Agenda for Executive on Wednesday, 10 March 2021, 1.00pm

Agenda and decisions

Venue: Virtual (via Zoom)

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

Note: You can view this meeting via the live stream from the Council’s YouTube channel by following this link - https://www.youtube.com/user/SBCComms 

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Decision:

There were no apologies for absence.

 

There were no declarations on interest.

2.

MINUTES - 10 FEBRUARY 2021 pdf icon PDF 265 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 10 February 2021 for signature by the Chair.

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 10 February 2021 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

3.

MINUTES OF OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE AND SELECT COMMITTEES pdf icon PDF 73 KB

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

 

Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 26 January 2021

Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 17 February 2021

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Executive considered the Minutes of the meetings of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 16 January 2021 and 17 February 2021.

 

In relation to the Allotment holders issue raised at the 17 February meeting, the Chair asked that the information provided by the Green Spaces & Environmental Performance Manager be posted on the Council’s website.

 

It was RESOLVED that the following Minutes of meetings of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Select Committees be noted:

 

Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 26 January 2021

Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 17 February 2021

4.

COVID-19 UPDATE

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

Decision:

The Executive considered a presentation providing an update on the Covid-19 pandemic from the Strategic Director (RP), assisted by other officers.

 

The following issues were raised during the presentation:

 

·            As at 5 March 2021, 23,857 Stevenage residents had received the first dose of the Coronavirus vaccine.  Officers were requested to report to the next meeting of the Coronavirus Emergency Committee with a breakdown of this figure by age group;

·            The Local Resilience Forum had been asked to provide clarity of information in respect of the differing vaccination systems operated by large test centre and local GP surgeries, particularly in terms of the communication of dates for second doses of the vaccine;

·            It was confirmed that there was a countywide publicity campaign reminding all residents about the importance of being vaccinated against Covid-19;

·            Officers undertook to request information showing a breakdown between the number of Stevenage residents who had been vaccinated at The Robertson House Mass Vaccination Centre and those who had been vaccinated at the Local GP surgeries;

·            It was clarified that SBC would be re-opening Play Areas in the town as soon as it was Covid-safe to do so (a decision which would be based on a sufficiently low R-rate regarding transmission of the virus); and

·            The Chair requested officers to report to the next meeting of the Coronavirus Emergency Committee with detailed statistics regarding individuals who had received the £500 test and trace support payment if told to isolate because of Covid-19.

 

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

5.

THE IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT ON BIODIVERSITY SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENT: ADOPTION pdf icon PDF 295 KB

To consider the adoption of the Impact of Development of Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Document.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Executive considered a report regarding the outcome of consultation on the draft Impact of Development on Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), and seeking approval to the adoption of the final version of the SPD.

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

1.          That the outcomes of the draft Impact of Development on Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) consultation exercise be noted.

 

2.          That delegated powers be granted to the Assistant Director (Planning & Regulation), following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment & Regeneration, to make minor amendments as are necessary in the final preparation of the Impact of Development on Biodiversity SPD prior to its publication.

 

3.          That the Impact of Development on Biodiversity SPD be adopted as a material consideration for planning applications.

 

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

6.

DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTIONS SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENT: ADOPTION pdf icon PDF 383 KB

To consider the adoption of the Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Executive considered a report regarding the outcome of consultation on the draft SBC Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), and seeking approval to the adoption of the final version of the SPD.

 

In response to a Member’s question regarding viability studies, the Principal Planning Officer advised that the process was not skewed towards the acceptance at face value of land value figures provided by developers.  By using a standardised methodology, the Council was able to obtain a value per square metre based on the existing use of the land, together with an element of uplift for a use of the land that could be permitted by planning permission, as well as a premium for landowners as to what they could rightfully expect to be paid should they wish to sell the land for development.

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

1.          That the outcomes of the draft SBC Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) consultation exercise be noted.

