Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Jackie Hollywell.

Councillor Lloyd Briscoe declared a personal interest in respect of Item 14 – Write Offs, in view of his role in connection with one of the organisations mentioned in the report.  He advised that he would leave the meeting for the duration of the Executive’s debate and vote on this item.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 15 June 2022 for signature by the Chair.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 15 June 2022 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

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

Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 21 June 2022

The Executive considered the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 21 June 2022.

In connection with Minute 4(5) – Climate Change Update: June 2022, the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change announced that he had met with the Chairs of the Overview & Scrutiny, Planning & Development and Environment & Economy Select Committees and had received their support to the establishment of a Corporate Climate Change Programme Group, an informal Member/Officer group to progress Climate Change actions.  He had enlisted the support of the Portfolio Holders for Culture, Leisure, Children & Young People; Economy, Enterprise & Transport; and Communities, Neighbourhoods & Co-operative Council in this endeavour, with the aim of delivering the Council’s ambition to be net carbon zero by 2030.

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

Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 21 June 2022

To consider the proposed Housing First Business Plan.

The Executive considered a report in respect of a proposed Housing First Business Plan.

The Executive supported an addition to the recommendations instructing that a review of the Housing First Service Model be undertaken in 12 months’ time and reported back to the Executive.

It was RESOLVED:

1.     That the progress of the Stevenage Housing First approach to date in delivering sustainable outcomes for rough sleepers across the town be noted.

2.     That the funding secured from the Department of Levelling Up Housing & Communities and Hertfordshire County Council in supporting the Housing First approach in Stevenage be noted.

3.     That a revised Housing First Service Model based on 25-30 accommodation units through to March 2024, to help mitigate the risk of under occupancy and the associated costs that come with this, be approved, and that a review of this Model be carried out in 12 months’ time and reported back to the Executive.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

To seek approval for consultation purposes of two revised Article 4 Directions to remove the permitted development rights in relation to changes of use from office and light industrial uses to residential use in Gunnels Wood and Pin Green.

The Executive considered a report seeking approval for consultation purposes of two revised Article 4 Directions to remove the permitted development rights in relation to changes of use from office and light industrial uses to residential use in Gunnels Wood and Pin Green.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the proposed Article 4 Directions, and the areas they will cover (as detailed in Appendices C and D to the report), be approved.

2.          That consultation be agreed on the making of the Article 4 Directions under Article 4 (I) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (as amended), to remove permitted development rights in relation to changes of use from Use Class E(g)(i) and E(g)(iii) to Use Class C3 (as defined in the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended)).

3.          That, following a minimum of 28 days consultation on the serving of the notice of the Directions, the Executive receive a further report in order to decide whether or not to confirm the Article 4 Directions.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

To consider the proposed approach for the delivery of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Stevenage between 2022/23 and 2024/25 ahead of the closure of the Local Investment Plan window on 1 August 2022.

The Executive considered a report in respect of an overview proposal for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The Leader asked officers to ensure that relevant data was collected to measure outcomes of the effectiveness of the use of UK Shared Prosperity Fund monies, and she hoped that some of monies could be used as match-funding when bidding for other sources of grant/support funding.

In reply to Members’ questions:

·        The Chief Executive confirmed that he had written to the local MP and had offered to meet to discuss the UKSPF submission; and

·        The Strategic Director (TP) stated that Intervention E3 in the UKSPF document - Creation of and improvements to local green spaces, community gardens, watercourses and embankments, along with incorporating natural features into wider public spaces – was referenced as being applicable to some of the projects that could feature under the “Co-operative and Neighbourhoods” Theme set out in the report.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the proposed approach and outlined interventions of the UKSPF Local Investment Plan, as set pout in the report, be approved for submission to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

2.          That delegated authority be given to the Strategic Director (TP), to make final amendments to the required Stevenage Investment Plan submission ahead of the 1 August 2022 deadline, having consulted with the Leader of the Council.

3.          That delegated authority be given to the Strategic Director (TP), having consulted the Portfolio Holder for Community, Neighbourhoods and Co-operative Councilsand the Leader of the Council, to establish an appropriate method for allocating funding to support interventions within the Co-operative Neighbourhoods Programme.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

To seek approval to re-confirm the delegation of certain Building Control approval powers, from SBC to other shareholder local authorities in the Hertfordshire Building Control (HBC) partnership.

[REPORT TO FOLLOW]

The Executive considered a report seeking approval to confirmation of the delegation of certain Building Control approval powers, from SBC to other shareholder local authorities in the Hertfordshire Building Control (HBC) partnership; and to extend the current Services Agreement with Hertfordshire Building Control and to delegate approval of a revised contract in the months ahead.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That it be confirmed that, so far as is permitted by law, the functions carried out by the Council’s Building Control team, which are not transferred to Hertfordshire Building Control (HBC), may be provided by one or more of the Member Authorities (of HBC) acting under powers contained in Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972.

2.          That the current Services Agreement with Hertfordshire Building Control be extended until 31st March 2023, and that authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (TP), in consultation with the Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change, and statutory officers, to agree future extensions.

3.          That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (TP) to agree any final and outstanding legal, technical, financial and operational matters to be concluded in effecting the proposed extension of contract.

4.          That the appointment of Three Rivers District Council to perform the LA1 contract management function and the audit and issue of statutory notices, as per the current arrangements, be continued.

5.          That East Hertfordshire District Council be appointed to perform the statutory notice LA1 function until 31st March 2023.

6.          That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (TP), following consultation with the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change, Monitoring Officer and Strategic Director (CF), to agree and finalise any future arrangements for statutory Building Control, including the LA1 function, beyond 31st March 2023.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in the report.

