Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 11th September 2003.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 11th September 2003 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Environment and Transport, to consider the content of the draft Corporate Community Safety Strategy and key recommendations of the Section 17 Community Safety Review of Huntingdonshire District Council.

Noted the findings and recommendations of the community safety review and the draft programme for the forthcoming Community Safety Workshop.

Approved the draft Community Safety Strategy for the Council and authorised the Director of Operational Services, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Environment, to make any further changes to the Strategy arising from the workshops.

Approved the draft improvement plan for the authority based on the recommendations from review with further consideration at the workshop.

By way of a report by the Head of Environment and Transport (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Cabinet were acquainted with the findings of a review, undertaken in accordance with Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act, 1998, of arrangements for the delivery of community safety by the District Council and a draft Strategy formulated to underpin the Council’s key role in that respect.

Having recognised the success of the work which had been undertaken by the Huntingdonshire Community Safety Partnership, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the findings and recommendations of the Community Safety Review be noted;

(b)  that the draft programme for the Community Safety Workshop, as appended to the report be noted;

(c)  that the draft Community Safety Strategy for Huntingdonshire be approved and the Director of Operational Services authorised, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for the Environment, to make any necessary changes to the text of the draft Strategy which might be occasioned by the outcomes of the workshop referred to in the preceding resolution; and

(d)  that the draft improvement plan appended to the report now submitted be approved.

To consider a report by the Head of Environment and Transport providing information about the new Police Community Support Officers to be deployed in Huntingdonshire this Autumn.

Noted the contents of the Report.

Authorised the Chief Executive after consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Executive Member with responsibility for the Environment to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between the Constabulary and the District Council. The Memorandum of Understanding to be negotiated with the Constabulary.

(Councillor L M Simpson declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the following item of business and left the meeting for the duration of the discussion and voting thereon).

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Environment and Transport (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding the role, funding and deployment of eighteen new Police Community Support Officers in Huntingdonshire.

With regard to the draft memorandum of understanding annexed to the report, which had been drawn up by Cambridgeshire Constabulary, concerns were expressed in respect of those sections relating to the allocation, deployment and operational use of Officers and the circumstances in which it might become necessary to review insignia and badging linking officers to their areas of deployment and funding.  In that respect it was suggested that further negotiations would be required with the constabulary before the memorandum was completed by the Chief Executive on behalf of the Council.

RESOLVED

  (a)that the content of the report now submitted be noted; and

  (b)  that the Chief Executive, after consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Executive Councillor for the Environment be authorised to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between Cambridgeshire Constabulary and the District Council in relation to the funding, training, badging, deployment and operational management of Police Community Support Officers in Huntingdonshire.

To consider a joint report by the Heads of Planning Services and of Policy and Research on progress of the vision work for Ramsey and seeking the support of the Cabinet the development of a Ramsey Partnership.

Noted the current position with regards to the development of the Ramsey Area Partnership, to include the area to the east of the A1 (including Connington) and endorsed the proposed structure and relationship with the Huntingdonshire Strategic Partnership.

 Supported the submission of a bid for participation in the Countryside Agency Market Town Initiative for Ramsey.

Nominated Councillor N J Guyatt to be the District Council representative on the Board of the Ramsey Area Partnership.

The Cabinet considered a joint report by the Heads of Planning Services and of Policy (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding progress achieved in the “vision project” for Ramsey and the surrounding villages and the development of a Ramsey Area Partnership.  Having considered the content of the report and in noting a remark by the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy with regard to the need to include all villages to the east of the A1 road in the vision, specifically Conington, it was

RESOLVED

(a)  that the current position with regard to the development of the Ramsey Area Partnership be noted;

(b)  that the proposed structure and its relationship with the Huntingdonshire Strategic Partnership be endorsed;

(c)  that the submission of a bid for Countryside Agency funding be supported; and

(d)  that Councillor N J Guyatt be appointed as the District Council’s representative on the Ramsey Area Partnership Board

To consider a report by the Head of Operations on the future of the septic tank emptying service and night soil emptying service.

Agreed that notice be given to cease the Septic Tank emptying service by 31^st December 2003 and to redirect users to private sector companies.

