Agenda item

Cabinet

RECOMMENDED THAT COUNCL

1.    Adopt the 2020-25 Business Plan action grid at Appendix A to the report.

2.    Authorise the Chief Executive to make any minor wording changes required to final drafts, in consultation with the Deputy Leader.

Council

AGREED        to

(a)      Adopt the proposed 2020-25 Business Plan action grid at Appendix A.

(b)      Authorise the Chief Executive to make any minor wording changes required to final drafts, in consultation with the Deputy Leader.

Councillor Neil Gough, the Deputy Leader (non-statutory), presented the Business Plan, which provided clear and measurable actions that the Council will carry out up until 2025 to achieve the overarching priorities. He highlighted the following points:

·         Promotion of Mobile Warden Schemes

·         Promotion of Green agenda, including the provision of LED footway lighting

·         Trial of electric collection vehicles

·         Provision of £100,000 for zero carbon communities

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Neil Gough and seconded by Councillor John Williams.

Councillor Heather Williams suggested that the Business Plan favoured business interests over the interests of residents. Councillor Bridget Smith, Leader of Council, explained that local businesses were vital to the wellbeing of the District’s residents.

Councillor Nick Wright stated that the core of the Plan was from the previous administration. He praised the commitment to sustainability and paperless meetings. He commented that the replacement of footway lights was well overdue. He stated that more should be done for communities and was concerned that there was no commitment to supporting village pubs. The Leader explained that whilst pubs were not specifically mentioned in the Plan, which took a strategic overview, pubs were included in lower level documents. Councillor John Williams asserted that there had been insufficient funds in the budget under the previous administration to replace the footway lights.

Councillor Peter McDonald explained most of the focus was on Small and Medium Enterprises who employed fewer than 10 people. These businesses needed the Council’s support more than larger organisations.

Councillor Sue Ellington stated that the Plan did little to tackle social isolation and that it was pity that the time banking initiative had been lost. She expressed concern that no new villages were coming forward to ask for a Mobile Warden Scheme and so only existing schemes were being supported. Councillor Handley was happy to report that a new Mobile Warden Scheme had been set up in his ward of Over and Willingham.

Councillor Sarah Cheung-Johnson welcomed the provision of community buildings in Northstowe.

Councillor Nigel Cathcart supported the “green to our core” initiative and the need to support local initiatives and schemes. However, he also highlighted the need for conservation and that many historic buildings in the District needed protection.

Councillor Gavin Clayton asked if the target to build 50 council homes was ambitious enough and congratulated the administration in pledging to support refugee families. He welcomed the ambitious plans for Northstowe, but asked that Cambourne not be forgotten.

Councillor Dr. Martin Cahn supported the Plan, but expressed concern that the word culture had been omitted. He stated that including this when supporting the construction of community buildings would help businesses.

Councillor Geoff Harvey thanked officers for their work in producing the Plan and delivering on it. He asserted that by making South Cambs Hall more energy efficient provided an exemplar for other organisations in the District.

Councillor John Williams explained that the Plan had been developed after speaking to residents. He referred to the enthusiasm expressed by parish councils about the Council’s green initiatives at the recent Cabinet liaison meeting. 70 parish councils had taken up the Council’s three trees offer.

A vote was taken and votes were cast as follows:

In favour (26):

Councillors Philip Allen, Henry Batchelor, John Batchelor, Anna Bradnam, Dr. Martin Cahn, Nigel Cathcart, Sarah Cheung Johnson, Gavin Clayton, Dr. Claire Daunton, Clare Delderfield, Peter Fane, Neil Gough, Bill Handley, Geoff Harvey, Dr. Tumi Hawkins, Steve Hunt, Tony Mason, Peter McDonald, Brian Milnes, Judith Rippeth, Bridget Smith, Hazel Smith, Dr. Ian Sollom, Dr. Aidan Van de Weyer, John Williams and Eileen Wilson.

Against (9):

Councillors Dr. Shrobona Bhattacharya, Tom Bygott, Graham Cone, Sue Ellington, Mark Howell, Deborah Roberts, Bunty Waters, Heather Williams and Nick Wright.

Abstain (0):

Council

RESOLVED  to

(a)      Adopt the proposed 2020-25 Business Plan action grid at Appendix A.

(b)      Authorise the Chief Executive to make any minor wording changes required to final drafts, in consultation with the Deputy Leader.