Decisions

None.

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; and

 

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.

 

 

None.

It was RESOLVED that the decision made at the Appointments Committee at its meeting on 11 February 2019 in relation to the recruitment and selection process for the permanent appointment of a new Chief Executive be revoked and that the external recruitment process set out in Section 4 of the report be approved.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Appointments Committee meeting held on 11 February 2019 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to item 1 – the word ‘years’ should be inserted in the last paragraph following the number 18.

 

 

 

 

Apologies for Absence were received from Councillors P Bibby, CC and M Downing.

 

There were no declarations of interest.

Council considered the list of individuals nominated to serve on Outside Bodies which had been circulated at the meeting.

 

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED that the following individuals are appointed to represent the Council on the various bodies detailed below for one year, unless otherwise stated:

 

COUNCIL FOR THE PROTECTION OF RURAL ENGLAND THE HERTFORDSHIRE SOCIETY – Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration

 

EAST OF ENGLAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION – The Leader of the Council

 

EAST OF ENGLAND REGIONAL PLANNING - Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration

 

HCC JOINT WASTE MANAGEMENT GROUP - Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration

 

HERTFORDSHIRE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AND POLICY GROUP - Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration

 

HERTFORDSHIRE LOCAL AUTHORITIES LEADERS GROUP – The Leader of the Council

 

HERTFORDSHIRE SUPPORTING PEOPLE COMMISSIONING BODY MEMBERS OVERVIEW GROUP – Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Older People

 

HERTFORDSHIRE SUSTAINABILITY FORUM STEERING GROUP - Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration

 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION - The Leader of the Council

 

RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITY GROUP (COMMUNITY SAFETY) – Portfolio Holder Communities, Community Safety and Equalities

 

SOSTEVENAGE PARTNERSHIP - The Leader of the Council and Deputy Leader

 

STEVENAGE COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP - Portfolio Holder Communities, Community Safety and Equalities

 

STEVENAGE LEISURE LIMITED – The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder Children, Young People and Leisure

 

AGE CONCERN STEVENAGE – Councillor J Lloyd

 

BEDWELL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION – Councillor L Harrington

 

BRAGBURY CENTRE – Councillor J Lloyd

 

CHELLS MANOR COMMUNITY CENTRE – Councillor A McGuinness

 

CROSSROADS CARE (tbc) – Councillors J Gardner and Mrs J Lloyd

 

DOUGLAS DRIVE SENIOR CITIZENS ASSOCIATION – Councillor J Lloyd

 

HOME-START STEVENAGE – Councillor J Gardner

 

KADOMA LINK ASSOCIATION – Councillor J Gardner and G Snell

 

LIVING ROOM PROJECT – Councillor J Hollywell

 

OLD STEVENAGE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION – Councillor J Brown

 

OVAL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION – Councillor L Briscoe

 

PIN GREEN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION – Councillor J Thomas

 

SHEPHALL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION – Councillor J Mead

 

ST. NICHOLAS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION – Councillor S Barr

 

STEVENAGE CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU – Councillor M Downing

 

STEVENAGE COMMUNITY TRUST – Councillors R Henry and M McKay

 

STEVENAGE CREDIT UNION LIMITED – Councillor L Chester

 

STEVENAGE FURNITURE RECYCLING SCHEME – Councillor J Lloyd

 

STEVENAGE HAVEN – Councillor R Broom

 

STEVENAGE / AUTUN / INGELHEIM ASSOCIATION – Councillors R Henry and S Speller

 

STEVENAGE WORLD FORUM FOR ETHNIC COMMUNITIES – Councillor J Gardner

 

SYMONDS GREEN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION – Councillor L Chester

 

TIMEBRIDGE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION – Councillor J Hollywell

 

TURN THE TIDE – Councillor L Kelly

 

EAST OF ENGLAND LGA IMPROVEMENT AND EFFICIENCY PANEL – Councillor R Henry

 

HCC HEALTH SCRUTINY COMMITTEE – Councillor M McKay

 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFORMATION UNIT – Councillor J Brown

 

LUTON AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE – Councillor J Gardner

 

STEVENAGE CONSOLIDATED CHARITIES (FOUR YEAR PERIOD) – One vacancy; C Latif (to 2020), Councillors M McKay and J Mead (both to 2021).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Details of the individuals nominated to serve on each Committee had been circulated at the meeting.

 

The Interim Chief Executive advised of an error in the order of business for this item which quoted the “2018/19 Municipal Year” when, of course it should read “2019/20 Municipal Year”.

 

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED:

 

1.         That the membership of Committees, together with the Chairs and Vice-Chairs, where detailed, are appointed for the 2019/20 Municipal Year as follows:

 

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

14 Members - (10-2-2)

Councillors – L Martin-Haugh (Chair), P Bibby CC (Vice-Chair), S Barr, J Brown, L Chester, M Downing, M Gardner, J Mead, S Mead, A McGuinness, S-J McDonough, A Mitchell CC, C Parris, R Parker CC.

