Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chairman welcomed Mr Terry Parker, the newly appointed Director of Commerce & Technology to his first meeting of the Cabinet.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 16^th March 2006.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 16^th March 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 requested that it be recorded that his participation in the debate and voting would be undertaken without prejudice to the subsequent consideration and/or determination of any relevant planning application by the District Council’s Development Control Panel of which he was a member.

To consider a report by the Planning Policy Manager proposing changes to the Local Development Scheme in respect of two Supplementary Planning Documents for Affordable Housing.

Endorsed the proposed amendments to the Local Development Scheme for Huntingdonshire in relation to developer contributions towards affordable housing (as outlined in Annex 1 to the report submitted) for submission to the Secretary of State.

By way of a report by the Planning Policy Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with proposed amendments to the Local Development Scheme in relation to developer contributions towards affordable housing.

Whereupon it was

RESOLVED

that the proposed amendments to the Local Development Scheme for Huntingdonshire as outlined in Annex 1 to the report now submitted be endorsed for submission to the Secretary of State.

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

Approved the release of the relevant funding (as outlined in the annex to the report submitted) for release from the Medium Term Plan (scheme ref 324/B) in respect of implementation of the Council’s licensing functions.

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 as outlined in the annex to the report now submitted be released from the Medium Term Plan (scheme ref 324/B) in respect of implementation of the Council’s licensing functions.

To consider a report by the Head of Administration outlining the deliberations of the Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Planning & Finance) following their discussions with the Executive Councillor for Finance.

Agreed not to approve the request by the Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Planning & Finance) for consultation additional to that already inherent in existing budget and MTP processes and asked the Executive Councillor for Finance to convey to the Panel the reasons for this decision.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Cabinet were acquainted with the deliberations of the Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Planning & Finance), following their discussions with the Executive Councillor for Finance on the Budget, Medium Term Plan and Financial Strategy.

Having noted the background to the Panel’s request to be consulted on any future reductions in expenditure and in noting the existing processes and roles for scrutiny in preparing, considering and reviewing the Budget & Medium Term Plan, the facility to “call-in” executive decisions, the need to avoid conflict with the non-executive powers and duties of other Panels, in particular those of the Employment Panel and the requirement to identify and implement efficiency savings as and when opportunities arose, it was

RESOLVED

a)  that the request by the Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Planning & Finance) for consultation additional to that already inherent in existing budget, MTP  and other processes be not approved; and

b)  that the Executive Councillor for Finance be requested to convey to the Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Planning & Finance) the decision referred to in (a) above and the reasons therefore.

To resolve:-

that the public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains information which relates to the business affairs of the authority.

RESOLVED

that the public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains information which relates to the business affairs of the Council.

Received and noted the report of the District Council Headquarters and Other Accommodation Members Advisory Group.

Subject to the successful acquisition of the proposed site for the Operations Centre,  agreed to release the relevant funds as described in Annex A to the report from the Medium Term Plan in respect of the office accommodation project;

Authorised the Head of Technical Services to make further “on account” payments to the developer to a maximum of £100,000 in respect of design costs;

Further authorised the Head of Technical Services to initiate the detailed design of a traffic signal-controlled junction at the entrance to the proposed car park at Bridge Place and report further thereon to a future meeting of the Cabinet.

In conjunction with the report of the District Council’s Headquarters and other Office Accommodation Members’ Advisory Group held on 27^th March 2006 (a copy of which is appended in the Annex to the Minute Book) and with the assistance of a report by the Head of Technical Services (a copy of which is also appended in the Annex to the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with progress on and recent developments, in the procurement of new headquarters and other accommodation for the District Council.

Having been informed of the advantages in exploiting, as far as possible, the acquisition of a site for a new Operations Centre, the conversion of the existing Godmanchester depot for car parking and further design work on the project prior to completion of the development agreement with Alfred McAlpine Capital Projects, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

a)  that subject to the successful acquisition of the proposed site for the Operations Centre,  the relevant funds as described in Annex A to the report now submitted be released from the Medium Term Plan in respect of the office accommodation project;

b)  that the Head of Technical Services be authorised to make further “on account” payments to the developer up to a maximum of £100,000 in respect of design costs; and

c)  that the Head of Technical Services be further authorised to initiate the detailed design of a traffic signal-controlled junction at the entrance to the proposed car park at  Bridge Place and report further thereon to a future meeting of the Cabinet.