Purpose

At its meeting on 2nd June 2026, the Executive approved, in principle, that the council and Sovereign Network Group (SNG), a registered provider of social housing, adopt a series of overarching objectives to improve the environment and affordable housing supply in the Sele Farm area of Hertford.

The Executive considered it important that the council and SNG agree and document a set of shared objectives and a mechanism for joint working in a Memorandum of Understanding that can pass to the new successor unitary authority, thus minimising the risk of any loss of momentum during the local government reorganisation process.

The Executive recognised that a little more work was required between the council and SNG before the MoU could be signed, notably the drawing up of a customer care charter by SNG to make clear what levels of service their customers could expect.
This customer care charter, specifically relating to their customers in East Herts, has now been produced by SNG, with input from the council.

At the same meeting, the Executive delegated authority to the Director for Communities, acting in consultation with the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, to sign the finalised MoU with SNG on behalf of East Herts. As the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods is content with the customer care charter and MoU, she has provided her support for the Director for Communities to sign the MoU on behalf of the council.

Decision

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between East Herts Council and Sovereign Network Group (SNG) relating to collaborative working at Sele Farm, Hertford be signed.

Alternative options considered

Option 1 - Do not approve the draft Memorandum of Understanding. NOT RECOMMENDED as this could signal that the council is uncertain about working with SNG and thus undermine future joint working and SNG’s investment in Sele Farm which, in turn, could risk delaying or losing SNG’s ability to access Homes England funding and/or internal resources for new genuinely affordable homes in the area.

Option 2 - Seek substantive amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding. NOT RECOMMENDED as council and SNG officers have engaged in much work to date, supported by external legal advice, to draft and refine the wording of the MoU so that it can best benefit local people.

Option 3 - Sign the MoU. RECOMMENDED for the reason laid out in this report.