Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Lloyd Briscoe.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 11 September 2019 for signature by the Chair.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 11 September 2019 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

To note the following minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny and Select Committees-

Environment & Economy Select Committee – 3 September 2019

Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 16 September 2019

Community Select Committee – 17 September 2019

Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 23 September 2019

In respect of the Minutes of the meeting of the Environment & Economy Select Committee held on 3 September 2019, the Leader welcomed the recent announcement of the imminent opening of a new Post Office at Bedwell Shops and looked forward to hearing about a venue for a replacement Post Office in Stevenage High Street.

In relation to the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 16 September 2019, the Assistant Director (Planning & Regulatory) advised that the Independent Examiner’s report into the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) was expected at the end of October 2019, and it was intended to be reported to the Executive in December 2019 and Council in January 2020.  The Portfolio Holder for Resources commented that the FirstCare Sickness Management Service for SBC employees had commenced on 7 October 2019.

With regard to the Minutes of the meeting of the Community Select Committee held on 17 September 2019, the Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Leisure thanked Members of the Select Committee for their helpful views and comments on the Sports and Leisure review and encouraged them to continue their involvement going forward.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the following meetings of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Select Committees be noted –

Environment & Economy Select Committee – 3 September 2019

Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 16 September 2019

Community Select Committee – 17 September 2019

Overview & Scrutiny Committee (sitting as a Select Committee) – 23 September 2019

To consider the adoption of the amended Future Town, Future Transport Strategy as the transport strategy for Stevenage.

Members made the following comments/suggested amendments to the Strategy:

·      The Council’s carbon neutral target should be amended from “2050” to “2030”, in line with the recent Climate Change Emergency resolution;

·      Officers were requested to ensure that the next iteration of the Strategy included some form of consolidation with other inter-related Council strategies/policies;

·      It should be made clear in the Strategy that the Council’s established approach was for a widening of the A1(M) rather than a SMART motorway;

·      For clarity, either of the terms “living streets” or “liveable streets” should be used throughout the document, not both;

·      The Strategy needs to flag up that there were no evening bus services in some parts of the town, and a desire that the Council wished these to be re-instated, along with a circulatory route which served the Lister Hospital;

·      The Strategy should include an objective to prevent the idling of bus engines once the proposed new Bus Station came into operation;

·      The Assistant Director (Planning & Regulatory) undertook to provide Executive Members with details of the membership and frequency of meetings of the Disability Panel;

·      In terms of disability issues, consideration be given to a limitation on the speed of mobility scooters and electric wheelchairs in the Town Centre to 4mph;

·      Clarification be provided on precisely which vehicles were permitted to use the Stevenage cycleway system;

·      Going forward, consideration be given to the use of some of the Council’s garage blocks as charging points for electric vehicles; and

·      Officers were requested to review the 2023 targets contained in the document relating to “Park and Ride” and “Electric Bike” schemes.

The Leader asked the Assistant Director (Planning & Regulatory) to meet with a Member who had raised issues with regard to roads crossing cycleways, and whether the Strategy could include an objective striving for reduced bus fares, in order to encourage residents toward a modal shift away for car use.

Members supported an additional recommendation proposed by the Leader that the Strategy be reviewed by the Executive in 12 months’ time, particularly in the light of potential developments during that time with the Climate Change Strategy, including the proposed Citizens’ Panel and People’s Assembly.

It was RESOLVED:

1.         That the responses to the consultation on the draft “Future Town, Future Transport” Strategy be noted.

2.         That the proposed amendments to the draft “Future Town, Future Transport” Strategy made following public consultation be approved.

3.         That the revised “Future Town, Future Transport” Strategy, attached at Appendix B to the report, be adopted as the transport strategy for Stevenage, sitting under the Future Town Future Council Corporate Plan as one of the “place of Choice” strategies.

4.         That the Strategy be reviewed by the Executive in 12 months’ time, particularly in the light of potential developments during that time with the Climate Change Strategy, including the proposed Citizens’ Panel and People’s Assembly.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in the report; and 4. To ensure a robust monitoring and review of the Strategy.

Other Options considered: As  ...  view the full decision text for item 4.

To consider and approve the commencement of the procurement process for new Domestic and Communal Gas Servicing and Repairs Contracts.

It was clarified that it would be the responsibility of the Housing Tenancy Team to liaise with tenants over any issues identified by the Gas Contractors.

It was RESOLVED:

1.         That the procurement approach outlined in the report be agreed.

2.         That the procurement process be commenced.

3.         That a third-party procurement consultant be procured and appointed to support the procurement process.

4.         That the current contracts are extended to July 2020 to allow the incoming contractors to mobilise effectively, paid for from within the existing Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget.

