Agenda and minutes

The Chair made several brief housekeeping announcements.

Councillor Dr. Martin Cahn sent apologies.

There were no declarations of interest.

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 July 2022 as a correct record.

The Committee authorised the Chair to sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 26 July 2022.

If you would like to ask a question or make a statement, then please refer to the

Document called Public Speaking Scheme (Physical Meetings)

and contact the Scrutiny and Governance Adviser in Democratic Services by no later than 11.59pm three clear working days before the meeting.

From Daniel Fulton (Fews Lane Consortium)

“Parliament has enacted a number of laws requiring that local authorities publish their accounts on an annual basis and that documents related to those accounts, including public procurement contracts, are made available for public inspection in accordance with the timeframes established by the Secretary of State.

For the last two financial years, this council has failed to meet those deadlines and has, in fact, failed to publish any accounts at all.

Residents of multiple villages in South Cambridgeshire have requested access to the contract documents for one expenditure from the council’s 2020-21 accounts. This was a limited and focused request that could have been easily fulfilled by the council.

Instead, the council refused the requests.

This refusal to allow public access to public information is part of a disturbing trend at this council that has become increasingly pervasive over the past 4 years.

When potential wrongdoing becomes apparent, this council’s response is all too often to hide the evidence at all costs and despite any legal obligations the council may be under to make the information available to councillors and members of the public.

The local members for Longstanton have declined to respond to residents’ requests to view the contract documents in question. Members of the opposition political group have remained silent as well.

What good reason could this council’s chief executive, monitoring officer, and section 151 officer possibly have for keeping details of a public procurement contract secret after the contract has been fulfilled, and why won’t a single member of this council support the documents being available for inspection, as is required by law?

Do you all honestly believe that this council should not be accountable to the public for how it spends public funds?

I would like to ask each member of this committee to please contact the leader of the council and ask her why she won’t support transparency and openness in regard to public spending by this council.

I will end on a positive note. 

Change at this council is possible. Previously, I would not have been permitted to make these remarks at today’s meeting. I am glad those days are over. Democracy cannot operate without freedom of political expression.

The majority group at this council has shown that it is capable of renewal and self-improvement, and I would like to thank this committee and its chair for allowing me to speak today.”

Mr. Daniel Fulton (Fews Lane Consortium) asked the following question:

“Parliament has enacted a number of laws requiring that local authorities publish their accounts on an annual basis and that documents related to those accounts, including public procurement contracts, are made available for public inspection in accordance with the timeframes established by the Secretary of State.

For the last two financial years, this council has failed to meet those deadlines and has, in fact, failed to publish any accounts at all.

Residents of multiple villages in South Cambridgeshire have requested access to the contract documents for one expenditure from the council’s 2020-21 accounts. This was a limited and focused request that could have been easily fulfilled by the council.

Instead, the council refused the requests.

This refusal to allow public access to public information is part of a disturbing trend at this council that has become increasingly pervasive over the past 4 years.

When potential wrongdoing becomes apparent, this council’s response is all too often to hide the evidence at all costs and despite any legal obligations the council may be under to make the information available to councillors and members of the public.

The local members for Longstanton have declined to respond to residents’ requests to view the contract documents in question. Members of the opposition political group have remained silent as well.

What good reason could this council’s chief executive, monitoring officer, and section 151 officer possibly have for keeping details of a public procurement contract secret after the contract has been fulfilled, and why won’t a single member of this council support the documents being available for inspection, as is required by law?

Do you all honestly believe that this council should not be accountable to the public for how it spends public funds?

I would like to ask each member of this committee to please contact the leader of the council and ask her why she won’t support transparency and openness in regard to public spending by this council.

I will end on a positive note. 

Change at this council is possible. Previously, I would not have been permitted to make these remarks at today’s meeting. I am glad those days are over. Democracy cannot operate without freedom of political expression.

The majority group at this council has shown that it is capable of renewal and self-improvement, and I would like to thank this committee and its chair for allowing me to speak today.”

The Chair replied as follows:

"Thank you for your statement Mr Fulton. Like all residents of South Cambridgeshire your participation in meetings of the council is welcome in supporting us to fulfil our responsibilities as councillors.

I have allowed your statement using the discretion given to me as chair of the committee under the public speaking scheme, even though you did not follow the correct procedure in submitting the statement in time. As you are no doubt fully aware, the rules of the council are in place in order to ensure the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Attached to this agenda are the Forward Plan of Cabinet decisions and the Scrutiny and Overview Committee work programme. Committee members are asked to note these and to consider the following topics not on the Forward Plan:

·       Relationships between the planning service and parish / town councils

·       Plans for the efficient use of the space available at South Cambridgeshire District Council Hall up to 2026

·       Young people in South Cambridgeshire

·       Engagement of the council with stakeholders across the district

The Scrutiny and Overview Committee noted its work programme attached to the agenda.

Committee members also noted the following topics not on the Corporate Forward Plan, but which Councillor Stephen Drew considered as worthy of committee review.

·       Relationships between the planning service and parish / town councils

·       Plans for the efficient use of the space available at South Cambridgeshire District Council Hall up to 2026

·       Engagement of the council with stakeholders across the district

·       Young people in South Cambridgeshire

Relationships between the planning service and parish / town councils

Members discussed several concerns contributing to some parish and town councils’ perception they were not fully engaged in the planning process. While Members accepted that a scrutiny review of this topic should seek to build on the outcomes of work carried out last year by the Planning Committee Development Group, a crucial element would be to identify a mode of engagement that recognised the diversity of parish and town councils in terms of their size, composition, and skill sets.

A scrutiny review should also consider whether the internal structure at the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service could be made simpler for outsiders to follow and also whether the transition between case officers could be less disruptive. Clearer communication, including the use of Plain English, was an important factor.

The Chief Executive welcomed Members’ suggestions that a survey of parish and town councils be carried out and that a series of case studies be compiled to help the Committee conduct its review.

The Scrutiny and Overview Committee agreed to allocate time within its work programme for an analysis of relationships between the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service and parish / town councils.

Plans for the efficient use of the space available at South Cambridgeshire District Council Hall up to 2026

Building on the investment put into South Cambridgeshire Hall and noting the impact on working patterns brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, Members envisaged that this review would examine options for maximising the effective use of the Hall by providing a facility for businesses and private organisations. While security would be an important factor in agreeing tenancy arrangements, Members recognized the opportunity to promote the work of South Cambridgeshire District Council and enhance its profile within the community.

There was scope for sharing ideas with Cambridge City Council as that Council considered its own options for benefiting from using its assets differently.

The recent installation of green energy measures at South Cambridgeshire Hall set the building apart from many others and would be used to attract potential tenants such as social businesses.

The Scrutiny and Overview Committee agreed to allocate time within its work programme for considering a briefing note detailing progress in implementing plans for the efficient use of the space available at South Cambridgeshire District Council Hall up to 2026

Engagement of the Council with stakeholders across the district

Members envisaged this review looking at ways to engage with all residents, including those for whom face-to-face meetings were favoured over  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Thursday 20 October 2022 at 5.20pm

Members noted that the next Scrutiny and Overview Committee meeting would be on 20 October 2022 starting at 5.20pm.