Meeting documents

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Honorary Aldermen: E H Collins, D Cox, M Oram, Mrs K M Peatey (MBE), Mrs P Priestley and R Pushman. Councillors: M C Appleyard, M Asif and D Carroll.

The Chairman extended a warm welcome to Members and to Councillor Mrs G A Jones following her return from a period of extended sickness absence.

The Chairman announced a change to the order of business within the agenda by bringing forward Petitions at item 7 now to be taken immediately following the Declarations of Interest item.  

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of Council held on 10 October 2016

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 10 October 2016 be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any disclosure of disclosable pecuniary interests by Members relating to items on the agenda. If any member is uncertain as to whether an interest should be disclosed, he or she is asked if possible to contact the District Solicitor prior to the meeting.

Members are reminded that if they are declaring an interest they should state the nature of that interest whether or not they are required to withdraw from the meeting.

Councillor Ms J Wassell declared that she was now a lease holder with Red Kite Housing Association.

(i)            Council to receive any petition from a member of the public who lives, works or studies within the district or from a Councillor on his/her behalf as notified by the deadline of 5pm on Monday 5 December 2016.

(ii)          Council to consider any petition already received that meets the required number of signatures to qualify for a debate by Full Council. (The petition organiser will have 5 minutes to present the petition and then the council will debate the matter for a maximum of 15 minutes and decide how to respond to the petition)

Vikas Kapoor (member of the public) and his son, Ruben, gave notice of a petition, which read as follows:

Crown House School, High Wycombe

"A petition for a footpath to run alongside the access road & a lollipop man/lady"

Ruben briefly addressed the meeting and summarised the contents of the petition. He conducted a short presentation and showed a brief video.

It was agreed that the petition would be handed in outside of the meeting, following which it would be validated against the Council`s Petition Scheme.

Members and the lead petitioners would be informed at a later date how the petition would be administered following the validation process. 

To receive such communication as the Chairman of the Council may wish to make.

The Chairman announced that the volunteer nominations deadline was now imminent, and requested that all nominations be received by 31 January 2017, for those volunteers that had contributed 4000 hours of work or more of work within the district. 

The Chairman went onto state that a tree would also be planted within the district in recognition of the invaluable work carried out by the volunteers. 

Written questions may be asked of the Leader or any Cabinet Member if submitted to the Head of Democratic, Legal and Policy Services no later than 12 noon on Monday 5 December 2016. Questions will be submitted in the order in which they were received.

A questioner will have a maximum of 1 minute to ask a question and the answer shall not exceed 3 minutes. Any questioner may put one supplementary question without notice within a maximum time of 1 minute and the answer may not exceed 2 minutes.   

(a)Question from Mr T Snaith to the Cabinet Member for Housing

"Wycombe District continues to have a dire need for low cost and social rent affordable homes.

WDC identified that HMOs could be one such route. However there was a need to improve the quality of some of the HMOs in the district to meet acceptable standards.  

In the last Council administration there was a Councillor T&F group set up to look at Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and how WDC could introduce a new licencing system to improve the quality and monitoring of these properties

Perhaps the Cabinet Member for Housing could give an update on how this project is progressing?"

Response from Councillor Mrs J Langley (Cabinet Member for Housing)

"I understand you have already received a response from officers but I will elaborate further.

The recommendation was considered by the Cabinet Member alongside a consultation from Central Government on a proposal for the mandatory licensing of HMO’s. I as Cabinet Member commissioned a cross party Policy Action Group (PAG) on this matter and it was decided to wait for the consultation to conclude from central Government before a decision was made on how Wycombe District Council was to proceed. I do not want to waste time and money.

Supplementary Question

"Do you agree that HMOs in the area are of poor quality, with slum landlords exploiting the most vulnerable. Whilst WDC continues to procrastinate regarding HMO licencing London Councils are buying properties in the area to house its homeless.

Licencing should happen but do you agree we need solutions?  People should not be sent to bed and breakfasts in Slough instead WDC should use its properties and proceeds to purchase its own HMOs. This would be a great Christmas present for the people of High Wycombe.

Supplementary Response

"The Government is committed to raising standards with regard to HMOs.  The relevant PAG will discuss the issues further with a consultation expected to be carried out in the early part of the year."

(b)Question from Mr R Colomb to the Cabinet Member for Housing

Mr Colomb had submitted the following question:

"In 2014 an Improvement and Review Commission Task & Finish Group conducted an in-depth review of Houses in multiple occupation. Its recommendations were considered by the Cabinet in February 2015, and it was resolved that a further report be presented to the July 2015 Cabinet responding to each of the recommendations in detail.

Would you please state what these recommendations were, as I have been unable to trace them?"

Mr Colomb stated that as this question was similar to the previous public question, he would proceed straight to his supplementary question and not ask the question above. 

"It is dangerous to rely on the lethargy of Government to decide what we should do. Why not move forward faster, instead of waiting around forever as we wait for Brexit.

We want to see quality and improvement with a reasonable spread of the HMOs." 

