Meeting documents

To approve the minutes of Full Council held on 26 February 2019.

The minutes of Full Council held on 26 February 2019 were approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any announcements from:

a) Chairman

b) Cabinet Leader

c) Head of Paid Service

(a)      Chairman’s Engagements

A list of Engagements carried out by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Council between 18 February 2019 and 8 April 2019 had been circulated.

(b)      Chairman’s Announcements

The Chairman had no announcements to make.

(c) Announcements from the Leader of the Cabinet

The Leader of the Cabinet had no announcements to make.

(d) Announcements from the Head of Paid Service

The Chief Executive announced that due to the expected EU Parliamentary elections on 23 May 2019, the next full Council meeting had been moved from 22 May 2019 to 15 May 2019.

There had been no Committee recommendations since the previous meeting of Council held on 26 February 2019.

To receive and consider the recommendations of the Cabinet for the meeting held on 19 March 2019 and to receive questions and answers on any of those recommendations in accordance with Rule 11.1 of the Procedural Rules.

Full Council was asked to approve the refreshed Joint Business Plan which was reviewed annually to reflect the changing needs of the locality and the communities that live and work within Chiltern and South Bucks. The proposed refreshed Joint Business Plan 2019-2020 was attached at appendix 1.

It was moved by Councillor I Darby, seconded by Councillor M Stannard and

RESOLVED -

That the refreshed Joint Business Plan 2019 - 2020 be approved.

Full Council had before it a report which recommended that the revised Bucks Home Choice Allocations Policy be adopted and implemented.  Proposed revisions had been subject to public consultation, the comments of which had been considered and incorporated into the document presented.

It was moved by Councillor L Walsh, seconded by Councillor I Darby and

RESOLVED -

1.     That the revised Bucks Home Choice Allocations Policy be approved.

2.     That authority be delegated to the Head of Healthy Communities to make any final amendments and to agree and adopt the final version of the revised Bucks Home Choice Allocations Policy in consultation with the Healthy Communities Portfolio Holder and subject to Aylesbury Vale, South Bucks and Wycombe District Councils also adopting the policy.

To receive and consider verbal update reports (if any) from the Members listed above, and to answer questions on any of those reports from any Member of the Council in accordance with Rule 11.1 of the Procedural Rules.

a) Councillor I Darby - Leader of the Council

Councillor I Darby reported that The Buckinghamshire Structural Changes Order was laid in Parliament on 2 April 2019. Members were advised that this would now proceed through the respective process of the House of Lords and House of Commons and the Council awaited the outcome.

b) Councillor P Martin - Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development

Councillor P Martin reported that the draft Chiltern and South Bucks Joint Local Plan was due to be presented to the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 29 April 2019 at 6.30 p.m. at the South Bucks District Council offices and the Chiltern and South Bucks Joint Committee on 1 May 2019 at 6 p.m. at the Chiltern District Council offices. Following this it would be presented to full Council on 15 May 2019. Further, the CIL Draft Charging Schedule was due to be presented to Cabinet for consideration on 23 April 2019.

c) Councillor M Smith - Portfolio Holder for Environment

Councillor M Smith reported that the new crematorium in Bierton would commence operation the week commencing 22 April 2019. Staff had been busy adding the final touches and it was expected that the excellent standard of service prevalent at the Chiltern crematorium would be duplicated at the new site.

The Chairman of the Council; Cabinet Leader or a Cabinet Member; or Chairman of any Committee to receive a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affects the District. Questions must be given in writing to the proper officer 3 clear days before the meeting, or if it relates to urgent business by 4pm on the day of the meeting, in accordance with Rule 11.2 of the Council Procedure Rules.

There were no questions.

To receive petitions and/or deputations (if any) from members of the public including provisions allowing members to ask questions of clarification at the discretion of the Chairman.

There were no petitions.

To receive reports about and receive questions and answers relating to any joint arrangements or external organisations.

There were no reports.

Motion 50 - to be proposed by Councillor N Rose and Seconded by Councillor P Martin:

This Council proposes that the Leader should write to Government to request that all enabling works for HS2 in Buckinghamshire should be paused until the Notice to Proceed to main works contractors has been approved.  As required by the Department of Transport, Notice to Proceed should not be given until management capability, affordability of contracts and robustness of revised business case have all been proven. We see no reason why the District or County should suffer significant disruption and long term environmental destruction until detailed design and cost has been approved.  We also ask that HS2 Ltd significantly improves the effectiveness of its community engagement with those impacted by the line.

