Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman of the Council for the ensuing Municipal Year.

It was proposed by Councillor Ms M L Beuttell, seconded by Councillor T D Alban and

RESOLVED

that Councillor L W McGuire be elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing Municipal Year.

Councillor McGuire made the Statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office and thanked Members for the honour which the Council had bestowed upon him.

Councillor L W McGuire in the Chair.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 24th February 2021.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on the 24th February 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

No declarations were received.

To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing Municipal Year.

It was proposed by Councillor L W McGuire, seconded by Councillor S J Corney and

RESOLVED

that Councillor K P Gulson be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing Municipal Year.

Having thanked Members for the honour which had been bestowed upon him, Councillor Gulson made the Statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

To receive a report by the Returning Officer on the persons elected to the Office of the District Councillor for the Huntingdon North, St Ives East, St Ives South and Warboys Ward.

In conjunction with a report by the Returning Officer (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) Members were presented with a summary of the results of the four District by-elections held on 6th May 2021. In so doing the Chairman welcomed the newly elected Members to the Council and conveyed to Members a letter from former Councillor Dr N Johnson following his election as Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

(a)  that the newly elected Councillors for Huntingdon North, St Ives East, St Ives South and Warboys Wards be welcomed to the Council; and

(b)  that an acknowledgement be made to the work of all staff who were engaged in the taking of the poll and/or the counting of the votes on 6th, 7th and 8th May 2021.

An opportunity for Group Leaders and other Members of the Council to pay tributes to the former Chairman of the Council, Councillor J W Davies who sadly passed away on 19th March 2021.

At the conclusion of this item there will be a Minutes silence in Councillor Davies’ memory.

The Chairman referred to the recent death of former Chairman of the Council, Councillor J W Davies who sadly passed away in March 2021. Members stood and observed a minute’s silence in his memory. Following which the Chairman presented to Members the extensive details of the service that Councillor Davies had made to the District Council following his election in May 1992 and served for a continuous period of almost 29 years until his death making him one of the longest serving District Councillors to ever serve on the District Council.

The Executive Leader, Councillor R Fuller, paid tribute to Councillor Davies and reported on his honour to represent the District Council at his funeral. In addition to his Council achievements, Councillor Fuller referred to him being a valued colleague and dear friend and his length of service as a District Councillor had earnt him the title of ‘Father of the House’. His loss would be keenly felt, an irreplaceable Member and memory would live on in his long list of achievements as District and Town Councillor for St Ives, together with his work in the community.

Councillor T D Sanderson echoed the sentiments of Councillor Fuller and remembered Councillor Davies as someone with integrity and decency, who always provided straightforward and honest advice. He expressed his sympathy to Councillor Davies’ family and although would leave a great gap, his legacy would live on. 

Councillor Mrs S J Conboy paid tribute to Councillor Davies, with latterly getting to know him more through her work and will be remembered as a fun, warm and loving man who will be missed very much but would live on through his work in St Ives.

In tribute to Councillor Davies, Councillor P Kadewere praised his Chairman’s role and support for community groups regardless of party politics and would miss his presence.

Councillor R J West referred to the moving tributes and the valued support that Councillor Davies had provided him as Vice-Chairman of the Council when in his role as Chairman.

Councillor T D Alban paid tribute to Councillor Davies in his role as District and Town Councillor, but also in his life personally with his love of sport, commitment to St Ives and his love and pride in his family.

Councillor Ms R D’Souza shared with Members her first experience with meeting Councillor Davies as a newly elected Member on St Ives Town Council, in particular his warmth in welcoming her and making her feel at ease in her new role.

As a shared Ward Member for St Ives South for eight years, Councillor D B Dew shared his memories of Councillor Davies as a hugely respected character in St Ives with many a resident stopping to engage with him. His passion for his family and pride for the town of St Ives he shared and had been passed onto them in his work. Finally, he commended him as an excellent Chairman, Councillor and good friend.

Councillor Ms A Dickinson, as shared Ward  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Chairman reported upon the recent passing of former Councillor David Harty, who served as a County Councillor and was a District Councillor that represented the Eaton Ford Ward from 2004 until 2017. Members paused briefly for reflection in silent tribute to their former Member.   

The Executive Leader to announce the names of –

a)  a maximum of nine Councillors who shall be Members of the Cabinet, including the name of the Deputy Executive Leader and

b) his proposals for Cabinet Assistants for the forthcoming Municipal Year. 

The Executive Leader, Councillor R Fuller announced that he had appointed Councillors M Beuttell, S Bywater, J A Gray, D Keane, J Neish and K I Prentice to join him as Members of the Cabinet for the ensuing Municipal Year and confirmed that Councillor J Neish would continue as the Deputy Executive Leader.

Councillor Fuller, then presented the details of the Cabinet Portfolios for the 2021/22 Municipal Year, with a few minor changes to their remits :-

Councillor M L Beuttell, Operations and Environment

Councillor S Bywater, Community Resilience and Wellbeing

Councillor R Fuller, Housing and Economic Development

Councillor J A Gray, Strategic Finance

Councillor D Keane, Corporate Services

Councillor J Neish, Strategic Planning

Councillor K I Prentice, Leisure and Regulatory Services

Councillor Fuller further confirmed the appointment of Councillor J Palmer as a Cabinet Assistant for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To consider a report by the Elections and Democratic Services Manager on the representation of political groups on Committees and Panels, etc in accordance with Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the District Council’s Constitution.

