In the last 7 days (since Saturday 15 June 2024), the council has held the following meetings:

• Licensing Committee on Tuesday 18 June 2024
• Grants Board on Wednesday 19 June 2024 (No video provided)
• Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel on Thursday 20 June 2024

Licensing Committee

The Licensing Committee meeting on Tuesday 18 June 2024 focused on several key areas, including the review of the Gambling Act policy. Here are the main points discussed:

Overview of the Licensing Committee

The meeting began with an overview of the Licensing Committee's purpose and functions. The committee is a statutory body required by the Licensing Act 2003 and the Gambling Act 2005. It reviews and makes recommendations on various licensing policies, including those related to alcohol, gambling, and street trading.

The licensing committee is a statutory committee in that it is laid down in legislation, mostly the Licensing Act and the Gambling Act, that there needs to be a committee in each council to hear certain applications in relation to those acts and actually other licenses as well.

Gambling Act Policy Review

The primary agenda item was the review of the Gambling Act policy. The committee discussed the need to update the council's statement of principles for the next three-year period (January 2025 to January 2028). This statement outlines how the council will exercise its functions under the Gambling Act.

The Gambling Act requires all licensing authorities to prepare and publish a statement of the principles that they propose to apply in exercising their functions under the Gambling Act during each three-year period.

The updated policy reflects changes in the Gambling Commission's guidance and includes a local area profile to assist applicants in understanding local risks. The consultation for this policy will run from Monday, 24 June to Friday, 13 September 2024.

The policy has been reviewed and updated to reflect changes made to the Gambling Commission's guidance to licensing authorities.

Grants Board

The Grants Board meeting on Wednesday 19 June 2024 did not provide a video broadcast. No further details are available.

Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel

The Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel meeting on Thursday 20 June 2024 covered several important topics, including biodiversity net gain and the housing delivery test action plan.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)

The panel discussed the introduction of mandatory biodiversity net gain (BNG) for qualifying developments in England. BNG requires developments to have a positive impact on biodiversity, aiming for a 10% net gain over the baseline biodiversity of the site.

Biodiversity net gain is a way of creating and improving biodiversity by requiring development to have a positive impact net gain on biodiversity.

The council's local BNG guidance note is now considered unnecessary due to the statutory framework provided by national guidance. The panel recommended that the local guidance note should no longer be a material consideration in decision-making.

Housing Delivery Test Action Plan

The panel reviewed the housing delivery test action plan for 2024. The test measures the delivery of housing against the council's targets over a rolling three-year period. Welwyn Hatfield delivered 65% of its housing target, necessitating an action plan to address under-delivery.

The housing delivery test is an annual measure of the delivery of housing in a local authority area. It compares the total net homes delivered against the number of homes required over a rolling three-year period.

Key actions include expediting planning applications for local plan housing sites, engaging with landowners and developers, and implementing the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

Understanding the Licensing Committee

The Licensing Committee plays a crucial role in regulating activities related to alcohol, gambling, and street trading within the borough. It ensures that licensing policies are up-to-date and reflect current legislation and guidance. The committee's decisions impact local businesses and the community by promoting responsible practices and safeguarding public interests.

Looking Ahead

The council's focus on updating licensing policies and addressing housing delivery challenges demonstrates its commitment to regulatory compliance and sustainable development. Residents can expect continued efforts to enhance local policies and ensure that development projects contribute positively to the community.

For more information on the council's meetings and decisions, you can visit the Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council's website.

In the last 7 days (since Saturday 08 June 2024), the council has held the following meetings:

• Cabinet Housing Panel on Tuesday 11 June 2024
• Standards Committee on Wednesday 12 June 2024 (Cancelled)

Cabinet Housing Panel

The Cabinet Housing Panel meeting on Tuesday 11 June 2024 was the primary focus this week. Here are the key points discussed:

Performance Reports and Voids

The panel reviewed the performance reports for Q4 of 2023-24. A significant discussion revolved around the performance with voids (empty properties). Councillors expressed concerns about the inability to meet targets for turning around voids, with some properties taking up to 157 days for minor repairs. The council is working with contractors to improve these timescales and considering revising targets to reflect the complexity of some repairs.

We are working with a contractor to try to drive those timescales down, because it's good that we're meeting the quality standards that we require, but we also need them done in a more timely fashion.

Housing Compliance

The panel also discussed housing compliance, particularly in relation to gas and electrical safety checks. The council is facing challenges in gaining access to some properties to complete these checks, which is impacting compliance rates. Legal processes are being followed to address these access issues.

Tenancy Strategy and Policy

A revised Tenancy Strategy and Policy was presented, which included a move to end fixed-term flexible tenancies in favour of lifetime secure tenancies. This change aims to provide more stability for tenants and aligns with the council's commitment to high-quality housing and sustainable tenancies. The consultation with registered providers showed strong support for this move.

