Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Cabinet held on 19^th November 2009.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 19th November 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  below.

Councillor I C Bates and K J Churchill declared personal interests in Minute Nos. 75 and 76 by virtue of their membership of Cambridgeshire County Council.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Customer Services to consider revised rural settlement lists.

Approved the revised rural settlement list.

The Cabinet considered a report by the Head of Customer Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the boundaries of rural settlements for the purposes of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997.  

In considering an amended draft rural settlement list for Huntingdonshire, Members were advised that changes had been necessary as a result of the growth and expansion experienced in some rural areas and specifically the Huntingdonshire (Parishes) Order 2009.  Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the revised rural settlement list, as appended to the report now submitted, be approved and made available for inspection as required.

To consider a report by the Head of Financial Services on the performance of the investment fund for the period April to September 2009.

Noted the respective levels of performance achieved during the period April to September 2009 by external fund managers and 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 September 2009 by external fund managers in the matter of the investment of the Council's capital receipts. 

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report be noted.

To consider the quarterly monitoring report prepared by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships.

Noted the Council's performance against targets within the corporate plan "Growing Success". 

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 targets within the Corporate Plan - "Growing Success".  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.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services on the findings of a health check undertaken to support the on-going growth and regeneration of St Neots.

Noted the work undertaken to date to produce the St. Neots Health Check.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the purpose and process of the St. Neots Health Check undertaken by his division.  The Health Check had explored St. Neots holistically and identified what could be done to improve the town in line with its predicted growth. The consultation process undertaken had created a vision for the whole of St. Neots and in noting that plans would be developed to achieve this and provide the evidence for future funding bids, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the work undertaken to date to produce the St. Neots Health Check be noted.

To consider a report by the Head of Environmental and Community Health Services on the outcome of two participatory budgeting pilots held recently in Huntingdonshire.

Agreed that further evaluation of the effectiveness of the two participatory budget initiatives be undertaken to include a breakdown of the costs involved, with a view to a report being considered at a future meeting and  that officers be requested to investigate with partners the level of funding they are prepared to commit to participatory budgeting and into what areas they feel it should be allocated.

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 findings of two participatory budgeting pilots undertaken in the Huntingdon North and Eynesbury Wards.

Members were reminded that the Government's recent community empowerment directions included encouragement that authorities should undertake some form of participatory budgeting by 2012.  The approach is believed to give people more of a direct stake in local governance and increase levels of civic and community participation and action.  The events had been successful in distributing a total of £120,000 of funding from the County and District Councils and Luminus Homes Group to community based agencies and statutory services offering community services.  Having considered the potential for expanding participatory budgeting in the future and in particular issues relating to the role of the Neighbourhood Forums/Panels and the financial implications for the authority, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the contents of the report now submitted be noted;

  (b)  that further evaluation of the effectiveness of the two participatory budget initiatives be undertaken to include a breakdown of the costs involved, with a view to a report being considered at a future meeting; and

  (c)  that officers be requested to investigate with partners the level of funding they are prepared to commit to participatory budgeting and into what areas they feel it should be allocated.

With the assistance of a report by the Heads of Democratic Services, Environmental & Community Health Services and People, Performance & Partnership Services on Cambridgeshire County Council’s proposed approach to Community Engagement and the implications for Huntingdonshire.

Endorsed the response to Cambridgeshire County Council's Community Engagement Strategy - "Shaping Places, Shaping Services".

By way of a report by the Heads of Democratic and Central Services, Environmental and Community Health Services and People, Performance & Partnership Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the content of Cambridgeshire County Council's Community Engagement Strategy - "Shaping Places, Shaping Services", along and a draft action plan.

The Cabinet were advised that the strategy aimed to increase the potential for local people to influence the development of their communities and the services provided.  Having discussed the implications for the District, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report be noted and the Council’s response to the Cambridgeshire County Council’s Community Engagement Strategy, outlined in paragraph 3 of the report now submitted, be endorsed.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Housing Strategy to consider the Older Peoples’ Housing Strategy – “Ageing Well in Huntingdonshire: Housing and Healthy Ageing for Older People”.

Approved the contents of the draft Older People's Housing Strategy - "Ageing Well in Huntingdonshire Housing and Healthy Ageing for Older People", together with an associated action plan.

By way of a report by the Head of Housing Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the contents of the draft Older People's Housing Strategy - "Ageing Well in Huntingdonshire Housing and Healthy Ageing for Older People", together with an associated action plan.

Having been informed that the strategy has been produced to examine the issues and identify the housing and related services that the District Council and Partners would need to deliver to support NHS Cambridgeshire in promoting healthy ageing and to improve the quality of life for older people the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the older people's housing strategy "Ageing Well in Huntingdonshire" together with the associated action plan be approved.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services

Endorsed the contents of the Council's response to the draft side road orders the A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton Improvements scheme published by the Highways Agency.

By means of a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with a proposed response to the draft side road orders for the A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton Improvements scheme published by the Highways Agency.

In reviewing the issues involved, Members supported the overall principle of the proposed enhancement however, comments were made in relation to the predicted pattern of increase and decrease in traffic in and around Huntingdon town centre and the proposed new interchanges at Brampton and Fen Drayton, possible flood risks, the impact on adjoining villages and the level of mitigation for issues such as noise and landscape. Given that the scheme and the Council’s response would be considered further at a special meeting of the Council on 22^nd December 2009, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report be noted.

To consider a report by the Head of Operations outlining a proposal to provide an education centre at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve.

Noted a scheme to provide an education centre at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining a scheme to provide an education centre at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve.  The scheme would provide a class room and office for use by educational groups and local schools.

Members were advised that funding of £280,000 for the scheme had been secured by the Wildlife Trust from the aggregate levy sustainability fund. The Countryside Services had obtained match funding of £70,000 from the Housing Growth Fund and further £4,000 donated by the Friends of Paxton Pits.  Having noted that the building would be owned by the District Council and leased to the Wildlife Trust for a period of 30 years, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report be noted.