Response from Councillor Mrs  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

Questions to the Leader or any Cabinet Members must be submitted by 12 noon on Monday 5 December 2016. Questions shall be taken first from the Group Leaders of the political parties who shall be entitled to ask an initial Leader`s question, including the right to adopt another Member`s question form his/her group, of which written notice shall have been given to the Head of Democratic, Legal and Policy Services prior to the meeting.

The order of questions shall then permit the first question from each other Councillor to be asked before any subsequent questions from the same Councillor. One question will be taken in turn from the same Councillor unless there are no other questions to be asked.

Every Member asking an oral question is permitted to ask one supplementary question without notice provided that it is not substantially the same as a question that was put to a Council meeting during the past six months.

The appropriate Member will respond to any questions remaining unanswered at the expiry of 30 minutes in writing. Any question remaining unanswered after 30 minutes will be answered within 10 working days in writing after the meeting by the appropriate Member and appended to the minutes of the meeting.

(a)Question from Councillor R Raja to the Leader of the Council

"The draft Local Plan identifies the need for some 10,000 homes to be built in Wycombe District area yet there is real concern over the ability of the over-subscribed schools, choking road network and a struggling sewage system, (especially the ability of the Little Marlow Treatment Works) to cope with thousands of new homes, should the draft Local Plan be approved.

Can the leader reassure the council that well before the extra houses are built the council will liaise with and seek commitments from the County Council, where it has the responsibility, to upgrade the sewage system, repair and improve the road network and have sufficient school places available with the increased numbers, so that all the planned development is fit for purpose and helps to improve the lives of the residents of WDC and not further increase residents discontent in this Tory administration?"

Response from Councillor Ms K Wood (Leader of the Council)

"I agree with you that delivery of infrastructure to accompany the housing growth proposed in the Local Plan is very important. That is why, as we have been working up the housing proposals in the Local Plan we have also been working very closely with all the relevant infrastructure providers, not just the County Council, to ensure that the infrastructure impacts of new development are properly addressed. When we published the draft Local Plan for consultation early next year, we also published a draft infrastructure delivery plan setting out the various infrastructure improvements required.

We have liaised closely with the County Council Education Department on the need for additional school places and the draft Local Plan sets out specific proposals on relevant sites to provide new or expanded schools. Similarly we have undertaken traffic modelling jointly with the County Council and the other Buckinghamshire Districts to assess the traffic impact of development across the whole county, not just Wycombe District, and to test appropriate mitigation measures. Site specific policies in the draft Local Plan explain how each development should address transport issues. We have been working closely with Thames Water and the Environment Agency, including undertaking detailed studies, to ensure that both the Little Marlow Sewage Treatment Works and the Princes Risborough Sewage Treatment Works are upgraded in the right way and at the right time to accommodate new development.

I can assure Cllr Raja that we will continue to work with all the relevant infrastructure providers, including the County Council, to ensure the delivery of necessary infrastructure, although he should note that this is often rightly provided directly by or funded by developers and hence is linked to the timing of development."

I would just like to comment on your assumption with regards to WDC residents` discontentment with the Tory administration. I would like to point out that we increased our majority in the last election which would demonstrate that they are more than happy with us." 

Supplementary Question

"Do you accept that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meetings:

Cabinet                      14 November 2016

Special Cabinet       12 December 2016 (To follow)

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 14 November 2016 be received, and the recommendation as set out at minute number 47 be approved and adopted.

Minute 54 – Public Spaces Protection Order

A Member enquired with regard to the possibility of receiving a map of the protection order area to establish if it fell within members` wards. The Leader of the Council confirmed that this had been included within the report on the Cabinet agenda.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 12 December 2016, be received and the recommendations as set out at minute numbers 57 and 58 be approved and adopted.

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meeting:

Standards Committee                     15 November 2016             

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 15 November 2016 be received. 

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meetings:

Special Improvement & Review Commission                 18 October 2016      

Improvement & Review Commission                               9 November 2016   

Minute 17 -Housing Portfolio Update

A Member commented that he would like to have seen the various options available. He questioned when WDC would use its estates to provide quality housing in the area, instead of reliance on the B&B use.

The Cabinet Member stated that it was unlikely that Saunderton Lodge would go for the rebuild option, as the cost of this would be exorbitant.  However the council was satisfied with the numbers in B&B accommodation as compared with other authorities.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Improvement & Review Commission held on 18 October and 9 November 2016 be received.

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meeting:

Audit Committee                  17 November 2016

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 17 November 2016, be received and the recommendation as set out at minute number 29 be approved and adopted.

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meeting:

High Wycombe Town Committee             22 November 2016

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the High Wycombe Town Committee held on 22 November 2016 be received.

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meeting:

Personnel & Development Committee                7 November 2016

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Personnel & Development Committee held on 7 November 2016 be received and the recommendation as set out at minute number 6 be approved and adopted.

To receive the minute of and consider any recommendations from the following meetings:

Planning Committee                       24 August 2016

Planning Committee                       19 October 2016

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 24 August and 19 October 2016, be received.

