Issue - meetings

The Panel is to receive the Huntingdonshire Place Strategy Update Report.

Executive Councillor: S Conboy

By means of a report and a presentation by the Assistant Director (Strategic Insights and Delivery) (copies of which are appended in the Minute Book) the Huntingdonshire Place Strategy Update report was presented to the Panel.

Following questions from Councillors Gardener and Cawley, the Panel heard that the Council would be developing its own priorities for the district as it acknowledged that due to working with the County Council, the current plan could not be changed but that the Council could influence future plans. It was also confirmed that local flood groups were not prohibited from applying for funding under the environmental innovation category. It was also acknowledged that although funding was limited, it was also a quick process and alternative funding options were recommended to groups as appropriate.

In response to a question from Councillor Howell on Member involvement, the Panel were advised that this had been hugely successful in giving partners a voice and opportunities to develop this for the future would be investigated and developed.

The Panel were assured, in response to a question from Councillor Martin, that opportunities with health partners were being developed, it was observed that this was a complex field but that the Council aimed to work in conjunction where possible or alternatively in parallel to ensure the best possible outcome for residents. Councillor Martin expressed concern that health partners were unwilling to be influenced by the Council, however the Panel were assured that the development of a Health and Wealth Strategy would address these concerns and would be brought through the democratic cycle in the coming months.

In response to further questions by Councillor Martin and Gardener on the upcoming mayoral elections and how this would affect the CPCA’s transport plans and projects, the Panel were assured that a pipeline of projects had been committed to. The Panel were also assured that the Council was aware of the issues in the delivery of the TING bus service and that concerns had been raised with the CPCA to resolve the matter.

Councillor Martin expressed concern that there was an emphasis on buying and eating locally within the strategy but that there did not appear to be a proportionate focus on farming within the district to deliver these objectives. The Panel were assured that many layers existed within the policy and that farming along with associated innovation and technology was well represented.