Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive Apologies for Absence from Cabinet members. 

There were no Apologies for Absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

To authorise the Leader to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 April 2018 as a correct record.

Cabinet authorised the Leader to sign as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 April 2018.

Regarding the Cabinet meeting dates for 2018/19, members were informed that these were being reviewed. It was likely that meetings would take place in the morning and that the frequency of meetings may be increased.

There were no announcements.

Cabinet AGREED:

1)    To give consent to the making of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (Business Rate Supplements Functions) Order contained in Appendix 2, including the acceptance to any minor changes which do not alter the substantial meaning.

2)    To give consent to the making of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (Adult Education Functions) Order contained in Appendix 4, including acceptance to any minor changes which do not alter the substantial meaning.

Cabinet considered a report seeking its consent in respect of the power for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to levy a business rates supplement and to transfer the Adult Education Budget and associated powers, for the delivery of adult education services.

It was clarified that the levy of a business rates supplement would only affect businesses with a valuation of over £50,000. A ballot of these businesses would be required before a levy could be introduced.

The potential costs of running a ballot and implementing a levy were discussed. Cabinet was informed that the Council would seek to recover all these costs from the levy itself.

In response to a number of queries regarding the business rates levy, the following was clarified:

·         The levy would apply to very large businesses only. Following the meeting, the Executive Director would clarify exactly which businesses in South Cambridgeshire would be affected.

·         The levy had to be used by the Combined Authority to fund specific projects.

Concern was raised that a business rates levy would impact South Cambridgeshire more significantly than other districts, as a significant proportion of big businesses in the region were based in South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City. Cabinet was informed that there would need to be a consensus vote from the businesses balloted in order for the business rates levy to be implemented. It was thought that the larger the business, the more weight their vote would carry in the ballot.

The transfer of the Adult Education Budget was discussed, with concern raised regarding whether the Combined Authority was ready to receive this money and whether there were plans for how it would be used.

Cabinet unanimously AGREED:

1)    To give consent to the making of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (Business Rate Supplements Functions) Order contained in Appendix 2, including the acceptance to any minor changes which do not alter the substantial meaning.

2)    To give consent to the making of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (Adult Education Functions) Order contained in Appendix 4, including acceptance to any minor changes which do not alter the substantial meaning.

The Chairman of the Council confirmed that as this decision was urgent, he and the Chairman of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee had agreed that this decision would be exempt from call-in.