Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings held on 11th and 23rd February 2021.

The Minutes of the meetings held on 11th and 23rd February 2021 were approved as a correct record. 

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 on Community Infrastructure Levy Spend Allocation – Buckden-Huntingdon Safe Cycling and Walking Route.

Executive Councillor: J Neish.

The Cabinet has agreed to approve Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding of up to £100,000 for a new length of cycle/footway and safer crossing point on Buckden Road, Brampton, subject to:

i)  Written confirmation of future maintenance arrangements;

ii)  Written confirmation of landowner consent;

iii)  Submissions of an updated business case detailing match funding secured, detailed design of the route and an implementation plan.

The offer is time limited (12 months) to enable the above matters to be addressed.

Pursuant to Minute No. 20/53 and with the aid of a report prepared by the Strategic Growth Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet gave consideration to a proposal to support Community Infrastructure Levy funding towards the provision of a new length of cycle/footway and safer crossing point on Buckden Road, Brampton to facilitate safe cycling/walking to Brampton, Hinchingbrooke Secondary School and Huntingdon.

By way of background, the Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning reminded the Cabinet of their previous discussions at their 11th February 2021 meeting and the actions undertaken by Buckden Parish Council to secure additional funding for the scheme from Cambridgeshire County Council. He then went on to report that the Huntingdonshire Local Plan 2036 recognised Buckden as a Key Service Centre, with identified growth of approximately 435 dwellings which the route would serve. 175 of these dwellings were expected to be built over the next five years.

In noting that Cambridgeshire County Council were yet to confirm the amount they would contribute from the Delivering Transport Strategy Aims Programme for 2021/22, but that support, in principle, had been agreed for the scheme, together with the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth), the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  to approve Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding of up to £100,000 for a new length of cycle/footway and safer crossing point on Buckden Road, Brampton, subject to:

(i)  Written confirmation of future maintenance arrangements;

(ii)  Written confirmation of landowner consent;

(iii)  Submissions of an updated business case detailing match funding secured, detailing design of the route and an implementation plan.

(b)  that (a) above would be time limited to 12 months to enable the above matters to be addressed.

To receive a report on Community Infrastructure Levy Spend Allocation – B1040 Wheatsheaf Road / Somersham Road, St Ives Accident Reduction Scheme.

Executive Councillor: J Neish.

The Cabinet has approved, in principle, Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding of up to £500,000 subject to:

·  Final costings, as detailed design work is still underway;

·  Full business plan

·  Confirmation that all of the land required for the project is available; and

·  Confirmation of the match funding by Cambridgeshire County Council and other sources.

The offer is to be time limited (12 months) to enable the above matters to be addressed.

Consideration was given to a report prepared by the Strategic Growth Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) seeking approval to support Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding as co-funding towards signalising the junction of the B1040 Wheatsheaf Road/Somersham Road, St Ives to allow for better management of traffic flow which would significantly reduce the risk of accidents.

The Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning reported that the proposals would benefit a number of wards and that the junction had been identified as the number one hotspot area in the last few years for accidents, with a history of fatalities. It was further reported that the Huntingdonshire Local Plan 2036 recognised St Ives, Somersham and Warboys as locations where growth would occur, with St Ives alone projected to grow by at least 430 dwellings and Somersham and Warboys identified as Key Service Centres. Attention was then drawn to the comments of Cambridgeshire County Council, as outlined in paragraph 2.2 of the report, in its application for CIL funding.

The Chairman then read out the content of a written statement from County and District Councillor Steve Criswell, expressing his support for the scheme and thanking Officers from both authorities for their hard work and collaborative efforts in bringing the proposals forward for consideration.

Having expressed their support for the proposals and in noting that Cambridgeshire County Council would match fund 58.33% of the project’s anticipated costs, together with the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth), the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  to approve, in principle, Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding of up to £500,000 subject to:

·  Final costings, as detailed design work is still underway;

·  Full business plan

·  Confirmation that all of the land required for the project is available; and

·  Confirmation of the match funding by Cambridgeshire County Council and other sources.

(b)  that (a) above would be time limited to 12 months to enable the above matters to be addressed.

To receive a report by the Interim Corporate Director (Delivery) on the Accelerated COVID-19 Towns Programme.

Executive Councillor: R Fuller.

The Cabinet has

(a)  agreed the Accelerated Towns Programme and commits Council staff resources to the value of £300,000 to deliver the programme through to 31 March 2022; and

(b)  delegated authority to the appropriate Corporate Director in consultation with the Executive Leader to make any amendments required to the programme through to 31 March 2022.

With the aid of a report prepared by the Interim Corporate Director (Delivery) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) consideration was given to the Accelerated COVID-19 Towns Programme.

Following an introduction from the Interim Corporate Director (Delivery) on the background to the report and in noting the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth), together with an amendment to the wording of recommendation (b) to reflect that the appropriate Corporate Director would consult with the Executive Leader, it was

RESOLVED  

(a)  that the Cabinet agree the Accelerated Towns Programme and commits Council staff resources to the value of £300,000 to deliver the programme through to 31 March 2022; and

(b)  that delegated authority be given to the appropriate Corporate Director in consultation with the Executive Leader to make any amendments required to the programme through to 31 March 2022.

To receive a report from the Housing Needs and Resources Manager on the outcome of the Lettings Policy Review.

Executive Councillor: R Fuller

The Cabinet has approved the amended Lettings Policy attached as Appendix 1 of the report submitted.

A report by the Housing Needs and Resources Manager was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining changes to the Lettings Policy in light of new legislation and recent caselaw relating to allocation schemes for social rented housing.

By way of background, the Cabinet were informed by the Housing Needs and Resources Manager that the Policy dictated how the housing register and the letting of properties operated and that all six partner local authorities within the Home-Link scheme operated their own policy which followed the same broad principles.

Having been acquainted with the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Customers and Partnerships) and in welcoming their support for the changes to the Policy, it was

RESOLVED  

that the Cabinet approve the amended Lettings Policy, attached as Appendix 1 of the report now submitted.

To receive a report from the Housing Needs and Resource Manager on the Local Lettings Plans for Alconbury Weald and future plans.

Executive Councillor: R Fuller.

The Cabinet has delegated authority to the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Housing and Economic Development, to adopt future Local Lettings Plans.

With the aid of a report by the Housing Needs and Resources Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet gave consideration to a proposal to adopt a future Local Lettings Plan (LLP) which would be an appendix to the Lettings Policy (Minute No 20/67 refers).

Having been informed of the reasons why a Local Lettings Policy would be adopted and in noting that the Alconbury Weald development was likely to be the next site where a LLP would be required, together with the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Customers and Partnerships), it was

RESOLVED

that delegated authority be given to the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Housing and Economic Development, to adopt future Local Lettings Plans.