In accordance with Standing Orders, the following motions have been received for consideration:
(1) Establishing a Lasting and Sustainable Commitment to Age Friendly Communities and Dementia-Friendly Action in Stevenage
To be moved by Councillor Myla Arceno
This Council recognises the rising prevalence of dementia in Stevenage and Hertfordshire, and the profound impact on people, families, and the wider community. We affirm the need for an inclusive borough where people with dementia are understood, respected, and supported to live well. Around 1,100 residents aged 65+ in Stevenage live with dementia—higher than many other Hertfordshire districts*.
Older adults in Stevenage face above-average emergency admissions for falls and frailty, straining health and care services. Women’s life expectancy is below the national average, and the gap between the most and least deprived men is 4.8 years. Nearly 40% of older adults with severe frailty, dementia, or end-of-life needs live in the town’s most deprived areas, highlighting the link between deprivation and poor health.
Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) is committed to the following services and initiatives:
• Community Support Service: For council tenants aged 55+, offering regular contact, emergency help, and support accessing care and social activities. Independent living schemes and “Extra Care” housing provide safe, supported environments.
• Housing for Older People Strategy (2020–2030): Joint work with HCC to ensure suitable housing options for ageing residents.
• Care Connect: A 24/7 personal alarm and response service run by SBC.
• Dementia-Friendly Status: Achieved in 2023, with ongoing review by the Alzheimer’s Society and partnership work through Healthy Stevenage and the Dementia Sub-Group. SBC co-produced a booklet of dementia-friendly activities.
• Age-Friendly Recognition: Stevenage is nationally recognised as an Age-Friendly Community, with health, leisure, and social opportunities delivered in partnership to reduce isolation and promote active ageing.
Council Resolves:
To build on this foundation and maintain Stevenage’s Age-Friendly and Dementia-Friendly status, the Council commits to:
1. Dementia Training: dementia awareness training to be added to mandatory training for all SBC staff and elected members to support inclusive service delivery.
2. Annual Awareness Event: Host a public Dementia-Friendly Stevenage and International Day for Older People event with partners and carers, aligned with Age-Friendly work to promote awareness and celebrate progress.
3. Ongoing Accreditation: Work with the Alzheimer’s Society and stakeholders to ensure council and partner premises pursue dementia-friendly accreditation. Maintain registration with the Centre for Better Aging.
4. Inclusive Design: Ensure all council-led developments incorporate dementia- and age-friendly design principles—clear signage, accessible layouts, appropriate lighting, and calm public spaces.
5. Transport and Business Engagement: Require all licensed taxi and private hire drivers to complete dementia awareness training. Encourage local businesses to gain Age and Dementia-Friendly accreditation.
6. Action Plan: Co-produce a Stevenage Age-Friendly and Dementia-Friendly Action Plan with businesses and community stakeholders, setting clear goals and measures of success.
7. Continue Key Services: Maintain the Housing Strategy, Community Support Service, health and wellbeing initiatives, and Care Connect 24/7.
With this motion, the Council reaffirms its commitment to compassion, inclusivity, and foresight—ensuring Stevenage remains a borough where older people and those with dementia are supported, empowered, and welcomed.
* Source: HCC Public Health, 2024
(2) Our national flags – a source of pride and unity in Stevenage
To be moved by Councillor McGuinness
This Council believes that the heart of the Town does lie in its people, no matter what their background, and acknowledges and celebrates its founding motto, reflecting a vibrant and diverse community. The Council further believes that our national flags are a source of pride and unity and should not be used to seek to sow disharmony and disunity. Therefore, this Council resolves to:
1. Seek to work collaboratively with the County Council to respectively take down and store all national flags that are being displayed illegally on local authority land or assets.
2. Work with local arts and community organisations to use these flags, where possible, to create artworks, flag displays and murals in appropriate places which celebrate our national flags, the cultural diversity and history of our town, and our long and deep national pride.
Minutes:
Establishing a Lasting and Sustainable Commitment to Age Friendly Communities and Dementia-Friendly Action in Stevenage
Councillor Myla Arceno moved the following motion:
This Council recognises the rising prevalence of dementia in Stevenage and Hertfordshire, and the profound impact on people, families, and the wider community. We affirm the need for an inclusive borough where people with dementia are understood, respected, and supported to live well. Around 1,100 residents aged 65+ in Stevenage live with dementia—higher than many other Hertfordshire districts*.
Older adults in Stevenage face above-average emergency admissions for falls and frailty, straining health and care services. Women’s life expectancy is below the national average, and the gap between the most and least deprived men is 4.8 years. Nearly 40% of older adults with severe frailty, dementia, or end-of-life needs live in the town’s most deprived areas, highlighting the link between deprivation and poor health.
Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) is committed to the following services and initiatives:
• Community Support Service: For council tenants aged 55+, offering regular contact, emergency help, and support accessing care and social activities. Independent living schemes and “Extra Care” housing provide safe, supported environments.
• Housing for Older People Strategy (2020–2030): Joint work with HCC to ensure suitable housing options for ageing residents.
• Care Connect: A 24/7 personal alarm and response service run by SBC.
• Dementia-Friendly Status: Achieved in 2023, with ongoing review by the Alzheimer’s Society and partnership work through Healthy Stevenage and the Dementia Sub-Group. SBC co-produced a booklet of dementia-friendly activities.
• Age-Friendly Recognition: Stevenage is nationally recognised as an Age-Friendly Community, with health, leisure, and social opportunities delivered in partnership to reduce isolation and promote active ageing.
