Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Fraser and S Mead.

Councillor M Downing made a declarable interest in Item 5 of the Executive Notice of Decisions (Town Centre Regeneration Update) as Chair of the Bus Users Group.

There were no other declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (sitting as a Select Committee) held on 14 November 2018.

Minutes attached

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (sitting as a Select Committee) held on 14 November 2018 are approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee 26 November 2018.

Minutes attached

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 28 November are approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider the following Part 1 Decisions of the Executive taken on 12 December 2018.

Executive Agenda Item                                                                   Page No.

2.         Minutes of the Executive – 12 December 2018             5

3.         Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee        13

            and Select Committees

4.         Draft Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Rent Setting29

            and Budget Report

5.         Town Centre Regeneration Upadate                               49

6.         Corporate Performance for quarter 2 2018/19                65

Notice of Decisions to follow.

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD ON 12 DECEMBER 2018.

This report had not been circulated to Members five clear days before the meeting nor had it been made available for public inspection.  The Chair determined however that given the short time left before the end of the call-in period on 20 December it be considered on this occasion.

Minutes – Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Select Committees

The Committee was advised that the suggested name change for the Neighbourhood Wardens would not take place.

Draft Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Rent Setting and Budget Report 2019/2020

Members asked a number of detailed questions about the report which were answered by the Officer.

In reply to Member comments concerning the level of satisfaction with service charges the Committee was advised that a review of service charges was scheduled to be undertaken in 2019/2020 with a view to implementing any resultant changes in 2020/2021.

In response to a Member request the Assistant Director Finance and Estates undertook to circulate the Government’s rationale for putting in place the four year 1% rent reduction. 

Town Centre Regeneration Update

Councillor M Downing advised of a declarable interest in this item as the Chair of the Bus Users Group.

Members asked a number of detailed questions about the report, in particular the relocation and funding of the bus station and the options for the Leisure Centre / Theatre, which were answered by Officers.

In reply to a comment concerning commercial use of public space in the Town Centre the Strategic Director (TP) undertook to review the license of the enterprises involved.

Corporate Performance for Quarter Two 2018/2019

In reply to comments concerning levels of staff sickness absences the Committee was reminded that it would continue to undertake a review of Sickness Management at a meeting on 15 January 2019.

Members raised a number of questions about the Customer Service Centre (CSC) which were answered by the Officer. 

In reply to a Member request the Assistant Director Corporate Services and Transformation undertook to review the tabulated telephony data in the report to provide extra clarity.

In reply to a comment concerning Member calls to the CSC asking to be put through to a named officer. The Assistant Director Corporate Services and Transformation undertook to investigate the possibility of amending the operators’ script to facilitate this request.

The Committee was advised that the Council’s intranet, which included a staff telephone directory, had recently been relaunched and was available to all Members.  

It was RESOLVED that the following Part I decisions of the Executive are noted:

•           Minutes – Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Select Committees

•           Draft Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Rent Setting and Budget Report 2019/2020

•           Town Centre Regeneration Update

•           Corporate Performance for Quarter Two 2018/2019

None.

None.

To consider the following motions –

1.  That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.  That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

It was RESOLVED:

1.         That, under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 1-7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 20016; and

2.   That, having considered the reasons for the following items being in Part II, it be determined that maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

To approve as a correct record the Part II Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee 26 November 2018.

Minutes attached

It was RESOLVED that the Part II Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 26 November 2018 are approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider the following Part II decisions of the Executive taken on 12 December 2018.

Executive Agenda Item                                                       Page No.

9.         Part II Minutes of the Executive – 21 November 103

2018

10.       West of Stevenage Development                           107

Notice of Decisions to follow.

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD ON 21 NOVEMBER 2018.

This report had not been circulated to Members five clear days before the meeting.  The Chair determined however that given the short time left before the end of the call-in period on 20 December it be considered on this occasion.

West of Stevenage Development

The Committee welcomed the decision of the Executive to call for a more detailed report on this issue and the subsequent deferral of the decision thereon.

It was RESOLVED that the following Part II decision of the Executive is noted:

•           West of Stevenage Development

None.

None.

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.