Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor Brian Burling declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in minute number 77 with regard to Swavesey Byeways as he was a ratepayer.  Councillor Burling indicated that he would leave the meeting upon consideration of this item.

Members are requested to inform Democratic Services of any changes in their Register of Members’ Financial and Other Interests form.

No changes were reported by Members with regard to their Register of Members’ Financial and Other Interest forms.

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on the 31 January 2013 as a correct record.

The minutes of the previous meeting of Council held on 31 January 2013 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record. 

The Chairman of the Council made the following announcements: -

Death of former Councillor Tom Flanagan

Former Councillor Tom Flanagan had died on 21 February 2013.  He was a Councillor for the Bar Hill Ward from 1978 to 1986 and 1994 to 2004, and was both a member and the Chairman of Bar Hill Parish Council during this time.  All Councillors observed a moment’s silence in memory of Tom Flanagan and individuals were given an opportunity to pay tribute.

Resignation of a Councillor from the Liberal Democrat Group

Councillor Surinder Soond had resigned from the Liberal Democrat Group and was now an Independent Councillor with no political affiliation.

Resignation of a Councillor from the Conservative Group

Councillor Clayton Hudson had resigned from the Conservative Group and was now an Independent Councillor with no political affiliation.

Change of order of agenda items

The Chairman intended to change the order of the agenda for this meeting so that the Annual Pay Policy Statement would be considered as the last item.

Suspension of Council Standing Orders

The Chairman intended to suspend Council Standing Orders for the item on the Members’ Allowances Scheme to enable Members of the Independent Remuneration Panel to present the Panel’s report.

Letter from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Planning)

A response had been received from Nick Boles MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Planning), to a letter the Chairman had written following a motion passed at the meeting of Council on 22 November 2012 in relation to local development.  The Chairman read the letter out at the meeting and would provide a copy to all Members of the Council.

To note that no public questions have been received. 

 No questions from the public had been received.

To note that no petitions have been received since the last Council meeting.

No petitions had been received. 

Cabinet RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that the Corporate Plan setting out the Council’s vision, aims, approaches and actions for 2013-2018 be approved.

Council RESOLVED that the Corporate Plan setting out the Council’s vision, aims, approaches and actions for 2013-18 be approved.

Councillor James Hockney, Portfolio Holder for Corporate and Customer Services, proposed that the Corporate Plan 2013-18 be approved and, in taking Members through the document as attached to the agenda, stated that it was an ambitious Plan which built on the successes of the previous year.  In particular he referred to the establishment of the ‘back to work’ project and the promotion of apprenticeships, the launch of the in-house Customer Contact Centre, the building of the first Council houses in the New Build Strategy 2012-15 and the establishment of the South Cambridgeshire Youth Council.  Councillor Hockney informed Council that the Corporate Plan had been amended following recommendations put forward by the Scrutiny and Overview Committee and was subsequently supported by Cabinet.

Councillor Ray Manning, Leader of the Council, seconded the proposal.

In discussing the long term vision of the Plan, set out at the top of the document which read ‘South Cambridgeshire will continue to be the best place to live, work and study in the country’, a number of Members were pleased to see that reference to study had been included. 

Questions were raised as to how successes would be recorded and measured due to the Plan containing no specifics in relation to performance monitoring.  A Member also commented that the aims, approaches and actions themselves were quite broad, with reference made in particular to action C9 which related to the building of new Council houses in the New Build Strategy for 2012-15. 

It was noted that the aims, approaches and actions were purposely broad in nature as they encompassed a range of ideas that had been put forward as part of the Plan’s development process.  The majority of suggestions received as part of this process overlapped significantly which had made it necessary to group some of the common themes together.  In terms of measuring and monitoring, it was reported that the Council’s current performance monitoring system would continue to be used, with quarterly performance reports scheduled for submission to Cabinet and the Scrutiny and Overview Committee.