Council Resolves:
To build on this foundation and maintain Stevenage’s Age-Friendly and Dementia-Friendly status, the Council commits to:
1. Dementia Training: dementia awareness training to be added to mandatory training for all SBC staff and elected members to support inclusive service delivery.
2. Annual Awareness Event: Host a public Dementia-Friendly Stevenage and International Day for Older People event with partners and carers, aligned with Age-Friendly work to promote awareness and celebrate progress.
3. Ongoing Accreditation: Work with the Alzheimer’s Society and stakeholders to ensure council and partner premises pursue dementia-friendly accreditation. Maintain registration with the Centre for Better Aging.
4. Inclusive Design: Ensure all council-led developments incorporate dementia- and age-friendly design principles—clear signage, accessible layouts, appropriate lighting, and calm public spaces.
5. Transport and Business Engagement: Require all licensed taxi and private hire drivers to complete dementia awareness training. Encourage local businesses to gain Age and Dementia-Friendly accreditation.
6. Action Plan: Co-produce a Stevenage Age-Friendly and Dementia-Friendly Action Plan with businesses and community stakeholders, setting clear goals and measures of success.
7. Continue Key Services: Maintain the Housing Strategy, Community Support Service, health and wellbeing initiatives, and Care Connect 24/7.
With this motion, the Council reaffirms its commitment to compassion, inclusivity, and foresight—ensuring Stevenage remains a borough where older people and those with dementia are supported, empowered, and welcomed.
* Source: HCC Public Health, 2024
In moving the motion, Councillor Arceno advised it was a lasting and sustainable commitment to age friendly communities and dementia friendly action in Stevenage. She advised that the Council was committed to many services and initiatives such as community support services for Council tenants aged 55 and above. She also advised that in the light of the proposed Local Government Reorganisation, it was essential to have a concrete commitment in Stevenage to older residents in the town, those with dementia and their carers and families. Councillor Arceno reiterated the Council’s commitment to continue to support the International Day of Older People and the Dementia Friendly events that were held in support of older residents. She also stressed the importance of awareness raising through training for all including Council staff and elected members.
In seconding the Motion, Councillor Sarah Mead advised that the reality of an age friendly community would make a huge difference and acknowledged that a large group of residents were unable to access online services and it was essential that appropriate support was available to them and their carers and families.
Councillor Booth, Leader of the Opposition congratulated Councillor Arceno for bringing the motion to Council’s attention. He expressed concern regarding the financial impact on the Council of the Motion and asked if an assessment had been made on the cost of delivering the programme.
Councillor Bibby praised the motion but referred to the ever increasing demand and lack of funding with dementia not being given the highest priority by the Government. He suggested that the Secretary of State for Health be lobbied by the Council for a comprehensive review of the service.
The Leader of the Council advised that the Council would look at the required funding on a scheme by scheme basis and that the Government’s Fair Funding Review should assist the Council in being more flexible in funding these sort of campaigns.
Following further debate, Councillor Arceno, thanked Members for their support on the Motion.
Upon being put to the vote, the Motion was carried.
Our national flags – a source of pride and unity in Stevenage
Councillor Andy McGuinness moved the following motion:
This Council believes that the heart of the
Town does lie in its people, no matter what their background, and
acknowledges and celebrates its founding motto, reflecting a
vibrant and diverse community. The Council further believes that
our national flags are a source of pride and unity and
should not be used to seek to sow disharmony and disunity.
Therefore, this Council resolves to:
In moving the Motion, Councillor McGuinness recognised and appreciated the strong feelings that the issue of the raising of the flags evoked. However he was of the view that the sense of national pride was being manipulated by others for inappropriate ends. He advised that the issue should not be political as the flag belonged to the British people. In his opinion, the flying of the flags had not been done as a sense of pride or community cohesion but borne out of misplaced nationalism and on division not on unity. He was proud of the long history of migration into Britain welcoming those that had been oppressed. He was pleased that the County Council had agreed that they would take down the flags when resources were available and encouraged Stevenage Borough Council to do the same given current concerns voiced by the community.
In seconding the Motion, Councillor Stephen Booth expressed concern that the flags should be removed before they caused accidents potentially landing on car windscreens while people were driving. He advised that the flags should be flown as symbols of pride, unity and togetherness and not to intimidate and alarm minorities.
During further debate, the following points were raised:
· Members echoed the sentiment in the first paragraph of the motion that pride was shared in the vibrant and diverse community in the Town;
· The flag represented unity not division and the Council had a clear policy on the display of the national flags which were already flown proudly at civic buildings safely and appropriately however, flags not seen to be causing any danger to the public would be left;
· In response to a comment made by Councillor Booth regarding a quote by the Prime Minister about colours of faces in Birmingham, it was confirmed by Councillor Booth that this should be attributed to Robert Jenrich MP and not the Prime Minister as originally stated;
· The vast majority of flags were on highways land and property so the motion could be directed to the Liberal Democrat administration at the County Council to address;
· Stevenage Borough Council already worked co-operatively with a number of organisations including the County Council on many issues;
· Caution was required regarding mandating what the creative community in Stevenage should produce in relation to their art installations;
· The flags were being raised by far-right groups to sew division within the community and the motion would allow for a strong message to be sent that the Council would not stand for these campaigns;
· It was disappointing that Members at the meeting appeared uncomfortable with the patriotic display which had been put up proudly by members of the public;
· Currently the flags had different meaning for different people with some feeling uncomfortable and threatened and support should be considered for those affected.
Upon being put to the vote, the Motion was lost.