Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on the 21^st July 2005.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 21st July 2005 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 21st July 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.)

No declarations were received.

To consider a report by the Director of Commerce and Technology on the Council’s future Financial Strategy.

  subject to the removal of option 2, agreed that the report of the Director of Commerce and Technology be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Planning and Finance) for comment and the Panel informed of the Cabinet's deliberations thus far and that the matter be considered further at the next meeting of the Cabinet.

Consideration was given to a report by the Director of Commerce and Technology (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) setting out three potential options available in terms of adopting a strategy for managing its finances in the period to 2011/12.

In so doing, Executive Councillors were acquainted with the assumptions made in setting and updating the budget for the current year, Government policies and grant regimes, the work which had been undertaken thus far in reviewing the Council's base budget and Medium Term Plan and the implications of adopting a service or tax driven alternative.  Having discussed the implications of future capping regimes and their possible impact and in deciding that option 2 should be deleted from any future deliberations, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the report be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Planning and Finance) for comment and the Panel informed of the Cabinet's deliberations thus far; and

  (b)  that a further report be submitted to the next meeting of the Cabinet.

To note a summary by the Head of Revenue Services of debts written-off during the quarter ended 30^th June 2005.

Noted a summary of debts written-off during April to June 2005 as irrecoverable.

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 April to June 2005 as irrecoverable.

To consider a report by the Head of Environmental Health Services outlining the implications for the District Council of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

  gave delegated authority to the Director of Operational Services to appoint authorised Officers to enforce the relevant provisions of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 –

under Part 2 of the Act in relation to nuisance parking, abandoned and illegally parked vehicles;

under Part 3 of the Act as it extends the statutory offence of dropping litter and amends the powers of local authorities in relation to litter;

under Part 4 of the Act as it amends the law relating to graffiti, fly-posting etc;

under Part 5 of the Act in relation to the miscellaneous provision about waste;

under Part 6 of the Act as it allows local authorities to create offences relating to the control of dogs; and

under Part 7 of the Act as it addresses various issues relating to noise nuisance.

  Delegated authority given to the Director of Operational Services, after consultation with the relevant Executive Councillor to have proceedings instituted to prosecute an offender through the Courts, for offences under the provisions of Parts 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Act;

Also gave delegated authority to the Director of Operational Services, after consultation with the Chairman and Vice-chairman of the Licensing and Protection Panel (as appropriate) to have proceedings instituted to prosecute an offender through the Courts, for offences under the provisions of Part 7 of the Act;

delegated authority also given to the Director of Operational Services, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for ‘Housing and Public Health’ (or successor) and a relevant Ward Member to formally request Cambridgeshire County Council to exercise their authority under Part 1 of the Act to allow the gating of minor highways that attract anti-social behaviour; and

requested a further report on the implementation of Fixed Penalty Notices.

With the assistance 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 provisions of the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005 and the consequential implications for the District Council.

Whilst the Act extended the powers of the Council to deal with "environmental crimes" in the District, Members expressed concern that no direct additional funding was likely to be made available by the Government to assist in its implementation.  Against the background of insufficient additional resources being forthcoming in respect of the costs of implementing new duties under the Act and having referred to the difficulties inherent in issuing fixed penalty notices, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)  that delegated authority be given to the Director of Operational Services to appoint authorised Officers to enforce the relevant provisions of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act ,2005  as follows –

¨  Part 2 of the Act, in relation to nuisance parking, abandoned and illegally parked vehicles;

¨  Part 3 of the Act, as it extends the statutory offence of dropping litter and amends the powers of local authorities in relation to litter;

¨  Part 4 of the Act, as it amends the law relating to graffiti, fly-posting etc;

¨  Part 5 of the Act, in relation to the miscellaneous provision about waste;

¨  Part 6 of the Act, as it allows local authoritiesto create offences relating to the control of dogs; and

¨  Part 7 of the Act, as it addresses various issues relating to noise nuisance.

