The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Stevenage Council met on 23 September 2025 to consider decisions made by the cabinet on 17 September 2025. The committee was scheduled to discuss the General Fund Medium Term Financial Strategy, revenue and capital monitoring, treasury management, corporate performance, the revocation of a taxi rank, and the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 update.

Here's a more detailed look at the topics included for discussion:

General Fund Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) Update

The committee was scheduled to consider the cabinet's decision on the General Fund MTFS update for 2025/26 to 2029/30. The MTFS provides an overview of the council's financial landscape and strategic planning.

The report highlighted significant changes and challenges, including the impacts of Local Government Reform¹ (LGR) and the upcoming Fair Funding reforms. The report stated that the changes were projected to improve the council's funding position, allowing for better financial resilience.

The report pack stated that the MTFS principles, as outlined in paragraph 3.10 of the report, were to be re-approved, and that for modelling purposes, council tax increases be set at the threshold assumed by the government in the Fair Funding consultation. The report pack also stated that the updated inflation assumptions used in the MTFS, as set out in section 4.1 of the report, were to be approved.

The report pack noted that the provisional settlement would not be known until mid-December, when the Fair Funding reforms took effect, and that there would be the opportunity to include some one off revenue or capital growth once known, and future years savings targets were now projected to be much lower than in recent years.

The report pack stated that the 'Balancing the Budget' options identified of £776,000 (excluding the Fees and Charges estimates including taxi licence fees) were to be presented to the October 2025 Cabinet and General Purposes Committee, and that the Balancing the Budget target of £2.284 million was to be approved for the period 2026/27- 2029/30, as set out in section 4.10 of the report.

The report pack stated that the indicative General Fund borrowing costs for the Oval as set out in of the paragraph 4.10.3 (3) were to be approved and included in the MTFS, and that the additional funding to be set aside in an earmarked reserve for the council's Queensway LLP of a further £50,000 per year, (paragraph 4.10.3 (6)) was to be approved.

The report pack stated that the set aside of £150,000 per year to support the council's apprentice programme as set out in paragraph 4.10.3 (2) was to be approved, and that the General Fund growth allowance of £75,000 was to be noted and approved for the use of the council's FTFC priorities.

The report pack stated that a minimum level of balances for the General Fund of £3.57 million was to be approved for 2026/27 as set out in paragraph 4.11.7, that the MTFS be regularly reviewed and revised to reflect any material financial pressures, so forecasts are updated and re-presented to the Cabinet for approval, and that the Trade Unions and staff be consulted on the key messages contained within the MTFS and more specifically when drawing up any proposals where there is a risk of redundancy.

First Quarter Revenue and Capital Monitoring Report 2025/26

The committee was scheduled to consider the cabinet's decision on the projected General Fund (GF), Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Capital 2025/26 net expenditure and seek approval to amend the General Fund, HRA and Capital budgets as part of the quarterly revenue monitoring review.

The report pack noted that there was a projected net underspend of £548,850 in the General Fund, driven by increased investment income, offstreet parking revenue, and transformation savings. It was noted that both the General Fund and HRA balances remained above minimum thresholds, ensuring financial resilience. The report pack also noted that the council was broadly on track to deliver its planned savings.

The report pack stated that the 2025/26 first quarter projected net decrease in General Fund expenditure of £548,850 was to be approved, and that the proposed movement on reserves as detailed in paragraph 4.2.1 was to be noted.

The report pack stated that the 2025/26 first quarter net decrease in HRA expenditure of £35,540 was to be approved.

The report pack stated that the General Fund capital budget re-phasing of £9 million from 2025/26 to future years was to be approved, and that the Housing Revenue Account capital budget re-phasing of £9 million from 2025/26 to future years was to be approved.

The report pack stated that net changes to budgets fully grant funded of (£5,000) in paragraph 4.9.2 were to be noted, and that General Fund and HRA virements in section 4.10 were to be approved.

