Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 19 May 2010.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 19th May 2010 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 overleaf.

No declarations were received.

By way of a report by the Head of Financial Services, to receive the annual report on treasury management 2009/10.

Noted the respective levels of performance for the year ending 31st March 2010 by fund managers in the investment of the Council's Capital Receipts and recommended the report to full Council.

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 for the year ending 31st March 2010 by fund managers in the investment of the Council's Capital Receipts.

In accordance with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's Treasury Management Code of Practice, Executive Councillors received the views of the Overview and Scrutiny (Economic Well-Being) Panel on the matter.  Particular attention was drawn to a scheme through which town and parish councils can deposit funds with the District Council for investment. Having regard to the strict legal framework within which the scheme operates, the Panel were of the opinion that there might be some benefit in varying the scheme’s current terms for investments that exceed £250k.

Having acknowledged that the Council had performed well with regard to the returns it had achieved on its investment in the year, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report be noted prior to its submission to the Council.

To receive a report by the Head of Planning Services seeking approval for the first Ramsey Market Town Transport Strategy.

Approved the content of the Ramsey Market Town Transport Strategy, which will initially form part of the Cambridgeshire Local Transport Plan (LTP) 2006 - 2011 prior to its incorporation into the third LTP. 

With the aid of a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered the content of the Ramsey Market Town Transport Strategy, which will initially form part of the Cambridgeshire Local Transport Plan (LTP) 2006 - 2011 prior to its incorporation into the third LTP.

In so doing, Executive Councillors were acquainted with the steps to be taken to implement the programme of schemes identified for the next five years including improved transport provision and measures to manage traffic.  Having received assurances that the strategy will be reviewed between now and 2015 to take into account the emerging Huntingdonshire Local Development Framework, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the Ramsey Market Town Transport Strategy, as appended to the report now submitted, be approved.

To consider a report by the Director of Environmental & Community Services outlining a suggested management arrangement for the proposed Loves Farm Community Building.

Approved  Loves Farm Residents’ Association as  the managing organisation for the Loves Farm Community Building subject to the establishment of an appropriate charitable trust and the receipt of an appropriate business plan.

By means 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 options for the future management of a new community building to be built at Loves Farm Development, St. Neots.

Consideration was given to two expressions of interest for the management of the building from St. Neots Town Council and an established Loves Farm Residents’ Association. In discussing the terms of any transfer, Executive Councillors were advised that the Residents’ Association had expressed a wish to be involved in both the design and supplementary funding of the building.  Given their overall enthusiasm for the project, the long term advantages of retaining the freehold rights for the land and the benefits of community ownership, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that Loves Farm Residents’ Association be approved as  the managing organisation for the Loves Farm Community Building subject to the establishment of an appropriate charitable trust and the receipt of an appropriate business plan.

To consider a report by the Chief Officers’ Management Team regarding the outcome of consultation on proposals to introduce new Orders governing the use of car parks operated by the Council.

Authorised the Director of Central Services to proceed with the making of the Off Street Parking Places Orders 2010, without holding a local inquiry.

(Councillors B Chapman and R S Farrer – Ward Members for St Neots Priory Park and Eaton Ford respectively, were in attendance and spoke on this item)

Further to Minute No. 09/100 and with the assistance of a report prepared by Chief Officer's Management Team (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered the responses received to the consultation on the Off-Street Parking Places Orders 2010, summarised in the appendices to the report.

Members were reminded that the Orders would introduce a number of changes to the existing orders including the use of parking provision at Riverside Car Park in Huntingdon, control of free parking in Ramsey, introduction of charging at Hinchingbrooke Country Park, Huntingdon, Riverside Park and Cambridge Street, St. Neots.

In reviewing the issues involved, the Cabinet considered comments by Councillors Chapman and Farrer as to their concerns for St Neots town centre and local residents of the proposed charges for the Riverside Car Park. At the same time, attention was drawn to the receipt of two petitions objecting to these charges.

Members’ attention was drawn also to the conclusions reached by the Overview and Scrutiny (Environmental Well-Being) Panel on the matter.  The Panel had discussed proposals, to introduce charging at Hinchingbrooke Country Park, particularly the introduction of a “Friend’s of the Park” car park permit.  In that respect, the Cabinet concurred with the Panel that the use of this car park would need to be managed in such a way to ensure that membership of friends was not used to enable motorists to continue to park without incurring a charge.

On the issue of holding a local inquiry, Executive Councillors agreed with the Panel that there had been ample opportunity for members of the public to comment and therefore there was no reason why a local inquiry should be required.

Having noted the concerns of the Executive Councillor for Environment and Information Technology over the implementation of the charges at Riverside Park, St Neots and the limited number and duration of the free car parking spaces proposed, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the Director of Central Services be authorised to proceed with the making of the Off Street Parking Places Orders 2010, without holding a local inquiry.

To consider a report by the Head of Environment & Community Health Services (Community Manager) regarding the impact on Huntingdonshire communities of changes to financial support of voluntary groups in the County.

Requested further information from Cambridgeshire County Council and NHS Cambridgeshire on the benefits and cost implications of delivering a single funding agreement for Councils of Voluntary Services in Cambridgeshire. 

With the aid of a report by the Community Manager, the Cabinet was acquainted with proposals published by Cambridgeshire County Council and NHS Cambridgeshire to introduce a single funding agreement for the Council's of Voluntary Services (CVS) across Cambridgeshire (copies of the report and the funding agreement are appended in the Minute Book). 

Members were advised that Cambridgeshire County Council currently provided financial support to all CVS and that a number of inconsistencies and inequalities existed in the scheme.  Having expressed concern over the potential cost implication to the authority of delivering the new arrangement, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridgeshire NHS be requested to provide further information on the benefits and cost implications of delivering a single funding agreement for Councils of Voluntary Services in Cambridgeshire. 

To consider a report by the Head of People, Performance & Partnerships containing details of the Council’s performance against its priority objectives.

Noted the Council's performance against the targets within the Corporate Plan.  The report included data and narrative on the achievement against targets for each of the Council's priority objectives.

The Cabinet received and noted a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which reviewed the Council's performance against the targets within the Corporate Plan.  The report which included data and narrative on the achievement against targets for each of the Council's priority objectives had been considered also by the Overview and Scrutiny Panels whose comments were relayed to the Cabinet.

Executive Councillors were acquainted also with plans to revise and streamline the Council’s performance management procedure in the light of changes to local priorities, circumstances and national inspection regimes.

To consider a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services in relation to the appointment/nomination of representatives to serve on a variety of organisations.

Approved the Council's representation on a variety of organisations/partnerships, and authorised the Chief Executive, after consultation with the Deputy Leader and Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet, to nominate alternative representatives as necessary throughout the year.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding the Council's representation on a variety of organisations/partnerships, it was

RESOLVED

  (a)  that, with the exception of the following nominations be made to the organisation as set out in the report now submitted:-

¨  Cambridgeshire Health, Well-Being and Supporting People Member Group – Councillor A Hansard (substitute – Councillor L M Simpson);

¨  Huntingdonshire Flood Forum – Councillor J A Gray; and

¨  Ramsey Neighbourhood Management Board – Councillor P L E Bucknell.

  (b)  that, in the event that changes are required to the Council's representatives during the course of the year, the Chief Executive, after consultation with the Deputy Leader and Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet, be authorised to nominate alternative representatives as necessary.