Agenda for Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, 17 February 2021, 6.00pm

Agenda and decisions

Venue: Virtual (via Zoom)

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

There were no apologies for absence.

 

There were no declarations of interest.

2.

MINUTES - 26 JANUARY 2021 pdf icon PDF 73 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 26 January 2021.

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Committee meeting held on Tuesday 26 January 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

3.

PART I DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE pdf icon PDF 104 KB

To consider the following Part I Decisions of the Executive taken on 10 February 2021.

 

2.       Minutes – 20 January 2021                                         3 - 16

3.       Minutes of Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Select          17 – 22

          Committees

4.       Covid-19 Update

5.       Draft Community Safety Strategy 2021 – 2024                      23 – 60

6.       Stevenage Connection Area Action Plan: Issues and              61 - 160

          Options Report for Public Consultation

7.       Final General Fund and Council Tax Setting 2021/22             161 – 336

8.       Final Capital Strategy 2020/21 – 2025/26                              337 – 380

9.       Annual Treasury Management Strategy including Prudential          381 - 416

          Code Indicators 2021/22

 

Notice of Decisions to follow

 

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE

MEETING HELD ON 10 FEBRUARY 2021

Decision:

The Committee noted the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 20 January 2021.

 

Minutes of the Executive – 20 January 2021

 

Note.

 

Minutes of Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Select Committees

 

Noted.

 

4. Covid-19 Update

 

·       The Strategic Director (RP) advised that he provided an update on the latest Covid-19 position at the Executive meeting held on 10 February 2021, and a detailed update was also provided to Coronavirus Executive Committee meeting held on 2 February 2021. He advised Members that there had been a reduction in Covid-19 cases, and currently stood at 150 per 1000 population in Stevenage, which was a 38.1 percent decrease for those over the age of 60.

The Strategic Director (RP) advised Members that the following actions would be taken following the Executive meeting on 10 February 2020.

 

·       Officers were queried to provide further information on running a safe election during the pandemic.

·       Further information would be provided to Members on South African variant, once received by the Officers.

·        Information on how Members used their Local Community Fund to support Covid-19 would be shared with the Coronavirus Executive Committee on 26 February 2021.

5. Draft Community Safety Strategy 2021 – 2024

 

In response to a question, the Community Safety Manager advised Members that Hertfordshire County Council had the Hate Crime Strategy and its consultation under their remit, and was a County wide strategy. The Council would be closely monitoring the Strategy outcome. She advised Members on third party reporting centres on hate crimes.

 

The Committee noted the Draft Community Safety Strategy for 2021 – 2024.

 

6. Stevenage Connection Area Action Plan: Issues and Options Report for Public Consultation

 

The Planning Policy Manager updated Members on the draft Stevenage Connection Area Action Plan. In response to a question, the Assistant Director for Planning and Regulations advised Members there would be a minimum of six weeks consultation, and an additional six weeks. He clarified that the second six weeks would more likely to be face to face if lockdown measure were lifted. Members would be informed about the process via email.

 

In response to a question, the Strategic Director (TP) advised Members that the consultation would be accessible and Council would be responsive for options to the consultation outcome. He explained that it would be for the public to decide which options they would want the Council to explore.

 

The Committee noted the draft Stevenage Connection Area Plan.

 

7. Final General Fund and Council Tax Setting 2021/22

 

In response to a question, the Assistant Director for Finance and Estates (CF) advised Members on allotments. She explained that the Council took on the responsibility for the running of the allotments from the Allotment association in 2020, which had resulted in increased costs to the Council. Members agreed for the increased charge for the allotment in 2020/21 budget.

 

The Assistant Director for Finance and Estate (CF) would take Members comments on board regarding increased communication between the Council and the allotment holders. She also clarified that there would be more  ...  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.

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 1-7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006.

 

2. That Members considered the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determined that the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighed the public interest in disclosure.

 

7.

PART II MINUTES - OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE - 26 JANUARY 2021 pdf icon PDF 71 KB

To approve as a correct record the Part II Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 26 January 2021.

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that the Part ll Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Tuesday 26 January 2021 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 10 February 2021.

 

12       Part II Minutes – Executive – 20 January 2021                       417 - 422

 

Notice of Decisions to follow

 

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE

MEETING HELD 10 FEBRUARY 2021

Decision:

The Committee considered the Part ll decisions of the Executive meeting held on Wednesday 20 January 2021.

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.