Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 16th March 2017.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 16th March 2017 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 of interests were received.

To consider a report by the Head of Development on progress of the Local Plan preparation and on the main elements of the evidence base currently under preparation.

Note progress on preparation of the Huntingdonshire Local Plan to 2036, its supporting evidence base and the highways and transport infrastructure projects necessary for its delivery.

By means of a report by the Head of Development (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet was updated on progress of the preparation of the Huntingdonshire Local Plan to 2036, its supporting evidence base and the highways and transport infrastructure projects necessary for its delivery. Having noted the expectation that the Plan would be submitted to the Secretary of State in December 2017, it was

RESOLVED

  that progress of the preparation of the Huntingdonshire Local Plan to 2036, its supporting evidence base and the highways and transport infrastructure projects necessary for its delivery be noted.

To consider a report by the Planning Service Manager to which is attached the draft Cambridgeshire Flood and Water Supplementary Planning Document.

Adopt the proposed ‘Cambridgeshire Flood and Water’ as a Supplementary Planning Document.

Note the comments from the Consultation Statement and the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitat Regulations Assessment Screening Reports.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Development to which was appended the Cambridgeshire Flood and Water Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). Copies of the report and the SPD are appended in the Minute Book.

Executive Councillors were informed that the SPD had been in use for 18 months but that adoption would give it additional weight. Other related polices would be developed in due course. Comment was made on the comprehensive and detailed nature of the comments made during the consultation and on the fact that many of the comments had been incorporated into the SPD. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

a)  that the Cambridgeshire Flood and Water Supplementary Planning Document be adopted, and

b)  that the comments from the Consultation Statement and the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitat Regulations Assessment Screening Reports be noted.

To consider a report by the Head of Development on the proposed upgrading of the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet.

Support the adoption of the ‘Orange’ route, subject to any final alignment of a route east of St. Neots and confirmation that the existing A428 will be retained as a local road along its whole length between the A1 and Caxton Gibbet as outlined at Sec. 5.1.

Support proposals for Black Cat roundabout in accordance with Option C that provides a free-flow route for the A421/A428 and the A1 through this junction, as well as providing and all movements arrangements within the junction.

Advise Highways England that any support is conditional on ‘future-proofing’ any A1 improvement scheme and that the current scheme would not prejudice or prevent that future route improvement.

Determine that this route will eventually form part of the wider Oxford to Cambridge Expressway scheme and that nothing emerging in terms of the design of this scheme must prejudice the wider Expressway proposals.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Development (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on consultation by Highways England on proposed upgrading of the A428 between Black Cat roundabout at the A1 and Caxton Gibbet at the A1198. Executive Councillors discussed the ways in which the improvements would support growth in the St Neots area. They also took into consideration their links with the A1 East of England Strategic Study.

Having noted the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economy and Growth), on the grounds that the Orange route would result in there being significantly fewer cars on the A428 compared with the other two options, it was

RESOLVED

a)  that, subject to any final alignment of a route east of St. Neots and confirmation that the existing A428 will be retained as a local road along its whole length between the A1 and Caxton Gibbet as outlined in Section 5.1 of the report now submitted, the adoption of the ‘Orange’ route be supported;

b)  that proposals for Black Cat roundabout in accordance with Option C that provides a free-flow route for the A421/A428 and the A1 through this junction, as well as providing and all movements arrangements within the junction be supported;

c)  that Highways England be advised that any support is conditional on ‘future-proofing’ any A1 improvement scheme and that the current scheme would not prejudice or prevent that future route improvement, and

d)  that the route will eventually form part of the wider Oxford to Cambridge Expressway scheme and nothing emerging in terms of the design of this scheme must prejudice the wider Expressway proposals.

At 7.21pm Councillor Mrs A Dickinson took her seat at the meeting.

To consider a report by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Communities and Environment) on the findings of a study on CCTV.

Recognised the high value of the Council’s CCTV service to Huntingdonshire’s residents, businesses and Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

Recognised the need to review all options to reduce the operational costs of the CCTV service.

(Councillor T D Alban was in attendance for consideration of this item).

Pursuant to Minute No 16/38 of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Communities and Environment) held on 4th October 2016, with the aid of a report by the CCTV Task and Finish Group (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet was acquainted with the findings and final recommendations of the CCTV Task and Finish Group. Councillor T D Alban, Chairman of the Task and Finish Group, drew Executive Councillors’ attention to the importance businesses attached to CCTV, the difficulties in obtaining evidence to support the value of CCTV and the benefits of providing CCTV at events.

Following a question by an Executive Councillor on the role in the investigation of existing and potential new partners, it was confirmed that Town and Parish Council representatives had been involved. Comment was then made on the need:

·  for measures to improve public perception of CCTV;

·  to demonstrate to Town and Parish Councils the benefits of CCTV;

·  to be able to stream footage to police on the street, and

·  to discuss the value of CCTV with the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Having expressed their gratitude to Members of the Task and Finish Group and to Officers for their work on CCTV, it was

RESOLVED

a)  that the high value of the Council’s CCTV service to Huntingdonshire’s residents, businesses and Cambridgeshire Constabulary be recognised, and

b)  that the need to review all options to reduce the operational costs of the CCTV service be recognised.

To consider a report by the Head of Operations on the terms of the Strategic Review of Parking.

Project approved to proceed.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which set out the background, objectives and methodology of a review of parking by a Task and Finish Group established by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economy and Growth). With regard to the approach to be adopted, following discussion, it was agreed there was a need to balance the service required and valued by the residents of the District with its resource implications rather than focus on the latter. In addition, links should be made to other corporate objectives such as economic development. To achieve these aims, a progressive approach to parking was endorsed.

In response to expressions of interest in the Review, Executive Councillors R Fuller and Mrs A Dickinson were invited to participate in the work of the Task and Finish Group. Following a suggestion by Executive Councillor R Harrison, in order to engage with stakeholders, Executive Councillor J E White undertook to meet with the Chamber of Commerce to obtain its members’ views.

Having received the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economy and Growth), it was recognised that the timeline for completion of the review was challenging. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the terms and approach of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economy and Growth) Strategic Review of Parking be endorsed.

To receive the Minutes of the meeting of the Hinchingbrook Country Park Joint Group held on 24th March 2017.

To receive the minutes of the Hinchingbrooke Country Park Joint Group on 24^th March 2017.

RESOLVED

that the draft minutes of the meeting of the Hinchingbrooke Country Park Joint Group held on 24th March 2017 be received and noted.