UPDATE FROM SCRUTINY CHAIRS
To receive updates from the Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees on the recent activities of those Committees.
Decision:
The Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee advised that there had been two meetings of the Committee since the October 2023 Council meeting. She referred to the presentation given to the Committee’s November meeting in respect of the 2021 Census data for Stevenage. The way the Census data was presented by the Office for National Statistics made it difficult to extrapolate information down to Ward level, although she hoped that the Committee would be able to do further work on the data later in the Municipal Year.
The Chair of the Community Select Committee advised that the Committee had met on 14 November 2023 and received a well-informed presentation from the Assistant Director (Building Safety and Housing Property Services) on the external review of Housing Voids which had been undertaken by Ridge. The report emphasised that the Service needed to improve communication with residents, and to formalise policies, processes and procedures. She was confident that work had commenced in response to the Ridge review’s recommendations. The Committee also interviewed the Executive Portfolio Holder for Housing & Housing Development in respect of complaints and were confident that the Portfolio Holder was exploring opportunities to improve the associated processes.
The Chair of the Environment & Economy Select Committee advised that the Committee had completed a one-off piece of pre-scrutiny work on the proposed Cycle Hire Scheme for Stevenage. It was hoped that this Scheme would be rolled out in the Spring of 2024. The debate included SBC Officers and local representatives of Cycling UK. This was an exciting development that would enable residents to move cheaply, quickly and enjoy the added health benefits of cycling around the town. In January 2024, the Committee would be considering its review work on Bus Services and the Cost of Living. There would also be a meeting of the Committee, in conjunction with the Planning & Development Committee, in February 2024 to consider the Council’s Biodiversity Strategy.
Minutes:
The Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee advised that there had been two meetings of the Committee since the October 2023 Council meeting. She referred to the presentation given to the Committee’s November meeting in respect of the 2021 Census data for Stevenage. The way the Census data was presented by the Office for National Statistics made it difficult to extrapolate information down to Ward level, although she hoped that the Committee would be able to do further work on the data later in the Municipal Year.
The Chair of the Community Select Committee advised that the Committee had met on 14 November 2023 and received a well-informed presentation from the Assistant Director (Building Safety and Housing Property Services) on the external review of Housing Voids which had been undertaken by Ridge. The report emphasised that the Service needed to improve communication with residents, and to formalise policies, processes and procedures. She was confident that work had commenced in response to the Ridge review’s recommendations. The Committee also interviewed the Executive Portfolio Holder for Housing & Housing Development in respect of complaints and were confident that the Portfolio Holder was exploring opportunities to improve the associated processes.
The Chair of the Environment & Economy Select Committee advised that the Committee had completed a one-off piece of pre-scrutiny work on the proposed Cycle Hire Scheme for Stevenage. It was hoped that this Scheme would be rolled out in the Spring of 2024. The debate included SBC Officers and local representatives of Cycling UK. This was an exciting development that would enable residents to move cheaply, quickly and enjoy the added health benefits of cycling around the town. In January 2024, the Committee would be considering its review work on Bus Services and the Cost of Living. There would also be a meeting of the Committee, in conjunction with the Planning & Development Committee, in February 2024 to consider the Council’s Biodiversity Strategy.