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Contact: Mrs Lisa Jablonska, Elections and Democratic Services Manager, Tel No. 01480 388004/e-mail Lisa.Jablonska@huntingdonshire.gov.uk
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PRAYER Minutes: The Reverend A Milton, Vicar of All Saints and St. Mary’s, Huntingdon, opened the meeting with prayer. |
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CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS Minutes: Having received an account of the events that the Chairman had attended on the Council’s behalf since the last meeting, Members’ attention particularly was drawn to the Young Enterprise Area Final event at Wyboston, which the Council had been pleased to sponsor. This demonstrated the Council’s support for talented young people.
The Chairman then paid tribute to Councillor P G Mitchell who was attending his last meeting of the Council. |
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To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 25th February 2015. Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 25th February 2015 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. Actions: 5 Minutes |
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MEMBERS' INTERESTS To receive from Members, declarations as to disclosable pecuniary or other interests in relation to any Agenda item. See Notes below. Minutes: No declarations of interests were received. Actions: 3 Minutes |
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QUESTIONS TO MEMBERS OF THE CABINET Minutes: In response to a question from Councillor Ms L A Duffy, Councillor D B Dew agreed to circulate to Town and Parish Councils guidance on how the Community Infrastructure was calculated.
Following a question from Councillor D A Giles about progress of RECAP, Councillor D M Tysoe advised Members that a report would be submitted to the next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) containing a detailed position statement. Councillor Tysoe also undertook to circulate the Minutes of the last RECAP meeting to all Members.
Arising from a question from Councillor K J Churchill about the timescale for responses by Corporate Directors to enquiries by party Group Leaders, the Executive Leader indicated that generally such matters should be addressed through the proper channels and that without more information on the case he could not provide a more detailed response.
In response to a question from Councillor T Hayward on the potential for savings should the Council reconsider its position on the removal of the viaduct in Huntingdon at the Planning Inquiry on the A14, Councillor D B Dew stated that the figures referred to had not been tested, that the County Council was not prepared to adopt the viaduct and that one of the purposes of the new route was to take traffic away from the Town Centre and consequently the Council would continue to support its removal.
Regarding a question from Councillor Ms L A Duffy about the level of rates payable on community halls, Councillor J A Gray concurred that the position was inconsistent and that change was desirable; however, at present this was governed by national legislation. He suggested that an Overview and Scrutiny Panel might investigate the position in the District and the cost of addressing any anomalies.
Councillor J P Morris asked a question about how the Council would achieve its affordable housing targets given changes in Government requirements in this respect. Councillor D B Dew responded that he shared the Councillor’s concerns and that the Housing Team was addressing it, which could include making representations to the Government.
In response to a question from Councillor R J West about the powers available to the Council to prevent developers from leaving sites in an unsightly condition following demolition works, Councillor D B Dew undertook to work with Councillor West as Member Champion for Listed Buildings and Heritage on the scope and resources to be devoted to this kind of enforcement.
Arising from a question from Councillor R Fuller about the risks associated with opposition from parish councils to development plans for Houghton and Wyton, Councillor D B Dew confirmed that failure to allocate large sites could risk encouraging speculative development applications on the grounds that the Council did not have an adequate land supply. He recognised that parishes were entitled to have views, but thought greater efforts to explain the planning position were required.
Councillor Mrs A D Curtis asked whether, given the position of the Local Plan, the Council was ... view the full minutes text for item 74. Actions: 20 Minutes |
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REPORTS OF THE CABINET AND PANELS FOR DECISION Actions: 20 Minutes |
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Corporate Governance Panel Additional documents:
Minutes: Councillor P G Mitchell presented the Report of the meeting of the Corporate Governance Panel held on 25th March 2015.
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In connection with Item No. 25 and upon being moved by Councillor Mitchell and seconded by Councillor J D Ablewhite, the recommendation was declared to be CARRIED.
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Whereupon, it was
RESOLVED
that the Report of the meeting of the Corporate Governance Panel held on 25th March 2015 be received and adopted.
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Councillor Mitchell then made a personal statement in which he compared the Council’s finances when he first became a Member with the present position. He was now proud to be part of the Council and deemed it to have been an honour and a pleasure to work with both Members and Officers.
Councillor J A Gray responded by referring to the positive influence Councillor Mitchell had exerted on the Executive Portfolio for Resources and the fact that he would be missed by the Council. Councillor J D Ablewhire added that Councillor Mitchell had set him an example when he first became a Councillor and that he hoped Councillor Mitchell would continue to represent the Council on outside bodies. Councillors M F Shellens, K J Churchill and Mrs B E Boddington similarly commented on Councillor Mitchell’s positive contribution to the Council and that he would be greatly missed.
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Report of the meeting held on 23rd April 2015 – to follow Minutes: Councillor J D Ablewhite, Executive Leader of the Council and Chairman of the Cabinet, presented the Reports of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 19th March and 23rd April 2015.
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In connection with Item No. 46 and in response to a question from Councillor T Hayward, the Executive Leader confirmed that the identification of performance indicators would form part of the next phase of development of the performance management system. Upon being moved by Councillor Ablewhite and seconded by Councillor R B Howe, the recommendation was declared to be CARRIED.
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Whereupon, it was
RESOLVED
that the Reports of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 19th March and 23rd April 2015 be received and adopted. |
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Development Management Panel Report of the meeting held on 20th April 2015 – to follow. Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Mrs B E Boddington presented the Report of the meetings of the Development Management Panel held on 16th March and 20th April 2015.
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Whereupon, it was
RESOLVED
that the Report of the meetings of the Development Management Panel held on 16th March and 20th April 2015 be received and adopted. |
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Licensing and Protection Panel Minutes: Councillor J W Davies presented the Report of the meeting of the Licensing and Protection Panel held on 24th March 2015.
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Whereupon, it was
RESOLVED
that the Report of the meeting of the Licensing and Protection Panel held on 24th March 2015 be received and adopted. |
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Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) Minutes: Councillor R Harrision presented the Report of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) held on 5th March and 9th April 2015.
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Whereupon, it was
RESOLVED
that the Report of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) held on 5th March and 9th April 2015 be received and adopted. |
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Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) Minutes: Councillor G J Bull presented the Report of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) held on 10th March and 14th April 2015.
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Whereupon, it was
RESOLVED
that the Report of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) held on 10th March and 14th April 2015 be received and adopted. |
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Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being) Minutes: Councillor S J Criswell presented the Report of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being) held on 3rd March and 7th April 2015. While presenting the Report Councillor Criswell provided Members with an update on Hinchingbrooke Hospital. The Hospital had made significant progress since the Care Quality Commission inspection took place such that 67% of the identified actions had been completed. He would continue to monitor the situation closely in his capacity as a member of the Trust Oversight group.
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Whereupon, it was
RESOLVED
that the Report of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being) held on 3rd March and 7th April 2015 be received and adopted. |
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VARIATION TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES AND PANELS, ETC Group Leaders to report, if necessary. Minutes: There were no changes to report.
The meeting concluded at 7.55pm. |