Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 27th May 2004.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 27th May 2004 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To appoint Members to hold responsibility for executive powers and duties determined by the Leader:-

The following portfolios were approved by the Cabinet in May 2003 –

¨  Environment

¨  Finance

¨  Planning Strategy

¨  Leisure

¨  Resources, Welfare and Information Technology

¨  Service Delivery; and

¨  Housing Strategy

Responsibility for matters associated with the local economy, town centre management, Pathfinder House and the strategic overview of personnel issues were reserved to the Leader.  The Leader was appointed ex-officio Member of the Employment Panel.

Those Members appointed as Executive Councillors for Planning Strategy and Resources, Welfare and Information Technology were also appointed ex-officio Members of the Licensing and Protection and Development Control Panels. 

RESOLVED

  a)  that executive responsibilities for the Municipal Year 2004/05 be allocated as follows –

¨  Finance – Councillor T V Rogers

¨  Housing and Young People – Councillor Mrs P J Longford

¨  Leisure – Councillor Mrs J Chandler

¨  Planning Strategy – Councillor N J Guyatt

¨  Public Health and Safety – Councillor Mrs D C Reynolds

¨  Resources, Welfare and Information Technology – Councillor L M Simpson

¨  Waste Management and Street Scene – Councillor R L Clarke

  (b)  that executive responsibility for issues associated with the local economy, including town centre management; Pathfinder House and the strategic overview of personnel issues be reserved to the Leader of the Council, and

  (c)  that Executive Councillors be appointed to serve as ex-Officio Members of Panels as follows –

To appoint Members to serve on the following Leisure Centre Management Committees –

¨  Huntingdon Leisure Centre Management Committee (6)

¨  St Neots Leisure Centre Management Committee (5)

¨  St Ivo Leisure Centre Management Committee (6)

¨  Ramsey Leisure Centre Management Committee (5)

¨  Sawtry Leisure Centre Management Committee (5)

The Local Government Act, 2000 requires the appointment of a minimum of one Cabinet Member to Leisure Centre Management Committees.  Any non-Cabinet Members appointed are required to represent wards within the catchment area of the relevant Centre.  The political balance requirements do not apply.

RESOLVED 

  that for the Municipal Year 2004/05, Members be appointed to serve on the Leisure Management Committees as follows –

¨  Huntingdon Leisure Centre Management Committee

  Councillors Mrs J Chandler, J J Dutton, J D Fell, C R Hyams, T D Sanderson,and Mrs S A Menczer

¨  St Neots Leisure Centre Management Committee

Councillors Mrs B E Boddington, Mrs J Chandler, Mrs K P Gregory, Mrs P J Longford and I P Taylor

¨  St Ivo Leisure Centre Management Committee

Councillors J D Ablewhite, I C Bates, J T Bell, Mrs J Chandler S J Criswell and C J Stephens

¨  Ramsey Leisure Centre Management Committee

Councillors E R Butler, Mrs J Chandler, I R Muir, P A Swales and R Powell

¨  Sawtry Leisure Centre Management Committee

Councillors Mrs M Banerjee, Mrs J Chandler P G Mitchell, J S Watt and J E Garner.

To appoint four Members to serve on the Hinchingbrooke Country Park Joint Liaison Group.

RESOLVED

  that Councillors Mrs M Banerjee, Mrs J Chandler, J D Fell and M G Baker be appointed to serve on the Hinchingbrooke Park Joint Liaison Group for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To appoint six Members to serve on the Huntingdonshire Environment and Transport Area Joint Committee.

The 2000 Act requires the appointment of a minimum of one Cabinet Member to the Joint Committee.  At their meeting held on 24th April 2002 the Council authorised the relevant Executive Councillor to discharge those executive functions delegated to the Joint Committee by the Cabinet.  Other Members may be appointed to the Joint Committee but the political balance requirements do not apply.

RESOLVED

  that Councillors N J Guyatt, Mrs P J Longford M F Newman, K Reynolds, T D Sanderson and D A Giles be appointed to serve on the Huntingdonshire Environment and Transport Area Joint Committee for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To appoint seven Members to serve on the Advisory Group.

A sub-group of the Cabinet that is exercising any decision making powers delegated to it by the Cabinet must include only Cabinet Members.  Those whose terms of reference are merely advisory can include non Cabinet Members.  Proportionality requirements do not apply to any sub-groups or Committees to which the Cabinet may appoint.

RESOLVED

  that Councillors I C Bates, W T Clough, P J Downes, P L E Bucknall, D P Holley, K Reynolds and T V Rogers be appointed to serve on the District Council Headquarters and Other Accommodation – Members Advisory Group for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To appoint seven Members to serve on the Development Plan Policy Advisory Group.

RESOLVED

  that Councillors I C Bates, W T Clough, P J Downes, N G Guyatt, P G Mitchell, J M Sadler and P A Swales be appointed to serve on the Development Plan Policy Advisory Group for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To appoint seven Members to serve on the Advisory Group.

