Agenda

To receive any apologies for absence.

To confirm, as a correct record, the minutes of the Policy and Resources Committee meeting held on 29 January 2024.

Items of other business notified under Council Procedure Rule 30 to be announced, together with the special circumstances that justify their consideration as a matter of urgency. The Chair to rule on the admission of such items.

To receive any declarations of interest.

To consider a report of the Senior Planning Policy Officer recommending that the Policy & Resources Committee adopt the Local Development Scheme as set out in Appendix 2.

To consider a report of the Senior Planning Policy Officer recommending that Members note the contents of the report, that the Secretary of State has issued an amended Article 4 Direction, which comes into force following the serving of the notice on 29 March 2024.

To consider a report of the Data Protection and Resilience Manager recommending that the Policy and Resources Committee agree the revised Strategic Risk Register at Appendix A.

To consider a report by the Finance Business Partner, recommending that the Policy and Resources Committee recommend to Council to:

·       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.

·       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.

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

·       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 consider a request to use S106 and UK Shared Prosperity (UKSPF) funding to support the expansion and renovation of the Woodlands café into the adjacent building formerly used as the Leavesden Cycle Hub.

To consider a report by the Head of Regulatory Services, recommending that it is agreed that:

i) The Environmental Health (commercial) service is continued to be delegated to Watford Borough Council with effect from 1 May 2025 for a period of 5 years at an initial service cost of £198k subject to an annual increase in line with % increase in pay rises

ii) All further work to complete this extension to the existing SLA is delegated   to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Lead Member for Resources

To consider a report by the Strategic Housing Manager recommending that the Policy and Resources Committee approve the updated Private Rented Sector Offer Policy.

To consider the proposals relating to the acquisition of residential units and the settlement of ground rent obligations.

All Appendices are in Part II.

The report seeks approval to award a contract for Communications and Design Professional Services

To consider a draft version of the Committee’s Work Programme and make any comments on the Work Programme before it is updated.

If the Committee wishes to consider any item in private, it will be appropriate for a resolution to be passed in the following terms:-

“that under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined under Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act. It has been decided by the Council that in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.”

(Note: If other confidential business is approved under item 3, it will also be necessary to specify the class of exempt or confidential information in the additional items.)