Agenda and decisions

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on held on Wednesday 17 February 2021.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Committee meeting held on Wednesday 17 February 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider the following Part I Decisions of the Executive taken on Wednesday 10 March 2021.

2. Minutes  - Wednesday 10 February 2021

3. Minutes of Overview and Security Committee and Select Committee

4. COVID-19 Update

5. The Impact of Development on Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Document: Adoption                                                                                                                  27 – 126

6. Developer Contribution Supplementary Planning Document: Adoption            127 - 194

7. Housing First Approach – Stevenage Borough Council                                    195 - 234

8. Community Safety Strategy 2021-2024                                                              235 -274

9. Corporate Performance – Quarter Three 2021-21                                           275 – 314

10. 3^rd Quarter Capital Monitoring Report – General Fund and Housing Revenue Account 2020/0221                                                                                                             315 – 328

11. 3^rd Quarter Capital Monitoring Report – General Fund and Housing Revenue Account 2020/21

Notice of Decisions to follow

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE

MEETING HELD ON Wednesday 10 March 2021.

The Committee noted the minutes of the Executive meeting held on Wednesday 10 February 2021.

2. Minutes of the Executive – 10 February 2021

Noted.

3. Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Select Committees.

Noted.

4. Covid-19 update

·       The Strategic Director (RP) advised that he provided an update on the latest Covid-19 position at the Executive meeting held on Wednesday 10 March 2021, and a detailed update was also provided to Coronavirus Executive Committee meeting held on Friday 26 February 2021. He advised Members that the vaccination figures were now available by age group.

·       The Council was closely monitoring Covid-19 cases rate and would re-open the Play Areas as soon as safe to do so (a decision which would be based on a sufficiency low R-rate regarding transmission of the virus).

·       The Strategic Director (RP) to provide further information on Test and Trace Support Payments in the next Coronavirus Executive Committee.

·       The Committee noted the update.

5. The Impact of Development on Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Document: Adoption

·       The Planning Policy Manager presented the report on Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Document. He provided Members with an overview of the consultation responses on the draft Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Document.

·       The consultation outcome on the draft impact of Development on Biodiversity Supplementary Document was noted.

6. Developer contribution Supplementary Planning Document: Adoption

·       In response to a question from a Member, the Principal Planning Officer advised Members that the Council liaised closely with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) on their Developer Contribution guide. If there is a need to seek contribution, the HCC would use their guide to develop a contribution.

·       The Committee noted the report.  

7. Housing First Approach – Stevenage Borough Council

·       The Assistant Director for Housing and Investment provided a report on Council’s Housing First approach to accommodate rough sleepers, and options for implementing the Housing First approach for the 2021/22 financial year.

·       The Committee noted the report.

8. Community Safety Strategy 2021-2024

·       The Community Safety Manager presented the Community Safety Strategy for 2021- 2024. She advised Members about the additional recommendation made by the Executives about hate crime and to promote equality in the community.

9. Corporate Performance – Quarter Three 2020-21

·       The Strategic Director (TP) advised Members on Corporate Performance for Quarter three 2021-22. He informed Members about the challenges the Council faced by Covid-19 pandemic, which had direct impact on the performance in third quarter.

·       The Executives requested steps to be taken in order to enhance the Council’s website, which would include further functionality and easy navigation.

·       The Committee noted the report.

10. 3^rd Quarter Capital Monitoring Report – General Fund and Housing Revenue Account 2020/21

·       The Assistant Director for Housing and Estate presented the report for the 3^rd Quarter Capital Monitoring – General Fund and Housing Revenue Account 2020/21. She advised Members on the level of loses experienced by the Council increased in the 3^rd Quarter.

·       The Committee noted the report.

11. 3^rd Quarter Capital Monitoring Report – General Fund and           Housing Revenue  ...  view the full decision text for item 3.

To consider any urgent Part I Decisions authorised by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Town Deal

The Strategic Director (TP) advised Members on the Town Deal funding of £37.5Million by the government following the Town investment Plan submitted in October 2020 by the Stevenage Development Board. The proposal was submitted for £50Million for ten projects. The government allocated £37.5Million with additional conditions to satisfy to secure drawdown of the funding for three projects. There were no projects rejected. Business cases would need to be made in the next 12 months in order for the drawdown of the funding earmarked by the government. Members praised the worked done by the Council to secure the funding.

To provide Members with the report and recommendations for the review of the Council’s Scrutiny function as undertaken by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Officer presented the report on Review of Scrutiny arrangements. The Committee agreed on a scoping document to scrutinise review of the Council’s Scrutiny arrangements in September 2019.

The Scrutiny Officer advised Members on the significant changes brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic in scrutiny arrangements, given the way Members met which may have changed with the hybrid meetings. He explained that the review also provided the opportunity to Members on how the scrutiny meetings may run in the future post Covid-19.

Members noted the report with the following amendments:

·       On paragraph 2.5.1, the typo should be corrected to “incorporate fewer, SMART recommendations”.

·       Under Paragraph 2.3.1, the following fourth bullet point should be added.

Where it had become necessary to broaden scrutiny (within reasons), Scrutiny Members should ask additional questions.

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

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 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.

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 considered the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determined that the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighed the public interest in disclosure.

None.

None.

To consider the following Part II Decisions of the Executive taken on Wednesday 10 March 2021.

14.       Part ll – Framework for the Supply of Agency Worker 339 – 350

15.       SG1 Acceleration                                                                 351 – 376

16.       Appointment of Principal Contractor at Dunn Close      377 – 396

Notice of Decisions to follow

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE

MEETING HELD 10 MARCH 2021

14. Framework for the Supply of Agency Workers

The Committed noted the report with additional recommendations proposed during the debate in the Executive meeting.

15. SG1 Acceleration

The Committee noted the updated on the SG1 project.

16. Appointment of Principal Contractor at Dunn Close

The Committee noted the appointment of Principal Contractor for the Dunn Close development scheme. 

To consider any urgent Part II Decisions authorised by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

None.

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

None.