COUNCIL MEETING

23 April 2019

Statements made by Portfolio Holders and Chairmen of the Council’s Committees

Leader of the Council Finance Housing, Environment and Community Leisure and Culture Community Safety and Corporate Services Transformation and Regeneration

Planning and Regulatory Committee Scrutiny Committee Audit and Standards

Member Champion for Youth

LEADER OF THE COUNCIL

Economic Development

Skills Strategy

The Dragons Apprentice Challenge awards ceremony took place on 20 March at Hertford Regional College (HRC). The successful school teams from Goffs-Churchgate Academy, Pinewood School, The John Warner School and School received a variety of awards. All the schools gave excellent presentations on their successes in raising funds for charity.

The Borough’s Skills Group, attended by partners representing organisations from both private and public sector organisations work towards improving skills levels in the Borough. One of the initiatives for the coming period is to organise a Career and Skills show at HRC that will focus on local employers providing taster sessions to increase awareness of careers available and the skills that particular job choices can give individuals. Everyone will be welcome whether they are students, those looking for work, particularly with barriers to employment and people considering a change of career.

Digital Innovation Zone (DIZ)

The Essex and Digital Innovation Zone has published its strategy to secure future prosperity and health in the region in what is signalled the next industrial revolution. Broxbourne continues to be a key partner in the DIZ. The strategy sets out a direction to transform the way we live, work and deliver public services better and cheaper. It contains a vision for future proofing our successful local economies and securing the benefits locally of major investments. The strategy sets out an idea to attract superfast and ultrafast broadband coverage in the Borough and it promotes joint public-commercial ventures and cross-border and cross-sector collaboration to ensure scalability. It also signals to both central government and industry, that Broxbourne and its partners are open for business and embracing the changes that are heading our way.

Ambition Broxbourne Business Centre (ABBC)

Since the opening of the Ambition Broxbourne Business Centre (ABBC) in December 2016, 204 new and safeguarded jobs are now based at the centre with ninety four of them new to the centre in 2018/19. This figure compares well to the target of seventy. Ninety seven businesses have been assisted through training sessions run at the centre from a variety of providers. Occupancy for the year averaged at 84.2% but at the end of March had reached 92.3%. Fifty five businesses are now located at the business centre in and we continue to work with partners to identify another site for a similar centre within the Borough.

Tourism

The Enjoy Broxbourne brand continues to promote tourism in and around Broxbourne. Recent published statistics based on historic data show that tourism trips increased between 2015 and 2017 by 213,000 to 1,363,000 trips in total in the Borough. The jobs in Broxbourne attributed to the tourism sector grew by 8% during the same period to 5.4% of the total jobs. 6 and 7 April marked the end of tourism week with the successful Herts Big Weekend. Broxbourne participated in the promotional event when residents are invited to enter to win free ticket for events in Hertfordshire. There were 7,621 entries for 146 free tickets offered by 10 attractions in Broxbourne. Studies undertaken by Visit Herts

- 1 - show that winners have indicated that they are often accompanied by fee paying visitors and they would return for a second visit. The events help to promote attractions to a larger audience and show the breadth of the offer during the coming tourist season.

Mark Mills-Bishop Leader of the Council

FINANCE

Property Services

There have been two acquisitions over the past year both being in the Borough. The first is a transport depot located in Stephenson’s Close, Hoddesdon and the second being the Turnford Place office complex next door to the Marriott Hotel in Cheshunt. The Council has a void percentage of less than 5% across the whole of its investment portfolio. The budgeted income from commercial property for 2019/20 is estimated to be £7.35m.

The Council has completed the selection of a preferred development partner for Brookfield Riverside, although a formal announcement cannot be made until the County Council has finalised its selection which is expected in May.

The Council has completed the building of a new industrial unit in Impresa Park to shell status and an agreement has been reached with a local refrigeration training company to take a 21 year lease on the premises. This will generate additional rental income of £20,000 per annum.

Badger BC Investments Ltd (Badger)

The Council has recently completed two sales to the company providing another nine units of accommodation. Badger now has 35 units of residential accommodation and two commercial units. The intention is to sell the new Wolsey Court development to Badger later this year once construction by the Council has been completed. This is expected in November. This will provide a further 24 two bedroom flats.

