Venue: REMOTE MEETING VIA ZOOM
Contact: Mrs Lisa Jablonska, Elections and Democratic Services Manager, Tel No. 01223 739952 / e-mail Lisa.Jablonska@huntingdonshire.gov.uk
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To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Meetings held on 17th June 2020. Contact: 2 Minutes. Additional documents: Minutes: The Minutes of the meetings of the Council held on the 17th June 2020 were approved as correct records and signed by the Chairman. |
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MEMBERS' INTERESTS To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary, non-disclosable pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests in relation to any Agenda item. See Notes below. Minutes: No declarations were received.
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CHAIRMAN'S ENGAGEMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS PDF 170 KB To note the Chairman’s engagements and receive any announcements since the last Council meeting.
Contact: 5 Minutes. Minutes: The Council noted those engagements attended by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman since the last meeting (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book).
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EXECUTIVE LEADER'S UPDATE The Executive Leader, Councillor R Fuller to address the Council. Contact: 40 Minutes. Minutes: The Chairman invited the Executive Leader, Councillor R Fuller to address the Council. In opening his remarks, Councillor Fuller drew Members attention to the recent announcement by the Prime Minister setting out how the country would continue to fight back against coronavirus, protect the NHS and save lives whilst keeping the economy running to safeguard jobs and livelihoods. He also made reference to the robust action taken by the Government in September, introducing the Rule of Six, placing restrictions on hospitality opening hours, advising people to work from home where they can and the introduction of tougher enforcement measures. However, Members were advised that the numbers of Covid patients admitted to intensive care units in some parts of the Country had now increased and if infections continued to rise, these hospitals could find themselves treating more patients than they did at the peak of the first wave. In Huntingdonshire, Councillor Fuller reported the number of cases per 100,000 of the population had risen nearly tenfold in a few short weeks and he emphasised the importance of everybody playing their part in being responsible and following the guidance to control the spread of the virus and protect the local economy, local jobs and the livelihoods of residents.
Councillor Fuller encouraged Members of the Council and the community to act in a spirit of togetherness to suppress the virus to avoid any increase of the Covid alert level in Huntingdonshire which he believed would be catastrophic to the local economy. In this respect, Members were advised that the Leader and the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority were united in their views that local lockdowns must be considered on a district by district basis rather than at a county or regional level.
The impact of Covid had accelerated the demise of town centres and high streets across the country. Although Members were advised that Huntingdonshire’s market towns were faring well in the circumstances, it was reported that pre-pandemic, the high street was already facing significant challenges with 12% of all UK shops vacant in March 2020 and retail floor space estimated to shrink further as a result of the pandemic.
Members were reminded that people had noticed significant changes during the lockdown with many deciding that a better way of doing things was possible and Councillor Fuller reiterated that the District’s town centres must also form part of this approach, whilst valuing the local environment more and sharing a stronger sense of community.
In addressing the vision for Huntingdonshire town centres, Members noted that doing nothing was not a realistic option to compete with online shopping and the changing nature of consumer habits. In this respect, attention was drawn to the Council’s submission of a £12 million Future High Streets Fund plan to transform St Neots, with similar plans to prepare Huntingdonshire’s other market towns for a post-Covid future to support their recovery.
Members noted that the Council had been successful in securing £300k from the Combined Authority to develop similar ... view the full minutes text for item 18. |
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QUESTIONS TO MEMBERS OF THE CABINET In accordance with the Council Procedure Rules, all questions –
v Must be relevant to matters for which the Council has powers or duties; v Must not relate to an item which is included elsewhere on the Council Agenda; v Should be limited to obtaining information or pressing for action; and v Should not exceed two minutes in duration.
Questions should not divulge or require to be divulged, confidential or exempt information. Contact: 10 Minutes. Minutes: Arising from a question from Councillor A Roberts on an assessment of the effectiveness of the social distancing measures that had been deployed at One Leisure facilities since re-opening, Councillor K I Prentice, Executive Councillor for Leisure and Regulatory Services explained that an enhanced cleaning regime had been implemented, controlled access to centres rolled out and segregation of certain parts of equipment. As well as re-designation of some parts of the sports hall to maximise use across the widest range of activities to maintain safe and practical social distancing and this had been encouraging with attendance numbers rising since re-opening the leisure centres in mid-July 2020. He further reported that One Leisure had been trying to increase capacity with rising demand and customers had been welcoming the measures established to protect them as well as the staff and expressed his appreciation to the One Leisure staff for their hard work and adaptability in such difficult circumstances together with their professionalism.
