Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Sarah-Jane McDonough, John Mead, Sarah Mead and Adam Mitchell.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 14 January 2020 and 28 January 2020.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 14 January 2020 and 28 January 2020 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

To consider the following Part I Decisions of the Executive taken on 12 February 2020.

Executive                                                                                                      Page No.

Agenda Item No.

2          Minutes of the Executive – 22 January 2020                                         5

3          Minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and                          15

            Select Committees

4          Parking Provision and Sustainable Transport Supplementary                    23

            Planning Document: Public Consultation

5          Stevenage Borough Council Climate Change and Engagement      85

            Update

6          Licensing Act 2003 – Review of Statement of Licensing Policy      113

7          Household Waste Management Policy                                               163

8          Final General Fund and Council Tax Setting 2020/2021 –             179

            BUDGET & POLICY FRAMEWORK ITEM

9          Final Capital Strategy 2019/20 – 2024/25 – BUDGET & POLICY   211

            FRAMEWORK ITEM          

10        Annual Treasury Management Strategy including Prudential                    247

            Code Indicators 2020/21 – BUDGET & POLICY FRAMEWORK

            ITEM

Notice of Decisions to follow

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD ON 12 FEBRUARY 2020

The Committee considered the decisions on the following matters arising from the Executive meeting held on 12 February 2020:

Minutes of the Executive – 22 January 2020

Noted.

Minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny and Select Committees

Noted.

Parking Provision and Sustainable Transport Supplementary Planning Document: Public Consultation           

In response to Members’ questions, the Assistant Director (Planning and Regulatory) commented:

·         The suggestion that the size of residential garages should be increased to make them fit for purpose would be taken on board;

·         developers would be required to make a financial contribution towards parking contributions in the area of any approved application;

·         In relation to the Town Centre, although the provision of parking spaces was still important, the opportunity to reduce the numbers should be considered as all amenities could be reached without the use of a car;

·         Consideration would be given to what was included in the S106 agreement for the development on land to the North of Stevenage to try to avoid any overflow parking issues from the Lister Hospital;

·         The suggestion of a park and ride scheme and the issue of parking spaces being taken up by commercial vans would be looked at as part of the Transport Strategy.

Stevenage Borough Council Climate Change and Engagement Update

It was noted that the first meeting of the Climate Change Working Group had taken place. Members asked that the importance of including young people, youth groups and local schools be highlighted as a crucial strand of work.

Members were advised of the programme of projects for ‘quick wins’ for the Council over the next 12 months including free water in the Town Centre, Orchard planting schemes and the reduction in fleet emissions. Officers agreed that the report back to the Climate Change Working Group on the programme of quick wins would also be submitted to this Committee.

Licensing Act 2003 – Review of Statement of Licensing Policy

It was noted that the Senior Environmental Health and Licensing Manager would be investigating the possibility of imposing conditions requiring the recycling of empty bottles by licensees.

Household Waste Management Policy

In considering the Policy the following issues were raised:

·         Communications were key particularly with regard to

o   the changes around clinical waste collection;

o   the transition between the change from boxes to bags;

o   recharging for replacement wheelie bins and free additions/replacement of recycling receptacles. It was noted that the current cost of replacement bins was in the region of £10,000 per annum including admin and delivery;

o   the recycling of tetrapak was unclear to many residents;

o   missed collections and the reporting thereof.

·         It was suggested that a future edition of Chronicle could be used to set out clearly the rules and changes around the waste policy;

·         Concern was raised about the need to report missing or stolen bins to the Police as it was felt this could be a waste of time and Police resources;

·         Difficulties around side waste, and that it should be made clear that refuse and recycling would  ...  view the full decision text for item 3.

None.

None.

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

None.

To consider the following motions:

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 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 to 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by SI 2006 No. 88.

2.  That having considered the reasons for the following item being in Part II, it be determined that maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighed the public interest in disclosure.

To approve as a correct record the Part II Minutes of the meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 28 January 2020.

Noted.

Executive                                                                                                      Page No.

Agenda Item

13        Part II Minutes – Executive – 22 January 2020                               277

14        Debt Write Offs Greater than £10,000                                               279

Notice of Decisions to follow

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD ON 22 JANUARY 2020

Noted.

None.

None.

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

None.