Land Charge Service

The number of land charge search applications received annually by the Council (either official or personal search applications) provides some indication of the buoyancy of the local housing market. The last financial year saw a 10% decrease in the total number of searches received compared to the previous year.

The average turnaround performance for the land charge service in 2018/19 was five working days which compares favourably with the Government’s directive that local authorities should respond to search applications within ten working days.

2019/20 Estimates

At the last Council meeting, the Borough set its annual budget for 2019/20. The budget was set with no call on reserves and includes significant investment in our transformation programme. The recently issued council tax bills show council tax set at £133.24, an increase of just £5.00. Ken Ayling

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HOUSING, ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY

Broxbourne Local Plan

The Local Plan Inspector held a number of hearings on the Local Plan during September-November 2018. On 10 December he published an ‘Interim Advice’ note which contained the following main points:

- the proposal for 7,718 new homes in the period 2016-2033 is justified and consistent with national policy; - exceptional circumstances exist to justify the proposed Green Belt releases; - the proposed business park at Park Plaza West is justified but the proposed level of employment floorspace across the Borough is not; - a reduction in the amount of retail floorspace planned at Brookfield is required; - modifications are required to the Brookfield policy to address a range of issues including relocations, heritage, biodiversity, and retail.

On 25 February the Council published a series of modifications to the Brookfield policy in accordance with the Inspector’s advice. On 5 March the Inspector published a note on next steps, in which he proposed a further hearing session on 11 June in respect of a limited number of issues regarding the proposed modifications to the Brookfield policy.

Subject to the Inspector’s further advice following the hearing, it is anticipated that there will be a main modifications consultation on any changes to the submitted Plan some time in summer 2019, followed by receipt of the Inspector’s final report and adoption in the autumn.

Further information can be found on the dedicated website at www.broxbourne.gov.uk/localplanexamination

Affordable Housing

The Council is making progress in reducing the number of households in temporary accommodation. As at March there were 395 households in temporary accommodation.

The Council is also exploring alternatives to the use of expensive nightly paid accommodation. This includes leasing of 32 modular two bed homes from proposed Cheshunt Lakeside developer, Inland Homes, for a period of three years. The homes will be sited within the footprint of the proposed development and later moved to allow the long term development to proceed. This is an innovative partnership making use of land that would otherwise be locked in for several years and provides benefits to all parties. The homes will be made available to local families in housing need and managed by the Council.

The Council has successfully bid for monies under the Ministry of Housing ‘Private Sector Access Fund’ and has been awarded £219,000 to facilitate improved access to private sector tenancies for local households under the Council’s Simple Lets scheme.

Health

I have comprehensively attended meetings regarding the new Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow where the Board of the Hospital Trust unanimously agreed to move to a site just outside Harlow within the Epping Forest District. However, this preferred option is still subject to public consultation and a funding arrangement is being put into place. With the Princess Alexandra Hospital being part of the West - 3 - Essex and East Herts Digital Innovation Zone [DIZ] along with Broxbourne Council, any new hospital will be digitally connected linking in with DIZ work which is already benefiting surgeries within the Borough of Broxbourne and the Cheshunt Community Hospital. Their services continue to be developed with GP extended hours at the weekends and a new x-ray service. The Clinical Commissioning Group [CCG] is also clear of this Council’s wish to see blood testing services remaining at our community hospital. Following on from the Members’ briefing on the Hertfordshire and West Essex Sustainability and Transformation Plan, I will continue to press the CCG for a health summit focusing on our area needs and how services at the Cheshunt Community Hospital can move forward.

Environmental Health

The Environmental Health team continues to work with DEFRA, and the Government’s Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU), HCC and other subcontractors to develop a business case to improve air quality within a section of the A10, following the Council receiving a Ministerial Direction in October 2018 to improve air quality at this location. A range of options aimed at improving air quality in the shortest possible timeframe are currently being modelled. The deadline to submit the final business case is 31 October 2019.

The Council is exploring the opportunity of working with another Hertfordshire authority’s Environmental Health team, fundamentally to improve resilience.

Waste and recycling

The recycling rate to the end of the third quarter (April to December 2018) was 43.5% compared with 43% for the same period in 2017/18. While recycling tonnage in the nine months to 31 December 2018 (11,779 tonnes) was 2.6% lower than in the same period in the previous year (12,098 tonnes), residual waste fell by nearly 5% over the same period (15,307 tonnes in 2018/19 compared with 16,057 tonnes in 2017/18).

