Agenda and decisions

Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting was cancelled and therefore no apologies for absence were received.

To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 21 January 2020.

Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting was cancelled and therefore the Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 21 January 2020 will be approved at the next formal meeting of the Committee.

Members should notify the Chair of other business which they wish to be discussed at the end of either Part I or Part II business set out in the agenda. They must state the circumstances which they consider justify the business being considered as a matter of urgency.

The Chair will decide whether any item(s) raised will be considered.

There was no other business notified.

Members are reminded that any declarations of interest in respect of any business set out in the agenda, should be declared as either a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or Declarable Interest and are required to notify the Chair of the nature of any interest declared at the commencement of the relevant item on the agenda.  Members declaring a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest must withdraw from the meeting for the duration of the item. Members declaring a Declarable Interest, wishing to exercise a ‘Councillor Speaking Right’, must declare this at the same time as the interest, move to the public area before speaking to the item and then must leave the room before the debate and vote.

Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting was cancelled and therefore there were no Chair’s announcements.

To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.

Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting was cancelled and therefore there was no public participation.

The Chair to report on any urgent or general exception items which required their agreement.  At the time of printing the agenda, the Chair had not agreed any urgent or general exception items.

Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting was cancelled and therefore no Urgent or General Exception Items were considered.

To consider any matters referred to the Committee for a decision in relation to a call-in of decision.  At the time of printing the agenda, no items of business had been called-in.

Since the last meeting, no decisions had been called-in by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE, MEMBER AND SCRUTINY MANAGER

To consider the outcome of Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolutions.

Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting was cancelled and therefore the report entitled Resolutions of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee was not considered.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE, MEMBER AND SCRUTINY MANAGER

To consider the issues that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee plans to review at future meetings and the activities of its sub-groups.

Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting was cancelled and therefore the report entitled Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme was not considered.

REPORT OF THE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

To advise Cabinet of the key findings and action points arising from the 2019 District Wide Survey.

Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting was cancelled therefore the report entitled District Wide Survey 2019 – Key Findings would be considered at the next formal meeting of the Committee.

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY SERVICES

To receive a report on a new Development Agreement for the John Barker Place area of Hitchin which seeks approval.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee due to be held on 17 March 2020 was cancelled.

Members of the Committee were consulted via email and were asked to advise whether they would vote for, against or abstain regarding the recommendations in the published report.

They were also asked for any comments that they would wish Cabinet to take into account when considering the report.

Five Members responded and all were in favour of the recommendations contained in the report as follows:

2.1.    That notice is served on settle to terminate the Development Agreement that was     signed in 2013, with immediate effect.

2.2.    That the newly proposed Development Agreement, at Appendix B, be approved.

2.3.    That authority is delegated to the Executive Member for Housing and Environmental Health, in conjunction with the Director of Regulatory Services, to agree minor changes to the new Development Agreement.

2.4.    That a lease on the identified Council owned land at Swinburne Avenue, Hitchin, is granted to settle on the lease heads of terms attached to this report (please see Appendix C).

The following comments were received:

Councillor Carol Stanier

Because of the increased amount of affordable homes (though council owned would be better) and because it is clear that Settle are by and large in favour of redrafting the agreement, I have no problems with this proposal.

CABINET IS THEREFORE REQUESTED:

(1)       That notice is served on settle to terminate the Development Agreement that was     signed in 2013, with immediate effect.

(2)       That the newly proposed Development Agreement, at Appendix B, be approved.

(3)       That authority is delegated to the Executive Member for Housing and Environmental Health, in conjunction with the Director of Regulatory Services, to agree minor changes to the new Development Agreement.

(4)       That a lease on the identified Council owned land at Swinburne Avenue, Hitchin, is granted to settle on the lease heads of terms attached to this report (please see Appendix C).

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR - SPACE

For the Committee to consider the Scoping Document as attached at Appendix A.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee due to be held on 17 March 2020 was cancelled.

Members of the Committee were consulted via email and were asked to advise whether they would vote for, against or abstain regarding the recommendations in the published report.

They were also asked for any comments that they would wish Cabinet to take into account when considering the report.

Five Members responded and all were in favour of the recommendations contained in the report as follows:

2.1     Cabinet notes that Officers are commencing a process of review, to develop the next Greenspace Management Strategy from 2021 to 2026

2.2     To consider and approve the scoping document as attached at Appendix A

No comments were received.

CABINET IS THEREFORE REQUESTED:

(1)       Cabinet notes that Officers are commencing a process of review, to develop the next Greenspace Management Strategy from 2021 to 2026.

(2)       To consider and approve the scoping document as attached at Appendix A.

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR - RESOURCES

Proposals for performance indicators to be monitored for the New year 2021.

Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting was cancelled and therefore the report entitled New Year Performance Indicators to be Monitored 20/21 was not considered.

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR - RESOURCES

Projects to be monitored for the New Year.

Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting was cancelled and therefore the report entitled New Year Projects Supporting the Council Plan 2020-23 was not considered.

REPORT OF THE CONTROLS, RISK AND PERFORMANCE MANGER

An update on performance indicators.

Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting was cancelled and therefore the report entitled Q3 Performance Monitoring Report was not considered.

REPORT OF THE CONTROLS, RISK AND PERFORMANCE MANGER

To be provided with a Projects update.

Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting was cancelled and therefore the report entitled Q3 Update on Projects Supporting the Council Plan was not considered.

To receive and respond to any questions from Members either set out in the agenda or tabled at the meeting.

No questions had been submitted by Members.