Agenda and decisions

Apologies were received from Councillors Michael Downing and Philip Bibby.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 17 March 2021.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Committee meeting held on Wednesday 17 February 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To note the Terms of Reference for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as agreed at Annual Council on 26 May 2021.

The Committee noted the Terms of Reference.

To consider the following Part I Decisions of the Executive to be taken on 9 June 2021.

2.       Minutes – 10 March 2021                                                      3 -16

3.       Minutes of Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Select          17 - 22

          Committees

4.       Covid-19 Update

5.       Co-operative Tenant and Resident Involvement Strategy        23 - 68

6.       Leisure Contract Work Programme                                        69 – 78

Notice of Decisions to follow

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE

MEETING HELD ON 9 JUNE 2021.

2. Minutes of the Executive 10 March 2021

Noted.

3. Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Select Committee

Noted.

4. Covid19 Update

The Strategic Director (RP) advised that he provided an updated on the latest Covid19 position at the Executive meeting held on Wednesday 9 March 2021. He provided the following key updates to Members.

·       Epidemiology statistics were ward- related and did not indicate the socio-economic or employment of individuals;

·       Stevenage was little below the average for vaccination rate across Hertfordshire;

·       Vaccine hesitancy; lower take up of the vaccines in some communities, linked to deprival areas;

·        Hertfordshire County Council was working to set up vaccination walk in centres without prior appointments.

·       Council was working on new ways of working, further information would be provided in the next Executive meeting.

Strategic Director (RP) advised on vaccine hesitancy that low income residents were concerned about the impact of the vaccine on them, in case they developed symptoms and would not be able to go to work.

Members asked numerous questions and received the following comments:

·       Members would be provided with a briefing note with details of relevant phone numbers of organisations offering help to those with suicidal tendencies;

·       Vaccine hesitancy was considered to be a major issue, further work would be needed to tackle the issue.

The Committee noted the report.

5. Co-operative Tenant and Resident involvement Strategy

The Committee was briefed that the Executive considered a report in respect of proposed new arrangement for ensuring that SBC tenants and residents have a range of opportunities to participate in the management of their homes and neighbourhoods, building on the development of the Co-operative Neighbourhood operating model.

The Assistant Director (RG) advised Members that the Housing Management Advisory Board would be consulted on the new proposal by way of a workshop session. The consultation exercise would put the residents’ views first. Members were informed about the new co-operative customer scrutiny model for housing function, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report on the Executive agenda.

The Committee noted the report.

6. Leisure Contract Work Programme

The Committee was briefed that the Executive received a report on Leisure Contract Work Programme. Members were advised on the current arrangement that the Council had in place with the Stevenage Leisure Limited since its formation in 1998, the current contract was due to end in 2023.

The following key updates were provided to the Committee:

A number of leisure facilities are included in the current leisure contract.  In respect of the project to create new leisure and sport facility, part funded by the Town Deal, would look to bring wet and dry facilities together under one site. 

The project would look in to leisure and cultural provision across the Borough to involve as many sports and arts organisations as possible in the primary stage.

The Committee noted the progression of the Leisure Contract Work Programme.

7. Corporate Performance – 4^th Quarter 2020/21

The Strategic Directors (TP & CF) presented a report in relation  ...  view the full decision text for item 4.

To consider the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme for 2021-22.

The Panel received a suggested Work Programme and agenda planning for the future meetings. The Work Programme was flexible working document that was subject to change as new issues arose. Members were encouraged to suggest items to be included in the Work Programme at any time. 

The Scrutiny Officer outlined the following key issues that would be discussed at the future meetings:

·       I.T outage incidents (to remain on the Work Programme pending the output from a proposed all Member briefing seminar).

·       Resident and Tenant Survey (to be directed by the Assistant Director, Community)

·       Review of the Council’s Scrutiny Arrangements ( to receive the Executive Member proposal at the July meeting)

·       General Fund Budget and Council Tax Setting

·       Transformation Programme

The PHAG to be withdrawn from the Work Programme.

The Committee noted the Work Programme.

Members are invited to consider the action tracker for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and to note its content.

The Scrutiny Officer presented the Action Tracker to the Committee. The Action Tracker contained useful information to track the progress of items that the Committee had previously scrutinised.

To consider any urgent Part I Decisions authorised by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

None.

To consider any Part I business accepted by the Chair as urgent

Government Levelling Up Fund

The Strategic Director (TP) advised that the Government had allocated £4.8 billion nationally in respect of the Levelling up Fund. He informed Members that the Council would submit a bid by June 2021, and Officers would be working closely with the Stevenage Development Board to provide a compelling case.

The Strategic Director (TP) explained that as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, the Queen would be creating a number of new cities. He advised that it would be an opportunity for the Council to put in an application for the City Status and the Executive had requested Officers to identify how the bid process operates, noting the strong connections between the New Town and the Monarch’s reign.

To consider the following motions:

1.       That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in Paragraphs 1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.       That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

It was RESOLVED:

1. That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 1-7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2. That Members considered the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determined that the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighed the public interest in disclosure.

To consider the following Part II Decisions of the Executive to be taken on 9 June 2021.

10.      Part II Minutes – Executive – 10 March 2021                         121 - 124

Notice of Decisions to follow

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE

MEETING HELD 9 JUNE 2021

DANESTRETE ROUNDABOUT SITE DISPOSAL

The Committee considered the resolutions of the Executive in respect of a report regarding the Danestrete Roundabout site disposal.

To consider any urgent Part II Decisions authorised by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

None.

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent