Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Stephen Cox and Stephen King, from Councillor Vicky Edwards for whom Councillor Christopher Alley attended as a substitute, and from Councillor Steve Drury for whom Councillor Kevin Raeburn attended as a substitute.

To confirm as being a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee, held on 15 July 2024.

RESOLVED: To confirm as being a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 15 July 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.

There was no urgent business.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

This report shows the expected financial position over the three year medium term based on the Council’s actual financial performance at the end of period 3 (30 June 2024) set against the latest budget.

Recommendation

To Council:

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.

The Director of Finance introduced the report. The recommendation(s) were moved by Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst and seconded by Councillor Andrew Scarth.

In response to questions, officers advised that all figures contained within the projections were ‘worst case’ figures to allow for prudent financial planning.

In response to questions, officers confirmed that positive variances were created from earned interest, that the council was cash positive, and that a tender had been undertaken for a new parking contract. Officers confirmed that forecasts were expected to be reasonably accurate come the year-end. The committee discussed assumptions around interest rates and previous decisions to invest council finances for long-term returns.

RESOLVED: to recommend to Council that:

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

For the past 10 years there have been several flooding related issues at Scotsbridge. This is in part due to the alignment of the channel of the River Chess as it approaches Scotsbridge playing fields.

As a result, in partnership with the Environment Agency (EA), Hertfordshire County Council, who are the Lead Flood Authority, is leading on a project to enhance the River Chess channel. The project aims to reduce the impact of flooding in the Scotsbridge area. Three Rivers District Council are acting as a stakeholder in the project as one of the main landowners affected by the recurring flooding incidents.

For the project to succeed Three Rivers District Council is being asked to consider the acquisition of land from the Royal Masonic Trust to facilitate the construction of a new bypass channel.

Recommendation

That Policy and Resources:

Supports progression of the project and agrees to accept the land transfer as outlined within Appendix B. Members are also asked to note the implications of doing so as outlined at point 2.11. Further, detailed heads of terms will be developed as the project progresses.

Agrees for a letter to be written to support the project and that the transfer of land ownership takes place only once the project is due to commence on the ground and not before and that the commuted sum is calculated once detailed designs have been agreed in order to calculate the required additional, ongoing, maintenance.

The Associate Director of Environment introduced the report. The recommendation(s) were moved by Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst and seconded by Councillor Chris Lloyd.

The committee noted that the request for support for the transfer was requested as the timeline for the proposed works required an agreement in principle, and that Hertfordshire County Council had commissioned the feasibility study which could be provided to members following the meeting, but which may not be in the public domain. The committee noted that the risks associated with agreeing a letter of support were low-to-none, and that broader questions about land ownership should be directed to the lead authority.

RESOLVED:

1.               To support progression of the project and agrees to accept the land transfer as outlined within Appendix B.

2.               To note the implications of doing so as outlined at point 2.11 and that further detailed heads of terms will be developed as the project progresses.

3.               To agree for a letter to be written to support the project and that the transfer of land ownership takes place only once the project is due to commence on the ground and not before and that the commuted sum is calculated once detailed designs have been agreed in order to calculate the required additional, ongoing maintenance.

To follow.

The Chair noted that the item had been withdrawn.

There was no urgent business.

           If the Committee wishes to consider the remaining 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 paragraph X of 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.)

The motion to exclude the press and public was not moved.