Full Council - 22 October 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 22 October 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 9 July 2013 (pages A1 to A15)
13 07 09 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 Paul Gordon, seconded by Councillor Marie-Louise Nolan to move under Notice duly given as follows:

The South Oxhey Initiative is a regeneration plan for the heart of South Oxhey including shops, properties and community facilities.  This area contains approximately 70 shops and 120 residential properties. The plans were first discussed in 2011 with the Labour Group supporting the Council’s proposal to redevelop the area following lengthy consultation.

On the 30 September 2013 the South Oxhey Initiative Steering Committee was informed that the developer chosen, on professional advice, felt unable to continue due to a deficit in the finances.

Residents, shop keepers and employees living and working within the proposed redevelopment area now find, through no fault of their own, that their lives, livelihoods and futures remain in limbo and face prolonged uncertainty.

We call on Three Rivers District Council to examine the professional advice provided and the selection criteria used to prevent a repetition of this fiasco.

Secondly, we call on Three Rivers District Council to enter into thorough and detailed discussions with supermarket retailers.

Thirdly, we ask Three Rivers District Council to ensure that the department responsible for the day to day management of the South Oxhey Initiative is appropriately resourced to ensure officers are well supported to deliver this important project for the residents of South Oxhey.

Finally we ask Three Rivers District Council to reaffirm the commitment made during the South Oxhey Initiative Steering Committee on the 30September 2013 to provide assistance to residents living within the redevelopment area who are experiencing hardship as a result of the delays to the South Oxhey Initiative.

 

(2)  Councillor Ralph Sangster, seconded by Councillor Chris Hayward to move under Notice duly given as follows:

This Council must protect the rights of its residents and live up to the core aim of its constitution to: “Achieve open, accessible and effective government”.

In light of the Information Commissioner’s Decision Notice dated the 9 October 2013 in respect of a complaint by the Conservative Group, this Council should admit to its mistake in rejecting Freedom of Information Act requests relating to the William Penn mediation settlement, offer a full and unqualified apology to the residents of Three Rivers and publish the contents of the agreement in full.

9.      EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
To consider the recommendations of the Executive Committee at its meetings held on 2 September and 14 October 2013.

EX31/13 - Budget Monitoring – Period 4 (July 2013)
EX34/13 - The Local Plan: Site Allocations Local Development Document
EX43/13 - Consideration of Recommendation from the Resources Policy and Scrutiny Committee – Recording of Meetings
EX44/13 - Budget Monitoring – Month 5 (August 2013)

10.     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 Ty Harris to ask the Leader of the Council:

There was uncertainty before the deadline for written questions of what the minutes will record in answer to Councillor Sansom’s written question at Full Council on 9 July 2013, so the Leader needs to clarify:

“Were you aware that extra discretionary payments totalling £63,197 were being made to officers leaving the Council in 2012/13 and do you think this can be justified in a time of austerity?”

The Leader can use the time to prepare an answer for the above without again deferring the question to another member to answer and, (i) acknowledge the difference between redundancy payments and discretionary payments and, (ii) explain why minutes cannot be distributed within days of a meeting to address transparency and accuracy concerns, in this instance, still ongoing months later?

 

Councillor Ty Harris to ask the Leader of the Council:

Does the Leader accept, (i) the William Penn mismanagement, the £4.5 million overspend, and subject to opinion the disastrous mediation settlement all happened under her watchful eye and, (ii) as Chair of the South Oxhey Initiative Steering Committee, Chair of the Executive Committee and being Leader of the Council, leading every stage of the South Oxhey development, agree to accept responsibility and transparently disclose at Full Council all associated South Oxhey Initiative costs to date before the Council commences its third round of South Oxhey tenders?

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.

Councillor Ty Harris to ask the Cabinet Member for Environment:

Can the Cabinet Member confirm the taxpayer’s demolition cost of £30,000 for the Jet Pub in South Oxhey, will be recovered from a developer when one is found and negotiations are successful?

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 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 recommendations of the Regulatory Services Committee at its meeting held on 16 October 2013.

RG12/13 - Change to the Scheme of Delegation to Officers in relation to Covert Surveillance under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) as amended

RG13/13 - Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 and Fees

11.     HERTFORDSHIRE POLIC AND CRIME PANEL

To appoint a new representative to the Police and Crime Panel to replace Councillor Roger Seabourne.

12.     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 - 26 September 2013

Executive Committee - 2 September 2013

Executive Committee - 14 October 2013

Leisure & Community Safety Policy and Scrutiny Committee - 17 July 2013

Leisure & Community Safety Policy and Scrutiny Committee - 18 September 2013

Planning Committee - 18 July 2013

Planning Committee - 15 August 2013

Planning Committee - 19 September 2013

Public Services and Health Policy and Scrutiny Committee - 12 September 2013

Regulatory Services Committee - 16 October 2013

Resources Policy & Scrutiny Committee - 26 September 2013

Sustainable Environment Policy and Scrutiny Committee - 16 July 2013

Sustainable Environment Policy and Scrutiny Committee - 17 September 2013

 Chief Executive
14 October 2013

Three Rivers House
Northway
Rickmansworth
Herts WD3 1RL

NOTE  AS  TO  PRAYERS:  There will be no prayers read at 7.25pm but the Chairman will ask Members to take a few minutes of quiet reflection.  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.