Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Swansley Room A and B - Ground Floor. View directions

Contact: Kathrin John  03450 450 500 Email: democratic.services@scambs.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

To receive Apologies for Absence from Cabinet members. 

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Francis Burkitt and Tim Wotherspoon.

2.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 170 KB

To authorise the Leader to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2017 as a correct record.

Minutes:

Cabinet approved the  Minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2017 as a correct record for signature by the Leader.

3.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

 

Councillor Mark Howell declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 13 on the Agenda (Cambourne High Street) as the County Councillor for the Cambourne Division.

 

Councillor Nick Wright declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 14 on the Agenda (Compulsory Purchase Order – The Tree, Stapleford) as a Director of the White Swan at Conington.

 

 

4.

Announcements

Minutes:

 

There were no announcements.

5.

Public Questions

Minutes:

 

There were no public questions.

6.

Business case for the creation of a Green Energy Loan Fund pdf icon PDF 201 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet received the report of the Executive Director, Corporate Services, which presented a Business Case for the creation of a Green Energy Loan Fund and sought approval for further work to establish and launch the fund by mid-July 2018.

 

In response to questions, the Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder:-

 

·         Explained why it was necessary for the Council to employ an intermediary body to administer the loan scheme, noting that it would otherwise be necessary for the Council to be registered with the Financial Services Authority to provide loans.

·         Advised that there would be a formal procurement process to select the intermediary.

·         Confirmed the intention to keep the process as simple as possible, whilst still completing all necessary due diligence.

·         Advised that parish councils would not be able to mix and match the grants and loan schemes.

 

Cabinet members spoke positively in support of the scheme and hoped it would replicate the success of the Community grants scheme.

 

Cabinet AGREED to endorse the business case for the creation of a Green Energy Loan Fund and approved further work to establish and launch the fund by mid-July 2018.

7.

South Cambridgeshire District Council Energy Investment Opportunities pdf icon PDF 530 KB

Decision:

 

Cabinet:

 

1.    Approved access to Cambridgeshire County Council’s procurement for an energy contractor under the Greater London Authority’s “Re:fit” framework at no upfront cost, allowing South Cambridgeshire District Council to make use of services and expertise of Bouygues (the successful contractor) and exploit key benefits of the RE:fit scheme, as detailed in Table 1 of the report.

 

2.    Agreed that South Cambridgeshire District Council request the investigation by Bouygues of:

(i)    Income generating and/or cost saving energy investment opportunities at the South Cambridgeshire Hall site.

(ii)   Income generating and cost saving energy investment opportunities at the planned new build Sports Pavilion and Community Centre sites at Northstowe.

(iii)  Opportunities to add non-financial value to the Council’s footway lighting stock.

 

3.    Supported the formation of a Renewables Reserve Working Group charged with commissioning investigations, identifying and assessing opportunities, making recommendations and providing 6-monthly updates to CMT, annual updates to EMT and quarterly updates to Cabinet in relation to the investment of funds from the Renewables Reserve.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report which explored the options and made recommendations for the investment of funds from the Council’s Renewables Reserve to generate income and move towards increasingly sustainable and secure models of energy generation and consumption.

 

In introducing the report, the Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder referred to recommendation 3 (c) of the report and advised that, in addition to 6 monthly updates to the Corporate Management Team (CMT) and annual updates to the Executive Management Team (EMT), he recommended that quarterly updates be submitted to Cabinet in relation to the investment of funds from the Renewables Reserve. He proposed an amendment to the recommendation to that effect, which was agreed by affirmation by Cabinet.

 

During discussion:-

 

·         The Executive Director, Corporate Services, noted that if the Council could generate energy, it would not only provide an income stream but would also act as a hedge against energy inflation.

·         In response to a question, the Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder provided further information about the proposal to explore energy efficiency and generation measures for South Cambridgeshire Hall, including the possible installation of solar panels within the car park, subject to planning consent.

 

Cabinet AGREED:

 

(1)  To approve access to Cambridgeshire County Council’s procurement for an energy contractor under the Greater London Authority’s “Re:fit” framework at no upfront cost, allowing South Cambridgeshire District Council to make use of services and expertise of Bouygues (the successful contractor) and exploit key benefits of the RE:fit scheme, as detailed in Table 1 of the report of the Executive Director, Corporate Services.

