Agenda and minutes

Election of Chair for the meeting

In the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair the Scrutiny Officer invited the Committee to nominate a Chair for the meeting. Cllr Conor McGrath proposed and Cllr Forhad Chowdhury duly seconded and it was RESOLVED that Cllr Ellie Plater be elected Chair for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of CouncillorsSarah Mead (Chair), Alex Farquharson (Vice Chair) and Mason Humberstone.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Community Select Committee held on 8 January 2024.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Community Select Committee held on 8 January 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider the draft work programme for the Community Select Committee for 2024-25.

The Chair invited the Scrutiny Officer, Stephen Weaver, to provide some detail on the issues that Members had raised as potential scrutiny review items for the 2024-25 Municipal Year:

The Scrutiny Officer explained that the items suggested for inclusion in the work programme could be matters that would be suitable for a main review, a one-off update on past reviews or a one-off performance review at an individual meeting. In addition to this, the Committee would be invited to undertake a number of pre-scrutiny policy development items ahead of their consideration at the Executive. The Scrutiny Officer drew Members attention to a document that had been tabled at the meeting which detailed the Chair’s comments regarding suggested work programme items and a few more suggestions that had been received since the original agenda papers had been circulated, which were detailed in the report at paragraph 5.

The Committee reviewed the suggestions that Members had provided as follows:

(1) Housing Engagement

The Strategic Director, Richard Protheroe, informed Members that TPAS, an independent Tenant Engagement expert, were working with the Council on a new engagement strategy. There would be an opportunity for the Committee to provide some policy development pre-scrutiny for this area of work.

(2) Housing Investment

The Strategic Director advised Members that regarding the revised Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan & revised asset management strategy, that Officer would be happy to provide Members with an update on what are the key deliverables for these programmes. An update could be provided from the Summer onwards.

Members welcomed receiving an update on the various elements to Housing Investment including the decent homes programme, the major repairs contract and on one-off repairs.

(3) Independent Living (Sheltered Housing)

The Scrutiny Officer explained the background to the suggested scrutiny work programme item and briefly referred to the Chair’s response to the suggestion.

The Strategic Director advised that this is now referred to as Independent Living and clarified that extra care provision is commissioned and funded by Hertfordshire County Council.

The Strategic Director agreed to provide a briefing note to Members outlining the various care elements provided, who supplies the service and what is available to residents.

(4) Review the impact of the new Housing Allocations Policy

The Strategic Director informed Members that the revised Housing Allocations Policy had not yet been implemented and is due to be launched in July 2024. The full impact of the new scheme would not be known until a 12-month cycle is completed.

A member suggested that the public don’t fully understand the current allocations scheme and would need help to see how the new scheme would operate. The Strategic Director agreed that Officers could advise the Committee on the steps being taken to communicate the new scheme.

(5) Equalities & Diversity

The Strategic Director updated Members on equalities and diversity activity.  The Council had supported the Equalities Commission in recent times and was planning legacy actions.

The Equalities Commission identified the need for great support to the voluntary sector  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

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

None.

To consider the following motions:

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 ground 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 consider as a correct record the Part II minutes of the meeting of the Community Select Committee held on 8 January 2024.

It was RESOLVED:

That the Part II Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Monday 8 January 2024 were agreed as a correct record.

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

None.