Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Joan King, Andrew Scarth, Chris Mitchell, Cheryl Stungo and Krutika Patel.

To receive any declarations of interest.

Councillors Stephen Giles-Medhurst, David Major, Aidan Bentley, Elinor Gazzard and Jon Tankard declared non-pecuniary interests in Agenda Item 6A (Abbots Langley Neighbourhood Development Plan) by virtue of being Members of Abbots Langley Parish Council.

Members had been advised that they were permitted to remain in the meeting, participate in the debate and vote on the item.

To agree a revised proportionality table following the formation of an Independent Group.

Council considered the supplementary report setting out the revised political proportionality arrangements following the formation of the Independent Group.

Councillor Giles-Medhurst moved the recommendation as set out in the report. The motion was seconded by Councillor Louise Price.

During the debate, members raised that strict proportionality would result in one seat being transferred from the Green Group to the Conservative Group. However, following discussions with the Green Group Leader, the Conservatieve Group would not object to the proposed arrangements as they support Green representation on the Audit Committee.

There being no further debate, the motion as put to the vote and declared CARRIED by the Chair, the voting being by General Assent.

RESOLVED:

That the revised political proportionality arrangements, as set out in the report be approved.

Report to follow.

Council considered the appointments to Committees for the 2026/27 Municipal Year following the revised political proportionality arrangements,

Councillor Giles-Medhurst moved the recommendations which were seconded by councillor Price.

Members were advised of a correction to the committee appointments schedule. Namely, that the Planning Committee membership should comprise nine members rather than eleven, in accordance with the decision taken at Annual Council.

There being no further discussion, the recommendations were put to the vote and declared CARRIED by the Chair, the voting being by General Assent.

RESOLVED:

Policy and Resources

Oliver Cooper, Chris Alley, Vicky Edwards, Andrea Fraser, Kavan Trivedi, Narinder Sian, Stephen Cox, Steve Drury, Stephen Giles-Medhust, Chris Lloyd, Paul Rainbow, Louise Price, Aidan Bentley, Raj Khiroya and a split seat between Mike Sims and Ian Morris (13)

Licensing Committee

Ciaran Reed, Anaika Chopra, Debbie Morris, Narinder Sian, Harry Davies, Raj Khiroya, Andrew Scarth and Ian Morris (9)

Climate Change and Leisure Committee

Andrea Fraser, Kerry Milliken, Kavan Trivedi, Chris Mitchell, Raj Khiroya, Chris Lloyd, Aidan Bentley, Jon Tankard and Mike Sims (9)

To appoint a member to West Herts Crematorium on a 3 year appointment.

Council considered the appointment of a representative to the West Herts Crematorium Joint Committee.

Councillor Giles-Medhurst nominated Councillor David Major for the appointment and this was seconded by Councillor Price.

With no further nominations, the nomination was put to the vote and declared CARRIED by the Chair, the voting being by General Assent.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor David Major be appointed as the Council’s representative on the West Herts Crematorium Joint Committee for a three year term.

To consider the following item of urgent business which has been notified under Council Procedure Rule 30 and accepted by the Chair.

That:

·       Full Council acknowledges the results of the referendum where 82.7% voted YES to the question ‘Do you want Three Rivers District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Abbots Langley to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’; and

·       Full Council makes the Abbots Langley Neighbourhood Development Plan in accordance with Section 38A(4)(a) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

Councillor Giles-Medhurst introduced the report and moved both recommendations set out in the report. The motion was seconded by Councillor Lloyd.

Members paid tribute to the work of Abbots Langley resident Peter Warman for his work on the Neighbourhood Plan. Members welcomed the successful outcome of the referendum and noted that 82.7% of those voting had supported the plan. During discussion, Members recognized the significant amount of work undertaken over a number of years by the parish council, steering group members and local residents in preparing the plan and engaging with the local community throughout the process.

Members noted that the Neighbourhood Development Plan would become a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and would provide greater local influence over future development and infrastructure investment within the Parish.

Reference was also made to the extensive consultation undertaken during the preparation of the Plan and to the importance of ensuring that local communities were able to influence planning policies affecting their area. Members acknowledged that some confusion had arisen during the referendum period between the Neighbourhood Development Plan and the emerging Local Plan but agreed that the referendum result represented a clear endorsement of the Neighbourhood Development Plan.

On being put to the vote, the chair declared the motion CARRIED, the voting being by General Assent.

RESOLVED:

That:

The results of the referendum, where 82.7% voted “Yes” to the question “Do you want Three Rivers District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Abbots Langley to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”, be acknowledged; and

The Abbots Langley Neighbourhood Development Plan be made in accordance with Section 38(4)(a) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.