Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 17th June 2021.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 17th June 2021 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 Service Growth Manager seeking endorsement of a response to Cambridgeshire County Council’s consultation on the first Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan for the county.

Executive Councillor: J Neish.

The Cabinet has

(a)  endorsed the walking and cycling routes prioritised within Huntingdonshire and agreed the Council’s response to the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan consultation as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report; and

(b)  endorsed continued engagement with Cambridgeshire County Council to influence the inclusion of Ramsey in successor cycling and walking infrastructure plans.

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 report outlining the consultation being undertaken by Cambridgeshire County Council on the first Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan. A draft response on behalf of Huntingdonshire District Council had been set out in Appendix 1 of the report. 

Following a brief introduction from the Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and the Senior Implementation Officer, the Cabinet noted the omission of Ramsey from the proposed Plan and the exclusion of St Ives bus station as a node on the map. Having been acquainted with the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth), it was

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet

(a)  endorse the walking and cycling routes prioritised within Huntingdonshire and agree the Council’s response to the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan consultation as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report; and

(b)  endorse continued engagement with Cambridgeshire County Council to influence the inclusion of Ramsey in successor cycling and walking infrastructure plans.

To receive a report from the Housing Needs and Resources Manager on Homelessness & Rough Sleeping – Review & Strategy 2021.

Executive Councillor: R Fuller.

The Cabinet has

(a)  approved the Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Review & Strategy 2021 as a consultation document; and

(b)  given delegated authority for the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Executive Leader, to adopt the Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Review & Strategy 2021 after reviewing consultation responses.

A report by the Housing Needs and Resources Manager was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) seeking approval to consult widely on the Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Strategy prior to its formal adoption.

By way of background the Executive Leader, as Executive Councillor for Housing and Economic Development, reported that the Cabinet had previously approved the draft Strategy in February 2020 but that the consultation period had not gone ahead as planned owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was noted that the Strategy had been updated in light of the response to the pandemic, in particular the “Everyone In” initiative which aimed at protecting vulnerable rough sleepers during the public health crisis.

The Executive Leader responded to a question which had been raised querying whether the change in administration at the County Council would impact upon the delivery of the Strategy. He responded by informing the Cabinet that no further reductions in resources/funding were expected to impact the District Council. In receiving the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Customers & Partnerships), it was

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet

(a)  approve the Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Review & Strategy 2021 as a consultation document; and

(b)  give delegated authority to the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Executive Leader, to adopt the Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Review & Strategy 2021 after reviewing consultation responses.

To receive a report from the Business Intelligence and Performance Manager seeking endorsement of the proposed key actions and performance indicators (PIs) for the Corporate Plan for 2021/22.

Executive Councillor: R Fuller.

The Cabinet has endorsed the proposed list of key actions and performance indicators as outlined in Appendix A for inclusion in the Corporate Plan for 2021/22 and has recommended Council approve the revised key actions and performance indicators for inclusion in the Corporate Plan for 2021/22.   

Consideration was given to a report prepared by the Business Intelligence and Performance Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) seeking endorsement of the proposed key actions and performance indicators (PIs) for the Corporate Plan for 2021/22.

In noting that the matter had previously been discussed at an Informal Cabinet meeting, the Executive Leader reported that a separate COVID recovery action plan now existed. Having been acquainted with the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth), it was

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet endorse the proposed list of key actions and performance indicators as outlined in Appendix A for inclusion in the Corporate Plan for 2021/22 and recommend to Council the approval of the revised key actions and performance indicators for inclusion in the Corporate Plan for 2021/22. 

To receive a report from the Elections & Democratic Services Manager on the initial proposals set out by the Boundary Commission for England for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries in England.

Executive Councillor: R Fuller.

The Cabinet has recommended the Council to consider whether they wish to make any representations or comments to the Boundary Commission for England on the initial proposals for new Parliamentary constituencies affecting Huntingdonshire.

With the aid of report prepared by the Elections and Democratic Services Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with detail of the initial proposals set out by the Boundary Commission for England for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries, specifically drawing attention to the proposed impact within Huntingdonshire.

Matters that were discussed included the impact of any possible changes in Peterborough upon some of the northern District Wards and the concern which had been raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) around the creation of a new proposed constituency for St Neots. Whilst acknowledging the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) the Cabinet has expressed their support for the proposals to split the District across three Parliamentary constituencies. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the Council be recommended to consider to consider whether they wish to make any representations or comments to the Boundary Commission for England on the initial proposals for new Parliamentary constituencies affecting Huntingdonshire.

To receive a report by the Corporate Director (People) outlining the annual report of the services currently delivered in partnership with Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

Executive Councillor: D Keane.

The Cabinet has

(a)  endorsed the 3C Shared Services Annual Report attached as Appendix A; and

(b)  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 (People) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding the Annual Report 2020/21 of the services currently delivered in partnership with Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

Following a brief introduction by the Executive Councillor for Corporate Services, the Corporate Director (People) reported that the services were doing well in terms of their financial performance with savings having been identified. Particular mention was made of 3C ICT, whom had had a very challenging year delivering a number of key ICT projects as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reference was also made to 3C Legal where it was noted that focus had been placed on enhancing performance and that efforts were being made to reduce the level of external legal spend.

Having been apprised with the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth), the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  to endorse the 3C Shared Services Annual Report attached as Appendix A; and

(b)  to delegate 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.

To receive the final report from the Overview and Scrutiny Flooding Task and Finish Study – TO FOLLOW.

Executive Councillor: J Neish.

The Cabinet has

a)  agreed to publicise links to flooding advice through the District Council’s own communication channels and forward the advice to all Town and Parish Councils;

b)  supported the principle that the Council works with the County Council to support the establishment of local flood groups as a means to develop community resilience against future flooding and as an important additional source of information for forecasting flooding;

c)  endorsed the suggestion for a study to be undertaken by a group of technical experts to understand fully the causes of floods linked to climate change, to look at the issue of cumulative impacts and to make a series of recommendations to feed into the next SPD document review, ensuring the refreshed document responds to changing realities and technology;

d)  agreed to work with Cambridgeshire County Council and other partners to create a case conference system to evaluate technical advice on flood mitigation on those most complex applications,

e)  agreed to collaborate with partners on the development of a joint drainage and waste water management plan, and

f)  endorsed the Council’s support in assisting the County Council in its project to map local water courses and call for this mapping activity to begin with Huntingdonshire.

The Cabinet received and noted the final report from the Overview and Scrutiny Flooding Task and Finish Study (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which had been established by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Customers and Partnerships).

In the absence of the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Customers and Partnerships) whom had previously confirmed his attendance to present the report, the Cabinet agreed to consider the findings in his absence rather than to delay consideration of the report to the Cabinet’s September meeting. Whereupon, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

a)  to agree to publicise links to flooding advice through the District Council’s own communication channels and forward the advice to all Town and Parish Councils;

b)  to support the principle that the Council works with the County Council to support the establishment of local flood groups as a means to develop community resilience against future flooding and as an important additional source of information for forecasting flooding;

c)  to endorse the suggestion for a study to be undertaken by a group of technical experts to understand fully the causes of floods linked to climate change, to look at the issue of cumulative impacts and to make a series of recommendations to feed into the next SPD document review, ensuring the refreshed document responds to changing realities and technology;

d)  to work with Cambridgeshire County Council and other partners to create a case conference system to evaluate technical advice on flood mitigation on those most complex applications,

e)  to collaborate with partners on the development of a joint drainage and waste water management plan, and

f)  to endorse the Council’s support in assisting the County Council in its project to map local water courses and call for this mapping activity to begin with Huntingdonshire.