Over 250 new build properties were added to the refuse and recycling rounds during this same period and just over 200 older flats were converted from weekly refuse only collections to the full fortnightly refuse and recycling collection service.

New Town Square – Waltham Cross

Work started on the New Town Square project in January 2019 to create a high-quality space for people to enjoy. The construction work is being led by contractor Danaher and Walsh Civil Engineering and is part-funded by Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), as part of a wider scheme of regeneration by Broxbourne Borough Council.

The New Town Square project is a vital strand of the Council’s long term strategy to deliver social, environmental and economic regeneration for Waltham Cross. By creating a more inviting town centre, the project will help generate jobs and new homes and boost the area’s profile as an attractive place to live, work and do business, making the most of its prime location and transport links to London and beyond. The total estimated project cost is £1.36m of which £678K has been funded by the Hertfordshire LEP.

Parking

Pay by phone was introduced in all the Council run car parks. Up to the end of March 2019, 7% of customers (13,344 transactions) have chosen to use this service compared to 187,777 choosing to pay by cash.

- 4 - Parking enforcement extension of hours and patrols has been a success. The service now operates Monday through to Sunday between 6am and 10pm.

Over 120 untaxed vehicles have been identified and removed. Paul Seeby Deputy Leader

LEISURE AND CULTURE

John Warner Sports Centre

The newly refurbished gym at John Warner Sports Centre opened on 10 September 2018. Pulse fitness and E-gym equipment has been installed which gives users access to the internet and all TV channels while they exercise. The equipment connects to wearable devices to allow users to assess their achievements and progress. The first three months of operation generated new sales of 293 compared to 114 in the previous year. Spotlight The Spotlight has had a great start to 2019 with sell out shows including That’ll Be The Day, Russell Kane, Julian Clary and a live music event which sold 1,000 tickets.

Cinema screenings are also proving to be increasingly popular with additional dates added for A Star is Born and Bohemian Rhapsody both of which were screened shortly after their release. Disney’s Dumbo is expected to be a success during the Easter holidays.

The bar reconfiguration work is being tendered and work is likely to start in the summer.

Cheshunt Park Golf Centre

The changing room and toilets refurbishment commenced in March and is expected to be completed by the end of April. Community Development and Lowewood Museum The holiday playscheme Kidz Klub had 283 attendances during the February school holidays. This was 10% higher than in the previous year. 1,600 people attended the Easter family fun day held on 23 March at Cedars Park in conjunction with CHEXS and the Friends of Cedars Park. Active Herts has received over 1,200 referrals since starting in January 2016. The national ‘Daily Mile’ campaign, a free initiative that sees schoolchildren run or jog for 15 minutes every day is being promoted. So far, 11 of the Borough’s primary schools have supported the project.

A successful bid to the Government’s Windrush Grants will enable every primary school in the Borough to receive creative workshops around Caribbean culture and the history of the Windrush generation. The Council’s World War One (WWI) programme concluded with a number of events and initiatives. Over 2,000 ceramic poppies produced by local schoolchildren adorned the Cheshunt Old Pond roundabout. Hoddesdon town centre was decorated with 6,000 poppies which were either knitted or crafted from recycled bottles. Sunday 4 November saw a memorial service to Private William Uglow, the youngest combatant to die in WW1 from the Borough, attended by members of the Uglow family. On 11 November, a Borough-wide - 5 - commemorative service was held at St Paul’s Church in Hoddesdon, containing elements from the Borough-wide programme. Lowewood Museum’s ‘We Will Remember Them’ project, funded by a £16,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, commenced to record and share the lives of WW1 soldiers from the Borough. A commemorative WW1 bench was installed in Hoddesdon town centre. Lowewood Museum has successfully secured a grant of £70,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the James Ward exhibition which will run in the autumn. Ward was the greatest animal painter of the 1800s and lived in Cheshunt. The exhibition will include loans from the Tate and Fitzwilliam Museum to accompany Lowewood’s own 18 works. Green spaces

With October being relatively sunny and dry for the time of year, grass cutting continued well into this month. As the quarter continued, the emphasis was on commencing the winter works programme. This included shrub bed pruning, weeding, mulching and hedge cutting. The seasonal beds have also been replaced with winter bedding.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the end of WW1, the Borough’s war memorials were all deep cleaned for Remembrance Day ceremonies in November. The annual Bakers and Sweeps charity match at Waltham Cross playing fields was held on Boxing Day.

