Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 10th December 2020.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 10th December 2020 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 Economic Development Officer seeking approval of the Economic Growth Strategy.

Executive Councillor: R Fuller.

Cabinet has approved the content of the Economic Growth Strategy and the actions within the first 12 months with the principle of an annual review of the Strategy implementation, upon each anniversary.

Consideration was given to a report prepared by the Economic Development Officer (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) setting out the Council’s economic agenda over the next five years.

In introducing the report, the Economic Development Officer reported that the Strategy sought to refocus and reset the agenda over the next five years, helping to support recovery and enable growth within the local economy. He then went on to report that the Strategy provided an opportunity to attract new skills into the area, enhance the town centres and support economic growth for all including specialist and niche activity within the District.

Reference was made to the many benefits that the Strategy would achieve including the creation of local jobs and increased business rates which would enable future reinvestment back into the District. Comment was also made on the locality of Huntingdonshire being close to numerous key logistical transport routes such as the A1, A14 and M11.

In noting the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) and having commended Officers for the production of a comprehensive report, it was

RESOLVED

that the content of the Economic Growth Strategy and the actions within the first 12 months be approved by the Cabinet together with the principle of an annual review of the Strategy implementation, upon each anniversary.

To receive a report from the Operational Manager (People) outlining the current consultation exercise being undertaken by the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) in respect of proposed changes to the incoming flightpaths to Luton Airport and the associated holding zone.

Executive Councillor: K Prentice.

Cabinet has determined that a formal response from the Council to the NATS consultation is appropriate and has delegated authority to the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Leisure and Regulatory Services, to make a formal response to the consultation on behalf of the Council.

(Councillor D M Tysoe, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Customers and Partnerships) was in attendance for this item).

With the aid of a report prepared by the Operational Manager (People) the Cabinet received an outline of the current consultation exercise being undertaken by the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) in respect of proposed changes to the incoming flightpaths to Luton Airport and the associated holding zone.

In introducing the report, the Executive Councillor for Leisure and Regulatory Services reported that the consultation would seek to create a dedicated holding zone for Luton’s air traffic, replacing the current holding zones shared with Stansted traffic. The proposed holding zone for Luton’s air traffic zone would be to the south of Huntingdonshire broadly affecting the line of the A1 road from St Neots to Alconbury. He then went on to express his view that a full detailed response from the Council should be submitted outlining the local impact, particularly around noise. The Operational Manager (People) then went on to report that numerous consultation responses had been copied to the District Council by interested parties, including the Town and Parish Councils which would be taken into account if the Cabinet agreed to submit its own response to the consultation.

Councillor D M Tysoe, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Customers and Partnerships) reported that a presentation had been delivered by the NATS consultation team at its meeting on 7th January 2021 and drew attention to the comments outlined in section 3 of the report. The Panel had expressed their dissatisfaction over a number of aspects including the absence of data to demonstrate the impact of the holding area upon alternative location options, the lack of transparency around the need for the proposals and the omission of information surrounding noise levels associated with aircraft flying at different altitudes. In concurring with the comments made by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Customers and Partnerships) and following a brief discussion on the stacking of holding zones, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that a formal response from the Council to the NATS consultation is appropriate; and

(b)  that the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Leisure and Regulatory Services, be approved to make a formal response to the consultation on behalf of the Council.