To consider the Council’s Annual Report 2021/22 and Corporate Performance for Quarter 4 of 2021/22, together with the Corporate Performance Suite for 2022/23.

The Executive considered a report in respect of Corporate Performance for Quarter 4 2021/22; the proposed Annual Report 2021/22; and the Corporate Performance suite for 2022/23.

In response to Members’ questions, officers confirmed that the Training audit relating to staff effectiveness in dealing with Temporary/Emergency Accommodation was underway, and could be shared with Members if they wished to view it post-completion.  It was further confirmed that the budget to tackle the backlog of fencing repairs across the Borough was being increased from £250,000 to £750,000.

A discussion arose on the quality of the SBC website, and the difficulties experienced by some residents in its navigation.  Members felt that a clearly defined single point of entry for raising issues/complaints should be incorporated into the front page of the website.  Officers agreed that website useability was important and understood the desire for a single point of entry, although it would need to be designed to ensure that the correct information was captured when a resident interacted with the Council.  The Executive was pleased to hear that a new Web Officer would shortly be joining the Council to assist in this process.

A Member questioned the use of the term “Community Plan” in relation to Co-operative Neighbourhoods (CN).  He felt that the existing plans operated by the CN Teams were akin to Programme Action Trackers/Action Plans on issues already identified.  However, he felt that these would form a good basis for the development of what he felt would be Community Plans formulated through consultation with, and the involvement of, residents.

The Leader asked the Chief Executive to arrange for the slides used in his presentation to be uploaded to the Council’s website, and he agreed to ensure that the name of a contact officer, with contact details, was included on the slides pertaining to the Council’s priorities for 2022/23.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the draft Annual Report 2021/22 (Appendix 1 to the report) and summary action plan (Appendix 2 to the report) be agreed, subject to any changes discussed at the meeting, and with final sign off delegated to the Chief Executive, after consultation with the Leader of the Council.

2.          That the significant progress in the delivery of priorities which form the Future Town, Future Council Programme and strong performance of the Council across the key themes for Quarter 4 2021/22, together with the latest achievements, be noted (see Appendix 3 to the report).

3.          That the performance challenges in relation to housing voids, garages, homelessness services and customer service be noted, and the planned measures to improve performance be endorsed (as set out in Appendix 4 to the report).

4.          That the proposed Corporate Performance Suite 2022/23 (as set out in Appendix 6 to the report) be agreed.

5.          That the Executive Action Tracker, as set out at Appendix 7 to the report, be noted.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered;  As contained in report.

To consider the 4^th Quarter 2021/22 Revenue Budget Monitoring report.

The Executive considered a report in respect of 4^th Quarter Revenue Budget Monitoring 2021/22 for both the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

It was RESOLVED:

General Fund

1.          That the 2021/22 actual General Fund net expenditure of £9.692Million be noted, subject to the 2021/22 audit of the Statement of Accounts.

2.          That the 2021/22 actual core resources of £10.198Million be noted, subject to the 2021/22 audit of the Statement of Accounts (as per Paragraph 4.7 of the report).

3.          That carry forward requests totalling £653,660 be approved for the General Fund (as per Paragraph 4.6.1 of the report).

4.          That the Transfer from reserves of £1.328Million be approved for the General Fund (as per Paragraph 4.10.2 of the report).

5.          That the changes to the 2022/23 General Fund budget savings totalling £180,840 be approved for the General Fund (as per Section 4.9 of the report).

6.          That the inflationary pressures outlined in Paragraph 4.9.4 of the report be noted.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA)

7.          That the 2021/22 actual in year HRA surplus of £2.813Million be noted, subject to the 2021/22 audit of the Statement of Accounts.

8.          That new carry forward requests totalling £972,910 be approved for the HRA (as per Paragraph 4.15.1 of the report).

9.          That the Transfer to reserves of £165,000 be approved for the HRA (as per Paragraph 4.17.2 of the report).

10.      That the changes to the 2022/23 HRA budget savings totalling £1.037Million be approved for the HRA (as per Paragraph 4.16.5 of the report).

11.      That the HRA inflationary pressures outlined in Paragraph 4.9.4 and Paragraphs 4.16.3 - 4.16.4 of the report be noted.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

To consider the outturn position on 2021/22 Capital Programme.

The Executive considered a report in respect of the Capital Expenditure Outturn for 2021/22 (General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA)).

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the 2021/22 General Fund capital expenditure outturn (£24.106Million), as summarised in Paragraph 4.1.1 of the report, be noted (subject to the completion of the 2021/22 external audit of accounts).

2.          That the 2021/22 HRA capital expenditure outturn (£36.727Million), as summarised in Paragraph 4.4.1 of the report, be noted (subject to the completion of the 2021/22 external audit of accounts).

3.          That the funding applied to the 2021/22 General Fund capital programme, as summarised in Paragraph 4.2.1 of the report, be approved.

4.          That the funding applied to the 2021/22 HRA capital programme, as summarised in Paragraph 4.5.1 of the report, be approved.

5.          That the 2022/23 General Fund capital programme increase of £4.776Million, as set out in Paragraph 4.3.1 of the report, be approved.

6.          That the 2022/23 HRA capital programme increase of £6.867Million, as set out in Paragraph 4.6.1 of the report, be approved.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

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

None.

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 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.

To approve as a correct record the report the Part II Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 15 June 2022 for signature by the Chair.

It was RESOLVED that the Part II Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 15 June 2022 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

To consider an update on Debt Write Offs.

[Prior to the consideration of this item, Councillor Lloyd Briscoe withdrew from the Chamber.]

The Executive considered a Part II report in respect of Write offs.

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.

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

None.