 

(2)  To approve that South Cambridgeshire District Council request the investigation by Bouygues of:

(i)    Income generating and/or cost saving energy investment opportunities at the South Cambridgeshire Hall site.

(ii)   Income generating and cost saving energy investment opportunities at the planned new build Sports Pavilion and Community Centre sites at Northstowe.

(iii)  Opportunities to add non-financial value to the Council’s footway lighting stock.

 

(3)  To support the formation of a Renewables Reserve Working Group charged with commissioning investigations, identifying and assessing opportunities, making recommendations and providing 6-monthly updates to CMT, annual updates to EMT and quarterly updates to Cabinet in relation to the investment of funds from the Renewables Reserve.

8.

Recommendations from the Member Task and Finish Group on supporting rural businesses pdf icon PDF 368 KB

Decision:

 

Cabinet considered the recommendations from the Member Task and Finish Group on supporting rural businesses and:-

 

(1)  Agreed, the following recommendations to be implemented within existing resources:

(a)  Recommendation 1:  Improve South Cambridgeshire District Council’s engagement with local businesses through:

(i)    The development and implementation of a South Cambridgeshire business engagement plan;

(ii)   Revamping and relaunching the Council’s business webpages; and

(iii)  Developing a South Cambridgeshire District Council ‘business visit’ offer.

(b)  Recommendation 3: Support local business through the provision of business support workshops.

(c)  Recommendation 4: Support and encourage Connecting Cambridgeshire in their work to improve broadband and mobile phone coverage in South Cambridgeshire.

(d)  Recommendation 5 (b): The development of Neighbourhood Planning guidance on employment land and premises and Recommendation 5 (c): The provision of a workshop and guidance for councillors and officers on the need/scope for employment land in and on the edge of villages and the use of the flexibility allowed for in planning policy.

(e)  Recommendation 6: Ask the Planning and Portfolio holders to implement the following actions - Recommendation 6 (a) Ensure that the affordable housing needs of rural business employees (and potential employees) and the resulting risks to business growth are recognised and addressed in the development of South Cambridgeshire District Council housing and planning policies. To include:-

(i)    The Greater Cambridge Housing Strategy

(ii)   The Greater Cambridge Local Plan including Rural Exception Sites

(iii)  Planning SPDs; and

Recommendation 6 (b): Consider how the Council’s affordable housing initiatives and joint ventures with partners could potentially help to deliver homes for key employees, for example, through community-led development, modular housing, build to rent schemes and the review of older people’s housing accommodation.

(f)   Recommendation 7: Request that the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership consider rural business crime as part of their Strategic Assessment process.

(g)  Recommendation  8: Monitor progress on Brexit and engage with and influence Government directly and through the Combined Authority and LEP on the opportunities for and impacts of Brexit on South Cambridgeshire businesses.  Review work at the end of 2018 with a view to preparing for outcomes of Brexit.

 

(2)  Agreed the following recommendations in principle, subject to further work to develop more detailed proposals and resource requirements:

(a)  Recommendation 2 (a): The provision of a resource pack, seed funding and research to support the development of business networks within and across South Cambridgeshire’s villages and Recommendation 2 (b) Facilitating the development of local business apps.

(b)  Recommendation 5 – Ensure that officers, councillors, communities and businesses have the sufficient information available to them to make informed decisions on employment sites and premises through:

(i)    Recommendation 5 (a): Ensuring that the evidence collected to underpin the Economic Development Strategy and Local Plan includes analysis of the demand and supply of business premises within individual areas and across the district and addresses the availability and potential of agricultural premises.

(ii)   Recommendation 5 (d): The development of a South Cambridgeshire property information/inward investment offer.

(c)  Recommendation 6(c): Review of current processes for  ...  view the full decision text for item 8.

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the recommendations from the Member Task and Finish Group on supporting rural businesses.

 

In introducing the report, the Business and Customer Services Portfolio Holder commended the Task Force on their work in considering what the Council could do to assist in the encouragement, development and support of rural businesses in South Cambridgeshire, noting that the opportunity had been taken to engage with business representatives to obtain their feedback.  The Portfolio Holder also thanked the officers, most notably, Johanna Davies, for their support in undertaking the review.