With 34 votes in favour, 5 against, 4 abstentions and 1 not voting

Council RESOLVED that the Corporate Plan setting out the Council’s vision, aims, approaches and actions for 2013-18 be approved.

Cabinet RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that: -

(a)          the Capital Programme and the associated funding up to the year ending 31 March 2018 be approved as submitted;

(b)          the revenue estimates for 2013-14 be approved as submitted in the General Fund summary;

(c)          approval be given for capital and revenue budget rollovers totalling £501,080 to be carried forward into the 2013-14 financial year;

(d)          the fees and charges proposed for 2013-14 be approved;

(e)          the precautionary items for the General Fund be approved;

(f)           the Medium Term Financial Strategy for the General Fund be approved, based on the assumptions set out in the report to Cabinet on 18 January 2014 [see Note (2) below];

(g)          Executive Management Team be instructed to identify further savings of £920,000 in 2014-15 and subsequent years;

(h)          the council tax requirement for 2013-14 be £6,933,690;

(i)            it 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 a District Council Tax for general expenses on a Band D property of £120.46 plus the relevant amounts required by the precepts of Parish Councils, Cambridgeshire County Council and the Cambridgeshire Fire and Police Authorities and that details of those precepts and their effect be circulated with the formal resolution required at the Council meeting;

(j)            the Housing Revenue Account estimates and the rent increase for the financial year ending 31 March 2014 be approved, the rent increase being in accordance with rent restructuring guidance from the Department for Communities and Local Government;

(k)          the service and other charges for housing services for the financial year ending 31 March 2014 be approved;

(l)            the Housing Revenue Account business plan summary for the next 30 years to 31 March 2043 be approved;

(m)         the borrowing and investment strategy for the year to 31 March 2014 be approved;

(n)          the prudential indicators required by the Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities for the year to 31 March 2014 be approved.

FURTHER TO RECOMMENDATION (F) ABOVE, A COPY OF THE MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGY FOR THE GENERAL FUND IS ATTACHED AT APPENDIX 1, FOR INFORMATION.

FURTHER TO RECOMMENDATION (H) ABOVE, COUNCIL IS RECOMMENDED TO AGREE THE STATUTORY RESOLUTION IN RESPECT OF THE COUNCIL TAX FOR 2013/2014, ATTACHED AT APPENDIX 2. 

THE LEADER OF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GROUP HAS INDICATED THAT, SHOULD THE ABOVE STATUTORY RESOLUTION BE PROPOSED AND SECONDED IN RESPECT OF THE COUNCIL TAX FOR 2013/2014, HE INTENDS TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT.  THE DETAILS RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT ARE OUTLINED IN THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS WHICH COUNCIL WILL NEED TO CONSIDER IN THE EVENT OF THE AMENDMENT BEING CARRIED: -

·         STATUTORY RESOLUTION FOR THE COUNCIL TAX FOR 2013/14 (APPENDIX 3);

·         THE GENERAL FUND SUMMARY (APPENDIX 4);

·         THE MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGY (APPENDIX 5).

FURTHER TO RECOMMENDATION (L) ABOVE, A COPY OF THE HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT BUSINESS PLAN IS ATTACHED AT APPENDIX 6, FOR INFORMATION.

NOTES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION IN RESPECT  ...  view the full agenda text for item 75b

Council RESOLVED: -

(a)        That the Capital Programme and the associated funding up to the year ending 31 March 2018 be approved as submitted.

(b)        That the revenue estimates for 2013-14 be approved as submitted in the General Fund summary.

(c)        That approval be given for capital and revenue budget rollovers totalling £501,080 to be carried forward into the 2013-14 financial year.

(d)        That the fees and charges proposed for 2013-14 be approved.

(e)        That the precautionary items for the General Fund be approved.

(f)        That the Medium Term Financial Strategy for the General Fund be approved, based on the assumptions set out in the report to Cabinet on 18 February 2013.

(g)        That Executive Management Team be instructed to identify further savings of £920,000 in 2014-15 and subsequent years.

