Agenda for Environment & Economy Select Committee on Tuesday, 22 June 2021, 6.00pm

Agenda and decisions

Venue: Council Chamber, Daneshill House, Danestrete

Contact: Ramin Shams (01438) 242308  Email: committees@stevenage.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Decision:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Michael Downing and Maureen Mckay.

 

 

2.

TERMS OF REFERENCE pdf icon PDF 107 KB

To note the Terms of Reference for the Environment and Economy Select Committee, as agreed at Annual Council on 26 May 2021.

Decision:

The Committee noted the Terms of Reference.

3.

MINUTES - 13 JANUARY 2021 pdf icon PDF 225 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2021.

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Committee meeting held on Wednesday 13 January 2021be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

4.

REPORT BACK FROM THE SUB GROUP LOOKING AT THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON YOUNG PEOPLE pdf icon PDF 466 KB

To receive and consider the report back and recommendations from the Member sub group looking into the impact of Covid-19 on young people for the wider review.

Decision:

The committee received a sub-group report and suggested recommendations relating to the impact of Covid19 on young people as part of the Committee’s wider review of the economic impact of the pandemic on Stevenage.

 

The Committee met on 10 October 2020 and agreed a scope for this work and the sub-group was led by Councillor Simon Speller.

 

The Committee agreed on the following scope for the sub-group:

 

·       Meet with Schools Head Teachers, North Herts College Principal, HCC YCH Services for young people and STEMPOINT East

·       Find out what are the main challenges to young people regarding Covid-19 in education and employment

·       Make recommendations for partners to work together to offer practical help for local young people

 

Councillor Speller described the sub-group report as qualitative and case driven. He advised Members on Near Horizon and Far Horizon Recommendations as set out in the report.

 

Members debated the sub-group report, and appreciated the time and efforts that had been put in to the report. Members suggested the following could be added to the recommendation:

 

·       The Council to provide help and support to arts and STEM students.

·       The Council to work with contractors and partners to provide work experience opportunities.

·       To provide opportunities for young people to help in cleaning the environment e.g. through litter picking.

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

·       That the Committee endorsed the recommendations as set out in the sub-group report, together with the Members recommendations at the meeting as set out above.

·       That a copy of the sub-group’s report be sent to the contributors

 

5.

ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY SELECT COMMITTEE WORK PROGRAMME 2021-22 pdf icon PDF 233 KB

To consider the Environment and Economy Select Committee’s Work Programme for 2021-22.

Decision:

The Committee received a suggested Work Programme and agenda planning for the future meetings. The Work Programme is a flexible working document that is subject to change as new issues arise. Members were encouraged to suggest items to be included in the Work Programme at any time.

 

The Scrutiny Officer outlined the following key issues that would be discussed at the future meetings:

 

·       Continue the scrutiny of the impact of Covid19 on Economic Development in Stevenage and the Council’s response ( To agree any further evidence and meetings required to complete the review);

·       Scrutinise the Council’s Climate Emergency Strategy Action Plan (Review of the Action Plan Consultation response)

·       Update on the 2016 Business Technology Centre Review (To consider delivery of WENTA contract July 2019)

·       Local Neighbourhood Centres – Consider the Executive Portfolio Holder Response

·       Bulky Waste Charging Proposal – Officer Key Decision – In a Portfolio Holder Advisory Group

·       Indoor Market Medium Term Investment Business Case – - In a Portfolio Holder Advisory Group

·       Final Future Town Future Parking Strategy – Keep a watching brief on the progress of the Strategy

·       Parks and Open Space Strategy – In a Portfolio Holder Advisory Group

·       Trees and Woodland Strategy – In a Portfolio Holder Advisory Group

It was RESOLVED:

 

·       That the Committee noted the Work Programme.

6.

ACTION TRACKER pdf icon PDF 205 KB

Members are invited to consider the action tracker for the Environment & Economy Select Committee and to note its content.

Decision:

The Scrutiny Officer presented the Action Tracker to the Committee. The Action Tracker contained useful information to track the progress of items that the Committee had previously scrutinised.

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

·       That the Committee noted the Action Tracker 

7.

URGENT PART 1 BUSINESS

To consider any Part 1 business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

Decision:

None.

8.

EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

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 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 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.

 

Decision:

Not required.

9.

URGENT PART II BUSINESS

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

Decision:

None.