 

During discussion:-

 

·         With the consent of the Leader, Councillor Bridget Smith addressed the Cabinet.  Whilst welcoming the recommendations she was concerned about how they might be resourced.  The Business and Customer Services Portfolio Holder noted that many of the recommendations of the Task and Finish Group did not have financial implications, rather they sought to achieve more effective working with businesses.  Some recommendations required further work to develop more detailed proposals and resource requirements.

·         The Leader noted that recommendation 6 required the Housing and Planning Portfolio Holders to implement certain actions and he received their consent at the meeting that they were content to do so.

·         At the invitation of the Leader,  Councillor Ben Shelton, who was present at the meeting,  commented on recommendation 7 which proposed that the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership consider rural business crime as part of their Strategic Assessment process.

·         The Leader referred to recommendation 8 which provided for progress on Brexit to be monitored and for Council  to engage with and influence Government directly and through the Combined Authority and Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) on the opportunities for and impacts of Brexit on South Cambridgeshire businesses.  The recommendation also proposed a review of work at the end of 2018 with a view to preparing for the outcomes of Brexit.  The Business and Customer Services Portfolio Holder acknowledged that it would be difficult to consider these impacts until there was greater clarity on the Brexit proposals. The Leader drew the attention of Councillor Van de Weyer, who was present at the meeting, to this recommendation.

 

The Business and Customer Services Portfolio Holder concluded by recommending that the progress against any agreed recommendations should be reviewed in 6 months, rather than 12, as proposed in the recommendations contained in the report, and that the recommendation should be amended accordingly.  The amendment was supported by affirmation by the Cabinet.

 

Cabinet accordingly:-

 

(1)  AGREED  the following recommendations to be implemented within existing resources:

(a)  Recommendation 1:  Improve South Cambridgeshire District Council’s engagement with local businesses through:

(i)    The development and implementation of a South Cambridgeshire business engagement plan;

(ii)   Revamping and relaunching the Council’s business webpages; and

(iii)  Developing a South Cambridgeshire District Council ‘business visit’ offer.

(b)  Recommendation 3: Support local business through the provision of business support workshops.

(c)  Recommendation 4: Support and encourage Connecting Cambridgeshire in their work to improve broadband and mobile phone coverage in South Cambridgeshire.

(d)  Recommendation 5 (b): The development of Neighbourhood  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Delivery of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Affordable Housing Programme pdf icon PDF 377 KB

Minutes:

Cabinet received and NOTED a report from the Director of Housing regarding the delivery of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Affordable Housing Programme.

10.

Corporate Plan 2018 - 2019 pdf icon PDF 244 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

 

 

Cabinet:

 

(1)  Not for call-in - Recommended to Council that the Corporate Plan, comprising the document ‘South Cambridgeshire: Your Place, Our Plan 2018’ (Appendix A) and accompanying 2018/2019 Delivery Plan (Appendix B) be approved, subject to amendment of text relating to engagement with existing and new communities (Aim B (2)) to reflect comments made at Scrutiny and Overview Committee.

 

(2)  Authorised the Chief Executive, in consultation with Portfolio Holders, to prepare detailed implementation plans and associated performance measures and ensure these are reflected in directorate service plans and quarterly Position Reports during 2018/19.

 

(3)  Authorised the Chief Executive to make any minor wording changes required to final drafts, in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

 

Minutes:

 

Cabinet considered a report proposing a refreshed Corporate Plan, which had been prepared following feedback and consultation and requesting Cabinet to recommend to Council that the plan be approved.  A copy of the Corporate Plan document “South Cambridgeshire: Your Place, Our Plan 2018 – 19”, which set out the Council’s Vision and strategic aims, contextual information and examples of what the Council planned to do to deliver each aim, was attached at Appendix A to the report.  The Delivery Plan at Appendix B to the report developed these into realistic, achievable and measurable projects and actions.

 

Councillor Orgee, Chairman of Scrutiny and Overview Committee, outlined the comments of the Committee at its meeting held on 6 February 2018, as follows:-

 

·         The Committee had been supportive of the revised format of the Corporate Plan.

·         The diagrammatic “Snapshot of South Cambridgeshire” and “Our resources” section on pages 72 and 73 had been welcomed as they delivered a lot of information in an engaging and straightforward way and,  in particular, made clear that the Council no longer received any Revenue Support Grant from government.  

 

During discussion:-

 

·         Cabinet was reminded that the Corporate Plan had been informed by the “Let’s Talk” community engagement project.