(h)        That the council tax requirement for 2013-14 be £6,933,690.

(i)         That it 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 a District Council Tax for general expenses on a Band D property of £120.46 plus the relevant amounts required by the precepts of Parish Councils, Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority and the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner and that details of those precepts and their effect be circulated with the formal resolution required at the Council meeting.

(j)         That the Housing Revenue Account estimates and the rent increase for the financial year ending 31 March 2014 be approved, the rent increase being in accordance with rent restructuring guidance from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

(k)        That the service and other charges for housing services for the financial year ending 31 March 2014 be approved.

(l)         That the Housing Revenue Account business plan summary for the next 30 years to 31 March 2043 be approved.

(m)      That the borrowing and investment strategy for the year to 31 March 2014 be approved.

(n)        That the prudential indicators required by the Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities for the year to 31 March 2014 be approved.

In addition to resolution (h) above, Council AGREED the following statutory resolution in respect of the Council Tax for 2013/14: -

That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2013-14 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

            (a)        £82,531,439                being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (2) (a) to (f) of the Act (gross expenditure including parish precepts, the Housing Revenue Account and additions to reserves);

            (b)        £71,364,250                being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (3) (a) to (d) of the Act (gross income including the Housing Revenue Account and use of reserves);

            (c)        £11,167,189                being the amount by which the aggregate at (a) above exceeds the aggregate at (b)  ...  view the full decision text for item 75b

Councillor Simon Edwards, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Staffing, proposed the Medium Term Financial Strategy and associated elements as set out in the agenda.  He referred to the Council’s Corporate Plan, as approved in the previous item, and stated that it needed to be supported by an adequate budget, which his proposal sought to provide.

Councillor Edwards highlighted the introduction of the Localised Council Tax Reduction Scheme and reductions in Government grant funding as significant factors with regard to setting the Council’s budget for 2013-14.  His proposed Medium Term Financial Strategy for the General Fund reflected the commencement of the two year local government finance settlement and a 24% reduction in Revenue Support Grant between 2013/14 and 2014/15, as well as an additional 3.8% reduction in 2015/16 and further reductions thereafter.  Councillor Edwards indicated that there were still a number of uncertainties nationally around local government finance and emphasised the need for the Council to be cautious in setting its budget.  

Changes in Government grant funding meant an approximate £17 reduction for the Council per Band D property in the district.  Councillor Edwards’ proposed budget indicated a savings requirement of £920,000 in 2014-15 and subsequent years, equating to the authority achieving an average cost saving of £12.36 per Band D property.  The setting of Council Tax at £120.46 would be an increase of £5.00 for a Band D property, which was proposed.

Councillor Ray Manning, Leader of the Council, seconded the proposal.

Councillor Sebastian Kindersley, Leader of the Opposition, moved an amendment for the Council to accept the Government’s Council Tax Freeze Grant for 2013-14.  Supporting documentation outlining the consequences of this amendment with regard to the setting of Council Tax and the Medium Term Financial Strategy was included as part of the agenda.  Councillor Kindersley was of the view that residents in South Cambridgeshire were finding the current economic climate difficult enough and the Council had a moral obligation to accept the Government’s offer of the Council Tax Freeze Grant.

Councillor John Williams seconded the amendment and agreed that the Council should do anything it could to help the district’s residents in these times of austerity, especially since the Council had over £7 million in reserves.  He added that the poorest families in South Cambridgeshire already faced some of the highest living costs in the country. 

In debating the amendment, the following points were noted: -

·         the amendment would require savings of £1.3 million and it was unclear how this would be funded;

·         the Medium Term Financial Strategy was already one of the highest risks on the Council’s Strategic Risk Register.  Any running-down of reserves would increase this risk due to the number of financial uncertainties the Council currently faced;

·         the Corporate Plan had just been approved in the previous item and the amendment did not sufficiently support it.  An alternative Corporate Plan had not been submitted to substantiate the amendment put forward.

