Issue - meetings

Councillor I C Bates, the Leader of the Council and Chairman of the Cabinet presented the Report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 19th November 2009.

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In connection with Item No. 42, Councillor T V Rogers, Executive Councillor for Finance, reaffirmed the decision of the Cabinet to review the level of expenditure proposed for Huntingdon Bus Station as requested by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) and advised Members, that together with the Director of Commerce and Technology, he had presented the Council’s budgetary position at meetings held recently with representatives of the five Town Councils in the District.

In presenting the draft Budget and Medium Term Plan (MTP), Councillor Rogers reminded Members of the Council’s current financial position which had involved the use of revenue reserves in 2008/9 to meet the deficit between income and expenditure.  As these reserves would continue to reduce to approximately £11 million by 2011, Councillor Rogers drew attention to the Council’s decision to embark upon a strategy to identify savings of £500,000 in 2010/11 and further reductions in subsequent years.  Key elements of the approach taken by the Cabinet in the preparation of the budget were described to the Council.  At the same time Councillor Rogers made it clear that there were a number of uncertainties remaining which might require changes to be made to the budget before its final approval at the Council meeting in February 2010.  Councillor Rogers commended the recommendations of the Cabinet on the draft Budget and MTP 2010 – 2015 to the Council.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor P J Downes, acknowledged the contribution made by the Overview and Scrutiny Panels to the budgetary process and suggested that the District Council had found itself in a difficult financial position for five reasons.  These were the external influence of the recession, local government financial technicalities that had disadvantaged the authority, the loss of interest from the use of reserves, the imposition of capping on tax levels and the probable reduction in public expenditure by Government.  In his view, the Council had to consider seriously the prospect of shared services and the opportunities which might arise from the “Making Cambridgeshire Count” exercise.

On the same subject Councillor I C Bates, Leader of the Council, contended that the Council Tax charge for a Band D property still represented good value for money and that the District Council continued to provide excellent services.  He added that the authority would seek to work increasingly with partners to reduce expenditure and pursue the possibility, where appropriate, to share services.

On the same subject and in response to questions from Councillor M F Shellens on the possibility of the District Council caretaking/investing Parish Councils’ funds to maximise interest which could be generated from reserves, Councillor Rogers replied that he would seek the advice of the Director of Commerce and Technology and respond to the questioner in writing.

Whereupon, having been moved and seconded and put to the vote, the recommendation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Planning Services, to consider the contents of the Huntingdon West Area Action Plan.

Endorsed the contents of the Huntingdon West Area Action Plan for submission to full Council for approval; authorised the Head of Planning Services, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy, to make any minor textual amendments to the documents and to approve the Statement of Consultation, Sustainability Appraisal, Habitat Regulations Assessment and Equality Impact Assessment prior to their publication and to complete the final submission for the Huntingdon West Area Action Plan and associated documents including a summary of the main issues raised in final representations and submission to the Secretary of State.

Further to Minute No. 09/146 and by way of a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the content of the proposed submission document for the Huntingdon West Area Action Plan along with the responses received on the proposals set out in a Statement of Consultation.  Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the contents of the report be noted and the draft proposed submission document for the Huntingdon West Area Action Plan submitted to full Council for approval;

  (b)  that the Head of Planning Services be authorised, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy, to make any minor textual amendments to the documents and to approve the Statement of Consultation, Sustainability Appraisal, Habitat Regulations Assessment and Equality Impact Assessment prior to their publication; and

  (c)  that the Head of Planning Services be authorised, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy, to complete the final submission for the Huntingdon West Area Action Plan and associated documents including a summary of the main issues raised in final representations and submission to the Secretary of State.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services on the contents of the Huntingdon West Area Action Plan.

(Councillor D B Dew, Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport and Councillor T D Sanderson, Ward Councillor, were in attendance for this item).

The Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport introduced a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the draft proposed submission Huntingdon West Area Action Plan. 

Although the Panel welcomed the proposals for the redevelopment and regeneration of the area, a number of Members remained sceptical over the highway implications of the proposals.  In response, the Panel was informed that the modelling for the link road had taken into account the proposals for development and the Highways Authority were satisfied that the proposed level of growth was sustainable. 

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be advised that the Panel have no specific comments on the Huntingdon West Area Action Plan submission document to bring to its attention.