Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Mrs Joan Lloyd, Phil Bibby CC (observer) and Robin Parker CC (observer).

The Executive asked for its best wishes to be conveyed to Councillor Mrs Lloyd for a full recovery from illness.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 20 October 2021 for signature by the Chair.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 20 October 2021 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

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

Environment & Economy Select Committee – 21 October 2021

Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 26 October 2021

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

Environment & Economy Select Committee – 21 October 2021

Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 26 October 2021

To consider an update on the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Executive considered an overarching verbal progress report from the Strategic Director (RP), assisted by the Senior Environmental Health & Licensing Manager, together with a short presentation from the Corporate Policy & Research Officer, providing an update on the latest epidemiology statistics relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In response to Members’ questions, officers replied as follows:

·        the Vaccination Centre at Robertson House was administering Pfizer boosters on a daily basis, with Moderna boosters on Wednesdays and Fridays, with separate sessions for 12 to 15 year olds. Information could be obtained through the Healthy Futures website; and

·        the number of complaints received by the Environmental Health Team about non-mask wearing by customers in retail outlets had been relatively low.

It was noted that the relatively low rate of vaccination rates amongst Care Home staff may be partly attributable to concerns relating to the possible side effects of the vaccine, which could result in some staff needing time off work due to sickness.

The Chair was pleased to note that there was to be a mobile vaccination unit in the Bedwell Ward for two days in December, and asked Officers to advise Members and the Communications Team when precise dates were confirmed so that appropriate publicity could be given.

The Executive was delighted to learn that Professor Jim McManus (Hertfordshire Director of Public Health) had been elected as President of the Association of Directors of Public Health.  On behalf of the Council, the Chair agreed to write a letter of congratulations to Professor McManus on this achievement.

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

To consider and approve the Tranche 1 Towns Fund Business Cases for the Marshgate Biotech Centre and Gunnels Wood Infrastructure projects.

The Executive considered a report seeking approval of the Tranche 1 Towns Fund Business Cases, namely the Gunnels Wood Road Infrastructure project and the Marshgate Biotech/Life Science Centre project.

In reply to a question regarding the Gunnels Wood Road project, the Assistant Director (regeneration) clarified that the term “Hamburger” roundabout was another term for a gyratory type of roundabout.  Members also considered that any works to the A1(M) Junction 7 area should be mindful of the need to secure improvements to pedestrian and cycleway links to Knebworth Park.

In respect of the Marshgate project, the Chair pointed out that this and a number of the other Town Centre projects would result in a loss of surface level car parking, but that this should be balanced with the fact that the St. George’s Multi-Storey Car Park and other town centre car parks were currently operating with over 1,000 vacant spaces daily.  In addition, plans were progressing for a new Multi-Storey Car Park in the Railway Station area, a report on which was scheduled for submission to the Executive in December 2021.

Members were supportive of both schemes, and the Executive wished to record its thanks to the Assistant Director (Regeneration) and his Team, other supporting officers from areas including Finance, Planning and Legal.  The Executive also wished to record its thanks to the Stevenage Development Board for their tireless work on the Town Fund projects.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the endorsement of the projects from the Stevenage Development Board be noted.

2.          That the business case for Project 1, Gunnels Wood Road Infrastructure Works Stage 1 (design & enabling works), be approved, and that authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (TP) to submit the project summary to the Department for Levelling Up, Communities and Housing Towns Fund team on behalf of the Council (acting as Accountable Body).

3.          That the business case for Project 2, Marshgate Biotech/Life Science Centre, be approved, and that authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (TP) to submit the project summary to the Department for Levelling Up, Communities and Housing Towns Fund team on behalf of the Council (acting as Accountable Body).

Reason for Decision:  As contained in the report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

To update Members on the Treasury Management activities in 2021/22 and review effectiveness of the 2021/22 Treasury Management and Investment Strategy, including the 2021/22 prudential and treasury indicators.

The Executive considered a report in respect of the Mid Year Treasury Management Review 2021/22.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That Council be recommended to approve the 2021/22 Treasury Management Mid Year review.

2.          That Council be recommended to approve the list of approved Countries (with approved counterparties) for investments, as set out in Appendix D to the report.

3.          That the updated authorised and operational borrowing limits, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be approved.

4.          That the impact of the outstanding decision set out in Paragraph 4.1.4 of the report be noted.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

To update Members of the projected General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) 2021/22 net expenditure and to seek approval to amend the General Fund and HRA budgets as part of the Second Quarter Revenue Budget review.

The Executive considered a report in respect of Second Quarter Revenue Budget Monitoring 2021/22 (General Fund and Housing Revenue Account).

In relation to the situation regarding void properties, the Assistant Director (Stevenage Direct Services) was requested to provide a full update on this matter as part of the Quarter Two Corporate Performance report to be submitted to the December 20212 meeting of the Executive.

The Chair undertook to enquire of Hertfordshire County Council as to their plans for allocation of the remaining hardship funding provided by the Government to upper tier local authorities.

The Executive supported an additional recommendation proposed by the Chair that the Council write to the Secretary of State to point out the significant increasing budget pressures that local authorities are under due to the rise in levels of homelessness.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the 2021/22 Second Quarter projected net decrease in General Fund expenditure of £85,600 be approved.

2.          That the use of the additional grant funding of £105,000 for vulnerable private renters, as set out in Paragraph 4.1.12 of the report, be noted, and that a corresponding increase in expenditure to reflect the use of the grant be approved.

3.          That it be noted that the cumulative changes made to the General Fund net remains within the £400,000 increase variation limit delegated to the Executive, as set out in Paragraph 4.1.23 of the report.

4.          That the 2021/22 Second Quarter projected net increase in HRA expenditure of £231,690 be approved.

5.          That it be noted that the cumulative increases made to the HRA net budget remains within the £250,000 increase variation limit delegated to the Executive.

6.          That the Council write to the Secretary of State to point out the significant increasing budget pressures that local authorities are under due to the rise in levels of homelessness.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report; and 6. To make the Government aware of local authority budget pressures regarding homelessness.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

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

Community Renewal Fund

The Chair was delighted to report that, following a successful bid, Hertfordshire had been awarded £3.26M from the Community Renewal Fund, of which the sum secured with regards to Community Wealth Building was £715,000.  The funding would be used to support residents who were out of work to develop skills to help them secure local jobs, and could also be used to support small businesses and social enterprises to grow and benefit from wider economic opportunities that were available in Stevenage and elsewhere across the County.

The Chair added that the Community Renewal Fund had recognised Stevenage’s “STEM city”, science and technology companies, and the opportunities available in the town, including working with North Herts College and leading companies based in the Borough to support the creation of jobs and opportunities for local people to forge careers in a wide range of cutting edge businesses.

The Chair thanked officers for their work in preparing the bid to the Community Renewal Fund.

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.

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.

To consider a comprehensive options appraisal on management options for the Council’s leisure, cultural and health and wellbeing service delivery; together with a number of recommendations on proposed management arrangements from April 2023.

The Executive considered a Part II report which outlined a comprehensive appraisal of management options for the Council’s leisure, cultural and health and wellbeing service delivery and which made a number of recommendations on proposed management arrangements from April 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.

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

None.