Decisions

None.

None.

The Committee considered the Part II Decisions of the Executive held on 11 August 2021.

It was RESOLVED:

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 involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 1 to 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by SI 2006 No. 88.

2.  That having considered the reasons for the following item being in Part II, it be determined that maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighed the public interest in disclosure.

None.

None.

The Committee noted the minutes of the Executive meeting held on Wednesday 11 August 2021.

2. Minutes of the Executive – 14 July 2021

Noted.

3. Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Select Committees.

Members were pleased to note that Officers would be introducing an action tracker for Executive decisions

4. Covid-19 update

The Chief Executive advised that an update on the latest Covid-19 position had been given at the Executive meeting held on Wednesday 11 August 2021. He agreed to send the written update to all Overview and Scrutiny Members following the meeting.

5. Transformation

The Strategic Director (CF) advised that the programme was an element of the new Making Your Money Count FTFC Programme. Members made the following comments:

·         The programme was very high level and would be more useful for Members when further details were available. Officers confirmed that Members would receive further detail during the next stage of the process and that the report was focussed upon consideration of the transformation principles which would be used to inform future activity;

·         A briefing for the Opposition Groups was welcomed which would be arranged by the Strategic Director (CF) and the Assistant Director Digital and Transformation;

·         In relation to paperless working, half of the Committee Members were supportive of the move to paperless and would be willing to start as soon as possible other Members however, were more cautious. The Assistant Director (Digital and Transformation) confirmed that Members would be receiving ongoing training to ensure the transition was as smooth as possible;

·         Concern was expressed by a Member regarding the possible loss of the Council’s Print Room Service;

·         All Members across the Council should be engaged in the transformation programme.

6. 4^th Quarter Revenue Monitoring Report 2020/21 – General Fund and Housing Revenue Account

The Committee noted that audit of the 2019/20 accounts should shortly be completed. The Strategic Director (CF) also reported that the external auditor had confirmed that they would not be carrying out the audit until November 2021 which was a concern as SBC Finance staff would have started work on the 2022/23 Budget by then.

In response to a question, the Strategic Director (CF) agreed to provide information to Councillor Parker regarding the Council’s investment relationship with Goldman Sachs International.

7. 2020/21 Capital Expenditure Outturn

Noted.

8. Urgent Part I Business – Potential County Deal

The Chief Executive advised the Committee that the Executive had backed HCC’s proposal to submit an early County Deal Expression of Interest but with the proviso that SBC would not be supportive of any proposal that promoted or resulted in significant Local Government Reform for Hertfordshire.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Committee meeting held on Wednesday 22 July 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillor Adrian Brown.

There were no declarations of interest.

Noted.

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED that Councillor Loraine Rossati be elected Vice Chair of the Licensing Committee for the Municipal year 2021/22.

None.

Not required.

None.

The Committee received an application for a new Premises Licence for City Tree Ltd, Station Shop, Unit 1 Lytton Way.

The Committee having considered the matter carefully and taking into account all the relevant factors, RESOLVED that the application be refused on the basis of Public Safety and the evidence provided at the hearing from the British Transport Police, Hertfordshire Constabulary and the Applicant, in conjunction with the Council’s Licensing Policy and stated Licensing Objectives.

The Applicant was advised of his right of appeal to the Magistrates’ Court against the above decision within 21 days of the date of the decision (16 August 2021).

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors

There were no declarations of interest.

None.

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 report being in Part II were accepted, and that the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Potential County Deal

The Leader referred to webinars she had attended recently with various Government Ministers at which they were inviting County Councils to consider the development of County Deals.  This funding would provide counties and their respective Boroughs/Districts with the tools they needed to pilot new ideas, create jobs, drive growth and improve public services.  The Government had given County Councils the option of either submitting an early Expression of Interest on Friday, 13 August 2021 or waiting until the Levelling Up White Paper was published later in 2021.

The Leader advised that the Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) Leader had contacted the 10 Hertfordshire Borough/District Council Leaders to seek their views concerning HCC’s desire to submit an early Expression of Interest for a County Deal.

The Executive agreed with the Leader’s suggestion that HCC’s Expression of Interest be supported, but with the proviso that SBC would not be supportive of any proposal that promoted significant Local Government reform for Hertfordshire.

The Executive considered a report in respect of the 2020/21 Capital expenditure outturn.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That, subject  to the completion of the 2020/21 external audit of accounts, the 2020/21 General Fund capital expenditure outturn  of £17.652Million (as summarised in Paragraph 4.1.1 of the report) be noted.

2.          That, subject to the completion of the 2020/21external audit of accounts, the 2020/21 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital expenditure outturn of £26.71Million (as summarised in Paragraph 4.4.1 of the report) be noted.

3.          That the funding applied to the 2020/21 General Fund capital programme, as summarised in Paragraph 4.2.1 of the report, be approved.

4.          That the funding applied to the 2020/21 HRA capital programme, as summarised in Paragraph 4.5.1 of the report, be approved.

5.          That the 2021/22 General Fund capital programme increase of £2.114Million, as set out in Paragraph 4.3.1 of the report, be approved.

