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.

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.

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, Councillor Stephen Booth, asked the following question:

Now that the County Council had started work on the Old Town High Street, businesses and their customers would be experiencing disruption and inconvenience with the loss of free parking well into 2026.  Would the Leader of the Council consider offering free parking for the first half an hour in both the Primett Road and Church Lane car parks whilst the road works continued?

The Leader of the Council asked the Portfolio Holder for Economy, Skills and Transport to respond to Councillor Booth’s question. 

The Portfolio Holder advised that there were ongoing discussions with Herts County Council regarding possible contributions from them for the loss of income to ensure local taxpayers were not disadvantaged.  The suggestion of thirty minutes free parking would impact the Council’s income and impact other spend priorities across the town such as leisure.  The Portfolio Holder suggested that the Leader of the Opposition speak to his Liberal Democrat County Council colleagues to request support on the issue.

The Council then received updates from the relevant Cabinet Portfolio Holders on the following matters:

• Climate Change Community Fund;
• The New Leisure Centre and Carbon Footprint;
• Expansion of the Beryl Bike Scheme;
• STEM Opportunities in Stevenage;
• Tenancy Audits;
• Housing Development and Grant Funding;

• International Day of Older People;
• Co-operative Neighbourhoods Update;
• 16 Days of Action – Domestic Abuse;
• Flags;

• Bus Interchange Sculpture;
• 80^th Anniversary of Stevenage;

• LGR Update.