Agenda and draft minutes

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 4^th & 25^th March 2025 (previously circulated).

The minutes of the meetings held on the 4^th and 25^th March 2025 were approved as a correct record.

To receive apologies for absence, if any.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Thusu, Jones, Boulton and Birleson.

The Mayor will receive petitions (limited to the first three petitions presented).

No petitions were received.

A period of thirty minutes will be made available for questions to be put by Members of the public to Members of the Cabinet on matters for which the Council has a responsibility or which affect the Borough.

The following questions and answers was received at Full Council:

1.     Question:

“How can it be reasonable that an exception was made for Greenfields, when Ashcombe's situation is at least as bad? Greenfields has unhindered footways to all properties, yet the footways in Ashcombe service just four of the eighteen properties, meaning access to the remaining 14 properties, is only possible by using the road, whether that be forable-bodied pedestrians, parents with pushchairs or residents in wheelchairs.?"

Answer:

“The exemption was based on different style layouts to the roads in question. In Greenfield, the road is bounded by grass with the footway set back. While verge parking in Greenfield is likely to lead to damage to the grass areas, it is unlikely to lead to footway being blocked. This is not the case in Ashcombe. While the pavement bounds directly to the road and a lack of the VFPO will likely lead to the footway being blocked, this will impact any pedestrian who wishes to use the footway.”

2.     Question:

“The blocks of flats on Haymeads and Harwood Hill were initially designated for elderly residents, so no designated parking was provided. After being re-zoned to include both council and private residents, no additional parking was created to accommodate the change. This has led to significant parking issues in our area. With the prohibition of parking on verges or footpaths reducing available spaces, will the council be creating more suitable parking spaces in the area? If this is not the case, what the reasons are for not doing so?”

Answer:

Within Haymead the most verging footway space directly adjacent to the highway forms part of the adopted highway which does not fall under control of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. For the grass verges and pavement areas which form part of the adopted highway it would be for Hertfordshire County Council to consider any extension of the public highway to create additional parking space. Considering any relevant local transport plan policies they have as well as any relevant planning conditions and, of course, budgetary constraints. Two plots of Borough Council owned communal housing land in Haymeads close to the flats have been identified and are being assessed by Borough Council to ascertain if it is viable to convert into parking spaces to increase capacity primarily for tenants.

3.     Question:

“As was always going to be the case the introduction of parking restrictions in Haymeads is already causing issues with no road parking available after 5pm. As mentioned before, this is causing anxiety and stress for neighbours something which the council seem to want to ignore. Who wants to be driving home from work or visiting elsewhere worrying if they are going to be able to park when they get there?

I’d like to ask if anybody, other than Tony Kingsbury, have taken the time to visit Haymeads and looked at the ratio of spaces to properties and looked at what might be able to be done to increase the amount of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

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

Councillors Kingsbury and Zukowskyj declared interests as Hertfordshire County Councillors.

Councillors Watson, Bardet, Crofton, Rowse and Bonfante declared interests as Parish Councillors.

No other declarations of interest were received.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor, Leader of the Council, Member of the Cabinet or the Head of Paid Service.

The Mayor made the following announcement:

“Just to recap, I would like to thank everyone who attended my dinner and dance to raise money for Hertfordshire Young Homeless. Music was provided by Jive Swing and it was a fantastic evening. We made a big contribution towards the amount I'm planning to end up with at the end of the year. So thank you very much for being supportive of my charity.

I am very pleased to confirm that I went to Wroclaw in Poland with my colleague Councillor Michal Siewniak to visit a town on the outskirts called Sycow and their Mayor called Lukasz who is a cousin of Cllr Siewniak.  This was all at our own expense.

We visited two schools and council offices, where we gave three seminars on Welwyn Hatfield.  We discovered that children learn foreign languages on primary school, starting with English, followed by German, Spanish, French and Italian.  It is so important for ours to do the same for the exchange of students by re establishing the Erasmus scheme one day.

We were also fortunate to be present on the celebrations of International Women's Day which they organised before Lent.  

On the Saturday evening with their Mayor we visited 6 village halls and delivered 500 tulips, a Polish tradition, to every woman in each hall, whilst their partners cooked for them and waited on them hand and foot.  It is a tradition we should adopt.  We had a truly fabulous time with great hospitality.  We hope in the future to provide an invitation to the Mayor of Sycow. Building relations with other cultures is so important'.

The video we are about to watch highlights how community is in the heart of Welwyn Hatfield and celebrates the achievements from all our nominees at the Community Awards.”

At this point in the meeting, members of Full Council watched a video.

The Leader of the Council made the following announcement:

“Well here we are, it's the last meeting of Full Council before the end of the municipal year and while the Mayor's duties are far from over I just wanted to say thank you to Frank on behalf of the Council for getting us through it from that Chair position. I'm sure it's not an easy task, but we appreciate it. And if I had an appropriate glass here, I'd offer a cheers. But I just want to say, well done.”

