Full Council - 15 December 2009
Penn Chamber, Three Rivers House15th December 2009
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 15 December 2009 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 20 October 2009 (pages A1 to A11).
3. CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
4. LEADER’S REPORT
5. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
To consider the recommendations of the Executive Committee at its meeting held on 30 November 2009
EX57/09 Budget Monitoring Report (Month 7)
EX64/09 Calendar of Meetings 2010/2011
EX65/09 Delegation to Officers
6. QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 16
The following questions have been received from The Rickmansworth and District Residents’ Association:
Members of Rickmansworth Residents’ Association have expressed their concern about both the very late completion of the swimming pool element of the William Penn Leisure Centre refurbishment and about the cost of that element. The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ann Shaw, in her capacity as Chairman of the Rickmansworth Area Forum, made three statements to the Forum in November:
It was still too early to announce an opening date for the swimming pool element of the William Penn Leisure Centre.
Three Rivers District Council is proposing to take legal action against the contractor and that legal action may take years rather than months to complete.
No details of the overspend on the William Penn swimming pool project can be declared because that information would weaken the Council’s case in the legal action that it is proposing.
Given that the additional capital spend involved could well approach £2 million and the cost of legal action taken to the high court could well be substantially in excess of £100,000 with no guarantee of success, please would the appropriate member of the Executive or Management Team explain:
How the Council proposes to set a legal budget for 2010/2011, accurately reflecting the Council’s true financial position given the actual capital and revenue spend on the swimming pool project and the potential capital and revenue liabilities to be incurred in completing the project and taking legal action, if additional spend incurred or liable to be incurred as a result of the contract quality failures and over-run is not in the public domain?
Given the sums involved and the likely timescale of legal action, under what legislation will the Council’s auditors be able to sign off the Council’s accounts for the current year if such large capital and revenue sums remain hidden?
The Portfolio Holder for Resources will reply.
7. PETITIONS UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 19
(None received.)
8. DISCUSSION TOPIC UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 17
(None received.)
9. MOTIONS UNDER PROCEDURE RULE 11
(1) Councillor Chris Hayward, seconded by Councillor David Sansom to move under Notice duly given as follows:
“This Council expresses its very deepest concern at the huge delays and substantial increased costs associated with the William Penn Leisure Centre capital project.
We believe that as a Council committed to open, transparent and accountable local government that Three Rivers Council Taxpayers should have been kept fully informed of the additional costs being incurred and that with good project management it should always be possible to publish a completion date.
We urge that the project be completed with due haste and that those accountable for the horrendous overspend and delays should be properly brought to account and appropriate claims made to reimburse Three Rivers Council Taxpayers for the appalling scenario associated with this project.”
(2) Councillor Chris Hayward, seconded by Councillor Barbara Lamb to move under Notice duly given:
“This Council welcomes Herts County Council's recognition and commitment to the provision of an additional secondary school capacity in Three Rivers in its recently published countywide document 'Meeting the Rising Demand for School Places'.
The Conservative Group calls upon this Council to actively source an appropriate site with the utmost urgency.”
(3) Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, seconded by Councillor Sara Bedford to move under Notice duly given:
“This Council notes the recent comments of Conservative shadow minister for Health and MP for Hemel Hempstead Mike Penning, that a future Conservative government would halt work on the new Watford General Hospital project and instead carry out a further review that would 'start from scratch'.
Council further notes the failure of the Conservatives' Shadow Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley to promise a direct government funding boost for the project, or say without qualification that the project would go ahead.
Council also notes the comments of Mr Lansley that the Conservatives' ‘commitment [to the NHS] will still mean a significantly reduced rate of expenditure'.
This Council deplores this threat to Watford Hospital posed by the Conservative Party, as expressed by its official health spokesmen.
This Council believes that the health campus project is essential to the future provision of acute health services across West Hertfordshire and that it would be a disaster for local residents if work on the project was to be delayed or abandoned.”
10. REPORTS AND QUESTIONS TO THE LEADER, CABINET AND CHAIRMEN OF THE POLICY AND SCRUTINY, AUDIT, DEVELOPMENT CONTROL, LICENSING, SHARED SERVICES AND REGULATORY SERVICES COMMITTEES
SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT
Reports from the Cabinet Member for Environment (Cllr Martin Trevett), Cabinet Member for Sustainability (Cllr Alison Scarth) and the Chairman of the Sustainable Environment Policy and Scrutiny Committee (Cllr Peter Wakeling) and questions.
LEISURE AND COMMUNITY SAFETY
Reports from the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Community (Cllr Chris Whately-Smith), 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.
Report from and questions to the Chairman of the Audit Committee (Cllr Peter Ray).
DEVELOPMENT CONTROL COMMITTEE
Report from and questions to the Chairman of the Development Control Committee (Cllr Geoffrey Dunne).
LICENSING
Report from and questions to the Chairman of the Licensing Committee (Cllr Pam Hames).
SHARED SERVICES
Report from and questions to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Shared Services Committee (Cllr Brian White).
REGULATORY SERVICES
Report from and questions to the Chairman of the Regulatory Services Committee (Cllr Sara Bedford).
11. COUNCIL TAX BASE FINANCIAL YEAR 2010/2011
This report details the Authority’s council tax base for 2010/2011 which must be approved between 1 December 2009 and 31 January 2010 (pages B1 to B14).
To consider the recommendations of the Licensing Committee at its meeting on 9 December 2009.
LC10/09 Gambling Act 2005 – Review of Statement of Licensing Policy
13. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE REGULATORY SERVICES COMMITTEE
To consider the recommendations of the Regulatory Services Committee at its meeting on 9 December 2009.
RG28/09 Refusal of Private Hire or Hackney Carriage Drivers’ Applications.
14. STANDARDS COMMITTEE REPORT TO COUNCIL
To receive the Standards Committee report (pages C1 to C4).
15. 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:-
Audit Committee |
|
|
|
Development Control Committee |
|
|
|
Development Control Committee |
|
|
|
Executive Committee |
|
|
|
Extraordinary Joint Shared Services Committee |
|
|
|
Leisure and Community Safety Policy and Scrutiny Committee |
|
|
|
Licensing Committee |
|
|
|
Public Services and Health Policy and Scrutiny Committee |
|
|
|
Regulatory Services Committee |
|
|
|
Resources Policy and Scrutiny Committee |
|
|
|
Sustainable Environment Policy and Scrutiny Committee |
|
|
|
Standards Committee |
David Gardner
Director of Corporate Resources and Governance
7 December 2009
Three Rivers House
Northway
Rickmansworth
Herts WD3 1RL
NOTE AS TO PRAYERS, Councillor Paul Goggins 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.