·         Cabinet was informed of comments made at the Scrutiny and Overview Committee regarding the need for the Council to support engagement with new and existing communities where significant development was taking place. Cabinet acknowledged that the Northstowe Forum, where new residents were now meeting alongside the existing community, could perhaps form the model for future engagement with communities in areas of major development. The Leader requested that the relevant part of the Delivery Plan be amended to reflect the comments made at Scrutiny and Overview Committee regarding engagement with new and existing communities.

·         With the consent of the Leader, Councillor Bridget Smith commented upon the draft Corporate Plan noting that some of the language was a little cumbersome; that there were some typographical errors in the document; that the statement on page 74 indicating that “11% of households did not own a car” should perhaps be reviewed, bearing in mind that some households might not own cars for reasons unrelated to deprivation; and in the “Working together” section on page 74, it was the Local Enterprise Partnership rather than the Combined Authority that formed part of the Greater Cambridge Partnership.

 

The Leader thanked all officers involved in preparing the draft Corporate Plan and Delivery Plan for their work.

 

Cabinet AGREED to recommend to Council that:

 

(1)  The Corporate Plan, comprising the document ‘South Cambridgeshire: Your Place, Our Plan 2018 - 19’ (Appendix A) and accompanying 2018/2019 Delivery Plan (Appendix B) be approved, subject to amendment of text relating to engagement with existing and new communities (Aim B (2)) to reflect comments made at Scrutiny and Overview Committee.

 

(2)  The Chief Executive, in consultation with Portfolio Holders, be authorised to prepare detailed implementation plans and associated performance measures and ensure these are reflected in directorate service plans and quarterly Position  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

2017-18 Third Quarterly Position Statement on Finance, Performance and Risk pdf icon PDF 236 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

 

Cabinet:

 

(1)  Noted the Council’s provisional outturn position together with the performance and risk issues contained in this report and Appendices A – C.

 

(2)  Approved the Strategic Risk Register and Matrices set out in Appendices D – E to the report, subject to retaining the previous risk rating for STR 25 (Risk of Designation as a Poorly Performing Planning Authority), rather than decreasing the gross rating from 20 to 9 and net rating from 12 to 9 as proposed in paragraph 18 of the submitted report.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet was provided with a statement on the Council’s position with regard to its General Fund, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Capital budgets, corporate objectives, performance indicators and strategic risks. 

 

During consideration of the report:-

 

·         The Housing Portfolio Holder provided further explanation around performance indicator AH212 which was shown as red.  In particular, she noted that the performance indicator was a cumulative figure so the previous spike in bed and breakfast accommodation continued to have a knock on effect.  She further emphasised that every attempt was made to keep the placement of families in bed and breakfast accommodation to an absolute minimum.

·         With reference to performance indicator CC305, the Leader noted that the Executive Management Team was commissioning a project that would look at complaints as part of an investigation into customer experience.

·         Cabinet noted, in connection with indicator FS109, that the percentage of invoices paid in 30 days had increased.

·         The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder commented that staff sickness performance was subject to detailed reports at his Portfolio Holder meetings.

·         The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder provided further explanation in relation to indicator ES406, particularly in relation to the position with unresolved major non-compliances.  He additionally thanked the Scrutiny and Overview Committee for their constructive discussion on the Shared Waste Service alternative bin collection day review.

·         The Planning Portfolio Holder was pleased to highlight that indicators PN510 and 511 were now green and congratulated the Planning staff. 

·         With reference to indicator PN512, the Planning Portfolio Holder noted that the Council was over the 10% designation criteria relating to major application appeals against refusals of planning permission being allowed. He explained that the majority of lost appeals had related to the five year land supply and when this was taken into account, the percentage of lost appeals was only 2%. The Council had written to MHCLG advising of the position with regard to the absence of a 5 year land supply and Local Plan.

·         The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder updated Cabinet with the position on the Budget as set out in Paragraph 12 and was satisfied that the variances between the working budgets and the outturn forecast were within acceptable limits.

·         Cabinet’s attention was drawn to key risks as identified in paragraph 18 of the report.

 

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Orgee, Chairman of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee, highlighted the following issues raised by the Committee at its meeting held on 6 February 2018:-

 

·         The accuracy of the wording in the statement regarding Cambourne in the first bullet point under “Living Well” on page 92 and repeated under A (iii) on page 99 had been challenged by a Ward Member.

