Agenda, decisions and minutes

None.

None.

Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any items on the agenda.

Councillor Tony Durcan declared a pecuniary interest as a non-executive Director of HTS (Housing and Regeneration) Ltd.

Councillor Tony Durcan declared a pecuniary interest as a non-executive Director of HTS (Housing and Regeneration) Ltd.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2021.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2021 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2021 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

Any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

None.

None.

To receive any questions from members of the public in accordance with Rule 10 of the Council Procedure Rules.

The questions, together with the answers, are appended to the minutes.

The questions, together with the answers, are appended to the minutes.

To receive any questions from Councillors in accordance with Rule 11 of the Council Procedure Rules.

The questions, together with the answers, are appended to the minutes.

The questions, together with the answers, are appended to the minutes.

To consider any petitions that have been referred to the Cabinet under the Council’s Petition Scheme.

None.

None.

To note the Forward Plan, which lists all upcoming Cabinet decisions and provides notice of key decisions and those expected to be taken in private session.

RESOLVED that the Forward Plan is noted.

RESOLVED that the Forward Plan is noted.

RESOLVED that Cabinet agreed:

A     The Memorandum of Understanding relating to The Harlow & Gilston Garden Town Rolling Infrastructure Fund (attached as Appendix A to the report) and agrees its submission to Homes England by the end of November 2021 as required of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Authority partners and specifically Hertfordshire County Council (as accountable body for the Housing Investment Grant funding to which the Memorandum of Understanding relates).

B     To set up and operate the Rolling Infrastructure Fund ‘in principle’ subject to more detailed work and approval of the appropriate governance and operational arrangements for its management.

C     To govern the Rolling Infrastructure Fund initially in accordance with the approved Memorandum of Understanding as required by Homes England as a condition of the Housing Investment Grant funding and subsequently in accordance with any further governance arrangements that may be effected.

D     Delegated authority is provided to the Director of Strategic Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Growth to agree any minor amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding that arise from the decision making structures of the other four HGGT partners.”

Cabinet received a report on the Rolling Infrastructure Fund Memorandum of Understanding.

Councillor Michael Hardware proposed that the following additional recommendation be included:

“Delegated authority is provided to the Director of Strategic Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Growth to agree any minor amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding that arise from the decision making structures of the other four HGGT partners.”

The additional recommendation was agreed.

Proposed by Councillor Michael Hardware (seconded by Councillor Dan Swords) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet agreed:

A     The Memorandum of Understanding relating to The Harlow & Gilston Garden Town Rolling Infrastructure Fund (attached as Appendix A to the report) and agrees its submission to Homes England by the end of November 2021 as required of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Authority partners and specifically Hertfordshire County Council (as accountable body for the Housing Investment Grant funding to which the Memorandum of Understanding relates).

B     To set up and operate the Rolling Infrastructure Fund ‘in principle’ subject to more detailed work and approval of the appropriate governance and operational arrangements for its management.

C     To govern the Rolling Infrastructure Fund initially in accordance with the approved Memorandum of Understanding as required by Homes England as a condition of the Housing Investment Grant funding and subsequently in accordance with any further governance arrangements that may be effected.

D     Delegated authority is provided to the Director of Strategic Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Growth to agree any minor amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding that arise from the decision making structures of the other four HGGT partners.”

RESOLVED that:

A     The Council tender for environmental enforcement services as set out under Proposals in the report with a service specification to be determined by the Director of Strategic Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Environment.

B     The current pilot operation continue with NES as the Council’s contractor until 31 March 2022 to provide service continuity through the procurement process recommended at A above.

C     The Council engage in communications measures to enhance the effect of enforcement as set out under Proposals in the report.

Cabinet received a report on the delivery of environmental enforcement.

Proposed by Councillor Alastair Gunn (seconded by Councillor Michael Hardware) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A     The Council tender for environmental enforcement services as set out under Proposals in the report with a service specification to be determined by the Director of Strategic Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Environment.

B     The current pilot operation continue with NES as the Council’s contractor until 31 March 2022 to provide service continuity through the procurement process recommended at A above.

C     The Council engage in communications measures to enhance the effect of enforcement as set out under Proposals in the report.

RESOLVED that:

A     The tree planting programme for winter 2021/22 as set out in Appendix A is approved with a commitment to develop a medium term (3 – 5 years) tree planting strategy by March 2022 which is then reviewed on an annual basis.

B     The approach to woodland management as set out in Appendix B is agreed.

C     The approach to grassland management as set out in Appendix C is agreed including the increase in wildflower planting from four strips in 2021 to a minimum of eight in 2022 with the final locations to be agreed by the Portfolio Holder for Environment.

D     Cabinet agree to end the use of single use plastics in all of its tree planting and bio-diversity work with effect from the 2022/23 winter programme.

Cabinet received a report on the management of tree planting and bio-diversity.

Proposed by Councillor Alastair Gunn (seconded by Councillor Dan Swords) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A     The tree planting programme for winter 2021/22 as set out in Appendix A to the report is approved with a commitment to develop a medium term (3 – 5 years) tree planting strategy by March 2022 which is then reviewed on an annual basis.

B     The approach to woodland management as set out in Appendix B to the report is agreed.

C     The approach to grassland management as set out in Appendix C to the report is agreed including the increase in wildflower planting from four strips in 2021 to a minimum of eight in 2022 with the final locations to be agreed by the Portfolio Holder for Environment.

D     Cabinet agree to end the use of single use plastics in all of its tree planting and bio-diversity work with effect from the 2022/23 winter programme.

