Agenda and minutes

The Reverend B Atling, Rural Dean of Huntingdon opened the meeting with prayer.

(a)  Councillor A Monk

  The Council expressed its condolences to Councillor A Monks who had been unable to attend his first meeting of the Council due to the recent death of his father.

(b)  High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire

  The Chairman reported that he had conveyed, on behalf of Members, the Council’s congratulations to Lady de Ramsey on her appointment as the new High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire.

(c)  Pancake Race

  The Chairman thanked all those who had sent him their best wishes after his accident during the Pancake Day race in Huntingdon and he placed on record his appreciation for the treatment and support he had received at the event from St Johns Ambulance Service.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 18th February 2009.

Subject to –

¨  the addition of Councillor P M D Godfrey to those Members in attendance at the last meeting; and the deletion of his name from those Members who had apologised for absence; and

¨  the deletion of the initials “M G” and their replacement by the initials “K M” in the third question under Item No. 59,

the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 18th February 2009 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to personal and/or prejudicial interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any Agenda Item.  Please see Notes 1 and 2 below.

Councillors Mrs K E Cooper, R W J Eaton, D Harty, G S E Thorpe and P K Ursell declared a personal interest in Minute No. 68 (a), Item No. 82 by virtue of their membership of St Neots Town Council.

The Returning Officer to report that Councillor A Monk has been elected to the Office of District Council for the Ramsey Ward at the by-election held on 2nd April 2009 and to appoint Councillor Monk to Committees, Panels, etc.

Having noted a report by the Returning Officer that Councillor A Monk had been elected to the Office of District Councillor for the Ramsey Ward at the by-election held on 2nd April 2009, the Council

RESOLVED

  that Councillor Monk be appointed to the Licensing Committee and Licensing and Protection Panel for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

To review the Council’s democratic structure with the assistance of a report of the Democratic Structure Review Working Group.  The Cabinet, Overview & Scrutiny Panels and Corporate Governance Panel have considered the findings and a further report will be submitted on their recommendations subsequent to the despatch of the agenda. (See Cabinet supplementary report of the meeting held on 17th April 2009.)

The Council considered a report by the Democratic Structure Review Working Party (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which had been appointed by the Cabinet to review the Council’s democratic structure.  Members’ attention was drawn to the recommendations of the Cabinet contained in the Report of their meeting held on 17th April 2009 (a copy of which also is appended in the Minute Book).

Before proceeding to consider the recommendations, the Chairman reminded Members that they had had the opportunity to discuss the issues emerging from the Working Party’s report during specific Member Presentations, and at meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny and Corporate Governance Panels and the Cabinet.  To assist in the Council’s deliberations, the Head of Democratic and Central Services had collated the responses of each body and presented them in a matrix which also had been circulated with the agenda.

The Chairman of the Working Party, Councillor K J Churchill, addressed the Council.  He drew the Council’s attention to the legislative background against which the Working Party had worked, the cross party nature of its deliberations and the Working Party’s ultimate objective to recommend a structure which would enhance the democratic process in Huntingdonshire.  Having described the Working Party’s approach to its task, Councillor Churchill thanked the Head of Democratic and Central Services and Officers in the Democratic Services Team for their support in undertaking the review.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor I C Bates, the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor P J Downes and Councillors S J Criswell and G S E Thorpe also extended their appreciation to the Working Party and Officers for the volume of work which they had undertaken in presenting the conclusions to Council. 

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor P J Downes, tabled a summary of amendments to the Working Party and Cabinet recommendations (a copy of which also is appended in the Minute Book) to offer the Council the opportunity to further debate the detail of several issues.  Accordingly, Councillor Downes moved amendments to the following Motions by reference to the numbering in the Working Party’s report, each of which was duly seconded –

  Recommendation (b)

  that the words “in principle” be deleted from the first line; that the words “increased to ten” be deleted from the first line and the words “decreased to 8” inserted in their place; and the words “but deferred for one year and reviewed again at that time” be deleted from the second line and the words “on completion of the review of the democratic structure” inserted in their place.

  Upon being put to the vote, the amendment was declared to be LOST.

  Recommendation (c)

  This was withdrawn by Councillor Downes from the list of amendments tabled.

