Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor Bridget Smith, Leader of the Council, announced that Councillor Tumi Hawkins, Lead Cabinet Member for Planning Delivery and Policy, would assume the responsibility for equalities.

To receive Apologies for Absence from Cabinet members. 

There were no apologies for absence from members of the Cabinet, but apologies were received from Councillor Grenville Chamberlain, Chair of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee, and Judith Rippeth, Vice Chair of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee.

Councillor Peter McDonald, Lead Cabinet Member for Business Recovery and Skills, declared a non-pecuniary interest, being a member of the South Cambridgeshire Investment Partnership Board, in relation to item 9, Potential Property Investment Decision.

To authorise the Leader to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2021 as a correct record.

Cabinet authorised the Leader to sign, as a correct record, the public version of the Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 22 March 2021.

Councillor John Batchelor, Lead Cabinet Member for Housing, was not present at the meeting held on 22 March 2021 as a Member of the Cabinet, and abstained from voting to affirm the minutes thereof.

The deadline for receipt of public questions is noon on Monday, 12 April.

The Council’s scheme for public speaking at remote meetings may

be inspected here:

Public Questions at Remote Meetings

There were no public questions received ahead of this meeting.

Cabinet:

a)    Endorsed the shared environment principles at Annex 1 hereto; and,

b)    Supported the development of an Arc Environment Strategy which will provide for how the principles can be delivered.

Cabinet received the ‘Shared Regional Principles for Protecting, Restoring and Enhancing the Environment’ report, from the Oxford-Cambridge Arc. Councillor Bridget Smith, Leader the Council introduced the report, indicating the high standards for the environment with the project, and the collaborative work of charities, government departments and the universities that were represented across the Arc. The Leader of the Council thanked the Chief Executive for her work within the working groups, and for collating the final document.

Councillor Dr. Aidan Van de Weyer, the Deputy Leader, noted the collective work of the local Council Leaders, and, through the development of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, the impact on the wider community.

After a short discussion, Cabinet:

a)    Endorsed the shared environment principles at Annex 1 of the report; and,

b)    Supported the development of an Arc Environment Strategy which would provide for how the principles could be delivered.

Members of the press and public are likely to be excluded from the meeting during consideration of item 8 and item 9. In each case, exclusion will be in accordance with the provisions of Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Act). Paragraph 3 relates to information about the financial or business affairs of any person, including the Authority holding that information.

Cabinet agreed by affirmation that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of items number 8 and 9 in accordance with the provisions of Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) (exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act). Paragraph 3 refers to information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Cabinet authorised the Leader to sign, as a correct record, the exempt version of Minute 17 (Provision of 12 Affordable Homes at Boxworth End, Swavesey) of the minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2021.

Councillor John Batchelor, Lead Cabinet Member for Housing, was not present at the meeting held on 22 March 2021 as a Member of the Cabinet, and abstained from voting to affirm the minutes thereof.

Cabinet:

Recommended to Council the exempt report, as amended

Please note that recommendations to Council are not subject to call in

Councillor Peter McDonald, Lead Cabinet Member for Business Recovery and Skills, had previously declared an interest, being a member of the South Cambridgeshire Investment Partnership Board, and left the meeting for the duration of this item.

Cabinet received the exempt report. Councillor Bridget Smith, Leader of the Council introduced the report. Councillor John Williams, Lead Cabinet Member for Finance, mentioned this investment was part of the previously approved Investment Strategy.

The Monitoring Officer noted an amendment to the recommendations. After a short discussion, Councillor Bridget Smith concluded the debate, thanked Officers for their work, and Cabinet:

Agreed the options as detailed in the exempt report, as amended.