Agreed that the Service delivery arrangements for the Council’s Nightsoil collection be reviewed in the Autumn of 2004.

Noted that a correction to the existing budget was being addressed in the Medium Term Plan Review.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding a proposal to withdraw the Council’s involvement in the delivery of a septic tank emptying service by a private contractor and a budget correction to reflect the continuing obligation of the Council to deliver a night soil collection service.

Having considered the information contained in the report, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a) that notice be given to discontinue with effect from 31st December 2003 the Council’s involvement in a septic tank emptying service and to re-direct customers to private sector companies;

(b) that the service delivery arrangements for the Council’s night soil collection be reviewed in Autumn 2004; and

(c)  that the associated budget adjustment, in accordance with paragraph 3.5 of the report now submitted, be undertaken in conjunction with the forthcoming review of the Medium Term Plan.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services on the proposed adoption of two major studies as Supplementary Planning Guidance. 

Copies of the studies are attached to the agenda separately.

Approved the Huntingdonshire Landscape and Townscape Assessment and the Huntingdonshire Design Guide as draft Supplementary Planning Guidance for the purpose of public consultation.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet received a draft Landscape and Townscape Assessment and a draft Design Guide aimed at improving the quality and distinctiveness of Huntingdonshire’s environment. 

RESOLVED

  that the draft Landscape and Townscape Assessment and the draft Design Guide be approved as draft Supplementary Planning Guidance for the purpose of public consultation.

To consider a report by the Planning Policy Manager on the proposed adoption of the Conservation Area Character Statement as Supplementary Planning Guidance. 

A copy of the study is attached to the agenda separately.

Agreed to adopt the revised Offord Cluny Conservation Area Character Statement as Supplementary Planning Guidance to the Huntingdonshire Local Plan.

Further to Minute No. 03/30 and by way of report by the Planning Policy Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) Members were acquainted with the outcomes of the consultation exercise undertaken on the draft Conservation Area Character Statement for Offord Cluny.

RESOLVED

  that the Conservation Area Character Statement for Offord Cluny be adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance to the Huntingdonshire Local Plan.

To consider a report by the Head of Administration on the development of the first Huntingdonshire Flood Forum.

Noted the contents of a proposed operating protocol for the Huntingdonshire Flood Forum.

Appointed Councillor I C Bates as Chairman of the Forum.

Appointed a representative from the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Planning and Finance) to attend the Forum as the Council’s representative.

Further to Minute No. 02/173, consideration was given to a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was attached a draft protocol for a Huntingdonshire Flood Forum to be convened annually.

Having noted the main aims and objectives of the Forum and arrangements for its first meeting on the 12th November 2003, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the contents of the Huntingdonshire Flood Forum Protocol appended to the report now submitted be noted;

(b)  that Councillor I C Bates be appointed Chairman of the Forum; and

(c)  that the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Planning and Finance) be invited to appoint the District Council’s representative to attend the Forum.

To resolve:-

  “that the public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains exempt information relating to terms proposed for the supply of goods and services.

RESOLVED

  that the public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains exempt information relating to the terms of a contract for the supply of a service.

To consider a report by the Head of Environment and Transport regarding the tender process for the Kent Road Environmental Improvements Scheme.

Subject to such reductions in the specification as may be negotiated and agreed by the Director of Operational Services to award the contract for Kent Road Environmenal Improvements to J Breheny. Approved a supplementary capital estimate of £243,000 to meet the net cost of the scheme.

(The Chairman announced that he proposed to admit a second report by the Head of Environment and Transport as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100B(4) of the Local Government  Act 1972 in view of the receipt of additional information which revised information and recommendations contained in the report appended to the agenda).

The Cabinet considered reports by the Head of Environment and Transport (copies of which are appended as an Annex to the Minute Book) in respect of tenders received for an environmental improvement scheme at Kent Road, Oxmoor, Huntingdon.

Having expressed their concerns in relation to the difference between the lowest tender and the provision made in the budget for the scheme, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that, subject to such reductions in the specification as may be negotiated and agreed by the Director of Operational Services, the contract for Kent Road Environmental Improvements be awarded to J Breheny; and

(b)  that approval be given to a supplementary capital estimate of £243,000 to meet the net additional cost of the scheme.