Agenda for Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, 22 September 2021, 6.00pm

Agenda and decisions

Venue: Council Chamber, Daneshill House, Danestrete, Stevenage

Contact: Lisa Jerome (01438) 242203  Email: committees@stevenage.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Decision:

There were no apologies for absence and no declarations of interest.

2.

MINUTES - 17 AUGUST 2021 pdf icon PDF 301 KB

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

Decision:

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

3.

PART I DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE pdf icon PDF 173 KB

To consider the following Part I Decisions of the Executive taken on 15 September 2021:

 

2. Minutes – 11 August 2021                                       3 – 10

3. Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee     11 – 14

and Select Committees

4. Covid – 19 Update

5. Transforming our Town Centre Programme update  15 - 48

and Towns Fund Decision Making

6. Corporate Performance Quarter One 2021/22          49 - 84

7. General Fund MTFS Update (2020/22 – 2025/26)    85 – 122

8. Annual Treasury Management Strategy Review       123 - 144

of 2020/21 including Prudential Code

 

Notice of Decisions to follow

 

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE

MEETING HELD ON 15 SEPTEMBER 2021

Additional documents:

Decision:

2.         Minutes of the Executive – 11 August 2021

 

            Noted.

 

3.         Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Select Committees

 

            Noted.

 

4.         Covid-19 Update

 

            The following comments/questions were raised:

 

·         The Middle Layer Super Output Areas (MSOA’s) were used by the National Office of Statistics and were closely aligned to the Council Wards although not exactly the same.

·         It was confirmed that there was a rounding up error in relation to the vaccination rate set out in the report which would be rectified.         

           

5.         Transforming Our Town Centre Programme Update and Towns Fund Decision Making

 

            The following responses were given to a number of comments/questions raised:

 

·         Not all projects benefitting from the Towns Fund were within the Town Centre boundary;

·         Councillors Sharon Taylor and John Gardner were Members of the Stevenage Development Board and Councillor Richard Henry involved with a themed Sub-Group of the Board relating to Leisure and Culture;

·         Themes for street naming had not yet been approved but it was confirmed that the Planning and Development Committee would be involved in the process;

·         Officers would be happy to engage with Members about any ideas they had in relation to Towns Fund projects and also ‘Meanwhile Use’ of any areas;

·         Every Business Case would be thoroughly scrutinised and considered by the Executive and this Committee and if necessary Full Council. In addition, it was noted that the Community Select Committee was looking closely at the New Town Heritage Centre;

·         An All Member Briefing had been scheduled for 30 September;

·         Final decisions would be taken in due course regarding details of where the funding for the cycling/walking infrastructure plan would be allocated;

·         In relation to redevelopment of other areas such as the Oval and Marymead shops, this would be coming forward for development in the future;

·         Members asked that consideration be given to inviting the Chair of the Stevenage Development Board to a future meeting where this matter was being discussed.

 

6.         Corporate Performance Quarter One 2021/22

 

            The following responses were given to a number of comments/questions raised:

 

·         Concern was expressed regarding response times within the CSC, Officers were aware of the issue and advised that a combination of the lockdown, previous efficiency savings plus an increase in the complexity of cases for household and individuals had caused the issue. Work was now underway to address this and proposals would be forthcoming to Members in the next calendar year regarding a remodelling of the Service;

·         In relation to the recent IT issues, Officers advised that although there had been a level of disruption this week, the network upgrade had been completed and would ensure that the Council could continue with planned IT improvements;

·         The MRC contract was continuing alongside engagement with Leaseholders regarding the repayment of the charges required of them. Officers agreed to send a summary of the payment options available to Leaseholders to all Members of the Committee;

·         Changes would be made to the next Performance Report to ensure the headings listed in the PI tables were relevant and that  ...  view the full decision text for item 3.

4.

URGENT PART I DECISIONS AUTHORISED BY THE CHAIR OF THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

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

Decision:

None.

5.

URGENT PART I BUSINESS

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

Decision:

None.

6.

EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

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.

7.

PART II MINUTES - OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE - 17 AUGUST 2021

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

Decision:

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

8.

PART II DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE

To consider the following Part II Decisions of the Executive taken on 15 September 2021.

 

11. Part II Minutes – Executive – 11 August 2021        145 - 148

 

Notice of Decisions to follow

 

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE

MEETING HELD 15 SEPTEMBER 2021

Decision:

Noted.

9.

URGENT PART II DECISIONS AUTHORISED BY THE CHAIR OF THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

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

Decision:

None.

10.

URGENT PART II BUSINESS

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

Decision:

None.