 

2.          That delegated powers be granted to the Assistant Director (Planning & Regulation), following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment & Regeneration, to make minor amendments as are necessary in the final preparation of the SBC Developer Contributions SPD prior to its publication.

 

3.          That the SBC Developer Contributions SPD be adopted as a material consideration for planning applications.

 

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

 

7.

HOUSING FIRST APPROACH - STEVENAGE BOROUGH COUNCIL pdf icon PDF 205 KB

To consider an update on the Housing First approach to accommodate rough sleepers; and to consider the options for implementing the Housing First approach for the financial year 2021/2022, for the purposes of assessing its viability, beyond the current “protect directive” for the medium to long term.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Executive considered a report which provided an update on the Council’s Housing First approach to accommodate rough sleepers, and options for implementing the Housing First approach for the 2021/22 financial year, for the purposes of assessing its viability beyond the current “protect directive” for the medium to long term.

The Executive supported an additional recommendation requesting the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health & Older People to draft a letter to the Housing Minister outlining SBC’s plans and requirement for further funding to support a sustainable model over the medium to longer term, stating that whilst the Council was grateful for the funding already received that only allowed for the provision of this offer for 12 months, and even then this was subsidised, and stressing that further funding would be required to eradicate rough sleeping in Stevenage.

The Executive further supported an amendment to Recommendation 2.2.3 in the report pointed out by the Strategic Director (CF), in that the figure of £248,381.49 for funding of the scheme from the 2021/22 Covid finance settlement should read £214,540.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the support provided to homeless households during the Covid-19 restrictions, March – July 2020, November to December 2020 & the most recent national restrictions from January 2021 be noted.

2.          That the additional bid submission to the Government “Rough Sleeper Initiative 4” of £341,381.49 to mitigate the cost of the Housing First model relating to the period 2021/2022 be noted.

3.          That it be noted that Officers will continue to seek funding from Hertfordshire County Council and Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government to support the unfunded cost of the prevent directive.

4.          That the on-going work to implement a Housing First model that mitigates the cost to the General Fund be noted.

5.          That the allocation of the Government funding of £500,831, as set out in Appendix 2 and Appendix 3 to the report, to support the homeless functions during 2020/21 and 2021/22, be approved.

6.          That the Housing First Approach for rough sleepers, for up to the next 12 months, as set out in Appendix 4 to the report, be approved.

7.          That the use of up to £214,540 from the 2021/22 Covid finance settlement funding, to fund the net cost to the General Fund (subject to the level of grant funding received, as set out in Paragraph 5.1.12 of the report) for 12 months, be approved.

 

8.          That the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health & Older People be requested to draft a letter to the Housing Minister outlining SBC’s plans and requirement for further funding to support a sustainable model over the medium to longer term, stating that whilst the Council is grateful for the funding already received that only allowed for the provision of this offer for 12 months, and even then this is subsidised, and stressing that further funding would be required to eradicate rough sleeping in Stevenage.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report; and 8. To urge the Government to provide a longer-term sustainable  ...  view the full decision text for item 7.

8.

COMMUNITY SAFETY STRATEGY 2021 - 2024 pdf icon PDF 520 KB

To consider the proposed final Community Safety Strategy 2021 – 2024 for onward recommendation to Council.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Executive considered a report seeking endorsement of the proposed final Community Strategy 2021-2024, for onward recommendation to Council.

 

The Executive supported an amendment to the Strategy proposed by the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Communities & Equalities.  The amendment concerned the addition of the words “further promote” to the third objective in the Strategy so that it now read “promote reporting of hate crime and further promote equality in the community”.

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

1.          That the proposed final Community Safety Strategy (the Strategy) accompanying the report as Appendix A, and as amended, be approved, noting its focus on the work of the SoSafe partnership.

 

2.          That the decision taken in 1. above be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration, in accordance with the Budget and Policy Framework Rules in the Council’s Constitution.

 

3.          That, once the proposed Final Strategy has been recommended for adoption by the Executive and reviewed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, it be referred to Council for consideration, in accordance with the Budget and Policy Framework Rules in the Council’s Constitution.

 

4.          That the Chief Executive, in his capacity as Chair of the SoSafe Partnership, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Communities, Community Safety & Equalities, be authorised to make changes to the Strategy post consideration by the Executive.

 

5.          That it be noted that implementation of the Strategy (once approved in accordance with the Budget and Policy Framework Rules) will be achieved through co-operative working with communities and key partners through the activities of the Joint Action Group and overseen by the Responsible Authorities Group.

 

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

9.

CORPORATE PERFORMANCE - QUARTER THREE 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 471 KB

To consider the Council’s performance across key priorities and themes for Quarter Three 2020/21.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Executive considered a report highlighting the Council’s performance across key priorities and themes for Quarter Three 2020/21.

 

A Member pointed out that whilst Recommendation 2.7 in the report requested the endorsement of proposals to further improve website satisfaction, the report contained no such proposals.  It was therefore agreed that this recommendation would be amended so that these proposals would be provided to Executive and Overview & Scrutiny Committee Members via a Briefing Note.

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

1.          That the delivery of priorities which form the Future Town, Future Council Programme and performance of the Council across the key themes for Quarter Three 2020/21, together with the latest achievements, be noted.

2.          That the impacts of the Government Directive on the provision of accommodation for “rough sleepers” during the Covid-19 Pandemic are noted (Paragraphs 3.60 to 3.67 of the report).

3.          That the impact of the Government Directive on evictions during the course of COVID-19, as well as the effects of the Pandemic generally, on the Council’s Housing Options Service (Paragraphs 3.68 to 3.72 of the report and considered further in the Housing First report elsewhere on the agenda for the meeting) be noted.

4.          That the impacts of Universal Credit and COVID-19 on rent collection rate bee noted and action plans endorsed (Paragraphs 3.73 to 3.81 of the report).

5.          That the impacts of COVID-19 on the Council’s ability to deliver against the following key performance areas and, where appropriate the improvement actions outlined against them, as identified in the Paragraphs in the report outlined below, be noted:

·     Job Creation/New Business Start Up through the Business Technology Centre (Paragraphs 3.88 to 3.90);

·     Food establishment compliance checks (Paragraphs 3.91 to 3.92);

·     Letting of council garages (Paragraphs 3.95 to 3.99);

·     Collection of Council Tax (Paragraphs 3.105 to 3.106); and

·     Ability to identify and remove Housing Revenue Account/General Fund savings (Paragraphs 3.107 to 3.110).

6.          That the level of void loss and how sheltered void properties and major works impact the void loss be noted, and improvement activities bee endorsed (Paragraphs 3.82 to 3.87 of the report).

7.          That the proposals to further improve website satisfaction be provided to Members of the Executive and Overview & Scrutiny Committee by way of a Briefing Note.

 

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report; and 7. To provide Members with proposals for the improvement of website satisfaction.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

10.

3RD QUARTER REVENUE MONITORING REPORT - GENERAL FUND AND HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 426 KB

To consider the 3rd Quarter General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Revenue Monitoring Report 2020/21.

Decision:

The Executive considered a report in respect of the 3rd Quarter General Fund and Housing Revenue Account monitoring report 2020/21.

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

General Fund

 

1.          That the 2020/21 3rd Quarter General Fund projected net decrease in expenditure of £157,000, as summarised in Paragraph 4.4.4 of the report, be approved.

 

2.          That the progress of the 2020/21 approved savings, growth bid and carry forwards be noted.

 

3.          That the new carry forward requests of £40,000, as set out in Paragraph 4.2.15 of the report, be approved.

 

4.          That the additional Covid losses and grants received, as set out in Section 4.4 of the report, be noted.

 

Housing Revenue Account (HRA)

 

5.          That the 2020/21 3rd Quarter decrease in the net HRA surplus of £48,000, be approved.

 

6.          That the progress of the 2020/21 approved savings, growth bids and carry forward requests be noted.

 

7.          That the new carry forward requests of £834,000, as set out in Section 4.7 of the report, be approved.

 

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

11.

