Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 13th December 2017.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 13th December 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 were received.

To receive a report from the Planning Services Manager.

(Executive Councillor: Cllr R Fuller)

That the District Council be authorised to act upon the Examiners’ reports and recommended modifications, and progress the neighbourhood plan, attached to the report now submitted as Appendix 1, to referendum.

Consideration was given to a report by the Senior Planning Policy Officer to which was appended the modified version of the Neighbourhood Plan, the examiners reports and the draft decision statement setting out the modifications considered by the Examiners as necessary to enable the submission of the Neighbourhood Plan to meet the required basic conditions (copies of which are appended in the Minute Book). The Executive Councillor for Housing and Planning advised the Cabinet that in order to best meet the needs of residents a second independent Examiner’s report was commissioned. It was noted that further to the findings of the second report, an outcome had been reached which, despite compromises, was acceptable to all. Members were asked to agree to act upon the Examiner’s report regarding the Houghton and Wyton Neighbourhood Plan leading to a referendum asking residents whether or not the Neighbourhood Plan should be brought into force and used by Huntingdonshire District Council as a supplementary planning document. Having noted the timetable for the proposal, it was

RESOLVED

that the District Council be authorised to act upon the Examiner’s reports and recommended modifications and progress the Houghton and Wyton Neighbourhood Plan to referendum.

To provide detail of the draft budget preparations to date.

(Executive Councillor: Cllr J A Gray)

That the overall Draft Budget 2018/19 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019/20 to 2022/23 (as attached as Appendix 1 of the report now submitted) be approved.

That, subject to the removal of the two proposed savings of Closed Churchyards and Bus Station Departure Levy, the savings and growth proposals (as per paragraphs 4.1 to 4.6 and attached as Appendices 3 and 4 of the report now submitted) of the draft Budget 2018/19 be approved.

That the draft Capital Programme 2018/19 to 2022/23 (as per paragraphs 9.1 to 9.2 of the report now submitted) be approved.

That the planned increase in Council Tax of 2% for 2018/19 and for the duration of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (as per paragraphs 7.1 to 7.3 and Table 6 of the report as submitted) be approved.

Executive Councillors were invited to consider a report by the Head of Resources, along with its related Appendices (copies of which are appended in the Minute Book). Members were advised that there would be a focus on local investment for the Commercial Investment Strategy (CIS) in 2018/19, specifically through medium term regeneration and joint ventures, to allow for an organic development of CIS. It was noted that the Commercialisation projects were in progress and that the draft budget clearly set out the achievements of the Council’s Transformation project and what it would deliver for residents in the future. Attention was drawn to Table 2 detailing service savings, income and growth, with the net growth shown being commendable. Members considered that the proposed budget still proposed challenges but were confident that this could be met with dedication and diligence.

The comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel were discussed and following consideration, it was agreed that the proposed savings achieved through Closed Churchyards and Bus Station Departure Levy required further investigation. It was therefore decided to remove these from the Draft Budget 2018/19.

RESOLVED

a)  that the overall Draft Budget 2018/19 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019/20 to 2022/23 (as attached as Appendix 1 of the report now submitted) be approved;

b)  that, subject to the removal of the two proposed savings of Closed Churchyards and Bus Station Departure Levy, the savings and growth proposals (as per paragraphs 4.1 to 4.6 and attached as Appendices 3 and 4 of the report now submitted) of the draft Budget 2018/19 be approved;

c)  that the draft Capital Programme 2018/19 to 2022/23 (as per paragraphs 9.1 to 9.2 of the report now submitted) be approved; and

d)  that the planned increase in Council Tax of 2% for 2018/19 and for the duration of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (as per paragraphs 7.1 to 7.3 and Table 6 of the report as submitted) be approved.