  Recommendation (e)

  that the words “6.30 pm” in the first line be deleted and the words “7.00 pm in the interests of consistency with the starting times of the Council and overview and scrutiny and development control panels which the public might  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.

At 4.30 pm, it was

RESOLVED

  that the meeting stand adjourned.

Upon resumption at 4.45 pm.

Councillor I C Bates, Leader and Chairman of the Cabinet presented the Report of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 19th February, 12th March, 2nd and 17th April 2009.

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In connection with Item No. 78 and further to Minute No. 66 ante, Councillor Bates drew Members’ attention to the democratic services resource which would be released following the discontinuation of the Leisure Centre Management Committees.

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In connection with Item No. 83 and in response to a question from Councillor P J Downes, Councillor P L E Bucknell, Executive Councillor for Planning and Transport explained the differences between the development control and development management functions and advised that the transformation had emerged from the new national approach to planning which included the local development framework and core strategy processes.  Councillor Bates added that the development management approach would encourage more open and constructive advice to those submitting planning applications.

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In connection with Item No. 87, it was noted that the recommendations had been considered previously under Minute No. 66.

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Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that, subject to the foregoing paragraphs, the Report of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 19th February, 12th March and 2nd and 17th April 2009 be received and adopted.

Mr D L Hall presented the Report of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 5th March 2009.

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Further to Item No. 17, Mr Hall drew Members’ attention to the recent workload of the Referrals (Assessment) Sub-Committee which had dealt with five cases since the previous meeting of the Council.

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Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Report of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 5th March 2009 be received and adopted.

Councillor S J Criswell presented the Report of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery) held on 3rd March and 7th April 2009.

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In connection with Item No. 47, Councillor Criswell concurred with Councillor M F Shellens in advising Members that they should exercise caution in discussions with the public on the extent of the impact of new legislation in expediting the adoption of roads and sewers.

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In connection with Item No. 51, and in response to a question from Councillor P J Downes, Councillor Criswell reported, with the assistance of the Executive Councillor for Operational and Countryside Services, Councillor C R Hyams, that negotiations were continuing to secure a new contract for the processing and onward sale of recyclable materials but that he would anticipate that the materials collected still would be transferred to Milton Keynes for processing.  Councillor Hyams undertook to advise Councillor Downes of the current position in writing.

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Further to Item No. 54, Councillor Criswell advised the Council that arrangements had been made for Members to discuss the NHS Cambridgeshire Strategy Plan 2009 – 14 at a seminar to be held on Tuesday, 5th May 2009 at 7.00 pm at the Buckden Millennium Centre.

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Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Report of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery) held on 3rd March and 7th April 2009 be received and adopted.

Councillor J A Gray presented the Report of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Support) held on 10th February, 10th March and 14th April 2009.

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In connection with Item No. 51 and in response to questions from Councillors P J Downes and T D Sanderson, Councillor Gray indicated that he would welcome an opportunity for a meeting with the Highways Agency and Cambridgeshire County Council to explore the traffic management issues in the Huntingdon West area and that he would encourage Councillors to register their interest in attending such a meeting with the Leader.

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In connection with Item No. 54, Councillor P J Downes commended Councillor Gray on the skillful and sensitive manner in which he had chaired meetings of the Panel during the past year.

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Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Report of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Support) held on 10th February, 10th March and 14th April 2009 be received and adopted.

Councillor P G Mitchell presented the Report of the meetings of the Development Control Panel held on 23rd February and 16th March 2009.

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Further to Item No. 25, Councillor Mitchell reported that the Development Control service had already begun to take forward elements of the development management approach to planning which would involve the extension of pre-planning services and advice.  Councillor Mitchell also drew the Council’s attention to the excellent performance of Development Control service in the quarter 1st October – 31st December 2008 during which the Team had exceeded all Government targets prescribed for the determination of minor, major and other applications.

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In connection with Item No. 26 and in response to a question from Councillor P J Downes, Councillor Mitchell reported that an Enforcement Notice had been served to secure the cessation of the unauthorised use of land at Harpers Drove, Ramsey Heights.

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Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Report of the meetings of the Development Control Panel held on 23rd February and 16th March 2009 be received and adopted.