With 9 votes in favour, 33 against and 2 abstentions the amendment was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75b

Council is RECOMMENDED to: -

(a)          approve the changes to the pay band for the post of Executive Director;

(b)          approve the policy in relation to re-engagement of ex-employees;

(c)          approve the Pay Policy Statement as required by the Localism Act.

Council APPROVED: -

(a)          The changes to the pay band for the post of Executive Director.

(b)          The policy in relation to the re-engagement of ex-employees.

(c)          The Pay Policy Statement as required by the Localism Act.

(This item was considered as the last item at the meeting following the Chairman’s decision at minute number 72 to change the order of the agenda)

The Chief Executive and Executive Director of Corporate Services left the meeting for the consideration of this item.

Consideration was given to a report which set out the requirements of the Localism Act with regard to Pay Policy Statements.  A copy of South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Pay Policy Statement was appended to the report which the Employment Committee had recommended to Council for approval.  The Employment Committee also recommended changes to the pay band for the post of Executive Director and an amendment to the policy in relation to the re-engagement of ex-employees.

Councillor Simon Edwards, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Staffing, proposed the recommendations contained within the report.  He explained that the recommendation with regard to the Executive Director pay band in no way reflected the performance of the individual post holder, who provided an excellent service to the Council, and was further to agreement by the Employment Committee in February 2012 to review the pay band of the post.  The Employment Committee undertook this review at its meeting on 23 January 2013.

Councillor Whiteman-Downes, Chairman of the Employment Committee, seconded the proposal. 

Councillor John Williams proposed the inclusion of an additional paragraph for the Council to ‘set the lowest pay rate for all Council staff at the living wage rate for outside London as calculated by the Centre for Research and Social Policy’.  Councillor Williams referred to the fact that South Cambridgeshire had one of the highest living costs in the country and he felt that this should be reflected in the salaries paid to the Council’s full-time and part-time members of staff.  He was of the opinion that a small number of the Council’s part-time employees were paid below this living wage rate for outside London.

This amendment was seconded by Councillor Jonathan Chatfield, who reflected on the imminent increases in Council Tax, the price of fuel and energy bills.  He felt that the impact of passing this amendment would be of huge benefit to the residents of the district, with modest cost implications for the authority.

The following points were noted in debating the amendment: -

·         the amendment sought to make changes to the Council’s budget, which had  already been agreed in an earlier item at this meeting;

·         the budgetary impact of agreeing to this amendment was unknown;

·         if all members of staff already received the living wage rate there would not be any budgetary implications arising from the adoption of the amendment;

·         supporting the amendment would send out a positive message to future employees;

·         people would be aware of salaries for specific vacant posts at the Council before submitting applications for them;

·         the Council fully adhered to the requirements of the National Minimum Wage Act.

With 13 votes in favour, 27 against, 3 abstentions and 1 not voting the amendment was LOST.

Upon voting on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75c

For decision.

Council RESOLVED: -

(a)        That the allowances be increased by the equivalent % amount as the Council agrees to apply to the pay rates of Council staff, to become effective from 1 April 2013.

(b)        To remove from the current Members’ Allowances Scheme the paragraph stating that ‘No councillor may receive more than one special responsibility allowance’ and replace with ‘Councillors may receive more than one special responsibility allowance, with the exception of the Cabinet members responsible for Planning and Licensing if they become voting members on those particular committees’.

(c)        That the current arrangements for paying expenses remain unchanged for 2013/14.

(d)        That Councillors’ subsistence allowances be increased in line with those payments made to staff (as detailed in paragraph 11 of the Independent Remuneration Panel’s report) and the reference to a sandwich allowance be deleted from the Scheme.

Further to a proposal by the Chairman and the support of at least two thirds of Councillors in attendance, as required by the Constitution, Council RESOLVED that Standing Order 14 (Rules of Debate) be temporarily suspended to enable Mr Graham Jagger, Chairman of the Independent Remuneration Panel, and Mr Simon Harris, Member of the Independent Remuneration Panel, to present the Panel’s report.

Mr Jagger and Mr Harris presented the Independent Remuneration Panel’s report following its review of the Council’s Members’ Allowances Scheme, a copy of which was included as part of the agenda, which set out six recommendations.

Councillor Ray Manning, Leader of the Council, thanked the Independent Remuneration Panel for the work it had done in carrying out this review and proposed that recommendations (a), (c), (d) and (f) of the report be agreed.

Councillor Simon Edwards, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Staffing, seconded the proposal and noted that recommendations (b) and (e) sought to make significant changes to the Members’ Allowances Scheme, namely to reduce the Basic Allowance but increase the number of Councillors in receipt of Special Responsibility Allowances.  Whilst this did not equate to an overall increase in Members’ Allowances, Councillor Edwards felt that the public perception of individual Councillors receiving increases in their allowances needed to be taken into consideration. 

Councillor Sebastian Kindersley, Leader of the Opposition, expressed his thanks to the Independent Remuneration Panel and felt that the recommendations contained in the report were imaginative and fair, all of which he supported.

In summing up, Councillor Manning welcomed the review of the Members’ Allowances Scheme and the Panel’s recommendations which he felt addressed some issues, particularly recognising the time commitment required by those Members of the Planning Committee compared to Members of other bodies.  He felt, however, that further consideration needed to be given to the Panel’s recommended Scheme and gave the following reasons: -

·         the recommended Scheme would see Members receiving Special Responsibility Allowances for being on certain bodies, such as the Licensing Committee and Planning Committee, whereas Substitute Members for these bodies would not be entitled to a Special Responsibility Allowance, even if they attended meetings;

·         Members of Licensing Panels would receive Special Responsibility Allowances as part of the recommended Scheme.  These Panels met frequently but some Members may not attend a Panel for a whole year, yet they would still receive a Special Responsibility Allowance;

·         guidance from the Councillors’ Commission stated that the majority of an authority’s Councillors should not be in receipt of a Special Responsibility Allowance.  The recommended Scheme would see 42 of the authority’s 57 Councillors receiving Special Responsibility Allowances.

With 30 votes in favour, 3 against, 10 abstentions and 1 not voting

Council RESOLVED: -

(a)        That the allowances be increased by the equivalent % amount as the Council agrees to apply to the pay rates of Council staff, to become effective from 1 April 2013.

(b)        To remove from the current Members’ Allowances Scheme the paragraph stating that ‘No councillor may  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

For decision.

Council RESOLVED: -

(a)          To maintain the current level of byeway maintenance for the period 2013/14.

(b)          To levy a rate at 90 pence to fund the required maintenance for the period 2013/14.

Having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest, as referred to in minute number 69, Councillor Brian Burling left the meeting for the consideration of this item.

Council considered a report following the annual meeting of the Swavesey Byeways Advisory Committee.

Councillor Sue Ellington, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, proposed the recommendations of the Swavesey Byeways Advisory Committee as set out in the report.  This was seconded by Councillor Ray Manning.

Council unanimously RESOLVED: -

(a)          To maintain the current level of byeway maintenance for the period 2013/14.

(b)          To levy a rate at 90 pence to fund the required maintenance for the period 2013/14.

To consider a proposal to amend the Terms of Reference for the Northstowe Joint Development Control Committee in order that Cambridgeshire County Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council can each appoint two alternative members in respect of each political group representing their authority on the Committee, instead of one.  The Terms of Reference for the Joint Development Control Committee cannot be amended without approval from Cambridgeshire County Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Council AGREED: -

(a)        To amend the Terms of Reference for the Northstowe Joint Development Control Committee in order that Cambridgeshire County Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council can each appoint two alternate members in respect of each political group representing their authority on the Committee, whilst noting that this cannot occur without approval from Cambridgeshire County Council.

