Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 20th June 2019.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 20th June 2019 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 provide final comment on the refreshed Corporate Plan Refresh 2019/20.

Executive Leader: Councillor G Bull.

Cabinet approved the revised key actions and performance indicators for inclusion in the Corporate Plan for 2019/20 and endorsed its submission to Council.

Consideration was given to a report by the Business Intelligence and Performance Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) providing an update on the refresh of the Corporate Plan 2019/20. Having considered the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) and in receiving assurances that the issue of contaminated recycling waste were reviewed and monitored by Officers at service plan level, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Council be recommended to approve the revised key actions and performance indicators for inclusion in the Corporate Plan for 2019/20.

To consider a report by the Corporate Director (Services) on the Shared Services’ 2018/19 Annual Report.

Executive Councillor: D M Tysoe.

Cabinet endorsed the Shared Service Annual Report for 2018/19 as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report now submitted and delegated authority to the Shared Service Management Board to agree any final amendments to the Annual Report in line with comments received from all three individual partner Councils.

The Cabinet received a report by the Corporate Director (Services) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding the Shared Services’ 2018/19 Annual Report. The report referred to the progress made over the last year by the 3C ICT, Legal and Building Control shared services against the 2017/18 Business Plans in terms of their financial and service performance including customer satisfaction and work to deliver on development projects.

In introducing the item, the Corporate Director (Services) drew Members’ attention to key themes which had emerged from the report, which included the move towards the delivery of more effective services through the use of digital and technology solutions. It was further noted that the legal service would be reviewing its current operating practices by identifying opportunities for a more commercialised approach to its work. In response to a question raised by the Executive Councillor for Strategic Resources, it was confirmed that the vision across all three partner authorities were broadly the same in the medium to long term.

Having been apprised with the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) and in noting that procedures were in place to extend the term of the Shared Services Partnership Agreement beyond 30th September 2020, it was

RESOLVED

(a)  that the Shared Service Annual Report for 2018/19 as attached as Appendix 1 of the report now submitted be endorsed; and

(b)  that delegated authority be given to the Shared Service Management Board to agree any final amendments to the Annual report in line with comments received from all three individual partner Councils.

To receive a report from the Planning Services Manager on the Huntingdon Town Council Neighbourhood Plan Examination Outcome and Progression to Referendum.

Executive Councillor: R Fuller.

Agreed that the District Council should act upon the Examiner’s report and recommended modifications, and progress the neighbourhood plan to referendum.

With the aid of a report by the Planning Service Manager (Growth) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet gave consideration to a report seeking agreement to act upon the Examiner’s report into the Huntingdon Neighbourhood Plan leading to a referendum on whether or not it should be brought into force as part of the statutory development plan.

Owing to an omission with section 4 of the report, the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) were tabled at the meeting (a copy of which is also appended in the Minute Book). Having concurred with the comments made, it was

RESOLVED

  that the District Council should act upon the Examiner’s report and recommended modifications, and progress the neighbourhood plan to referendum.

To receive a report from the Planning Services Manager on the Community Infrastructure Levy Spend Allocation.

Executive Councillor: R Fuller.

The Cabinet has committed funding as detailed in paragraph 9.2 of the report now submitted and invites the proposers of the projects detailed in paragraph 9.3 of the report now submitted to resubmit with additional information when bids are next invited.

The Cabinet considered a report prepared by the Planning Services Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining the potential next infrastructure projects to be funded in whole or in part by an amount of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) monies received to date.

The Executive Councillor for Housing, Planning and Economic Development drew attention to the list of recommended projects referred to in paragraph 9.2 of the report and explained that further engagement with Members and Town and Parish Councils would be expected in the future ahead of the next round of applications. In noting the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) and following comment on the unsuccessful application made by Alconbury Special School, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  to commit funding as detailed in paragraph 9.2 of the report now submitted and invites the proposers of the projects detailed in paragraph 9.3 to resubmit with additional information when bids are next invited.

To consider a report by the Planning Services Manager on the Approval of Housing Delivery Test Action Plan.

Executive Councillor: R Fuller.

The Cabinet endorsed the content of the Action Plan as attached at Appendix 1 of the report now submitted.  