In relation to a further supplementary
question from Councillor Roberts on how well the Customer Services
Team had been coping with the current situation, the Executive
Councillor for Corporate Services, Councillor D N Keane, reported
upon of how proud he was in the way that the Team had adapted to
change and very quickly transformed to a remote working Team
providing the same level of service. Since the reopening of
Pathfinder House there had been on average
Arising from a comment by Councillor T D Alban on his appreciation to the Enforcement Team across the District addressing the increased instances of fly tipping, particularly along B660, whereby the Teams had taken action quickly to clear and check for evidence and he urged colleagues to ensure that such instances are reported. Councillor Ms M Beuttell, Executive Councillor for Operations and Environment concurred with the sentiments of Councillor Alban, particularly the hard work of the Teams involved and undertook to pass on the message of thanks to the respective Teams.
Councillor T D Sanderson raised a question in relation to the updated position on the Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) submission for St Neots and the subsequent position on the compulsory purchase of the Old Falcon Hotel on the Market Square. The Executive Leader reported that the FHSF had been submitted a few weeks ago and there had been a process of clarification on a few issues for every applicant whereby additional information had been required to be submitted. It was the expectation that any outcome on success or otherwise might not be known until the latter part of the year, with 100+ applications to consider, it was not clear as to what scale of options might be possible until the level of financial support was known. Referring ... view the full minutes text for item 19. |
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CORPORATE PLAN REFRESH 2020/21 PDF 142 KB The Executive Leader, Councillor R Fuller to present a refresh of the Corporate Plan for 2020/21 detailing the proposed new actions and performance indicators to Council for approval.
(The new actions and performance indicators have been endorsed by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth and the Cabinet at their meetings in September 2020). Contact: 10 Minutes. Additional documents: Minutes: Further to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) held on 16th September 2020 and comments raised therein and recommendation of the Cabinet at their meeting held on 17th September 2020, consideration was given to a report by the Business Intelligence and Performance Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on an update of the refresh of the Corporate Plan 2020/21.
The Executive Leader explained that a four year Corporate Plan had been adopted before the last election cycle in 2018 but had taken the opportunity to review this given the unprecedented circumstances being faced by the Council in order to consider the relevance and any changes that might be needed to be made in year to reflect what is happening around us, as well as looking at the Key Performance Indicators to see if any weaknesses needed tightening. He further drew Members attention to the “golden thread” that sets out the direction and acknowledges the challenges open to us and sets out the opportunities and priorities. Further reference was made to the Community Impact Assessment that sat behind this document and had been put together in response to Covid and the Policy Framework library of work being undertaken and how they fit into the Corporate Plan and the overarching corporate direction.
Councillor T D Sanderson referred to firming up the timetable of consideration of the strategies identified in the Appendices to the report now submitted, whereby Councillor Fuller explained that an ambitious schedule had been set for some of the reports although some such as the Housing Strategy had moved at pace through the utilisation of specific expert resources to support the project and given the change in circumstances he and the Managing Director had been in discussion about being pragmatic about the scheduling of the priority policy areas on the understanding that some may not be delivered to the original timetable.
Councillor Mrs S J Conboy welcomed the refresh of the Corporate Plan going back to first principles of what the Council wants to achieve and referred to the difficult budget decisions still to be made, together with the great deal of uncertainty and hoped that this would remain as a live document for future refresh’s. Whereby Councillor Fuller reported that this was a one year refresh document for the remainder of the Municipal Year and a new four year Corporate Plan would be produced in time for the next term of administration beyond the next election cycle, but was not intrinsically linked to the forthcoming budget. However, it was not sensible to commit to things where there was no certainty that it would be delivered.
RESOLVED
that the revised key actions and performance indicators for inclusion in the Corporate Plan for 2020/21 be approved.