For a period of up to thirty minutes, a Member of the Council who has given prior notice in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15, may ask (a) the Mayor, (b) the Leader of the Council or (c) a Member of the Cabinet a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affects the Borough.

The questions received for this meeting are attached.  A Member asking a question may ask, without giving notice, one supplementary question of the Member to whom the first question was asked.  The supplementary question must arise directly out of the reply.

1.     Question to the Executive Member for Leisure and Community from Councillor Fitzsimon

I have been told that Mill Green Museum is closing during the week and will no longer be open during the summer holidays for families and local residents to enjoy.  Additionally, I understand that the holiday training project for young people to support them in preparing for the world of work and independence through experience of working in catering and hospitality at the Miller’s kitchen won’t be taking place.

Could the portfolio holder reassure members and residents that these rumours aren’t true and Mill Green Museum will continue to remain open for families and residents to enjoy?”

Answer

“The museum will continue to open on Fridays and Sundays and during the week for pre-arranged school visits during the Summer term. 

The holiday training project for young people will unfortunately be postponed until Summer 2026 as it had been relying on a lot of our resources to manage this operation in the past.  We are reviewing the way that we run the Summer activities programme and looking to engage with more volunteers to support our programme going forward.  We arel continuing to put on a range of activities for families and residents to enjoy.”

Supplementary comment

“That is good news. The Millers' Tea Room in particular has been a much loved and valuable resource for our borough and many families have enjoyed visits there to the museum as well so I'm sorry that the cooking experience is not going ahead but at least the museum and the mill tea room will be open.”

2.     Question to the Executive Member for Housing from Councillor Kingsbury

“The redevelopment of Queensway House has been due to take place for several years. Whilst I understand there may be issues with decanting leaseholders, this surely could have been resolved by now. Can the portfolio holder update us on the situation and when the things will move forward?”

Answer

“As I’m sure you are aware, site assembly for major regeneration projects is always a long and complex process and there were many parties with property interests at Queensway House, including residential long leaseholders, who have previously purchased under right to buy, commercial tenants and parties with protection of the Digital Economy Act 2017.  Many of these parties enjoy statutory protection and the Council has been required to reach agreements on a voluntary basis with them. 

The vast majority of occupiers have now been decanted, and the Council continue negotiations with the few remaining tenants.  Ultimately, if agreement is not reached, the Council may be required to seek a Compulsory Purchase Order.  However, this is an expensive and lengthy process and is a power of last resort, which should only be utilised when other options have failed.”

Supplementary question

“You mentioned the expense of these things. I wonder, you may not have it to hand at the moment, I wonder if you know what the cost of continuing with the building, obviously is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

To consider recommendations from the meetings of the Cabinet :

Full Council considered the following item following its recommendation from Cabinet:

To receive a recommendation from the Cabinet meeting which took place on the 4^th March 2025: Agenda for Cabinet on Tuesday 4th March 2025, 6.30 pm – Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council

The report for this agenda item can be found at agenda item 7 of the below link:

Public reports pack 18022025 1930 Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel.pdf

Full Council received a report of the Executive Director (Place) on the Community Infrastructure Levy Adoption.

Councillors Grewal and Platt moved, and seconded, the report.

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) was introduced by the Government in 2010 as a mechanism to fund the infrastructure required to deliver Local Plan growth strategies. 

The report summarised the preparation process that has been required to produce the CIL Charging Schedule and the stages of consultation and formal examination that have been involved. The report set out how formal adoption by the Council is now required in order to commence and implement CIL.

Once CIL is brought into effect, the Council will become a ‘CIL Charging Authority’ and ‘CIL Collecting Authority’. A report would be brought to members in the next 12 months to approve the governance arrangements.

RESOLVED:

(unanimous)

Full Council agreed:

a.    The Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule (Appendix A) is adopted with a target implementation date of 01 October 2025 

b.    The Instalment Policy (Appendix B) is adopted with a target implementation date of 01 October 2025.

c.     Delegate authority to the Assistant Director (Planning), in consultation with Executive Member, for any necessary further minor editorial changes to the Charging Schedule or Instalment Policy and a change to the implementation date if necessary.

d.    Governance options and arrangements for the priorities and spending of ‘Strategic CIL’ receipts be brought to CPPP and Cabinet in the next 12 months.

e.    The ‘Neigbourhood Proportion’ of CIL be set at 25% (uncapped) for all Parish and Town Councils regardless of whether a Neigbourhood Plan in in place.

To consider notices of motions submitted under Procedure Rule 16 in such order as the Mayor shall direct.  The motions received for this meeting are attached.

Councillors Skottowe, and Musk, moved and seconded the following motion:

“In light of the accelerated timetable for Local Government Reorganisation as set out by the Government which is likely to see the abolition of the Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and the introduction of directly elected Mayors and Unitary Authorities by May 2028, the Council recommends that a democratically elected Parish/Town council is established for Welwyn Garden City and a review of the other Parish or Town Councils in the Borough be conducted. This would allow greater democratic control over local assets and keep their governance truly local. The Council should aim to have this set up by 30^th April 2028 (or at least before this council is abolished).

This Council resolves to produce an initial report setting out how and when a Community Governance Review should be started, addressing the setting up of new Parish/Town councils where appropriate and detailing the process of asset transfer between the existing Borough Council and the new and existing Parish/Town Councils. This should be presented to cabinet as soon as possible thereafter during 2025.”

The following amendment to the motion was moved and seconded by Councillors Kingsbury and Mitchinson:

“In light of the accelerated timetable for Local Government Reorganisation as set out by the Government which is likely to see the abolition of the Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and the introduction of directly elected Mayors and Unitary Authorities by May 2028, theis Council recommends that a democratically elected Parish/Town council is established, if consultation shows resident support, for Welwyn Garden City and a review of the other Parish or Town Councils in the Borough be conducted, with full involvement of relevant clerks from existing Parish Councils, Town Councils and Parish Meetings.This would allow greater democratic control over local assets and keep their governance truly local. The Council should aim to have this set up by 30th April 2028 (or at least before this council is abolished).

This Council resolves to produce an initial report setting out how and when a Community Governance Review should be started, addressing the setting up of new Parish/Town councils where appropriate and detailing the process of asset transfer between the existing Borough Council and the new and existing Parish/Town Councils. This should be presented to cabinet as soon as possible thereafter during 2025. Should the Community Governance Review go ahead a cross-party panel will be set up to guide the process.”

RESOLVED:

(unanimous)

The amendment to the motion was CARRIED.

Full Council moved on to discuss the amended motion as set out below for approval:

In light of the accelerated timetable for Local Government Reorganisation as set out by the Government which is likely to see the abolition of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and the introduction of directly elected Mayors and Unitary Authorities by May 2028, is Council recommends that a democratically elected Parish/Town council is established, if consultation shows resident support, for Welwyn Garden City and a review of the other  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

To receive a report of the Monitoring Officer on the review of political proportionality.

Full Council received a report of the Monitoring Officer on political proportionality. The report was used to inform Members of a review of political proportionality in light of a vacancy that has arisen due to the resignation of Simon Goldwater. Simon Goldwater resigned as a Liberal Democrat Member on 7th February 2025.

Councillor Holloway and Councillor Quinton moved and seconded the report on political proportionality.

RESOLVED:

The Council noted the report.

To receive a report of the Assistant Director of Legal & Governance on the Members Allowance Scheme 2025/26-2028/29.

The Chief Executive introduced the report setting out that the Independent Remuneration Panel had met in January 2025, and had agreed to continue the current scheme as no significant changes to the role of councillors had taken place.

Councillors Holloway and Quinton moved and seconded the report.

Following the debate the item went to a vote.

RESOLVED:

(For: 36

Abstain: 3

Against: 3)

Full Council agreed the recommendation of the IRP and approves the continuation of the current Member Allowance scheme as set out in section 3 of the report, payable with effect from the beginning of the Municipal year 2025/26.

Report to follow

Full Council received a report of the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Economic development on the purchase of a property in Welwyn Hatfield. Members were reminded there was a Part 1 and Part 2 report for this item, and discussion in this item would only relate to the Part 1 element of the report.

Councillors Holloway and Quinton moved and seconded the report.

Councillor Gardner refused to participate in the vote.

RESOLVED:

(For: 41

Abstain: 0

Disagree: 0)

The recommendations below were agreed subject to the Part 2 discussions:

1.    That Full Council recognises the potential benefits of acquiring windfall sites in the town centres and instructs officers to investigate these when appropriate

2.    That Full Council agrees the budget amendment proposed in the Part II report with a view to officers further investigating potential purchases.  

3.    That Full Council grants delegated authority to the Executive Director (Place), in consultation with the Leader, Executive Member (Planning) and Executive Member (Finance) to agree a purchase for a figure no greater than the budget sum (as set out in the Part 2 report).

To consider any matters of urgency subject to the agreement of the Mayor in accordance with Procedure Rule 5.1(s).

There were no items of urgent business.

The Council 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 17 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.

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 Item 17 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.

Report to follow

Councillors Holloway and Councillors Quinton moved and seconded the Part 2 report on the purchase of a property in Welwyn Hatfield.

Following the Part 2 discussion, Full Council went to a vote on the item.

RESOLVED:

(unanimous)

Full Council approved the recommendations as set out in the Part 2 report.