Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Sandra Barr, Phil Bibby, Leanne Brady and Mason Humberstone.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 18 March 2025.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 18 March 2025 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To note the Terms of Reference as agreed at Annual Council on 22 May 2025.

It was RESOLVED that the Terms of Reference for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as approved at the Annual Council meeting held on 22 May 2025, be noted.

To consider the following Part I Decisions of the Cabinet taken on 4 June 2025.

MINUTES OF THE OVERVIEW AND SCURITY AND SELECT COMMITTEES

Cabinet Agenda Page Nos. 11 - 54

GREEN SPACES STRATEGY AND TREE AND WOODLAND STRATEGY

Cabinet Agenda Page Nos. 55 - 184

PLANNING POLICY UPDATE INCLUDING REVISED LOCAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME AND REVISED STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Cabinet Agenda Page Nos. 185 - 264

TENANT SATISFACTION MEASURES 2024 / 25

Cabinet Agenda Page Nos. 253 - 264

Notice of Decisions to follow

The Committee considered the following Part I Decisions of the Cabinet taken on 4 June 2025.

1.    MINUTES OF THE OVERVIEW AND SCURITY AND SELECT COMMITTEES

The Strategic Director advised that the Select Committee had provided feedback on the scrutiny work, and no questions were raised by Cabinet in response.

2.    GREEN SPACES STRATEGY AND TREE AND WOODLAND STRATEGY

The Assistant Director for Stevenage Direct Services reported that both the Green Spaces Strategy and the Tree and Woodland Strategy had been in development for some time and had involved consultation with stakeholders and Council officers and specific policy development work with the Environment & Economy Select Committee

The Overview and Scrutiny Members were informed that Cabinet members discussed the importance of green spaces in the town and agreed that the strategies were well-aligned with the Council’s long term ambitions to enhance and protect these areas over the next ten years. Members welcomed the inclusion of the Forster Country Park, recognising it as a significant asset for Stevenage. The recommendations were approved.

Committee members also highlighted the town-wide importance of green spaces, with reference to the value of Fairlands Valley Park for residents of all age groups. 

A question was raised about the funding available for implementing, and whether certain actions could be accelerated. In response, the Environmental Policy and Development Manager confirmed that an additional column had been added to the action plan to indicate where additional resources would be required. It was acknowledged that while full delivery of all actions over the ten-year period could not be guaranteed, the majority were considered achievable within current resources, particularly with the continuation of external funding streams.

3.    PLANNING POLICY UPDATE INCLUDING REVISED LOCAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME AND REVISED STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

The Assistant Director for Planning and Regulatory Services advised that Cabinet had been presented with a report containing details of updates to the Local Development Scheme and revisions to the Statement of Community Involvement. 

A question was raised regarding how the report related to Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). Officers clarified that the Local Development Scheme was a program management document and did not include policy recommendations.

A further question was raised regarding how existing Council strategies, such as the cycling strategy, would be incorporated into strategic planning documents. Officers confirmed that relevant strategies would be reflected in the Local Plan through land-use planning.

A question was raised in reference to paragraph 3.21 of the report regarding the inclusion of Broxbourne in the joint strategic plan, given the lack of a shared boundary. Officers explained that the plan was at a conceptual stage, with the intention to explore collaboration between multiple authorities on strategic growth proposals. Officers commented that it was not unusual for local authorities to collaborate on evidence gathering across a wider area.

Members noted the strong North-South dynamics in the area and speculated on how these patterns might influence future planning. Officers emphasised the importance of reflecting real-world patterns in plan making, which supported  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To approve the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2025 – 26.

The Chair introduced the Scrutiny Officer who provided an overview of the items on the agenda, noting that several fell within the Budget and Policy Framework items which followed the usual practice to scrutinise the Cabinet executive decisions within the call-in period for Cabinet decisions.

Officers also highlighted examples of previous scrutiny work undertaken by the committee, including:

• A review of the Customer Service Centre relocation, focusing on visitor usage and enquiry handling.
• An examination of website analytics, including user engagement with popular pages and feedback on content and design.
• A session on cybersecurity, covering IT services and threats to local government systems.

It was noted that the Committee would also take part in pre-scrutiny policy development, including the Council Tax Support Scheme, which was being redrafted due to Universal Credit changes. The originally proposed date for this item would be revised, with a meeting expected in July or August 2025.

The Chair encouraged members to propose scrutiny topics, particularly those of a corporate-wide nature, not already within the remit of other select committees such as Environment & Economy or Community Select.

It was noted that an item on the development of the Your-Say Corporate Complaints System and consideration of the Committee’s Action Tracker would be brought to future meeting of the Committee.

At this juncture, Members raised a question regarding the Mod.gov app and its use for accessing Overview and Scrutiny reports. The issue was noted, and officers stated that they would look into it and report back to Members. 

It was RESOLVED that the Overview & Scrutiny Committee Work Programme for 2025/26, as set out in the agenda, be noted.

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

There was no Urgent Part 1 Decisions authorised by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

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

There was no Urgent Part I Business.

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 approve as a correct record the Part II Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 18 March 2025.

It was RESOLVED that the Part II minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 18 March 2025 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider the following Part II Decisions of the Cabinet taken on 4 June 2025.

PIONEERING YOUNG STEM FUTURES

Cabinet Agenda Page Nos. 269 - 354

PROJECT DELIVERY AND PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR APPOINTMENT: THE OVAL

Cabinet Agenda Page Nos. 355 – 428

Notice of Decisions to follow

5. PIONEERING YOUNG STEM FUTURES

The Corporate Policy and Performance Manager updated the Committee on the Pioneering Young STEM futures proposal. The Committee asked a number of questions regarding this item, which were answered by the Corporate Policy and Performance Manager.

6.    PROJECT DELIVERY AND PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR APPOINTMENT: THE OVAL

The Housing Development Delivery Manager updated the Committee on the Project Delivery and Principal Contractor Appointed for The Oval Development. The Committee asked a number of questions regarding this item, which were answered by the Housing Delivery Manager.  

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

The Committee noted that there had been no Urgent Part II Decisions authorised by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

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

There was no Urgent Part II Business.