(b)        To appoint Councillors Ray Manning and Lynda Harford from the Conservative Group and Councillors Tumi Hawkins and Jonathan Chatfield from the Liberal Democrat Group to the Joint Committee as alternate members, should Cambridgeshire County Council also agree to this amendment to the Committee’s Terms of Reference.

Councillor Ray Manning, Leader of the Council, proposed the motion as set out in the agenda.  This was seconded by Councillor Simon Edwards, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Staffing.

Council unanimously AGREED: -

(a)        To amend the Terms of Reference for the Northstowe Joint Development Control Committee in order that Cambridgeshire County Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council can each appoint two alternate members in respect of each political group representing their authority on the Committee, whilst noting that this cannot occur without approval from Cambridgeshire County Council.

(b)        To appoint Councillors Ray Manning and Lynda Harford from the Conservative Group and Councillors Tumi Hawkins and Jonathan Chatfield from the Liberal Democrat Group to the Joint Committee as alternate members, should Cambridgeshire County Council also agree to this amendment to the Committee’s Terms of Reference.

To consider a proposal to amend the Terms of Reference for the Joint Development Control Committee – Cambridge Fringes in order that Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council can each appoint two alternative members in respect of each political group representing their authority on the Committee, instead of one.  The Terms of Reference for the Joint Development Control Committee cannot be amended without approval from Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Council RESOLVED: -

(a)        To amend the Terms of Reference for the Joint Development Control Committee – Cambridge Fringes in order that Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council can each appoint two alternate members in respect of each political group representing their authority on the Committee, whilst noting that this cannot occur without approval from Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridge City Council.

(b)        To appoint Councillors Tim Wotherspoon and Roger Hall from the Conservative Group and Councillors Janet Lockwood and Jim Stewart from the Liberal Democrat Group to the Joint Committee as alternate members, should Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridge City Council also agree to this amendment to the Committee’s Terms of Reference.

Councillor Ray Manning, Leader of the Council, proposed the motion as set out in the agenda.  This was seconded by Councillor Simon Edwards, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Staffing.

Council unanimously AGREED: -

(a)        To amend the Terms of Reference for the Joint Development Control Committee – Cambridge Fringes in order that Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council can each appoint two alternate members in respect of each political group representing their authority on the Committee, whilst noting that this cannot occur without approval from Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridge City Council.

(b)        To appoint Councillors Tim Wotherspoon and Roger Hall from the Conservative Group and Councillors Janet Lockwood and Jim Stewart from the Liberal Democrat Group to the Joint Committee as alternate members, should Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridge City Council also agree to this amendment to the Committee’s Terms of Reference.

To receive a report, for information only.

The Chairman introduced an information report which set out the details of an executive decision taken in the last four months under the Council’s special urgency rules, as required by the Constitution.

Council NOTED the report.

 No questions on joint meetings were raised.

No updates have been received from Members appointed to outside bodies. 

A hardcopy of an update report from Councillor Peter Johnson on the Farmland Museum had been circulated to all Members, for information. 

Councillor Simon Edwards, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Staffing, provided Council with an update on the Mepal Outdoor Centre.  Approximately 70% of the Centre’s users were from South Cambridgeshire, despite it being based in East Cambridgeshire, which had experienced difficult times financially in the past few months.  Councillor Edwards was pleased to report that the Centre would remain open having achieved its required savings and streamlined its activities and asked all Members to encourage people to use this fantastic facility.

“In a report in the Cambridge News on 4 February, Cllr Orgee gave the impression that there had been consultation within the Council on the flying of the Rainbow Flag during February: he said of Cllr Page's opposition that `The comments by Cllr Page do not represent the views of the council as a whole'. Please may we be told what consultation actually took place over this decision and whose decision it was?”

Councillor Douglas de Lacey asked the Chairman of the Council the following question: -

“In a report in the Cambridge News on 4 February, Councillor Orgee gave the impression that there had been consultation within the Council on the flying of the Rainbow Flag during February: he said of Councillor Page's opposition that `The comments by Councillor Page do not represent the views of the Council as a whole'. Please may we be told what consultation actually took place over this decision and whose decision it was?”