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meeting:

Regulatory & Appeals Committee             17 October 2016                  

Minute 13- Variations to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy

A Member questioned who the consultees were in the current ongoing consultation process, and whether this would be extended to other users also.

He was informed that letters had been despatched to those within the trade, and a high response level was predicted. In addition the Licensing Department had approached the representative of the trade Mr Rehman, with whom a meeting had been scheduled in December.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Regulatory & Appeals Committee held on 17 October 2016 be received, and the recommendation as set out at minute number 11 be approved and adopted.

To consider the following Notice of Motion submitted by the deadline of noon on Thursday 1 December 2016.

The following Notice of Motion was submitted by Councillor R Raja and seconded by Councillor S Graham:

"In view of the opportunity being presented by the reorganisation of local government in Buckinghamshire, this Council resolves to take all necessary steps to ensure that a unitary authority, capable of delivering the statutory services to the local residents, is created which not only balances the financial /economic criteria against democratic and accountability considerations but also takes account of the projected growth in population and will ensure  proper investment in housing and infrastructure for an efficient delivery of the services needed to support the wellbeing of the people of the District."

A motion was submitted by Councillor R Raja and seconded by Councillor S Graham:

"In view of the opportunity being presented by the reorganisation of local government in Buckinghamshire, this Council resolves to take all necessary steps to ensure that a unitary authority, capable of delivering the statutory services to the local residents, is created which not only balances the financial /economic criteria against democratic and accountability considerations but also takes account of the projected growth in population and will ensure  proper investment in housing and infrastructure for an efficient delivery of the services needed to support the wellbeing of the people of the District."

In proposing the motion, Councillor Rafiq stated that whilst there was consensus on the need to replace the current Local Government structure, there was little consensus about the way forward between the County and the 4 district Councils concerned. Councillor Raja made reference to the 2 reports issued on the subject first by the County Council in September, followed by the District Councils.

He went onto state that despite the projected growth in population he saw no evidence within the reports of the likely consequences having been addressed. Including the increased housing demand expected to rise by 21% over a 20 year period, and demand for the already constrained adult and social care/children`s services. Instead he felt that the financial analysis seemed to be based on a set of static assumptions

In summing up he concluded that it would be a dereliction of duty if the Council did not take all necessary steps to ensure that a unitary authority capable of delivering the statutory services to local residents was created.   

Councillor S Graham in seconding the motion, echoed the sentiments of the proposer, stating that following the publication of two costly reports it was imperative that the County and District Councils should work together in order to reach the right conclusion for the people of Bucks.  

He encouraged openness and honesty with residents and emphasised that false promises and assumptions must not be made as was the case during the Brexit campaigns in June.

Councillor Mrs L M Clarke commented that Members should not lose sight of the fact that they were present as Wycombe District Councillors, and not as Bucks County Councillors.

Councillor Mrs L Clarke rose to support the motion and requested a recorded vote. This was seconded and in accordance with Standing Orders, was also supported by at least 7 other Members.

The motion was then put to a recorded vote.

In accordance with subsection (7) of the Council`s Standing Order 16 (voting) the voting of the Members in respect of the motion was recorded as follows:

In favour of the motion

Councillors: Mrs J Adey, K Ahmed, Z Ahmed, D Barnes, S Broadbent, Miss S Brown, H Bull, Mrs L Clarke, M Clarke, A Collingwood, M Davy, C Etholen, R Farmer, R Gaffney, S Graham, A Green, G Hall, M Hanif, M Harris, C Harriss, A Hill, A  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.

There were none

Improvement & Review Commission

Councillor M Davy be replaced by Councillor L Wood as a full Member of the Commission.

Councillor L Wood be replaced by Councillor M Davy as a Standing Deputy on the Commission.

Outside Body Appointment

Membership of iESE Transformation Limited

Councillor Miss K S Wood be appointed to serve as WDC Councillor representative, with immediate effect. 

The following changes made to Committee membership in accordance with Standing Order 18(9) as set out in the summons were noted:

Improvement & Review Commission

Councillor M Davy be replaced by Councillor L Wood as a full Member of the Commission.

Councillor L Wood be replaced by Councillor M Davy as a Standing Deputy on the Commission.

Outside Body Appointment

Membership of iESE Transformation Limited

Councillor Miss K S Wood be appointed to serve as WDC Councillor representative, with immediate effect. 

(a)  Implementation of a small increase in the land charges search fee

(b)  Surrender of the leasehold interest at 55a High Street, Marlow

(c)  Wycombe District Museum - Agreement for 5 year funding from 2016-2021 to Wycombe Heritage and Arts Trust.

(d)  Amendment to the membership of the Youth & External partnerships Policy Advisory Group

The individual decisions published since the last ordinary meeting of the Council held on 10 October 2016, as set out in the summons were noted.  

The Chairman wished all those present a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and invited all Honorary Aldermen, Members, and colleagues to join him in some light refreshments at the close of the meeting.