Agenda, decisions and minutes

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2007 as a correct record.

RESOLVED

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2007 be confirmed as a correct record  and signed by the Chairman, subject to the following amendments:

Minute 6B –

• Refer to Councillor Mrs DSK Spink MBE as having introduced this item.

• Delete figures in the ‘Individual alarms’ row of the table.

• Garage rented to a Council tenant or leaseholder (NB In excess of two garages will be subject to VAT) (change marked in bold italics)

The Chairman declared personal non-prejudicial interests on behalf of all Members who were also parish councillors in Item 8 – Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document, advising that those who had considered it at parish council level would consider the matter afresh.

Councillors JD Batchelor, SGM Kindersley, DC McCraith, AJ Orgee and RJ Turner declared personal non-prejudicial interests as elected Cambridgeshire County Councillors.

Councillor Mrs DP Roberts advised that she would leave the meeting during consideration of Agenda Item 8 – Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document, and take no part in the discussions or voting.

Councillor RMA Manning advised that he would leave the meeting during consideration of Agenda Item 12(a) – Notice of Motion, and take no part in the discussions or voting.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman, Leader, the executive or the head of paid service.

The Chairman reported that:

• She had nominated Councillor RE Barrett and Mrs Joan Hullyer (who had served the Council in the Housing Service for 46 years) to attend the Royal Garden Party.

• the Chairman’s Charity Concert was taking place on 28 April 2007. Tickets were available from the Chief Executive’s Personal Assistant.

• a Customer Services Strategy Workshop would take place on 28 March 2007 in the Swansley Room. Members wishing to attend were requested to notify Democratic Services.

The Conservation, Sustainability and Community Planning Portfolio Holder advised that a meeting of the Local Strategic Partnership was taking place during the following week and that the Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire County Council would be attending. It was this Council’s aim to chair the partnership for the coming year. He further advised Members that a presentation on the Community Strategy would take place at the next Council meeting.

No questions from councillors and the public have been received at the time of publication. The deadline for the receipt of public questions is 12 noon on Monday 19 March 2007. 

There were no public or Member questions. 

To note all petitions received since the last Council meeting.

No petitions had been received since the last Council meeting. 

Cabinet RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that the Investment Strategy be approved. 

Council RESOLVED that the Investment Strategy be approved. 

Council RESOLVED that the Investment Strategy be approved. 

To consider the report of the Executive Director (attached). 

Council RESOLVED to:

(a)               approve the 'three tier scoring matrix' at Appendix 1 for use in the site search phase of the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document (GTDPD) Issues and Options process;

(b)               delegate authority to the Corporate Manager for Planning and Sustainable Communities, to make any minor editing changes necessary to the 'three tier scoring matrix', with any which involve a material change being delegated to the Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder; and

(c)               hold Special Council meetings at future stages of the GTDPD in order to discuss the development of the GTDPD therefore disbanding the GTDPD Member Reference Group, subject to this process being reviewed following the wider review of decision-making structures in response to the Corporate Governance Inspection of the Council. 

Council NOTED the comments from Members and the officer responses to them included at Appendix 2 to the report.

Council considered a report seeking approval for a ‘three tier scoring matrix’ to be used in the next stage of the Issues and Options process of the GTDPD, agreement of revisions to the plan preparation timetable and the approach for Member involvement in the future development of the plan.

In response to a question, Councillor Dr DR Bard, Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder, advised that he would provide clarification regarding the definition of safe walking routes as referred to under Issue 2 of the scoring sheet.

Council RESOLVED to:

(a)               approve the 'three tier scoring matrix' at Appendix 1 for use in the site search phase of the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document (GTDPD) Issues and Options process;

(b)               delegate authority to the Corporate Manager for Planning and Sustainable Communities, to make any minor editing changes necessary to the 'three tier scoring matrix', with any which involve a material change being delegated to the Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder; and

(c)               hold Special Council meetings at future stages of the GTDPD in order to discuss the development of the GTDPD thereby disbanding the GTDPD Member Reference Group. This process would be reviewed following the wider review of decision-making structures in response to the Corporate Governance Inspection of the Council. 

Council NOTED the comments from Members and the officer responses to them included at Appendix 2 to the report.

Council previously resolved that approval of the Statement of Accounts be delegated to the Audit Panel. It is necessary to add this provision to Part 3 of the Constitution.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Terms of Reference of the Audit Panel be extended to incorporate approval of the Statement of Accounts and the Constitution updated accordingly.

Council RESOLVED that the Terms of Reference of the Audit Panel be extended to incorporate approval of the Statement of Accounts and that the Constitution be updated accordingly.

