Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 29th January 2004.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 29th January 2004 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services on progress of the Oxmoor Action Plan.

Noted progress achieved to-date in implementing the Oxmoor Action Plan, including the redevelopment of the Sapley Square area, the commencement of environmental improvements and the disposal of District Council land at Buttsgrove Way to Huntingdonshire Housing Partnership for the development of 30 affordable housing units.

Further to Minute No. 03/158, the Cabinet received and noted a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining progress achieved to-date in implementing the Oxmoor Action Plan, including the redevelopment of the Sapley Square area, the commencement of environmental improvements and the identification of proposed development sites at California Road, Moorhouse Drive, Buttsgrove Way and Sapley Square.

To consider a report by the Director of Operational Services regarding the progress of the Private Finance Initiative Bid to fund investment in new waste management infrastructure.

    Approved the powers proposed for the Member Board, as summarised in Annex A of the report, and the overall governance proposals for the period prior to a final decision on procurement; approved the  existing provision for waste procurement in the MTP of £50,000 and £20,000 in 2004/05 and 2005/06 respectively for the purposes referred to in paragraph 4.9 of the report; noted the governance options for the management of any joint contract and the service delivery implications for the District Council ; requested the Director of Operational Services to provide to a future meeting of the Cabinet an evaluation of the governance options and service delivery implications of the procurement process; agreed that a progress report on the matter be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Panels in April 2004; and authorised the Director of Operational Services, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for the Environment and/or the Deputy Leader, to determine the content of a Members’ Seminar to be held on 2nd March 2004.

Further to Minute No. 03/107, consideration was given to a report by the Director of Operational Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining progress of a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) bid by Peterborough City Council and Cambridgeshire principal authorities to fund investment in a new disposal and, potentially, collection infrastructure to divert more waste from landfill.

Members were advised that in order to benefit from the external funding a decision on the Council’s involvement in any future joint procurement would need to be made once the outcome of the PFI bid was known.  Having considered the governance and other issues associated with the delivery of a project of this nature, the development of a core project team to manage the procurement process and in discussing the potential options available to the District Council, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)that the powers proposed for the Member Board, as summarised in Annex A to the report now submitted, and the overall governance proposals for the period prior to a final decision on procurement be approved;

  (b)that the existing provision for waste procurement in the MTP of £50,000 and £20,000 in 2004/05 and 2005/06 respectively be approved for the purposes referred to in paragraph 4.9 of the report now submitted;

  (c)that the governance options for the management of any joint contract and the service delivery implications for the District Council be noted;

  (d)that the Director of Operational Services be requested to report to a future meeting of the Cabinet on the governance options and service delivery implications of the proposals;

  (e)that a progress report on the matter be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Panels in April 2004; and

  (f)that the Director of Operational Services, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for the Environment and/or the Deputy Leader, be authorised to determine the content of the Members’ Seminar on the subject to be held on 2nd March 2004.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Environment and Transport to note the award of capital funding in the latest round of DEFRA recycling challenge fund and the service improvements that will be delivered with this funding.

Noted the securing of £1.8 million of grant funding from the Government’s Recycling Challenge Fund  and the introduction of wheeled bins for dry recyclables in the garden waste trial area (the cost to be met from the 2003/04 Government grant provision) and the revenue implications for the MTP. Also agreed to release the relevant funding in respect of the Garden Waste – District-Wide scheme in the MTP.

Further to Minute No. 03/106 and 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 advised of the Council’s success in its bid for funding from the Government recycling challenge fund towards the capital cost of –

¨  the District-wide roll out of the green waste collection service;

¨  providing a third wheeled bin in the garden waste trial area for the collection of dry recyclables; and

¨  trialing the use of underground neighbourhood recycling bins.

Having discussed financial and other issues associated with securing a new arrangement for the disposal of dry recyclables with a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) operated by Northampton Borough Council, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)that the securing of £1.8 m of grant funding from the Government’s Recycling Challenge Fund be noted;

  (b)that the introduction of wheeled bins for dry recyclables in the garden waste trial area be noted and the cost met from the 2003/04 Government grant provision;

  (c)that the revenue implications for the MTP summarised in Section 4 of the report now submitted be noted;

  (d)that the relevant funding for Garden Waste referred to in MTP Scheme ref. 04/522 be released; and

  (e)that the reduced gate fees associated with the disposal of dry recyclables at the Northampton MRF be noted.

To consider a report by the Head of Financial Services on the Governments proposals to change the current system of local finance – to follow.

Agreed to submit the following comments of the Cabinet to the LGA –

1.  Need first to review the duties, functions and powers of local government.

2.  any new system of local government finance should be fair, open and understandable.

3.  Support for property-based tax with an improved (tapering) benefits system which reflects the investment value (ie, the income from investments) rather than the capital value of investments.

4.  Do not support relocalisation of business rates.

5.  Do not support local income tax because it would be difficult/expensive to administer and collect and would require significant and costly restructuring of the Inland Revenue’s existing arrangements.

6.  Do not support local car tax, congestion charges, ‘green’ taxes or local tourism or sales taxes.

A report by the Corporate Director, Commerce and Technology was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) summarising the contents of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) consultation paper – “The Balance of Funding: A Combination Option”.

Members were reminded of the key principles postulated in the paper which had been produced to initiate a debate on proposals for a more sustainable, buoyant and accountable system of resourcing local government.