A report was submitted by the Elections and Democratic Services Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) relating to the principles and proportionality to be applied to the appointment of Committees and Panels in accordance with Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and Part II of the Local Government Act 2000.

Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the allocation of seats on District Council Committees and Panels to political groups and non-aligned Members be determined as set out in the report now submitted.

To appoint to:

Overview and Scrutiny Panel

(Performance and Growth)   12 Members

Overview and Scrutiny Panel

(Customers and Partnerships)   12 Members

RESOLVED

that the following Members be appointed to the Overview and Scrutiny Panels for the ensuing Municipal Year.

Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) (12)

Councillors E R Butler, B S Chapman, S J Corney, D B Dew, M Haines, P L R Gaskin, M S Grice, J P Morris, A Roberts, T D Sanderson, S Wakeford and D J Wells.

Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Customers and Partnerships) (12)

Councillors T Alban, B S Banks, S Criswell, R D’Souza, I D Gardener, D A Giles, M Kadewere, H V Masson, C Smith, S Smith, D M Tysoe and S R Wilson.

To appoint to:-

Development

Management

Committee     16 Members

(to include 1 Member of the Cabinet).

Corporate

Governance

Committee   12 Members.

Licensing

Committee   12 Members

(to include 1 Member of the Cabinet).

Licensing &

Protection

Committee   12 Members

(to include 1 Member of the Cabinet).

Employment

Committee   8 Members

(to include 1 Member of the Cabinet).

Senior Officers

Committee   5 Members

(4 Members of the Council and the relevant Executive Councillor in relation to the post to be filled).

Appeals Sub-Group  15 Members

(a pool of Members from which the Elections and Democratic Services Manager is authorised to convene a meeting of the Appeals Sub Committee comprising up to 5 members [excluding Members of the Employment Committee and the Senior Officers Committee to determine appeals under the Council’s disciplinary and appeals procedure).

RESOLVED

(a)  that Members be appointed to serve on the Corporate Governance, Development Management, Employment, Licensing and Protection, Licensing and Senior Officers Committee for the ensuing Municipal Year as follows:-

Corporate Governance Committee (12)

Councillors G J Bull, E R Butler, J Cooper-Marsh, P L R Gaskin, D A Giles, K P Gulson, P Kadewere, H V Masson, L W McGuire, J P Morris, R J West and S R Wilson.

Development Management Committee (16)

Councillors L A Besley, S Burton, E R Butler, S J Conboy, S J Corney, D B Dew, I D Gardener, K P Gulson, M Humphrey, C J Maslen, J Neish, A Roberts, S Smith, R G Tuplin, D M Tysoe and S Wakeford.

Employment Committee (8)

Councillors P A Jordan, D N Keane, C J Maslen, J M Palmer, D Terry, D M Tysoe, D J Wells and R J West.

Licensing and Protection Committee (12)

Councillors B S Banks, J Clarke, S Criswell, A Dickinson, S A Giles, P A Jordan, L W McGuire, D J Mead, K I Prentice, P E Shrapnel and R J West.

Licensing Committee (12)

Councillors B S Banks, J Clarke, S Criswell, A Dickinson, S A Giles, P A Jordan, L W McGuire, D J Mead, K I Prentice, P E Shrapnel and R J West.

Senior Officers’ Committee (4)

Councillors S J Conboy, D A Giles, D N Keane and R J West.

(b)  that the following Members be nominated from which the Elections and Democratic Services Manager be authorised when necessary, to convene a meeting of the Appeals Sub-Group to include up to five members (excluding Members of the Employment Committee) to determine appeals under the Council’s disciplinary and appeals procedures-

Councillors T D Alban, S J Conboy, S J Corney, I D Gardener, S A Giles, M Haines, P Kadewere,  H V Masson, D J Mead, A Roberts, C Smith, S Smith and R G Tuplin.

To consider a report detailing appointments to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority for the 2021/22 Municipal Year.

With the assistance of a report by the Managing Director (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Council were invited to make appointments/nominations to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority for the 2021/22 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED

(a)  that Councillor R Fuller, Executive Leader be appointed to act as the Council’s appointee to the Combined Authority and Councillor J Neish be appointed as the substitute member;

(b)  that Councillors S J Corney and D B Dew be nominated to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, with Councillors E R Butler and A Roberts nominated as substitutes;

(c)  that Councillor G J Bull be nominated to the Audit and Governance Committee, with Councillor L W McGuire as the substitute member; and

(d)  that the Managing Director be authorised to make any amendments to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Audit and Governance Committee in consultation with the Political Group Leaders, should the political balance be amended by the Combined Authority between now and the next Council meeting.

Following the Bury Village Neighbourhood Plan Referendum held on Thursday 6thMay 2021 to consider a report from the Service Manager Growth, seeking approval to make the Bury Neighbourhood Plan to enable it to become part of the Statutory Development Plan for Huntingdonshire.

Having regard to a report by the Strategic Growth Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the referendum of the Bury Neighbourhood Plan held on 6th May 2021, the Managing Director acquainted Members with the results of the referendum with 92.4% 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 Bury 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.

Following the Buckden Neighbourhood Development Plan Referendum held on Thursday 6th  May 2021 to consider a report from the Service Manager Growth, seeking approval to make the Buckden Neighbourhood Plan to enable it to become part of the Statutory Development Plan for Huntingdonshire.

Having regard to a report by the Strategic Growth Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the referendum of the Buckden Neighbourhood Plan held on 6th May 2021, the Managing Director acquainted Members with the results of the referendum with 91.8% 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 Buckden 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 meeting ended at 6.30pm.