Issue - meetings

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.

Councillor Jim Brown, Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, provided updates for Council from the meetings held on 23 September and 14 October:

The September Meeting had reviewed Cabinet decisions from 17 September, including:

• Finance reports (Medium Term Financial Strategy, Revenue & Capital Monitoring, Treasury Management)
• Corporate Performance Q1
• Taxi Rank Revocation (Danestrete)
• Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2
• Social Housing Warm Homes Contract (Part II)
  
  

Key discussions at the meeting included the Fair Funding Review and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), concerns about funding distribution and impact on Stevenage and Taxi Rank safety issues due to construction development.

The October Meeting had reviewed Cabinet decisions on:

• Fees and charges (2026/27) for General Fund, HRA, retail seating, planning, and taxi tariffs
• Climate Change Strategy Annual Update
• Rent setting and service charge policy (2025–2027)

Restricted items considered included Commercial opportunities, sports & leisure centre, regeneration, wholly owned companies, land & development and there was an upcoming discussion on LGR at the November meeting.

In the absence of the Chair of the Community Select Committee, Councillor Leanne Brady advised that the Committee had met in September and had received an update on Damp and Mould in Stevenage Council Housing and also on Tenant Enforcement and Tenancy Audits.

In relation to Damp and Mould case statistics, Members had been informed that from April to July 2025 97% of all cases raised had been completed, with 89% of these completed within the 10 working days.

Members were also brought up to date on the preparations that the Council was making to be compliant with Awaab’s Law which comes into force in October 2025.

Councillor Leanne Brady, Chair of the Environment & Economy Select Committee then gave an update on the work of that Committee. She advised thata presentation had been received from Stevenage Direct Services Officers regarding the challenges of providing recycling in the Council’s low rise flat blocks.  Challenges included limited space available for bin storage in older blocks, the difficulties posed by stair access, and the impact of poor signage and contamination on recycling levels.

Members welcomed the use of an SBC designed three wheeled bin for use by staff and a number of possible recommendations for the review where identified:

• Promotion of recycling champions and work with young residents, including consideration of smiley stickers use on bins
• Consider using large colour wraps on the bin lids to differentiate different recycling bins
• At Bring Bank sites consider using mobile CCTV and where fly tipping can be evidenced follow up with education and civil prosecution
• Regarding any future plans to rationalise the Bring Bank Sites, Members would like to see any plans ahead of any public consultation

Members had interviewed the Cabinet Portfolio with responsibility for Environment, Cllr Rob Broom who responded to a number of areas including:

·         the Portfolio Holders’ priorities for the future of the service;

·         target setting for Stevenage regarding improved recycling and time period;

·         barriers to effective recycling;

·         measuring success;

·         challenges and opportunities to the service through LGR.

Finally, the Committee received  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9