Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 21st February 2018.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 21st February 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. Councillor J P Morris raised a question in relation to the second paragraph of Minute No. 64 and whether the technical definition of empty homes being over two years was correct. The Managing Director undertook to check the definition and provide a response direct to Councillor Morris.

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.

No declarations were received.

Following the Referendum held on Thursday 1st March 2018 to consider a report seeking approval to make the Houghton and Wyton Neighbourhood Plan to enable it to become part of the statutory development plan for Huntingdonshire.

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 Houghton and Wyton Neighbourhood Plan held on 1st March 2018, the Managing Director acquainted Members with the results of the referendum with 96% voting in favour of supporting the making of the Neighbourhood Plan and a 43.6% turnout for the referendum. As the result exceeded the 50% threshold, the Council was required to make the Neighbourhood Plan part of the statutory development plan for Huntingdonshire.

Councillor Mrs S J Conboy commented upon the success of the Neighbourhood Plan and the hard work undertaken by Houghton and Wyton to bring the Plan to this stage. Whereupon, the Council

RESOLVED

  that the Houghton and Wyton 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.

To consider a report seeking the establishment of a Shareholder Board for HDC Ventures.

Councillor G J Bull reported that this item had been deferred for consideration by the Council in the new Municipal Year to allow consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel and Cabinet.

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.

A copy of the list of meetings held since the last meeting of the Council held on 21st February 2018 is appended in the Minute Book and Members were advised that any issues or questions could be raised in relation to these meetings.

Councillor G J Bull, Executive Leader to present on the activities of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

Councillors R C Carter and T Hayward to provide an update on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Decision summaries for recent meetings of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Board are attached to the Agenda for information.

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.

(Notes:  Update  10 Minutes

Questions  10 Minutes).

In conjunction with the decision summaries of the recent meetings of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Councillor G J Bull referred Members to the updates of the Combined Authority detailing an update of their activities. (A copy of which is appended in the Minute Book).

Councillors T Hayward provided an update on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee following his attendance at a meeting held earlier that day. Councillor Hayward informed Members that the Mayor and Chief Executive of the Combined Authority had been in attendance and highlighted their concern with the changes associated with the Portfolio Holders and lack of opportunity to grasp their brief. In response the Mayor intimated that, subject to approval, there would be three committees with three Members on each associated with skills, transport and housing.

Members noted that there was also discussion surrounding the proposed changes to the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the Combined Authority managing the affairs of the LEP. The issue that was highlighted was the inclusion of the other County Council Members that did not form part of the Combined Authority and these issues had yet to be resolved.

Councillor Hayward reported that there had been a change in lead Member on Housing to the Mayor of the Combined Authority and he also raised his concern in relation to the lack of appearance of South West Cambridgeshire in the Strategic Spatial Framework and Transport Delivery, whereupon he had been asked to draft a note for the Mayor to clarify his concern.

Members also noted that there would be discussion on the provision of a loan facility for the East Cambridgeshire Strategic Community Land Trust Programme at the next meeting of the Combined Authority and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee questioned the background to this request.

In response to a question from Councillor Mrs S J Conboy on the Combined Authority budget and the volume of work, Councillor Hayward explained that they had a very full Agenda but still needed to catch up in certain areas. Councillor Bull confirmed that their Agenda had been fairly ambitious, but they had been working hard to deliver as swiftly as possible to produce results.

Reference was made to concerns raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding the Mayors increasing expenses by Councillor P D Reeve, whereby Councillor Hayward explained that he had not had sight of this information.

In concluding Councillor Bull placed on record his gratitude to Councillor Hayward for his excellent work in his role as Vice-Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and personally thanked him for the work that he had undertaken as a representative of the authority.

In concluding, the Chairman conveyed his best wishes to those Members that were contesting seats in the forthcoming elections on 3rd May 2018.

The meeting ended at 7.25pm.