Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Cabinet held on 17 December 2009.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 17th December 2009 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 on progress of the 2009/10 programme.

Received and noted the variations to the approved Capital Programme 2009/2010 and the consequential revenue impact. 

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) highlighting variations to the approved Capital Programme 2009/2010 and the consequential estimated revenue impact.  It was

RESOLVED

  that the report be received and the variations detailed in the Annexes appended thereto noted.

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

Noted the spending variations in the revenue budget as at 31st December 2009.

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

In discussing the total amounts of payments written-off in the year for Council Tax and National Non Domestic Rates, Members were advised that there had been an increase in the number of company liquidations during 2009 as a consequence of the downturn in the economic climate which had led to an increase in the value of debts being written-off.

Members noted that the expected outturn of revenue expenditure was £22.2m which represented a reduction in the budget deficit of £1.2m.  However, Executive Councillors acknowledged that some £2.6m of reserves was required to balance the budget and that to achieve the level of savings in future years that there would be one-off costs and “invest to save” requirements.  In these circumstances Executive Councillors endorsed the proposal to establish a “special reserve” using the un-required reserve in the current year for this purpose.  Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the spending variations in the Revenue Budget as at 31st December 2009 and proposal to establish a special reserve be noted.

To consider a report by the Estates and Property Manager regarding the Council’s Asset Management Plan.

Noted the Council's management of assets against National Property Performance Indicators for 2008/2009.

The Cabinet received a report by the Head of Law, Property and Governance (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the Council's management of assets against national property performance management indicators for 2008/2009.

Having noted that registration of all land and property with the land registry was nearly completed and that work was progressing to incorporate all information relating to the Council's property ownership and asset management on a new computerised database, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report be noted, together with performance management indicator information contained in Appendix A.

To receive a report by the Head of Operations on proposed improvements to kerbside recycling services.

Approved the extension of the current kerbside dry recycling service to include glass collection from 29th March 2010; agreed that the payment of recycling credit be continued at the current rate per tonne to the providers of bring sites during the financial year 2010/2011; supported the  phased removal of existing recycling banks from bring sites and a change to the types of material collected, to include materials not currently recycled through kerbside services, using third party providers from either the private sector, or 3rd sector with the aim of introducing this by April 2011; agreed that the future payment of recycling credits from April 2011 be on the basis of an equitable division ensuring that the full cost of managing and operating bring sites is met from the income received  and authorised the Director of Environment & Community Services, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Operational and Countryside Services to determine the appropriate way forward for the scheme’s delivery.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered proposals to expand the existing arrangements for the Council's kerbside recycling services to include a collection of glass bottles and containers.

Having received the deliberations of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being) on the matter, Members discussed the perceived benefits, the estimated cost of implementing the additional service and operational considerations.  Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the contents of the report be noted and the current kerbside dry recycling service be extended to include glass collection from 29th March 2010;

  (b)  that payment of recycling credits be continued at the current rate per tonne to the providers of bring sites during the financial year 2010/2011;

  (c)  that a phased removal of existing glass recycling banks from bring sites and the introduction of new types of material collected, to include materials not currently recycled through the kerbside service, using third party providers from either the private, public or the third sectors be approved with the aim of introducing this by April 2011;

  (d)  that the future payment of recycling credits from April 2011 on the basis of an equitable division which ensures that the full costs of managing and operating bring sites is met from the income received be approved; and

  (d)  that the Director of Environment & Community Services, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Operational and Countryside Services, be authorised to determine the appropriate way forward for the scheme’s delivery.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Planning Services to consider the draft Development Brief for the Old Fire Station, St Neots.

Approved the content of the draft planning brief for the redevelopment of the Old Fire Station and Depot, Huntingdon Street, St. Neots as Interim Planning Guidance to the Huntingdonshire Local Plan and authorised the Head of Planning Services to make any minor consequential amendments to the text and illustrations, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was attached a schedule summarising those representations received during consultation on the draft planning brief which would guide the redevelopment of the Old Fire Station and Depot, Huntingdon Street, St. Neots.

Having considered the responses received along with the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) on the matter, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the content of the planning brief for the Old Fire Station and Depot, Huntingdon Street, St Neots be approved as Interim Planning Guidance to the Huntingdonshire Local Plan; and

  (b)  that the Head of Planning Services be authorised to make any minor consequential amendments to the text and illustrations, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport.

To consider a report by the Heads of Law, Property & Governance and Financial Services seeking approval to property transactions in accordance with the approved Masterplan for Sapley East.

  Authorised the Director of Central Services, after consultation with the Executive Councillors for Resources and Policy and for Finance, to approve terms for the land and related transactions required to achieve the Master Plan for development of land to the East of Sapley Square, Huntingdon.

Further to Minute No. 08/148, the Cabinet considered a report by the Heads of Law, Property and Governance and of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which sought approval for a series of property transactions in accordance with the approved Master Plan for the development of land to the East of Sapley Square, Huntingdon.

In discussing the financial cost of the scheme, Members noted that the Council’s partner in the scheme, the Hunts Forum had submitted a bid for grant funding towards the development of the proposed community enterprise centre referred to in the plan. Having emphasised the need to ensure that the proposals do not incur any additional costs to the Council, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the Director of Central Services, after consultation with the Executive Councillors for Resources and Policy and for Finance, be authorised to approve terms for the land and related transactions required to achieve the Master Plan for development of land to the East of Sapley Square, Huntingdon.