The playground refurbishment programme at Alamien Close was completed in December, with improvement works started at Nightleys.

The volunteer groups who provide a source of invaluable help throughout the year, were thanked for their efforts with a coffee morning in December.

Almost 1,500 people participated in events and activities in the parks during the third quarter. Events included: health walks, park runs and junior park runs, Nordic walking, and the annual Make a Difference Day at Cedars Park.

At the Make a Difference Day in October, 25 volunteers including residents, the Friends Group, Cedars Nature Centre, Fletchers Trees Ltd, joined councillors to give something back to the community and get the park ready for winter. Tasks included bird box building, planting seasonal displays and bulbs, tree planting, maintenance of hedgerows and mulching in woodland areas and removal of epicormic growth from the Lime Avenue.

Dee Hart

COMMUNITY SAFETY AND CORPORATE SERVICES

Community Safety

Fifty five child safeguarding referrals were made during 2018/19; twelve less than in the previous year. 90% of staff have received their mandatory ‘Introduction to Safeguarding’ training with further sessions scheduled for April. This covers vulnerable adults, child safeguarding, domestic abuse, hate crime, modern slavery and ‘Prevent’.

The end of year figures show that crime levels have shown an increase of 11.4% (75 incidents) compared with last year. However, the Borough has seen a reduction in theft from motor vehicle, down 23.45% (down 11 offences from 47 to 36) as well as a reduction in Burglary Dwelling, down 29.7% (down 11 offences from 37 to 26).

- 6 - Levels of reported anti-social behaviour decreased by 22.4% (down 702 incidents from 3,139 to 2,437 incidents) compared with last year, which is lower than the county average of 19.9%.

In regard to setting local priorities, the Police and Council priority setting meetings have continued and a number have been identified. Most significantly, tackling the increase in youth related violence has become a Borough-wide priority as has tackling off-road motorbikes. These meetings will continue on a three monthly basis.

During the week of 11-18 March, Broxbourne took part in Op. Sceptre, the national knife amnesty initiative. As part of this initiative, two permanent weapons bins were installed in the south of the Borough and will be in situ for a minimum of three years.

As part of the on-going work that partners are doing to tackle crime in the Borough, the Broxbourne Community Safety Partnership is currently working with four schools across the Borough to address concerns they have regarding ‘at risk’ young people. A parents and frontline worker awareness evening was held on 4 March, where over 250 people attended to hear discussions about knife crime, gangs and exploitation. A further event is proposed for September/October 2019.

The Council, in conjunction with the Police, are currently consulting local residents on a Borough-wide Public Space Protection Order to tackle the issues of off-road motorbikes and verge/footway parking. If there are no objections received, it is hoped that the order will be enforceable in June 2019.

Meanwhile, under the Council’s local small scale schemes initiative, some £7k was spent in 2018/19 in working with local residents and other organisations to improve their security and make the Borough safer.

Work is also being completed on defining the local community safety priorities for the next year and the Community Safety Action Plan for 2019/20 is scheduled to be presented to the Broxbourne Community Safety Partnership at the end of this month.

Broxbourne Lottery

The first draw was held on 4 November 2017. As of 5 April 2019, there are 72 local good causes raising funds through the Lottery, 769 live ticket subscriptions and 416 Lottery players. £39,644.40 has been raised for local good causes so far, equivalent to an annual yield for local good causes of £28,632.

Member Training Programme 2018/19

The 2018/19 Member training programme has come to an end with the close of the municipal year. A number of briefings have taken place throughout the year on the Code of Conduct, the Local Plan, transformation, internal audit, fraud, Cheshunt Lakeside and finance/investment. The number of sessions is broadly in line with previous year’s programmes. Whilst some training or briefing sessions are likely to be of particular benefit to Members who serve on the committee with responsibility for the area to be covered, all training sessions are open to any Member of the Council and all Members are encouraged to participate.

Also, following the roll out of the tablet devices, a number of training sessions have been provided for Members during the year and, if required, one-to-one training can also be arranged to address any particular needs Members have.

