Agenda item

In accordance with the Council Procedure Rules, all questions –

v  Must be relevant to an item which the Council has powers or duties;

v  Must not relate to an item which is included elsewhere on the Agenda

v  Should be limited to obtaining information or pressing for action; and

v  Should not exceed two minutes in duration.

Questions should not divulge or require to be divulged, confidential or exempt information.

With reference to a report considered at the September meeting of the Corporate Governance Committee on Local Government Ombudsmen complaints, the Executive Councillor for Planning Councillor T D Sanderson was asked to provide clarification as to when the three complaints relating to the planning service had been first raised. In so doing, the Council were informed that these complaints dated back to August and December 2021 and that Planning Services would reflect upon the learning opportunities that these had identified.

With reference to the current County Council’s current policy on kerbside weedkilling, Councillor T D Alban asked about the implications for the workload and routine of the District Council’s Street cleaning operatives and equipment. In response, the Executive Councillor for Leisure, Waste and Street Scene S L Taylor explained that it was proving difficult to sweep amongst the weeds, however she undertook to provide a detailed response and circulate it to all Members. The Council were also reminded that the County Council’s policy on kerbside weedkilling was still only a trial and was due to be considered at their Highways and Transport Committee in December. 

Following a request from Councillor N J Hunt, the Executive Councillor for Corporate and Shared Services Councillor M A Hassall updated the Council on the recent engagement with parish councils and local environmental community groups on the implementation of the garden waste subscription service. Members were advised that four sessions had been held to-date, all of which had been well attended. Feedback had for the most part been positive, although there was a certain degree of unhappiness regarding the proposed charge. An online survey had also been put in place and would continue to gather views until 27th October 2023.

In response to a request for an update from Councillor J E Kerr on Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Governance and Section 106 monies, the Executive Councillor for Planning Councillor T D Sanderson reported that the Council had now gone out to tender for an external organisation to conduct a review into CIL governance. A timetable for which would be sent out to all Members shortly. Councillor Sanderson was also pleased to report that funding had also become available for several Section 106 projects.

Following a request from Councillor M L Beutell, the Executive Councillor for Leisure, Waste and Street Scene, Councillor S L Taylor updated the Council on the status of Civic Parking Enforcement within the District.  As part of which the Council were advised that whilst running to budget, the implementation date had been reviewed by the County Council based upon available resources and was expected to be October 2024. The Agency Agreement had not yet been signed. 

In response to a request by Councillor S Cawley as to whether Town and Parish Councils could be routinely informed of forthcoming Licensing applications within their wards, the Council were informed that such arrangements had now been put in place. The Executive Councillor for Customer Services, Councillor S Ferguson indicated his support for this suggestion and the need to make sure that this continued going forward.

With reference to the written question that he had submitted under 9.5 of the Council’s Procedure rules, Councillor A Jennings expressed his disappointment that a response had not been made available prior to the meeting.  Arising from which, the Chair explained that the question had been received and a list of the non-statutory services delivered by the Council would be circulated to all Members in response.

Following a request from Councillor A Jennings, the Executive Councillor for Leisure, Waste and Street Scene, Councillor S L Taylor updated the Council on the status on the delivery of cycling / pathway improvements in the Riverside Park in St Neots. In doing so, she reported that Planning Permission had been received in April and the Council were currently engaged within the procurement process. However, construction would be weather dependent because of the site’s location within the flood plain.

Councillor R Martin queried why the Shared Services Annual Report was no longer submitted through the democratic process, given the significance of the Council’s expenditure in this area. Arising from which, It was agreed that further consideration would be given to this matter. 

Following a request from Councillor D Shaw for an update on the Hinchingbrooke Country Park planning application and specifically the car park element which he hoped would alleviate some of the car parking issues within his ward, the Executive Councillor for Leisure, Waste and Street Scene, Councillor S L Taylor provided an update for the Council. Members were informed that it was currently anticipated that application would be considered in November and subject to approval the tender process to appoint a contractor could be finalised by February 2024. Building works were expected to take place during 2024, with final landscaping and planting in 2025.

In response to a question from Councillor S J Corney, the Executive Councillor for Corporate and Shared Services, Councillor M A Hassall reported that at this stage it was envisaged than an update on the implementation on the garden waste subscription service would be provided to O&S in November, with a more formal report in December. He was confident that this would provide sufficient time to review and make any changes that might arise from the Overview and Scrutiny process.

Councillor R J West remarked on the success of the District Council in receiving a Green Flag Award for Hinchingbrooke Country Park, Paxton Pitts Nature Reserve and Priory Park for the sixth and seventh years in a row respectively.  In so doing, he requested that the Council’s appreciation. be passed on to the Council’s staff for their hard work and dedication in helping to resecure that award.

The Executive Leader, Councillor S J Conboy was asked by the Leader of the Opposition whether she felt that the agendas of the Council and the various committees, reflected the activities of the Council. In response to which, Councillor Conboy explained that whilst the administration would continue to look at what to bring forward, she welcomed ideas from members of all political groups particularly through the overview and scrutiny process. She was disappointed that none of these had been forthcoming at the meeting she attended the other evening.

In responding, Councillor J A Gray suggested that opposition members had raised several issues for consideration, however these had been slow in coming through the overview and scrutiny process.  He urged the Executive Leader to encourage a greater reflection of the work that was being undertaken within the democratic process.

With regard to the comments which had been made by the Leader of the Opposition on the limited number of items appearing on agendas for Development Management Committee agendas, the Executive Councillor for Planning reminded the Council that the business for determination was dependent on a number of factors including the views of the Parish Councils and the speed of development. It was anticipated that there would be some very full agendas over the course of the next few meetings.

Councillor P Kadewere congratulated the Council on the success of its Health and Inequalities project which had improved the lives of vulnerable residents across District, including the Huntingdon North Ward. Arising from his question with regards to the future of the programme, the Executive Councillor for Community and Health, Councillor B Pitt explained that the criteria for the 2023/24 programme was slightly narrower with a focus on cardiovascular disease and frailty for eligible projects. He also took the opportunity to reiterate that he understood the difficulties in obtaining grants in the first instance, but that it was difficult to keep ongoing funding once this was started up. 

With reference to the government’s announcement regarding an updated timetable for the introduction of new biodiversity net gain legislation for planning, Councillor C H Tevlin questioned the impact that his might have on nature and diversity in Huntingdonshire. In response, the Executive Councillor for Climate and Environment explained that the delay in implementation meant that the legislation would now only apply to major developments from January and from small sites in April 2024. She expressed her concerns regarding this delay and also drew attention to the publication of the UK 2023 State of Nature report.

Finally, in drawing questions to a close and in response to a question from Councillor N Wells, the Executive Councillor for Climate and Environment, Councillor L Davenport-Ray provided an opinion on the impact that the Government’s decision to delay the requirement for builders to stop installing gas boilers in new homes in Huntingdonshire.