To note any substitution of Committee Members in accordance with Council Procedure Rules 19 – 22.

The following substitutions of Committee Members had been made in accordance with Council Procedure Rules 19-22:

Councillor J.Cragg for Councillor H.Bower

Councillor S.Glick for Councillor H.Bromley

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors H.Bower and H.Bromley.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 June 2018 (previously circulated).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 18 June 2018 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the status of actions agreed at the last meeting.

The Committee noted that the report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) giving an update on actions from the meeting held on 18 June 2018, all of which had been completed.

To note declarations of Members’ disclosable pecuniary interests, non-disclosable pecuniary interests and non-pecuniary interests in respect of items on this Agenda.

Councillor S.Glick declared an interest as an employee of Hertfordshire Constabulary in item 9 on the agenda – Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) – Implementation Progress Update.

Councillor L.Chesterman declared a non-pecuniary interest as a Member of Hertfordshire County Council.

Report of the Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) and accompanying presentation the Committee with performance indicator data collected for those services that fall within its remit for Quarter 1 along with comparative information where available.

Report of the Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) and accompanying presentation updated the Committee on the performance indicator data collected for those services that fell within its remit for Quarter 1 along with comparative information where available.

Performance Indicator – 29 - The Maximum Number of Households Living in Temporary Accommodation in the Borough (where the Council has a duty).

Members raised concerns regarding the number of families from the Borough in either temporary accommodation or bed and breakfast.

The Executive Member for Housing and Community, following a request from the Committee, undertook to write to the Government to highlight the impact on the Borough of the increase in the number of residents in temporary accommodation or bed and breakfast.  The letter to also to male reference to the endeavours of the Housing Needs Team to resolve issues for homeless families be acknowledged.

The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, asked that the Team be thanked for the hard work they had done on behalf of the Council and residents.

RESOLVED:

(1)          That the performance indicator data be noted.

(2)          That the Executive Member for Housing and Community write to the Government to highlight the impact on the Borough from the increase in the number of residents in temporary accommodation or bed and breakfast and the endeavours of the Housing Needs Team to resolve issues for homeless families be acknowledged.

Presentation to update Members on the implementation of the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) recently introduced in Hatfield.

Presentation from Neighbourhoods and Enforcement Manager updated Members on the implementation of the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) introduced in Hatfield recently.

RESOLVED:

That the presentation on the implementation of the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) be noted.

Report of the Corporate Director (Housing and Communities) provides an update on strategic housing and a summary of the current key issues and challenges for the Council. 

Report of the Corporate Director (Housing and Communities) provided an update on strategic housing and a summary of the current key issues and challenges for the Council.

Members noted that the Community and Housing Strategy team were responsible for development and monitoring of the Council’s Housing and Homelessness Strategy together with the delivery of a number of services.  Members noted that the team also dealt with both the enablement and delivery of affordable homes via the Council’s Affordable Housing Programme, which was monitored on a regular basis at Cabinet Housing Panel.

The current Housing and Homelessness Strategy was due to expire at the end of the year and that a new five year strategy was being developed.  The Council recently held a stakeholder forum to take on views and ideas on what the key issues and challenges were going forward; there have also been a number of focus groups and sessions with relevant stakeholders around three key themes.  Consultation on the draft Strategy would be available for consultation in October 2018.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the content of the report be noted.

(2)       That the Panel be regularly updated on the number of families in temporary accommodated and the progress made by the project group working on options to reduce the reliance on bed and breakfast. 

Report of the Corporate Director (Housing and Communities) sets out the proposal for a revised Equality Scheme for Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, which will be considered by the Cabinet at its meeting on 4 September 2018.

Report of the Corporate Director (Housing and Communities) sets out the proposal for a new Equality Scheme for Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council was endorsed and recommended to the Council for approval by the Cabinet at its meeting on 4 September 2018.

Members noted that the new Equality Scheme, which had been developed by the Council’s Equality and Diversity Steering Group, met the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and would reflect the five new equality objectives as set out in the Equality Policy 2018.

RESOLVED:

(1)          That the new Equality Scheme 2018-21 had been endorsed by the Cabinet and recommended to Council.

(2)          That the Committee concurred with the recommendation of the Cabinet that the new Equality Scheme 2018-21 be approval by the Council.

The pro-forma which sets out the Committee’s overview work programme has been updated since the last meeting to enable forward planning of items to be considered to take place. Items which the Committee agrees it would like to consider will be scheduled into the work programme.

The pro-forma setting out the Committee’s overview work programme had been updated since the last meeting to enable the forward planning of items to take place. Items which the Committee agreed it would like to consider would be scheduled into the work programme.

RESOLVED:

That the work programme be noted.

The pro-forma which sets out the Committee’s scrutiny work programme is attached to enable forward planning of items to be considered to take place as appropriate.

The pro-forma setting out the Committee’s scrutiny work programme was attached to enable the forward planning of items to take place as appropriate.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To receive any request from a Councillor for a discussion on behalf of residents on an issue affecting a single council ward where local problems have arisen and other methods of resolution have been exhausted.

A Member of the Committee reported that she had received a question from a Haldens’ resident regarding the play area where provision had not been made for children with physical disabilities, whilst other parks within the Borough did have play equipment.  Advertisements and literature clearly indicated that the park was accessible by children with disabilities.  The Member stated that by not having accessible play equipment the Council were letting the children down and suggested that the work on the Haldens’ play area not be progressed until the provision had been reviewed.

In response, Officers explained that the equipment in a number of play areas been upgraded recently, however without having the information to hand, it was not possible to provide details of specific facilities for disabled children, plans or progress.

The Corporate Director (Housing and Communities) made the following suggestion.

(1)          That a report on the Council’s strategy for play areas and equipment for physical disabilities be brought to the next meeting of the Committee.

(2)          That the matter be referred to the Council’s Equalities and Diversity Steering Group, of which Councillor T.Kingsbury was Chairman, for clarity and discussion and that the Committee be provided with an update.

RESOLVED:

(1)          That the comments received from the Haldens’ resident be noted.

(2)          That consideration be given to a review of the refurbishment of the Haldens’ play area and provision of inclusive play equipment, with a view to ensuring some provision be made available.

(3)          That a report on the Council’s strategy for play areas and equipment for children with physical disabilities be brought to the next meeting of the Committee.

(4)          That the matter be referred to the Council’s Equalities and Diversity Steering Group, of which Councillor T.Kingsbury was Chairman, for clarity and discussion and that the Committee be provided with an update.