Councillor Tony Orgee, Chairman of the Council, reported that the authority was approached in 2010 by Encompass, Cambridgeshire’s support network for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, to see whether it would consider raising the Rainbow Flag in conjunction with Cambridge City Council and other public sector organisations.  This request was considered at the Housing Portfolio Holder’s Meeting, which was the Portfolio designated with responsibility for equality and diversity, on 19 January 2011 where verbal agreement to fly the flag was granted.  The Portfolio Holder was consulted each year on the raising of the Rainbow Flag and this would be the third year that it had been raised for the whole month of February.  A press release was always circulated to coincide with the flag raising.  The Chairman added that positive support had been received from staff and members of the public about this decision.

As a supplementary question, Councillor de Lacey stated that there were other equally worthy groups in the district and asked what the criteria or policy was for the flying of their flags.

Councillor Orgee informed Council that any other bodies could contact the authority in the same manner as Encompass and any such requests would be considered by the relevant Portfolio Holder.

“I understand that South Cambridgeshire District Council will be required to make a substantial cash contribution to the new A14 Toll Road. Does the Leader think it right that South Cambridgeshire citizens should have to pay twice to use the A14?"

Councillor Sebastian Kindersley asked the Leader of the Council the following question: -

“I understand that South Cambridgeshire District Council will be required to make a substantial cash contribution to the new A14 Toll Road.  Does the Leader think it right that South Cambridgeshire citizens should have to pay twice to use the A14?"

Councillor Ray Manning, Leader of the Council, replied by saying that the authority was in a difficult position in this respect.  It was obvious that without a commitment from South Cambridgeshire District Council to back the development of the A14 with some sort of contribution the Government was not going to proceed.  Councillor Manning was of the opinion that the Council could not afford to take such a risk.  He understood that there would be a feeder road alongside the A14 for local residents without them having to use the toll road.

Councillor Manning emphasised that any decision on a financial commitment from this authority with regard to the development of the A14 would be made at a meeting of Full Council.

As a supplementary question, Councillor Kindersley asked: -

“What planning is the Leader doing to save for that particular call on South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy or ‘Another Step Forward’ Strategy?”

Councillor Manning reiterated that all Members would be able to debate any plan on this issue at a meeting of Full Council.

“Would the Leader join me in congratulating all those officers involved in delivering and supporting SPEP on the highly prestigious award which they have just won?  Is he also able to give assurance that, as a council, we are going to be able to build upon this significant success with sufficient funding and human resources especially as we move into the age of the Green Deal?”

Councillor Bridget Smith asked the Leader of the Council the following question: -

“Would the Leader join me in congratulating all those officers involved in delivering and supporting the Sustainable Parish Energy Partnership on the highly prestigious award which they have just won?  Is he also able to give assurance that, as a council, we are going to be able to build upon this significant success with sufficient funding and human resources especially as we move into the age of the Green Deal?”

Councillor Ray Manning, Leader of the Council, agreed with and supported the points raised as part of the question, but was unable to unconditionally provide any commitment to resources at this time.

As a supplementary question, Councillor Smith stated that a quarter of the district’s parishes had signed up to the Sustainable Parish Energy Partnership and asked whether the Leader was planning any outreach work to try and engage with the remaining three quarters of parishes in the district.

Councillor Manning responded by saying that he did not think the Green Deal had been as successful as first anticipated so agreed that the Council should look to promote the work of the Sustainable Parish Energy Partnership.  He reported that this was on the agenda for the Parish Liaison meeting scheduled to be held on Thursday 7 March 2013.

No Notices of Motion have been received. 

 No notices of motion had been received.

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

Council noted the list of engagements attended by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman since the last meeting, as outlined on the agenda, and the Chairman also reported that he had attended a civic reception at East Cambridgeshire District Council on 22 February 2013.