Issue - meetings

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.

The Leader of the Opposition asked the Leader of the Council if it was time to revisit the new homes target in the Local Plan following announcements from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) reducing the required numbers of new houses and in addition the possibility that more windfall sites would be coming forward.

In response, the Leader of the Council advised that officers would provide the Leader of the Opposition with a detailed response on this issue but noted that the ONS number was only lower for a one year period and that the need for new homes was still urgent and the Council was keen to do all it could to help to provide the homes that local people needed.

The Leader reported on a meeting she and the Chief Executive had attended with Nick Carver, Chief Executive East and North Herts NHS Trust at the Lister Hospital and that during the meeting he had indicated that over 250 people could have been discharged if adequate care arrangements had been in place. She stressed the importance of everyone doing what they could to continue to lobby the Government on this issue.

The Council then received updates on the following:

·         Homelessness and Rough Sleeping;

·         Major Refurbishment Contract;

·         Housing Programme On-site;

·         Kenilworth Close;

·         Sale of former Kodak Site;

·         Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst - one of six new Life Science Opportunity Zones in UK;

·         SG1;

·         People’s Orchards;

·         Arts Council Award for Stevenage Day.

The Leader agreed to circulate the written updates to Members following the meeting.