Issue - items at meetings - NOTICE OF MOTIONS

In accordance with Standing Orders, the following motions have been received for consideration:

(1) Care Experience as a Protected Characteristic

To be moved by Councillor Coleen De Freitas

This Council welcomes the changes already made to Government guidance, in that it removes the local connection requirement for care leavers when applying for and being allocated local social housing. The Council will ensure that guidance and support will be given to care leavers in accordance with its legal and statutory responsibilities.

This Council notes that:

a) care experienced people face significant barriers that impact on them throughout their lives. Care leavers make up 25% of Britain’s young homeless population, and adults who have spent time in care are far more likely than their peers to die prematurely.

b) despite the resilience of many care experienced people, society too often does not take their needs into account and care experienced people often face direct and indirect discrimination in many areas of life, including housing, health, education, relationships, employment and criminal justice.

c) the Public Sector Equality Duty requires public bodies, such as councils, to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation of people with protected characteristics.

d) current Care Leaver provision ends at age 25, whereas recognition of care experience as a protected characteristic would mean that care experience would be taken into account for a lifetime – in the same way as the discrimination and hardships resulting from care experience last a lifetime.

This Council therefore resolves that:

1. it recognises that care experienced people are a group who are likely to face discrimination and will treat care experience as if it were a protected characteristic, and expects councillors and Council staff to challenge negative attitudes and prejudices towards care experienced people.

2. Equality Impact Assessments relating to any future decisions, services and policies made and adopted by this Council will now also include impact of changes on people with care experience, alongside those who formally have a protected characteristic.

3. requests that the Chief Executive undertakes an assessment of current policies and service areas provided by Stevenage Borough Council to determine impact, including any financial impact, of this policy change.

4. in its delivery of the Public Sector Equality Duty, this Council will include care experience in the publication and review of Equality Objectives and the annual publication of information relating to people who have a protected characteristic in services and employment.

5. this Council formally calls upon all other bodies, including other local authorities in Hertfordshire, to treat care experience as a protected characteristic until such time as this recognition may be introduced by legislation.

6. this Council will proactively seek and listen to the voices of care experienced people when developing new policies.

(2) May’s local elections in Stevenage must go ahead

To be moved by Councillor Andy McGuinness

This Council understands the importance of having a replenished electoral mandate from the people of Stevenage which can only come through the ballot box. This Council also affirms the sanctity ... view the full agenda text for item 10.

In accordance with Standing Orders, the following motions have been received for consideration:

(1) Renters Rights Act 2025

To be moved by Councillor Jackie Hollywell

This Council welcomes the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 — long-overdue reform that finally puts renters’ rights first. The Act, coming into force in May 2026, ends “no-fault” Section 21 evictions, creates open-ended periodic tenancies, strengthens repair standards, and gives renters clearer routes to challenge unfair rent increases.

For the estimated 5,000 households who privately rent in Stevenage, this legislation means real security: no more being pushed out of their homes with two months’ notice, no more landlords dodging their responsibilities, and no more uncertainty about the basics — safe homes, fair rents, and predictable tenancies.

Since 1980, there has been a drastic reduction in the amount of social housing in Stevenage and the UK. A significant number of those homes are now owned by private landlords and the residents pay higher rents with fewer rights than they would have had as social housing tenants.

Labour councillors have consistently argued for these changes, and the Act finally delivers many of the reforms for which renters have waited years, including:

Abolition of fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) and the move to periodic tenancies, giving renters more stability and choice.
Stronger legal duties on landlords to maintain homes, tackle hazards and carry out timely repairs.
Limits on advance rent and fees, so renters are not forced into financial insecurity simply to secure a home.
A clear right to request pets, with landlords needing a good reason to refuse.
New enforcement powers for councils — expanded civil penalties, better investigatory tools, and required reporting of enforcement activity.
A national landlord database, improving transparency and helping councils tackle criminal and rogue landlords.