The primary aim is to secure lifetime tenancies, as we've said, that's our preferred approach in the borough.

Tenant Satisfaction Measures

The results of the tenant satisfaction survey for 2023-24 were reviewed. Overall satisfaction with housing services was 60%, with key drivers of satisfaction being the repair service, home maintenance, and fair treatment. However, areas such as handling of antisocial behaviour (ASB) and complaints received lower satisfaction scores. The council plans to address these issues through an action plan focusing on improving communication, repair services, and neighbourhood management.

The purpose of the results is really to get feedback from our tenants. They can give us their feedback about how they feel about the housing services at the council.

Standards Committee

The Standards Committee scheduled for Wednesday 12 June 2024 was cancelled. No further details were provided.

Understanding the Cabinet Housing Panel

The Cabinet Housing Panel is a key component of the council's governance structure, focusing on housing policy and development. It includes cross-party political representation and operates in line with the council's constitution. The panel considers reports and makes recommendations to the cabinet on various housing-related issues, including housing maintenance, homelessness, and housing strategy.

The discussions and decisions made in the Cabinet Housing Panel have a direct impact on the quality of housing services provided to residents. By addressing issues such as voids, compliance, and tenant satisfaction, the panel aims to ensure that the council's housing stock is well-maintained and that tenants receive high-quality services.

Looking Ahead

The council's commitment to improving housing services is evident from the discussions in the Cabinet Housing Panel. The focus on tenant satisfaction, compliance, and tenancy policies will continue to shape the council's approach to housing in the coming months. Residents can expect ongoing efforts to enhance the quality and timeliness of housing services, as well as increased communication and engagement with tenants.

For more information on the council's meetings and decisions, you can visit the Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council's website.

In the last 7 days (since Saturday 01 June 2024), the council has held the following meetings:

• Cabinet on Tuesday 04 June 2024

The Cabinet meeting was the only meeting held this week. Here are the key points discussed:

Council Tax Premiums and Parking Services

The action report included updates on changes to council tax premiums for second and empty homes, which were approved by the council. Additionally, the parking services works program for 2024-26 was also approved. These changes could impact residents with multiple properties and those who use council-managed parking facilities.

Capital Outturn for 2023-24

Councillor James Broach presented the capital outturn for the 2023-24 financial year. A significant portion of the budget, nearly £6.8 million for general funds and £41.9 million for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), is being rephased into the new financial year. This rephasing is necessary to complete key capital projects, including the affordable homes programme and major repairs. The rephasing of capital is not uncommon due to unforeseen delays in project timings.

Revenue Outturn for 2023-24

Councillor Broach also reported on the revenue outturn, highlighting a positive financial outcome despite ongoing economic pressures. The council managed to reduce the planned use of general fund reserves by £601,000. However, there was a small adverse movement of £54,000 for the HRA. These figures indicate a relatively stable financial position for the council, which is crucial given the current economic climate.

Waste Management Contract

Councillor Sanjiv Vampante discussed the need to renew the parent company guarantee for the waste management contract. The ownership of ABATA Ltd, the current waste service provider, is changing to FCC Environment UK Ltd. This renewal ensures that the council can call upon the resources of the new parent company if needed. It's important to note that this change will not affect the day-to-day management of waste services for residents.

Performance Exception Report

The performance exception report for the last quarter of 2023-24 was reviewed. Notably, 85% of projects are on schedule or completed with no risks attached, and 65% of all Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been met or exceeded. However, 17 KPIs have not yet met their annual targets, and measures are being taken to address these areas.

Risk Management

Councillor Kiran Thorpe presented the quarter four risk registers. A new risk framework was introduced, including indicators for risk direction to help identify increasing or decreasing risks. This comprehensive review aims to better manage and mitigate potential risks.

Treasury Management and Investment Strategy

The annual report on treasury management and investment strategy was presented, confirming that all activities complied with the approved strategy and relevant legislative provisions. This compliance is crucial for maintaining the council's financial health and ensuring prudent management of public funds.

Appointments and Achievements

The council approved appointments for cabinet panels, committees, boards, and representatives on executive outside bodies. The council also highlighted key achievements from January to March 2024, including the first-ever community awards, the implementation of a public space protection order, and achieving Tree City of the World status for the fifth year running.

Urgent Matters

An urgent report was discussed regarding the purchase of a property to meet the housing needs of a family with a disabled member. The council approved the purchase to ensure the family has a suitable home, demonstrating the council's commitment to addressing urgent housing needs.

This week's Cabinet meeting covered a range of important topics, from financial management to community achievements and urgent housing needs. The decisions made will have various implications for residents, particularly in terms of council tax, parking services, and waste management.