Agenda item - PART I DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE

Agenda item

PART I DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE

To consider the following Part I Decisions of the Executive taken on 12 February 2020.

 

Executive                                                                                                      Page No.

Agenda Item No.

 

2          Minutes of the Executive – 22 January 2020                                         5

3          Minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and                          15

            Select Committees

4          Parking Provision and Sustainable Transport Supplementary                    23

            Planning Document: Public Consultation

5          Stevenage Borough Council Climate Change and Engagement      85

            Update

6          Licensing Act 2003 – Review of Statement of Licensing Policy      113

7          Household Waste Management Policy                                               163

8          Final General Fund and Council Tax Setting 2020/2021 –             179

            BUDGET & POLICY FRAMEWORK ITEM

9          Final Capital Strategy 2019/20 – 2024/25 – BUDGET & POLICY   211

            FRAMEWORK ITEM          

10        Annual Treasury Management Strategy including Prudential                    247

            Code Indicators 2020/21 – BUDGET & POLICY FRAMEWORK

            ITEM

 

Notice of Decisions to follow

 

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD ON 12 FEBRUARY 2020

Decision:

The Committee considered the decisions on the following matters arising from the Executive meeting held on 12 February 2020:

 

Minutes of the Executive – 22 January 2020

 

Noted.

 

Minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny and Select Committees

 

Noted.

 

Parking Provision and Sustainable Transport Supplementary Planning Document: Public Consultation           

 

In response to Members’ questions, the Assistant Director (Planning and Regulatory) commented:

 

·         The suggestion that the size of residential garages should be increased to make them fit for purpose would be taken on board;

·         developers would be required to make a financial contribution towards parking contributions in the area of any approved application;

·         In relation to the Town Centre, although the provision of parking spaces was still important, the opportunity to reduce the numbers should be considered as all amenities could be reached without the use of a car;

·         Consideration would be given to what was included in the S106 agreement for the development on land to the North of Stevenage to try to avoid any overflow parking issues from the Lister Hospital;

·         The suggestion of a park and ride scheme and the issue of parking spaces being taken up by commercial vans would be looked at as part of the Transport Strategy.

 

Stevenage Borough Council Climate Change and Engagement Update

 

It was noted that the first meeting of the Climate Change Working Group had taken place. Members asked that the importance of including young people, youth groups and local schools be highlighted as a crucial strand of work.

 

Members were advised of the programme of projects for ‘quick wins’ for the Council over the next 12 months including free water in the Town Centre, Orchard planting schemes and the reduction in fleet emissions. Officers agreed that the report back to the Climate Change Working Group on the programme of quick wins would also be submitted to this Committee.

 

Licensing Act 2003 – Review of Statement of Licensing Policy

 

It was noted that the Senior Environmental Health and Licensing Manager would be investigating the possibility of imposing conditions requiring the recycling of empty bottles by licensees.

 

Household Waste Management Policy

 

In considering the Policy the following issues were raised:

 

·         Communications were key particularly with regard to

o   the changes around clinical waste collection;

o   the transition between the change from boxes to bags;

o   recharging for replacement wheelie bins and free additions/replacement of recycling receptacles. It was noted that the current cost of replacement bins was in the region of £10,000 per annum including admin and delivery;

o   the recycling of tetrapak was unclear to many residents;

o   missed collections and the reporting thereof.

·         It was suggested that a future edition of Chronicle could be used to set out clearly the rules and changes around the waste policy;

·         Concern was raised about the need to report missing or stolen bins to the Police as it was felt this could be a waste of time and Police resources;

·         Difficulties around side waste, and that it should be made clear that refuse and recycling would only be collected if it was in the correct container.

 

Final General Fund and Council Tax Setting 2020/2021

 

It was noted that the Executive had asked officers to investigate enhanced advertising/marketing for Council garages and to explore options with SLL to reduce the level of management fee.

 

In response to a question, officers advised that the budget included all the options agreed at the Leaders Financial Services Group. A rough estimate of the New Homes Bonus figure in relation to the land North of Stevenage would be sent to Cllr Parker.

 

Final Capital Strategy 2019/20 – 2024/25

 

Noted.

 

Annual Treasury Management Strategy Including Prudential Code Indicators 2020/21

 

Officers were congratulated on the clarity of the information presented in respect of the Council’s reserves.

 

In response to a question officers confirmed that all Executive reports now had a climate change implication paragraph included.

 

Urgent Part I Business

 

(i)            Town Fund

The Town Centre Board had met at the end of January in line with the Government requirements.

(ii)          Storm Ciara

Noted.

(iii)         Coronavirus

Noted.

 

(iv)         Stevenage Against Domestic Abuse (SADA)

 

Noted.

 

Part II Minutes – Executive 22 January 2020

 

Noted.

 

Debt Write Offs Greater than £10,000

 

Noted.

 

Urgent Part II Business

 

None.

 

 

Supporting documents: