Agenda and minutes

The Venerable High McCurdy, Archdeacon of Huntingdon and Wisbech, opened the meeting with a prayer.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings held on 16th December 2015.

The Minutes of the meetings held on 16th December 2016 were approved as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

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

No declarations were received.

The Chairman invited Councillor J W Davies to present a petition on behalf of 543 signatories regarding support for the District Council’s decision to refuse the application for 50-60 homes on the site of the St Ives football club. In so doing it was noted that this matter was related to a planning issue and it was proposed that no further action be taken in respect of the petition.

The Chairman invited Mrs D Drew, Manager of Huntingdonshire Shopmobility, to present a petition on behalf of 502 signatories concerning the decision by the District Council’s Cabinet to cease funding of the Huntingdon Shopmobility with no further grant award for 2016/17.

On behalf of the petitioners, Mrs Drew outlined her support for the petition and suggested that the timescale from notification of the cessation of funding did not allow the service enough time to find alternative accommodation for the service. Whilst acknowledging that the target of external funding sources had not been achieved, Mrs Drew explained that the decision had been a surprise to them and requested that consideration be given to extending the period of funding for a further year in order to retain the current level of service.

In response to a question from Councillor J D Ablewhite on the level of reserves, Mrs Drew informed Members that they had £44k in reserves. Mrs Drew confirmed that Huntingdon Town Council had offered to fund the costs of the portacabin for a further year and outlined to Members the usage statistics of the service over a year.

In response to a question regarding the feasibility of offering the service at the other market towns, Mrs Drew explained that a service had been initiated in St Ives but bids for funding had been unsuccessful. The success of Huntingdon Shopmobility could be attributed to the pedestrianised High Street with better access for disabled users.

Councillor Ablewhite explained that although he supported funding for the voluntary groups this was dependent upon certain expectations of levels being achieved through sourcing external funding to support these activities. He further explained the Cabinet had tasked the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Communities and Customers) to undertake a review of the funding of the voluntary sector groups and report back their findings to their meeting in July 2016. Whilst acknowledging that Huntingdon Shopmobility provided a benefit for the community and businesses in the town, it was moved to offer an extension of funding for three months from April 2016 to allow for the support to be established from Huntingdon Town Council and the Business Improvement District and duly seconded by Councillor R B Howe.

Councillor S Greenall outlined his support for the proposal and referred to the misleading nature of the press release quoting ‘a new deal for the voluntary sector’ which had not been achieved for Huntingdon Shopmobility. In response Councillor Greenall moved that the Council match the funding put forward from Huntingdon Town Council to support the service for a further year. This was duly seconded by Councillor M F Shellens. Having been put to the vote, the motion was declared to be lost.

In respect of the substantive motion and upon being put to the vote, the Council

RESOLVED

to extend the funding of Huntingdon Shopmobility for a further three months from April 2016.

The Executive Councillor for Resources, Councillor J A Gray to present the 2016/17 Budget, the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2017/18 – 2020/21, the related Prudential Indicators and the Treasury Management Strategy for 2016/17 for approval.  In accordance with Section 30 (2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Council will be required to approve resolutions as to the levels of Council Tax in 2016/17 for the various parts of Huntingdonshire District. A report by the Head of Resources is enclosed.

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, the Council will be asked to resolve that a recorded vote be taken on the conclusion of debate on this item.

(The recommendations of the Cabinet are included within the report of their meeting on 11thFebruary 2016. See item 7a.)

In conjunction with a report by the Head of Resources (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) and Item Nos. 49 and 50 of the Report of the Cabinet, the Executive Councillor for Resources presented to Members the 2016/17 Revenue Budget, the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for the period 2016/17 to 2020/21, the Treasury Management Strategy and other associated matters for the Council’s consideration and approval.

In accordance with Section (30)2 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Council also considered proposals for levels of Council Tax in 2016/17 for various parts of the Huntingdonshire district.

In his opening remarks, the Executive Councillor reflected back on previous budgets that he had presented since 2012 and was pleased to present a surplus budget to Members once again. By way of reflection, Councillor J A Gray reminded Members that Council Tax had risen by 7.25% over the past six years and over the same period pensions had risen by 18.76% and average weekly wages had risen by 10.9%. Thereby illustrating that the Council had succeeded in keeping increases in line with working residents and pensioners.

Councillor Gray outlined the budget setting process that had been undertaken this year, including a robust Zero Based Budgeting (ZBB) exercise for all services, with £1.9m previously identified for removal from the 2015/16 budget and a further £4m of identified savings by the end of the MTFS. In referring to the monthly budget ‘dashboard’ that had been received by Members, Councillor Gray reported that all services has been achieving their targets, whilst being prudent in the delivery of their services and expressed his appreciation to his fellow Cabinet Members and Officers for the end result.

Member’s attention was drawn to the inclusive budget review process that commenced with the Star Chamber review in July 2015 with the outcome reported to the Overview and Scrutiny Panels and the Cabinet. This was concluded with the presentation of the draft budget to Overview and Scrutiny and the Cabinet in January 2016. Alongside this there was consultation with residents and businesses in the District.

Councillor Gray updated the Council on the MTFS Capital Programme and Commercial Investment Strategy (CIS), including the borrowing strategy to facilitate the capital programme and CIS. In summarising the funding statement, Members were advised of the key assumptions including the commitment to freeze Council Tax for 2016/17 and removal of the Revenue Support Grant as core funding by 2020/21.

Members were reminded of a previous consideration to place the Leisure Centres in Trust status to alleviate the deficit, but the Council would have continued to be required to make ongoing financial contributions to the Trust. As previously reported to Members, Councillor Gray confirmed that the Council had no longer been subsidising the five Leisure Centres and had now been making a small contribution to the Council’s budget.

In acquainting Members with the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy and Annual Minimum Revenue Provision for 2016/17, Councillor Gray explained that the Council remained committed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

In compliance with the requirements of Section 38 of the Localism Act 2011, the Executive Councillor for Organisational Development, Councillor S Cawley to present the Pay Policy Statement for 2016/17 to the Council for approval.

(The recommendations of the Employment Panel are included in the report of their meeting on 3rdFebruary 2016. See Agenda Item 7b).

In compliance with the requirements of Sections 38 - 43 of the Localism Act 2011, Councillor S Cawley, Executive Councillor for Organisational Change and Development presented a report by the Corporate Team Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) in connection with the District Council’s Pay Policy Statement for 2016/17.

The Statement, which is required to be approved by the Council by 31st March 2016 was now produced annually and detailed the Council’s policies relating to Officer remuneration.

Accordingly and having noted that a copy of the Pay Policy Statement would be publicised on the Council’s website along with data on senior salaries under the Code of Recommended Practice for Local Authorities on Data Transparency 2011, it was moved by Councillor Cawley, duly seconded and

RESOLVED

that the Policy Statement for 2016/17 be approved.

Following the referendum held on Thursday, 4 February 2016 to consider a report by the Head of Development.

(A copy of the St Neots Neighbourhood Plan 2014 – 2029 has been circulated to all Members separately and is available to view on the Council’s website).

Having regard to a report by the Planning Policy Team Leader (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the referendum of the St Neots Neighbourhood Plan held on 4th February 2016, Members were acquainted with the results of the referendum with 93% voting in favour of supporting the making of the Neighbourhood Plan. As the result exceeded the 50% threshold, the Council was required to make the Neighbourhood Plan part of the statutory development plan for Huntingdonshire. Whereupon, the Council

RESOLVED

  that the St Neots Neighbourhood Plan as attached at Appendix 1 to the report now submitted be adopted with immediate effect to become part of the statutory development plan for Huntingdonshire.

The Executive Leader, Councillor J D Ablewhite will open the debate and there will be a presentation from the Managing Director, Mrs Jo Lancaster.

(A copy of the ‘Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Devolution Proposal for negotiation with Government’ has been circulated to all Members of the Council only).