In accordance with Rule 10 of the Council Procedural Rules, the following Motion had been submitted and was consequently moved by Councillor N Rose, and seconded by Councillor P Martin:

This Council proposes that the Leader should write to Government to request that all enabling works for HS2 in Buckinghamshire should be paused until the Notice to Proceed to main works contractors has been approved. As required by the Department of Transport, Notice to Proceed should not be given until management capability, affordability of contracts and robustness of revised business case have all been proven. We see no reason why the District or County should suffer significant disruption and long term environmental destruction until detailed design and cost has been approved. We also ask that HS2 Ltd significantly improves the effectiveness of its community engagement with those impacted by the line.

Councillor N Rose explained the motion to those present and expressed concerns around a lack of competence from HS2 and the changing reasons given as an attempt to justify the business case. The effectiveness of community engagement was questioned, residents had reported a lack of work notifications and incorrect information had been given in relation to what was going on in their local area. It was said that often, residents would only become aware of works when mounds of earth appeared on site. The request to pause enabling works until the Notice to Proceed to main works contractors had been approved was seen as being vital to prevent any further damage to the district. It was noted that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury was undertaking a spending review of failing programmes and as such it was suggested this letter also be forwarded to her to assist with the review of HS2.

Councillor P Martin, seconding the motion, spoke of having been involved in a number of local issues caused by HS2 including various local mitigation cases. Councillor P Martin had attended a number of community engagement sessions arranged by HS2, the last of which presented proposed traffic management plans which did not have the support of the highway authority on safety grounds. Residents had lost confidence in the information that they were receiving from HS2 and were growing increasingly frustrated. It was added that continuing with enabling works would be a gross waste of taxpayers’ money. Councillor P Martin concluded that works should be paused pending approval of the Notice to Proceed and community engagement must be improved should the project continue.

Councillors D Varley, L Smith, and P Jones supported the motion noting the significant impact already seen on the A413. Local residents had been affected by frequent disruption and the negative impact on the environment was evident at the various work sites throughout the district. It was understood that a Schedule 17 application had been made to increase HGV numbers using certain local roads, National Grid had notified of its intention to install taller pylons after HS2 had advised that these would be removed and re-laid underground and further concern was raised that Chalfont St Peter Parish Council had been contacted by HS2 seeking a burial ground to transfer deceased to from a site which would be disrupted by the rail line.

Councillors M Harker, C Jones and C Rouse also spoke in support of the motion reiterating their frustration over false assurances having been given by HS2 and incomplete, untidy work being evident across the district for a project which was of little benefit to the general public. The Members supported the works being paused whilst the project was reviewed to avoid desecrating the district any further.

Councillors F Wilson, I Darby, V Martin and N Shepherd further supported the proposal to delay the Notice to Proceed and affirmed that the Government must scrutinise the project in its entirety to prevent any further disruption and damage. There was agreement that investing any more funds at this time should be ceased until there was certainty on whether the project was to proceed. It was also said that work left incomplete by HS2 such as the Chalfont St Peter Link Road should be completed regardless of the projects next steps. Further, Members identified that a number of the districts roads were not designed for HGV use and this had caused a safety concern for residents.

 

In accordance with Rule 12.6 of the Council Procedure Rules, the following amendment was discussed and was consequently moved by Councillor F Wilson, seconded by Councillor J MacBean:

That the motion be reworded to:

This Council proposes that the Leader should write to Government to request that all enabling works for HS2 in Buckinghamshire should be paused until the Notice to Proceed to main works contractors has been approved. As required by the Department of Transport, Notice to Proceed should not be given until management capability, affordability of contracts and robustness of revised business case have all been proven. We see no reason why the District or County should suffer “further” significant disruption and long term environmental destruction until detailed design and cost has been approved. We also ask that HS2 Ltd significantly improves the effectiveness of its community engagement with those impacted by the line.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was declared carried by the Chairman (unanimous).

On being put to the vote, the substantive motion was then unanimously declared carried by the Chairman, following which it was

RESOLVED -

1        That the Motion be carried.