Agenda for Executive on Wednesday, 12 August 2020, 2.00pm

Agenda and decisions

Venue: Virtual (via Zoom) / Autun Room

Contact: Ian Gourlay (01438) 242703  Email: ian.gourlay@stevenage.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Decision:

There were no apologies for absence.

 

There were no declarations of interest.

2.

MINUTES - 8 JULY 2020 pdf icon PDF 127 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 8 July 2020 for signature by the Chair.

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 8 July 2020 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

3.

MINUTES OF THE OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE AND SELECT COMMITTEES pdf icon PDF 68 KB

To note the following Minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Select Committees:

 

Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 14 July 2020

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 14 July 2020 be noted.

4.

CO-OPERATIVE NEIGHBOURHOODS pdf icon PDF 160 KB

To consider an update on the implementation of Co-operative Neighbourhoods, following approval of the programme by the Executive in December 2019.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Executive considered an update report on the implementation of Co-operative Neighbourhoods, following approval of the programme in December 2019.

 

In considering the report, Members commented as follows:

 

·        The Communications Plan would require some amendments to make it more user friendly for the public;

·        A briefing session for all Members of the Council would be set up to run through the “Guide for Councillors” document (Appendix C to the report);

·        In response to a request for the names (as opposed to designations) of the Operational Leads for each area, it was confirmed that a full list of officers comprising each area team would be provided to Members in due course;

·        In reply to a question concerning the Community Action Plans, it was clarified that the intention was that these would replace the existing Ward logs system.

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

1.          That the revised strategy for resuming the development of Co-operative Neighbourhoods be endorsed.

 

2.          That the Guide for Councillors (attached at Appendix C to the report), which will be sent to all Borough and County Councillors across Stevenage, be approved.

 

3.          That future decisions on development of the strategy be delegated to the Strategic Director (RP), in consultation with the Co-operative Neighbourhoods Strategic Board.

 

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

5.

COVID-19 UPDATE

To consider a verbal update / presentation on the Covid-19 pandemic.

Decision:

The Executive considered a verbal update/presentation on the Covid-19 pandemic, focusing on national and Hertfordshire positions; SBC transition arrangements; progress on recovery; and Local Outbreak planning.

 

A Member questioned the quality and timeliness of Covid-19 data being disseminated from the Government to local authorities, and whether a statement regarding this matter should be released to the local press.  The Leader undertook to raise this matter at her forthcoming meeting with the other Hertfordshire Leaders and HCC’s Director of Public Health.

 

In response to a Member’s request, Officers undertook to seek to provide an update at the September 2020 Executive meeting regarding the number of people in Stevenage on furlough and other key employment statistics.

 

The Senior Environmental Health and Licensing Manager was requested to write to all Members of the Executive to give a flavour of the enforcement activities carried out by his Team during and after lockdown.

 

It was RESOLVED that the Covid-19 update be noted.

6.

CO-OPERATIVE COMMERCIAL AND INSOURCING STRATEGY 2020-2023 pdf icon PDF 866 KB

To consider the proposed Co-operative Commercial and Insourcing Strategy 2020-2023.

Decision:

The Executive considered a report seeking approval of a proposed Co-operative Commercial and Insourcing Strategy.

 

In response to a question in respect of implementation of the Strategy, it was confirmed that a skills audit would commence during September 2020, with the intention that targeted training would take place in the Autumn/Winter.

 

Members were pleased that the Repairs and Voids Team were supportive of the insourcing plans for their work, and of the potential for future expansion of the Council’s commercial activity to perhaps provide such services to private homeowners.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Resources confirmed that the Membership of the proposed Commercial and Investment Executive Committee would comprise herself (as Chair), together with Councillors Sharon Taylor, Jeannette Thomas, John Gardner and Lloyd Briscoe.

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

1.          That the Co-operative Commercial and Insourcing Strategy for 2020-2023, as appended to the report, be approved and reviewed on an annual basis.

 

2.          That the establishment of the Commercial and Investment Executive Committee be approved (with the Membership as detailed in the preamble above), and the Terms of Reference for this Committee, as shown at Paragraph 4.9 of the report, be agreed.

 

3.          That the Assistant Director (Stevenage Direct Services) be given delegated authority to approve any final changes required to the Strategy, following consultation with the Executive Member for Resources.

 

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

7.

URGENT PART I BUSINESS

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

Decision:

The Chair had accepted an urgent item of business in respect of new and proposed changes to the Town and Country Planning system.

 

The Assistant Director (Planning & Regulatory) outlined changes soon to come into force regarding Use Classes and Permitted Development (PD) Rights, together with a flavour of the Government’s Planning White Paper which was currently out for consultation.

 

Members were generally dissatisfied with the proposals and content of the White Paper, and both the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Environment & Regeneration would be submitting robust responses to the Government on the matter.

 

It was confirmed that training would be provided to all Members on the changes, with specific detailed training for Members of the Planning & Development Committee.

 

 

8.

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 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.

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 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 the reasons for the following reports being in Part II were accepted, and that the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

9.

CO-OPERATIVE COMMERCIAL AND INSOURCING STRATEGY 2020-2023

To consider a Part II report relating to the proposed Co-operative Commercial and Insourcing Strategy 2020-2023.

Decision:

The Executive considered a Part II report relating to the High Level Action Plan and Insourcing Road Map (Repairs and Voids), both of which were supporting documents to the Co-operative Commercial and Insourcing Strategy 2020-2023.

 

It was RESOLVED that the recommendations contained in the report be approved.

 

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

10.

EMERGENCY COVID-19 FUNDING SUPPORT FOR STEVENAGE LEISURE LIMITED

To consider a request for emergency Covid-19 funding support for Stevenage Leisure Limited.

 

[REPORT TO FOLLOW]

Decision:

The Executive considered a Part II report in respect of a request from Stevenage Leisure Limited (SLL) for funding support as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

 

It was RESOLVED that the recommendations contained in the report be approved, including additional wording to Recommendation 2.1 and an extra recommendation.

 

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

11.

URGENT PART II BUSINESS

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

Decision:

None.