Approved as set out in the minutes for the meeting.

Council received a report of the Group Head of Democracy and Governance which sought Council approval to cancel all committees and sub-committees until such time as legislation is passed to allow virtual meetings.

Councillor Sharpe moved an amendment, which was seconded by Councillor Collett –

“Delete Items 3.2 and 3.3 replace with

3.2    That in relation to the functions normally exercised by the Development Management Committee these be delegated to the Group Head of Place / Head of Development Management / Development Management Team Leader (with preference given to the Group Head and Head) with the members of Development Management Committee with the requirement for their views to be provided via a virtual meeting before the officer formally takes the delegated decision having due regard to the views of members as shown by the outcome of the virtual meeting and that the normal rules of Development Management allowing one person in favour and one objector to speak be continued.

3.3    That in relation to any of the functions normally exercised by the Licensing Sub Committee that these be delegated to the Group Head of Community and Environmental Services / Head of Community Protection / Environmental Health Managers with members of the sub-committee being required to provide their views via a virtual meeting before the officer formally takes the delegated decision having due regard to the views of members as shown by the outcome of the virtual meeting. That applicants and those making representations be advised that only written submissions will be accepted.”

The Chairman asked that the proposals be reviewed and reversed when the current government restrictions were lifted.

On being put to Council the amendment was AGREED.

RESOLVED –

1.      that all meetings of council committees and sub-committees be cancelled until such time as legislation is put in place to allow meetings to be held virtually.

2.      that in relation to the functions normally exercised by the Development Management Committee these be delegated to the Group Head of Place / Head of Development Management / Development Management Team Leader (with preference given to the Group Head and Head) with the members of Development Management Committee with the requirement for their views to be provided via a virtual meeting before the officer formally takes the delegated decision having due regard to the views of members as shown by the outcome of the virtual meeting and that the normal rules of Development Management allowing one person in favour and one objector to speak be continued.

3.      that in relation to any of the functions normally exercised by the Licensing Sub Committee that these be delegated to the Group Head of Community and Environmental Services / Head of Community Protection / Environmental Health Managers with members of the sub-committee being required to provide their views via a virtual meeting before the officer formally takes the delegated decision having due regard to the views of members as shown by the outcome of the virtual meeting. That applicants and those making representations be advised that only written submissions will be accepted.

4.      that any working group be conducted virtually if possible.

Council received a report of the Group Head of Democracy and Governance, which sought approval to waive the requirement for councillors to attend a relevant meeting of the council for a period of six months from the date of their last attendance. This had been proposed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the likelihood that meetings may be cancelled or members were unable to attend due to personal circumstances.

RESOLVED –

1.      That council approves, in relation to each and every member of the council, as a reason for a failure to attend any meeting of the council, cabinet, committee or sub-committee (a relevant meeting), by any member of the council during the relevant period in the circumstances set out below, as a reason for non-attendance for the of Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972.

2.      The circumstances referred to in 1 above are that a member fails to attend a relevant meeting because the member:

         - has contracted or been infected by COVID-19

         - has tested positive for COVID- 19

         - is suspected of having or suspects that he/she has contracted or been infected by COVID-19

         - has concerns that they may contract or become infected with COVID-19

         - is in quarantine or self-isolating (whether or not on the instruction or advice of any public authority or medical professional) in relation to COVID-19

         - is unable to attend the relevant meeting because the meeting is cancelled or postponed for a reason relating to COVID-19

3.      The relevant period for the purposes of 1 and 2 above is the period from the passing of the resolution until the end of the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2021.       

Council received a report of the Group Head of Democracy and Governance which informed members about the recommendations made by the Committee for Standards in Public Life following its review of standards in local government.

RESOLVED –

1.      that the Committee on the Standards in Public Life’s recommendations set out below be adopted.

         Recommendation 3: Local authorities should review their code each year and regularly seek the views of the public, community organisations and neighbouring authorities – that the code be reviewed annually by the Monitoring Officer and Standards Committee.