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Information Technology and GDPR

Following the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, a review of the Council’s IT security systems was undertaken and additional security measures implemented. These measures will ensure that councillors are better protected against data breaches and that the Council’s data is more secure. The use by councillors of the @broxbourne.gov.uk email accounts is now fully embedded and facilitated by the provision of secure tablet devices to all Members.

In order to continue meeting the requirements of GDPR and the Data Protection Act, Data Protection Champions have been identified in each department who will work with the Council’s Data Protection Officer to periodically review the requirements relevant to their service and create action plans to ensure the Council remains compliant. Jeremy Pearce

TRANSFORMATION AND REGENERATION

Transformation

This is an exciting time for the Council and our customers will be introduced to a new reception area and improved technology later this year. This will allow them to access our services from wherever they are, however they want to and whenever they choose.

It has been a busy five months for the Transformation team. We have appointed the design and build team for the new reception centre which will allow all our customers to be seen in one purpose built, easily accessible space. Building and fitting out the new reception is programmed to start on 7 May and last for approximately eight weeks.

This space will be fitted out with the new hardware technology. This will include a number of self-service terminals to allow customers to transact at their own pace without the need to queue. For customers who are less digitally abled they will be able to be seen by a Customer Service Assistant who will be able to assist them to complete their transaction and our new Helpline service will be able to accommodate more services.

For customers who need a space to speak to a member of staff there will be a number of private meeting rooms which will be particularly useful for Housing Needs and Benefit customers. A number of meeting spaces which are less private with large screens will allow customers to review large amounts of data without the need for paper copies and will be particularly useful for customers wanting to review planning applications.

Over the coming months, the aim is to ensure that most of the Council’s transactions can take place through the website, which at the moment can only accommodate a very small number, many of which are labour intensive. Therefore, a new website is being procured and will be the tool through which all transactions are made, no matter who is creating the transaction; whether it be a customer at home, a customer in the new reception area or a customer services assistant over the phone, each one will be using the same technology.

It will take approximately a year for all services to be fully digital and a significant amount in investment on behalf of the Council but this investment will have a really positive impact for all our customers.

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Town Centre Events and developments

Our successful town centres event programme continues in partnership with a range of partners, including the Love Hoddesdon BID Team. The principal aim is to encourage visitors and shoppers to our town centres to help improve their vibrancy.

During November the annual Hoddesdon Loves Christmas event, a joint arrangement by the Council and Love Hoddesdon BID Team, was a success and was the official event to turn on the festive lighting. Over three days in December both Hoddesdon and Waltham Cross town centres saw 25 schools and one local choir perform in the Festival of Carols and Waltham Cross hosted its own Christmas shopping event on Sunday 8 December. The New Year saw the annual New Year Street Fair in Hoddesdon between 28 December 2018 to 1 January.

March has seen two specialist markets return to the town centres. Hoddesdon hosted the Cultures of the World market on Saturday 23 March and Waltham Cross hosted the International Street Food and Gift market between 14-17 March.

On Wednesday 3 April the Love Hoddesdon BID Team arranged for local schools, organisations and volunteers to be part of the Great British Spring Clean in the town centre which was facilitated by the Council.

Refurbishment of the town square in Waltham Cross is proceeding according to schedule and the start of the laying of the paving began in the week commencing 15 April. Suggestions for the name of the new refurbished square are being discussed with local residents, businesses, schools and through an online poll. David Holliday ______

PLANNING AND REGULATORY COMMITTEE

Planning

Between October and February, 275 planning applications were determined, of which 233 were approved. Eleven appeals were determined by the Planning Inspectorate within the same time period and of those, the Council’s decision was upheld in ten cases.

In November, the Committee considered an application at 171 Crossbrook Street, Cheshunt, which sought planning permission for the conversion and part demolition of the existing Comrades Club to form 14 flats. The planning application had been recommended for approval, but Members were concerned regarding the design and massing of the proposed development, as well as in relation to shortfalls in relation to the Council’s standards for the provision of amenity space and car parking. Accordingly, the application was refused planning permission. The Committee also considered an application for extensions to 53-57 Turners Hill, Cheshunt to provide six additional flats within a second floor and new roof space. Members had concerns in relation to the quality of the design put forward by the Applicant and deferred making a decision to provide the Applicant with opportunity to provide enhanced architectural quality through details such as windows, materials and detailed design of the front façade.

