Full Council - 11 April 2006
Penn Chamber, Three Rivers House11th April 2006
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, 11 April 2006 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 14 February 2006, copy attached (pages 1 to 15).
3. CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
4. LEADER'S REPORT
5. REPORTS AND QUESTIONS TO THE CABINET AND CHAIRMEN OF THE POLICY AND SCRUTINY PANELS AND AUDIT, DEVELOPMENT CONTROL, LICENSING AND REGULATORY SERVICES COMMITTEES
HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENT
(i) Report from the Cabinet Member for Housing.
(ii) Questions to the Cabinet Member for Housing.
(iii) Report from the Cabinet Member for Environment.
(iv) Questions to the Cabinet Member for Environment.
(v) Report from the Housing and Environment Policy Panel Chairman.
(vi) Questions to the Housing and Environment Policy Panel Chairman.
LEISURE AND COMMUNITY
(i) Report from the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Community.
(ii) Questions to the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Community.
(iii) Report from the Cabinet Member for Community Safety.
(iv) Questions to the Cabinet Member for Community Safety
(v) Report from the Leisure and Community Policy Panel Chairman.
(vi) Questions to the Leisure and Community Policy Panel Chairman.
PUBLIC SERVICES AND HEALTH
(i) Report from the Cabinet Member for Public Services and Health.
(ii) Questions to the Cabinet Member for Public Services and Health.
(iii) Report from the Public Services and Health Policy Panel Chairman.
(iv) Questions to the Public Services and Health Policy Panel Chairman.
RESOURCES
(i) Report from the Cabinet Member for Resources.
(ii) Questions to the Cabinet Member for Resources.
(iii) Report from the Resources Policy Panel Chairman.
(iv) Questions to the Resources Policy Panel Chairman.
SCRUTINY
(i) Report from the Scrutiny Panel Chairman.
(ii) Questions to the Scrutiny Panel Chairman.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
(i) Report from the Audit Committee Chairman.
(ii) Questions to the Audit Committee Chairman.
DEVELOPMENT CONTROL
(i) Report from the Development Control Committee Chairman.
(ii) Questions to the Development Control Committee Chairman.
LICENSING
(i) Report from the Licensing Committee Chairman.
(ii) Questions to the Licensing Committee Chairman.
REGULATORY SERVICES COMMITTEE
(i) Report from the Regulatory Services Committee Chairman.
(ii) Questions to the Regulatory Services Committee Chairman.
6. QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 16
None received.
7. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
To consider the recommendations of the Executive Committee at its meeting held on 6 March 2006 contained within:
Minute EX178/05 - (Environmental Protection Enforcement Policy)
Minute EX185/05 - (Proposals for Organisational Changes to Strategic Services)
Recommendations of the Executive Committee from its meeting on 3 April 2006 (to follow).
8. PETITIONS UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 19
None received.
9. DISCUSSION TOPIC UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 17
None received.
10. MOTIONS UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 11
(1) Councillors Barbara Lamb and Leonard Spencer to move under Notice duly given as follows:-
This Council instructs the Chief Executive and officers to attend no meetings and to commission no work on the restructuring of local government without the express resolution of this Council.
This Council further resolves that before any restructuring of local government within Hertfordshire that it obtain the express prior consent of the electorate for any change to current structures via a referendum held under Section 116 of the Local Government Act 2003.
(2) Councillors Stephen Giles-Medhurst and Steve Drury to move under Notice duly given:-
1. This Council notes the decision of Herts County Council on 28 March to downgrade fire cover in the Three Rivers area, and in particular:
- to reduce the availability of one fire engine from Watford Station by cutting the provision to just one pump for 12 hours a day
- to close the fire stations at Radlett and Bovingdon that provide essential back up in this area.
2. Further notes that these changes will mean that some 400 extra calls will be made on the Rickmansworth fire engine, which will inevitably lead to a reduction in service to the Rickmansworth and Chorleywood area.
3. Views these decisions with much regret, especially in view of the overwhelming public opposition contained in tens of thousands of signatures and protest letters.
4. Deplores the fact that none of the Conservative Councillors representing the Three Rivers area supported the retention of essential fire services for local residents.
(3) Councillors Phil Brading and Richard Struck to move under Notice duly given:-
Three Rivers Council determines to reduce the use of energy and water in its buildings and place the savings in a ring fenced fund to be used to promote the use of alternative energy sources and to inform local residents and businesses about energy saving and microgeneration.
A guide will be published by the Council to provide guidance about the steps that can be taken to achieve reductions in the use of energy and water both in the short and long term, and to advise what grants are available to assist the achievement of these objectives.
(4) Councillors Chris Brearley and Ann Shaw to move under Notice duly given:-
This Council instructs the Chief Executive to keep in close touch with any plans, recommendations, or suggestions that would involve Three Rivers DC in any restructuring of the present democratic and administrative arrangements, to ensure that the interests of the residents of the District are represented and protected.
The Council undertakes, in the event of such restructuring proposals coming forward to consult the residents of the District fully on such proposals.
(5) Councillors Tony Barton and Chris Hayward to move under Notice duly given:-
This Council notes with serious concern the arrangements currently being proposed for the provision of swimming pool facilities, and in particular:
(a) the escalating costs for the refurbishment of William Penn;
(b) the donation of £2M to Watford Borough Council towards its costs of extending the swimming pool facilities at its Woodside Leisure Complex;
(c) the risk to Three Rivers residents if the proposed £24M cost of Watford BC's programme of developing Woodside and Central Baths rises in the same proportion as those on William Penn.
In the knowledge that a Value for Money assessment has already been carried out for TRDC, the Council now calls upon Watford Borough Council to carry out an independent assessment of their Capital and Revenue costs before implementing this strategy, in order to reassure residents of both Councils as to the viability of the schemes.
11. COUNCIL CONSTITUTION - AMENDMENT IN RESPECT OF APPROVING THE STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS
This report proposes amendments to the Council's Constitution to clarify the responsibility for approving the Statement of Accounts. (Attached as appendix 1)
Terms of Reference - Approving Statement of Accounts (doc)
12. REPORTS OF MEETINGS
With the exception of the Executive Committee recommendations to Council, the following reports are submitted for information only: -
Executive Committee: 6 March 2006
Executive Committee: 3 April 2006
Housing and Environment Policy Panel: 28 February 2006
Housing and Environment Policy Panel: 28 March 2006
Leisure and Community Policy Panel: 22 February 2006
Leisure and Community Policy Panel: 21 March 2006
Public Services and Health Policy Panel: 23 February 2006
Resources Policy Panel: 2 March 2006
Resources Policy Panel: 30 March 2006
Standards Committee: 16 February 2006
Council Tax Setting Committee: 27 February 2006
Development Control Committee: 9 February 2006
Development Control Committee: 9 March 2006
Scrutiny Panel: 27 February 2006
Scrutiny Panel: 27 March 2006
Steven Halls
Chief Executive
3 April 2006
Three Rivers House
Northway
Rickmansworth
Herts WD3 1RL
NOTE AS TO PRAYERS: Ellen Davies will read Prayers at 7.25pm. Members who are not already in their places are requested to refrain from entering the Chamber during the reading of prayers. Sufficient time will be allowed for Members to do so after the close of prayers in order that the business of the meeting may begin at 7.30pm.