Agenda and decisions

(a)  To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2025; and

(b)  To correct the minutes of the 15 May 2025 meeting – Minute Number 3 - to reflect that Councillor S A Howell was appointed as the Executive Councillor for Communities, Health and Leisure.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary, other registerable and non-registerable interests in relation to any Agenda item. See Notes below.

To receive a report seeking Cabinet approval to move forward to the next stages with a regeneration partnership with Capital and Centric (C&C) relating to sites within the Market Towns.

Executive Councillor: S Wakeford.

The Cabinet has

(a)  supported officers identifying and working up proposals for regeneration opportunities in the Market Towns, which could be brought forward for development in conjunction with C&C as a private sector partner – noting the benefits of the C&C operating model as listed within the appendix to the report;

(b)  endorsed the principle of working with C&C as a partner to develop and potentially deliver identified proposals – noting the appointment via a Direct Award from the ‘Bloom’ Framework – and noting the advice of the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources (S151) that there are sufficient funds available to facilitate the identified works;

(c)  endorsed officers proceeding to undertake engagement with stakeholders relating to any identified opportunities and potential developments as part of business case development; and

(d)  supported the principle of officers engaging in efforts to acquire land and buildings in connection with the principle of regeneration in the Market Towns, where this would align with the principles of delivering economic or housing led regeneration. 

To receive a report presenting the proposal to work alongside Inspired Solutions to deliver various development sites across Huntingdonshire to support housing delivery, in particular affordable housing responding to housing need.

Executive Councillor: S Wakeford.

The Cabinet

(a)  agreed in principle to establish a working partnership with Inspired Solutions to deliver affordable homes within the district on various sites – noting an initial aspiration for circa 200 homes; and

(b)  delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources (S151 Officer), in consultation with the Corporate Director of Place to negotiate and draft the following agreements:

(i)  Heads of Terms, Agreement for Leases and eventual Leases with Inspired Solutions

(ii)  Heads of Terms, Agreement for Underleases and eventual Underleases with a company associated with Inspired Solutions; and

(iii)  Nomination Agreements for 100% nomination rights for all residential units for the period of the underleases.

To receive a report presenting an update on all of the recommendations illustrated in the Independent Review and to close out that particular action from the original report dated 19 March 2024.

Executive Councillor: S Howell

The Cabinet

(a)  noted the progress of actions identified within the report over the last 12 months;

(b)  commented on the progress that has been made on the 22 actions identified within the Year 1 – Transformation Progress Report of Actions & Recommendations from the Long-Term Operating Model for One Leisure undertaken by First Point Management; and

(c)  acknowledged and accepted the key actions from the associated summary presentation and outlined within Section 4 of the report.

To receive a report presenting the ongoing progress made towards achieving a carbon net zero Council by 2040, as set out in the Council's Climate Strategy and Action Plan.

Executive Councillor: L Davenport-Ray.

The Cabinet

(a)  commented on the delivery of the Climate Action Plan for 2024-25;

(b)  noted the progress made by the Council and its partners towards achieving Carbon Net Zero by 2040; and

(c)  commented on and approved the updated Climate Action plan as shown in Appendix 6 and note the amendment of actions in Appendix 7.

To receive a report presenting the refreshed Economic Growth Strategy (EGS).

Executive Councillor: S Wakeford.

The Cabinet endorsed the refreshed Economic Growth Strategy, enabling the Economic Development Team and partners to deliver its objectives over the next 2–5 years.

To resolve –

that the press and public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

To receive a report presenting the case for renewing the agreement of the shared service for the provision of Building Control, ICT and Legal.

Executive Councillor: L Davenport-Ray.

The Cabinet has approved the recommendation contained within the exempt report.