Agenda

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings of the Special Council and Annual Council held on 22 May 2025.

To receive any communications that the Mayor may wish to put before the Council.

To receive a Presentation on Stevenage Works Skills Agenda.

None received.

None received.

None received.

In accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders, the Leader of the Opposition shall be given the opportunity to raise one matter relevant to the Borough that has arisen since the last meeting of the Council.  The Leader of the Council shall then have the opportunity to advise the Council of matters relevant to the Borough that have arisen since the last meeting.

To receive updates from the Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees on the recent

activities of those Committees.

To consider the Annual Scrutiny Report 2024/25.

In accordance with Standing Orders, the following motions have been received for consideration:

(1)      Celebrating the Success of Stevenage Works in Delivering Social Value and Opportunity

To be moved by Councillor Loraine Rossati

This Council notes that:

·  The creation of Stevenage Works in 2019 as a strategic partnership between Stevenage Borough Council, North Hertfordshire College, and Hertfordshire Job Centre Plus is delivering social value through inward investment, regeneration, and development projects across Stevenage.

·  Stevenage Works has provided a single point of contact for employers and the community, streamlining access to jobs, apprenticeships, training, and work experience.

·  Over 550 local people have attended training courses; more than 180 have achieved Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) cards; over 40 apprenticeships and 30+ employment outcomes have been delivered in the past year alone.

·  Over £50,000 has been donated by Stevenage Works partners to support local community projects and good causes.

·  The innovative use of Section 106 obligations to ensure developers and contractors contribute meaningfully to local employment and skills development is benefitting local people.

This Council further notes the Secretary of State’s recently published priorities for Skills England (2025–26), dated 2 June, 2025, which emphasise the importance of understanding future skills needs, simplifying access to training, and co-creating solutions with local partners. Stevenage Works is already delivering on these national priorities by providing a single point of contact for employers and residents, aligning training with local labour market needs, and working in partnership with education providers and developers to deliver apprenticeships, work placements, and employment outcomes. As such, Stevenage Works stands as a model of how local authorities can lead in delivering the Government’s skills agenda and ensuring that inward investment translates into real opportunity for local people.

This Council believes that:

·       Stevenage Works is a model of best practice in how local authorities can work with partners to ensure that regeneration and investment deliver real, lasting benefits for residents.

·       This initiative has played a vital role in ensuring that Stevenage people are equipped with the skills and opportunities to thrive in a changing economy.

·       The planned expansion into the health and social care sector demonstrates the adaptability and forward-thinking nature of the programme.

This Council resolves to:

1. Celebrate the success of Stevenage Works and commend all partners involved for their commitment to social value and community benefit.
2. Promote Stevenage Works as a model of excellence in local government-led economic development and skills partnerships.
3. Support the continued development and expansion of Stevenage Works, including the upcoming pilot in the health and social care sector.
4. Ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon. Bridget Phillipson, to highlight Stevenage Works as an example of effective local delivery of social value and invite her to visit Stevenage to see how we are delivering the Government’s skills agenda.

(2)  Trialling highways changes to Lytton Way

To be moved by the Liberal Democrat Group

This Council welcomes the exciting opportunities that the Stevenage Station Gateway offers by  ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

In accordance with Standing Orders, written answers to the following questions will be circulated on a supplementary agenda.

(A)         Question from Councillor Phil Bibby

Is the Major Refurbishment programme running on schedule and within budget?

(B)       Question from Councillor Peter Wilkins

The town has had no Beryl bike from 24th April to 30th June, over two months. Can you advise what financial losses or expense SBC has incurred while the bikes were recalled and if there is any provision in the contract to claw back some of these losses from Beryl?

(C)      Question from Councillor Andy McGuinness

What consideration has been given to the viability of current Stevenage Town Centre regeneration plans due to impending local government reorganisation?

(D)         Question from Councillor Stephen Booth

Recognising that under the Environment Act 2021, local councils have a responsibility to help halt the decline seen nationally in biodiversity by a deadline of 2030; and that specifically bee numbers are in decline, what measures is the Council taking to halt this decline and work towards making our green spaces bee friendly, e.g. by eliminating the use of glysophates and other harmful chemicals, reviewing any current bee-friendly practices to see how they can be improved and pledging to make ‘no-mow May’ as widely as possible?

(E)         Question from Councillor Julie Ashley-Wren

We are already receiving complaints from residents that the new bus interchange is not being properly cleaned and maintained and users feel unsafe at night. What assurances can the Council give that these aspects will be improved in the coming months?

(F)          Question from Councillor Tom Wren

Considering that a number of destination retail stores have now left the town centre and relocated to Roaring Meg, what plans do the council have to improve public transport links between the town centre and other retail/leisure areas?

To note the Minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 3 June 2025.