Consideration was given to a report prepared by the Housing Services Manager (Growth) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which set out the background to the Housing Delivery Test which included how it was calculated and the results for Huntingdonshire.

In introducing the report, the Head of Development advised that the Delivery Test had been introduced as part of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) as a new indicator for net housing delivery over the previous 3 years against the housing requirement for the area. A delivery rate of at least 95% completions against the requirement was expected to be achieved. Attention was drawn to the sanctions imposed upon local authorities who failed to achieve the requirement which included the publication of an action plan, a 20% buffer on Local Planning Authorities 5-year land supply if housing delivery falls below 85% and the presumption in favour of sustainable development if housing delivery falls below 75% once transitional arrangements have ended.

In noting that the District Council had achieved a 92% delivery rate and in receiving the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth), it was

RESOLVED

  that the Action Plan at Appendix 1 of the report now submitted be endorsed by the Cabinet.

To receive a report from the Planning Services Manager outlining the Council’s response to the Highways England consultation on the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements.

Executive Councillor: R Fuller. 

Delegated authority was approved by the Cabinet to submit the Council’s final consultation submission comments on the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet Improvements to the Head of Development and Planning Service Manager (Growth), in consultation with the Executive Leader and Deputy Executive Leader.

With the aid of a report prepared by the Planning Services Manager (Growth) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with an outline of the consultation on the proposals for improving the route of the A428 between the Black Cat roundabout and Caxton Gibbet roundabout, including the construction of a new dual carriageway and a number of new junctions.

The Head of Development advised that key messages in the draft response developed in conjunction with partner organisations included the importance of the project and the request for it to be progressed sooner rather than later, the need for multimodal transport solutions and the benefits of commencing improvement works from the Caxton Gibbet end of the scheme. In response to questions, it was confirmed that consideration had been given to the A1 as part of the A428 improvement scheme.

In noting that the consultation would close on 28th July 2019 and in concurring with the comments made by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth), the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  to delegate authority to submit the Council’s final consultation submission comments on the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet Improvements to the Head of Development and Planning Service Manager (Growth), in consultation with the Executive Leader and Deputy Executive Leader.

To appoint two District Councillors (plus a substitute Member, if desired) to the Cambridgeshire County Council Transport Strategy Huntingdonshire Member Steering Group.

A copy of the draft Terms of Reference is attached. These will be presented to the County Council’s Economy and Environment Committee on 11th July 2019 and is available on the County Council’s website via the following link:

https://cambridgeshire.cmis.uk.com/ccc_live/Meetings/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/1047/Committee/5/Default.aspx

Executive Councillor: G J Bull.

Councillors S J Corney, Ms A Dickinson J Neish and K I Prentice were appointed as the District Council’s nominated representatives on the Transport Strategy Huntingdonshire Member Steering Group.

The Cabinet received and noted the Terms of Reference for Cambridgeshire County Council’s Transport Strategy Huntingdonshire Member Steering Group (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book). The District Council had been requested to appoint representatives on to the Group.

By way of background, the Executive Councillor for Housing, Planning and Economic Development reported that the County Council’s Economy and Environment Committee had, at its meeting on 11thJuly 2019, established the Transport Strategy Huntingdonshire Member Steering Group. The Steering Group had been formed to assist in the review and development of the Huntingdonshire Transport Strategy. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that Councillors S J Corney, Ms A Dickinson, J Neish and K I Prentice be appointed as the District Council’s representatives onto Cambridgeshire County Council’s Transport Strategy Huntingdonshire Member Steering Group for the remainder of the four year term of office (until May 2022).

To resolve:

   that the press and public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).  

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 any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

To receive a report from the Head of Operations.

Executive Councillor: J M Palmer.

Cabinet approved the recommendations contained within the exempt report now submitted.

By means of an exempt report prepared by the Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Annex to the Minute Book) Members were apprised with the decisions required by the Cabinet to enable the transfer of Godmanchester Nursery to Godmanchester Town Council.

Following an introduction from the Executive Councillor for Partnerships and Well-Being and in receiving a response to a question raised by a Member in respect of the inclusion of an overage clause, it was

RESOLVED

  that the recommendations contained within the exempt report now submitted be approved by the Cabinet.