 

COMMUNITY SELECT COMMITTEE

10 Members - (7-2-1)

Councillors – S Mead (Chair), M Notley (Vice-Chair), S Booth, A Brown, T Callaghan, A Farquharson, L Harrington, J Mead, C Parris, L Rossati.

 

ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY SELECT COMMITTEE

11 Members - (7-3-1)

Councillors – M Downing (Chair), A Mitchell CC (Vice-Chair), D Bainbridge, S Barr, S Booth, A Brown, J Brown, T Callaghan, D Cullen, J Hanafin, L Rossati.

 

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

13 Members – (8-3-2)

Councillors – D Cullen (Chair), D Bainbridge, S Barr, M Gardner, J Hanafin, L Harrington, L Kelly, G Lawrence, J Lloyd, S-J McDonough, M McKay, G Snell, T Wren.

 

LICENSING COMMITTEE

14 Members – (9-3-2)

Councillors – L Chester (Chair), D Bainbridge, S Barr, J Brown, M Downing, J Hanafin, L Harrington, R Henry, G Lawrence, J Lloyd, M McKay, A McGuinness, L Rossati, G Snell.

 

GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

14 Members – (9-3-2)

Councillors – L Chester (Chair), D Bainbridge, S Barr, J Brown, M Downing, J Hanafin, L Harrington, R Henry, G Lawrence, J Lloyd, M McKay, A McGuinness, L Rossati, G Snell.

 

APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE

8 Members – (6-1-1)

Councillors – S Taylor OBE, CC (Chair), P Bibby CC, M Downing, J Gardner, R Henry, Mrs J Lloyd, R Parker CC, J Thomas.

 

STANDARDS COMMITTEE

8 Members – (6-1-1)

Councillors – Mrs J Lloyd (Chair), T Callaghan, M Downing, L Martin-Haugh, J Mead, M Notley, L Rossati, T Wren.

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE

8 Elected Members – (6-1-1) + 1 Independent Co-opted Member (G Gibbs)

Councillors – M McKay (Chair), S Barr, S Booth, L Chester, D Cullen, J Gardner, L Kelly, G Lawrence.

 

STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE

8 Members – (6-1-1)

Councillors Mrs J Lloyd (Chair), P Bibby CC, R Broom, L Chester, J Hollywell, J Mead, S Mead, G Snell.

 

2.         That 5 Members (4 Majority Group, 1 Opposition Member) be appointed to the Housing Management Board as agreed at Minute 10, resolution 3, as follows:

 

Councillors L Harrington, L Kelly, J Lloyd, L Martin-Haugh, M Notley.

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED that William Sarenden be elected as Youth Mayor for the 2019/20 Municipal Year.

It was moved and seconded that Councillor Jim Brown be appointed as Deputy Mayor for the 2019/20 Municipal Year.

 

There being no other nominations a vote was taken and it was RESOLVED that Councillor Jim Brown be appointed Deputy Mayor for the 2019/20 Municipal Year.

 

Councillor Brown then made the statutory declaration of acceptance of office.  The Deputy Mayor announced that Penny Schenkel would be his Deputy Mayoress for the 2019/20 Municipal Year.

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.

The Council considered a report seeking the adoption of the Stevenage Borough Local Plan.

 

The Interim Chief Executive advised that this matter had been discussed by both the Executive and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on a number of occasions.  The options before the Council were to adopt the Local Plan as submitted, or to not adopt it – there was no provision to make any amendments.

 

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED:

 

1.         That the outcomes of the Main Modifications (and associated Sustainability Appraisal) consultation be noted (responses summary attached as Appendix A to the report).

 

2.         That the content of the Inspector’s Report be noted (attached as Appendix B to the report).

 

3.         That the firm proposal of Executive, having had regard to the outcomes following consultation with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, be noted.

 

4.         That the Inspector’s recommendation to adopt the Stevenage Borough Local Plan, incorporating main and minor modifications (attached as Appendix C to the report), and associated Policies Map, be accepted, and that the District Plan Second Review 2004 (BD1) be revoked.

Council considered a report relating to the Member level decision making structure of the Council and the Council’s Constitution for the 2019/20 Municipal Year which had been circulated on the Supplementary Agenda.

 

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED:

 

1.         That the Terms of Reference, as detailed in the appendices to the report; and the size and political composition for the following bodies that form the non-Executive Member level decision making structure of the Council be approved subject to the rules of proportionality where appropriate for the 98 Committee places where applicable (relevant Committees are identified thus*) –

 

·      Overview and Scrutiny Committee* (Appendix A) – 14 Members (10 Labour Group, 2 Conservative Group,  2 Liberal Democrat Group)

 

·      Community Select Committee* (Appendix B) – 10 Members (7 Labour Group, 2 Conservative Group, 1 Liberal Democrat Group)

 

·      Environment and Economy Select Committee* (Appendix C) – 11 Members (7 Labour Group, 3 Conservative Group, 1 Liberal Democrat Group)

 

·      Planning & Development Committee* (Appendix D) –  13 Members (8 Labour Group, 3 Conservative Group, 2 Liberal Democrat Group)