Councillor J D Sadler presented the Report of the meeting of the Licensing and Protection Panel held on 19th March 2009.

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Further to Item No. 9, Councillor Sadler highlighted the fact that a saving of £20,000 would be achieved by the Panel’s decision to delimit the number of hackney carriage licences issued in the District.

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Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Report of the meeting of the Licensing and Protection Panel held on 19th March 2009 be received and adopted.

Councillor C J Stephens presented the Report of the meetings of the Corporate Governance Panel held on 25th March and 16th April 2009.

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Upon being moved and seconded, the recommendations contained in Item No. 23 were declared to be CARRIED.

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Upon being moved and seconded, the recommendations contained in Item No. 29 stood deferred until the next meeting of the Council.

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Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that, subject to the foregoing paragraphs, the Report of the meetings of the Corporate Governance Panel held on 25th March and 16th April 2009 be received and adopted.

Councillor D Harty presented the Report of the meeting of the Elections Panel held on 25th March 2009.

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In connection with Item No. 3, Councillor P J Downes moved an amendment to the Motion and it was duly seconded –

“that the words ‘Cabinet and’ in the first line be deleted; and all of the words after the word ‘Council’ in the first line be deleted and the words ‘undertakes the necessary consultation with a view to introducing whole Council elections on the basis of single Member seats from 2011, as costed in the Medium Term Plan’ inserted in their place.”

Upon being put to the vote, the amendment was declared to LOST.

Upon being put to the vote, the recommendation contained in Item No. 3 was declared to be CARRIED.

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Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that, subject to the foregoing paragraph, the Report of the meeting of the Elections Panel held on 25th March 2009 be received and adopted.

In accordance with the Council Procedure Rules (Section 8.3) of the Council's Constitution, to receive oral questions from Members of the Council

In accordance with the Council Procedure Rules (paragraph 8.3 of the Rules), the Chairman proceeded to conduct a period of oral questions addressed to Executive Councillors and Panel Chairmen as follows:-

Question from Councillor P J Downes to the Leader of the Council, Councillor I C Bates

In response to a question regarding the provision of polling cards for local town and parish council elections, Councillor Bates confirmed that responsibility lay with the town or parish clerk of the authority where a vacancy had arisen to request the District Council to despatch polling cards for the ensuing election.

Question from Councillor T D Sanderson to the Executive Councillor for Operational and Countryside Services, Councillor C R Hyams

In response to a question regarding the progress of works to create an open space and balancing pond on a new Twigden housing estate adjacent to Hinchingbrooke Country Park, Councillor Hyams replied that he would make enquires on the subject and send a written response to the questioner.

Question from Councillor M F Shellens to the Leader of the Councillor, Councillor I C Bates

In response to a question regarding the remuneration of Councillors appointed as District Council representatives on Luminus Group, Councillor Bates replied that whilst it was incumbent upon the registered social landlord to manage its own affairs, he suggested that it would be appropriate for the issue raised by the questioner to be investigated by an Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

Question from Councillor G S E Thorpe to the Leader of the Council, Councillor I C Bates

In response to a question regarding the level of provision of youth facilities in St Neots, Councillor Bates replied that he was not aware that there were any less youth facilities in St Neots than elsewhere in the District, that during the past twelve months the District Council had invested in new equipment for Priory Park and Barford Road and in the refurbishment of the swimming pool at the Leisure Centre and that a new pavilion and changing accommodation at Priory Park and a new synthetic football pitch at Loves Farm had been opened and that he would advise the questioner to draw any perceived inadequacies in St Neots to the attention of his County Councillor after the forthcoming County Council elections.

Question from Councillor R W J Eaton to the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport, Councillor P L E Bucknell

In response to a question regarding the possibility of free car parking for limited periods in town centres to encourage an increase in visitors and assist small town centre businesses and shops during the current economic difficulties, Councillor Bucknell acknowledged that he also wished to maintain the vibrancy and vitality of town centres and that he would take the suggestion into account when undertaking a review of car parking later in the year.

The Chief Executive to report on absences of Members from meetings.

The Chief Executive reported that there were no absences of Members from meetings for consideration in accordance with Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972.

The meeting concluded at 5.30 pm.