Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 15^th December 2005.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 15^th December 2005 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to personal and/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 each of the matters referred to in Nos 139 and 147 by virtue of his membership of Cambridgeshire County Council.

Councillor Mrs Longford declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Minute No 144 by virtue of her being a respondent to the Framework and Masterplan and left the Chamber for the duration of discussion and voting thereon.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Policy to consider the emerging Children and Young People’s Plan and area arrangements for the Office of Children and Young People’s Services.

noted the Children and Young People’s Plan and area arrangements for the Children and Young People’s services, requested a further report once proposals for area and locality arrangements emerge and authorised the Chief Executive to respond to consultation on the development of the Children and Young People’s Plan, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Resources and Welfare.

By means 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 Children and Young People’s Plan for Cambridgeshire and area arrangements for the delivery of Children and Young People’s Services.

In considering the proposals outlined in the plan and the Consultation Paper on the area and locality structure Members expressed concern about the potential implications at County and District levels given the pressures arising from the revenue support grant settlement and the competing priorities of other services for the allocation of resources. Having regard to the deliberations of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Planning and Finance) on resource constraints, arrangements for Member involvement in governance at area level and the accessibility of services locally, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the Children and Young People’s Plan and area arrangements for the Children and Young People’s services be noted and a further report submitted to the Cabinet in six months time or such earlier date as local governance and resources issues become clearer; and

(b)  that the Chief Executive be authorised to respond to consultation on the development of the Children and Young People’s Plan, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Resources and Welfare.

To consider a report by the Head of Housing Services on the outcome of a contaminated land survey of the Council’s mobile home park at Eynesbury, St Neots.

Noted the content of the report, the formal determination of the land as “contaminated land” and approved a supplementary estimate of £35,000 for the appointment of consultants to prepare a remediation statement.

Further to Minute No.95 and by way of a report by the Head of Housing Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the findings of a Contaminated Land Survey of the Council’s Mobile Home Park at Eynesbury.

In considering the information in the report, Members were advised of the circumstances in which the site had been declared as contaminated resulting in a requirement to commission a remediation statement an estimated cost of £35,000. It was proposed to seek Government funding from the Contaminated Land Capital Projects Programme, but in the event of the bid being unsuccessful it was reported that the revenue impact to the Council would turnout to £2,000 pa. In the meantime, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the content of the report be noted; and

(b)  that a supplementary estimate of £35,000 be approved, to enable consultants to be appointed to prepare a remediation statement.

To consider the report of the meeting of the Public Conveniences Advisory Group held on 24^th November 2005.

Noted the report of the Members Advisory Group held on 24^th November 2005 .

Having considered the report of the Members’ Advisory Group held on 24^th November 2005 (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the report be received and the recommendations contained therein approved.

To consider a report by the Head of Environment and Transport detailing proposals for the improvement and ongoing maintenance of town centre public conveniences.

with the exception of any additional costs arising from enhanced cleaning costs, approved the programme of improvements listed in paragraph 4.4 of the report and the associated funding; approved the replacement of the South Street conveniences on an alternative site; authorised the Head of Environment and Transport to initiate work on both building and cleaning/maintenance works contract and to serve notice on JC Decaux for the removal of the four remaining APC’s units; and approved the release of  the relevant funding as described in Annex D from the Medium Term Plan to facilitate design work and the preparation of contracts for the first phase of improvements to the appearance and safety of the district’s public conveniences, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Finance.

Further to minute No.05/155 and with the assistance of a report by the Head of Environment and Transport (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the present position in relation to the Council’s town centre public conveniences, their future maintenance and the financial implications thereof.

Having reviewed the recommendations in the report, together with the outcomes of the deliberations by the Public Conveniences Advisory Group on the matter, it was

RESOLVED

(a)  that, with the proviso that there will be no increase in that element of existing budgetary provision relating to cleaning costs, the programme of improvements listed in paragraph 4.4 of the report now submitted and the associated funding be approved;

(b)  that the replacement of the South Street conveniences on an alternative site be approved;

(c)  that the Head of Environment and Transport be authorised to initiate work on both building and cleaning/maintenance works contract;

(d)  that the Head of Environment and Transport be authorised to serve notice on JC Decaux for the removal of the four remaining APC’s units; and

(e)  that after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Finance the relevant funding as described in Annex D to the report now submitted be released from the Medium Term Plan to facilitate design work and the preparation of contracts for the first phase of improvements to the Council’s public conveniences.

