Decisions

Background
The Council leases Water Lane House (also known as Stable Block at Hertford Castle) from the Marquess of Salisbury. The current lease expires in December 2026 and the Council will need to consider whether it wishes to continue occupation and renew the lease or give up possession of the building.
The building has 2 floors of accommodation with the ground floor being used by the Council for storage while the first floor has been used by both the Council and various other organisations over the years. For the last 7 years the space has been used as a daytime learning and welfare base for an adult with severe special needs. The Tenant had previously rented a building on a local school site but when they lost this the Council agreed to lease this building to provide a safe place for their adult child. The Council's head lease prohibits any sub-lettings for a profit so the Council is only able to charge a rent that contributes a reasonable proportion towards the costs of maintaining and running the building.
Reason for Decision/Purpose of Report
The sub-lease has expired and terms have been agreed for the grant of a new lease for a further 2 years until November 2026, just before the head lease expires. The Tenant will pay a rent of £7,800 per annum as a reasonable contribution towards the costs of running the building and in addition will be responsible for any outgoings that arise as a result of their occupation of the building. The purpose of this report is to seek formal approval to the grant of this new lease.

The Head of Strategic Finance and Property, acting under authority delegated by paragraph 10.13.16 of the council's Constitution, has decided to grant a new lease for a further 2 years on the terms agreed.

To renew the lease for an existing business tenancy and maintain and increase the revenue income for the Council.

The Head of Strategic Finance and Property, acting under authority delegated by paragraph 10.13.16 of the Council's Constitution has decided to renew the lease for the shop at 19 Birch Green to the existing business tenant and maintain and increase the revenue income for the Council.

The Council previously entered into a deed of covenant in respect of 111 Windmill Way, Much Hadham allowing the Council to nominate tenants to the property as provided for by the Nomination Deed. The property is now being sold by the current owner Orbit Group Ltd. to B3 Living Limited and a condition of the sale is that a new deed of covenant must be entered into by the new owner obliging them to also comply with the Council’s Nomination Deed. The purpose of this report is to seek consent to enter into a new deed of covenant with B3 Living Limited.

The Head of Strategic Finance and Property, acting under authority delegated by paragraph 10.13.16 of the council's Constitution, has decided to
give approval to enter into a deed of covenant with B3 Living Ltd in respect of nomination rights for 111 Windmill Way, Much Hadham.

The road closures are to support public safety during the Christmas Eve carol event on Fair Green, Sawbridgeworth.
The event organiser has provided a risk assessment which will be reviewed by partners of the East Herts Safety Advisory Group.
Emergency access to properties in the roads referred to above will continue to be maintained.
Tommy Clee, Assistant Network Manager, HCC Highways confirmed that no road maintenance has been scheduled during this time.

This decision is being made by the Head of Housing and Health under authority delegated at paragraph 10.16.31 of the council's Constitution 'To determine road closure applications under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847'.

Grant of the following road closure:
To close the following roads to vehicular traffic on 24th December 2024, between 17:45hrs and 19:30hrs, as necessary, to allow the unhindered passage of vehicles and pedestrians involved with the Fair Green Christmas Carols, Sawbridgeworth:
•The Square from the junction with Bell Street, Knights Street and Church Street to an end point of Fair Green, up to the junction with Vantorts Road

At its meeting of 18th January 2023, Council approved the use of UKSPF funds to establish a community chest for hyperlocal environmental sustainability projects.
At the same meeting, Council delegated decision-making on all environmental grants and contracts to the Head of Housing and Health acting in consultation with the Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability.
A grants application for environmental sustainability grants ran from 22nd July 2024 to 16th September 2024.
A total of twenty applications for hyper local carbon reduction grants were received which were assessed using the grants policy approved by Council on 18th October 2023.

Fund the eighteen applications which met the eligibility and assessment criteria. The grant recipients and amounts are as follows:
* Bishop’s Stortford Community Centres - £3,000 – Air Pump Heating System
* Bishop’s Stortford Town Council - £3,000 – Bike Racks
* Burnham Green Village Hall Trust - £2,500 – Smart Heating Controls
* Hertford Heath Village Hall Committee - £2,958 – Replacement Doors
* Hunsdon Village Hall - £3,000 – Insulation and LEDs
* Little Munden Cricket Club - £3,000 – Electric Mower
* Sawbridgeworth Cricket Club - £2,995 – Solar Panels
* Sawbridgeworth Memorial Hall - £2,850 – Door and Bike Racks
* The Company of Players - £2,592 – Retrofit Survey
* Ware Town Council – eight grants for separate projects of a) £2,000 for EV Charging Points, b) £1,500 for Biodiversity Days c) £1,000 for Priory Air Curtain d) £3,000 for Priory TRVs e) £3,000 for Priory Services Schematic f) £1,500 for Thermal Imaging Cameras g) £3,000 for Walking To School Shows h) £3,000 for Fletchers Lea Heat Pump
* Widford Village Hall Management Committee - £2,991 – Upgrade to LEDs

The Council has a contract with LOCATA Housing Services for the provision of a Housing Register, Choice Based Letting and Homeless Service. The current contract was awarded following a procurement exercise with 4 other local Authorities as part of the Herts and Essex Housing Consortium (HEHOC). The current contract expires in January 2026 with no further extensions permitted. The Consortium has considered options for the future provision of these services and has considered with the support of the Chelmsford Procurement Team the early termination of the current contract with LOCATA Housing Services and the re-procurement of the same services, under the HEHOC Consortium umbrella, of a further 3 year contract with LOCATA Housing Services as a direct award from the Crown Commissions Gcloud13 Framework, which has been already been market tested. The Contract start date has been agreed with the Consortium as 14th October 2024, with each local authority having their individual contracts with LHS but still acting under the Consortium to benefit from an economies of scale. The Crown Commissioned Framework is due to be reissued shortly and Gcloud 14 shows a 20% cost uplift on Services provided under the revised Framework.

This decision can be made by the Head of Housing and Health under authority delegated within the council's Constitution at 10.6.1.2(b) regarding Powers in relation to Contracts and Property and officers Responsibility for Functions delegated to the Heads of Service, specifically, under paragraph 10.16.4: To maintain registers and records of those in housing need requiring social or affordable housing and nominate applicants to properties owned by Registered Providers (RPs).

Make a direct award, under the Herts and Essex Housing Consortium to LOCATA Housing Services under GCloud 13.