Decision details

The Committee considered the decisions on the following matters arising from the Executive meeting held on 8 July 2020.

Minutes of the Executive – 10 June 2020

Noted.         

Minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Select Committees        

Noted.

Coronavirus (Covid-19) Incident Update Report and Recovery Plan     

a.       Covid-19 Data Sharing      

In response to a request that Ward level Covid-19 data be provided to Ward Members, Strategic Director (RP) informed the Committee that the Council would share as much data as was permitted under Public Health England’s data sharing agreement with local authorities.  PHE shared some data in confidence with Category One responders such as SBC.  Officers would also provide ONS data and Ward level response data from Stevenage Helps and other sources.

Strategic Director (RP) reported that there was a lag in the supply of ONS data to local authorities.  The Council would publish some unrestricted Covid-19 data on the website.

b.       Primett Road Car Park

Members raised questions relating to the additional Executive recommendation to offer 3 hours free car parking in the former Waitrose Car Park (Primett Road) for the next six months, and reviewed thereafter.  Strategic Director (TP) highlighted the Council’s discussions with HCC relating to movement plans for Old Town High Street as part of the incident management arrangements.  The Council (SBC) had anticipated displacement of parking provision in the Old Town High Street as a result of social distancing, appropriate queuing and the recommendations for outdoor seating.  It had been deemed appropriate to offer free parking at the under-utilised Primett Road (Old Waitrose) car park to those displaced from the High Street.

c.       Outdoor Seating Licensing

Strategic Director (TP) informed Members that he was not aware of any concerns surrounding the issuing of licences for outdoor seating facilities in Stevenage.

Housing First Approach at Stevenage Borough Council in Response to the Rough Sleeping Crisis

Noted.

A Co-operative Inclusive Economy Charter  

Members welcomed the Charter and commented that it was important to link the Charter to community and neighbourhood management work and the promotion of local purchasing.  A Member sought clarification on plans to use the Charter to engage those who were not affiliated to formal organisations within the community.  Assistant Director (Communities and Neighbourhoods) assured Members that the Charter would be captured in the resumption of the Neighbourhood Management Programme and it would be used in the engagement with existing community groups or new collectives of residents.  

The Assistant Director also indicated that the adoption of the Charter would lead to a review of the Council’s procurement strategy to make explicit reference to community wealth building.  It was noted that the Charter would be key in efforts to revive the local economy post-Covid-19.

2019/20 Annual Report and Performance Overview

A Member sought clarification on the possibility of a review of the Council’s Climate Emergency Strategy in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.  In acknowledging the impact of Covid-19 on the Strategy, Strategic Director (TP) highlighted reduced car journeys to work as a result remote working arrangements.  TP also cited measures announced by central government including the new Green Homes Grant scheme.  

4th Quarter Revenue Monitoring Report 2019/20 - General Fund and Housing Revenue Account 

In response to a question about the overspend on indirect staff costs, Strategic Director (CF) informed the Committee that these costs related to the recruitment of staff while a restructuring of the Housing and Investment Business Unit was being carried out.                          

Capital Expenditure Outturn 2019/20

Noted.                   

Urgent Part I Business

Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Summer Economic Statement

The Strategic Director (CF) provided the Committee with summary details of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Summer Economic Statement.