Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Town Hall Watford

Contact: Sandra Hancock  Email: democraticservices@watford.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

32.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Bell.

33.

Disclosure of interests (if any)

Minutes:

There were no disclosures of interest.

34.

Minutes of previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 October 2019 to be submitted and signed.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 October 2019 were submitted and signed.

35.

Conduct of meeting

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.

Minutes:

The Mayor advised that he would move the Cassiobury Footpath report to the beginning of the main items, as residents were present.

36.

Cassiobury Footpath 30 pdf icon PDF 530 KB

Report of the Group Head of Corporate Strategy and Communications

 

This report sets out the details of improving the cycle routes within Cassiobury Park, in particular Footpath 30.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report of the Group Head of Corporate Strategy and Communications, which included details of the improvements for Cassiobury Footpath 30, the options for consideration and results of the stakeholder engagement.

 

Councillor Williams introduced the report.  It was noted that there was broad support for the scheme but concerns had also been raised by the Friends of Cassiobury Park, particularly in relation to the widening of the path.  It was proposed that a ‘cycling protocol’ or code of practice would be drawn up and a ‘share with care’ approach taken to Footpath 30.  Further discussions would take place with Friends of Cassiobury Park to discuss their concerns.  Councillor Williams proposed that recommendation 3.3 was amended to include reference to the discussions with Friends of Cassiobury Park. 

 

Following Councillor Sharpe’s comments, the Mayor invited Mr Peter Jenkins, a representative from Friends of Cassiobury Park, to speak to Cabinet.

 

Mr Jenkins stated that he appreciated the council was trying to regularise cycling in the park.  Cycling had been disallowed in the park except on a few of the paths.  Some people wanted this to continue.  Generally he was in favour of mixed use paths and he regularly walked or cycled through the park.  He congratulated the Group Head of Corporate Strategy and Communications on the engagement carried out on the proposals.

 

Mr Jenkins advised that there were some reservations about making the main path a cycling route and did not want it to become part of the national cycle network and turned into a ‘cycling highway’.  Most cyclists tended to keep to the edge of shared paths.  Feedback from users was that they did not want the path widened and that the current width was sufficient.  He welcomed the suggested code of practice.  He was still concerned about the pinch points along the route and would welcome some form of control.

 

The Mayor thanked Mr Jenkins.  He added that at the cycling forum meetings the cyclists had been concerned about creating a hierarchy of users.  All users should be considerate of others and they had accepted the shared space.

 

The Managing Director suggested that following the further discussions the final outcome should be delegated to the Mayor.  This was agreed.

 

RESOLVED –

 

1.      that the engagement feedback having been considered, the concerns raised as well as the broad support for the proposals, be noted.

2.      that Option 4: Resurface and widen Footpath 30 with an asphalt surfacing solution be approved subject to further consultation with regard to the widening of Footpath 30.

 

3.      that permissive rights be granted for cyclists to use Footpath 30.

 

4.      that the path be made a non-segregated, shared surface, with the promotion of considerate use by all users (supported by better signage and information within the park).

 

5.      that the procurement of contractors to undertake detailed design and build of the scheme be approved.

 

6.      that an important element of the improvements will include better signage on the path and an information campaign on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

37.

Statement of Community Involvement pdf icon PDF 376 KB

Report of the Planning Policy Officer

 

This report outlines the issues, benefits and implications of adopting the Statement of Community Involvement.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report of the Planning Policy Officer setting out the requirement for the local authority to prepare and maintain a Statement of Community Involvement.  It outlined the issues, benefits and implications of adopting the Statement of Community Involvement.

 

Councillor Sharpe introduced the report and highlighted key elements contained in it.  It showed the council’s commitment to consult local people, which had been highlighted in the previous report.

 

The Mayor commented that the council went above and beyond the legal requirements when consulting the local community.

 

It was noted that the list of consultees included on the consultation statement were those organisations who were part of the planning policy consultation group.  If members were aware of additional groups to add to the list they could forward details to the Planning Policy Officer.

 

RESOLVED –

           

1.      that the Statement of Community Involvement, to supersede the 2017 version of the document, be adopted.

 

2.      that the Group Head of Place Shaping, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Development, be delegated the authority to make any minor changes to the document which may be required in the future.

38.

Woodside Masterplan Update pdf icon PDF 401 KB

Report of the Head of Parks, Open Spaces and Projects

 

The report seeks approval to advance the project.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report of the Head of Parks, Open Spaces and Projects, which sought approval for a phased approach in advancing the project and appointing a design team for Phase 1. 

 

Councillor Williams introduced the report.  He commented on the good work carried out by the cricket and boxing clubs.  Both clubs had been consulted on the plans and officers had tried to incorporate as many of their wishes as possible.

 

Following comments from the Mayor and Councillor Collett, the Group Head of Community and Environmental Services and Project Manager responded.  It was noted that the focus would now be on the delivery of Phase 1, which was estimated to be completed by early 2022.  It was confirmed that a stakeholder group would be created during the development phase.

 

RESOLVED –

 

1.      that the contents of the Cabinet report, specifically the phased approach to executing the programme be noted.

 

2.      that the masterplan be approved.

 

3.      that the next stages and moving to the appointment of a design team for Phase 1 be approved.

39.

Notification of Exemption to Contract Procedure Rules Re: Service Desk and Network Services contracts pdf icon PDF 365 KB

Report of Group Head of Transformation

 

This report notifies Cabinet of the Managing Director’s approval to an exemption to the Contract Procedure Rules relating to a one year extension of the ICT Service Desk and Network Services contracts.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report of the Group Head of Transformation which set out an exemption to the Contract Procedure Rules that had been approved by the Managing Director.

 

Councillor Watkin introduced the report.  He confirmed that the contracts were below the Public Procurement Regulations threshold.  Following a question from the Head of Legal, the Group Head of Transformation confirmed that there were two separate contracts, one for the service desk and out of hours and the second for the network services.

 

RESOLVED –

 

that Cabinet notes the exemption has been given.

40.

Exclusion of press & public

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.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

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 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 report

41.

Print and Post Contracts Award

Report of the Group Head of Transformation

 

This report is considered Part B in accordance with Paragraph 2 of Part 1 Schedule 12A as it contains information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report of the Group Head of Transformation, who responded to questions.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.      that the appointment of the following be approved –

 

1.      CfH Docmail Ltd to deliver the Outbound Mail contract for the council.

 

2.      Corporate Document Services Ltd to deliver the General and Specialist Printing contract for the council.

 

3.      Inbound mail processing to continue to be delivered as an in-house function.

 

2.      that the restructure of the Support Services (Print and Post) team be approved.

 

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