Agenda

To note any apologies for absence.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 17 November 2025.

To receive any declarations of interest.

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.

That:

·       P and R Committee entering all contracts and/or grant agreements above £25,000.

·       P and R to delegate authority to the Associate Director of Corporate, Customer and Community for grant extensions of up to 6 months and amendments to grant agreements.

That:

·       The report is noted.

That:

·       The report is noted

That:

·       The Policy and Resources Committee notes that the Administration will publish its final recommendations on Financial Planning 2026/27 to 2028/29 five working days prior to the Council meeting on 24 February 2026 and present them at this meeting.

That:

·       The committee review, and if required amend the draft Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy for 2026-30.

·       The committee review, and if required amend the draft Equality Objectives for 2026-30.

·       The committee agrees to a public consultation on the draft Policy and Objectives.

·       That public access to the report be immediate

·       That public access to the decision be immediate.

That:

·         Committee to approve the progression of the proposed Council Plan 2026-2029 to Full Council on 24 February 2026 for adoption.

That:

·         Committee approve the launch of the SME Solar PV and Battery Grant, using £50,000 of existing climate change budgets across the financial years 25/26 and 26/27.

That the Policy & Resources Committee recommend Full Council;

·       Note the content of the report, updated policy and Strengthened Biodiversity Duty Report

·       Approve the updated Three Rivers Biodiversity Policy

·       Approve the reporting cycle of Biodiversity Duty to be every 5 years and for the Council Biodiversity Policy to be reviewed on the same timeline.

That:

·       Policy and Resources Committee approve a 22 kWp solar array and a 10.36kWh battery to Batchworth depot offices, requiring investment of £20,708 excluding VAT with a capital payback period of 5.5 years.

That:

·         Based on evidence at this time, additional licensing for HMOs is not progressed, however, this will be reviewed in 12 months’ time.

·         Based on evidence at this time, that an Article 4 direction is not progressed. However, Officers agree to keep this under review and if circumstances change, Officers will consider the position.

·         Resident input into HMO licence applications to be included as part of the forthcoming HMO Licensing Policy that will be presented to Committee later this year.

·         The address of any property subject to an application for a HMO licence to be added to the council’s HMO Register.

·         Ward Councillors, County Councillors and Parish Councillors (if applicable) are advised if a HMO licence application is received for their area.

·         Neighbours of a property that has applied for an HMO licence application will be notified by Officers upon receipt of that application. (pending approval of the council’s Data Protection and Resilience Manager)

That Members of the Policy & Resources Committee:

·         Approve and recommend to Full Council the Local Plan Regulation 19 Part 1: Policies document as set out in Appendix 1 for public consultation in accordance with the regulations and the Local Development Scheme

·         Grant delegated authority to the Head of Planning Policy & Conservation and the Director of Finance in consultation with the Lead Member for the Local Plan to make any subsequent changes that are required before the documents are published for consultation

·         Grant delegated authority to the Head of Planning Policy & Conservation and the Director of Finance in consultation with the Lead Member for the Local Plan to propose minor modifications to the Local Plan and submit the plan to the Planning Inspectorate for examination in public.

·         Agree significant proposed modifications to the Local Plan be agreed by Urgent Decision under the council’s constitution prior to submission to the Planning Inspectorate for examination in public.

To approve the work programme.

           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 3 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.)

That Members of the Policy & Resources Committee:

·         Approve and recommend to Full Council the Local Plan Regulation 19 Part 2: Site Allocations document as set out in Appendix 1 for public consultation in accordance with the regulations and the Local Development Scheme

·         Grant delegated authority to the Head of Planning Policy & Conservation and the Director of Finance in consultation with the Lead Member for the Local Plan to make any subsequent changes that are required before the documents are published for consultation

·         Grant delegated authority to the Head of Planning Policy & Conservation and the Director of Finance in consultation with the Lead Member for the Local Plan to propose minor modifications to the Local Plan and submit the plan to the Planning Inspectorate for examination in public.

·          Agree significant proposed modifications to the Local Plan be agreed by Urgent Decision under the council’s constitution prior to submission to the Planning Inspectorate for examination in public.