Decisions

The Executive considered a report seeking approval of the Towns Fund Business Case in respect of the Stevenage Sport and Leisure Hub Project.

The Executive supported the proposed Business Case.  The following comments were made by Members:

·        in response to a question about mitigation against possible cost increases due to inflation, the Strategic Director (CF) advised that such mitigation could either require the use of additional funding and/or value-engineering the project to meet the allocated budget;

·        in order to attract a higher and broader level of participation, it was important that the features of the new Sport and Leisure hub facility were more extensive and up to date than those within the existing leisure facilities;

·        the project would provide opportunities for individuals wishing to pursue a career in the leisure industry, as well as providing high quality facilities for those participating (at all levels) in a wide variety of sporting and leisure pursuits.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the endorsement of the project from the Stevenage Development Board be noted.

2.          That the business case for the Sport and Leisure Hub project be approved, and that authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (TP) to submit the project summary to the Department for Levelling Up, Communities and Housing Towns Fund team on behalf of the Council (acting as Accountable Body).

3.          That the development of a detailed project delivery plan, including detailed funding plan and continued engagement with key stakeholders, be endorsed.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Mrs Joan Lloyd (Vice-Chair), Rob Broom, Phil Bibby CC (observer) and Robin Parker CC (observer).

There were no declarations of interest.

The Executive considered a report seeking approval of the Towns Fund Business Case in respect of the New Towns Heritage Centre Project.

The Executive supported the proposed Business Case.  The following comments were made by Members:

·        the existing Museum was not the most accessible of buildings and the  new Heritage Centre would be a significant improvement, both in terms of its modern facilities; its co-location with the library; and in view of its town centre location as part of the Civic Hub building;

·        there would be a need to involve and include the various and diverse communities in the town in the exhibition content of the Heritage Centre;

·        the modern Civic Hub facility would be designed with a low or zero carbon footprint, in contrast to the various public buildings it would be replacing throughout the town; and

·        the Heritage Centre should contain information regarding the industrial and social history of Stevenage, including historical information regarding the past and current businesses operating in the town.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the endorsement of the project from the Stevenage Development Board be noted.

2.          That the business case for the New Towns Heritage Centre project be approved, and that authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (TP) to submit the project summary to the Department for Levelling Up, Communities and Housing Towns Fund team on behalf of the Council (acting as Accountable Body).

3.          That further engagement, building on the work of the Community Select Committee, stakeholder workshops and roundtable discussions, as set out in Paragraph 4.1.2 of the report, be endorsed, to support the development of the project.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

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

Levelling Up White Paper

The Chair advised that this White Paper had just been published.  In respect of its content, she made an initial holding statement.

The Chair stated that, whilst she welcomed the intent in the White Paper to level up areas of the country that had been left behind, and that there may be opportunities for Stevenage going forward, she had a number of concerns as to how levelling up was to be funded.  In particular whether the funding would be for the long term and would genuinely address issues across the UK and not be over-focussed on the north-east and north-west.

The Chair felt that it was disappointing that the proposal of the Hertfordshire Growth Board submitted in the autumn of 2021 had not been accepted as a “pathfinder” project at this stage of the levelling up process.  This was particularly so, as all 11 Hertfordshire local authorities, together with the Local Enterprise Partnership and Integrated Care Service were already working constructively in a statutory committee with a clear vision for the future of Hertfordshire.

The Chair recognised that there were significant economic, health, skills and housing inequalities in Hertfordshire, which were trying to be addressed through community wealth building.  However, a long term strategy was needed, with ongoing funding support from the Government, to deliver for deprived communities, including some in Stevenage.

The Chair considered that, whilst levelling up could clearly benefit Stevenage in helping to drive forward the skills agenda, especially in the science and technology sector, an opportunity for a real step towards genuine transformational devolution had been missed.

