Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 6^th September 2007.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 6^th September 2007 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Vice 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.

Councillors Bucknell and Hyams declared personal interests in Minute no 07/60 by virtue of their former membership of the Luminus Group and the Luminus Homes (parent) board respectively.

To consider a report by the Leisure Centres Co-ordinator regarding the funding of a scheme to extend facilities at the St Ivo Outdoor Centre.

Approved the submission of bid for funding from the Football Foundation in the sum of £1,000,000 towards a scheme to improve football facilities at the St Ivo Outdoor Centre and subject to the receipt of this funding approved the release of £500,000 towards the project in advance of the receipt of Section 106 contributions from developments at Houghton Grange, Houghton Road and St Ives Golf Club.

By means of a report by the Leisure Centres’ Co-ordinator (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with developments in relation to a project within the Medium Term Plan to improve football facilities at the St Ivo Outdoor Leisure Centre.

In considering the content of the report, Executive Councillors were advised that as a consequence of a previous commitment to a scheme to provide changing facilities at Priory Park, St Neots the St Ivo scheme would be reliant on the receipt of Section 106 contributions and on the success of a bid to the Football Foundation towards the cost of a revised scheme which it was anticipated now also would incorporate a second synthetic football pitch with flood lighting.  Having considered issues surrounding the timing of the scheme, the opportunity to access significant external funding and the potential risk in funding Section 106 monies in anticipation of their receipt, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the submission of a bid for funding from the Football Foundation in the sum of £1,000,000 towards the cost of a scheme to improve football facilities at the St Ivo Outdoor Centre, as outlined in the report now submitted, be approved; and

(b)  that, subject to receipt of the funding referred to in (a) above, a contribution of £500,000  from the District Council be approved in advance of the receipt of Section 106 contributions from developments at Houghton Grange, Houghton Road and St Ives Golf Club.

To consider a report by the Head of Financial Services.

Approved the release of funding for the cost of resurfacing the synthetic pitch at Huntingdon Leisure Centre.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered a request for the release of funding for resurfacing of the synthetic pitch at Huntingdon Leisure Centre. 

Having been advised that the County Council had agreed to make a contribution of c. £24,000 towards the overall cost of the work, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the release of £71,000 towards the cost of resurfacing the synthetic pitch at Huntingdon Leisure Centre be approved.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Environmental and Community Health Services to consider the contents of the Cultural Strategy.

Approved the contents of the Cultural Strategy for Huntingdonshire.

By way of a report by the Head of Environmental and Community Health Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the contents of a proposed Cultural Strategy for Huntingdonshire.

The Cabinet were reminded that the development and implementation of the Cultural Strategy was a key objective of the Huntingdonshire Local Strategic Partnership and would be used as a reference in the current review of the Community Strategy for Huntingdonshire.  In discussing the implementation of key recommendations contained in the paper, Executive Councillors emphasised the significant contributions already made from the Council’s current budget on cultural objectives and reiterated that the delivery of any new initiatives would need to be financed from alternative funding sources. Having also been acquainted with the deliberations of the Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery) on the matter, it was

RESOLVED

  that the draft Cultural Strategy for Huntingdonshire be approved.

To consider a report by the Head of Policy and Strategic Services seeking approval for the Sustainable Community Strategy. NB the Strategy is not included within these papers and will be despatched separately.

Requested that the development of effective transport networks that meet the demands of the area, improved recreational facilities for young persons, the guided bus network and road safety be included as part of the Sustainable Community Strategy’s priorities.

Further to Minute No. 03/66 and by way of report by the Head of Policy and Strategic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet, were acquainted with the contents of a draft revised Sustainable Community Strategy for Huntingdonshire which sets out arrangements for involving partners and stakeholders, including the business and voluntary sectors, in the process of improving the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the District. 

In discussing the six strategic themes within the Strategy, Executive Councillors –

·  noted revised versions of the elements relating to Children and Young People and to the Environment; and

·  requested the inclusion of appropriate references to the development of effect transport networks to meet the demands of the area, improved recreational facilities for young people, improvements in road safety for children and the guided bus network.

Having noted the work in progress and that the next stage of the strategy’s development would be the refinement of the specific objectives and action planning, it was

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report be noted and an updated version of the Sustainable Community Strategy submitted to a future meeting.

To consider a report by the Head of Financial Services on the performance of the Investment Fund for the period April to August 2007.

Noted the respective levels of performance achieved during the period April to August 2007 by external fund managers in the matter of the investment of the Council’s capital receipts.

A report by the Head of Financial Services was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which reviewed the respective levels of performance achieved during the period April to August 2007 by external fund managers in the matter of the investment of the Council’s capital receipts and the decision taken to reduce the number of fund managers to one.

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report be noted.

To consider a report by the Head of Environmental and Community Health Services outlining a proposal to replace the existing grant aid allocation process with a commissioning framework linked to the Council’s identified community objectives.

agreed to replace the existing grant aid allocation process with a commissioning framework linked to the Council’s identified community objective.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Environmental & Community Health Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which outlined a proposal to replace the existing grant aid allocation process with a commissioning framework linked to the Council’s identified community objectives.

Having recognised the benefits of introducing a system whereby service objectives would be determined at the outset and monitored throughout the life of the commissioning agreement to ensure that the desired outcomes were being realised, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the Council’s existing grant aid allocation be replaced a the commissioning approach; and

(b)  that the terms of reference for the capital grant aid budget be amended to relax the eligibility criteria to allow a wider range of voluntary and community applications to be considered.

To consider the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery) regarding the needs of older people and the services available to them.

Approved the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery) as outlined in paragraph 3 of the report subject to further clarification as to the associated budget provision requirements and the anticipated cost to the Council.

Further to Minute No. 06/59 consideration was given to a report by the Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery) outlining the operational and financial implications of participation by the Council of providing enhanced services in the District for older people.

In discussing the development of the Council’s services and the potential for a pilot programme of exercise for older people, supported by the Luminus Group, Executive Members requested further clarification as to the associated budget provision requirements and the anticipated cost to the Council whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that, subject to clarification of the Council’s financial commitment to support a pilot programme of exercise for older people in the sum of £5,400 the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery) outlined in paragraph 3 of the report now submitted be approved.

In light of full Council’s decision on 21^st September 2007 to appoint Councillor Dew as Executive Councillor for Leisure Centres, the Cabinet may wish to review as necessary membership of the various committees/advisory groups to which they appoint.

Appointed Councillor D B Dew to the Ramsey, St Ivo and Sawtry Leisure Centre Management Committees to replace Councillors Bucknell, Rogers and Hyams respectively.

Following on from Councillor D B Dew’s appointment as Executive Councillor for Leisure Centres and having reviewed membership of various committees/advisory groups, it was

RESOLVED

that Councillor Dew be appointed to the Ramsey, St Ivo and Sawtry Leisure Centre Management Committees to replace Councillors Bucknell, Rogers and Hyams respectively.

To receive the reports of the meetings of the Safety Advisory Group held on 13^th June and 12^th September 2007.

The reports of the meetings of the Safety Advisory Group held on 13^th June and 12^th September 2007 were received and noted.