Agenda item

Councillor D P Holley, Leader and Chairman of the Cabinet presented the Report of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 12th February and 4th and 25th March 2004.

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On being put to the vote, the recommendation contained in Item No. 129 was declared to be CARRIED.

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In connection with Item No. 135 and in response to a question by Councillor P J Downes regarding the District Council’s submission to a Local Government Association consultation paper on the Balance of Funding, the Leader reaffirmed his view that the administration and expense involved in changing the current system of local government finance would be difficult to justify and would not necessarily result in any reduction in costs, that the Director of Central Services had conveyed the District Council’s views to the Association and that he would send a copy of the submission to the questioner.

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(Councillor L M Simpson declared a personal interest in the following item as an employee of Cambridgeshire Constabulary.)

In connection with Item No. 145 and in response to questions from Councillors R E Barnes, B F C Wallis and J S Watt, the Leader replied that the withdrawal of Traffic Wardens in St. Neots was coincidental to the deployment of Police Community Support Officers in the District, that he was opposed to any suggestion that the PCSOs should undertake traffic duties and that in reinforcing his views at a forthcoming meeting of the steering group with the Police he would also mention the need for a PSCO presence in Yaxley.

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(Councillors I C Bates, R L Clarke, P J Downes and J A P Eddy declared a personal interest in the following item by virtue of their membership of Cambridgeshire County Council).

In connection with Item No. 147 and in response to questions from Councillors P J Downes and J M Souter regarding their disappointment at the Cabinet’s decision not to object to the Transport and Works Act (TWA) Order application by the County Council relating to the Cambrigeshire Guided Bus, the Leader replied that the Cabinet had received no evidence on which they could base an objection to the TWA.  The Leader reiterated that no alternative had been presented for consideration and that without good public transport improvements, it was possible that the upgrading of the A14 would not proceed.

In response to further questions from Councillors Rainer, Looker and Simpson.  Councillor Guyatt explained that the rail option had not presented a comprehensive solution and that if the guided bus were to be delayed this could affect the timing of the A14 improvements.

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In connection with Item No. 148 and in response to a question by Councillor M G Baker, the Leader endorsed the observations of the questioner in terms of the benefits which would result from the establishment of a permissive cycleway linking the settlements of Easton and Ellington.

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Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that, subject to the foregoing paragraphs, the Report of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 12th February and 4th and 25th March 2004 be received and adopted.