Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Churchill to his first meeting of the Cabinet.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 24^th April 2008.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 24^th April 2008 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 appoint Members to hold responsibility for executive powers and duties determined by the Leader.

The following portfolios were approved by the Cabinet in May 2007 –

¨  Finance;

¨  Planning Strategy, Environment and Transport;

¨  Leisure Centres;

¨  Resources and Policy;

¨  Housing and Public Health;

¨  Headquarters and Information Technology; and

¨  Operations, Parks and Countryside.

Those Members appointed as Executive Councillors for Planning Strategy and Resources and Policy were also appointed ex-officio Members respectively of the Development Control Panel and Licensing and Protection Panel/Licensing Committee.

The Leader was appointed ex-officio Member of the Employment Panel.

RESOLVED

(a)  that executive responsibilities for the Municipal Year 2008/09 be allocated as follows –

(b)  that the Leader of the Council be appointed to serve as an ex-officio Member of the Employment Panel; and

(c)  that Executive Councillors be appointed to serve as ex-officio Members of Panels as follows –

To appoint Members to serve on the following Leisure Centre Management Committees-

¨  Huntingdon Leisure Centre Management Committee (6)

¨  St Neots Leisure Centre Management Committee (5)

¨  St Ivo Leisure Centre Management Committee (6)

¨  Ramsey Leisure Centre Management Committee (5)

¨  Sawtry Leisure Centre Management Committee (5)

The Local Government Act, 2000 requires the appointment of a minimum of one Cabinet Member to Leisure Centre Management Committees. Any non-Cabinet Members appointed are required to represent wards within the catchment area of the relevant Centre. The political balance requirements do not apply.

RESOLVED

that for the Municipal Year 2008/09, Members be appointed to serve on the Leisure Centre Management Committees as follows –

·  Huntingdon Leisure Centre Management Committee

Councillors K Baker, J J Dutton, Miss S Kemp, D J Priestman, T D Sanderson and L M Simpson

·  St Neots Leisure Centre Management Committee

Councillors R W Eaton, B Farrer, A Hansard, Mrs M J Thomas and R J West

St Ivo Leisure Centre Management Committee

Councillors J D Ablewhite, J T Bell, S J Criswell, J W Davies, D B Dew, and C J Stephens

·  Ramsey Leisure Centre Management Committee

Councillors E R Butler, D B Dew, I R Muir, R Powell and P A Swales

·  Sawtry Leisure Centre Management Committee

Councillors Mrs M Banerjee, D B Dew, J E Garner, P G Mitchell and J S Watt

To appoint four members to serve on the Country Park Joint Liaison Group.

RESOLVED

that Councillors M Baker, Mrs M Banerjee, C R Hyams and Mrs M J Thomas be appointed to serve on the Hinchingbrooke Country Park Joint Group for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To appoint six Members to serve on the Huntingdonshire Traffic Management Area Joint Committee.

The 2000 Act requires the appointment of a minimum of one Cabinet Member to the Joint Committee. Other Members may be appointed to the Joint Committee but the political balance requirements do not apply.

RESOLVED

that Councillors M Baker, P L E Bucknell, Mrs J Dew, R S Farrer, M F Newman and T D Sanderson be appointed to serve on the Huntingdonshire Traffic Management Area Joint Committee for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To appoint seven Members to serve on the Advisory Group.

A Sub-Group of the Cabinet that is exercising any decision-making powers delegated to it by the Cabinet must include only Cabinet Members.  Those whose terms of reference are merely advisory can include non-Cabinet Members.  Proportionality requirements do not apply to any Sub-Groups or Committees to which the Cabinet may appoint.

RESOLVED

that Councillors P L E Bucknell, S J Criswell, P J Downes, T V Rogers, L M Simpson, G S E Thorpe and Mrs M J Thomas be appointed to serve on the Customer First and Accommodation Advisory Group for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To appoint four Members to serve on the Advisory Group.

RESOLVED

  that membership of the Members’ Advisory Group for Public Conveniences remain in abeyance until further notice.

To appoint seven Members to serve on the Advisory Group.

RESOLVED

that Councillors I C Bates, P L E Bucknell, P J Downes, P G Mitchell, J M Sadler, P A Swales and G S E Thorpe be appointed to serve on Development Plan Policy Advisory Group for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To appoint five Members to serve on the Advisory Group.

RESOLVED

that Councillors Mrs B E Boddington, J W Davies, A Hansard, Mrs P A Jordan and L M Simpson be appointed to serve on the Safety Advisory Group for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To appoint six Members to serve on the Working Group.

