1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
2. MINUTES - COUNCIL MEETING - WEDNESDAY 22 JULY 2015
To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on Wednesday 22 July 2015.
Minutes attached (pages 1 - 6)
3. MINUTES - SPECIAL COUNCIL - WEDNESDAY 22 JULY 2015
To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Special meeting of the Council held on Wednesday 22 July 2015.
Minutes attached (pages 7 - 8)
4. MINUTES - SPECIAL COUNCIL - WEDNESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2015
To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Special meeting of the Council held on Wednesday 9 September 2015.
Minutes attached (pages 9 - 10)
5. MAYORS' COMMUNICATIONS
To receive any communications that the Mayor may wish to put before Council.
6. MAIN DEBATE - PRESENTATION FROM THE YOUTH COUNCIL
To receive a presentation from the Youth Council providing an update on the We4You campaign on Work Experience.
7. PETITIONS AND DEPUTATIONS
None received.
8. QUESTIONS FROM THE YOUTH COUNCIL
None received
9.QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
None received.
10. LEADER OF THE COUNCIL'S UPDATE
In accordance with the Council's Standing Orders, the Leader of the Opposition shall be given the opportunity to raise one matter relevant to the Borough that has arisen since the last meeting of the Council. The Leader of the Council shall then have the opportunity to advise the Council of matters relevant to the Borough that have arisen since the last meeting.
11. NOTICE OF MOTIONS
None received.
12. QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS TO COMMITTEE CHAIRS / PORTFOLIO HOLDERS
The following questions have been received:
(a) From Councillor A McGuinness to the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration-
Many residents are concerned about the growing local trend for increasing numbers of properties to be changed to Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) which is facilitated by changes to HMO planning regulations. What is the Council doing to minimise this practice, by:
(i) Making strong representations to the Government for changes in this legislation;
(ii) Implementing Article 4 Directions to reduce this practice locally;
(iii) Making Stevenage residents aware of the practice and the powers, or lack of powers, possessed by the Council to deal with these matters?
b) From Councillor G Snell to the Portfolio Holder for Economy, Enterprise and Transport:
What is the Council doing to encourage companies to come into the Town Centre to fill the empty and soon to be empty retail units (Town Square, Queensway and Park Place), apart from the current tidy-up Town Centre campaign?
c) From Councillor R Parker CC to the Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and Co-operative Council:
Current experience, and that of all other residents consulted, report that, when they call the Stevenage Borough Council Customer Service Centre, they invariably get the message that 'we are experiencing an unusually high volume of calls'. How can the call volumes be 'unusually high' if this is in reality the norm,and what urgent measures are being taken to correct not only this wording but also the waiting times for Stevenage residents?
13. ANNUAL TREASURY MANAGEMENT REVIEW OF 2014/2015
To consider a report concerning the approval of the 2014/2015 Annual Treasury Management Review, the 2015/2016 Mid-Year Review and the prudential and treasury Indicators. This report was considered by the Audit Committee and the Executive on 1 and 21 September respectively and both bodies agreed -
That Council be recommended to approve the 2014/15 Annual Treasury Management Review.
Report & Appendices attached (pages 11 - 25)
14. CHANGES TO CONTRACT STANDING ORDERS
To consider an officer report on proposed changes to Contract Standing Orders.
This matter was considered by the Audit Committee at its meeting on 1 September 2015 when that Committee agreed -That the revised Contract Standing Orders be recommended to Council for approval.
Report & Appendix attached (pages 26 - 74)
15. CHANGES TO FINANCIAL REGULATIONS
To consider an officer report on proposed changes to Financial Regulations.
This matter was considered by the Audit Committee at its meeting on 1 September 2015 when that Committee agreed -That the revised Financial Regulations be recommended to Council for approval.
Report & Appendix A & B attached (pages 75 - 132)
16. URGENT KEY DECISIONS
To note a report, submitted on behalf of the Leader of the Council, that details of all key decisions taken under the provisions of Paragraph 11 (cases of special urgency) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 as prescribed by Paragraph 19 of those Regulations.
Report attached (pages 133 - 136)
17. DRAFT MINUTES - AUDIT COMMITTEE - 1 SEPTEMBER 2015
To note the draft minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 1 September 2015.
Minutes attached (pages 137 - 140)