6.          That the 2021/22 HRA capital programme increase of £1.288Million, as set out in Paragraph 4.6.1 of the report, be approved.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

The Executive considered a report in respect of the 4^th Quarter Revenue Monitoring for 2020/21 with regard to the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account.

In response to a question, the Strategic Director (CF) undertook to advise Members of a likely timescale for the Council’s receipt of the Hertfordshire Business Rates Pooling Gain monies.

The Leader expressed disappointment that the external audit of the Council’s Statement of Accounts for 2019/20 had not yet been completed by the statutory deadline.  The Leader also highlighted the need for the Council to finalise its accounts for 2020/21 in order that the External Auditors could undertake their audit.  The Strategic Director commented that the audit of the 2019/20 accounts should be completed in the next few weeks.  In respect of the 2020/21 accounts, it was intended that these would be completed in late August/early September 2021.  However, she confirmed that the external auditor had confirmed that they would not be carrying out the audit until November 2021.  She added that this would be challenging resource-wise, as SBC Finance staff would be concentrating on 2022/23 Budget setting work at the same time.

It was RESOLVED:

General Fund

1.          That, subject to the 2020/21 audit of the Statement of Accounts, the 2020/21 actual General Fund net expenditure of £10.152Million be noted.

2.          That General Fund carry forward requests totalling £1.162Million (as set out in Paragraph 4.5.1 of the report) be approved.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA)

3.          That, subject to the 2020/21 audit of the Statement of Accounts, the 2020/21 actual in-year HRA surplus of £5.580Million be noted.

4.          That HRA carry forward requests totalling £378,000 (as set out in Paragraph 4.11.1 of the report) be approved.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

The Executive considered a report in respect of the proposed development of a Transformation Programme aimed at improving customer satisfaction, increasing workforce productivity and organisational resilience, while achieving the savings required by the Medium Term Financial Strategy.  This programme was a significant element of the new “Making Your Money Count” FTFC Programme.

The Leader stated that the Transformation agenda had been considered at an informal Executive meeting, and she offered the opportunity for Opposition Groups to be similarly briefed by officers on the proposed approach outlined in the report if they wished to be.

The Leader was supportive of the move towards paperless Committee meetings, and advised that there would be some training for early adopters in late August, followed thereafter by a roll out to other Members.

In response to a Member’s question, the Chief Executive confirmed that a balance had to be struck between efforts to increase staff productivity and improve customers’ experience of the Council’s services.  He stated that there could not be a “one size fits all” approach to increased productivity/efficiency as the requirements would vary in each service area to reflect the activities undertaken.  However, he expected that the principles of the transformation process, as set out in the report, would apply across all Council services.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the Transformation Approach (set out in Sections 4.1 to 4.6 of the report) to improve customer experience, deliver increased productivity and ensure sustainability, be agreed.

2.          That it be noted that the Transformation Approach and underlying delivery programme is to be based on the Foundation Principles set out in sections 4.11 to 4.14 of the report, and that these Foundation Principles be approved.

3.          That a detailed business case and implementation plan be prepared for a first phase of transformation, and that it be noted that this will be brought forward for consideration and formal approval later in 2021/22.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

The Executive considered a short presentation from the Corporate Policy & Research Officer providing an update on the latest epidemiology statistics relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The following matters were raised during the presentation:

·            In view of the lower Covid vaccination rates in Bedwell Ward, Officers were asked to feed back to the Local Resilience Forum the request that consideration be given to the establishment of a pop-in Vaccination Centre in that Ward, possibly in the Bedwell Community Centre;

·            Officers undertook to request the HCC Public Health Team for data regarding the numbers in Hertfordshire of those double-vaccinated who had subsequently contracted Covid-19;

·            It was noted that evidence had shown that the small peak in Covid infections had been attributable to the European Football Championships;

·            It was confirmed that the HCC Communications Team was working on a media campaign to re-assure pregnant women experiencing vaccine hesitancy, and that a Covid model was being developed by the HCC School Cell for the return to school in September; and

·            Officers were asked to enquire with HCC Public Health colleagues if there was likely to be any correlation between the current high level of Covid infections in Cambridge and any potential rise in infections in Stevenage.

It was RESOLVED that the Covid-19 update be noted.

In respect of the Minutes of the meeting of the Community Select Committee held on 15 July 2021, it was noted that henceforth formal minutes/notes should be taken of Portfolio Holder Advisory Group meetings; and that consideration be given to the introduction of an Action Tracker for Executive decisions (similar to the one operated by the Select Committee).

In relation to the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 22 July 2021, and with regard to Agency Staffing, the Portfolio Holder for Resources undertook to provide Members with a Briefing Note explaining why some of the services areas where agency staff were employed (such as office cleaning) were not considered appropriate for the direct employment of staff.

It was RESOLVED that the following Minutes of meetings of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Select Committees be noted:

Community Select Committee – 15 July 2021

Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 22 July 2021

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 14 July 2021 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Robin Parker CC (observer).

There were no declarations of interest.