         Recommendation 6: Local authorities should publish a clear and straightforward public interest test against which complaints should be filtered

         – that the procedure be updated to include a clear and straightforward public interest test against which complaints should be filtered.

         Recommendation 7: Local authorities should have access to at least two independent persons – that the council advertises for a second Independent Person.

         Recommendation 8: The Independent Person should be consulted as to whether to undertake a formal investigation into an allegation, and given the option to comment on any allegations that the responsible officer is minded to dismiss as being without merit, trivial or vexatious.       

         – that the Monitoring Officer seeks the view of the Independent Person when minded to dismiss any complaint as without merit, trivial or vexatious.

2.      that the Committee on the Standards in Public Life’s recommendation 2: Local authorities should provide in their codes for councillors to comply with formal standards investigations, and prohibit trivial or malicious allegations by councillors, not be adopted.

3.      that Council notes that the recommendations 1, 4, 5, 9, 10 and 15 of the Committee for Standards in Public Life’s review were already being followed and recommendations 12 and 13 were not applicable as there were no parish or town councils in the borough.

Council received a report of the Group Head of HR which set out the Council’s Pay Policy Statement for 2020.  The Localism Act 2011 required the council to publish its position on 1 April 2020. 

RESOLVED –

that the Council Pay Policy Statement 2020 be approved.

Council received a report of the Democratic Services Manager.  The Chairman moved the nominated councillors as set out in the report, which were seconded by Councillor Martins.

Council was advised that the current Chairman and Vice Chairman would continue until the next Annual Council.  As a significant number of councillors were not present, the voting would be carried out separately.  The Democratic Services Manager would email each councillor with details of the nominations and ask them to inform her of their vote.  The councillor with the most votes would become the Vice Chairman at the next Annual Council.  If there was a tie the Chairman would have the casting vote. 

RESOLVED –

that Councillors Allen-Williamson, Ezeifedi and Mauthoor be put forward to all members as Vice Chairman.  The result of the vote to be announced at Annual Council.

Council received a report from Cabinet held on 2 March 2020, which included the draft Watford Borough Council Corporate Plan for 2020.

RESOLVED –

that the Corporate Plan 2020 be approved.

The committee received the SIAS progress report, which provided an update on the service’s work on the audit plan for 2019/20 and on any outstanding recommendations. 

The Audit Manager highlighted aspects of the report.  He referred to the Hertfordshire Home Improvement Agency (HHIA) audit, which had been finalised.  However, the follow up audit had not yet been completed and therefore it was not possible for the committee to review it at the meeting.

The committee agreed that the final report for the follow up audit should be circulated as soon as it became available.  Members would then discuss it at the next meeting.

RESOLVED –

1.          that the Internal Audit Progress Report for the period to 28 February 2020 be noted.

2.          that the amendments to the Audit Plan as at 28 February 2020 be approved

3.          that the change to the implementation date for 5 recommendations (paragraph 2.5) for the reasons set out in Appendix C be agreed

4.          that the removal of implemented audit recommendations (Appendix C) be agreed

5.          that the status of High and Medium priority recommendations from the Hertfordshire Home Improvement Agency audit be noted.

6.          that the final report of the follow up audit for the Hertfordshire Home Improvement Agency be circulated to the committee as soon as it is available. 

7.      that the Hertfordshire Home Improvement Agency report be added to the next meeting for discussion.

The committee received the report of the Shared Internal Audit Service (SIAS), which set out the 2020/21 internal audit plans for Watford Borough Council and shared services for the year ahead.  It formed part of the council’s wider assurance framework.

RESOLVED –

that the proposed Watford Borough Council and Shared Services Internal Audit Plans for 2020/21 be approved.

The committee received a report from the Interim Head of Finance (Shared Services) setting out the committee’s proposed work programme for 2020/21 and 2021/22. 

The Interim Director of Finance advised that the work programme would be updated to reflect the discussion at the meeting.

RESOLVED –

that the work programme be noted and updated as discussed.