Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 18th October 2018 and the Special Meeting held on 8th November 2018.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 18th October and of the Special Meeting held on 8th November 2018 were approved as correct records 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 consider a report by the Head of Community on the proposed Gambling Act 2005 – Statement of Principles 2019 following the public consultation.

(Executive Councillor: Councillor Mrs M Beuttell).

Subject to the inclusion of an additional recommendation to delegate authority to the Head of Community (in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Operations and Regulation) to make any necessary further amendments as a result of forthcoming changes to the maximum stake for fixed-odd betting stations, the Cabinet -

Recommended to full Council that the Gambling Act 2005 - Statement of Principles 2019 – 2022 be approved.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Community (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was attached a revised Statement of Principles under the provisions of the Gambling Act for 2019 to 2022. The current Statement was scheduled to expire on 30th January 2019 and the Council was required to adopt and publish a new Statement in advance of that date or it would be unable to fulfil its licensing duties.

Cabinet were informed that consultation on the draft statement had taken place over a nine week period between 29th June and 31st August 2018 and attention was drawn to the resulting amendment from this exercise. This related to requirements for door supervisors (paragraph 16.14 in Appendix 1 to the report).

Subject to the inclusion of an additional recommendation to delegate authority to the Head of Community (in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Operations and Regulation) to make any necessary amendments to reflect imminent changes to the maximum stake for fixed-odd betting terminals, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the Council be recommended to approve and adopt the Gambling Act 2005 - Statement of Principles 2019 as set out in Appendix 1of the report now submitted. 

To note the Treasury Management performance for the first six months of 2018/19 and to recommend the report to Council for consideration.

(Executive Councillor: Councillor J A Gray).

Cabinet

Noted the Treasury Management performance for the first 6 months of 2018/19; and

RECOMMENDED

that the Treasury Management 6-month performance report be submitted to Council for consideration.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Resources (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were updated on the Council’s treasury management activity for the first six months of the year, including investment and borrowing activity and treasury performance.

Best practice and prescribed treasury management guidance required that Members were informed in respect of treasury management activity. All treasury management activity undertaken during the first half of 2018/19 complied with the CIPFA Code of Practice and relevant legislative provisions.

With regard to the performance of assets purchased as part of the Commercial Investment Strategy (Appendix E), it was reported that the decision made by the Cabinet at their Special meeting on 8th November 2018 was not captured within this report.

Having noted the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) at their meeting on 6 November 2018, it was reported that with the exception of the CCLA Property Fund the yields from all CIS investments were within or exceeding targeted returns of between 6-9%. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

a)  to note the treasury management performance for the first 6 months of 2018/19; and

b)  to RECOMMEND the Treasury Management 6-month performance report to Council for consideration.

To present progress against draft Key Actions and Corporate Indicators listed in the Council’s Corporate Plan 2018/22 for the period 1st July to 30th September 2018 and on current projects being undertaken.

(Executive Councillors: Councillor J A Gray and D M Tysoe).

Cabinet

Noted the progress made against draft Key Actions and Corporate Indicators in the Corporate Plan and current projects as summarised in Appendix A and detailed in Appendices B and C of the submitted report.

Noted the Council’s financial performance at the end of September as detailed in Appendix D and the register of reviews of Commercial Investment Strategy propositions (Appendix E).

The Cabinet considered a report (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on progress against the Key Activities and Corporate Indicators listed in the Council’s Corporate Plan for 2018/22 for the period 1st July to 30th September 2018. The report also incorporated progress on current projects being undertaken at the Council and financial performance information at the end of September 2018.

With regard to those performance indicators where targets had been missed by more than the defined variance, the Executive Councillor for Digital and Customer reiterated the need to see further improvements in the reduction of unavoidable contact between Customer Services and the departments for which they provided services.

In terms of Council projects which were currently in the delivery stage, the Executive Councillor for Partnership and Well-Being was pleased to report that work had commenced on the conversion of the synthetic pitch at the St Neots Leisure Centre, which meant that progress was now on track.

Having noted the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) and that these had received comprehensive responses at the meeting on 6th November 2018, it was

RESOLVED

a)  that progress made against Key Activities and Corporate Indicators in the Corporate Plan and current projects, as summarised in Appendix A and detailed in Appendices be noted; and

b)  that the Council’s financial performance at the end of September, as detailed in section 4 and in Appendix D and the register of reviews of Commercial Investment Strategy propositions at Appendix E be noted.

To consider and comment on the review of the initial lettings on the Bearscroft Farm development site.

(Executive Councillor: Councillor R Fuller).

Cabinet noted the outcome of the review of the initial lettings on the Bearscroft Farm development site.

Further to Minute No. 17/80 and with the assistance of a report by the Housing Needs and Resourcing Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Cabinet received an update on the initial letting of 51 affordable rented properties on the Bearscroft Farm development site.

It was reported that whilst it was still too early to determine the success of this lettings plan, anecdotal feedback from Cross Keys Homes has been positive and there were signs that the Bearscroft development had made a positive start to delivering a mixed and balanced community.

Having noted that the Executive Councillor for Housing, Planning and Economic Development had undertaken to provide a more comprehensive report to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Customers and Partnerships) at a later date when further information was available, it was

RESOLVED

that the review of the initial lettings on the Bearscroft Farm development site be noted.

To receive the Minutes of the meeting of the Hinchingbrooke Country Park Joint Group held on 12th October 2018.

(Executive Councillor: Councillor J Palmer).

The draft Minutes of the Hinchingbrooke Country Park Joint Group meeting held on 12th October 2018 were received and noted.