Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 30^th June 2005.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 30th June 2005 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members Declarations of Personal/or Prejudicial interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any Agenda item.

Please see notes 1 and 2 below.

Councillor Bates declared a personal interest in Minute No 41 by virtue of his membership of Cambridgeshire County Council.

With the assistance of a report by the Director of Commerce and Technology to note the Deputy Prime Minister’s proposal to cap the Council’s 2005/06 budget and the associated implications for the authority.

Invited full Council at their meeting on 28^th September 2005 to set a revised budget requirement of £15.16m, together with the use of an additional £387k of revenue reserves to achieve this and to approve a Council Tax Level of £99.71 for a Band D Property for 2005/06.  At the same time approved a supplementary revenue estimate of £60,000 to cover the estimated costs of rebilling.

Consideration was given to a report by the Director of Commerce and Technology (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which outlined the implications for the Council of the Government’s decision to cap the Council’s 2005/06 budget requirement.

Having discussed the need to approve a revised budget requirement that was no higher than £15.16m, the resultant reduction in Council Tax levels and issues surrounding rebilling, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that Council at their meeting on 28^th September 2005 be invited to –

(i)  approve a revised budget requirement of £15.16m for 2005/06 and the use of an additional £387k of revenue reserves to achieve this;

(ii)  set revised Council Tax levels for 2005/06 equating to £99.71 for Band D properties; and

(b)  that a supplementary revenue estimate of £60,000 to cover the estimated costs of rebilling be approved.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services on Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council’s proposals for Minerals and Waste Planning.

Agreed to reflect the sentiments referred to in paragraph 4 of the report in the District Council’s response on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Minerals and Waste Plan.

By means of a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the contents of a recent consultation paper issued by Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council on options for a new framework for minerals and waste planning to 2021.

Having considered the implications of the proposals for Huntingdonshire and suggested responses to a series of questions about general policy issues which might be addressed in Core Strategy, the Cabinet emphasised that the new framework should refer to environmental issues impacting on the County and the importance of the Regional Environmental Strategy.  Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the Appendices to the report now submitted together with the sentiments expressed in paragraph 4 be approved as the basis of the District Council’s response to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Minerals and Waste Plan.

To consider a report by the Head of Environmental Health Services on the Condition Survey of the Housing Stock in Huntingdonshire.

noted the findings of the House Condition Report 2005.

By way of a report by the Head of Environmental Health Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the findings of a condition survey of the housing stock in Huntingdonshire in terms of the District Council’s enforcement and enabling responsibilities.

In considering the information contained in the report, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the findings of the House Condition Survey 2005 be noted.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services requesting the adoption of the revised Framework as Interim Planning Guidance.

Approved the Urban Design Framework for land to the west of Stukeley Road, Huntingdon as Interim Planning Guidance to the Huntingdonshire Local Plan; and authorised the Head of Planning Services, after consultation with the Executive Member for Planning Strategy, to make any minor consequential amendments to the text and illustrations.

Further to Minute No 04/173 the Cabinet considered a report (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining the responses received to consultation on the Urban Design Framework for land to the west of Stukeley Road.  The report suggested amendments to the framework as a result of the consultation and these related principally to the requirement for a comprehensive approach to the development of the area.

Having considered the responses received, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the Urban Design Framework, as amended to reflect the content of the annex to the report now submitted, be approved as Interim Planning Guidance to the Huntingdonshire Local Plan; and

(b)  that the Head of Planning Services, after consultation with the Executive Member for Planning Strategy, be authorised to make any minor consequential amendments to the text and illustrations.

To consider a report by the Head of Financial Services on the outturn position for 2004/05, the implications for 2005/06 and proposals to deal with cost variations.

noted the capital outturn for 2004/05 and the position with regard to individual schemes as set out in Annex A to the report and approved a supplementary estimate of £10,000 for the purchase of a new Ramsey and District Community Bus as outlined in paragraph 3.4.

A report by the Head of Financial Services was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) detailing the outturn of capital expenditure during 2004/5 and the implications for 2005/6.

Having noted those projects which had been delayed in 2004/05, it was

RESOLVED

(a)  that the capital outturn 2004/05 be noted;

(b)  that the position with regard to individual schemes as set out in Annex A to the report now submitted be noted; and

(c)  that a supplementary estimate of £10,000 for the purchase of a new Ramsey and District Community Bus as outlined in paragraph 3.4 of the report now submitted be approved.

To consider a report by the Leisure Centres’ Co-ordinator requesting the Cabinet to release additional funds for a scheme to extend facilities at Sawtry Leisure Centre.

Agreed to release £749,000 of capital funding for the extension of facilities at Sawtry Leisure Centre and approved a transfer of £59,000 from the Leisure’s Capital Programme to fund a shortfall in the scheme and agreed to an additional supplementary capital estimate of £160,000 towards the cost of fitness equipment.  Also noted a reduction in net revenue costs for the scheme over the next 8 years.

By way of a report by the Leisure Centres Co-ordinator (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered a request for the release of funding from the Medium Term Plan and a supplementary capital estimate to fund an extension to facilities at Sawtry Leisure Centre.

Members were advised that the figure quoted in paragraph 2.1 of the report as representing the level of deficit on capital expenditure should have read £59k instead of £54k. Having also been informed that the bid submission to Sport England for £206k, around 26% of the overall anticipated total cost of the scheme, had been successful, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that a transfer of £59,000 from the Leisure’s Capital Programme be approved to fund the scheme’s capital expenditure shortfall;

(b)  that a request for an additional supplementary capital estimate of £160,000 in respect of the acquisition of fitness equipment be approved;

(c)  that the reduction in net revenue costs for the scheme, as detailed in paragraph 2.3 of the report, be noted; and

(d)  that the release of £749,000 of capital funding for the extension of facilities at Sawtry Leisure Centre be approved.

To consider a joint report by the Heads of Environment and Transport and of Community Services on proposals to combat anti-social behaviour at the Riverside Park in St Neots.

Approved the installation of a barrier system and improved lighting at the Riverside Park in St Neots and the employment of a security firm until the aforementioned work is completed.  Agreed to fund the cost of the work by way of a supplementary estimate of £30,000.

The Cabinet considered a joint report by the Heads of Environment and Transport and of Community Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) proposing the installation of a barrier system and improved lighting at the Riverside Car Park in St Neots to address anti-social behaviour in that area.

Having considered the content of the report, the financial implications associated with the recommended course of action and the impact of the Environment Agency’s flood alleviation programme on the proposals, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the contents of the report be noted and the works detailed in paragraph 5.1 at the Riverside Park, St Neots approved; and

(b)  that a supplementary estimate of £30,000 to fund the cost of the works to the Riverside Car Park be approved.