Sustainable Communities Act 2007
The Sustainable Communities Act 2007 gives an opportunity for councils and communities to put forward new thinking on how to meet the challenges of sustainability and local wellbeing. A basic criterion is that proposals must be ones that need some form of action from central government (such as a change in legislation, a transfer of responsibilities from one public body to another, a new national policy or a change or strengthening of policy). Proposals must not be possible within existing powers.
The Council's timetable for considering proposals is:
Stage |
Date |
Deadline for proposals |
30 April 2009 |
Proposals to be considered by the Panel |
18 May 2009 |
Proposals considered by Cabinet |
2 July 2009 |
Proposals considered by Council |
16 July 2009 |
Submission of agreed proposals to the Selector |
17 - 31 July 2009 |
For further information about submitting a proposal please contact Gemma Barron on 01954 713340 or Gemma.Barron@scambs.gov.uk
52 Sustainable Communities Act 2007 PDF 165 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Gemma Barron presented this item which asked the Board to agree the District Council’s proposal to form a Panel to consider proposals received under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007.
The following points were noted:
The Board
AGREED To accept the District Council’s request to form a Panel to consider proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007.
Sustainable Communities Act 2007 (Cabinet, 15 January 2009)
Cabinet RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that the authority “opts in” to the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 by:
A) Publicising the process locally, including a deadline for proposals to be submitted the Council for consideration by the Panel (see below);
B) Asking the membership of the South Cambridgeshire Local Strategic Partnership Board to set up a Panel to consider proposals and try to reach agreement with the Panel as to the merits of a proposal and priorities between different proposals;
C) Consulting with those parties affected if the proposal involves the transfer of a responsibility from one public body to another;
D) Having regard to a list of matters set out in a Schedule to the Act;
E) Finally making a formal decision on whether to forward the proposal/s onwards to the Selector; and
F) Assessing the effectiveness of these arrangements at the end of the 2009/10 civic year.
The report considered by the Cabinet is available to view using the following link to the Council's website (www.scambs.gov.uk). Alternatively, a copy is available to view in the Members’ Room or from Democratic Services, telephone (01954) 713016 e-mail democratic.services@scambs.gov.uk.
Decision:
Council RESOLVED to “opt in” to the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 by:
A) Publicising the process locally, including a deadline for proposals to be submitted the Council for consideration by the Panel (see below);
B) Asking the membership of the South Cambridgeshire Local Strategic Partnership Board to form a Panel to consider proposals and try to reach agreement as to the merits of a proposal and priorities between different proposals;
C) Consulting with those parties affected if the proposal involves the transfer of a responsibility from one public body to another;
D) Having regard to a list of matters set out in a Schedule to the Act;
E) Finally making a formal decision on whether to forward the proposal/s onwards to the Selector; and
F) Assessing the effectiveness of these arrangements at the end of the 2009/10 civic year.
Minutes:
Councillor DR DR Bard moved, Councillor RMA Manning seconded and Council RESOLVED to “opt in” to the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 by:
A) Publicising the process locally, including a deadline for proposals to be submitted to the Council for consideration by the Panel (see below);
B) Asking the membership of the South Cambridgeshire Local Strategic Partnership Board to form a Panel to consider proposals and try to reach agreement as to the merits of a proposal and priorities between different proposals;
C) Consulting with those parties affected if proposals involved the transfer of a responsibility from one public body to another;
D) Having regard to a list of matters set out in a Schedule to the Act;
E) Finally making a formal decision on whether to forward the proposal/s onwards to the Selector; and
F) Assessing the effectiveness of these arrangements at the end of the 2009/10 civic year.
84 Sustainable Communities Act 2007 PDF 124 KB
Decision:
Cabinet
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that the authority “opts in” to the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 by:
A) Publicising the process locally, including a deadline for proposals to be submitted the Council for consideration by the Panel;
B) Asking the membership of the South Cambridgeshire Local Strategic Partnership Board to set up a Panel to consider proposals and try to reach agreement with the Panel as to the merits of a proposal and priorities between different proposals;
C) Consulting with those parties affected if the proposal involves the transfer of a responsibility from one public body to another;
D) Having regard to a list of matters set out in a Schedule to the Act;
E) Finally making a formal decision on whether to forward the proposal/s onwards to the Selector; and
F) Assessing the effectiveness of these arrangements at the end of the 2009/10 civic year.
Minutes:
The New Communities Portfolio Holder introduced this item regarding the Secretary of State’s invitation under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 to receive proposals promoting the sustainability of local communities.
Members of Cabinet made the following points:
It was suggested that the Scrutiny and Overview Committee would be a more suitable forum to consider the resulting proposals than the LSP Board, especially as it was meeting in the District’s villages. However, It was noted that the Panel could not be made up exclusively of District Councillors but had to include other representatives of the local community.
Cabinet
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that the authority “opts in” to the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 by:
A) Publicising the process locally, including a deadline for proposals to be submitted to the Council for consideration by the Panel;
B) Asking the membership of the South Cambridgeshire Local Strategic Partnership Board to set up a Panel to consider proposals and try to reach agreement with the Panel as to the merits of a proposal and priorities between different proposals;
C) Consulting with those parties affected if the proposal involves the transfer of a responsibility from one public body to another;
D) Having regard to a list of matters set out in a Schedule to the Act;
E) Finally making a formal decision on whether to forward the proposal/s onwards to the Selector; and
F) Assessing the effectiveness of these arrangements at the end of the 2009/10 civic year.
Standing in the Names of Councillors SA Harangozo and AN Berent
Given that the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 received enthusiastic cross-party support in Parliament, we propose that SCDC should opt in to the Act by the date specified in the letter of invitation (expected shortly) given by the Secretary of State, in order to further sustainable living in South Cambridgeshire.
Councillors Dr SA Harangozo and AN Berent.
Decision:
Council RESOLVED that the Motion standing in the name of Councillors Dr SA Harangozo and AN Berent, set out at Agenda item 11(d) be referred to Cabinet to allow full consideration of the implications of the Sustainable Communities Act before being resubmitted to Council for further consideration in due course.
Minutes:
Councillor Dr SA Harangozo moved and Councillor AN Berent seconded a Motion in the following terms:
‘Given that the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 received enthusiastic cross-party support in Parliament, we propose that SCDC should opt in to the Act by the date specified in the letter of invitation (expected shortly) given by the Secretary of State, in order to further sustainable living in South Cambridgeshire.’
Council RESOLVED, in accordance with Standing Order 13(d), that the Motion be referred to Cabinet to allow full consideration of the implications of the Sustainable Communities Act before being resubmitted to Council for further consideration in due course.