Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 7^th April 2005.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 7^th April 2005 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider a report updating the Cabinet on changes to services for children and young people and seeking endorsement of the Children and Young People’s Interim Plan, 2005-2006.

Accepted the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery & Resources) and endorsed the Children and Young People’s Interim Plan 2005 – 2006.

(Councillor I C Bates declared a personal interest in the following matter by virtue of his membership of Cambridgeshire County Council).

By way of a report by the Chief Executive (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with recent legislative and policy changes in the provision of services for children and younger people, together with the content of the Children and Young People’s Interim Plan which had been produced by the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership for 2005-06.

Members were informed that Government guidance was expected on the preparation of Statutory Plans from 1st April 2006. However, in the meantime the Partnership had produced this interim plan to provide direction to those agencies involved.

Having endorsed the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery & Resources) on the matter, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the Children and Young People’s Interim Plan 2005-06 as appended to the report now submitted be approved.

To consider the adoption of a Communications and Consultation Strategy with associated action plan for the Council.

Agreed to adopt the Communications and Consultation Strategy and associated action plan.

By way of a report by the Head of Policy (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the content of a revised Communications and Consultation Strategy for the Council, together with an associated action plan.  The revised strategy was intended to provide a framework for the Council’s corporate communications on a structured and consistent basis, whilst the action plan set out some of the key activities that would help achieve the outcomes in the strategy and contribute to the Council’s wider priorities.

Having noted that the Strategy incorporated textual amendments suggested by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery & Resources) and that the Panel would monitor performance targets and measures, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the revised Communications and Consultation Strategy, together with the associated action plan be adopted.

To consider a draft Urban Design Framework for West of Stukeley Road, Huntingdon and to approve it as a basis for consultation and further discussion.

Approved the Urban Design Framework  as a basis for further discussion and

consultation.

A report by the Head of Planning Services was submitted  (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was attached a draft Urban Design Framework for land to the west of Stukeley Road, Huntingdon.

RESOLVED

  that the Urban Design Framework be approved as a basis for further discussion and consultation.

To consider a report by the Head of Administration detailing the public consultation on the future provision of primary care services in Little Paxton.

Agreed to respond to the Huntingdonshire Primary Care Trust’s consultation and in doing so, express their support for the opening of a branch surgery in Little Paxton run from a larger practice based elsewhere, together with in-house pharmacy. The response should emphasise that complete closure would be detrimental to the population of Little Paxton.

(Councillor Mrs D C Reynolds declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the following matter by virtue of her employment by Huntingdonshire Primary Care Trust and left the meeting for the duration of the discussion and voting thereon.)

(Councillor Mrs P J Longford declared a personal interest in the following matter by virtue of her membership of the Patient and Public Involvement Group.)

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the details of a consultation being undertaken by Huntingdonshire Primary Care Trust on the future provision of primary care services to the residents of Little Paxton.

Having considered the options suggested in the consultation paper, and having concluded that the loss of primary care services would be detrimental to the local residents, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the Huntingdonshire Primary Care Trust be informed of the Council’s deep concern with regard to any suggestion that primary care services will be withdrawn from Little Paxton and their support for Option 2 outlined in the consultation namely the establishment of a branch surgery in the village, together with an in-house pharmacy.

To consider a report by the Head of Environment and Transport on funding arrangements to facilitate arrangements for dealing with civil emergencies.

Agreed to support in principle an expansion of the County Council’s Civil Protection Unit and authorised an annual contribution of £23,000 to the County Council from 2005/06 to 2007/08.

Approved a supplementary estimate of not more that £23,000 in 2005/06 pro rate to the period during which the County Council employ its additional staff and noted that an unavoidable MTP bid would be made in respect of £23,000 (at 2005/06 prices) in each of 2006/07 and 2007/08.

(Councillor I C Bates declared a personal interest in the following matter by virtue of his membership of Cambridgeshire County Council.)

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Environment & Transport (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the service requirements and funding implications required to facilitate the implementation of duties under the Civil Contingencies Act.

Having been acquainted with a proposal to expand the County Council’s Civil Protection Unit and establish a Joint Agency Team to take forward work on the Community Risk Register and having noted that the District Council’s support would be provided on the understanding that any financial contributions would be reviewed in October 2006, to enable consideration to be given to the Councils future involvement after March 2008, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the principle of an expansion of the County Council’s Civil Protection Unit be supported;

(b)  that an annual contribution of £23,000 be made to the County Council to support the arrangements referred to in the preceding resolution in the period 2005/06 to 2007/08;

(c)  that a supplementary capital estimate of £23,000 in 2005/06 pro rata to the period during which the County Council employ its additional staff be approved; and

(d)  that the unavoidable MTP bid of £23,000 (at 2005/06 prices) in each of 2006/07 and 2007/08 be noted.

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

Noted the monitoring statement and the reported variations and their estimated capital and revenue impact.

Approved supplementary capital estimates of £214,000 and £800,000 as outlined in paragraph 2.3 and their financing from capital receipts and noted the corresponding revenue savings also referred to in paragraph 2.3.

(The Chairman announced that he proposed to admit an amended report as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100 B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972 in light of the need to correct information in an earlier version of the report).

By means of a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) and having been acquainted with variations in the Capital Programme in the current year, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the report be received and the expenditure variations noted;

(b)  that the estimated capital and revenue impact also be noted; and

(c)  that supplementary capital estimates of £214,000 and £800,000, as outlined in paragraph 2.3 and their financing from capital receipts be approved; and

(d)  that the corresponding revenue savings also referred to in paragraph 2.3 be noted.

To note a summary by the Head of Revenue Services of debts written off during the quarter ended 31 March 2005.

Noted the summary of debts written off during the quarter ended 31^st March 2005 and during the 2004/05 financial year.

The Cabinet received and noted a report by the Head of Revenue Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) summarising debts which had been written off during the quarter January – March 2005, the cumulative total for the 2004/05 financial year, and a comparison with the previous year.

To resolve:-

That the public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains exempt information relating to terms proposed in the course of negotiations for the supply of services.

RESOLVED

that the public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contained exempt information relating to terms proposed in the course of negotiations for the supply of services to the Council.

To consider a report by the Director of Operational Services seeking approval for the transfer of consultancy work.

Approved the appointment of CB Richard Ellis in a consultancy capacity for Huntingdon town centre developments for the Council.

The Cabinet considered a report by the Head of Environment and Transport (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) requesting approval for the transfer of consultancy work to a new company for the provision of specialist advice in relation to future development in Huntingdon Town Centre.

RESOLVED

that within the budgetary constraints referred to in paragraph 3.2 of the report now submitted, CB Richard Ellis be appointed to advise the District Council in relation to future proposals for the development of Huntingdon town centre.