Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 12th February 2004.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 12th February 2004 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

By way of a report by the Head of Financial Services to consider the release of funds for MTP schemes referred to.

Agreed to release the relevant funding for the following schemes and projects within the Council’s MTP:-

¨  Car Parks: Environmental Improvements Phase 5;

¨  AJC Small Scale Schemes: District Wide;

¨  Local Transport Plan 2004/05;

¨  Safe Cycle Routes: Creation of new routes to schools;

¨  St Neots Transport Strategy;

¨  Huntingdon Transport Strategy;

¨  Views Common: Cycle Route;

¨  Huntingdon Town Centre Environmental Improvements Phase 2;

¨  Oxmoor Environmental Schemes;

¨  Huntingdon town centre development;

¨  Market town centre developments;

¨  Heart of Oxmoor;

¨  Safe cycle storage racks;

¨  Rural bus stop provision;

¨  Railway stations: improvements;

¨  Accessibility Improvements/signage;

¨  Leisure Centres: future maintenance;

¨  Sawtry Leisure Centre: Extension to facilities;

¨  Ramsey Leisure Centre: fitness studio expansion;

¨  Ramsey Leisure Centre: crèche/storage/office extension;

¨  Additional Council Tax Clerk;

¨  Discretionary repair grants;

¨  Disabled facilities grants;

¨  Fenstanton car park:Church Lane; and

¨  Customer First: contact centre.

Agreed also to release funding for Crime and Disorder – lighting improvements; and Bus shelters – extra provision subject to the Executive Councillors for the Environment and for Resources & Welfare and Information Technology being advised of the sites identified

  Approved the funding for the additional homelessness officer subject to the appointment being for a trial period of 2 years

  Requested the Corporate Director, Commerce and Technology to report to a future meeting on the progress being made to produce a corporate contract for the future maintenance needs of the District’s Leisure Centres; and

  Requested a presentation by the Director of Operational Services and the Corporate Director, Commerce and Technology to a future meeting on the staffing/establishment arrangements for the Customer First Contact Centre.

Further to Minute No. 03/146, consideration was given to a report by the Head of Financial Services requesting the release of funding for various schemes to be included or identified for inclusion in the Medium Term Plan.  Copies of the report and associated justifications are appended in the Minute Book.  Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the relevant funding be released for the following schemes and projects within the Council’s MTP -

¨Car Parks: Environmental Improvements Phase 5;

¨AJC Small Scale Schemes: District Wide;

¨Local Transport Plan 2004/05;

¨Safe Cycle Routes: Creation of new routes to schools;

¨St Neots Transport Strategy;

¨Huntingdon Transport Strategy;

¨Views Common: Cycle Route;

¨Huntingdon Town Centre Environmental Improvements Phase 2;

¨Oxmoor Environmental Schemes;

¨Huntingdon town centre development;

¨Market town centre developments;

¨Heart of Oxmoor;

¨Safe cycle storage racks;

¨Rural bus stop provision;

¨Railway stations: improvements;

¨Accessibility Improvements/signage;

¨Leisure Centres: future maintenance;

¨Sawtry Leisure Centre: Extension to facilities;

¨Ramsey Leisure Centre: fitness studio expansion;

¨Ramsey Leisure Centre: crèche/storage/office extension;

¨Additional Council Tax Clerk;

¨Discretionary repair grants;

¨Disabled facilities grants;

¨Fenstanton car park:Church Lane; and

¨Customer First: contact centre.

  (b)that, subject to the Executive Councillors for the Environment and for Resources & Welfare and Information Technology being advised of the sites identified, the relevant funding be released for –

¨Crime and Disorder – lighting improvements; and

¨Bus shelters – extra provision.

  (c)that, subject to the post being established on a temporary, two-year basis the relevant funding be released for an additional Homelessness Officer;

  (d)that the Corporate Director, Commerce and Technology be requested to report to a future meeting on progress in producing a combined contract for the future maintenance needs of the District Council’s Leisure Centres;

  (e)that the Director of Operational Services be requested to report to a future meeting on existing arrangements for the repayment of loans made for repair/refurbishment of housing secured as a charge to be redeemed on the sale of the properties concerned; and

  (f)that a report be presented to a future meeting on the proposed staffing/establishment arrangements for a Contact Centre.

To consider the District Auditor’s Annual Audit Letter for 2002/03 (a copy of the Auditor’s Annual Audit Letter has been circulated previously to all Members of the Council).  Members are asked to bring their copy to the meeting.  A copy has also been placed on the District Council’s website and can be found at http://www.huntsdc.gov.uk.

Noted the District Auditor’s Audit and Inspection Annual Audit Letter for 2002/03

The Cabinet received and noted the District Auditor’s Audit and Inspection Annual Audit Letter for 2002/03 (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book).  Members concluded that there were no particular issues emerging from the document that required their attention.