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CODE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 2020/21 PDF 130 KB Councillor G J Bull, Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee, to present a revised Code of Financial Management for approval by the Council.
(The report was endorsed by the Corporate Governance Committee at their meeting on 23rd July 2020). Contact: 5 Minutes. Additional documents: Minutes: By way of a report by the Finance Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) Councillor J A Gray, Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources presented details of the outcome of the review of the Code of Financial Management as endorsed by the Corporate Governance Committee at their meeting on 23rd July 2020. The Code was reviewed regularly to ensure it reflected current legislation and the changing needs of the Council.
In referring to the Internal Audit Service, Councillor Mrs S J Conboy sought assurance that the service would continue to have unfettered access and sufficient resources to undertake its duties to be undertaken. Whereby Councillor Gray explained that the service would continue to have free, full and unrestricted access to services and functions and all Council assets, systems, documents, information, employees and Members as set out in the Code. He further explained that there was a restructuring of the resource following the departure of the Internal Audit Manager and they had been working to see how a solution could be delivered effectively. Although there was an interim solution in place, it was felt that consideration should also be given to a shared service that could deliver across multiple platforms the internal audit outturn that the Corporate Governance Committee valued highly.
As Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee, Councillor G J Bull assured Councillor Mrs Conboy that the Corporate Governance Committee was equally eager to ensure that there was provision for a significantly active and well-resourced Internal Audit Section. Whereupon, it was
RESOLVED
that the revised Code of Financial Management as appended to the report now submitted be approved.
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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE PDF 632 KB Councillor L W McGuire, former Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee, to present the Annual Report of the Committee for the year ending 31st March 2020.
(The Report was endorsed by the Corporate Governance Committee at their meeting on 23rd July 2020). Contact: 5 Minutes. Minutes: In conjunction with a report by the Acting Internal Audit and Risk Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) Councillor L W McGuire, former Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee, presented the Annual Report for 2019/20 of the Corporate Governance Committee which outlined the work that had been undertaken by the Committee over the previous year. Whereupon, it was
RESOLVED
that the Annual Report 2019/20 of the Corporate Governance Committee be received and noted.
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TREASURY MANAGEMENT SIX MONTH PERFORMANCE REVIEW PDF 222 KB Councillor J A Gray, Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources, to present the Treasury Management Six Month Performance Review.
(This report was considered by the Cabinet at their meeting on 16th July 2020). Contact: 10 Minutes. Additional documents:
Minutes: Consideration was given to a report by the Council’s Finance Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) providing a six-month update in respect of treasury management activity for the period 1st October 2019 to 31st March 2020. Councillor J A Gray, Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources, drew Members attention to the stable outcome during this period which showed the difference between borrowing that had been undertaken with an average amount payable at 2.76% compared to yields on investment of 6.5%.
Whereupon, it was
RESOLVED
that that the Treasury Management Performance during the period 1st October 2019 to 31st March 2020 be noted.
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LICENSING ACT 2003: STATEMENT OF LICENSING POLICY PDF 226 KB Councillor S J Criswell, Chairman of the Licensing Committee, to present a draft Statement of Licensing Policy to the Council for approval for a five-year period from January 2021.
(The draft Statement was endorsed by the Licensing Committee at their meeting on 30thSeptember 2020). Contact: 5 Minutes. Additional documents:
Minutes: On the recommendation of the Licensing Committee at their meeting held on 30th September 2020, consideration was given to a report by the Acting Operations Manager (Business) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was attached a revised draft Statement of Licensing Policy under the Licensing Act 2003. The Statement sets out how the Council will exercise its statutory duties relating to its licensing function.
Councillor K Prentice, Executive Councillor for Leisure and Regulatory Services explained that the draft Statement had been approved for public consultation by the Licensing Committee at its meeting on 24th June 2020. Consultation had taken place during the period 29th June to 12th September 2020 in accordance with the Cabinet Office guidelines and Members were advised that the Statement had now been amended to take into account, where appropriate, consultation responses.
Councillor B S Chapman referred to a response that had been submitted on behalf of St Neots Town Council and although they were satisfied and supported the Statement he requested for completeness a confirmation that the response had been received. Councillor K Prentice undertook to investigate and provide a direct response to Councillor Chapman.