The Chairman invited Councillor J D Ablewhite, Executive Leader to open the debate on devolution in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Whereby Members were informed of a devolution discussions being undertaken within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to devolve powers and funding from Central Government to local leaders. Councillor Ablewhite referred to the issues that the deal was seeking to address, including the shortage of affordable housing within reasonable commuting distance, pressures on the transport network, skills and training provision not delivering the right mix of skilled people and the growing and ageing population generating major financial challenges.

In referring to the document ‘Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Devolution Proposal for negotiation with Government’ that had been circulated separately to all Members, Councillor Ablewhite reported that the negotiations had progressed further than previously published and the deal had been approached by Norfolk and Suffolk for inclusion.

Councillor Ablewhite was assisted by the Managing Director, Mrs J Lancaster who, as part of her address referred to a PowerPoint presentation (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book). As background, Mrs Lancaster reiterated the principles of devolution and the underlying opportunities to review local governance, securing additional powers and budgets and add value to local public services across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Mention also was made of progress to date with partners, involving the development of a draft document outlining what powers were being sought from Central Government.

Mrs Lancaster drew Members attention to the main themes of the document as previously highlighted by the Executive Leader and outlined the next steps involved in the process to redefine the document following Stakeholder Engagement before negotiations begin formally with Central Government. Discussions were continuing informally with Leaders and Senior Council representatives regarding the geographical area of the devolution deal.

In the questions that followed, Councillor M F Shellens highlighted his concerns with the potential complication of adding a further tier to the current structure locally, whereby Councillor Ablewhite explained that he was keen to explore whether there was a better way of delivering public services.

In referring to the potential for a referendum on regional government arising from a question by Councillor T D Alban, Councillor Ablewhite reported that there had been no plans for such an event. Concern was also expressed by Members with regard to the potential inclusion of Norfolk and Suffolk and Councillor Ablewhite explained that the matter was still under consideration and undertook to provide an update to Members at a future meeting.

Councillor J A Gray provided an update on investment as part of the Commercial Investment Strategy arising from a question by Councillor R Fuller.

Councillor J D Ablewhite, Executive Leader and Chairman of the Cabinet presented the Report of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 21st January and 11th February 2016.

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In connection with Item No’s. 49 and 50, it was noted that the recommendations had been considered previously under Minute No. 58a.

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Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that, subject to the foregoing paragraphs, the Report of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 21st January and 11th February 2016 be received and adopted.

Councillor J W Davies, Chairman of the Employment Panel presented the Report of the meeting of the Panel held on 3rd February 2016.

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Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the Report of the meeting of the Employment Panel held on 3rd February 2016 be received and adopted.

Councillor Mrs B E Boddington, Chairman of the Council presented the Report of the meeting of the Development Management Panel held on 18th January 2016.

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Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the Report of the meeting held on 18th January 2016 be received and adopted.

Councillor G J Bull, Chairman of the Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Finance and Performance) presented the Report of the meetings of the Panel held on 7th January and 4th February 2016.

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Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Reports of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Finance and Performance) held on 7th January and 4th February 2016 be received and adopted.

Councillor S J Criswell, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Communities and Customers) presented the Report of the meetings of the Panel held on 5th January and 2nd February 2016.

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Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Report of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Communities and Customers) held on 5th January and 2nd February 2016 be received and adopted.

Councillor T D Sanderson, Chairman of the Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Economy and Growth) presented the Report of the meetings of the Panel held on 12th January and 9th February 2016.

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Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Reports of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economy and Growth) held on 12th January and 9th February 2016 be received and adopted.

(a)  To appoint 8 Members to a working group for the purpose of reviewing electoral arrangements.

(NB – To achieve a political balance the working group should comprise 5 Members from the Conservative Group, 1 Member from the Liberal Democrat Group, 1 Member from the UK Independence Party and 1 Non-aligned Independent).

(b)  Group Leaders to report on variations to the Membership of Committees and Panels, if necessary.

That the following Members be appointed to serve on the Electoral Boundary Review Working Group –

Councillors J D Ablewhite, G J Bull, S J Criswell, Ms L A Duffy, M Francis, T Hayward, T D Sanderson and M F Shellens.

There were no changes to report.

The meeting ended at 10.15pm.