The report pack stated that the proposed changes to the funding of the General Fund and HRA capital budgets in section 4.11 were to be approved.

Annual Treasury Management Review 2024/25 and Prudential Indicators

The committee was scheduled to consider the cabinet's decision to note the Annual Treasury Management Report for 2024/25 and to approve the actual 2024/25 prudential and treasury indicators in this report.

The report pack advised that the council had successfully delivered its treasury management responsibilities for 2024/25, operating within all approved prudential indicators and maintaining compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.

The report pack also advised that all treasury activities had been conducted in line with the council's Treasury Management Strategy, with no breaches of authorised borrowing limits. Looking ahead, it was noted that the council remained well-positioned to manage interest rate risks and support its capital and revenue plans sustainably.

Corporate Performance Quarter One 2025/26

The committee was scheduled to consider the cabinet's decision to receive a report highlighting the council's performance across key priorities and projects for Quarter 1 2025/26 and providing an update on progress against current strategic risks.

The report pack stated that service performance against 53 corporate performance measures and progress of key projects in Quarter 1 2025/26 through the Making Stevenage Even Better Programme (Appendix A) was to be noted.

The report pack stated that the issues with the Repairs fixed first time measure were to be noted (section 4.3.2), and that the work to create a new suite of Damp & Mould measures to support the introduction of AWAAB's law² was to be noted (section 4.3.6).

The report pack stated that the Regulator of Social Housing Provider Improvement Plan (PIP) was to be noted (section 4.4.5), and that the strategic risk updates (section 4.7) were to be noted.

The report pack stated that the revised Risk Management Policy (Appendix D), with formal approval to be given by the Chief Executive and the Portfolio Holder following consideration of any further comments from Cabinet, was to be noted.

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 – Revocation of Taxi Rank, Danestrete, Stevenage

The committee was scheduled to consider the cabinet's decision for the proposals to revoke the taxi rank on Danestrete Stevenage as required under Section 63 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976[^4].

The report pack stated that the revocation of the adopted taxi rank in Danestrete, Stevenage was to be approved, and that it be noted that officers are looking at the potential for relocating the aforementioned taxi rank to another site within the Town Centre.

The report pack stated that the proposal to remove the taxi rank in Danestrete is essential to provide the scaffold access and additional working space necessary to complete the building works safely. In parallel, the owners of the Westgate Centre, located on the east side of Danestrete, are planning to undertake their own improvement works within the same area, further increasing the need for coordinated management of space and pedestrian movement.

The report pack stated that following detailed review, the only practicable option is to provide a temporary pedestrian walkway along the western side of the carriageway, and that all other potential diversion routes have been assessed and found to be either operationally unfeasible, unsafe, or non-compliant with access standards.

The report pack stated that the Council did not receive any responses from police, members of the public or the taxi/private hire trade following a 28-day public consultation.

Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 Update Report

The committee was scheduled to consider the cabinet's decision on the council's response to the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire.

The report pack stated that the action being taken by the council to strengthen its resilience position, including working in partnership with other Hertfordshire Local Authorities and other Category One Responders to ensure that emergency and business continuity plans across the county are current and robust was to be acknowledged.

The report pack stated that a comprehensive review of reception centres and support for individuals that may be impacted by local incidents was to be approved, and that this review will incorporate the introduction of digital processes to improve information capture and situational awareness and will explore ways to strengthen regional coordination during emergencies.

The report pack stated that the Grenfell Public Inquiry report makes a series of recommendations, covering a wide range of organisations including regulators, emergency services, the construction industry, local authorities and social housing providers.

The report pack stated that the report made significant criticism of the speed and quality of the emergency response from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and concluded that their emergency planning arrangements and their capacity to respond to a major incident were inadequate.

The report pack stated that the Grenfell report recommendations relating to emergency planning are relevant to all local authorities, and that although resource pressures on local government are a factor, the costs and risks of not properly preparing for a major emergency, both for the council, its partners and the local community are significant.