Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Myla Arceno, Julie Ashley-Wren, Doug Bainbridge, Stephen Booth, Adrian Brown, Matt Creasey, Michael Downing, John Duncan, Alex Farquharson, John Gardner, Jody Hanafin, Liz Harrington, Richard Henry, Jackie Hollywell, Chris Howells, Wendy Kerby, Maureen McKay, Sarah Mead, Margaret Notley, Claire Parris, Loraine Rossati, Graham Snell and Tom Wren.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the attached Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 13 October 2021.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

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

The Mayor announced that in light of the current Covid situation, including the spread of the Omicron variant and the national threat level being increased, the meeting was being held with reduced numbers of Councillors present.  The agenda was also to be varied to undertake the required business only, to shorten the meeting.

The Mayor then summarised the activities that she and her consort had been involved with since the previous Council meeting in October 2021.

There is no Main Debate.

There was no main debate.

None received.

There were no petitions and deputations.

In accordance with Standing Orders, written responses to the following questions submitted by the Youth Council will be sent out on a supplementary agenda.

(A)         What can the Council do to improve bus services for young people? Recently, the Youth Council has noticed bus frequencies have been further apart.

(B)         Following COP26, what are the Council’s plans to reduce the effects of climate change?

The Council received two questions from the Youth Council. The responses to the questions had been circulated.

None received.

There were no questions from the public.

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.

Councillor Bibby advised that he would decline his opportunity to raise a matter relevant to the Borough that had arisen since the last meeting due to the circumstances of this meeting.

The Leader of the Council advised that her updates would be circulated to Members after the meeting.

To receive updates from the Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees on the recent activities of those Committees.

Written updates from the three Scrutiny Chairs would be circulated following the meeting.

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

1.    Bus Services in Stevenage

To be moved by the Labour Group

Bus services in Stevenage are vital to so many of our residents providing them with a vital link to work places, shops, medical services, social & leisure activity, access to education and so much more.

That is why it is so disappointing to see a deterioration in our bus services in town with residents reporting many bus services cut at short (or no) notice meaning they have long waits for their bus.  For some time now we have experienced some areas left with no bus service from early evening or no service at all.

This Council is working towards our net zero carbon by 2030 target and with the County Council on our Sustainable Travel Town status.  A key part of this will be to encourage more use of public transport rather than private cars. Our new bus interchange is part of building an integrated public transport system. However this depends on regular, reliable, sustainable and affordable bus services.

Therefore this Council resolves

1.   To convene a bus summit with the bus operators to explore the opportunities and address the challenges of delivering better bus services

2.   To lobby the County Council, as transport authority, to work with us and bus operators to ensure every area of Stevenage has a bus service

3.   To seek reassurance from the County Council that there will be no further cuts to bus subsidies for Stevenage bus routes

4.   To explore with the County Council better ways of providing up to date travel information to passengers

5.   To ensure we do all we can through the planning process to ensure bus routes are planned with new neighbourhoods and maximum use is made of CIL & Section 106 to incentivise bus use.

6.   To encourage the County Council as the Local Transport Authority and Arriva to continue to work with SBC concerning the ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Area) bid for Stevenage

2.    Council Meetings

To be moved by the Conservative Group.

Council notes that in the interests of democracy, it is important to continue to encourage and allow all political parties represented in Council to table motions but, to ensure all Council meetings are conducted in a timely fashion, thus facilitating the continued attention and interest of both our members and the public, there is a need to limit the time spent in debate. This can be achieved by limiting the number of motions and the time allowed for both debate and individual speakers. 

Also, Council notes that the main debate has not taken place for some while, so could be regarded as no longer necessary. However, it is appreciated that members may benefit from presentations on matters of interest to the community, as appropriate and, therefore, we should provide for this in Standing Orders.

The Council therefore moves that Standing Orders, 19. Rules of Debate, is amended, as follows:

A  ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

The Notice of Motion submitted by the Labour Group, the Motion from the Conservative Group and the three Motions from the Liberal Democrat Group would be deferred to the next Ordinary Meeting of the Council on 9 March 2022.

