Agenda and minutes

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 November 2016 (previously circulated).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 1 November 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

The status of actions agreed at the Cabinet meeting on 1 November 2016 in the report of the Director (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.

Councillor R.Trigg  declared  a  non-pecuniary interest in Agenda item 7 - Re-Integration of the Housing Service into Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council as a Council appointed representative on the Trust Board and took no part in the discussion of the item (Minute 102 refers).

Councillor A.Perkins declared a non-pecuniary interest in Agenda item 8(a) Award of Large Annual Grants as a Trustee on the Women’s Refuge Management Committee and took no part in the discussion of the item (Minute 103.1).

To consider the following items not on the current Forward Plan:-

The following item not in the current Forward Plan was considered:-

Report of the Executive Director seeking formal approval to proceed with the proposed integration project.

(Note:  The Chairman of the Social Overview and Scrutiny Committee has been given notice that it was impracticable to comply with the requirement that at least twenty eight days notice must be given of the intention to make a key decision on the Forward Plan accordance with Regulation 10 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 because it was urgent and could not reasonably be deferred for the reason specified).

The reason for this item is to be able to proceed with the proposed timetable for bringing the housing service into the Council and winding up the Housing Trust.

Report of the Executive Director seeking formal approval to proceed with the proposed integration project.

(1)             The Decision Taken

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the outcome of the tenant and leaseholder consultation exercise be noted.

(2)       That approval be given for Welwyn Hatfield Community Housing Trust to be wound-up.

(3)       That approval be given for the housing service as currently delivered by the Trust to be brought back into the Council and thereafter operate as a Council department.

(4)       That the proposed project timetable for bringing the housing service back into the Council and winding up the Trust be noted.

(5)       That delegated authority be given to the Executive Director, in consultation with the Chief Executive and Deputy Leader, to proceed with the various elements of the project, as outlined in the report, including the appointment of a registered insolvency practitioner and ensuring that legal requirements were in place as necessary to wind-up the Trust and transfer all assets and liabilities to the Council.

(6)       That the Cabinet agrees that future governance arrangements relating to the housing service might include tenant and independent representatives, in addition to Members and Officers, within a model to be explored further by the Executive Director and reported back to the Cabinet for consideration and approval in the New Year 2017.

(7)       That approval be given for the quorum of the Trust’s Management Board to be revised to a minimum of five Board Members.

(2)             Reasons for the Decision

In the recent consultation which ended on 11 November 2016, 106 tenants and leaseholders responded to the question of whether the housing service should be brought back into the Council.  Of these, 67% stated that they did not object, 12% of tenants did not agree that the service should be brought back in-house and the remainder stated that they did not mind either way.

Information was also provided on the key tasks involved in the re-integration process and reassurance that the measures were being taken in accordance with legal advice provided to the Council. 

(Note:  The Chairman of the Social Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been given notice that it was impracticable to comply with the requirement that at least twenty eight days notice must be given of the intention to make a key decision on the Forward Plan in accordance with Regulation 10 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 because it was urgent and could not reasonably be deferred for the reason specified).

The reason for this item was to be able to proceed with the proposed timetable for bringing the housing service into the Council and winding up the Housing Trust.

(Note:Councillor R.Trigg declared an interest in this item – Minute 101 refers).

Award of Large Annual Grants

Recommendations from the meeting of the Grants Board on 19 October 2016 on the award of larger annual grants to local organisations in 2016/17 were considered.

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations of the Grants Board to pay larger annual grants which were in line with the proposed grants budget for 2017/18 as follows be approved with final confirmation subject to adoption of the budget at the Special Council meeting on 6 February 2017:-

(Note:  Councillor H.Bromley declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item as a user of Age UK – Douglas Tilbe House and took no part in the discussion of the item).

Traffic Regulation Order – Resident Permit Parking and Restriction of Waiting – Various Roads, Welham Green

A recommendation from the meeting of the Cabinet Housing and Planning Panel on 3 November 2016 on a Traffic Regulation Order for resident permit parking and restriction of waiting in various roads, Welham Green was considered.

It was noted that the Panel had considered theresults oftheformal consultation,theinformalconsultationand therecommendedcourse ofactionforthe proposedresident parkingpermitschemeanddoubleyellowlines invariousroads inWelham Green.  Residents and businesses at 952 addresses had been consulted about the proposals to prevent drivers from parking too close to junctions and on resident only parking.  One objection letter from three residents living at the same address had been received.

RESOLVED:

That following consideration of the objection received, in particular the issues raised around equalities and diversity and all of the detailed issues, including the reasons for the proposal and any proposed mitigating actions, the Panel’s recommendation to proceed with the creation of a Traffic Regulation Order for the resident parking permit scheme and double yellow lines in various roads in Welham Green be approved.

The Cabinet appointed Councillor N.Chapman as a Member of the Panel in place of Councillor S.Johnston.

To appoint Councillor J.Boulton to serve as a Council representative on Finesse Leisure Trust in place of Councillor D.Bell.

The Cabinet appointed Councillor J.Boulton to serve as a Council representative on the Finesse Leisure Trust in place of Councillor D.Bell.

To appoint a Council representative to reserve on the BID Company Board as agreed at the Cabinet meeting on 6 September 2016 (Minute 61 refers).

The Cabinet appointed Councillor B.Sarson as Council representative to serve on the Welwyn Garden City Business Improvement District Company Board following consideration of this item at the Cabinet meeting on 6 September 2016 (Minute 61 refers).

The Cabinet is asked to resolve:

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 Item 12 and 13 (if any) on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of confidential or exempt information as defined in Section 100(A)(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 is considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

PART II

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 item 12 (Minute 105 refers) on the grounds that it 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 receive the exempt Minutes of the meeting of the Campus West Cabinet Panel on 22 September 2016 providing on update on the current operation of the Campus West Entertainment complex.

Exempt report of the meeting of the Campus West Cabinet Panel on 22 September 2016 providing an update on the current operation of the Campus West Entertainment complex.

RESOLVED:

That the exempt Minutes of the meeting of the Campus West Cabinet Panel held on 22 September  2016 reviewing the current operation of the Campus West Entertainment complex be noted.