Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 23rd October 2014.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 23rd October 2014 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary and other interests in relation to any Agenda item.

No declarations were received from the Members present.

To consider a report by the Head of Resources.

The Council was recommended to note the treasury management activity over the period April to September 2014. 

By way of a report by the Head of Resources (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet was updated on the extent of treasury management activity, including investment, borrowing and performance over the period April to September 2014.

Although operating in difficult market conditions, the Executive Councillor was pleased to report that the Council had achieved a 0.43% return on short term investment against a national performance benchmark of 0.23%.

In noting the remainder of the information contained in the report and the support for its conclusions by the Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well Being) and having received an explanation of the way in which governance arrangements might vary to enable property and investment activity to be managed in the future, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the Council be recommended to note the treasury management activity over the period April to September 2014. 

To consider progress against key activities and performance data in the Council’s Corporate Plan for the period 1st July to 30th September 2014.

The Cabinet noted progress made against key activities and the performance data contained in the Corporate Plan for the period July to September 2014.

Consideration was given to a report by the Policy and Performance Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding progress achieved against key activities in the Council’s Corporate Plan over the period 1st July to 30th September 2014.

In introducing the report, the Executive Leader acknowledged that the performance management framework would continue to evolve over time and that indicators might vary to reflect changes to corporate priorities and to achieve value for money objectives.  In terms of specific comments, the Cabinet noted that an updated customer engagement/services strategy would be submitted to a future meeting, that in view of the increase in staff sickness, managers would be further trained and supported to ensure consistent implementation of the sickness absence policy and that Officers were looking at ways under new and existing legislation to respond to fly tipping and litter nuisance.

Having carefully considered the comments of the Overview & Scrutiny Panels on the performance data relevant to the remits of the respective Panels and where necessary the response of the Executive Councillor to the points raised, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that progress made against key activities and the performance data contained in the Corporate Plan for the period July to September 2014 be noted.

To consider a report by the Head of Development on the business case for a Building Control Shared Service.

The Cabinet agreed to -

(a)  form a shared Building Control Service between South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire District Councils with South Cambridgeshire acting as Lead Authority for the current phase of the implementation;

(b)  authorise the Corporate Director (Delivery) after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning & Housing Strategy, to implement a Building Control Shared Service between South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire District Councils;

(c)  note the intention to use the Transformation Challenge Award to fund the short term costs necessary to implement the shared Building Control Service as determined by the Shared Service Board;

(d)  agree the approach described in Option 1 of Appendix A of the report - to underpin the further development of a Building Control Shared Service between South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire District Councils;

(e)  to take appropriate action to progress a business case with Cambridge City Council and an eventual shared Building Control Service involving all three partners with a view to reporting to all Councils in Spring 2015; and

(f)  authorise South Cambridgeshire District Council to act as lead authority and to attend the Shadow Regional Board for Building Control on behalf of Huntingdonshire District and Cambridge City Councils in order to explore the potential for a regional partnership on the understanding that any such future organisational arrangements be mutually agreed by both South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire District Councils (and also Cambridge City Council if they are involved in the Shared Service).

Further to Minute No 34 of the meeting held on 17th July 2014, a report by the Head of Development was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding progress achieved towards an agreement with South Cambridgeshire District Council on the implementation of a shared service arrangement for the Building Control function.  Members also considered the potential to extend the shared service arrangement to Cambridge City Council.

In presenting the case for Option 1, the proposal for a shared service between Huntingdonshire and South Cambridgeshire District Councils, the Executive Councillor highlighted the estimated saving of £100,000 which could result by bringing the two services together and the opportunity that existed, by strengthening the quality and resilience of the service, to generate additional income of approximately £60,000 per annum.  It was accepted, however, that the full business case for the proposal and that involving Cambridge City Council needed to be further developed with detailed budgetary implications for presentation to the Cabinet in March 2015. 

Having commended the views of the Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well Being) and noted their support for the proposal, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the formation of a shared Building Control Service between South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire District Councils with South Cambridgeshire acting as Lead Authority for this phase of the implementation be agreed;

(b)  that the Corporate Director (Delivery) be authorised, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning & Housing Strategy, to implement a Building Control Shared Service between South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire District Councils;

(c)  that the intention to use the Transformation Challenge Award to fund the short term costs necessary to implement the shared Building Control Service as determined by the Shared Service Board be noted;

(d)  that the approach described in Option 1 of Appendix A to the report now submitted - to underpin the further development of a Building Control Shared Service between South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire District Councils be agreed;

(e)  that appropriate action be taken to progress a business case with Cambridge City Council and an eventual shared Building Control Service involving all three partners with a view to reporting to all Councils in Spring 2015; and

(f)  that South Cambridgeshire District Council be authorised to act as lead authority and to attend the Shadow Regional Board for Building Control on behalf of Huntingdonshire District and Cambridge City Councils in order to explore the potential for a regional partnership on the understanding that any such future organisational arrangements be mutually agreed by both South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire District Councils (and also Cambridge City Council if they are involved in the Shared Service).