RESOLVED

that Councillors M G Baker, I C Bates, P L E Bucknell, D B Dew, J A Gray, T V Rogers and R G Tuplin be appointed to serve on the Environment Strategy Working Group for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To appoint seven Members to the Working Group.

RESOLVED

that Councillors P L E Bucknell, K J Churchill,  Mrs J Dew, J E Garner, C R Hyams, D J Priestman, J M Sadler be appointed to serve on the Members’ Car Parking Working Group for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To consider a report by the Head of Environmental & Community Health Services, the Head of Planning Services and the Head of Environmental Management on the details of the National Air Traffic Service’s proposals to change the use of terminal control north airspace.

Authorised the Director of Environmental and Community Services, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Finance and Environment, to respond to the proposal by the National Air Traffic Service (NATs) to change the use of terminal control north, an area of airspace extending from London to Huntingdon.

Consideration was given to a report by the Heads of Environmental & Community Health Services, of Planning Services and of Environmental Management (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which described the key elements of a proposal by the National Air Traffic Service (NATs) to change the use of terminal control north, an area of airspace extending from London to Huntingdon.

By way of background, Members were advised that Luton and Stansted airports currently shared two holds in the vicinity of Royston and Sudbury. With the continued growth in air traffic, NATs had proposed that the current holds be relocated to new airspace and a new third hold created, which would result in two holds dedicated to Stansted and one for Luton.  It was explained that the proposed new hold for Luton would lead to a number of aircraft stacking over the south of the district. 

In reviewing the issues involved, Executive Councillors questioned the need to change existing holds and expressed the view that their retention, together with the creation of an additional new hold would better address the issues identified. Whilst discussing NATs proposals, Members expressed general concern about the impact of noise from aircraft stacking, the threat to tranquillity from noise and visual intrusion and the general detriment to the environment and well-being of the populations in rural areas.

Having raised concerns over NATs failure to take into account the population growth factor predicted for Cambridgeshire and the potential effects from the growth of air traffic, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the Director of Environmental and Community Services, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Finance and Environment, be authorised to respond to the consultation along the lines described in paragraphs 4.1 - 4.3 of the report now submitted.

To consider a report by the Head of Policy and Strategic Services on the Local  Area Agreement for Cambridgeshire – report to follow due to protracted negotiations with the Government Office.

Supported the content a new Local Area Agreement for Cambridgeshire.

By way of a report by the Head of Policy and Strategic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) Members were acquainted with the content a new Local Area Agreement for Cambridgeshire. The Agreement reflected the Government’s intention to streamline funding, encourage partnership working and direct investment towards local priorities.

Having discussed the Agreement together with a schedule of 34 performance indicators and 5 local targets, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the contents of the proposed new Local Area Agreement for Cambridgeshire be supported.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Administration to consider interim arrangements relating to the Council’s Scheme of Delegation and the designation of a Monitoring Officer following the impending retirement of the Director of Central Services.

Authorised the Chief Executive from 27^th June 2008 to undertake the executive and other powers delegated to the Director of Central Services by virtue of the Scheme of Delegation until a decision on and the recruitment of a new Director has been made.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered interim arrangements in relation to the Council’s scheme of delegation following the impending retirement of the Director of Central Services.

Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that with effect from 27^th June 2008 and pending a decision on and the recruitment of a new Director, the Chief Executive be authorised to undertake the executive and other powers delegated to the Director of Central Services by virtue of the Scheme of Delegation and otherwise.

To resolve:

  that the press and public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains exempt information relating to the financial affairs of particular persons (including the authority holding that information) and/or information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

RESOLVED

that the press and public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains exempt information relating to the financial affairs of particular persons.

To consider a report by the Head of Administration.

Agreed to accept the second lowest tender as referred to in the report for the supply of inserting equipment, in accordance with paragraph 11.4 of the Council’s Code of Procurement.

By means of a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered the circumstances in which the acceptance of a tender other than the lowest received had been recommended for the purchase of inserting equipment.

Having considered the information contained in the report, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the second lowest tender as referred to in the report now submitted, for the supply of inserting equipment be accepted in accordance with paragraph 11.4 of the Council’s Code of Procurement.

To consider a report by the Head of Information Management seeking approval to accept a quotation for the purchase of a 2 factor authentication system as part of the remote access project.

Noted the outcome of the tendering process for a two factor authentication system as part of the remote access project and the circumstances surrounding the acceptance of a quotation other than the lowest received.

By means of a report by the Head of Information Management (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Cabinet were apprised of the outcome of the tendering process for a two factor authentication system as part of the remote access project.

Having been advised of the circumstances surrounding the acceptance of a quotation other than the lowest received, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report now submitted be noted.