Tenancy Strategy provided detail on what kind of tenancies should be offered as well as giving guidance on rent levels the council would like to see. The Tenancy Strategy was not concerned with affordable housing supply as this was the remit of the District Plan and the Housing Strategy.

East Herts’ planning policies have meant there has been a 10.2% increase in the number of affordable homes in the ten years to 2020, compared to 2.9% across Hertfordshire and 3.4% across England in the same period. The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Councillor Boylan, stressed that the Tenancy Strategy was only guidance but Registered Providers had been consulted and it was pleasing to see they were predominantly offering lifetime tenancies. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the strategy and whilst Members expressed disappointment that the council could not set rent levels, they endorsed the aspirations of the strategy.

Councillor Boylan proposed that the recommendation in the Executive report be supported. Councillor Wyllie seconded the proposal.

Councillor Goldspink said that the Liberal Democrat Group reluctantly accepted and supported the recommendation. She thanked Officers for their hard work in drafting the strategy under the restrictive limits imposed by the government. She said that East Herts had only built two houses for social rent in the last two years and Local Housing Allowances set by central government meant that local councillors do not have a say. She said that she was ashamed and angry as the council had failed to provide residents with homes. The Strategy has aspirations but it cannot be enforced. She hoped the Executive Member and the council would lobby the government to change the rules at every opportunity.

Councillor Redfern said that she agreed with Councillor Goldspink and asked if East Herts helped residents who failed affordability tests if they could not afford social rent.

Councillor E Buckmaster said that he was puzzled by Councillor Goldspink’s comments. He said that Councillor Boylan had demonstrated earlier in the meeting how well East Herts compared in Hertfordshire and nationally on the number of affordable homes built. He said that the Council were doing what it could within its District Plan and said the criticism was unjustified.

Councillor Wilson also thanked Officers for the strategy. He said that he was surprised that the Executive were pleased with the planning policies and the number of affordable homes. He asked whether an increase in homelessness and people in temporary accommodation was a positive outcome. He said that the council had struggled to provide affordable homes after selling their housing stock to housing associations. He referred to the Greater London Authority as its Local Plan ensures that developers provide affordable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 205c

Councillor Goldspink proposed the following motion on notice on Local Renewable Energy Providers

“East Herts District Council is already making positive efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to promote renewable energy.   Furthermore, the Council recognises:

1)    that the very large financial set-up and running costs involved in selling locally generated electricity to local customers result in it being impossible for local renewable-electricity generators to do so,

2)    that making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier’s operation would create significant opportunities for local companies, community groups and councils to be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local people, businesses and organisations if they wished, and

3)    that revenues received by such local companies, community groups or councils that chose to become local renewable electricity providers could be used to help improve the local economy, local services and facilities and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This Council also notes that the Parliamentary Environmental Audit committee, as a result of its 2021 Technological Innovations and Climate Change Enquiry, recommended that a Right to Local Supply for local energy suppliers be established to address these issues.

This Council accordingly resolves to support the Local Electricity Bill, currently supported by a cross-party group of 264 MPs, and which, if made law, would establish a Right to Local Supply, which would promote local renewable electricity supply by making the set-up and running costs of selling renewable energy to local customers proportionate to the size of the supply company; and

This Council further resolves to:

a) inform the local media of this decision; 
b) write to the local MPs, asking them to support the Bill; and
c) write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill,  “Power for the People”, at 5-7 Buck Street, London NW1 8NJ, expressing its support.”

Councillor Dumont seconded the motion.

Councillor Graham McAndrew proposed amendments to the original motion as follows:

“East Herts District Council is already making positive efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to promote renewable energy.   Furthermore, the Council recognises:

1)    that facilitating access to the market for a wider range of more local generators and suppliers of electricity is in line with the council’s Sustainable Action Plan which is built on the premise that achieving carbon neutrality in the district will require a multiplicity of effort from individuals and community groups all the way through to large stakeholders and partners,

2)    that currently, the complexity very large financial set-up and running costs involved in selling locally generated electricity to local customers result in local generators and/or suppliers of renewable energy being unable to enter the market. it being impossible for local renewable-electricity generators to do so,

3)    that making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity generator and/or supplier’s operation would create significant opportunities for local companies, community groups and councils to be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local people, businesses and organisations if they wished, and

4)    that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 206.

Councillor Haysey proposed the following motion on notice and thanked her opposition colleagues for supporting the motion.

“This Council mourns the loss of Sir David Amess MP, who was killed performing his constituency duties on 15 October 2021.

This Council recalls the tragic loss of Jo Cox MP in 2016 and the attack on Stephen Timms MP in 2010. The death of Sir David represents the third such attack on a British parliamentarian in a little over a decade. 

This Council restates the power of democratic politics to make a positive difference to people’s lives and recognises that politicians of all parties are overwhelmingly dedicated, decent people discharging their democratic duties as best they can.  

This Council asks that the Group Leaders collectively convey our condolences on the loss of Sir David to the Speaker of the House of Commons and write to the Leaders of all political parties in Westminster to support measures that would see politicians at all tiers of government kept safe and secure so that they continue working hard on behalf of their constituents”

Councillor Redfern seconded the motion.

Councillor Snowdon said that the events surrounding Sir David Amess’ MP murder were shocking. He said that David was serving his constituents and helping those most in need. He said that David was not the first MP to be murdered or attacked; Jo Cox MP was murdered in 2016 and Steven Timms MP was attacked in 2010. He said that there was no justification for the attacks and violence against politicians affects all parties and steps needed to be taken to make sure all elected officials were protected. Councillor Snowdon said he was lucky to have known David and he had first met him in the Isle of Dogs and had taught him to build relationships with communities.  He paid tribute to him as an unstoppable champion for Southend.

Councillor E Buckmaster said he knew Sir David Amess MP as a child and attended the same schools and he stood out at primary school. He said that much could be said about how he set an example for those following him. He said that the attack could not undermine the democratic principles of the UK. He sent his condolences to David’s family.

Councillor Goldspink said she supported the motion. She said it was a terrible killing and shocked and horrified the country. She said her thoughts were with his family and friends and hoped the dreadful event would not deter public servants from serving their community.

Councillor Frecknall echoed the thoughts of his colleagues and he said that although he did not know Sir David Amess, he worked in the area he grew up in. He said that he had worked with a group of nine year olds in the week and they were discussing the incident and said it had cut across humanity and generations. He said that David was not being forgotten and hoped that there would be lessons learnt from it.

Councillor Curtis recalled  ...  view the full minutes text for item 207.