To consider a report by the Planning Policy Manager on progress of the Local Development Framework.

(a copy of the Annual Monitoring report is attached to the agenda separately)

Noted the outcomes of the Annual Monitoring Report on progress of the Local Development Scheme.

A report by the Planning Policy Manager was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) reviewing progress on the Local Development Scheme. Having noted a series of targets for monitoring local development documents, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the outcomes of the Annual Monitoring Report be noted.

To consider the Urban Design Framework for land at Brookside, Huntingdon and to approve it as a basis for consultation and further discussion.

(a copy of the Urban Design Framework has been appended separately to the agenda)

Approved the contents of a draft Urban Design Framework for the former St Peter’s School site at Brookside, Huntingdon as a basis for public consultation.

A report by the Planning Policy Manager was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was attached a draft Urban Design Framework for the former school site at Brookside, Huntingdon. The Framework was intended to present the planning policy context for redevelopment of the site.

RESOLVED

  that the Urban Design Framework be approved as a basis for public consultation.

To consider a report by the Planning Policy Manager requesting the adoption of the revised framework as Interim Planning Guidance.

Approved the revisions to Longsands Urban Design Framework and masterplan and authorised the Planning Policy Manager, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy, to approve the adoption of the revised document incorporating minor consequential amendments as Interim Planning Guidance.

Further to Minute No.05/68, the Cabinet considered a report by the Planning Policy Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining the responses received to consultation on the design brief and masterplan for the redevelopment of land in and around Longsands College, the Regional College, the site of the open air swimming pool, the Almond Road surgery and Health Centre in St Neots.

Having considered the schedule of responses and the amendment outlined in the appendix to the report, it was

RESOLVED

(a)  that the revisions to the Longsands Quarter Urban Design Framework and Masterplan be approved; and

(b)  that the Planning Policy Manager be authorised, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy, to approve the adoption of the revised document incorporating minor consequential amendments as Interim Planning Guidance.

To consider the report of the Safety Advisory Group held on 16^th November 2005.

Received and noted the report of the Safety Advisory Group held on 16^th November 2005.

The report of the Safety Advisory Group held on 16^th November 2005 was received and noted.

To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains exempt information relating to the terms proposed for the acquisition of property or the supply of goods or services.

RESOLVED

  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 a contract for the acquisition or disposal of land or property or the supply of goods or services.

To consider a report by the Head of Environment and Transport.

Subject to the amendments referred to in the penultimate paragraph of the briefing paper, approved the purchase of land at Latham Road, on the terms referred to in the report of the Head of the Environment and Transport now submitted; authorised the Head of Environment and Transport after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Office Accommodation and other Special Projects to make the necessary payments in advance of the completion of the development agreement subject to all intellectual property rights in the funded work being transferred to the Council; and agreed to release the appropriate funds for the purchase of the land and the associated fees from the 2005/06 Medium Term Plan provision in respect of the office accommodation project.

Pursuant to Minute No.05/77 and by way of a report by the Head of Environment and Transport and a supplementary briefing paper (copies of which are appended in the annex to the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered proposals for the acquisition of land comprising circa 3.05 acres or thereabouts at Latham Road, Huntingdon for an Operations Centre in conjunction with the development of a new Headquarters for the District Council.

Having considered the deliberations of the Office Accommodation Members’ Advisory Group on the matter, together with a request from the vendors for a non-returnable deposit and a contribution their fees and in noting the element of risk should the development of the new operations centre on the site not proceed, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that, subject to the amendments referred to in the penultimate paragraph of the briefing paper, the purchase of land at Latham Road be approved, on the terms referred to in the report of the Head of the Environment and Transport now submitted;

(b)  that the Head of Environment and Transport be authorised, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Office Accommodation and other Special Projects, to make the necessary payments in advance of the completion of the development agreement, subject to all intellectual property rights in the funded work being transferred to the Council; and

(c) that appropriate funds as described in the Annex to the report now submitted be released from the 2005/06 Medium Term Plan provision in respect of the office accommodation project.