The Chair was of the view that, without a significant funding package from the Government Treasury, and a new constitutional settlement to unshackle local government from Westminster, this White Paper would not achieve the full potential of localism.  She felt that what was needed at local level was a secure and sustainable package of funding and powers to enable local leaders to supercharge the economy for the benefit of residents and businesses.  Powers and funding would enable investment in transport infrastructure, skills development, economic growth and secure affordable housing, as well as the health inequalities in deprived communities.

The Chair welcomed the devolution of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, but was concerned that it was to be allocated on a formula system rather than through a bidding system.  She felt that the sum available should at least match the funding that was previously delivered through European Union schemes.  The ability to direct funding to where it could be used most effectively should be in the hands of local leaders and not Whitehall.

The Chair commented that real devolution of the funding would see each area allocated the resources it needed to make local projects happen.  It was also the case that much of the funding had already been announced by the Government.  She regretted that the White Paper had no focus on the Climate Change and digital capability agendas of local authorities.

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 item of business on the grounds that it involves 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.

The Council consider a report seeking approval, in accordance with section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, for Councillor non-attendance at in- person meetings of the Council for reasons related to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. 

It was RESOLVED that, in accordance with Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, non-attendance for any Councillor unable to attend meetings in person due to the ongoing impact of the Coronavirus pandemic be approved, the period of approval to commence from 15 December 2021 and will expire on 24 May 2022 (the day immediately before Annual Council).

The Council considered a report seeking approval to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget and Rent Setting for 2022/23.  The recommendations of the Executive, made at its meeting held on 19 January 2022, had been circulated to Members on a supplementary agenda.

The Executive’s recommendations contained in the supplementary agenda, together with an amended Appendix A to the report contained in a second supplementary agenda, were moved and seconded.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That HRA rent on dwellings be increased, week commencing 4 April 2022, by 4.1% which is an average increase of £4.06 for social rents, £6.60 for affordable rents and £4.74 for Low Start Shared Ownership homes per week (based on a 52-week year).  This has been calculated using the rent formula, CPI + 1% in line with the Government’s rent policy, as set out in Paragraph 4.1.1 of the report.

2.          That the 2022/23 HRA Budget, as set out in the amended Appendix A to the report, be approved.

3.          That the 2022/23 growth options, as set out in Section 4.8 of the report, with supporting impact assessments in Appendix B, be approved.  This includes new match funding for a Decarbonisation Grant application of £950,000.

4.          That the 2022/23 Fees and Charges, as set out in Appendix C to the report, be approved.

5.          That the 2022/23 service charges be approved.

6.          That the minimum level of reserves for 2022/23, as shown in Appendix D to the report, be approved.

7.          That the Rent Increase Equalities Impact Assessments set out in Appendix E to the report be noted.

8.          That the contingency sum of £250,000 within which the Executive can approve supplementary estimates be approved for 2022/23 (unchanged from 2021/22).

9.          That the comments from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Portfolio Holder Advisory Group, as set out in Paragraph 4.10 of the report, be noted.

It was RESOLVED that, subject to the deletion of Councillor Stephen Booth from the list of those present at the meeting, the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 15 December 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

The Mayor announced that in light of the current Covid situation, including the spread of the Omicron variant, the meeting was being held with reduced numbers of Councillors present.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Myla Arceno, Julie Ashley-Wren, Doug Bainbridge, Stephen Booth, Rob Broom, Adrian Brown, Matt Creasey, Michael Downing, John Duncan, Alex Farquharson, John Gardner, Jody Hanafin, Liz Harrington, Richard Henry, Jackie Hollywell, Chris Howells, Lizzy Kelly, Wendy Kerby, Sarah Mead, Margaret Notley, Loraine Rossati, Graham Snell, Simon Speller and Tom Wren.

There were no declarations of interest.

At this juncture, the Mayor paid tribute to the late former County Councillor Mona Warren and the recently deceased former Borough Councillor Carol Latif (a past SBC Mayor).

A number of further tributes to both former councillors were given by other Members and the Council stood to observe a minute’s silence.