No apologies were received.

There were no disclosures of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 September 2017 to be submitted and signed.

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 September 2017 were submitted and signed.

The Cabinet may wish to consider whether there are any items on which there is general agreement which could be considered now, to enable discussion to focus on those items where the Cabinet sees a need for further debate.

Councillor Bell spoke on behalf of the Labour Group.

The Mayor made some changes to the order of items on the agenda.

A report of the Planning Policy Section Head to approve the Supplementary Planning Document-Commuted Sums for the Provision of Affordable Housing.

Cabinet received a report from the Planning Policy Section Head.  Councillor Sharpe introduced the report and explained the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) would become part of planning policy.  It would enable the council to provide better quality affordable housing to meet the needs of families.  The essence of the current policy was to insist on 35% affordable housing in a development.   This was compromised by the government’s insistence on viability, therefore, if developers could demonstrate that 35% was not viable then developments could go ahead with fewer affordable units.  The mechanism for delivering affordable housing was relatively recent and the council needed to ensure the policy evolved to meet the housing need.  Not all development schemes provided the accommodation needed to house people on the register. 

Councillor Sharpe referred to the recent application at Development Management Committee on Clarendon Road which would have offered studio flats when the need was for affordable small family units.  The SPD provided a way forward for the council to negotiate with developers to be able to provide affordable homes.  The new partnership with Watford Community Housing did enable the council to deliver the affordable homes.  A formal consultation process had been carried out on the document and the responses were set out in the report - Councillor Sharpe thanked those who had taken part.  At a time when government planning rules were compromising the council’s ability to deliver affordable homes through the planning process, this policy would help to counter this.

The Deputy Managing Director emphasised that the SPD was an important tool to help with delivery of affordable housing.  The criteria of 35% affordable developments still remained; the commuted sum was for exceptions.  The sums received could be used with a partner such as Hart Homes to go alongside a grant.  The commuted sums would be another addition to achieving the housing the council needed.

Councillor Bell commented that the SPD could mean more two bed family units which were flats or houses.  He referred to policy HS3 Affordable Housing of the Local Plan Core Strategy (2013) which would still remain and the other changes should go around this in acceptable circumstances.

The Mayor pointed out that provision of affordable housing had changed and associations such as Watford Community Housing had to build properties for full market rent in order to subsidise affordable and social housing.

Councillor Johnson commented that the commuted sums helped the authority to be flexible and to make the best of the chances available.  The council should ensure that it pushed for the fullest amount of the commutable sum in order to have money available to reinvest.

Cabinet thanked the planning policy team.

RESOLVED –

1.        That Cabinet approves the Supplementary Planning Document-Commuted Sums for the Provision of Affordable Housing.

2.        That Cabinet agrees that minor changes ahead of publication can be agreed by the Deputy Managing Director in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning.

Report of Head of Democracy and Governance seeking approval of the Cabinet for the Council to acquire compulsorily, by means of a compulsory purchase order (CPO), properties, existing rights and interests where agreement cannot be reached in order to implement the Central Meriden redevelopment.

Cabinet received a report of the Head of Democracy and Governance.  The Legal and Democratic Section Head explained that the report related to Central Meriden redevelopment proposals.  The council had been requested by Watford Community Housing (WCH) to promote a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for properties, rights and interests in land in Central Meriden in order to progress redevelopment of the area.  WCH had agreed to enter into an indemnity agreement with the council to cover the costs of the council promoting the CPO and payment of compensation.

The Legal and Democratic Section Head outlined the key points of the proposed development which would be to demolish the central shopping parade to enable the site to be redeveloped.  This would provide 133 new homes, a new shopping parade and upgraded infrastructure.  In order for the project to go ahead smoothly, a CPO would be needed to cover the relevant area to ensure that rights to properties could be obtained.  WCH were trying to get agreement to deal with interests in the land, however, in the event that agreement could not be reached then they could use the CPO.  The scheme was approved by Development Management Committee in 2015 and the report was attached as appendix E.  WCH had undertaken a tender process for the developer and expected to appoint a contractor by the end of December.  With regards to Human Rights Act considerations as set out in paragraph 16 of the report; human rights had been considered and although interference would take place as a result of the CPO, the scheme sought to improve economic, environmental and social well-being.  It was considered that the CPO was necessary and proportionate.  An equalities impact assessment had been undertaken. 

