Agenda and decisions

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 2026.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary, other registerable and non-registerable interests in relation to any Agenda item. See Notes below.

To receive a report seeking approval to sign the Huntingdonshire District Council Armed Forces Covenant, ensuring   compliance with statutory duties and alignment with current best practice.

The Cabinet has

a)  approved the Huntingdonshire District Council Armed Forces Covenant, superseding the previous Covenant;

b)  agreed that the Council continues to embed Armed Forces Covenant principles across relevant policies, services, and employment practices, where appropriate and proportionate;

c)  agreed that a member of Senior Leadership acts as strategic sponsor, and that the Council’s appointed Armed Forces Champion acts as Chair of the Armed Forces Covenant Working Group, to support effective coordination and governance; and

d)  agreed that an annual progress report on delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant Action Plan is presented to the Overview and Scrutiny (Environment, Communities and Partnerships) Panel to provide assurance, transparency and ongoing oversight.

To receive a report inviting the Cabinet to consider recommendations relating to infrastructure projects seeking funding of £100,001 or more in whole or in part from an amount of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) monies.

The Cabinet has

a)  noted the updates on delivery in relation to the projects previously allocated or in receipt of CIL funding commitments (see Appendix 1);

b)  noted any new allocated CIL projects for £100,000.00 or less approved by delegation on 5th February 2026 (see Appendix 2);

c)  noted the project to be approved in accordance with Stage 2 CIL governance review with the level of funding to be agreed in line with delegated authority as stated at para 2.5 of this report;

d)  agreed officer recommendations at Paragraph 4.3 to APPROVE funding for 3 Padel Courts in Huntingdon;

e)  agreed officer recommendations at Paragraph 4.4 to APPROVE funding for a construction skills workshop in Huntingdon;

f)  agreed officer recommendations at Paragraph 4.5 to APPROVE funding for enhancements and improvements to Paxton Pits;

g)  agreed officer recommendations at Paragraph 4.6 to APPROVE funding for relocation of the 6^th form college at Abbey College in Ramsey;

h)  agreed officer recommendation at Paragraph 4.7 to APPROVE funding for reconfiguration and refurbishment of the fire station in St Ives;

i)  agreed officer recommendation at Paragraph 4.8 to APPROVE funding for the SAPHIRE new constructional skills centre in St Neots;

k)  agreed officer recommendations at Paragraph 4.10 to APPROVE funding for the increase of two classrooms for Warboys Primary Academy;

l)  agreed officer recommendation at Paragraph 4.11 to APPROVE an extension of time for Wheatsheaf Road; and

m)  agreed to

(1)  support the principle of the allocation of CIL funding towards a youth centre in St Neots;

(2)  support in principle the allocation being for a maximum of £500k;

(3)  a CIL funding award being made, based on (1) and (2), subject to:

(a)  securing ownership or arrangements to acquire the building, or a suitable alternative;

(b)  securing planning permission and any other necessary consents to facilitate the works needed to facilitate the youth centre;

(c)  securing a full commitment from the Town Council towards the proposed scheme; including the identification of and provision of necessary match funding and longer-term funding to ensure the proposal is viable now and in the future;

(d)  the provision of additional information for the scheme to satisfy outstanding concerns such as choice of location, impact on the town centre vitality, assessment of provision of existing and future youth and community spaces, and demonstrate long term viability of the proposal;

(e)  sufficient information and clarification being presented to Officers to demonstrate satisfactory compliance with all other aspects of our established CIL governance;

(f)  all matters being resolved within a period of 6 months (which may be extended by agreement); and

(4)  delegated authority for the final decision to the Head of Planning, Infrastructure & Public Protection in consultation with the Corporate Director (Place), Leader, Executive Councillor for Finance, and Executive Councillor for Planning to approve a CIL funding award for this project and determine the final level of CIL funding to be awarded.

To receive a report presenting the Draft Empty Homes Strategy 2026-2031 for consideration.

The Cabinet has

(1)  considered and approved the Draft Empty Homes Strategy 2026-2031 (Appendix 1); and

(2)  delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Place and the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources (S151 Officer) in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Economy, Regeneration and Housing and Executive Councillor for Resident Services and Corporate Performance to initiate and progress enforcement action against the owners of long-term empty properties where:

·  the property is causing blight, nuisance or negative community impact;

·  the owner has failed to engage with the Council despite reasonable attempts to contact them; and

·  no credible plan has been provided to bring the property back into use within a reasonable timeframe.

To receive a report briefing and seeking endorsement on the work undertaken by Officers and T3, an external consultancy in the development of a new Parks & Open Spaces – Commercial Sustainability Plan.

The Cabinet has

1)  endorsed the principles put forward in the T3 Commercial Opportunities Report (Appendix 1), which will be adopted in seeking to support activities to reduce the costs of the service to the Council and provide a commercially sustainable approach for the service; and which will continue to contribute to the Councils wider strategies and outcomes for the District;

2)  supported the principles set out can be used in connection with the identified sites, but also applied  in relation to other sites which the Council is or may become responsible for; including those falling within the remit of the Head of Leisure, Health and Environment to support wildlife and conservation, health and wellbeing, physical activity and the introduction of new commercial opportunities;

3)  approved the outline recommendations put forward by T3 Commercial Opportunities Report (Appendix 1), by external consultants, the proposed Phase 1 capital investment plan and wider direction of travel as outlined within this report;

4)  approved the proposed Phase 1 programme of investment utilising the capital bids (£1m) which have been included within the 26/27 budget; and which have subsequently been agreed as part of the Councils Capital Programme;

5)  acknowledged and supported that the Head of Leisure, Health & Environment continue to develop plans for Phase 2 and will submit capitals bids as part of the 27/28 budget setting process – or earlier if possible and supported by the Corporate Director (Finance and Resources) and Section 151 Officer; and

6)  delegated authority to the Head of Leisure, Health & Environment all necessary activities required to deliver the capital expenditure plan (Phase 1), and within the agreed budgets enable the development, finalisation and delivery of new programmes, events and attractions which align with the principles agreed, and which will contribute to the commercially sustainable approach agreed. 

To receive a report presenting the Council’s progress against the Corporate Plan Actions and Corporate Performance Indicators during Quarter 3 (October to December 2025).

The Cabinet has considered and commented on progress and performance during Quarter 3, as summarised in the Corporate Performance Report attached and detailed in Appendices A,B,C and D.

a)  To review the membership of the Hinchingbrooke Country Park Joint Group in light of changes to the representation of political groups.

Current membership comprises; Councillors M L Beuttell, C A Lowe, J E Kerr, and D J Shaw.

b)  To review the membership of the Local Plan Advisory Group in light of changes to the representation of political groups.

Current membership comprises; CouncillorsE Butler, K Gulson, J Neish, T Sanderson, M Hassall, D Dew and C Gleadow.

c)  To review the membership of the Member Development Working Group in light of changes to the representation of political groups.

Current membership comprises; Councillors T Alban, C Lowe, T Sanderson, S Ferguson, J Harvey and S Wakeford.

d)  To review the Membership of the One Leisure Huntingdon Advisory Group in light of changes to the representation of political groups.

Current Membership comprises; Councillors S Bywater, S Cawley, D Keane, S Taylor, S Howell, N Hunt and C Gleadow.

To resolve –

that the press and public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

To receive a report providing information relating to the historical commissioning of the current grant agreements with CARC and Support Cambridgeshire which are due to expire on 31st March 2026, and requesting that new agreements be issued for 3 years commencing on 1st April 2026.

The Cabinet has approved the recommendations of the exempt report now submitted.