Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 20th April 2006.  (TO FOLLOW).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 20th April 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 below.

No declarations were received.

To consider a report by the Head of Financial Services outlining spending variations.

Noted the likely sending variations for the revenue budget 2005/06.

The Cabinet received a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) detailing the projected outturn for 2005/06 and the expected budget variations in the current year.

RESOLVED

  that the likely spending variations for the revenue budget 2005/06 be noted.

To consider a report by the Head of Financial Services highlighting variations from the approved Capital Programme for 2005/06.

Noted the monitoring statement and the reported variations and their estimated capital and revenue impact

By means of a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) and having been acquainted with variations in the Capital Programme in the current year, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the report be received and the expenditure variations noted; and

(b)  that the estimated capital and revenue impact also be noted.

To consider a report by the Planning Policy Manager seeking approval for consultation purposes of a Character Statement and Management Plan for Broughton.

The Character Statement and Management Plan for the Broughton Conservation Area were approved as a basis for consultation.

Consideration was given to a report by the Planning Policy Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was attached copies of a draft Character Statement and Management Plan for the Broughton Conservation Area.

RESOLVED

  that the draft Character Statement and Management Plan for the Broughton Conservation Area be approved as a basis for consultation.

To consider a report by the Planning Policy Manager on responses received to consultation on the draft Urban Design Framework for Brookside, Huntingdon and seeking approval for the adoption of a revised framework as Interim Planning Guidance.

The revised Brookside, Huntingdon Urban Design Framework as amended to reflect the responses to the consultation was approved as Interim Planning Guidance; and the Planning Policy Manager was authorised, after consultation with the Executive Member for Planning Strategy, to make any minor consequential amendments to the text and illustrations as necessary as a result of the amendments.

Further to Minute No.05/143, 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 Brookside, Huntingdon Urban Design Framework and suggested amendments as a consequence thereof

RESOLVED

(a)  that the responses to the consultation on the Brookside (Huntingdon) Urban Design Framework be approved and reflected in the final version of the framework as annexed to the report now submitted for the purposes of Interim Planning Guidance; and

(b)  that the Planning Policy Manager be authorised, after consultation with the Executive Member for Planning Strategy, to make any minor consequential amendments to the text and illustrations of the framework as a result of the amendments referred to in the preceding resolution.

To consider a report by the Head of Legal and Estates on an update on the Oxmoor (Huntingdon) Action Plan and seeking authority undertake land transactions.

This item was withdrawn from the Agenda.

RESOLVED

  that consideration of this item be deferred pending the submission of further information to a future meeting.

To consider a report by the Head of Environment & Transport on the outcome of consultation on proposals to introduce a new car parking order for the new Oak Drive off-street car park at Sapley Square, Huntingdon.

The Order was confirmed as advertised.

Further to Minute No.05/177 and by way of a report by the Head of Technical Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Cabinet was informed that no objections had been received following the publication of proposals to introduce a new car parking order in respect of Oak Drive, Huntingdon.

RESOLVED

  that the Order as advertised be confirmed.

To consider a report by the Head of Environmental and Community Health seeking delegated authority to undertake duties under the Housing Act 2004.

The Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy was adopted;

The HMO licensing conditions were adopted;

The HMO standards were adopted;

A HMO licensing fee of £300 was adopted with the fee being waived for licensable HMOs under the control of registered charities;

The automatic designation of Huntingdonshire as an area subject to additional houses in multiple occupational licensing was revoked; and

The Head of Environmental and Community Health Services, after consultation with the relevant Executive Councillor, was authorised to amend the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy, the HMO Licensing Conditions; the HMO Standards; and the HMO Licensing Fee

The Cabinet was acquainted by means of a report by the Head of Environmental and Community Health (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) with progress on the implementation of a range of measures arising from the Housing Act 2004. The report also recommended the adoption of a new private sector housing enforcement policy and measures relating to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

RESOLVED

(a)  that the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy set out in Annex 1 to the report now submitted be adopted;

(b)  that the HMO licensing committees set out in Annex 2 to the report now submitted be adopted;

(c)  that the HMO standards set out in Annex 3 to the report now submitted be adopted;

(d)  that, subject to (e) below, a HMO licensing fee of £300 be adopted with the fee being waived for licensable HMOs under the control of registered charities;

(e)  that the licensing fee referred to in (d) above be reviewed following a period of six months of the introduction of the licensing arrangements;

(f)  that the automatic designation of Huntingdonshire as an area subject to additional houses in multiple occupational licensing be revoked; and

(g)  that the Head of Environmental and Community Health Services, after consultation with the relevant Executive Councillor, be authorised to authorise amendments to -

¨  the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy;

¨  the HMO Licensing Conditions;

¨  the HMO Standards; and

¨  the HMO Licensing Fee

To consider a report by the Head of Information Management seeking approval for submission of the Council’s Implementing Electronic Government (IEG) Statement 2006 to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Council was recommended to approve the submission to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister the 2006 IEG Statement.

By way of a report by the Head of Information Management (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) Members were acquainted with the contents of the final 2006 Implementing Electronic Government (IEG) Statement for submission to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. In noting comments by the Executive Councillor for Operations and Information Technology as to the intention to elaborate on the reasons for “red” status priority outcomes, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Council be recommended to approve the submission of the 2006 IEG Statement to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

To consider the report of the meeting of the Safety Advisory Group held on 1st March 2006.

The report of the Safety Advisory Group held on 1st March 2006 was received and noted.

The report of the Safety Advisory Group held on 1st March 2006 was received and noted.