Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Cabinet placed on record its appreciation of the services of Mr R L Clarke, formerly District Councillor for the Little Paxton Ward and Executive Councillor for Waste Management and Streetscene and wished him well in the future. 

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 17th March 2005.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 17th March 2005 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider a report by the Head of Policy on the second Local Public Service Agreement in Cambridgeshire and the arrangements for the Council’s participation in the project.

The Chief Executive, after consultation with the Leader, was authorised to enter into a partnership agreement relating to a Local Public Service Agreement for Cambridgeshire.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Policy (a copy of which is appended in the Minute book) the Cabinet was acquainted with the background to and terms of a second Local Public Service Agreement in Cambridgeshire. Having noted details of the District Council’s involvement and discussed the allocation of the funding involved, it was

RESOLVED

that the Chief Executive, after consultation with the Leader, be authorised to enter into a partnership agreement relating to a Local Public Service Agreement for Cambridgeshire.

To consider a report by the Director of Commerce and Technology on proposals for submission of the Council’s first Annual Efficiency Statement to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

The report by the Director of Commerce and Technology wasreceived and noted.

The analysis of anticipated efficiency savings et out in the Annual Efficiency Statement at Annex B to the report was noted.

The Director of Commerce and Technology, after consultation with the Leader and the Chief Executive, was authorised to submit the Annual Efficiency Statement to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on or before 15^th April 2005.

The Cabinet received a report by the Director of Commerce and Technology (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) giving details of a new requirement for the Council to produce an Annual Efficiency Statement for submission to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Having noted the scope for savings to be made and the timetable for submission of the Statement, it was

RESOLVED

(a)  that the analysis of anticipated efficiency savings as set out at Annex B to the report now submitted be noted; and

(b)  that the Director of Commerce and Technology, after consultation with the Leader and the Chief Executive, be authorised to submit the Annual Efficiency Statement to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services on the consultation paper “Planning for Mixed Communities” published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Head of Planning Services, after consultation with the Executive Member for Planning Strategy, was authorised to make representations to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister based on the comments made in the report now submitted subject to an amendment to the final bullet point in paragraph 4.1 to refer to the Council’s concern that without there being a policy to which refusal of planning permission can be linked it is likely to be impossible for planning permission to be refused.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet was acquainted with the contents of a consultation paper issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister entitled ‘’Planning for Mixed Communities’’ and the general terms of a suggested response. With regard to the latter and following discussion it was agreed that the final bullet point of paragraph 4.1 to the report now submitted should be strengthened to refer to the Council’s concern that without the necessary local development framework, it would be impossible to achieve the suggested sanction of refusing planning permission should a development proposal not adequately meet the objective of ensuring a mixed community. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the Head of Planning Services, after consultation with the Executive Member for Planning Strategy, be authorised to make representations to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister based on the representations suggested in the report now submitted as amended to reflect the text of the preamble hereto.

By way of a report by the Head of Financial Services to consider the release of funds for MTP schemes

Funding was released for a Vehicle Replacement Programme, an Older People’s Village Warden Scheme, Discretionary Repair Loans/Grants and Disabled Facilities Grants, which are included in the Council’s MTP.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered requests for the release of funding for MTP schemes.

Having considered the schemes involved, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the relevant funding be released for a vehicle replacement programme, an older people’s village warden scheme, discretionary repair loans/grants and disabled facilities grants, as included in the Council’s MTP.

To consider a report by the Head of Environment and Transport on suggested procurement arrangements for the Council’s future office and other accommodation requirements.

It was agreed to publish a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities and place an advertisement in the Estates Gazette seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified developers to procure a new headquarters building and other accommodation.

The Chief Executive, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, was authorised to determine a list of not more than six tenderers from the responses to the initial contract notice.

The requirement for the Cabinet to approve the output specifications for the new buildings/premises before tenders are issued in June 2005 was noted.

The Chief Executive, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, was authorised to develop and approve detailed tender evaluation criteria having regard to the issues listed at paragraph 2.5 to the report submitted.

The Chief Executive was authorised to obtain independent valuations of the Pathfinder House/Castle Hill Site and of the Godmanchester Depot site such that realisable values can be used in the tender evaluation exercise.

The Chief Executive, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, was authorised to complete an initial evaluation of tenders received and report thereon to the meeting of the Council on 28th September 2005.

The intention to submit a request to the September meeting of the Council to take a decision on the project based on an initial evaluation of tenders received was noted.

The Chief Executive was authorised to enter post-tender clarifications with two or more tenderers leading to the submission of best and final Officers.

Pursuant to Minute No 04/161, and by way of a report by the Head of Environment and Transport (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered proposals for the procurement of a replacement Council Headquarters and other accommodation. Having being acquainted with the requirements of European Union procurement regulations, it was

RESOLVED

(a)    that a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities be published and an advertisement placed in the Estates Gazette seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified developers;

(b)    that the Chief Executive, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to determine a list of not more than six tenderers from the responses to the initial contract notice;

(c)    that the requirement for the Cabinet to approve output specifications for the new buildings/premises before tenders are issued in June 2005 be noted;

(d)    that the Chief Executive, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to develop and approve detailed tender evaluation criteria having regard to the issues listed at paragraph 2.5 to the report now submitted;

(e)    that the Chief Executive be authorised to obtain independent valuations of the Pathfinder House/Castle Hill Site and of the Godmanchester Depot site such that realisable values can be used in the tender evaluation exercise;

(f)    that the Chief Executive, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to complete an initial evaluation of tenders received and report thereon to the meeting of the Council on 28th September 2005;

(g)    that the intention to submit a request to the September meeting of the Council to take a decision on the project based on an initial evaluation of tenders received be noted; and

(h)    that the Chief Executive be authorised to enter into post-tender clarification with two or more tenderers leading to the submission of best and final offers.