5.         That the services are procured as two lots within the same open OJEU procurement, with bidders being permitted to bid for either or both, with the lots to be evaluated separately.

6.         That the Strategic Director (RP) be given delegated authority to award and finalise the terms of the contract(s) with the winning bidders after an officer panel has concluded an evaluation of tenders received and having consulted the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Older People.

Reason for Decision: As contained in report.

Other Options considered: As contained in report.

To consider and approve the Stevenage Borough Council and East Hertfordshire District Council Joint Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Joint Strategy.

In response to questions raised by Members on the proposed Strategy:

·      The Assistant Director (Finance & Estates) confirmed that ICT costs were generally shared 50/50 between SBC and East Hertfordshire District Council, although at times SBC contributed a slightly higher proportion due to its larger workforce;

·      The Assistant Director (Finance & Estates) advised that the Revenue costs had been built into the Medium Term Financial Strategy; and that the Capital costs would need to be re-profiled as part of the Capital Strategy;

·      The Chief Executive  gave an assurance that he supported the direction of travel and the level of investment set out in the ICT Strategy, as a root and branch review of ICT provision had been carried out to identify the improvements required;

·      The Strategic Director confirmed that the permanent recruitment process for an Assistant Director post responsible for Transformation and Digital would commence in the coming months;

·      Assurances were given that the new ICT equipment would be fully tested before the existing equipment was de-commissioned;

·      Monitoring of the Strategy would be carried out by the ICT Partnership Board and the Audit Committee, including the monitoring of efficiencies and savings achieved; and

·      IT system providers would be encouraged to move towards cloud based information storage systems, in advance of the Council’s planned move to the Civic Hub.

The Leader stated that improvements to the Council’s IT system was a priority and that significant investment was required to enable the development of a sustainable and resilient IT network to properly serve the residents of Stevenage.  In order to bring this about, Members were informed that the level of investment could result in other priorities being re-profiled or deferred.

The Leader thanked the Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood & Co-operative Working, the Strategic ICT & Partnership Manager and the IT Team for their work in producing the Strategy.

It was RESOLVED:

1.         That the ICT Partnership’s ICT Strategy 2019 – 2022, attached at Appendix A to the report, be approved.

2.         That delegated authority be granted to the Strategic Director (RP), having consulted the Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and Co-operative Working, to make any further amendments to the ICT Strategy.

3.         That the ICT funding challenges be noted, and the currently known ICT capital investments be prioritised, as summarised in Table 2 at Paragraph 5.1.7 of the report, subject to available funds and the Council’s agreement to their inclusion in the Capital Strategy 2020/21.

4.         That Council be recommended to approve the re-profiling of the ICT Capital Programme over the next five years, as summarised in Table 2 at Paragraph 5.1.7 of the report, as part of the Capital Strategy for 2020/21.

5.         That Council be recommended to prioritise the currently known revenue pressures relating to the ICT Strategy (subject to available funds) through the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account annual budget setting process for 2020/21.

6.         That delegated authority be given to the Strategic Director (TP), having consulted the Portfolio Holders for Neighbourhoods & Co-operative Working and Resources, to negotiate and agree a new ICT  ...  view the full decision text for item 6.

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

(1)       Public Works Loan Board

The Assistant Director (Finance & Estates) advised that the Government had announced an increase of 1% in the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) interest rates.  This would mean that the financial information contained in the emerging Housing Revenue Account Business Plan and the Wholly Owned Housing Company would need significant revision.

The Executive was extremely disappointed at this announcement, especially as there had been no consultation with the Local Government Association (LGA) or local authorities, and as the Government had encouraged councils to borrow at the previously lower interest rates.

The Leader would be raising the matter with the Chair of the LGA Resources Board, and asked the Assistant Director (Finance & Estates) to feed back the Executive’s extreme disappointment to the Local Government Minister and the Treasury.

(2)       Brexit Update

The Interim Strategic Director updated Members on the Council’s “No Deal” Brexit preparations.

The Interim Strategic Director was requested to:

·      Keep a close monitor of the expenditure associated with the Council’s Brexit preparations;

·      Provide a weekly summary of developments to Executive Members;

·      Provide regular monthly updates to all Members; and

·      Provide a list of the officer leads for each of the Brexit preparation work areas to Executive Members.

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.

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 involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in Paragraphs 1 to 7 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by SI 2006 No. 88.

2.         That, having considered the reasons for the following items 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 section of the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 11 September 2019.

It was RESOLVED that the Part II Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 11 September 2019 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

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

None.