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

(A)      Question from Councillor Graham Lawrence -

‘In light of this Council’s commitment to protect our environment and reduce climate change, together with the government's recent announcement that all new homes should be fitted with EV charging points, will it be insisting that all new developments and current approved but unbuilt schemes,

a.            Have EV charging points

b.            Exclude gas fired heating systems

c.            Have sustainable electrical energy systems

(B)      Question from Councillor Mitchell –

Do you think the level of spending on consultants by your administration is acceptable?

(C)      Question from Councillor Julie Ashley-Wren -

In view of local and national calls in recent years for ‘silent’ fireworks:

a.    What changes have been made to SBC organised displays?

b.    What (if any) powers does the Council have over noise levels from fireworks sold and used in the Borough?

(D)      Question from Councillor Booth –

a.    How many Council houses have been fitted with solar panels and what criteria have been adopted in identifying which ones are suitable?

b.   Which committee of the Council has approved this programme, what is the annual budget for it and for how long is it planned to run?

(E)    Question from Councillor McGuinness -

Has an assessment been done about the roll out of the recycling bags and, if so, what did it show?

(F)     Question from Councillor Parker -

Will SBC commit to continuing information and publicity locally about all known publicly available 24/7 automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in the borough including locations and maps?

(G)    Question from Councillor Graham Snell –

Reference the Covid Cobra snake, why is SBC now doing something different with it from that which residents voted for in the public consultation?

(H)    Question from Councillor Wren –

How much money from central government grants has the Council used to insulate the following;

a) Council Houses

b) Flat blocks as part of the major refurbishment contract

(I)      Question from Councillor Howells -

How much does the Council spend on the public firework display? and why are we not supporting the RSPCA’s campaign to update our firework regulations to make fireworks less dangerous and threatening to pets and animals.

The Council received 9 questions from Members to Committee Chairs/Portfolio Holders. The responses to the questions had been circulated to all Members. Each questioner was advised to submit any supplementary questions in writing to committees@stevenage.gov.uk. Written responses would be provided in due course.

To consider recommendations relating to the Quarter 1 and 2 Capital Monitoring report (General Fund) 2020/22.

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Joan Lloyd, seconded by Councillor Sharon Taylor and upon being put to the vote it was RESOLVED:

1.    That the additional General Fund budget requirements as set out in table one, para 4.1.1 of the officers report of £291k be approved;

2.    That additional delegated authorities to Executive of £200k for 2021/22 as set out in paragraph 4.2.1 of the report be approved;

3.    That the borrowing for the Railway Station Multi Storey Car Park of between £1.85 and £2.05 million as set out in paragraph 4.2.2 and the use of £1.45 million of the Marshgate receipt as set out in paragraph 4.2.3 of the report be approved;

4.    That circa £800k of forward-funding to enable demolition of Swingate House as set out in paragraph 4.3 be approved.

The report circulated at Item 13 was considered by the Executive on 17 November 2021 when the following recommendations to Council were agreed:

1.      That the 2021/22 Treasury Management Mid Year Review be approved.

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

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Joan Lloyd, seconded by Councillor Sharon Taylor, and following debate and upon being put to the vote, it was RESOLVED:

1.    That the 2021/22 Treasury Management Mid-Year review be approved;

2.    That the list of approved countries (with approved counterparties) for investments as set out in Appendix D of the Officers report be approved;

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 be noted.

The report circulated at Item 14 was considered by the Audit Committee on 10 November 2021 when the following recommendation to Council was agreed:

“That SBC opt in to the appointing arrangements made by Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) for the appointment of External Auditors covering the period April 2023 to March 2028.”

It was moved by Councillor Teresa Callaghan, seconded by Councillor Mrs Joan Lloyd, and following debate and upon being put to the vote, it was RESOLVED:

1.    That the Council opt into the appointing arrangements made by Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) for the appointment of External Auditors covering the period April 2023 to March 2028;

2.    That the Executive Director Finance (Section 151) confirms the Council’s interest in undertaking the opt-in appointing process.

To note the Minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 10 November 2021.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 10 November 2021, were received and noted.

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 item of business on the grounds that it involves 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 report 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 an employee matter which requires Council approval under S.40 Localism Act 2011 and the Council’s Pay Policy statement for 2021/22.

Council considered a report outlining an employee matter which required Council approval under S.40 Localism Act 2011 and the Council’s Pay Policy Statement.

t was RESOLVED that the Recommendations contained in the report be approved.