This Council resolves to:

Actively promote renters’ new rights — making sure tenants know how to use them, how to report poor conditions, and how to challenge illegal behaviour.
Set clear expectations for landlords and letting agents, explaining their new duties under the Act and what full compliance looks like in Stevenage.
Strengthen the Council’s enforcement capacity so that we are ready from day one to act against unlawful evictions, sub-standard homes and non-compliant landlords.
Write to the Minister for Housing, welcoming the introduction of long-overdue protections for renters, and suggesting that additional funding for councils will be needed to do justice to this Act and achieve the Government’s ambitions for renters.
Champion renters locally, ensuring that Stevenage leads the way in delivering a fairer, safer and more secure private rented sector.

(2) A Green Enterprise Partnership and Incentive Scheme in Stevenage.

To be moved by Councillor Wilkins

This Council notes that:

Forward thinking local authorities throughout the UK are providing incentives and encouragement for local businesses to introduce innovative sustainability schemes in partnership with industry experts.
Through this collaboration local businesses can reduce their environmental impact and reinvest savings in sustainability.
Central to this success is the GO GREEN scheme, the UK’s first green tax incentive ... view the full agenda text for item 10.

In accordance with Standing Orders, the following motions have been received for consideration:

(1) Establishing a Lasting and Sustainable Commitment to Age Friendly Communities and Dementia-Friendly Action in Stevenage

To be moved by Councillor Myla Arceno

This Council recognises the rising prevalence of dementia in Stevenage and Hertfordshire, and the profound impact on people, families, and the wider community. We affirm the need for an inclusive borough where people with dementia are understood, respected, and supported to live well. Around 1,100 residents aged 65+ in Stevenage live with dementia—higher than many other Hertfordshire districts*.

Older adults in Stevenage face above-average emergency admissions for falls and frailty, straining health and care services. Women’s life expectancy is below the national average, and the gap between the most and least deprived men is 4.8 years. Nearly 40% of older adults with severe frailty, dementia, or end-of-life needs live in the town’s most deprived areas, highlighting the link between deprivation and poor health.

Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) is committed to the following services and initiatives:

• Community Support Service: For council tenants aged 55+, offering regular contact, emergency help, and support accessing care and social activities. Independent living schemes and “Extra Care” housing provide safe, supported environments.

• Housing for Older People Strategy (2020–2030): Joint work with HCC to ensure suitable housing options for ageing residents.

• Care Connect: A 24/7 personal alarm and response service run by SBC.

• Dementia-Friendly Status: Achieved in 2023, with ongoing review by the Alzheimer’s Society and partnership work through Healthy Stevenage and the Dementia Sub-Group. SBC co-produced a booklet of dementia-friendly activities.

• Age-Friendly Recognition: Stevenage is nationally recognised as an Age-Friendly Community, with health, leisure, and social opportunities delivered in partnership to reduce isolation and promote active ageing.

Council Resolves:

To build on this foundation and maintain Stevenage’s Age-Friendly and Dementia-Friendly status, the Council commits to:

1. Dementia Training: dementia awareness training to be added to mandatory training for all SBC staff and elected members to support inclusive service delivery.

2. Annual Awareness Event: Host a public Dementia-Friendly Stevenage and International Day for Older People event with partners and carers, aligned with Age-Friendly work to promote awareness and celebrate progress.

3. Ongoing Accreditation: Work with the Alzheimer’s Society and stakeholders to ensure council and partner premises pursue dementia-friendly accreditation. Maintain registration with the Centre for Better Aging.

4. Inclusive Design: Ensure all council-led developments incorporate dementia- and age-friendly design principles—clear signage, accessible layouts, appropriate lighting, and calm public spaces.

5. Transport and Business Engagement: Require all licensed taxi and private hire drivers to complete dementia awareness training. Encourage local businesses to gain Age and Dementia-Friendly accreditation.

6. Action Plan: Co-produce a Stevenage Age-Friendly and Dementia-Friendly Action Plan with businesses and community stakeholders, setting clear goals and measures of success.

7. Continue Key Services: Maintain the Housing Strategy, Community Support Service, health and wellbeing initiatives, and Care Connect 24/7.

With this motion, the Council reaffirms ... view the full agenda text for item 10

Establishing a Lasting and Sustainable Commitment to Age Friendly Communities and Dementia-Friendly Action in Stevenage

Councillor Myla Arceno moved the following motion: