Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Tony Humphreys, Keith Martin, Harry Davies, Ian Morris, Anne Winter, Rue Grewal, and Abbas Merali.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm as being a correct record the minutes of the ordinary meeting of the Full Council held on 9 July 2024 and the extraordinary meeting held on 9 September 2024, and for them to be signed by the Chair.

Council debated whether the minutes should record the names of the proposers and seconders of amendments. In response to questions, the Monitoring Officer confirmed that the minute writing standard did not require the names of movers and seconders of proposals to be recorded, only any vote and decision thereof, and that the standard stated that the minutes would not name individual members or name who raised what point. An amendment to the minutes was moved by Councillor Oliver Cooper and seconded by Councillor Narinder Sian such that the minutes of the July meeting would record the names of members who moved and seconded amendments. This was put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED: To confirm as being a correct record the minutes of the ordinary meeting of the Full Council held on 9 July 2024, subject to the names of movers and seconders being recorded, and the extraordinary meeting held on 9 September 2024, and for them to be signed by the Chair.

To receive an update on the Chair’s activities since the last meeting.

The Chair invited Council to join him in a short silence marking that a year had passed since hostilities began in Israel.

The Chair announced that he had attended the following events since the last ordinary meeting of Council:

• Three Rivers Music Society AGM on 2nd September 2024

• Three Rivers 50th anniversary event on 3rd October 2024

• Cheese and Wine Jazz Evening at Broxbourne on 4th October 2024

To consider any petitions received by the Council under Procedure Rule 18.

There were no petitions.

To receive any questions from the public submitted under Procedure Rule 15 and to note the answers provided.

There was one question from the public. The questioner did not attend the meeting. Council noted the question and written response

To consider any recommendations arising from meetings of the Policy and Resources Committee:

Budget Monitoring Report to 30 June 2024, meeting date 9 September 2024

Recommendation(s) to Council:

1.     That the revenue budget virements as set out in appendices 1 to 3 be approved and incorporated into the three-year medium-term financial plan.

2.     That the revenue budget supplementary estimates as set out in appendices 1 to 3 be approved and incorporated into the three-year medium-term financial plan.

3.     That the revenue variances to be managed as set out in appendices 1 to 3 be noted.

4.     That the capital variances as set out in appendices 1 to 3 be approved and incorporated into the three-year medium-term financial plan.

Councillor Jonathon Solomons moved, and Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst seconded, the recommendations as listed in the report, Budget Monitoring Report to 30 June 2024.

In debate, councillors discussed whether the budget was truly balanced, the possible impact on the council’s budget with forecast interest rate cuts, and the overall state of the council’s finances.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the revenue budget virements as set out in appendices 1 to 3 be approved and incorporated into the three-year medium-term financial plan.

2.     That the revenue budget supplementary estimates as set out in appendices 1 to 3 be approved and incorporated into the three-year medium-term financial plan.

3.     That the revenue variances to be managed as set out in appendices 1 to 3 be noted.

4.     That the capital variances as set out in appendices 1 to 3 be approved and incorporated into the three-year medium-term financial plan

To receive written reports from the Lead Members on activities falling within their remit since the last meeting of Full Council.

Council received the reports of the Leader of the Council and Lead Members.

The Leader of the Council provided a verbal update to his report, outlining the introduction of the Beryl Bike scheme, a visit to the Colne Valley viaduct, restoration of wetlands, and the 50th anniversary of Three Rivers District event.

Supplementary questions were asked to the Leader of the Council and Lead Members, and answers provided, which are summarised at Appendix 1 to these minutes.

To receive the answers to questions submitted to the Leader and Lead Members.

Council noted the written questions and responses published with the agenda. Supplementary questions were asked to the Leader of the Council and Lead Members, and answers provided, which are summarised at Appendix 2 to these minutes.

As the time limit for the meeting was reached during this item, the remaining items of business on the agenda were not reached.

To receive written reports from the Chairs of the Audit, Planning Licensing and Regulatory Committees and any question of those Chairs.

The item was not reached.

To consider any Motions submitted under Council Procedure 11.

The item was not reached.