In December, the Committee considered an application for the demolition of the existing Brethren’s Meeting Room in Salisbury Road, Hoddesdon and the erection of a part two and part three storey block of four one bed and eight two bed flats. The application was recommended for approval but Members felt that the proposal would be an

- 9 - overdevelopment of the site. Members considered that the proposed building would have a harmful impact on the street scene, would be harmful to amenities enjoyed by existing neighbouring residents and that there was insufficient provision made for car parking and private amenity space within the development. Planning permission was refused for these reasons. Members also considered an application for residential development to the rear of 180 and 182 Churchgate Road, Cheshunt. That application had been recommended for refusal by officers and Members were in agreement with that decision. Under the Chairmanship of Councillor Holliday, Members also considered an application seeking planning permission for the redevelopment of Cheshunt Football Club in Theobalds Lane to provide a new stadium with associated commercial uses and 163 dwellings. Members felt that when considered against the currently adopted Local Plan, this development failed to demonstrate the necessary Very Special Circumstance to outweigh the in principle harm to the Green Belt. The Committee resolved to refuse permission. Members also supported the officers’ recommendation to refuse planning permission for residential development of Ashfield Nursery, Newgatestreet Road and deferred a planning application by B3 Living for the development of The White House, Cheshunt to seek design amendments to improve the appearance of the proposed building and its relationship with existing neighbouring properties.

In January, the Committee approved an application for the demolition of an existing bungalow and the erection of two detached houses in Hammondstreet Road, Cheshunt and reconsidered an amended scheme for the previously deferred planning application for the redevelopment of The White House. The scheme had been amended such that the concerns of the Committee were addressed and Members resolved to grant planning permission. Planning permission was also granted for the retention of two additional residential caravans at Oakdene, St James’ Road.

In March, the Committee met twice. The first meeting was called as an extraordinary session for the Committee to be able to fully consider the planning application for the Cheshunt Lakeside development at Delamare Road, Cheshunt. The planning application proposes comprehensive redevelopment of lands along Delamare Road between Cadmore Lane and Windmill Lane, totalling 1,853 apartments, a 2FE primary school, up to 19,051sqm commercial/retail floorspace, a new plaza and landscaped open space. Members deferred making a decision on the application seeking additional information from officers and the Applicant in relation to the development. At the second meeting in March, Members considered the replacement of the vacant building at 684a Goffs Lane with eight new flats. Members resolved to grant planning permission in line with officers’ recommendations but considered it necessary to impose additional planning conditions to secure delivery details, parking allocation and the use of composite cladding in preference to natural timber, due to concerns about the appearance of timber over time as it weathers. Outline planning permission was also granted for the erection of 81 new homes at the former Tina Nursery site in Goffs Oak, identified as an allocated housing site in the emerging Local Plan. The Committee also considered applications at adjoining sites at 53- 57 Turners Hill, Cheshunt and 3 Albury Grove Road for residential development. This Committee’s previous concerns relating to design at the Turners Hill site had been addressed and it was felt that both sites would contribute towards realising the Council’s ambitions for the Old Pond District Centre.

Licensing

During 2018/19, there was little change in the total number of licensed premises in the Borough – 253 compared to 252 in the previous year. The majority of licensed premises are supermarkets and off-licences. One public house ceased trading during the year and one premises had its licence revoked by the Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee.

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The total number of licensed taxi and private hire drivers in 2018/19 also remained consistent with the previous year’s totals. At any one time there are around 320 licensed drivers and 250 licensed vehicles. Many drivers carry out executive/chauffeuring work rather than conventional hire and reward service.

The Committee will be receiving its annual report later in the year on these services.

Tony Siracusa

AUDIT AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE

At its March 2019 meeting, the Committee received the details of the outline approach and scope for the audit of the 2018/19 financial statements. This was presented by the Council’s external auditors, EY. The statutory deadline for signing off the 2018/19 statement of accounts is 31 July. The Committee also received the Grant Certification Report for 2017/18.

The Committee approved the 2018/19 Anti-Fraud Plan which was presented by the Hertfordshire Shared Anti-Fraud Service (SAFS). This supports the Council’s Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy.

The Internal Audit Plan for 2019/20 was approved. Mike Iszatt ______

SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

Since the last report in November, the Scrutiny Committee has met four times. Reports related to all Cabinet items continue to be reviewed in advance of Cabinet meetings.

