Agenda item

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

 

(A)         Question from Councillor Sarah Mead

 

Following a request from a resident, please could floodlights be installed on the basketball court at Shephalbury Park to extend use in the winter months?

 

(B)         Question from Councillor Phil Bibby

 

Given that the Government has announced a pause of Local Government Reform, in view of the wider legal challenges made based on, amongst other things, gerrymandering, how would the Leader of the Council respond to residents on SBC’s proposals for the expensive option of 4 Unitaries, and how are these proposals likely to be amended?

 

(C)         Question from Councillor Peter Wilkins

 

Can you tell me how many Solar panels and how many air source heat pumps were fitted to council tenanted homes in the financial year 2025/26 (where the smart export guarantee benefits the tenants directly rather than serving a communal area.) and what the target was for the year?

 

(D)         Question from Councillor Ricki Rands

 

The Comet reported on 23 September 2026 that council mowing at Shackledell Grassland removed a substantial area of habitat and threatened a rare cricket colony.

 

The site supports six species of bush cricket, three species of grasshopper, as well as butterflies, moths and wildflowers.

 

The site is managed by Stevenage Borough Council under a Biodiversity Action Plan and is the only known location in Hertfordshire for the scarce great green bush cricket. It has been alleged that approximately 80% of the grassland was mown, despite the Plan recommending that only one quarter be cut each year, resulting in the loss of one of the colony’s principal breeding areas.

 

A similar over-mowing incident occurred in 2018, which the Council described at the time as an “honest mistake”.

 

Will the Council provide a full account of how this incident occurred?

 

(E)         Question from Councillor John Blackwood

 

The Council committed to providing a new community centre as part of the development at Bragbury End. For clarity, the community room within Brodie Court does not constitute the promised new community centre.

 

Will the Council confirm whether it remains committed to delivering this facility?

 

(F)          Question from Councillor Matthew Hurst

 

The Grade II-listed farmhouse at Fairlands Valley Park is in a poor state of repair and the Council has recently submitted a planning application to demolish outbuildings on the site.

 

Will the Council confirm unequivocally whether it intends to retain and preserve the farmhouse, or whether demolition is being considered? 

 

(G)         Question from Councillor Jaysica Marvell

 

Recent incidents have raised concerns about online abuse, harassment and intimidation directed at people involved in public life in Stevenage, including councillors, council staff and young people participating in the Council’s Youth Advisory Board.

 

Can the Leader set out what procedures the Council currently has in place for responding to and escalating such incidents?

 

(H)         Question from Councillor Ellie Plater

 

With the increased public presence of the newly established Youth Advisory Board, and with details of its work and the young people involved being shared online, can the Portfolio Holder outline what the Council is doing to support and safeguard young people who choose to participate in civic life, and what more can be done to ensure that young people feel confident putting themselves forward without fear of online abuse or personal attacks?

 

(I)           Question from Councillor Jade Woods

 

Following the success of our International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) event, what plans do the Council have to build on this momentum and continue to support older residents throughout the year?

 

(J)          Question from Councillor Andy McGuinness

 

What is the Council doing to support resident’s access to key banking and postal services across our town?

 

(K)         Question from Councillor Doug Bainbridge

 

Can the Portfolio holder for Housing confirm what specific work has been completed by Stevenage Borough council, outside of the armed forces covenant forum to prepare for the expanded armed forces covenant duty?

 

In particular which housing policies and procedures and operational practices have been reviewed against the draft statutory guidance.

 

(L)      Question from Councillor Dermot Kehoe

 

Please can an update to Council be offered regarding the exploratory work on the electrification of larger fleet vehicles?

 

(M)     Question from Councillor Robin Parker

 

Around the Borough there are a number of defibrillators and bleed control units.  Please can consideration be given to making sure all of these are signposted with permanent arrows pointing to the nearest one?

 

(N)      Question from Councillor Ashley-Wren

 

What plans do the Council have to improve their performance on addressing fly-tipping and support in dealing with the spate of seemingly abandoned vehicles across the Town?

 

(O)     Question from Councillor Parris

 

The newly refurbished war memorial in the town centre looks fantastic, and I welcome the Council’s support for the project. Can the Portfolio Holder outline what other funding and initiatives are in place to support veterans and the wider Armed Forces community in Stevenage?

 

(P)      Question from Councillor Wren

 

Most supermarkets now offer a service for the recycling of soft plastics. Can the council consider introducing a soft plastics recycling collection at it's neighbour recycling banks and what impact does the council think this service could have to reduce landfill waste in Stevenage?