Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 16^th December 2004.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 16th December 2004 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider a report by the Head of Financial Services highlighting variations from the approved Capital Programme for 2004/05.

Noted the expected capital savings and revenue impact.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding variations to the approved Capital Programme for 2004/05 and the consequential estimated revenue savings.

RESOLVED

  that the report be received and the variations noted.

To consider a report by the Head of Environment and Transport on the recently published consultation by the Environment Agency on the St Ives and the Hemingfords Flood Alleviation Scheme.

Noted that the Cabinet has re-affirmed their support for the proposed scheme subject to the determination of any unresolved planning or conservation matters.

Noted that the Head of Environment and Transport has been authorised to continue to seek to secure the provision of any pumping installation wholly to the Environment Agency funding without any significant District Council financial input.

Noted that the Head of Environment and Transport has been authorised to convey their views to the Environment Agency.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Environment and Transport (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining the Environment Agency’s “preferred option consultation” in respect of the proposed St Ives and the Hemingfords Flood Alleviation Scheme.  The scheme would provide protection against a 1 in 100 year flood event to substantial areas of St Ives, Hemingford Grey, Hemingford Abbots and the Greenfields area of the Fenstanton Parish.  In total it was anticipated that some 1,600 houses would benefit from the scheme.

Executive Councillors were reminded that at the meeting of the Cabinet held on 15th July 2004, the outcome of a study by the Agency on flooding in Hemingford Grey in 1998 and 2001 had been reported and support obtained in principle for the measures proposed.  However, it had been agreed that no contribution should be made by the Council towards the capital cost and ongoing maintenance and operation of the scheme.

Having been assured that the scheme had been designed in such a way to avoid flooding of the Dolphin, Old Mill and other adjacent premises, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)that, subject to the determination of any unresolved planning or conservation matters, Cabinet re-affirm its support for the proposed scheme;

  (b)that the Head of Environment and Transport be authorised to continue to secure the provision of any pumping installation wholly through Environment Agency funding and without any significant District Council financial input; and

  (c)that the Head of Environment and Transport be authorised to convey the views of the Cabinet to the Environment Agency.

To consider a report by the Head of Environment and Transport on the current position of the waste and recycling service in response to the submission of a petition to Council at its meeting held on 8^th December 2004.

Noted that the will Council continue to roll out the new waste and recycling services across the District based on the alternating weekly collection.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Environment and Transport (a copy of which is appended to the Minute Book), the Cabinet were acquainted with a petition referred from full Council in support of a request to return to a weekly collection of refuse in the District without any additional cost to Huntingdonshire Council taxpayers.

In noting the implications of the request in terms of the EU Landfill Directive, together with local and regional targets for waste minimisation and recycling, Executive Councillors also were acquainted with cost, operational, health and safety and other considerations associated with the possible return to weekly collection arrangements.  The Executive Councillor for Waste Management and Streetscene also referred to the success of the Council’s roll-out of arrangements for the collection of household waste and green and dry recyclable materials.  Whereupon and having reviewed extensively the issues involved, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the Council continue to roll-out the new waste and recycling service across the District based on alternating weekly collections.

To receive a report of the meeting of the District Council Headquarters and Other Office Accommodation Members’ Advisory Group held on 21^st December 2004.

In respect of the cost of commissioning further design work for Council’s headquarters noted a supplementary revenue estimate was no longer required and costing would be funded from existing budgetary resources.

A report by the District Council’s Headquarters and Other Office Accommodation Members’ Advisory Group held on 21st December 2004 (a copy of which is appended to the Minute Book) was received and noted.  In respect of commissioning further design work for new Council’s headquarters the Cabinet was informed that the estimated cost of £30,000 would be met from existing budgets and that a supplementary revenue estimate would no longer be required.

RESOLVED

that the public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains exempt information relating to particular employees and terms proposed for the disposal of property.

RESOLVED

  that the public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains exempt information relating to terms proposed for the disposal of land and to Council employees.

To consider a report by the Head of Legal & Estates and the Head of Housing Services on tenders received for the sale of land at Parkway, Hinchingbrooke.

Accepted the offer received from from Barratt Homes (Option2) and that further consideration of funding for the Affordable Housing element of the scheme be deferred for consideration in conjunction with the MTP.

Consideration was given to a joint report by the Heads of Legal and Estates and of Housing Services (a copy of which is appended in the Annex to the Minute Book) regarding terms proposed for the disposal of land at Parkway, Hinchingbrooke.

RESOLVED

(a) that offer no. 2 submitted by Barratt Homes Northampton as outlined in Appendix A to the report now submitted be accepted; and

  (b)that further consideration of funding for the affordable housing element of the scheme be deferred for future consideration in conjunction with the Medium Term Plan.

To consider a report by the Head of Community Services on the implementation of proposals previously agreed to create a Business Generation Team operating in the Council’s Leisure Centres Service.

The Chairman announced that due to unforeseen circumstances, the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery and Resources) would be considering this matter at their meeting to be held on 1st February 2005 and that the item should be deferred until after this time.

It was

RESOLVED

  that consideration of the report by the Head of Community Services on this matter be deferred pending the outcome of deliberations on the matter by the Service Delivery and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Panel.