3RD QUARTER CAPITAL MONITORING REPORT - GENERAL FUND AND HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 423 KB

To consider the 3rd Quarter General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Monitoring Report 2020/21.

Decision:

The Executive considered a report in respect of the 3rd Quarter Capital General Fund and Housing Revenue Account monitoring report 2020/21.

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

1.          That the 2020/21 General Fund Capital Programme net decrease in expenditure of £570,000, as summarised in Table One and detailed in Section 4.2 of the report, be approved.

 

2.          That the £232,000 growth for additional investment in vehicles, as detailed in Paragraph 4.2.3 of the report, be approved and added to the Capital Programme for 2021/22.

 

3.          That the 2021/22 General Fund Capital Programme net increase in expenditure of £728,000 (including the growth in 2. above), as summarised in Table One and detailed in Section 4.2 of the report, be approved.

 

4.          That the 2020/21 Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme slippage of £4.838Million, as summarised in Table Six and referred to in Section 4.6 of the report, be approved.

 

5.          That the 2021/22 Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme net increase in expenditure of £4.487Million, as summarised in Table Six and referred to in Section 4.6 of the report, be approved.

 

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

12.

URGENT PART I BUSINESS

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

Decision:

The Chair accepted the following items of urgent Part I business.

 

(i)         Margaret Ashby

 

The Chair had the sad duty to report that Margaret Ashby, a well-known local historian, had passed away in the Lister Hospital on Monday, 8 March 2021.  The Chair paid tribute to Margaret, and stated that she had written many excellent books chronicling the social history of Stevenage, and had also been a fervent environmental campaigner (including a member of Friends of Forster Country).  She knew that Margaret would be sorely and sadly missed.

 

(ii)        Town Deal

 

The Chair referred to the recent excellent news that Stevenage had been awarded Town Deal funding of £37.5Million by the Government following the approval of the Town Investment Plan submitted by the Stevenage Development Board.  She commented that this Board, chaired independently by Adrian Hawkins, comprised representatives from organisations including SBC, HCC and Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, as well as other partnership bodies and local major businesses.

 

The Chair advised that the Town Investment Plan contained a variety of schemes, including regeneration, cultural/leisure and skills/employment projects, for which business cases would need to be made in the next year in order to drawn down the £37.5Million earmarked by the Government.

 

The Chair thanked Adrian Hawkins, together with fellow Board Members and the SBC Regeneration Team, for their exceptional work over the past year which had resulted in the successful approval of the Town Investment Plan.

13.

EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

To consider the following motions –

 

1.          That under Section 100A 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 100A 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 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.

14.

FRAMEWORK FOR THE SUPPLY OF AGENCY WORKERS

To consider details for the procurement process for the new Framework Contract for the provision of Agency Workers.

Decision:

The Executive considered a Part II report seeking approval to a Framework for the Provision of Agency Workers.

 

It was RESOLVED that the recommendation set out in the report, together with an additional recommendation proposed during the debate, be approved.

 

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report

15.

SG1 ACCELERATION

To consider an update on the progress of the SG1 project and work carried out to review opportunities to accelerate the delivery of future phases of the project.

Decision:

The Executive considered a Part II report regarding an update on the progress of the SG1 project, and work carried out to review opportunities to accelerate the delivery of future phases of the project.

 

It was RESOLVED that the Recommendations set out in the report be approved.

 

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

16.

APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR AT DUNN CLOSE

To approve the appointment of a principal contractor for the Dunn Close garage site redevelopment scheme.

Decision:

The Executive considered a Part II report seeking the appointment of a Principal Contractor for the Dunn Close development scheme.

 

It was RESOLVED that the Recommendations set out in the report be approved.

 

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

17.

URGENT PART II BUSINESS

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

Decision:

None.