The council is scheduled to discuss a range of topics, including housing, equality and diversity, and financial performance. The Cabinet Forward Plan is also up for discussion. It is also scheduled to discuss excluding the public from some of the meeting due to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.

Here is what is known based on the agenda and report pack.

Private Sector Housing HMO Policy and Fee Review

The council is scheduled to consider a report on the Private Sector Housing HMO Policy and Fee Review. The report recommends that the cabinet approve the Houses in Multiple Occupation Licensing Policy.

The report pack states that the council currently licenses 133 HMOs, with 32 in the process of being licensed and a further 29 under investigation. A BRE Housing Stock Condition Survey carried out in 2020, suggested that the council has 234 HMOs that fall within the mandatory licensing requirements.

The report pack suggests that the new policy will take a more robust approach to enforcement and regulation of the private rented sector, supported by a review of the council's Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy and the introduction of a Civil Penalty Policy. The new policy is also scheduled to provide more detail about reduced HMO licence terms.

The report pack outlines a proposed new fee structure, including a breakdown of costs for a 1-year licence at £881.66 and a 5-year licence at £1546.85. The current fee for a 5 year licence is £1391. The report pack claims that the proposed fee structure has been developed in accordance with the principle of full cost recovery.

The proposed HMO Licensing Policy sets out a framework for landlords and residents, and includes provisions for reduced licence duration, where there is sufficient supporting evidence of non-compliance. Circumstances where a 1-year licence may be granted include:

• Failure to apply for an HMO licence
• Failure to comply with management regulations
• Previous history of non-compliance
• Poor conditions within the property
• Failure to obtain relevant consents and permissions
• Failure to pay relevant charges, fines or penalties
• Failure to possess a current Electrical Installation Certificate
• Failure to provide up to date certificates on time
• Providing false or misleading information in the application
• Failure to protect a tenant's deposit

The report pack states that a communication and engagement exercise will be undertaken to inform the development and implementation of the revised HMO Licensing Policy and fee structure. The communication channels to be used include the council website, a newsletter, postal letters and an email bulletin.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Strategy 2025-2030

The council is scheduled to discuss the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Strategy 2025-2030. The report recommends that the cabinet approve the strategy.

The report pack states that the council wants to ensure that it creates a culture where everyone feels safe to bring their authentic selves to work. The council also wants to ensure that Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging is at the heart of what it does, and that this is linked to its value of 'Nurturing', as well as its commitment to the Equality Act 2010¹ and achieving the aims of The Public Sector Equality Duty². The report pack identifies four key areas where the council needs to focus its efforts:

• Increase the data it holds and use this data to inform decisions
• Connect and foster relationships with communities and customers
• Champion diversity, inclusivity and belonging as part of the council's culture and eliminate any unlawful treatment
• Provide accessible services that allow the council to reach all corners of the borough

The report pack states that the strategy was developed with teams who attended workshops from across the council, and that the council also consulted with members of its Strategic Leadership Team and Corporate Leadership Teams, Cabinet Members, its Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging SLT sponsors, recognised Trade Unions and its Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging working group, which includes employees from across the council.

Tenant Satisfaction Measures 2024-2025

The council is scheduled to discuss the Tenant Satisfaction Measures for 2024-2025. The report is for information only.

The report pack states that from April 2023, all registered providers of social housing in England are required to collect and report on a standard set of Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs) as part of the new proactive consumer regulation regime set out in the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023³. There are 22 TSMs; 10 are management information figures, and 12 are measured by landlords carrying out tenant perception surveys. Each registered provider's TSM results must be submitted to the Regulator by 30 June each year.

The 10 Management Information Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs) are a set of key indicators that social housing landlords must collect and report on, providing insight into how effectively they are managing their properties and services. The management information is collected from across the directorate by the Strategy, Quality and Assurance Service (SQA) and reported in alignment with the guidelines set by the Regulator.

The report pack provides a summary of the 2024/25 Management Information TSMs:

The report pack states that the Strategy, Quality and Assurance service commissioned CX-Feedback to deliver this year's TSM perception surveys on behalf of Dacorum Borough Council. CX-Feedback deliver the TSM perception surveys through their engagement software platform. The SQA Team sent out survey invites via an email or text message to all 'lead' tenants, with sequential reminders via push notification. Pexel ltd was commissioned to do 200 phone interviews on the remaining sample. In total, 1735 interviews were completed across all the response methods.

The report pack provides the results for the 2024/25 Tenant Perception TSMs.

The report pack claims that while this year's satisfaction results are broadly similar 23/24's, the council has seen a decrease in dissatisfaction for eleven out of twelve questions. The report pack also states that the council has seen improvements in tenant satisfaction for:

• Satisfaction with the repairs service and time taken to complete repairs increased by 4%.
• A 2% increase in tenants feeling the council listens to their views and acts upon them.
• A 2% increase in satisfaction with the cleanliness and maintenance of communal areas.

The report pack also notes that satisfaction has decreased in some areas.

The council is a member of HouseMark⁴, a national social housing bench-marking organisation. The report pack includes HouseMark's TSM Early Findings Report.

Treasury Management Outturn and Performance Indicators 2024/25

The council is scheduled to discuss the Treasury Management Outturn and Performance Indicators for 2024/25. The report recommends that the cabinet recommend to council acceptance of the report on Treasury Management performance and the Prudential Indicators for 2024/25.

The report pack states that the council is required by the Local Government Act 2003⁵ to produce an annual treasury management review of activities and the actual prudential and treasury indicators for 2024/25. The report pack provides the outturn position for the council's treasury activities and highlights compliance with the Treasury Management Strategy 2024/25.

The report pack notes that investment returns decreased throughout 2024/25 as central banks, including the Bank of England cut interest rates. Bank Rate reductions of 0.25% occurred in August, November and February, bringing the base rate down from 5.25% to 4.5%. The CPI measure of inflation was 2.3% in April 2024. At September 2024, this had fallen to 1.7%. At February 2025 data shows CPI rising by 2.8% year on year. UK unemployment was 4.4% at the end of 2024/25.

The council's Capital Financing Requirement (CFR) was £385.392m at the end of the year. No new external loans were undertaken during 2024/25. The Housing Revenue Account undertook internal borrowing of £25.1m in year.

The council maintained an average balance of £83.9m of internally managed funds throughout 2024/25, earning an average rate of return of 4.93% compared with the previous year of 4.88%.

Cabinet Forward Plan

The council is scheduled to review the cabinet forward plan. The plan lists items for consideration at future cabinet meetings.

On 18th November 2025, the cabinet is scheduled to discuss the Health Campus and Local Government Reorganisation. On 2nd December 2025, the cabinet is scheduled to discuss the Tenant Engagement Strategy, Temporary Accommodation Strategy, Interim Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document, Biodiversity Duty and Garages Business Plan. On 3rd February 2026, the cabinet is scheduled to discuss the Tenancy Agreement Review, Conservation Area Character Appraisals, Investment Partnership Business plan, Old Town Hall Service Review and Hemel Garden Communities Supplementary planning Documents and HRA Business plan. On 24th March 2026, the cabinet is scheduled to discuss an unspecified topic.

Exclusion of the Public

The council is scheduled to consider passing a resolution to exclude the public during some of the meeting. The resolution states that this is because it is likely that there would be disclosure of exempt information relating to the financial and business affairs of the council and third party companies/organisations.

Homeless Hostel Management Agent Services Contract and Repairs Maintenance & Capital Delivery Project

The council is scheduled to discuss the Homeless Hostel Management Agent Services Contract and Repairs Maintenance & Capital Delivery Project. The public will be excluded from these discussions.