Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 21^st December 2006.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 21st December 2006 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive 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 expected budget variations already identified in the current year in the Revenue Budget.

The Cabinet received and noted a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) detailing anticipated budget variations in the current year.

In considering the content of the report and the outturn assessment, Members’ attention was drawn to a dispute with a previous insurer over liability for reimbursement for a claim that had been paid by the Council.  It was reported that the Council was likely to pursue the matter through the courts, as a test case, the cost of which would be met by the current insurers.  Whereupon it was

RESOLVED

  that the spending variations estimated in the Revenue Budget be noted.

To consider a report by the Head of Financial Services on progress of the 2006/7 programme.

Noted expenditure variations in the Capital Programme and their capital and revenue impact.

A report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) was submitted detailing variations in the Capital Programme in the current year. 

Having discussed the impact of the variations described, Members expressed their concern over the pressure placed on local authorities following the Government’s decision to cap its contribution towards expenditure on Disabled Facilities Grants.  Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the report be received and the expenditure variations and the consequent capital and revenue impact noted.

To consider a report by the Head of Technical Services on progress of small scale environmental improvement schemes and outlining a programme of schemes for 2007/08.

Agreed to release the necessary funding from the Medium Term Plan for a programme of small scale environmental improvement schemes for 2007/08 and noted that the criteria for the prioritisation of schemes would be reviewed by a working group of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery).

The Cabinet considered a report by the Head of Technical Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining progress on small scale environmental improvement schemes in the current year and proposing a programme of schemes for 2007/08.  Having been advised that the criteria for the prioritisation of schemes would be reviewed by a working group of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery), the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)  that funding be released from the Medium Term Plan for the small scale environmental improvements scheme programme for 2007/08; and

  (b)  that the schemes listed in paragraph 4.1 of the report now submitted be approved.

To appoint a local Member to the St Ives Composting Facility Site Liaison Forum.

Appointed Councillor M F Newman to serve as the District Council’s representative on the St. Ives Composting Facilities Site Liaison Forum.

Attention having been drawn to a request from Cambridgeshire County Council to nominate a representative to the St. Ives Composting Facility Site Liaison Forum, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that Councillor M F Newman be appointed.

The Executive Councillor for Housing & Public Health advised the Cabinet that the Emergency Incident Room had been set up overnight to deal with local flooding following recent adverse weather conditions.