 

·      Licensing Committee (Appendix E) – 14 Members (9 Labour Group,  3 Conservative Group, 2 Liberal Democrat Group)

 

·      General Purposes Committee* (Appendix F) – 14 Members (9 Labour Group,  3 Conservative Group, 2 Liberal Democrat Group)

 

·      Appointments Committee* (Appendix G) -  8 Members (6 Labour Group, 1 Conservative Group, 1 Liberal Democrat Group)

 

·      Standards Committee* (Appendix H) – 8 Members (6 Labour Group, 1 Conservative Group, 1 Liberal Democrat Group)

 

·      Audit Committee* (Appendix I) – 8 Members (6 Labour Group, 1 Conservative Group, 1 Liberal Democrat Group) + 1 Co-opted non-elected member

 

·      Statement of Accounts Committee* (Appendix J) – 8 Members (6 Labour Group, 1 Conservative Group, 1 Liberal Democrat Group)

 

·      Joint Consultative Committee* (Appendix K) – 4 Members ( 3 Labour Group, 1 Conservative Group,)

 

* Indicates where those bodies covered by the rules of proportionality for the purposes of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups), Regulations 1990 – total Committee places being 98

 

2.         That the dates for Council meetings for the Municipal Year, as shown at Paragraph 4.4 of the report, are approved, and that the draft dates for other meetings, as shown at Appendix L to the report, are noted.

 

3.         That 5 Members be appointed to the Housing Management Advisory Board (4 Majority Group, 1 Opposition Member).

 

4.      That the amendments to the Constitution detailed in Paragraphs 4.10 - 4.11 of the report be approved.

The Interim Chief Executive advised the Council that Councillors Sharon Taylor OBE CC, Phil Bibby CC and Robin Parker CC had been appointed as Leaders of the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat Groups respectively.  It was noted that Councillors Mrs Joan Lloyd, Graham Lawrence and Andy McGuinness would be Deputy Leaders of the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat Groups respectively.

The Interim Chief Executive advised the Council that the Leader of the Opposition would be Councillor Phil Bibby CC and that Councillor Graham Lawrence would be his deputy.

Council considered a report that detailed the results of the Borough Council Elections that were held on 2 May 2019.

 

The Leader thanked the Returning Officer, the Local Land Charges and Electoral Services Manager and his Team for the excellent and smooth management of the Election process.

 

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED that the results of the Stevenage Borough Council Elections 2019 be noted.

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED that Councillor Sharon Taylor OBE CC be appointed Leader of the Council for 2019-2023.

 

In her speech of thanks Councillor Taylor informed the Council that Councillor Mrs Joan Lloyd would be the Deputy Leader and that she would also be the Portfolio Holder for Resources.

 

The other Members of the Executive and their Portfolios would be as follows:

 

·                Councillor Mrs Joan Lloyd – Resources

·                Councillor Jackie Hollywell –  Communities, Community Safety and Equalities

·                Councillor Richard Henry – Children, Young People and Leisure

·                Councillor John Gardner – Environment and Regeneration

·                Councillor Lloyd Briscoe – Economy, Enterprise and Transport

·                Councillor Rob Broom – Neighbourhoods and Co-operative Working

·                Councillor Jeannette Thomas –Housing, Health and Older People

 

 

The Mayor asked for nominations for the Office of Mayor for 2019/20.

 

Councillor S Taylor OBE CC nominated Councillor Simon Speller for the Office of Mayor.

 

The nomination was seconded by Councillor L Martin-Haugh.

 

There being no other nominations a vote was taken and it was RESOLVED that Councillor Simon Speller be elected as a Mayor for the 2019/20 Municipal Year.  Councillor Speller then made the statutory declaration of office.

 

The Mayor announced that Bridy Speller would be the Mayoress for 2019/20.

 

In his speech the Mayor announced that, working with the Stevenage District Scouts, his charities for the year would be the Stevenage Community Trust; Stevenage and North Herts Child Contact Centres; Stevenage Haven for the Homeless; and Just Be a Child.

 

The Mayor then presented awards to the following Members:

 

·           For 20 years’ service – Councillor G Snell

·           For 35 years’ service – Councillor R Parker CC

·           Life Vice-Presidents of Stevenage District Scouts – Councillors M Notley and L Chester

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 27 February 2019 are approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

 

At this juncture, the outgoing Mayor summarised her year in office and thanked the Mayoress, her PA Tracey Frost, Deputy Mayor, Members and Officers of the Council for their help and support throughout the year.  She advised that over £13,000 had been raised for her chosen charities of Carers in Hertfordshire, Stevenage District Scouts and TRACKS Autism.

 

On behalf of Members, the Leader of the Council thanked the outgoing Mayor for a successful year in office, and her commitment to the role and the Borough.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A McGuinness.

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

The Mayor announced that she had accepted as urgent the report at Item 10 on the agenda – Constitutional Issues, as without consideration of this report the Council would not have a political decision making structure for 2019/20.