Agenda for Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, 19 August 2020, 6.00pm

Agenda and decisions

Venue: Virtual (via Zoom)

Contact: Fungai Nyamukapa 01438 242707 

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 for absence were received on behalf of Councillors John Mead, Sarah Mead and Robin Parker CC.

 

There were no declarations of interest.

2.

MINUTES - 14 JULY 2020 pdf icon PDF 68 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 14 July 2020

Decision:

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

3.

PART I DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE pdf icon PDF 88 KB

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

 

Executive                                                                                      Page No.

Agenda Item

 

2        Minutes of the Executive – 8 July 2020                                         3

3        Minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Select          15

          Committees

4        Co-operative Neighbourhoods                                                    19

5        Covid Update

6        Co-operative Commercial and Insourcing Strategy                       55

2020-2023          

 

Notice of Decisions to follow

 

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE

MEETING HELD ON 12 AUGUST 2020

Decision:

The Committee considered the decisions on the following matters arising from the Executive meeting held on 12 August 2020.

 

Minutes of the Executive – 8 July 2020

 

Noted.

 

Minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Select Committees

 

Noted.

 

Co-operative Neighbourhoods

 

A Member raised concerns regarding the nature of engagement with Ward Councillors and the level of Member input that was incorporated into the Co-operative Neighbourhoods programme.  Officers clarified that the Pin Green Community Plan of 2017-18 was not directly related to the introduction of Co-operative Neighbourhoods operating model in December 2019.  It was noted that the boundaries agreed by the Executive in 2019 served to optimise staff resources.  Officers acknowledged that there were distinct strengths and challenges for each Ward.

 

The Committee also sought clarification on projected improvements in the first two years of the Co-operative Neighbourhoods programme, implications on staff resources, prioritisation and lessons learned from previous initiatives for localised working.  

 

Covid-19 Update

 

In response to a Member’s request, Strategic Director (RP) undertook to provide Covid-19 data where applicable that was tailored to Stevenage and Hertfordshire.  The Strategic Director reported that officers were discussing with Public Health (Hertfordshire) ways of improving the flow of data from Public Health England and NHS England to the Council. 

 

Co-operative Commercial and Insourcing Strategy 2020-2023

 

A Member was concerned that some tenants would be priced out of their garages as a consequence of the Commercial Strategy.  Officers indicated that the Council’s differential pricing policy offered tenants choice in terms of cost and garage specification.  With regards to the Garage Improvement Programme (GIP), the Commercial Manager informed the Committee that the programme had increased the number of garages in circulation.  It was anticipated that the GIP would contribute towards neighbourhood improvements and reduction in anti-social behaviour.  Officers advised that the policy of bringing newer and better garages back onto the market would help to ease parking issues in neighbourhoods.

 

Urgent Part I Business

 

Noted.

 

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 DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE

To consider the following Part II Decisions of the Executive taken on              12 August 2020

 

Executive                                                                                      Page No.

Agenda Item

 

9        Co-operative Commercial and Insourcing Strategy                      77

2020-2023                                         

10      Emergency Covid-19 Funding Support for Stevenage                  SA3*

Leisure Limited

 

*SA – Supplementary Agenda

 

 

Notice of Decisions to follow

 

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE

MEETING HELD 12 AUGUST 2020

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that the Part II decisions of the Executive meeting held on 12 August 2020 be noted.

8.

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.

9.

URGENT PART II BUSINESS

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

Decision:

None.