RESOLVED
that the Council’s Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Licensing Policy be approved for a five-year period commencing on 7th January 2021. |
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USE OF SPECIAL URGENCY PROVISIONS 2019/20 PDF 273 KB In accordance with 18.3 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules, the Executive Leader Councillor R Fuller, to present the annual report on executive decisions taken using the Special Urgency Provisions set out within the District Council’s Constitution. Contact: 5 Minutes. Minutes: Consideration was given to a report by the Executive Leader on the use of special urgency provisions taken throughout the previous year (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book). Subject to the correction of the year of the date of decision on the Commercial Investment Strategy Asset from 2020 to 2019, it was
RESOLVED
that the contents of the report be noted.
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CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND PETERBOROUGH COMBINED AUTHORITY - UPDATE PDF 568 KB Councillor R Fuller, Executive Leader to present on the activities of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
Councillors S J Corney and P A Jordan to provide an update on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Councillor G J Bull to provide an update on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Audit and Governance Committee.
Decisions Summaries for meetings held in June, July and August 2020 have been circulated to Members separately on the Members briefing.
Decisions summaries for the most recent meetings (28th September, 30th September and 2nd October 2020) are not yet available and will be circulated in advance of the meeting if possible.
In accordance with the Protocol agreed at the February 2017 meeting, this item provides an opportunity for District Council Members to ask questions and comment on Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority issues.
If Members wish to raise questions or issues requiring a detailed response, it would be helpful if they can provide prior notice so that the necessary information can be obtained in advance of the meeting.
Contact: 20 Minutes. Minutes: In conjunction with the decision summaries of the recent meetings of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (copies of which are appended in the Minute Book), Councillor R Fuller presented an update of their activities. Attention was drawn to progress that had been made in relation to the A141 and St Ives Transport Study, whereby funding had been agreed to move the project onto the next stages and £300k secured at the Board meeting in September 2020 to develop St Neots style plans for the other three market towns in the District.
Arising from a question from Councillor B S Chapman on progress with continuing discussions on super-fast broadband in the District with £2m put aside to proceed with the project to ensure the economic vibrancy of the towns, whereby Councillor Fuller referred to his report earlier to Members on the full fibre agenda and understood that Councillor Chapman was referring to the gigabit voucher scheme in operation by the Combined Authority that had been utilised more recently by Councillor Gardiner delivering full fibre using vouchers and combination of other funding in Spaldwick and his Ward. The work in St Neots being undertaken by Openreach was under their commercial remit but the District Council had been working with them to establish what funding gap was needed in terms of the feasibility of rolling it out to rest of the District.
Councillor S J Corney provided an update on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee and drew Members attention to the attendance by Baroness Brown of Cambridge as Chairman of the Independent Climate Change Commission, who provided an update on process for appointing the Chairman and Members to the Commission. It was understood that she would be reporting to the Board further in November 2020.
Members were provided with an update on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Audit and Governance Committee by Councillor G J Bull and particular attention was drawn to a workshop on the new Constitution and subsequent changes that Peterborough City Council no longer provided Internal Audit services for the Combined Authority. It was noted that a new contract had been signed with RSM International to provide an internal audit service and they had met the client partner. Furthermore the Framework of Accountability would be considered at their meeting on 27th November 2020 and the Mayor would also be in attendance to answer any questions that may arise from the recent letter to be issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government.
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OUTCOMES FROM COMMITTEES AND PANELS PDF 362 KB An opportunity for Members to raise any issues or ask questions arising from recent meetings of the Council’s Committees and Panels.
A list of meetings held since the last Council meeting is attached for information and Members are requested to address their questions to Committee and Panel Chairmen. Contact: 10 Minutes. Minutes: A copy of the list of meetings held since the last meeting of the Council held on 17th June 2020 is appended in the Minute Book and Members were advised that any issues or questions could be raised in relation to these meetings.
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VARIATIONS TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES AND PANELS Group Leaders to report on variations to the Membership of Committees and Panels if necessary. Contact: 2 Minutes. Minutes: There were no changes to report.
The meeting ended at 7.25pm.
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