Further to Minute No. 02/210 and with the assistance of a report by the Head of Planning Services, to consider the outcome of consultations on the draft Supplementary Planning Guidance – “Market Housing Mix”.

Agreed to adopt the revised Market Housing Mix document as Supplementary Planning Guidance.

Further to Minute No. 02/210 and by way of a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) Members were acquainted with the outcomes of the consultation exercise undertaken on the draft Supplementary Planning Guidance – “Market Housing Mix”.

Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the revised “Market Housing Mix” document be adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance.

Further to Minute No. 02/156, to consider a report by the Head of Community Services regarding the level of multiply used to generate commuted sums in respect of the maintenance of open space.

  Reaffirmed the Council’s existing policy to apply a multiplier of 15 years to the annual maintenance costs associated with open space and associated areas provided through new built development and destined for adoption by the Council or the appropriate Town or Parish.

Further to Minute No. 02/156, consideration was given to a report by the Head of Community Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding the level of multiplier used to generate commuted sums in respect of the maintenance of open space.

Having been advised of the practices adopted by other local authorities on the matter, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the Council’s existing policy to apply a multiplier of 15 years to the annual maintenance costs associated with open space and associated areas provided through new build development for adoption by the Council or the appropriate Town or Parish be reaffirmed.

To consider a joint report by the Heads of Environment and Transport and of Planning Services on progress of the Environment Agency’s Standard of Protection Studies and the Strategic Flood Risk assessment.

  Noted the contents of the Hilton Standard of Protection and agreed not to carry out any further investigation work into raising the level of flood protection.

The Cabinet received and noted a joint report by the Heads of Environment and Transport and of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining progress achieved to date on the Environment Agency’s Standard of Protection Studies and the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment.

In so doing, Members’ attention was drawn to the Standard of Protection report for Hilton which had been affected by flooding in 2001.  The report concluded that only a small number of properties were at risk of flooding in the future and therefore the benefits of any improvements would be low and were unlikely to receive DEFRA grant aid.  With that consideration in mind, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the Hilton Standard of Protection report be noted and no further investigation work carried out to raise the level of flood protection.

To consider a report by the Head of Environment and Transport regarding the deliberations of the Overview and Scrutiny Panels on the content of the Council’s Emergency Plan.

Approved the contents of the protocol for notifying and supporting District Councillors in an emergency, appended to the report and authorised the Director of Operational Services to consult with Parish Councils on their role in an emergency and report back thereon to a future meeting.

Further to Minute No. 03/153, consideration was given to a report by the Head of Environment and Transport (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was attached a protocol for notifying and supporting District Councillors during an emergency. 

The Cabinet were informed that the protocol had been produced in response to the Overview and Scrutiny Panels’ concerns that the Emergency Plan did not address the community leadership role that Ward Councillors could undertake during an emergency.  Attention having been drawn also to the absence of a structured approach to the involvement of Parish Councils in emergency planning issues, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the contents of the report be noted;

  (b)that the protocol, appended to the report now submitted, for notifying and supporting District Councillors in an emergency be approved; and

  (c)that the Director of Operational Services be authorised to consult with Parish Councils on their role in an emergency and report back thereon to a future meeting.

To consider a report by the Head of Financial Services on levels of performance achieved by the External Fund Managers during the quarter ended 31st December 2003.

Noted the respected levels of performance achieved during the period April to December 2003 by External Fund Managers in the matter of investment of the Council’s capital receipts

A report by the Head of Financial Services was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which reviewed the respective levels of performance achieved during the period April to December 2003 by External Fund Managers in the matter of investment of the Council’s capital receipts.

RESOLVED

  that the content of the report be noted.

To consider a joint report by the Heads of Legal & Estates and of Housing Services)

  Authorised the Executive Director of Central Services, after consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Executive Councillor for Resources, Welfare and IT, to approve the terms and conditions for the sale of land at California Road, Huntingdon to Huntingdonshire Housing Partnership to facilitate the development of affordable housing.

(The Chairman announced that he proposed to admit the following item as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100 B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972 in view of the late receipt of notice from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as to the availability of additional funding from the Growth Area Delivery Grant for affordable housing and the need to commit expenditure in the current financial year)

Further to Min No 03/160, the Cabinet considered a joint report by the Heads of Legal and Estates and of Housing Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding the proposed disposal of land in the ownership of the District Council at California Road, Huntingdon to facilitate the development of affordable housing to be provided by Huntingdonshire Housing Partnership (HHP).

Having been advised that the scheme had been successful in attracting funding from the Growth Area Delivery Grant, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the Executive Director of Central Services, after consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Executive Councillor for Resources, Welfare and IT, be authorised to approve the terms and conditions for the sale of land at California Road, Huntingdon to HHP.