Full Council - 10 December 2013
Penn Chamber, Three Rivers House10th December 2013
To: ALL MEMBERS OF THE THREE RIVERS DISTRICT COUNCIL
You are hereby summoned to attend an ordinary meeting of the Council to be held in the Penn Chamber, Three Rivers House, Rickmansworth, on Tuesday 10 December 2013 at 7.30pm for the purpose of transacting the under-mentioned business:-
A G E N D A
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
2. MINUTES
To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 22 October 2013 (pages A1 to A14).
13 10 22 CL mins (doc)
3. CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
4. LEADER’S REPORT
5. QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 16
None received.
6. PETITIONS UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 19
None received.
7. DISCUSSION TOPIC UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 17
None received.
8. MOTIONS UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 11
(1) Councillor Ann Shaw OBE, seconded by Councillor Sara Bedford, to move under Notice duly given as follows:
Bus Service for Wheelchair Users
This Council is concerned about the unacceptable treatment some disabled residents are subjected to by the local bus service. The complaints include:
- Buses failing to stop for wheel chair users waiting at bus stops
- Buses refusing to provide the ramp for the disabled person to access the bus;
- Drivers claiming there is no room for the wheelchair when there clearly is room
- Buses failing to stop or refusing access to the vehicle to residents with assistance dogs.
The Council requests the Chief Executive to contact Arriva, and other local bus providers to insist they take this situation seriously and respect the needs of disabled travellers and their right and need to use public transport. Training for drivers is essential but monitoring the service provided is also vital. In some cases apologies have been received but there is no identifiable improvement in the service provided. This is not acceptable.
The Council also requests the Chief Executive to press Hertfordshire County Council to use its influence and authority to support TRDC’s efforts to achieve a more acceptable bus service for disabled users.
(2) Councillor Ty Harris, seconded by Councillor David Sansom, to move under Notice duly given as follows:
Members are requested to consider Council Procedure Rule 20 (below) before discussion on this Motion.
Council Rule 20 - Motions Affecting Persons Employed by the Council
If at a meeting of the Council (or a Policy and Scrutiny Committee or Committee or Sub-Committee) to which Sections 100A to 100D of the Local Government Act 1972 apply, any question arises as to the staff employed by the Council, such question shall not be the subject of discussion until the Council, Policy and Scrutiny Committee or Committee, as the case may be, has decided whether or not the power of exclusion of the public under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 shall be exercised.
This Council acknowledges the current Human Resource Policy - Redundancy, Restructure and Reorganisation, Date First issued June 1991, and the last review of the policy was April 2013.
The current policy reads:
13. Redundancy Payments
13.1 When an employee is made redundant by the Council they will be entitled to:
(a) a statutory redundancy payment based on an actual week's pay; and
(b) an additional redundancy payment which combined with the statutory redundancy payment does not exceed a maximum of 66 weeks' pay.
This Council appreciates the challenges people face with redundancy in employment but believes by bringing the terms of employment between the private and public sectors closer together with similar employment benefits, is a necessity that provides for a fair outcome for the residents of Three Rivers and the people that work within the District.
This Council recognises the above policy in its wording implies the entitlement to (a) and (b) as compulsory payments.
The private sector more often does not have the benefit of compulsory additional redundancy payments, and this Council does not think it is correct for Council policy to state such entitlement.
This Council believes the policy should be described as discretionary payments in accordance to Local Government regulations, including Discretionary Compensation Regulations 2006, where such payments may be paid but are not compulsory.
This Council wishes the policy to be amended with immediate effect to read;
13. Redundancy Payments
13.1 When an employee is made redundant by the Council they will be entitled to:
(a) a statutory redundancy payment based on an actual week's pay; and
(b) subject to a discretionary payment which combined with the statutory redundancy payment does not exceed a maximum of 66 weeks' pay.
(3) Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, seconded by Councillors Sara Bedford and Martin Trevett.
Council notes that Hertfordshire County Council has accepted the disappointment and concern of residents and councillors at the current Highways contract, which has been in effect for a year.
Council also notes that action has been promised to address these problems, including invoking the appropriate non-performance clauses in the Highways Service, to ensure service delivery improves.
Council further notes the concerns of many local residents that the Highways service is inadequate and not responsive to local needs.
