Decisions

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

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.

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.

None.

None.

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 update on the representations that were being made to the Government in terms of Council funding and the expenses accrued as a result of the Pandemic including Homelessness costs, spending review submissions and the resulting funding gap.

It was noted that the work of the Leaders Financial Security Group would continue once the financial situation was fully known.

Quarter 1 Monitoring Report 2020/21 (Capital) – General Fund and Housing Revenue Account

Noted.

Urgent Part I Business

Noted.

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.

Apologies were received from Councillors John Mead and Simon Speller.

There were no declarations of interest.

None.

None.

The Chair informed Members that the Committee would work with the Planning and Development Committee when considering crosscutting scrutiny studies and policy development.  In response to a question, the Scrutiny Officer clarified that there was a small amount of money available for scrutiny work each year.  The scrutiny budget would ordinarily be announced at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s annual report to Council.

It was RESOLVED that the Terms of Reference for the Select Committee, as agreed at the Annual Council meeting on 20 May 2020 be noted.

The Select Committee considered its draft Work Programme for 2020/21.   The Scrutiny Officer highlighted the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the work programme. 

The following observations were made in respect of the Work Programme:

Local Neighbourhood Centres - Members had carried out site visits to selected neighbourhoods.  It was agreed that further site visits would not add much value to the review but that lessons from site visits could inform the Cooperative Neighbourhoods approach.  Members were advised to collate notes from meetings between Communities & Neighbourhoods Officers and Ward Members as documentary evidence for the review. 

The Scrutiny Officer reported that he was in discussions with Assistant Director (Housing Development) regarding arrangements for a Committee briefing on regeneration plans for Neighbourhood Centres, update on Kenilworth Close Scheme, the Oval and future regeneration projects.

Climate Emergency Strategy Action Plan – Scrutiny of the Council’s Climate Emergency Strategy Action Plan would be the Committee’s major project for the next two years.  The Chair highlighted the importance of tackling Climate Change and the urgency of reviewing the Council’s Climate Emergency Strategy Action Plan.  Strategic Director (TP) confirmed that the draft Climate Change Strategy was approved at the September Executive meeting, to be followed by a Citizen’s Panel to review the draft strategy and action plan.  Members and Officers highlighted the importance of engaging Members of the Executive.  The Chair informed the Committee that he would take part in future meetings of the Implementation Group that would be created to help drive and monitor progress made against the Climate Change Action Plan.

Impact of Covid-19 – A review of the impact of Covid-19 on economic development in Stevenage was considered to be urgent.  Strategic Director (TP) confirmed that the Council received economic data pertaining to Covid-19 from a variety of sources including the Department for Work and Pension, SBC Housing & Investment, CA Stevenage, Herts LEP and the Council-commissioned survey on the impact of Covid-19 on local businesses. 

Update on the 2016 Business Technology Centre Review – to remain on the Work Programme.

It was RESOLVED:

1.       That the Select Committee’s Work Programme for 2020/21 be updated, as outlined above

2.       That the Scrutiny Officer drafts a scoping document for scrutiny of the impact of Covid-19 on economic development in Stevenage and the Council’s response

3.       That the Scrutiny Officer presents the scoping document to Members at the November Committee meeting

4.       That the Scrutiny Officer updates the Committee on arrangements for the briefing with Assistant Director (Housing Development)

The Committee received updates on the review of Neighbourhood Centres. Officers commented on the following issues that were identified at February 2020 site visits and the meeting in March:

Oaks Cross

Fly-tipping – regular inspection regime was in place

Planter Trees – Ongoing discussions involving Ward Members and the SBC Arboriculture & Conservation Manager. An oak tree was scheduled to be planted this autumn in one of the empty planting areas at the front of the shops.

Possible substance abuse – Neighbourhoods wardens and Police to be advised to monitor the situation

Exterior wall paint on flats/shops – A Member confirmed that graffiti on the walls was not malicious.  Course of action regarding the wall paint to be determined after ownership of the area in question had been established.  Councillor Barr undertook to provide Councillor Bainbridge and other councillors with contact details of a reputable Stevenage graffiti artist. However, a simple repainting of the wall in one colour may suffice and be a lot cheaper than commissioning an artist.

St Nicholas

Security Fence – It was acknowledged that the security fence was unsightly but it was serving its purpose.  No updates relating to plans to improve the appearance of the fence were available

Concrete Planters and notice board – Planters and a notice board had been installed.  Plans were in place to replace some of the slabs around the new planters, which had become damaged with paint spillages, and the Assistant Director, Stevenage Direct Services agreed to action this.  Ward Members commended Community Development Officers, the local Neighbourhood Warden and other SBC officers who worked with resident groups to improve the area.  A Member complimented the charity Waste Not Want Not for its plant nursery service.  Members highlighted the challenges of carrying out volunteer work on community projects while ensuring Covid-security.

Oval

Planting area near the underpass – Bulb planting was due to start imminently

New signage and mural – The Arts and Cultural Development Officer was working with local groups and young people for possible art projects near the Oval and St Nicholas neighbourhood centres.  Members expressed concerns that they had not been consulted on the art project and that previously-identified mural designs were no longer under consideration.

Dangerous damaged steps – Members were worried that HCC appeared not to consider the repairs a priority.  Officers confirmed that consultations with HCC were in progress, and that HCC had now engaged with their contractor, Ringway, to investigate the area to see what measures could be taken to repair the broken steps

Bedwell

Deep clean and renewal of paintwork – SDS carried out an inspection on 4 September 2020. A programme of works to remove weeds, gum and paint stains was now in place, and the matter of the peeling paint on the car park railings had been raised with HCC to investigate

It was RESOLVED:

1.       That the updates be noted

2.       That Communities & Neighbourhoods officers liaise with Ward Members regarding new signage and murals in Martins Wood and St Nicholas

None.

Not required.

None.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Environment & Economy Select Committee meeting held on 10 March 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors David Cullen and Simon Speller.  Councillor Stephen Booth apologised for lateness.

There were no declarations of interest.