Issue - meetings
Enterprise Update
Meeting: 03/02/2026 - Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 61)
61 ENTERPRISE PORTFOLIO UPDATE 
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REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – ENTERPRISE
To provide the committee with an update on the progress of the Enterprise Directorate.
Additional documents:
Decision:
RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the report.
REASON FOR DECISION: The report followed the request of the committee for an update on the progress of the Enterprise Directorate and is for information only.
Minutes:
Audio recording – 25 minutes 22 seconds
Councillor Tamsin Thomas, as Executive Member for Enterprise, presented the report entitled ‘Enterprise Portfolio Update’ and advised that:
· The initiation phase for the Churchgate project had been completed, with a comprehensive programme of viability assessments and market due diligence having taken place.
· The project had been taken through the acquisition and initial public consultation phases to explore viable options that were being scrutinised by the Project Board.
· There had been delays to the viable options report to achieve the right level of scrutiny. However, it would ideally be presented to the appropriate committees in springtime.
· Viability included balancing elements such as housing delivery and future ownership, while understanding which elements would contribute financially in the long-term.
· Appointment of a Churchgate Project Manager had strengthened their capacity.
· The Economic Development Strategy (EDS) and its evidence base had been approved, and the upcoming Budget would help with its implementation.
· A recent Member workshop on the EDS had been productive and highlighted opportunities in the district.
· North Herts Museum had exceeded 30,000 visitors last year and had delivered 6 exhibitions over the last two.
· Event bookings at Hitchin Town Hall had increased on the previous year to 668.
· Inflationary pressures on Cultural Services had been offset by the increased income and efficiencies they had produced.
· The Estates Team managed over £30M in Council assets that generated roughly £1.8M in net income per year.
· They had modernised leasing arrangements and progressed long-standing projects such as The Arena, supported projects like the Museum Collection Facility, and were bringing forward option papers for projects such as Charnwood House and Riverside Walk.
· A strategic portfolio review would also be undertaken to seek opportunities on asset disposal.
· The Property Services Team oversaw 76 premises, responded to approximately 1,400 service requests and completed over 9,000 compliance checks annually.
· They had modernised their systems through new facilities and compliance tools and made major repairs at several sites such as Baldock Community Centre.
· They had also worked on decarbonisation of Council assets through the installation of Solar PV and EV charging points at the District Council Offices.
· Budget projections showed a 1% increase on the net position of the directorate on the previous year.
· Expenditure had increased due to Churchgate resourcing but income had also increased due to rent settlements and improved performance at Churchgate.
· The Enterprise Directorate were currently resourced at 87% capacity, with four vacancies to be resolved.
· 50 projects were live and the majority were on track.
· A filled vacancy in the Estates Team had accelerated progress on projects, and they anticipated that filling other vacancies in February would have a similar impact.
· The highest risk projects were Churchgate and the Museum Collection Facility which were managed through established risk management and project governance frameworks.
· All Project boards followed ‘PRINCE 2’ framework, and larger projects like Churchgate were governed by a project board comprised of Members and Senior Officers.
· The role of project boards was to build the business case for ... view the full minutes text for item 61