Agenda for Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Monday, 25 November 2019, 6.00pm

Agenda and decisions

Venue: Shimkent Room - Daneshill House, Danestrete. View directions

Contact: Fungai Nyamukapa (01438) 242707  Email: fungai.nyamukapa@stevenage.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Decision:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Sarah-Jane McDonough. Councillor Phil Bibby apologised for lateness.  

 

There were no declarations of interest.

2.

MINUTES - 15 OCTOBER 2019 pdf icon PDF 82 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 15 October 2019.

Decision:

With regard to Future Town Future Transport, the Strategic Director (TP) informed the Committee that officers would provide a briefing note on the status of cycleways in Stevenage.

 

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 15 October 2019 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

3.

PART I DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE pdf icon PDF 83 KB

To consider the following Part I Decisions of the Executive taken on 20 November 2019.

 

Executive                                                                                                      Page No.

Agenda

Item

 

2          Minutes of the Executive - 9 October 2019                                       5        

3          Minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny and Select Committees        15

4          Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy                                  21

5          Council Tax Support Scheme                                                           95

6          2019/20 Mid Year Treasury Management Review                        109

7          Second Quarter Revenue Monitoring Report 2019/20 -                135

            General Fund and Housing Revenue Account

8          Second Quarter Capital Monitoring Report 2019/20 -                  149

            General Fund and Housing Revenue Account

 

Notice of Decisions to follow

 

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE

MEETING HELD ON 20 NOVEMBER 2019

 

Decision:

The Committee considered the decisions of the following matters arising from the Executive held on 20 November 2019.

 

Minutes of the Executive – 20 November 2019

 

Noted.

 

Minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny and Select Committees

 

Noted.

 

Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy

 

The Assistant Director (Housing & Investment) presented a revised Homelessness Strategy for 2019-2024. The strategy’s four priorities would be met through an Action Plan.  The Strategy had been revised in line with additional powers and duties introduced by Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 (HRA 17) and requirements of Housing Act 1996.

 

The introduction of HRA 17 had seen an increase in the number of customers seeking homelessness advice and an increase in the use of bed and breakfast accommodation.  The Committee were informed that Housing & Investment officers were working with Housing Development and other Council services regarding market acquisitions and a purpose-built hostel to reduce the use of temporary accommodation.  The Council was looking at adopting the “Finland”/ (Housing First) Model of providing homes to homeless people without imposing a condition that they engage in services for addictions or mental health.  This model had been piloted in Manchester and local authorities in Hertfordshire.  

 

Members welcomed the Strategy and recommended that former homeless customers be supported to tackle addiction and other underlining causes of homelessness and to learn new skills or get into training, education or work.  It was reported that some customers were turning to food banks and convenience food outlets due to the lack of kitchen utensils in temporary and emergency accommodation properties. 

 

In response to questions, the Assistant Director informed Members that:

 

·         Support arrangements for the homeless will be added to the Action Plan

·         The HMAB would receive quarterly reports and an annual report on the Homelessness Action Plan

·         The Council has a duty to provide kitchen utensils in Emergency accommodation although efforts will be made to support those who do not have these items when they are in Temporary Accommodation

·         Benefits of the Homelessness Strategy included a dedicated rough-sleeper worker and an action plan for performance monitoring

·         Personalised homelessness plan was one of the requirements of HRA 17

Members sought clarification on partnership working arrangements and the spike in the number of households placed in temporary accommodation between 2014/15 and 2015/16.

 

Council Tax Support Scheme

 

The Committee received an update on the proposed Council Tax Support Scheme for 2020/21. The proposals had previously been discussed by the committee in a Portfolio Holder Advisory Group setting. The Assistant Director (Finance & Estates) stated that efforts were directed at the software supplier to design and introduce reliable and accurate automation of Universal Credit change notices.

 

2019/20 Mid-Year Treasury Management Review

 

The Assistant Director (Finance & Estates) updated Members on the Treasury Management activities in 2019/20 and review effectiveness of the 2019/20 Treasury Management and Investment Strategy.  The AD provided clarification on the cash balances.  Members welcomed the improved chart of cash balances. 

 

Second Quarter Revenue Monitoring Report 2019/20 – General Fund and Housing Revenue Account

 

The Committee received an update on the  ...  view the full decision text for item 3.

4.

URGENT PART I DECISIONS AUTHORISED BY THE CHAIR OF THE OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

None.

Decision:

None.

5.

URGENT PART I BUSINESS

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

Decision:

The Strategic Director (TP) updated the Committee on progress regarding the Towns Deal Fund, development of a Towns Deal Board and Investment Plan.  Stevenage was one of the towns across England that had been invited to work with the government to develop innovative regeneration plans.  A prospectus for the Towns Deal was published in November 2019. The prospectus explained how towns can prepare for a Towns Deal and it outlined requirements such as the setting up of Towns Deal Boards and investment priorities and project proposals set out in a locally-owned Town Investment Plan. It was confirmed that district and borough councils would have oversight of governance arrangements. Local authorities had the flexibility to identify projects in their areas of responsibility.

 

The Strategic Director assured Members that Towns Deal Board members would have a duty to avoid conflict of interest. Board members would be expected to adhere to the Nolan Principles of Public Life and a Code of Conduct. There would be an expectation for the Board to disclose interest on any matter and for others to call out suspected conflicts of interest.  The Strategic Director indicated that the Towns Deal Board would have an advisory and not executive function.    

6.

EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

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 paragraphs 1 – 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.

Decision:

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 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

7.

PART II DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE

To consider the Part II decisions of the Executive taken on 20 November 2019.

 

Executive                                                                                                      Page No.

Agenda

Item

 

11        Financial Security Options 2020/21 – 2022/23                              167

 

Notice of Decisions to follow

 

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE

MEETING HELD ON 20 NOVEMBER 2019

Decision:

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered Financial Security Options for 2020/21 - 2022/23.

 

It was RESOLVED that the Financial Security Options 2019/20 – 2021/22 Part II decisions of the Executive be noted.

8.

URGENT PART II DECISIONS AUTHORISED BY THE CHAIR OF THE OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

None.

Decision:

None.

9.

URGENT PART II BUSINESS

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

Decision:

None.