  (b)  that the Director of Operational Services be authorised, after consultation with the relevant Executive Councillor - to have proceedings instituted to prosecute an offender through the Courts, for offences under the provisions of Parts 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Act;

(c)  that the Director of Operational Services be authorised, after consultation with the Chairman and Vice-chairman of the Licensing and Protection Panel (as appropriate) to have proceedings instituted to prosecute an offender through the Courts, for offences under the provisions of Part 7 of the Act;

  (d)  that the Director of Operational Services, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for ‘Housing and Public Health’ and a relevant Ward Member be authorised to formally request Cambridgeshire County Council to exercise their authority under Part 1 of the Act to allow the gating of minor highways that attract anti-social behaviour; and

  (e)  that a further report be submitted to Cabinet relating to the implementation of Fixed Penalty Notices.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services seeking approval for an amendment to the Local Development Scheme for Huntingdonshire prior to its submission to the Secretary of State.

approved the Local Development Scheme, as amended, for submission to the Secretary of State and authorised the Head of Planning Services, after consultation with the   Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy, to make additional changes to clarify the status of the proposals map.

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 a suggested amendment to the Local Development Scheme (LDS) for Huntingdonshire prior to its submission to the Secretary of State.

The Cabinet were informed that discussions with Go-East had revealed that the Proposals Map in future would be referred to as a Local Development Document and not a Development Plan Document.  In that respect, it was suggested that an appropriate reference should be included within the LDS, whereupon it was

RESOLVED

(a)    that the Local Development Scheme, as amended, be   approved for submission to the Secretary of State; and

(b)  that the Head of Planning Services, after consultation with the   Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy, be authorised to   make additional changes to clarify the status of the proposals   map.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services on the Government’s objectives for delivering a better supply of housing through the planning system.

Authorised the Head of Planning Services, after consultation with the Executive Member to respond to the consultation paper issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on proposals for a new policy approach aimed at making the planning system more responsive to the housing market.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy 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 on proposals for a new policy approach aimed at making the planning system more responsive to the housing market.

Having considered the terms of a suggested response, the Cabinet

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 contents of paragraph 4.1 of the report now submitted.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services seeking approval for consultation purposes of the draft Design Brief for redevelopment of the Alfred Hall Memorial Field.

Approved a draft design brief for the redevelopment of the Alfred Hall Memorial Field as draft interim planning guidance for public 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 design brief for the redevelopment of the Alfred Hall Memorial Field.

Having been informed that the brief had been produced to identify the design parameters, opportunities and constraints of the site for any future redevelopment, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the design brief be approved as draft interim planning guidance for public consultation.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services to which is attached a draft Supplementary Planning Document on Wind Power, for public consultation.

    Approved for the purpose of public consultation the draft Supplementary Planning Document on wind power.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Cabinet received a draft Supplementary Planning Document on wind power exploring the potential capacity and sensitivity of Huntingdonshire's landscape in terms of accommodating this form of development, suggesting the criteria that needed to be taken into account when considering specific proposals and providing guidance on potential mitigation measures where appropriate.

RESOLVED

  that the draft Supplementary Planning Document on wind power be approved for the purpose of public consultation.

To receive a report of the meeting of the District Council Headquarters and Other Office Accommodation Members’ Advisory Group held on 26^th July 2005.

  Noted progress on work thus far and  the tender timetable.  Approved the process set out in Annex B of the report now submitted for the award of the contract and the communications strategy appended at annex C.  Finally requested the submission of an appraisal on the future of the Godmanchester Depot to a future meeting.

The Cabinet received the report of the meeting of the District Council Headquarters and Other Accommodation Members' Advisory Group held on 26th July 2005 (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book).

Having considered issues regarding the tendering and evaluation process, the appointment of technical/legal advisers, internal/external communications and the future of the existing Godmanchester Depot, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)  that progress thus far be noted;

  (b)  that the tendering timetable be noted and the process set out in Annex B of the report now submitted for the award of the contract approved;

  (c)  that the communications strategy appended at Annex C to the report be approved; and

  (d)  that an appraisal on the future of the Godmanchester Depot site be presented to a future meeting.