Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 23^rd June 2011.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 23 June 2011 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.

To receive a report by the Head of Financial Services.

noted the spending variations for the revenue budget for 2010/1011, the present position in terms of the revenue budget for 2011/12 outturn and position on debts collected and written-off.

A report by the Head of Financial Services was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which contained details of the final outturn for revenue expenditure for 2010/11 and the variations between the original and the outturn budget for that year.

Executive Councillors were pleased to note that as a result of under spending the Council had been successful in saving an additional £1 million in revenue reserves.  Having expressed their thanks to staff for their efforts in achieving the budgetary outcomes, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the spending variations for the revenue budget for 2010/1011 be noted;

(b)  that the present position in terms of the revenue budget for 2011/12 outturn be noted, and

(c)  that the position on debts collected and written-off as set out in Annex C to the report now submitted be noted.

To receive a report by the Head of Financial Services.

noted the outturn for capital expenditure in 2010/11 and adjustments for 2011/12 budget.

A report by the Head of Financial Services was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) detailing the outturn for capital expenditure in 2010/11 and adjustments for 2011/12 budget.

In noting variations in the programme, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the report be received and the expenditure variations noted.

By way of a report by the Head of Financial Services, to receive the annual report on treasury management 2010/11.

Noted the respective levels of performance for the year ending 31st March 2011 by fund managers in 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 for the year ending 31st March 2011 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. 

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.

Report of the Planning Services Manager

Noted and supported the on-going development of the Cambridgeshire Future Transport Initiative  and the work of the Governance and Solutions Group in association with the community objectives contained within the Council Plan for 2011 – 2015 and approved in principle the alignment of the current District Council Rural Transport Budget with the budgets of other Cambridgeshire partners within the future Transport Initiative, in order to deliver more effective transport services, subject to the protection of existing services or their replacement as part of the overall project.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the Cambridgeshire Future Transport Initiative, being developed to provide alternative ways of meeting county-wide transport needs. The report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well Being) whose comments were relayed to the Cabinet.

Members were acquainted with the background to the initiative which had been agreed by those partners involved in the delivery of passenger transport across Cambridgeshire in response to an announcement by the County Council that all public transport subsidies across the County would end by April 2015. The work was being overseen by a cross-authority member led Governance group comprising the County Council, NHS Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire Acre with representation from Huntingdonshire District Council and support from consultants and would result in the development of Transport for Cambridgeshire partnership .

In considering the perceived implications for the Council, Executive Councillors were advised that the authority currently supported comprehensive and highly regarded community transport based services across the District within a budget of £83.5k per annum.  Under the new arrangements this budget would be aligned with other partners to improve transport services throughout Cambridgeshire.  The Cabinet recognised the importance of safeguarding current services delivered through Service Level Agreements and the need to ensure that the Initiative’s objectives reflects those within the new Council Plan.

Having acknowledged the Overview and Scrutiny Panel’s input into the matter, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the on-going development of the Cambridgeshire Future Transport Initiative  and the work of the Governance and Solutions Group in association with the community objectives contained within the Council Plan for 2011 – 2015 be noted and supported; and

(b)  that the alignment of the current District Council Rural Transport Budget with the budgets of other Cambridgeshire partners within the future Transport Initiative, in order to deliver more effective transport services, be approved in principle subject to the protection of existing services or their replacement as part of the overall project.

To appoint representatives to the following :

·  one Member to serve on the Nene & Ouse Community Transport Board of Trustees; and

·  three Members to serve on the One Leisure Huntingdon Sports Centre Joint Committee.

Appointed Councillor P L E Bucknell to serve on the Nene & Ouse Community Transport Board of Trustees and Councillors S Cawley, J J Dutton and T D Sanderson to the One Leisure Huntingdon Sports Centre Joint Committee.

The Cabinet was invited to consider appointing representatives to serve on the Nene & Ouse Community Transport Board of Trustees and the One Leisure Huntingdon Sports Centre Joint Committee.

Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

(a)  that Councillor P L E Bucknell be appointed to serve on the Nene & Ouse Community Transport Board of Trustees; and

(b)  that Councillors S Cawley, J J Dutton and T D Sanderson be appointed to serve on the One Leisure Huntingdon Sports Centre Joint Committee.

Report by the General Manager One Leisure.

Authorised the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Health and Active Communities, to negotiate and finalise the draft heads of terms for the districts leisure centres and enter into a lease and a new management agreement, initially with Longsands Learning Partnership and in due course with each of the other schools and colleges aspiring to academy status as necessary.

(The Chairman announced that he proposed to admit the following urgent item in accordance with Section 100B (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 given the need to sign the agreement by the end of July 2011)

Consideration was given to a report by the General Manager, One Leisure (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) seeking approval to negotiate new Management Agreements for the District’s five leisure centres.

Members were advised that the five secondary schools linked to the leisure centres sites had committed themselves to achieving Academy status and as a result of this, ownership of the school sites would transfer from the County to the appropriate schools/colleges  As a consequence, management agreements would now need to be entered into directly with the schools/colleges themselves. Having been advised that materially the agreements would be the same as that with the County Council and that Ernulf School and Longsands School in St Neots have already combined to create a unified body, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Health and Active Communities, be authorised to negotiate and finalise the draft heads of terms for the districts leisure centres and enter into a lease and a new management agreement, initially with Longsands Learning Partnership and in due course with each of the other schools and colleges aspiring to academy status as necessary.

RESOLVED

that the press and public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains exempt information which relates to the financial or business affairs of the authority.

RESOLVED

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

To consider a report by the Leisure Centres General Manager.

Consideration was given to a report by the General Manager, One Leisure ( a copy of which is appended in the Annex to the Minute Book) outlining proposals to re-model the St Ives Leisure Centre. Executive Councillors were advised that the proposals were intended to reduce the Centre’s net operating costs and to increase admissions and participation levels to meet both Government and Council health agenda targets.

The Cabinet were acquainted with details of the four options for the future of the Centre and the rationale, financial implications and potential income level of each.

Particular reference was drawn to the proposed closure of the rifle range which had not been incorporated into the remodelling proposals. Members were advised that the area produced a minimal amount of income and that the Rifle and Pistol Club were not in a position to make a significant contribution to the cost of providing a smaller facility within the development.  Furthermore, Executive Councillors were advised that alternative target shooting sports clubs were being run in Yaxley and Cambridge.

Having received the deliberations of the Overview and Scrutiny Panels (Economic Well Being and Social Well Being) and in thanking them for their input, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that option B for the redevelopment of One Leisure St Ives be supported and the Leisure Centres General Manager requested to issue tenders in respect of this; and

(b)  that following the final tender evaluation a further report be submitted to the Cabinet including an assessment of the business case and the social impact of the proposal.