Agenda item

Councillor I C Bates, Leader and Chairman of the Cabinet presented the Report of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 4th and 18th October and 22nd November 2007.

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In connection with Item No. 38, the Executive Councillor for Finance, Councillor T V Rogers referred to the uncertainty which continued to under-pin the preparation of the draft 2008/09 budget.  Councillor Rogers added that whilst information regarding the level of Revenue Support Grant to be awarded to the Council had not yet been received, it had been decided that additional funding for concessionary fares would be provided by a specific grant from April 2008 for a period of not less than three years.  Although there was not yet any indication of the Government’s attitude to capping, Councillor Rogers envisaged a Council Tax increase of less than 5% if the Council were to avoid the likelihood of capping.

The Council’s attention also was drawn to the proposed draft budget for 2008/09 and the risks and opportunities which might need to be addressed in the Medium Term Plan in the forthcoming financial year.  Councillor Rogers concluded his address by commending the recommendations of the Cabinet on the draft budget and MTP 2008 – 2013 to the Council.

On the same subject and in response to a question from Councillor Mrs M Banerjee, Councillor Rogers confirmed that it was unlikely that Council Tax would be increased above 4.99% should a capping regime be imposed by the Government and that the Council would continue to search for alternative ways of funding to meet their budgetary requirements.

On the same subject and in response to a question from Councillor J A Gray commending the budgetary analysis work undertaken by the Cabinet in the preparation of the budget, the Leader, Councillor Bates, acknowledged the questioner’s support and reminded Members that the Council set one of the lowest council tax levels in the country and it received a low grant settlement from central government at a time when the Authority still was expected to deliver new housing without any essential improvements in local infrastructure.  Councillor Bates suggested that all Councils in Cambridgeshire should make a case jointly to central government for an increase in revenue support grant.  Whereupon, having been moved and seconded and put to the vote the recommendations contained in Item No. 38 (a) – (d) were declared to be CARRIED.

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In connection with Item No. 39, it was noted that the recommendation had been considered previously under Minute No. 46 ante.

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In connection with Item No. 50 and in response to questions from Councillors R W J Eaton and M G Baker, the Leader, Councillor Bates, noted the availability of survey work undertaken in St. Neots which had indicated a preference for restricted parking in Longsands Road and had indicated that some 80% of respondees would prefer to travel by bus.  He added that the former depot at Godmanchester had been opened for car parking and would provide an additional 200 spaces which should be sufficient to respond to the needs of visitors/shoppers to Huntingdon.

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In connection with Item No. 56 and in response to a question from Councillor Mrs P A Jordan regarding the proposed skate park at Stukeley Meadows, the Leader, Councillor Bates, paid tribute to the work undertaken by Councillor J M Sadler in response to concerns originally expressed by Huntingdon Town Council which had enabled the scheme to proceed.

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Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that, subject to the foregoing paragraphs, the Report of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 4th and 18th October and 22nd November 2007 be received and adopted.