Agenda for Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Monday, 16 March 2020, 6.00pm

Agenda and decisions

Venue: Shimkent Room, Daneshill House, Danestrete

Contact: Lisa Jerome 01438 242203 

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Decision:

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Michelle Gardner, Andy McGuinness, John Mead and Sarah Mead.

 

There were no declarations of interest.

2.

MINUTES - OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE 12 AND 17 FEBRUARY 2020 pdf icon PDF 55 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees held on 12 and 17 February 2020.

 

Minutes attached

Additional documents:

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 12 and 17 February 2020 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

3.

PART 1 DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE pdf icon PDF 106 KB

To consider the following Part 1 Decisions of the Executive taken on Wednesday 11 March 2020.

 

Executive                                                                                                        Page No.

Agenda Item No.

 

2          Minutes of the Executive – 12 February 2020                                   5

3          Minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and                                    21

            Select Committees

4          Damp and Condensation Policy                                                         35

5          Aids and Adaptations Service Policy                                                  65

6          Variations of Tenancy Agreement and Conditions of Tenancy         103

7          Community Wealth Building                                                               173

8          Corporate Performance 2019/20 – Quarter 3                                    183

9          3rd Quarter Revenue Monitoring Report – General Fund and            223

            Housing Revenue Account 2019/20

10        3rd Quarter Capital Monitoring Report – General Fund and               239

            Housing Revenue Account 2019/20

                                                           

Notice of Decisions to follow

 

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD ON 11 MARCH 2020

 

Decision:

The Committee considered the decisions on the following matters arising from the Executive meeting held on 11 March 2020:

 

Minutes of the Executive – 12 February 2020

 

Noted.

 

Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny and Select Committees

 

Noted.

 

Damp and Condensation Policy

 

Noted.

 

Aids and Adaptations Service Policy

 

Officers advised that other than sometimes experiencing some delay, the relationship between SBC and HCC was good in relation to aids and adaptation cases.

 

Variations of Tenancy Agreement and Conditions of Tenancy

 

It was noted that the reference to pets and other animals would be adapted to allow tenants to keep certain types of pets without needing to obtain permission.

 

In response to a question about smoking, officers advised that within the agreements, tenants were asked to refrain from smoking for two hours prior to a visit from Council officer. This provided the support for officers to rebook visits if necessary.

 

Community Wealth Building (CWB)

 

A Member requested that the work undertaken in and by community centres should be linked into the work on CWB.

 

In relation to procurement rules, Officers clarified that each contract was agreed on an individual basis. Contract Standing Orders do refer to local companies but the rules around the tender assessment must be published in advance of the tender process.

 

Corporate Performance 2019/20 – Quarter 3

 

Officers advised that cases of absence due to coronavirus would be recorded separately from the generic sickness figures. Officers advised that the Council was following NJC advice regarding self-isolation which did require a level of trust in employees.

 

In response to a question regarding the rise in sickness figures since the introduction of the new reporting regime, Officers suggested that this could be as a result of past under reporting and recording.

 

In response to a question regarding recycling rates for the Town, Officers confirmed that Stevenage was similar to other urban areas but that a range of issues were being looked at as part of the waste strategy which was currently under review.

 

Officers agreed to look at the overall in way performance data was reported to see if it could be made clearer.

 

3rd Quarter Revenue Monitoring Report  - General Fund and Housing Revenue Account 2019/20

 

Noted.

 

3rd Quarter Capital Monitoring Report  - General Fund and Housing Revenue Account 2019/20

 

Noted.

 

Urgent Part I Business

 

Officers advised that a briefing note would be sent to all Members with an update on the current situation in respect of Coronavirus.

 

 

 

4.

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

None.

Decision:

None.

5.

OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE SCRUTINY WORK PROGRAMME 2020-21 pdf icon PDF 140 KB

To agree the Scrutiny Work Programme for the Committee for the new Municipal Year.

 

Decision:

The Scrutiny Officer submitted a report requesting the Committee to agree the Work Programme for the Committee for the new Municipal Year.

 

Following discussion it was agreed that the Council’s response to the Coronavirus would be a future topic to scrutinise.

 

In relation to the review of the Scrutiny process, it was agreed that this would carry over to the new Municipal year as a number of committee meetings had now been cancelled due to the coronavirus situation. Officers advised that due to the exceptional circumstances the Council was having to work in it might be that committees would have to work differently in the near future.

 

It was RESOLVED that:

 

(1)  That the Council’s response to the Coronavirus be a future topic to scrutinise;

(2)  That further details of what should be included in the Committee’s work plan be considered at the next meeting of the Committee in the new Municipal Year.

6.

URGENT PART 1 BUSINESS

To consider any Part 1 business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

Decision:

None.

7.

EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

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 paragraphs1 – 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.

 

Decision:

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.

 

8.

PART II MINUTES - OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE 12 FEBRUARY 2020

To approve as a correct record the Part II Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees held on 12 February 2020.

 

Minutes attached

 

Decision:

Noted.

9.

PART II DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE

To consider the Part II Decisions of the Executive taken on Wednesday 11 March 2020.

 

Executive                                                                                                      Page No.

Agenda Item

 

13        Part II Minutes – Executive – 12 February 2020                                         263

14        Part II Minutes – Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 12             265

            February 2020

 

Notice of Decisions to follow

 

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD ON 11 MARCH 2020

 

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that the Part II decisions of the Executive held on 12 February 2020 be noted subject to Councillor Mitchell’s name being removed from the second paragraph.

10.

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

None.

Decision:

None.

11.

URGENT PART II BUSINESS

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

Decision:

None.