Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 16th January 2018.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 16th January 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary and other interests in relation to any Agenda item.

No declarations of interest were received.

A copy of the current Notice of Key Executive Decisions is attached. Members are invited to note the Plan and to comment as appropriate on any items contained therein.

The Panel received and noted the current Notice of Key Executive Decisions (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which has been prepared by the Executive Leader for the period 1st March 2018 to 30th June 2018.

Members stated that they would like to be notified if an item comes forward that affects their ward.

(At 7.01pm, during the consideration of this item, Councillor K D Wainwright entered the meeting.)

To receive an update on growth and infrastructure planning and delivery.

With the aid of a report by the Planning Service Manager (Growth) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Growth and Infrastructure Planning Update was presented to the Panel.

In introducing the report, the Executive Councillor for Housing and Planning informed Members that the Growth and Infrastructure Group has been reconstituted and met for the first time on 5th February 2018. The group agreed that they will identify their infrastructure priorities for the coming financial years and make recommendations on how to spend Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding.

A Member raised a concern that the Council could agree to work with a partner who won’t have the resources to identify and then secure the necessary infrastructure. The example given was the Bearscroft development in Godmanchester where the NHS has now confirmed that a medical centre is not required on site, with the Town Council being told that this due to the NHS lacking the resources to adequately staff it.

The Panel raised the issue of the East to West Rail Link and the possibility of the Council lobbying Network Rail to move the passenger interchange closer to St Neots. The Executive Councillor informed Members that the Council is already making the case for an interchange nearer to Huntingdonshire.

A Member stated that residents in the Offords are concerned that the level crossings in the area are to be closed. It was clarified that the Network Rail plan was to close the level crossings and replace them with bridges. The Executive Councillor stated that the Council are already making those representations and will continue to do so.

The Executive Councillor informed the Panel that the Council have been discussing with Town and Parish Councils regarding pooling CIL money in order to spend on strategic infrastructure projects. The Council have started discussions with town clerks at the Town Councils listed in the report and that every six months the Council are required to forward CIL receipts received onto Town and Parish Councils.

Members stated that they would like to receive the CIL spreadsheet.

Members are to receive the work programmes for all Overview and Scrutiny Panels.

With the aid of a report by the Democratic Services Officer (Scrutiny) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Panel reviewed the work programmes for all Overview and Scrutiny Panels since the last meeting.