RESOLVED

  that Councillors M G Baker, J T Bell, J D Fell, T V Rogers, L M Simpson and G S E Thorpe be appointed to serve on the Customer First Advisory Panel for the ensuing Municipal Year.

(a)  To appoint five Members to serve on the Advisory Group.

(b)  To receive a report of the meeting of the Advisory Group held on 19^th May 2004.

(i)  Membership

  RESOLVED

  that Councillors Mrs D E Collins, J W Davies, A Hansard, K Reynolds and L M Simpson be appointed to serve on the Safety Advisory Group for the ensuing Municipal Year.

(ii)  Meeting – 19th May 2004

  The report of the meeting of the Safety Advisory Group held on 19th May 2004 was received and noted.

To consider the content of the Annual Progress Report on the delivery of the Cambridgeshire Local Transport Plan.  Report by the Director of Operational Services enclosed.

The Cambridgeshire Local Transport Plan Annual Progress Report and Huntingdonshire Statement were approved.

The Director of Operational Services, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning and Highways, was authorised to make minor amendments to the Annual Progress Report and to the Huntingdonshire Statement.

A report by the Director of Operational Services was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) inviting the Cabinet to consider the content of the Annual Progress Report on the delivery of the Cambridgeshire Transport Plan, which had been prepared in conjunction with the County Council together with a statement specific to Huntingdonshire.

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the Cambridgeshire Local Transport Plan Annual Progress Report and Huntingdonshire Statement be approved and

  (b)  that, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning and Highways, the Director of Operational Services be authorised to make minor amendments to the Annual Progress Report and to the Huntingdonshire Statement.

To consider a report by the Development and Community Manager on progress in developing the Council’s Travel Plan.

The progress of the Council’s revised Travel Plan was noted.

The revised draft Travel Plan was requested for a meeting of the Cabinet in September 2004.

By way of a report by the Development and Community Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with progress with the development of the Council’s revised Travel Plan.  On the understanding that all of the Council’s places of employment would be included in the Plan, it was

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the progress of the Council’s revised Travel Plan be noted,and

  (b)  that the revised draft Travel Plan be presented to Cabinet in September 2004.

To receive a joint report by the Heads of Community Services and of Planning on developments involving the St. Neots Leisure Centre and Ernulf Community School Site, Barford Road, St. Neots.

The proposed development and presentation of a master plan for the future use of St Neots Leisure Centre and Ernulf Community School site on Barford Road, St Neots it and the surrounding areas was endorsed

The submission to a future meeting of a business plan evaluating the financial implications of delivering a range of leisure and school facilities from the site was requested.

A joint report by the Heads of Community Services and of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) was submitted, which summarised the outcomes of meetings between parties interested in the proposed development of a Youth and Community Performing Arts Centre at the St Neots Leisure Centre and Ernulf Community School site at Barford Road, St Neots.  Having noted the proposals to develop a master plan for the future land use of the site and the surrounding areas, Members recognised the need for this exercise to be undertaken in parallel with the preparation of a business plan which, inter alia, would evaluate the financial implications for delivering a range of leisure–school facilities from the site.  Whereupon it was

RESOLVED

  that the proposed development and preparations of a master plan for the Ernulf Community School and St Neots Leisure Centre Site and adjacent areas, together with a business plan, be submitted to a future meeting.

To consider a report by the Director of Operational Services on the use of injunctions in dealing with issues of anti-social behaviour. 

The Head of Legal and Estates Services, after consultation with the Executive Councillor with responsibility for public protection, was authorised to seek injunctions to deal with Anti-Social Behaviour.

Consideration was given to a report by the Director of Operational Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) requesting authorisation to seek injunctions to deal with anti-social behaviour.

RESOLVED

  that, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Public Health and Safety, the Head of Legal and Estates Services be authorised to seek injunctions to deal with anti-social behaviour.

To consider a report by the Head of Policy requesting approval for the publication of the Best Value Performance Plan for 2004.

The Best Value Performance Plan for 2004 was approved for publication.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Policy (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet gave consideration to the Council’s Best Value Performance Plan for 2004.  The Plan had been compiled in accordance with Government requirements and, having noted proposed changes to the format for the Plan in future years, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Best Value Performance Plan appended to the report now submitted be approved for publication.

To review the performance of the Council’s Fund Managers during 2003/04.  Report by the Head of Financial Services enclosed.

A report on the respective levels of performance achieved in the year ending 31st March 2004 by External Fund Managers in the matter of investment of the Council’s Capital Receipts was received and noted.

A report by the Head of Financial Services was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which reviewed the respective levels of performance achieved in the year ending 31st March 2004 by three external fund managers in the matter of investment of the Council’s Capital Receipts.

RESOLVED

  that the content of the report be noted.