·         With reference to indicator AH212, concern had been expressed at the reference to outstanding invoices which were awaited in respect of bed and breakfast accommodation in December.  The Committee had suggested that the total amount should have been included in the comments field.

·         Regarding indicator STR 25 - Risk of Designation as a Poorly Performing Planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Medium Term Financial Strategy, General Fund 2018-19 (including council tax setting), Housing Revenue Account Budget 2018-19 (including housing rents), Capital Programme and Treasury Management Strategy pdf icon PDF 266 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

 

 

(1)  Not for call-in.  Cabinet recommended that Council:

 

Revenue and Capital – General Fund (GF)

 

(a)          Approves the revenue estimates for 2018-19 as shown in the GF Budget Setting Reports (BSR) Section 5 at Appendix 1 to the report.

 

(b)          Approves the precautionary items for the GF, GF BSR Appendix B, Appendix 1.

 

(c)          Approve the GF revenue forecasts as set out in GF BSR Section 6, Appendix 1.

 

(d)          Instructs the Executive Management Team to identify additional income/savings of £449k for 2018-19 rising to £1.3m in 2022-23.

 

(e)          Approves the GF Capital Programme and associated funding up to the year ended 31 March 2022, as set out in GF BSR Appendix D, at Appendix 1.

 

(f)           Approve the creation of a Planning Policy earmarked reserve and the transfer of £224k into the reserve from the GF reserve, being the carry forward of underspend from 2016-17 not used in 2017-18, as shown in GF BSR Section 3 and delegates approval of the use of this reserve to the Executive Director – Corporate Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Staffing.

 

(g)          Requests  that the Portfolio Holder (Housing) delegates the decision in respect of any variation in fees to be charged by the Home Improvement Agency (HIA), to the Director of Housing, following agreement of the proposed level of charges by the Shared HIA Board, GF BSR Appendix A. 

 

(h)         Instruct the Head of Finance, on the basis of the proposals set out in the GF BSR, to prepare formal papers to set the council tax requirement and amount of council tax at the Council meeting on 22 February 2018.

 

(i)           Sets the Council Tax Requirement for 2018-19 at £8,616,465.16

 

(j)            Sets the amount of Council Tax for each of the relevant categories of dwelling in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 on the basis of the District Council Tax for general expenses on a Band D property of £140.31 plus the relevant amounts required by the precepts of the Parish Councils, Cambridgeshire County Council, the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the Cambridgeshire Fire Authority, details of those precepts and their effect to be circulated with the formal resolution required at the Council meeting.

 

Revenue – HRA

 

(k)          Approves the HRA savings, increased income, unavoidable revenue pressures, bids and reduced income items, as summarised in Section 4, and detailed in Appendix G(1) of the HRA Budget Setting Report at Appendix 2 to the report.

 

(l)           Approves the non-cash limit adjustments, as summarised in Section 4, and detailed in Appendix G(1) of the HRA Budget Setting Report at Appendix 2 to the report.

 

(m)        Approves the resulting HRA revenue budget as shown in the HRA Summary Forecast 2017-18 to 2022-23 in Appendix I of the HRA Budget Setting Report at Appendix 2 to the report.

 

(n)         Approve the retention of the balance of the 4 year savings target included originally as part of the 2016-17 HRA Budget Setting Report to mitigate the impact  ...  view the full decision text for item 12.

Minutes:

The Finance and Staffing Portfolio Holder  presented for the Cabinet’s consideration the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS); General Fund Budget 2018-19, Capital Programme and Treasury Management Strategy, as set out in the documents appended to the report submitted to Cabinet, and responded to questions from Cabinet Members.  In introducing the report, the Portfolio Holder pointed out that the level of General Fund Balances was not shown on the bottom of the MTFS spreadsheet on page 190 of the report, but noted that further detail about the reserves level was shown on page 207.

 

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented the Housing Revenue Account and responded to Cabinet Members’ questions.

 

Councillor Orgee, Chairman of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee, outlined the comments of the Committee as follows:

 

·         With reference to page 177 of the report, the Committee had acknowledged the importance of the Cambridge – Milton Keynes - Oxford corridor programme and had sought assurances that the Council would be engaged with the process with a view to protecting and promoting the interests of South Cambridgeshire.  The Committee had been comforted by the Chief Executive’s response at the meeting as to involvement of the Council with partners in the discussions.