RESOLVED that:

A     Cabinet consider the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Transport Strategy,

October 2021 (as set out in Appendix A to the report), together with the accompanying appendices including the high level programme (as set out in

Appendix B to the report), consultation report (as set out in Appendix C to the report) and equality impact assessment (as set out in Appendix D to the report).

B     Cabinet approves the Transport Strategy as a material consideration in the planning process for the preparation of masterplans, pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purpose for all sites within the Garden Town area, including Harlow District in its entirety.

C     Cabinet delegate to the Director of Strategic Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Growth and the Director of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town to make any minor text or design amendments to the Transport Strategy prior to publication should there be necessity for clarification or changes proposed by the respective decision makers of East Herts, Harlow and Epping Forest Districts and Essex and Hertfordshire Counties in order to ensure a consistent document.

D     Cabinet endorses the future transport network plan (on pages 34-35 of the

Transport Strategy) in so far that it identifies, illustratively, the proposed

Sustainable Transport Corridors extending from the Town Centre to the north, east, south and west and confirm support in principle for the delivery of new infrastructure that supports safe and attractive travel by walking, cycling and public transport that will benefit existing neighbourhoods of Harlow and sustainably integrate any proposed new allocations with the town.

E     Cabinet acknowledge that the ambition, mode share objective and principles in the Transport Strategy should help shape existing and future work programmes of the Highway Authorities across the Garden Town, and can provide supporting justification for funding submissions and spending commitments in relation to transport. Content will also be relevant to development, regeneration and other initiatives undertaken by Harlow Council.

F     Although recognising that endorsing the Transport Strategy is not a legally binding act, Cabinet agrees that it will not introduce a congestion charging scheme for Harlow and will continue to work to improve residential parking amenity for existing Harlow residents.

Cabinet received a report on the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Transport Strategy.

Proposed by Councillor Michael Hardware (seconded by Councillor Dan Swords) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A     Cabinet consider the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Transport Strategy,

October 2021 (as set out in Appendix A to the report), together with the accompanying appendices including the high level programme (as set out in

Appendix B to the report), consultation report (as set out in Appendix C to the report) and equality impact assessment (as set out in Appendix D to the report).

B     Cabinet approves the Transport Strategy as a material consideration in the planning process for the preparation of masterplans, pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purpose for all sites within the Garden Town area, including Harlow District in its entirety.

C     Cabinet delegate to the Director of Strategic Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Growth and the Director of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town to make any minor text or design amendments to the Transport Strategy prior to publication should there be necessity for clarification or changes proposed by the respective decision makers of East Herts, Harlow and Epping Forest Districts and Essex and Hertfordshire Counties in order to ensure a consistent document.

D     Cabinet endorses the future transport network plan (on pages 34-35 of the

Transport Strategy) in so far that it identifies, illustratively, the proposed

Sustainable Transport Corridors extending from the Town Centre to the north, east, south and west and confirm support in principle for the delivery of new infrastructure that supports safe and attractive travel by walking, cycling and public transport that will benefit existing neighbourhoods of Harlow and sustainably integrate any proposed new allocations with the town.

E     Cabinet acknowledge that the ambition, mode share objective and principles in the Transport Strategy should help shape existing and future work programmes of the Highway Authorities across the Garden Town, and can provide supporting justification for funding submissions and spending commitments in relation to transport. Content will also be relevant to development, regeneration and other initiatives undertaken by Harlow Council.

F     Although recognising that endorsing the Transport Strategy is not a legally binding act, Cabinet agrees that it will not introduce a congestion charging scheme for Harlow and will continue to work to improve residential parking amenity for existing Harlow residents.

RESOLVED that:

A     Approves the Harlow Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board Strategy Positioning Statement (attached at Appendix A to the report) to ensure residents are fully aware of the Council’s current position and intentions until such time that relevant data is available to inform development and publication of a new robust, relevant and aspirational Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board Strategy for Harlow.

B     Acknowledge the need to develop a new Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board Strategy for 2022 – 2025 that is driven by the most recent and reliable local health and wellbeing data available.

Cabinet received a report on the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Proposed by Councillor Joel Charles (seconded by Councillor Russell Perrin) it was:

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

A     Approves the Harlow Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board Strategy Positioning Statement (attached at Appendix A to the report) to ensure residents are fully aware of the Council’s current position and intentions until such time that relevant data is available to inform development and publication of a new robust, relevant and aspirational Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board Strategy for Harlow.

B     Acknowledge the need to develop a new Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board Strategy for 2022 – 2025 that is driven by the most recent and reliable local health and wellbeing data available.

RESOLVED that:

A     Approves the Draft Statement of Community Involvement (attached as Appendix A to the report), to enable it to be published for the purposes of consultation.

B     Delegates authority to the Director of Strategic Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Growth, to make and approve any minor or inconsequential amendments to the Draft Statement of Community Involvement arising from the statutory consultation.

Cabinet received a report on the consultation of the Statement of Community Involvement.

Proposed by Councillor Michael Hardware (seconded by Councillor Russell Perrin) it was:

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

A     Approves the Draft Statement of Community Involvement (attached as Appendix A to the report), to enable it to be published for the purposes of consultation.

B     Delegates authority to the Director of Strategic Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Growth, to make and approve any minor or inconsequential amendments to the Draft Statement of Community Involvement arising from the statutory consultation.

To note the following draft minutes of Cabinet appointed bodies. Minutes remain draft until approved by the relevant body.

None.

None.

Such other business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be received as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the minutes.

None.