In response to a question from Councillor Hastrick, the Mayor and Managing Director explained that the delegation requested in the recommendations to the Head of Property and Regeneration was for a high level of technical detail as the CPO had to be very precise and it would be burdensome to keep returning changes to the Portfolio Holder.

In response to a question from Councillor Bell, the Mayor explained that the CPO was a technical legal process; the WCH was dealing with individual people and their properties.  The CPO was there to ensure that people would not hold up a development.  Councillors would be working to assist individuals with WCH.

RESOLVED –

1.     To make all necessary Compulsory Purchase Order(s) to acquire compulsorily all of the properties shown outlined red on the plans attached at Appendix A entitled Watford Borough Council (properties at Central Meriden, Watford) Compulsory Purchase Order Plans 1 to 4, all rights and interests affecting the properties in order to enable the implementation of the Central Meriden redevelopment.

2.  To delegate totheHead of Property and Regeneration:

1.1  toagreethewordingoftheCompulsoryPur  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

Report of Head of Service Transformation and Head of Community and Environmental Services.  The Commercial Strategy sets out how the Council, being innovative, bold and entrepreneurial, will continually challenge itself to improve performance, reduce costs and generate income.

This item was discussed jointly with the minute number 37.           

Cabinet received a report of the Head of Community and Environmental Services and the Head of Service Transformation.

Councillor Watkin set out the context that there were massive financial challenges facing the council.  The commercial strategy and Watford 2020 were there to see if the council could be smarter and more business-like in the way in which it operated.  The aim was to increase revenue and reduce costs in the context of what that would mean for residents.  There would be review and assessment then determination as to whether the council was operating effectively and were fees and charges reflecting the service.  Any commercial suggestions may be passed to Watford Commercial Services Ltd if appropriate and if they were likely to generate a financial return.  The council had already been trading and the commercial strategy was pulling this together into a cohesive document.  Watford 2020 was the underpinning activity to enable the council to identify and represent what the council would have to look to be in the future.  There was a process to look at every department to see what could be done smarter and better.  The work was well under way, and it was expected there would be more specific information in 2018.

The Mayor emphasised that it should not be seen as just a cost cutting exercise, it was about doing business better and it was important that members were on board, particularly when it came to implementation. Councillor Watkin pointed out that there was also an underpinning human resources strategy to ensure the council had the right people in place with the right skills.

The Head of Service Transformation explained that the Watford 2020 report set out the vision and design principles for the current work.  There would be a report back to Cabinet in March to show the emerging findings.  The commercial strategy was the first of three supporting strategies which underpinned the current work, the ICT and people strategies would be coming to future Cabinet meetings.

In response to a question from Councillor Bell, the Head of Service Transformation explained that the discovery work was being carried out currently with the findings being reported to Cabinet in March 2018, this would include the first proposals on the opportunities available.

The Managing Director highlighted how important both strategies were and how they would underpin the business going forward.  In signing off Watford 2020 including the design principles this would influence the look of services and the corporate plan.  The commercial strategy presented an overview and there would be specific progress by the end of the financial year.  The commercial strategy would also inform budget setting and the policies would drive recommendations going forward.

RESOLVED –

1.        That the Commercial Strategy, attached at Appendix A, subject to any amendments at Cabinet, is approved for adoption by the Council.

2.        That any future minor amendments are delegated to the Head of Community & Environmental Services or the Head  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

Report of the Head of Service Transformation to approve the proposed Watford 2020 Vision and Design Principles

Cabinet received a report of the Head of Service Transformation, the discussion was included as part of the previous item.

            RESOLVED –

1.        That the Cabinet approve the proposed Watford 2020 Vision and Design Principles

2.        The regular highlight reports are taken to Overview and Scrutiny for the duration of the Programme.

The Chair to move: that, under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during consideration of the item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Section 100(1) of the Act for the reasons stated below in terms of Schedule 12A.

Note: if approved, the Chair will ask members of the press and public to leave the meeting at this point.

RESOLVED –

That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during consideration of the item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Section 100(1) Schedule 12A of the Act for the reasons stated in the reports.

Report of the Director of Finance

This report is considered Part B in accordance with Paragraph 3, Part 1, Schedule 12A as it contains information relating to the financial and business affairs of the Council.

Cabinet received a report of the Shared Director of Finance.  The Shared Director of Finance introduced the report and responded to questions from Cabinet members.

            RESOLVED –

            That Cabinet agrees the recommendations.