·         There had been a lengthy debate on the cost of planning appeals but the figures presented had not been challenged.

·         The Committee had noted the proposals relating to the creation of a Compliance Manager Post and the financial consequences of statutory  changes in relation to homelessness and had not challenged the figures presented.

·         With regard to page 205 which highlighted risks, the Committee had suggested that it would be helpful to put a timeframe on those risks and, for example, to identify those risks that might occur within, say, the next 6 – 12 months and those which were over a longer timescale.  Scrutiny and Overview Committee had also highlighted the potential rise in interest rates as a possible risk to the Council’s finances.

·         There had been general support for the budget proposal and no specific discussion or challenge on the Council Tax proposal.

·         Noting the reference to the savings target, it should also be acknowledged that in addition to achieving savings,  increased income was a way of delivering the savings target.  It would  therefore be helpful to refer to savings and income when looking to address a budget shortfall.

·         The Committee had appreciated the depth and thoroughness of the presentations from the Finance and Staffing and Housing Portfolio Holders at the meeting.

 

During discussion, Councillor Howell congratulated the Housing Portfolio Holder and Housing staff on the HRA, particularly with regard to the approach taken to the reinvestment of Right to Buy receipts.

 

The Executive Director, Corporate Services, invited Cabinet to consider and endorse the Ermine Street Housing Business Plan. In order to facilitate consideration of the Business Plan, it was accordingly AGREED:-

 

That in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Exclusion of Press and Public

Minutes:

The Leader proposed that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business in accordance with the provisions of Section 100(a) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Act.

 

Cabinet AGREED that, in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972,  the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act. 

14.

Cambourne High Street Business Case (Exempt paragraph 3)

The confidential appendices to this report will follow.

Additional documents:

Decision:

 

Cabinet agreed to make an initial investment, up to the sum indicated in the exempt report from the Executive Director, towards the cost of further design and feasibility work.  

 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report from the Executive Director, Corporate Services, which presented the feasibility work undertaken to date in the form of the Cambourne High Street Business Case and Project Initiation Document, as attached to the report.

 

Cabinet was invited  to approve an investment in respect of further design and feasibility work as outlined in the submitted report.

 

With the consent of the Leader, Councillors Ruth Betson and Des O’Brien,  local Ward Members, addressed the meeting and welcomed the initiative proposed in the report.  It was suggested  that Cambourne currently felt “unfinished” and that the proposed development would create a thriving and vibrant centre to accommodate the continuing growth of Cambourne and adjoining settlements.

 

During discussion Cabinet members expressed support for the scheme. . 

 

Cabinet AGREED  to make an initial investment, up to the sum indicated in the exempt report from the Executive Director, Corporate Services,  towards the cost of further design and feasibility work.  

15.

Compulsory Purchase Order - The Tree, Stapleford (Exempt Paragraph 3)

Please note that this report and the attached appendices are confidential and not for disclosure without the originator’s consent.

 

Decision:

 

 

 

Cabinet agreed:-

 

(i)    Not for call in:To recommend a future meeting of the Council, should it be necessary, Option 3 (a) as set out in the exempt report of the Director of Health and Environmental Services and subject to the caveats set out in that option; and

 

(ii)   recommendation 4(a) as set out in the exempt report.

 

 

 

 

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report which outlined the Council’s Compulsory Purchase Order powers and presented options for consideration by Cabinet in relation to The Tree, Stapleford.  In particular, Cabinet was invited to determine whether to make a recommendation to Council.

 

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Ben Shelton, a Ward Member, addressed the Cabinet and spoke in support of the option set out in recommendation 3 (a).  Councillor Cicely Murfitt also spoke, with the consent of the Leader, regarding a similar issue in her ward.

 

Following questions from Cabinet members and detailed discussion Cabinet AGREED:

 

(1)  To recommend to a future meeting of the Council, should it be necessary, Option 3 (a) as set out in the exempt report of the Director of Health and Environmental Services and subject to the caveats set out in that option; and

 

(2)  Recommendation 4(a) as set out in the exempt report.

 

 

 

 

16.

Date of next meeting

Thursday 19 April 2018 at 2pm.