In discussing the basis for a District Council’s response to the paper Members’ attention was drawn to the conclusions reached by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Planning and Finance) on the matter.  In that respect, Members concurred with the Panel that the current system of local government finance required amendment and that, while a property-imposed taxation system remained the most preferable form of local taxation, consideration should be given to improving the benefits system to reflect the investment value (ie. income from investments) rather than the capital value of investments particularly for those with fixed incomes.  However, Members were of the opinion that there would be no benefit in the relocalisation of business rates and did not feel inclined to support local income tax because it would be difficult and expensive to administer and collect and would require significant and costly restructuring of the Inland Revenue’s existing arrangements.

With regard to a range of other new forms of taxes and charges, the Cabinet felt that these would raise insufficient revenue to justify the administration involved in their collection.

Prior to any review of the funding process, Members also were of the opinion that a review of the duties, functions and powers of local government should be undertaken.

Having emphasised that any new system of local government should be fair, open and understandable and in thanking the Overview and Scrutiny Panel for their comments, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the report be received and the Executive Director of Central Services authorised to respond to the Local Government Association reflecting the sentiments expressed in the foregoing preamble.

To consider a report by the Head of Administration inviting Members to comment on the annual review of the Council’s Constitution.

  Agreed to submit the following comments to the Standards Committee on the review of the Constitution:-

¨  substitution arrangements – if introduced substitute Members need to be named prior to the meeting, absences should continue to be recorded and a proportionate approach adopted;

¨  public forum at full Council meetings – opposed the suggestion that there should be provision within the Council meetings for questioning the Chairman;

¨  opportunity for a Member who proposes an amendment to the original motion to reply – in principal no objection;

¨  public speaking at Overview and Scrutiny Panels – opposed to suggestion that the Overview and Scrutiny Panel Chairmen be given the authority to invite Members of the public to speak at their Panel meetings and agreed that the present arrangement whereby the Panel invite representatives continues;

¨  introduction of a third Overview and Scrutiny Panel – do not recognise the need for an additional Panel;

¨  Policy changes – do not recognise the need to make a provision in the constitution for policy changes to be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Panels prior to their consideration by the Cabinet given the available facility to uplift these items from the forward plan; and

¨  pre-publicity for Council meetings – do not recognise the need for additional publicity for the annual debate on the state of the District.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining the timetable for the review of the Council’s Constitution by the Standards Committee and seeking comments on the present constitutional arrangements.

Having been advised of the views expressed by the Overview and Scrutiny Panels and otherwise, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that, in their forthcoming annual review of the Constitution the Standards Committee be invited to consider the following issues and comments:-

¨  substitution arrangements – if recommended Substitute Members should be named and nominated prior to the meeting, absences should continue to be recorded and a proportionate approach adopted;

¨  public forum at full Council meetings – the Cabinet neither recognises the need for nor supports the proposal for a forum to enable members of the public to ask questions or to speak at Council meetings;

¨  amendments:  right of reply – the Cabinet would not object in principle to amendments to Council Procedure Rules which would give a right of reply to the mover of an amendment in debate;

¨  public speaking at Overview and Scrutiny Panels – the Cabinet’s view is that the facility for members of the public to be invited to speak at meetings of Overview and Scrutiny Panels is covered adequately by paragraph 13 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules;

¨  introduction of a third Overview and Scrutiny Panel – the Cabinet neither recognises the need for nor supports the proposal for an additional Panel;

¨  Policy changes – given the arrangements for publication of the forward plan the Cabinet does not recognise the need to make additional provision in the constitution requiring policy changes to be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Panels prior to their consideration by the Cabinet; and

¨  State of the District Debate – the Cabinet neither recognises the need for nor supports the suggestion in relation to the need for additional publicity for the annual debate on the State of the District.

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 or services.

RESOLVED

  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 or services.

To receive a report of the meeting of the District Council Headquarters and Other Accommodation Members Advisory Group held on 22nd January 2004.

  Approved the specification for the option appraisal work as set out in the office accommodation and depot brief and requested a further report to a future meeting of the Cabinet following the tendering process; deferred consideration of an option to relocate to an edge of town location pending the outcomes of the option appraisals for the refurbishment of Pathfinder House/Castle Hill House or redevelopment of either Pathfinder House or the bus station site in Huntingdon Town Centre; and approved the appointment of CPMG Consultants to prepare an urban design framework for the Pathfinder House site.

The Cabinet received a  report of the meeting of the District Council Headquarters and Other Office Accommodation Members’ Advisory Group together with details of an office accommodation and depot brief for a feasibility study (copies of which are appended in the Annex to the Minute Book).

Having considered issues regarding the appointment of Consultants to undertake an urban design framework for Pathfinder House, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)that the specification for the option appraisal work as set out in the office accommodation and depot brief be approved and a further report submitted to a future meeting of the Cabinet following the tendering process;

  (b)that consideration of an option to relocate to an edge-of-town location be deferred pending the outcomes of the option appraisals for the refurbishment of Pathfinder House/Castle Hill House or redevelopment of either Pathfinder House or the bus station site in Huntingdon Town Centre; and

  (c)that the appointment of CPMG Consultants to prepare an urban design framework for the Pathfinder House site, at a cost of £20,000 be approved.

Chairman