Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd February 2006.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 23rd February 2006 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 overleaf.

Councillor N J Guyatt declared a personal interest in Minute No.191 as a Council Tax payer in Stibbington.

Councillor I C Bates declared a personal interest in Minute No.188 by virtue of his membership of Cambridgeshire County Council.

To consider a report by the Planning Policy Manager.

(The Local Development Framework Core Strategy, Statement of Community Involvement and Appendices A-C are enclosed separately).

The Council was recommended to approve the Core Strategy, the proposals map and the Statement of Community Involvement together with supporting documents for submission to the Secretary of State.  The Council also was recommended to approve the proposed amendments to the Local Development Scheme attached in Appendix D to the report now submitted for submission to the Secretary of State.

Consideration was given to a report by the Planning Policy Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which were attached responses to public consultations on the Core Strategy Development Plan Document, the Proposals Map and the Statement of Community Involvement.  Having been reminded of the background to the Core Strategy, Executive Councillors were acquainted with three significant changes, which had been recommended as a result of the comments received: these related to affordable housing, biodiversity and water resources. Comment was made on the lack of consistency in guidance from Government on affordable housing and on the state of the water supply in the Eastern Region.

The Cabinet noted the outcomes on work on the Sustainability Appraisal and of consultation on the Statement of Community Involvement. The Core Strategy and Statement of Community Involvement were to be considered by full Council on 20th March 2006 and Executive Councillors noted progress with to preparation of the Local Development Scheme, the timetable for implementation and the likely impact of amendments which had begun to emerge and those which could be anticipated in the future.  Meanwhile and having been acquainted with the deliberations of the Development Control Panel and of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Planning and Finance) on the Core Strategy and the Statement of Community Involvement, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Council be recommended to

(a)    approve the Core Strategy, the proposals map and the Statement of Community Involvement together with supporting documents for submission to the Secretary of State; and

(b)  approve the proposed amendments to the Local Development Scheme attached in Appendix D to the report now submitted for submission to the Secretary of State.

To consider a report by the Planning Policy Manager on the Cambridgeshire Local Transport Plan (LTP) 2006 -2011 and Long Term Transport Strategy.

The Director of Operational Services was authorised, after consultation with the Executive Councillor with responsibility for Environment and Transport, to approve any minor amendments to the full Local Transport Plan 2006-2011 and the District Statement prior to the formal submission of the full LTP to Government by 31st March 2006.

Negotiations will continue with the County Council over the next 12 months to secure the inclusion of Huntingdon - St Ives bus priority measures within the LTP Programme.

Consideration was given to a report by the Planning Policy Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which summarised proposed changes to the provisional Local Transport Plan following the receipt of feedback from Government and a breakdown of the provisional funding involved.  Members’ attention was drawn to the County Council’s intention to defer a safety scheme at Elton and to the fact that the LTP included a Statement by the District Council. Executive Councillors also were informed of progress with a Long-Term Transport Strategy for the period 2006-2021 and with other scheme which were proposed to be funded outside the LTP.

The Cabinet was acquainted with an issue that had arisen from the LTP regarding the absence of a commitment to provide bus priority measures between Huntingdon and St Ives in time for the opening of the Guided Bus Scheme in 2008. Having noted that, since the publication of the report, the County Council now agreed to review its position in that regard, it was

RESOLVED

(a)  that, after consultation with the Executive Councillor with responsibility for Environment and Transport, the Director of Operational Services be authorised to approve any minor amendments to the full Local Transport Plan 2006-2011 and the District Statement prior to the formal submission of the full LTP to Government by 31st March 2006; and

(b)  that negotiations continue with the County Council over the next 12 months to secure the inclusion of Huntingdon - St Ives bus priority measures within the LTP Programme.

To consider a report by the Planning Policy Manager outlining proposals published by Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council for minerals and waste planning.

Subject to further clarification of proposals for the Clone Fen Quarry at Earith, the Director of Operational Services was authorised, after consultation with the Executive Councillor with responsibility for Planning Strategy, to respond to Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council along the lines set out in Section 4 and Appendix 1 to the report submitted.

The District Council’s response is to be copied to the Town and Parish whose areas are likely to be affected by the proposals.

Further to Minute No.05/41 and with the aid of a report by the Planning Policy Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet was acquainted with proposals published by Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council for Minerals and Waste Planning. Having been reminded of their earlier deliberations on the matter, the background to the proposals and the areas covered by the Issues and Options document, Executive Councillors discussed proposals for additional sites which had been identified subsequently. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

(a)    that, subject to further clarification of proposals for the Colne Fen Quarry at Earith and after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy, the Director of Operational Services be authorised to respond to Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council along the lines set out in Section 4 and Appendix 1 to the report now submitted; and

(b)  that the District Council’s response be copied to the Town and Parish Councils whose areas are likely to be affected by the proposals.

By way of a report by the Head of Financial Services to consider requests for the release of funding for Medium Term Plan schemes.

The release of relevant funding from the MTP for the schemes listed in Annex A to the report was approved.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the relevant funding be released from the MTP for the schemes listed in Annex A to the report now submitted.

To consider the quarterly monitoring report prepared by the Head of Policy.

A report by the Head of Policy was which reviewed the Council’s performance against targets within the Corporate Plan – "Growing Success” during the period 1st October – 31st December 2005 was noted.

A report by the Head of Policy (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which reviewed the Council’s performance against targets within the Corporate Plan – "Growing Success” during the period 1st October – 31st December 2005 was received and noted.

To consider a report by the Head of Financial Services.

A loan of a maximum of £3,000 to Sibson-cum-Stibbington Parish Council during 2006/07 was approved on the terms set out in paragraph 2.3 of the report submitted.

By way of a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered a request by Sibson-cum-Stibbington Parish Council for a loan to cover a deficit in the current financial year.  Having been acquainted with the background to the request and on the understanding that the Parish Council satisfied itself as to its powers to take the loan, it was

RESOLVED

  that a loan of a maximum of £3,000 to Sibson-cum-Stibbington Parish Council during 2006/07 be approved on the terms set out in paragraph 2.3 of the report now submitted.