Council RESOLVED that the Terms of Reference of the Audit Panel be extended to incorporate approval of the Statement of Accounts and that the Constitution be updated accordingly.

Councillor MJ Mason raised concern that proposals for a cycleway at Histon had not received due consideration by the South Cambridgeshire Traffic Management Area Joint Committee. He requested that the Council’s representatives raise these concerns through the appropriate channels. 

Councillor Mrs DSK Spink MBE reported that West Anglia Crossroads for Carers was now providing support for carers in Peterborough City and Fenland District.

In accordance with Council Standing Order 2.2 the following Notice of Motion has been submitted.

“We, the undersigned, wish to give notice of a Motion to remove Councillor Mrs Roberts from membership of the Council’s Scrutiny and Overview Committee as we consider that it is not in the best interests of the Council for her to be a member of this important Committee at this time.

Following investigation by the Standards Board for England she was found to have breached the Council’s Code of Conduct on five separate counts. The details of those breaches have persuaded us that Councillor Mrs Roberts is not a fit and proper person to hold such an influential position on this Council. We do not wish the reputation of this important Committee to be tarnished by association with Councillor Mrs Roberts and believe that she should not have accepted the nomination.”

In order to be carried, this Motion requires at least two thirds of the members present at the meeting to vote in favour.

In order for the motion to be approved, a two-thirds majority of those present at the meeting had to vote in favour, equivalent to at least 26 members.  As the motion to remove Councillor Mrs DP Roberts from the Scrutiny and Overview Committee failed to receive the support of at least two-thirds of those present at the meeting, the motion FELL.

The voting was as follows:

For (24):

Against (8):

Abstain (2):

Not Voted (4):

Councillors RMA Manning and Dr SEK van de Ven left the room during consideration of this item.

Councillor SGM Kindersley moved and Councillor AG Orgee seconded a Motion in the following terms:

“We, the undersigned, wish to give notice of a Motion to remove Councillor Mrs Roberts from membership of the Council’s Scrutiny and Overview Committee as we consider that it is not in the best interests of the Council for her to be a member of this important Committee at this time.

Following investigation by the Standards Board for England she was found to have breached the Council’s Code of Conduct on five separate counts. The details of those breaches have persuaded us that Councillor Mrs Roberts is not a fit and proper person to hold such an influential position on this Council. We do not wish the reputation of this important Committee to be tarnished by association with Councillor Mrs Roberts and believe that she should not have accepted the nomination.”

The Motion had been signed by Councillors RF Bryant, R Hall, SGM Kindersley,

AG Orgee and Mrs HM Smith in accordance with Standing Order 2.2.

In order for the motion to be approved, a two-thirds majority of those present at the meeting had to vote in favour, equivalent to at least 26 members. Upon being put, the motion failed to receive the support of at least two-thirds of those present at the meeting, and was consequently declared lost.

The voting was recorded as follows:

For (24):

Against (8):

Abstain (2):

Not Voted (4):

“This Council calls for urgent action to reduce the speed of traffic on the A1307 and requests the Leader and Chairman of the Council to write to the Highways department of Cambridgeshire County Council requesting action be taken."

Council RESOLVED to call for urgent action to reduce the speed of traffic on the A1307 between Cambridge and Haverhill, particularly the stretch where there have been recent fatalities, and requests the Leader and Chairman of the Council to write to the Highways department of Cambridgeshire County Council requesting that action be taken. 

Councillor VG Ford moved and Councillor AG Orgee seconded a Motion in the following terms:

“This Council calls for urgent action to reduce the speed of traffic on the A1307 and requests the Leader and Chairman of the Council to write to the Highways department of Cambridgeshire County Council requesting action be taken."

Following debate on the matter, the proposer and seconder accepted the following amendments to the wording of the Motion:

“That this Council calls for urgent action to reduce the speed of traffic on the A1307 between Cambridge and Haverhill, particularly the stretch where there have been recent fatalities, and requests the Leader and Chairman of the Council to write to the Highways department of Cambridgeshire County Council requesting that action be taken.”

The Motion as amended, on being put was declared carried.

Council RESOLVED

That this Council calls for urgent action to reduce the speed of traffic on the A1307 between Cambridge and Haverhill, particularly the stretch where there have been recent fatalities, and requests the Leader and Chairman of the Council to write to the Highways department of Cambridgeshire County Council requesting that action be taken. 

To note the Chairman’s engagements since the last Council meeting:

The Chairman’s engagements since the last meeting were noted.