Agenda and decisions

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 4^th March 2025 (previously circulated).

Up to thirty minutes will be made available for questions from members of the public on issues relating to the work of the Cabinet and to receive any petitions.

Report of the Executive Director (Finance and Transformation) on the status of actions agreed at the last Cabinet meeting.

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

To consider the following items for decision in the current Forward Plan:-

Report of the Executive Director (Resident Services & Climate Change).

Decision taken

Cabinet approved the Food Safety Service Plan and the Food Sampling Plan 2025/26.

Reason for decision

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has overall responsibility for the official control of food law enforcement in England.  This involves co-ordinating, monitoring, setting standards and auditing local authority food law enforcement activities.  This includes a requirement that all local authorities produce a food safety service plan which has been agreed by their members.  The plan for 2025/26 is shown in Appendix A of the report. The plan had been written having regard to the format prescribed by the FSA.

Report of the Executive Director (Finance & Transformation)

Decision taken

Cabinet approved:

1.      That delegated authority was given to the Executive Director (Finance and Transformation), in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance, to award insurance contracts to the successful bidders for a contract period of five years, under the terms of long-term agreements.

2.      That delegated authority is given to the Executive Director (Finance and Transformation), in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance, to agree subsequent renewal terms on an annual basis under the longterm agreement.

Reason for decision

In 2020 the majority of the Council’s insurance policies were tendered for and five-year long-term agreements were entered into. These expire on 23 June 2025 and a mini competition in accordance with the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (YPO) framework for insurance services is therefore being undertaken again in forthcoming months to ensure best value.

Report of the Executive Director (Finance & Transformation).

Decision taken

Cabinet agreed to award the following contracts:

a)    General Staffing (lot 1) to Reed Specialist Recruitment Limited;

b)    Environmental Health Staffing (lot 2) to 4 Recruitment Services Limited; and

c)    Property Services Staffing (lot 3) to Reed Specialist Recruitment Limited

Reason for decision

The Council occasionally requires additional resources to help deliver services and has issued tenders for Lot 1 - General staffing, Lot 2 - Environmental Health staff, Lot 3 - Property Services staff (predominately housing) 

All three contracts will commence on 1st June 2025 for three years with the option to extend for a further 1 year. Therefore the maximum duration of these contract could be 4 years.

Report of the Executive Director (Resident Services & Climate Change).

Decision taken

Cabinet agreed to award the following contracts:

a)      External specialist works (lot 1) to Sureserve Energy Services UK Limited; and

b)      Roof replacement works (lot 2) to Highview Group Limited; and

c)      Windows and doors replacements (lot 3) to C W G Group Ltd. 

Reason for decision

The Council requires additional resources to help deliver its housing Capital Works programme and has issued tenders for external specialist works (lot 1), roof replacement works (lot 2) and windows and doors replacements (lot 3).

Works under lot 1 comprise of external wall insulation, internal wall insulation and cavity wall insulation and the intention is for all three contracts to commence on 1st May 2025 and end on 31st December 2027 with a possible extension until 31st December 2029.

Cabinet are asked to consider the following reports of Scrutiny Task & Finish Groups:

The report for this item can be found at Agenda Item 5 of the below link:

Agenda for Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 18th March 2025, 7.30 pm – Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council

Decision taken

Cabinet noted the Parking Consultation Task & Finish Report.

Reason for Decision

Parking Services are tasked by Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel with carrying out the Parking Works Programme. This is a programme of consultations carried out across the Borough with a view to seeking the views of residents and other stakeholders on the need to introduction, removal and amendment of parking restrictions. The programme is set every two years and the current Parking Works Programme is for 2024 to 2026. A Task and Finish Group was set up to review the parking consultation process and make recommendations to OSC for improvements.  A number of meetings were held and the process was reviewed in detail, leading to two recommendations

The report for this item can be found at Agenda Item 6 of the below link:

Agenda for Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 18th March 2025, 7.30 pm – Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council

Decision taken

Cabinet noted the report and agreed the 4 recommendations set out in the report

Reason for decision

This scrutiny area was selected by OSC members because there was an interest in understanding the extent of youth ASB and violence in the borough and what provision, facilities and support there was in place for young people. It was recognised that whilst not the direct responsibility of the council, the council via the Community Safety Partnership has a key role with partners in addressing this matter.

The report for this item can be found at Agenda Item 7 of the below link:

Agenda for Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 18th March 2025, 7.30 pm – Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council

Decision taken

Cabinet noted the report and agreed the recommendations set out in the report.

Reason for decision

On 30 July 2024, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee determined that a task and finish group should be established to review the arrangements for communal maintenance in our social housing stock, specifically:

• to improve maintenance of communal areas, where deemed required

• to improve cleaning of communal areas, where deemed required and

• to consider service charges to tenants for such services

Report of the Executive Director (Resident Services & Climate Change).

Decision taken

Cabinet approved the partnership with NEF to deliver the Warmer Homes: Local Grant.

Reason for decision

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council submitted and expression of Interest in November 2025 and have been awarded £1.5 million.

The Council does not have officer capacity to deliver this scheme. Therefore, are required to work with a delivery partner. If a contractor was not appointed the grant money would need to be returned.

Report of the Executive Director (Finance & Transformation)

Decision taken

Cabinet approved that the contract procedure rules be waived and delegate authority to the Executive Director (Finance and Transformation), in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance, to award extensions to the support arrangements with Marsh Ltd up to a total spend value of £125k. 

Reason for decision

The Council’s Insurance and Treasury Lead Officer left the Council in late 2023. It was known this would be a very challenging to recruit to due to the broad range of functions and technical aspects of the role, so the opportunity was taken to review how the role was delivered.

Functions were separated and the role was amended with focus on Insurance and Risk which is more consistent with the markets grouping of functions.  In January 2024, whilst the review was taking place, external support was explored with other councils and the Council’s insurance brokers. There was no capacity with other councils to provide any support and so support was commissioned from the Councils insurance brokers, Marsh Limited. 

This support is focussed on the claims handling aspects of the role, with other work being picked up by other members of the team in the short-term.

The role had been advertised twice, with no success. The role has now been reviewed further and we are working with a recruitment specialist to undertake a specialist recruitment campaign. It is unlikely that the role will be filled prior to the end of the current contract with March Limited.

The Cabinet is asked to resolve:

That under Section 100(A)(2) and (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be now excluded from the meeting for Item 14 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of confidential or exempt information as defined in Section 100(A)(3) and Paragraph 3 (private financial or business information) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act (as amended).

In resolving to exclude the public in respect of the exempt information, it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

To consider the following item of an exempt nature:-

Report of the Executive Director (Resident Services & Climate Change).

The recommendations were agreed as set in paragraph 400d above.

Report of the Executive Director (Finance & Transformation).

The recommendations were agreed as set in paragraph 400c above.