Issue - meetings

To receive updates from the Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees on the recent

activities of those Committees.

Councillor Jim Brown, Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, advised that the Committee had met twice since the Annual Meeting in May and had considered the Cabinet decisions relating to Green Spaces and trees, tenant satisfaction and corporate performance, flat block recycling, retrofit for sustainability and the Council’s Annual Report.  A lot of work had gone into the Work Programme for the year including a pre-scrutiny review of the Council Tax Support Scheme, one-off reviews into the work force strategy and profile, contract compliance and ethical investments.

In the absence of the Chair of the Community Select Committee, Councillor Leanne Brady advised that the Committee had held one meeting on 3 July where the work programme for the upcoming year had been considered.  Items for the year included the Housing Allocations Policy, Tenancy Audits and Enforcement, a Damp and Mould update, Equalities and Diversity, Older People, Community Centres, Crime and Disorder and monitoring the progress of the new Leisure Centre.  She thanked Councillor Sarah Mead, the outgoing Chair, for her work over recent years on this Committee.

Councillor Leanne Brady, Chair of the Environment & Economy Select Committee advised that the Committee had received presentations on Trees, Woodland and Green Spaces, social housing and decarbonisation of social housing, and the Skills and Stevenage Works agenda.  Upcoming work included waste, recycling and fly tipping, active transport as well as the annual report on the Climate Emergency.  Councillor Brady thanked Councillor Broom as the previous Chair of the Committee for his work on the Committee.

To receive updates from the Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees on the recent

activities of those Committees.

Councillor Lin Martin-Haugh, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee advised that at its December meeting, the Committee had considered the following issues:

·         Corporate Performance – Quarter 2 2024/25

·         Council Tax Base 2025/26

·         Housing Revenue Account (HRA) – Draft Budget and Rent Setting 2025/26

·         Housing Inspection Outcome

·         Repairs and Maintenance Policy – Approval

·         Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy

Members asked several questions on the Repairs and Maintenance Policy particularly around the clarity of the consultation process and how it would be communicated with the public.  Members highlighted the need to produce a simplified version of the policy to increase accessibility for tenants, particularly those with complex needs.  Members had also stressed the importance of identifying and supporting vulnerable tenants.

Regarding the Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Strategy, Members commended the Rough Sleeper Team for their hard work and dedication in addressing homelessness and complex cases within Stevenage.

The meeting held on 21 January considered the decisions of the Cabinet held on 15 January which included:

·         Garages Asset Management Report 

·         Community Safety Strategy 2025 – 28

·         Licensing Act 2003 - Review of Statement of Licensing Policy

·         Gambling Act 2005 - Review of Statement of Principles

·         Consultation on an amendment to two article 4 directions

·         Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL): draft charging schedule – public consultation

·         Housing Revenue Account (HRA) - Final Budget and Rent Setting 2025/26

·         Draft General Fund and Council Tax Setting 2025/26

·         Draft Capital Strategy 2024/25-2029/30

Members asked a number of questions regarding these items.

The Chair of the Community Select Committee gave an update on the work of the Committee.  A presentation had been received from Officers regarding the Council’s work with regards to its Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and had direct guest speaker input from the Chair of the Equalities Commission Legacy Group, Errol John and the Chair of Stevenage World Forum, Kate Belinis regarding race equality, John Premble from Junction 7 Creatives and Coco Brinda representing local LGBTQ+ community.

The Chair advised that Committee would be continuing its work on this theme with a meeting on 29 January focusing on Age and Disability.

The Chair of the Environment and Economy Select Committee updated the Council on a meeting of the Environment & Economy Select Committee held in December.  The Committee heard from the Council’s CEO, Matt Partridge regarding his role as the District and Borough Council Step2Skills Board Member.  The Committee also considered its draft report and recommendations relating to the Skills Agenda review.

The Chair then updated the Council on a meeting of the Environment & Economy Select Committee held in January 2025.  The Committee had considered the final report and recommendations of the Skills Agenda Review, building on the great work that the Council was doing through its Stevenage Works Programme, Skills Framework and activities with partners in this area.

To receive updates from the Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees on the recent

activities of those Committees.

To receive updates from the Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees on the recent

activities of those Committees.

To receive updates from the Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees on the recent

activities of those Committees.

In the absence of the Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Rob Broom, Chair of the Environment and Economy Select Committee (who was also a Member of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee) advised that, at its meeting held in June, the Committee had finalised its work programme as well as scrutinising the decisions of the Cabinet.  Council was informed that a one-off reviews of ICT including the Council’s website, the Customer Complaints System alongside how well the move by the Customer Services Centre to the main reception would be undertaken.

Councillor Sarah Mead, Chair of the Community Select Committee advised that, at its meeting held in June 2023, the Committee had received a presentation on the Housing Allocations Policy and the Resident Engagement Strategy.  During the coming year the Committee would be considering Equalities and Diversity, Neighbourhood Wardens, the new Leisure Contract as well as holding a Crime and Disorder and a Public Health meeting.

The Chair of the Environment & Economy Select Committee advised that the Committee had commenced its 2024/25 work and over the course of the upcoming year would be looking at the Skills Agenda, local access to returning to work, continuing its review of local bus services alongside the Council’s response to the climate emergency.