Agenda, decisions and minutes

In the light of the Council’s decision at its meeting on 7th April 2004 confriming its willingness, subject to appropriate conditions, to fund the Acorn Community Health Centre, to consider a report by the Head of Financial Services (TO FOLLOW) on contractual and other issues reserved to the Cabinet.

The Chairman announced that no report had been published on this matter since the Agenda for the meeting had been circulated and that the item had been withdrawn from the Agenda.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 25th March 2004.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 25th March 2004 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider a report by the Director of Operational Services on the proposed procurement of waste collection and disposal services in a Private Finance Initiative.

The Deputy Leader was authorised to represent the Council’s position at the forthcoming meeting of the CCA Waste Forum and express the Council’s interest in entering into a partnership agreement in which the Council would remain responsible for waste collection but, in the absence of information on a number of matter, it was agreed to reserve the Council’s position.

A further report was requested on various matters once they had been clarified.

Consideration was given to a report by the Director of Operational Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on progress in relation to the possible procurement of waste collection and disposal services via a Private Finance Initiative.  Having considered the issues involved and the suggestion that alternative arrangements for addressing these issues might emerge in conjunction with research yet to be completed, it was

RESOLVED

  that consideration of the matter be deferred pending the submission of further information to a future meeting.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services requesting the Cabinet to approve the adoption of development guidelines for land at the northern gateway to Ramsey.

Development guidelines for land at the Northern Gateway to Ramsey were approved as a basis for further discussion and consultation.

A report by the Head of Planning Services was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was attached a draft Urban Design Framework relating to the potential future development of land to the north of Ramsey. 

Having noted the content of the framework proposals, the comprehensive nature of the consultation on which it was proposed to embark and the potential outlined by the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy for the proposed food store to be located nearer to the town centre, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Development guidelines be approved as a basis for further discussion and consultation.

To consider a report by the Heads of Community Services and of Planning Services seeking authority to implement improvements to green space in Oxmoor.

The creation of a Huntingdon community park at the junction of Coneygear Road and Buttsgrove Way in consultation with the local community was approved;

A further report was requested on the budgetary arrangements for the creation of the Huntingdon community park, neighbourhood gardens and doorstep greens.

The development and management of the neighbourhood gardens and doorstep greens were approved.

The Cabinet considered a joint report by the Heads of Community Services and of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the development of a Huntingdon community park at the junction of Coneygear Road and Buttsgrove Way, together with a number of neighbourhood gardens and doorstep greens at Oxmoor, Huntingdon.

It was reiterated that the facilities were to be financed by way of the sale and development of other areas at Oxmoor and a contribution from the S.106 Agreement negotiated with the developers of a housing site at Kings Ripton Road.  On the understanding, therefore that detailed budgets for the schemes would be prepared in due course and that staffing proposals would require approval from the Employment Panel, it was

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the creation of a community park for Huntingdon at the junction of Coneygear Road and Buttsgrove Way be approved; and

  (b)  that the proposals for funding the development and management of the community park, neighbourhood gardens and doorstep greens as outlined in the report now submitted be approved.

The Police Community Support Officers Governance Protocol between the Council and Cambridgeshire Constabulary Central Division was approved.

(Councillor L M Simpson declared a prejudicial interest as an employee of Cambridgeshire Constabulary and left the meeting for the duration of discussion and voting on this matter.)

Pursuant to Minute No. 03/180, the Cabinet gave further consideration to a report by the Director of Operational Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was appended a draft Governance Protocol for the development of 18 new Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) in Huntingdonshire.

Having been reminded of the deliberations of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Planning and Finance) on the matter, the Leader reported that the police had agreed to provide the Council with a monthly report on the activities of the PCSOs, which would be circulated to all Members; to deploy PCSOs in such a way as to ensure their visibility in smaller communities; and to continue holding liaison meetings with the Council on a monthly basis.  In those circumstances, it was

RESOLVED

  that the PCSOs Governance Protocol between the Council and Cambridgeshire Constabulary Central Division be approved.

To consider a report by the Head of Environment and Transport seeking approval for a draft Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy.

Huntingdonshire Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy approved.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Environment and Transport (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered the adoption of an Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy proposed by the Huntingdonshire Community Safety Partnership.  Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Huntingdonshire Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy as appended to the report now submitted be approved.

To consider a report by the Head of Housing Services on changes to Disabled Facilities Grants and associated funding matters.

The release of the remaining portion of the DFG budget was approved.

Quarterly monitoring reports were requested on the level of uptake of DFGs.

The Deputy Leader was authorised to make representations on the Council’s concerns regarding its increasing financial burdens resulting from new responsibilities to the Local Government Association, the Minister for Local and Regional Government and local Members of Parliament as set out above.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Housing Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which outlined the implications for the Council of the Government’s decision to cap its contribution towards Disabled Facilities Grants.  Members noted the numbers of DFGs processed since 2001/02 and the likely future trends which it was anticipated would require the release of £99,000 from the remaining budget for the year.  Against that background and the pressure which the Government’s decision was likely to place on District Council budgets for the foreseeable future, the Cabinet agreed that monitoring reports should be presented on a quarterly basis for the remainder of the financial year. 

In discussing the potential options for a combined approach with the Primary Care Trust to the provision of facilities for the disabled, Members expressed their concern at the timing of the announcement so soon after the start of the new financial year and in the context of the range of additional responsibilities imposed on local authorities without additional funding.  In that context, it was

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the release of the budget provision for Disabled Facilities Grants in the current year be approved;

  (b)  that applications for Disabled Facilities Grants be dealt with as expeditiously as possible and that a further report be submitted to a future meeting on the projected financial implications arising from the determination of applications with a view to monitoring developments on a quarterly basis; and

  (c)  that representations be made via the Local Government Association to convey the Council’s extreme disquiet with regard to the Government’s decision to cap its contribution towards the cost of mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants, its timing in terms of local authority budgeting processes and its impact on local Council Tax payers.

To resolve:-

  that the public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains exempt information relating to terms proposed in the course of negotiations for the acquisition/disposal of land or property.

RESOLVED

  that the public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains exempt information relating to terms for the disposal of property.

To consider a report by the Estates and Property Manager seeking the approval of terms for the disposal of freehold premises at 13 Cromwell Road, St Neots.

The terms for the sale of 13 Cromwell Road, St Neots were approved.

Further to Minute No. 02/47, the Cabinet considered a report by the Head of Legal and Estates (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding terms proposed for the sale of a factory premises at 13 Cromwell Road, St Neots.

RESOLVED

  that the sale of 13 Cromwell Road, St Neots on the terms set out in the report now submitted be approved.