Council therefore asks the Chief Executive to write to the Chief Executive of Hertfordshire County Council to inform him of the following key concerns that need to be addressed:
a) Poor performance of the contractors in meeting acceptable standards and timescales especially when dealing with faults reported, leading to some being closed down with no work done to fix them.
b) Failure to deliver some work to agreed standards.
c) Failure to adhere to agreed process to inform councillors and residents of works.
d) Failure to deliver some works to agreed timescales.
e) Issues being marked as completed on the online fault reporting system, when they have not been dealt with.
f) Failure of some highways staff to fully engage with members and to keep them informed of issues, problems and ways of addressing them.
g) Failure of customer enquiries to be dealt with in an acceptable manner - including the failing to relay information or to respond fully to residents’ queries.
Council also asks the Chief Executive to inform the Chief Executive of Hertfordshire County Council that Three Rivers District Council believes the best way forward to ensure an a acceptable level of service, accountability and local focus is to restore the Highways Joint Member Panel for Three Rivers, so that performance and delivery can be openly monitored.
9. EXECUTIVECOMMITTEE
To consider the recommendations of the Executive Committee at its meeting held on 2 December 2013.
EX58/13 Budget Monitoring – Month 6 (September 2013)
EX61/13 Special Expenses
10. MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES
To receive the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel on Members’ Allowances (Page B1)
13 12 10 CL i - independent panel members allowances (doc)
11. REPORTS AND QUESTIONS TO THE LEADER, CABINET AND CHAIRMEN OF THE POLICY AND SCRUTINY, AUDIT, PLANNING, LICENSING, SHARED SERVICES AND REGULATORY SERVICES COMMITTEES
LEADER OF THE COUNCIL
Councillor David Sansom to ask the Leader of the Council:
Can the Leader explain to the Council the rationale behind setting up a 'Major Projects Team' now when the entire Council is going to be reorganised next year?
What Committee does the 'Major Projects Team' report to?
Does the 'Major Projects Team' have any experience of managing successful projects and if so where can we find the details?
SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT
Reports from the Cabinet Member for Environment (Cllr Martin Trevett), Cabinet Member for Sustainability (Cllr Sara Bedford) and the Chairman of the Sustainable Environment Policy and Scrutiny Committee (Cllr Alison Scarth) and questions.
LEISURE AND COMMUNITY SAFETY
Reports from the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Community (Cllr Keith Williams), Cabinet Member for Community Safety (Cllr Roger Seabourne) and the Chairman of the Leisure and Community Safety Policy and Scrutiny Committee (Cllr Steve Drury) and questions.
PUBLIC SERVICES AND HEALTH
Reports from the Cabinet Member for Public Services and Health (Cllr Phil Brading) and the Chairman of the Public Services and Health Policy and Scrutiny Committee (Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst) and questions.
RESOURCES
Reports from the Cabinet Member for Resources (Cllr Matthew Bedford) and the Chairman of the Resources Policy and Scrutiny Committee (Cllr Sarah Nelmes) and questions.
SHARED SERVICES
Report from and questions to the Vice-Chairman of the Joint Shared Services Committee (Cllr Brian White).
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Report from and questions to the Chairman of the Audit Committee (Cllr Sarah Nelmes).
PLANNING COMMITTEE
Report from and questions to the Chairman of the Planning Committee (Cllr Chris Whately-Smith).
LICENSING
Report from and questions to the Chairman of the Licensing Committee (Cllr Pam Hames).
REGULATORY SERVICES
Report from and questions to the Chairman of the Regulatory Services Committee (Cllr Pam Hames).
To consider the recommendation of the Extraordinary Regulatory Services Committee held on 19 November 2013.
Minute RG20/13 – Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places
12. CHANGE IN COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
To note that Councillor Chris Lucas has been replaced on the Regulatory Services Committee by Councillor Sara Bedford.
13. REPORTS OF MEETINGS
With the exception of the Executive, Regulatory, Licensing, and Audit Committees’ recommendations to Council, the following reports are submitted for information only:-
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Audit Committee |
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Executive Committee |
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Joint Shared Services Committee |
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Joint Shared Services Committee |
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Leisure & Community Safety Policy and Scrutiny Committee |
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Planning Committee |
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Planning Committee |
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Public Services and Health Policy and Scrutiny Committee |
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Extraordinary Regulatory Services Committee |
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Regulatory Services Committee |
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Resources Policy & Scrutiny Committee |
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Sustainable Environment Policy and Scrutiny Committee |
Chief Executive
2 December 2013
Three Rivers House
Northway
Rickmansworth
Herts WD3 1RL
NOTE AS TO PRAYERS: Prayers will be read by Reverend Simon Cutmore from St Peter’s Church, Rickmansworth at 7.25pm. Members who are not already in their places are requested to refrain from entering the Chamber. Sufficient time will be allowed for Members to do so after prayers in order that the business of the meeting may begin at 7.30pm.