Agenda for Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, 23 September 2020, 6.00pm

Agenda and decisions

Venue: Virtual (via Zoom)

Contact: Lisa Jerome 01438 242203  Email: committees@stevevenage.gov.uk

Note: You can view this meeting via the live stream from the Council’s YouTube channel by following this link - https://www.youtube.com/user/SBCComms 

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Decision:

Apologies were received from Councillors John Mead and Simon Speller.

 

There were no declarations of interest.

2.

MINUTES - 19 AUGUST 2020 pdf icon PDF 63 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 19 August 2020

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 19 August 2020 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

3.

PART I DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE pdf icon PDF 116 KB

To consider the following Part I Decisions of the Executive taken on              16 September 2020

 

Executive                                                                                      Page No.

Agenda Item

 

2        Minutes of the Executive – 12 August 2020                                5

3        Minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Select          13

          Committees

4        Local Development Scheme (LDS)                                             17

5        Parking Provision and Sustainable Transport                              35          Supplementary Planning Document: Adoption

6        Stevenage Borough Council Climate Change Strategy                  129

Adoption and Engagement Consultation Update                           

7        Covid-19 Update

8        Annual Treasury Management Review of 2019/20                        211

and Prudential Code

9        General Fund Medium Term Financial Strategy Update                229

(2020/21 – 2024/25)

10      Quarter 1 Monitoring Report 2020/21 (Capital)                             273

– General Fund and Housing Revenue Account

 

Notice of Decisions to follow

 

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE

MEETING HELD ON 16 SEPTEMBER 2020

Decision:

The Committee considered the decisions on the following matters arising from the Executive meeting held on 16 September 2020.

 

Minutes of the Executive – 12 August 2020

 

Noted, subject to the inclusion of Councillor Robin Parker, Observer at the meeting being included in the list of apologies.

 

Minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Select Committees

 

Noted.

 

Local Development Scheme (LDS)

 

In response to a question, Officers advised that the LDS was a Planning Policy Document which gave a snapshot of the work the Council would be doing this year. They agreed that a key to the number of acronyms used in the document would be considered in the future.  

 

Parking Provision and Sustainable Transport Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

 

The following issues were raised during the debate:

 

·         It was noted that the document gave the Council power to insist on higher standards for sustainable transport;

·         The Assistant Director (Planning and Regulation) advised that following adoption, the document would be monitored by the Environment and Economy Select Committee and the Planning and Development Committee;

·         Members were concerned regarding the reduction in parking spaces. Officers advised that spaces would be reduced if they were in the Town Centre or other accessible areas. The need for spaces would be balanced with the accessibility to other available forms of transport;

·         It was confirmed that the provision of disabled parking spaces would remain the same as it was now;

·         In relation to the County Council, officers advised that on adopted highway the rules would continue to apply;

·         In response to a question regarding the boundaries of accessibility zones, officers advised that the case officer dealing with an application would take into account if an application was on the border of a zone;

·         Members agreed that the Policy should go some way towards strengthening the case for developers to provide a contribution towards sustainable transport;

·         In response to a question regarding unallocated electric charging points, officers advised that a pool of spaces would allow greater flexibility and be more accessible. The enforcement of the spaces would be the responsibility of the individual development.. 

 

Stevenage Borough Council Climate Change Strategy Adoption and Engagement Consultation Update

 

The following issues were raised during the debate:

 

·         It was confirmed that the Citizens’ Panel would consist of a cross-section of residents. 26 over 18’s would be randomly selected by an external consultant;

·         In response to a question, officers advised that the consultation had been carried out on-line and face to face but had been limited by a number of events not being held due to the pandemic;

·         Officers advised that young people would be engaged via the Youth Council and also through schools once the accessibility to schools had improved.

 

Covid-19 Update

 

Noted.

 

Annual Treasury management Review of 2019/20 and Prudential Code

 

In response to a question regarding Essex House, the Assistant Director (Finance & Estates) advised that the lease had just been renegotiated with the current tenant.

 

General Fund Medium Term Financial Strategy Update (2020/21 – 2024/25)

 

Officers gave an  ...  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 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.

 

 

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.

 

7.

PART II MINUTES - OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE - 19 AUGUST 2020

To approve as a correct record the Part II Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 19 August 2020

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that the Part II Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 19 August 2020 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

 

8.

PART II DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE

To consider the following Part II Decisions of the Executive taken on             16 September 2020

 

Executive                                                                                      Page No.

Agenda Item

 

13      Part II Minutes of the Executive – 12 August 2020                   293

14      Locality Review Land and Site Disposal Report                         297

 

 

Notice of Decisions to follow

 

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE

MEETING HELD 16 SEPTEMBER 2020

Decision:

Minutes of the Executive – 12 August 2020

 

Noted, subject to the deletion of Councillor Robin Parker, Observer at the meeting from the attendees list.

 

Locality Review land and Site Disposal Report

 

 

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.