At these meetings, the Committee has received reports on the Council’s Investment Strategy, Brookfield Riverside and the Council’s budget proposals. Members have been able to pass on comments and recommendations to Cabinet for its consideration. The Committee also received presentations on Air Quality, Hertfordshire Waste Partnership and the Digital Innovation Zone.

The Committee’s Future Income Opportunities Panel has had its final meeting since the last Council meeting. At this meeting in February, the Panel looked at the business plans that the Panel had highlighted at the last meeting and after careful consideration decided that a proposal for redeveloping the Burford Street car park to provide residential accommodation and an income for the Council should be referred to the Cabinet for consideration.

Lewis Cocking

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MEMBER CHAMPION FOR YOUTH

It is nearly a year since I was appointed to this role and I have been impressed at the range of events, services and support provided by this Council to the Borough’s young people.

I am particularly delighted to be in this role during the Year of Young People 2019. New projects have included the Young Voices initiative with Grow Cheshunt, that seeks to encourage creativity and community engagement. This ran in the February half-term with 60 attendances and is now being rolled out into a couple of the Borough’s schools. The Council is working with Groundwork on their ‘Kick the Dust futureproof parks” initiative at Cedars Park and Barclay Park that aims to get young people involved in preserving and volunteering at their local parks. Plans are coming together for the Borough’s first youth conference, a project to tackle anti-social cycling in town centres and a project with Herts Young Homeless to support those at risk of homelessness. Young people are also developing a forthcoming exhibition at Lowewood Museum about the cloth making industry in Hertfordshire.

There were 274 nominations received online for the fifth Broxbourne Youth Awards held on the evening of Friday 29 March at The Spotlight. I had the pleasure of shortlisting them along with Cllr Ms Hart, members of the Youth Council and the Council’s Community Development Manager and Youth Development Officer. It was not an easy process as the quality and breadth of the nominations was so high this year. Choosing winners in each category was a challenge as any of the shortlisted candidates could have won. Whilst I was unable to be present at the event itself, it was again a real celebration of young people and their achievements by all accounts. The 350 people attending the Awards Ceremony were rightly impressed by the nominees’ stories. They were also impressed by the performances from St Mary’s High School, the John Warner School and Haileybury Turnford, whilst compere Jeremy Nicholas entertained the audience. The awards would not happen without the sponsorship from Aldwyck Housing Group, CEG, Cheshunt Football Club, Inland Homes, Tesco and County Councillor Dave Hewitt; a big ‘Thank You’ to all of you.

Nonetheless, the awards are just one evening in a year long programme of youth activities. Eleven weekly youth diversionary activities in Hoddesdon, Grundy Park, Waltham Cross, Wormley and West Cheshunt provide positive activities as an alternative to boredom and anti-social behaviour.

For those young people who have fallen into a lifestyle of youth violence, the multi-agency Broxbourne Youth Intervention Programme provides much needed support, including mentoring, careers development, projects to develop self-esteem, parenting support and diversionary activities. Awareness days have been held at four secondary schools providing all pupils with advice on keeping safe. Training has also been provided for teachers and front line workers on spotting the signs of gang involvement. A community awareness evening on 4 March attracted over 250 people.

Holiday hunger was tackled through the Fit & Fed project in Waltham Cross that ran five days each week in the 2018 school summer holidays which saw 552 meals provided. A similar programme ran at Cheshunt Fire Station. It is hoped that further funding will become available to deliver the project throughout the Borough this coming summer.

The Broxbourne Youth Council continues to grow and has representation from all secondary schools. In September, Chris Bakalis was elected as the new Youth Mayor and has engaged with a range of new agencies, including his two chosen charities; the Ollie

- 12 - Foundation and the Talk Education Partnership. They have also campaigned for improvements to local bus services and secured funding for a youth running project to improve both physical and mental health.

Other youth projects this past year have included the annual Mayoral debate for secondary schools, two events at the Lee Valley White Water Centre, an introduction to Paddlesport course, schools engagement ahead of this summer’s Canoe Slalom World Cup, youth diversionary projects at Halloween, the annual Skatecamp and Skatejam and the schools’ contribution to the World War One poppies displays at Cheshunt Old Pond and Hoddesdon Town Centre. Giles Hall

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