Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence and no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 19 December 2023.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 19 December 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider the following Part I Decisions of the Executive taken on 17 January 2024:

2.    Minutes – 13 December 2023

3.    Minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny and Select Committees

4.    Stevenage Borough Council Corporate Plan – Making Stevenage Even Better (2024 – 2027)

5.    Final Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget Setting and Rent Report 2024/25

6.    Draft General Fund and Council Tax Settings 2024/25

7.    Draft Capital Strategy 2023/24 – 2028/29

8.    Urgent Part I Business

Notice of Decisions to follow.

2.         Minutes

            Noted.

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

            Noted.

4.         Stevenage Borough Council – Corporate Plan – Making Stevenage Even Better (2024 – 2027)

            The Committee was advised that at the Executive meeting a question had been raised regarding the relatively low level of public response to the consultation on the draft document.  The Strategic Director (RP) advised that the original consultation via the Residents Survey, the Tenants Survey and the Co-operative Neighbourhoods Resident Proptech Survey had produced over 3,000 responses.  The additional 72 responses were as a result of the additional 6 week period of consultation which had taken place between 23 October and 4 December 2023, at the request of the Executive.  The additional consultation had been done via the Chronicle, Social Media outlets as well as meetings with the voluntary sector and other partners.

            Officers agreed to find out if local schools had been included in the consultation.

5.         Final Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget Setting and Rent Report 2024/25

            Officers advised that the Executive had considered a report in respect of the final Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget and Rent Setting for 2024/25.

            Officers gave the following answers/comments to a number of questions raised by Members:

·         The proposed 7.7% increase to rents was a flat rate across all housing stock but was a combined increase of rent plus service charges;

·         In comparison to the private sector, council rents were considerably lower.  There was no available comparable information for Housing Association rent levels but it was noted that as Registered Providers, they were also governed by the same regulations as Councils;

·         Affordable rents were calculated as a maximum of 80% of market rent;

·         It was noted that the Office of National Statistics (ONS) gave a figure of 6.2% as an increase in private rents nationally.

6.         Draft General Fund and Council Tax Settings 2024/2025

            Officers advised that the Executive had considered a report in respect of the Council’s draft General Fund, Council Tax Support Scheme and draft proposals for the 2024/25 Council Tax.

            Members noted that officers were of the view that the provisional funding settlement was slightly better than what was expected.  2025/26 inflation figures would still be a pressure, however.

            Officers gave the following answers/comments to a number of questions raised by Members:

·         Although there was a cost for the engagement of a celebrity for Christmas events, last year’s Christmas light switch on had been extremely popular;

·         Within the Executive report, a full explanation had been given as to the 3% cap by the Government and the make-up of the proposed 2.99% increase;

·         Members were pleased to note the changes to the fuel used by Council vehicles but requested that Officers consider the origins of the fuel as well as the type used;

·         All options considered by the Council’s Financial Security Group had been included in the report which detailed those options and the scoring levels achieved.

7.         Draft Capital Strategy 2023/24 – 2028/2029

Officers advised that the Executive  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

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

None.

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 to 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by SI 2006 No. 88.

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

To consider the following Part II Decisions of the Executive taken on 17 January 2024:

10.       Part II Minutes – Executive – 13 December 2023

11.       Activity Proposals for Fairlands Valley Park Sailing Centre and Main Lake

12.       Urgent Part II Business

Notice of Decisions to follow.

10.       Part II Minutes – Executive – 13 December 2023

            Noted.

11.       Activity Proposals for Fairlands Valley Park Sailing Centre and Main Lake

            The Culture, Leisure and Wellbeing Manager answered a number of Members’ questions in respect of the report.

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.