Agenda, decisions and minutes

An apology for absence had been received from Councillor S. Boulton.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 June 2022 (previously circulated).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 9 June 2022 were approved as a correct record and noted by the Chairman.

Report of the Assistant Director (Legal and Governance) on the status of actions agreed at the last Cabinet meeting.

The status of actions agreed at the Cabinet meeting on 9 June 2022 and for decisions taken by Cabinet Members exercising their individual delegated powers between 30 May 2022 to 6 July 2022 in the report of the Assistant Director (Legal and Governance) was noted.

To note declarations of Members’ disclosable pecuniary interests, non-disclosable pecuniary interests and non-pecuniary interests in respect of items on the Agenda.

Councillors T.Kingsbury and F.Thomson each declared a non-pecuniary interest in items on the Agenda as Members of Hertfordshire County Council.

To consider the following item for decision in the current Forward Plan:-

The following item for decision in the current Forward Plan was considered:-

Report of the Executive Director (Finance and Transformation) on the review of the Community Bus Service.

(1)   For the reasons set out in the report, Cabinet approved that a consultation with current service users and residents commences to seek views on:

a)  The proposal to move from direct delivery by the Council into a partnership arrangement with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) to enable delivery of the lunch club community bus service to Jim McDonald Centre at The Hive.

b)  The proposal to cease direct delivery of the Shopper Hopper service, instead promoting the use of existing provision across the Borough using the Community Transport Herts signposting service.

c)  The proposal for the private hire bus service will not be resumed for the time being, and the future provision of the service was subject to the outcome of the consultation on core services.

(2)   Subject to approval of 2.1 of the report, that a further report is brought to Cabinet setting out the findings of the consultation, and subject to the outcome of the consultation, to seek approval of the recommended proposals as set out above.

(3)   Cabinet noted that any cost savings resulting from the service review will be used to reinvest in other Council services, including improving council tenant homes and support to community and voluntary organisations.

Report of the Executive Director (Finance and Transformation) on the review of the Community Bus Service.

(1)        The Decision Taken

RESOLVED:

(unanimous)

(1)  For the reasons set out in the report, Cabinet approved that a consultation with current service users and residents commences to seek views on:

a)  The proposal to move from direct delivery by the Council into a partnership arrangement with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) to enable delivery of the lunch club community bus service to Jim McDonald Centre at The Hive.

b)  The proposal to cease direct delivery of the Shopper Hopper service, instead promoting the use of existing provision across the Borough using the Community Transport Herts signposting service.

c)  The proposal for the private hire bus service will not be resumed for the time being, and the future provision of the service was subject to the outcome of the consultation on core services.

(2)  Subject to approval of 2.1 of the report, that a further report is brought to Cabinet setting out the findings of the consultation, and subject to the outcome of the consultation, to seek approval of the recommended proposals as set out above.

(3)  Cabinet noted that any cost savings resulting from the service review will be used to reinvest in other Council services, including improving council tenant homes and support to community and voluntary organisations.

(2)       Reasons for the Decision

The Council currently owned a fleet of twelve mini-buses and they were being used to provide community transport to the Jim McDonald day centre, as well as to various supermarkets under the Shopper Hopper service.  The total number of users registered for the service was 174, however this represented only a very small proportion of residents living in the Borough who were either over the age of 60 or had a limiting long-term illness or disability. 

The demand for the community bus service had reduced post COVID, and that the buses were now nearing the end of their working lives, and would need to be replaced soon.  This had prompted a review of the service to explore the options going forward.

It should be noted that there is no statutory duty for the Council to provide or enable a community transport service for its residents.  Indeed, there were other transport providers in the Borough. 

The Council had been subsidising the service at a cost of £184k a year before the pandemic. When compared to the number of registered users, this was a sizable financial subsidy, unsustainable in the long term.

There were three options explored: ceasing the service, retaining the service and working with a partner to provide the service.  The details were set out at 4.2 of the report, along with the recommended options for consultation with users and residents.

The report also set out how the Council will consult with service users and residents.  It was noted that no decision will be made until the Council considered the consultation responses and that a further report will be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15a

To consider a recommendation from the meeting of the Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel on 23 June 2022:-

A recommendation from the meeting of the Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel on 23 June 2022 was considered:-

Recommendation from the Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel on the 23 June 2022 on the Publication of the Northaw and Cuffley Neighbourhood Plan.

Cabinet agreed with the Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel recommendations of:

(1)   The Council, as Local Planning Authority (LPA), accepts the draft Northaw and Cuffley Neighbourhood Plan as validly made.

(2)   The draft Northaw and Cuffley Neighbourhood Plan go out for consultation for a period of six weeks.

(3)   An independent examiner be appointed and for the neighbourhood plan to be submitted for examination following public consultation.

Recommendation from the Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel on the 23 June 2022 on the Publication of the Northaw and Cuffley Neighbourhood Plan for public consultation and examination.

Northaw and Cuffley Parish Council had been preparing a Neighbourhood Plan for several years.  The Parish Council undertook consultation on their draft neighbourhood plan (regulation 14) between October and November 2021, as reported to Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel on 11 November 2021.

Following the consultation, the Parish Council prepared the submission version of their neighbourhood plan which they were requesting be published for public consultation.

The Borough Council had a statutory duty to assist communities in the preparation of neighbourhood development plans and orders and to take plans through a process of examination and referendum.

RESOLVED:

(unanimous)

Cabinet agreed with the Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel recommendations of:

(1)   The Council, as Local Planning Authority (LPA), accepts the draft Northaw and Cuffley Neighbourhood Plan as validly made.

(2)   The draft Northaw and Cuffley Neighbourhood Plan go out for consultation for a period of six weeks.

(3)   An independent examiner be appointed and for the neighbourhood plan to be submitted for examination following public consultation.

RESOLVED:

That under Section 100(A)(2) and (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be now excluded from the meeting for Agenda items 11 and 12 (Minute 18 refer) on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of confidential or exempt information as defined in Section 100A(3) and paragraph 3 (private financial or business information) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act (as amended). 

In resolving to exclude the public in respect of the exempt information, it was considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

To consider the following item of an exempt nature:-

The following item of an exempt nature for decision was considered:-

Exempt report of the Executive Director (Finance and Transformation) on the review of the Community Bus Service.

Cabinet noted the potential implications of the information in the exempt report when making its decision on the matter.

Exempt report of the Executive Director (Finance and Transformation) on the review of the Community Bus Service.

(1)       The Decision Taken

RESOLVED:

(unanimous)

Cabinet noted the potential implications of the information in the exempt report when making its decision on the matter.

(2)       Reasons for the Decision

As set out in minute 15.1 above.