Venue: Council Chamber - South Cambs Hall. View directions
Contact: Ian Senior 03450 450 500 Email: democratic.services@scambs.gov.uk
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Apologies for Absence To receive Apologies for Absence from Cabinet members. Minutes: Councillor Bridget Smith sent Apologies for Absence. Councillor Aidan Van de Weyer took the Chair. |
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Declarations of Interest Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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Minutes of Previous Meeting PDF 95 KB To authorise the Leader to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 2019 as a correct record. Minutes: Cabinet authorised the Deputy Leader to sign, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 2019, subject to the correction of typographical errors. |
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Announcements Minutes: There were no announcements. |
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Public Questions Minutes: There were no public questions. |
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Issues arising from the Scrutiny and Overview Committee Minutes: Councillor Brian Milned (Vice-Chairman of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee) addressed Cabinet.
He summarised the latest observations by he ICT Task and Finish Group about 3C ICT, In particular, he reported
· Disappointment with the level of access to requested documentation · frustration with the apparent lack of an effective management structure · concern about business continuity · the apparent ineffectiveness of partnership working · discussion about the Exit Strategy · concern at the lack of clarity about the ownership of new equipment · comments about the Business Plan
Councillor Milnes said that the Chief Executive Officers of South Cambridgeshire District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and Cambridge City Council had been invited to attend the next meeting of South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Scrutiny and Overview Committee.
Councillor Philippa Hart (Lead Cabinet Member with responsibility for ICT) informed Cabinet about meetings she was engaging in with a view to improving the situation. |
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2018-19 Quarter 3 Position Statement: Performance and Finance PDF 158 KB Additional documents:
Decision: Cabinet reviewed and agreed the provisional forecast outturn position andthe performance indicator results, and comments, and in-flight project updates in the report from the Head of Finance, and the appendices attached thereto. Minutes: Cabinet considered a report setting out the Council’s Quarter 3 position wregarding its General Fund, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Capital budgets, and performance indicators (by exception). The report also provided an update on the Council’s current (in-flight) projects.
Such integrated reporting gave Officers and Members the opportunity to examine any areas of concern and decide on the appropriate action.
The Scrutiny and Overview Committee had received the report, and expressed satisfaction, especially with the in-flight tracking.
Following a brief Question and Answer session,Cabinet agreed the provisional forecast outturn position, the performance indicator results, and in-flight project updates in the report from the Head of Finance, and the appendices attached thereto. |
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Barriers to Council Procurement for SMEs Task and Finish Group findings PDF 110 KB Decision: Cabinet
1. considered and approved, without amendments, the recommendations set out in paragraphs 11 to 34 of the report from the Interim Executive Director; and
2. requested that progress against any agreed recommendations be reviewed in 12 months’ time.
Minutes: Cabinet considered a report outlining the findings of the Barriers to Council Procurement from Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Task and Finish Group.
The Scrutiny and Overview Committee had expressed satisfaction with the recommendations, although Councillor Brian Milnes (Vice-Chairman, Scrutiny and Overview Committee) remained frustrated that the constraints of local government prevented South Cambridgeshire District Council from doing more to help the situation.
Cabinet
1. approved, without amendments, the following recommendations from the Task and Finish Group, as set out in greater detail in paragraphs 11 to 34 of the report from the Interim Executive Director, namely
(a) to review and simplify the tendering documentation for council contracts below the EU Procurement Thresholds (Supply, Services and Design Contracts £181,302, Works £4,551,413);
(b) To develop, promote and run a minimum of two procurement workshops for local SMEs during 2019;
(c) To investigate how SCDC could increase awareness of contract opportunities locally whilst complying with the UK Regulations;
(d) To review and update the council’s procurement web pages to ensure that they are ‘SME friendly’;
(e) To work with the Sustainable Communities and Wellbeing team to develop a series of potential ‘social value’ examples;
(f) To review the late payment of invoices with the South Cambridgeshire District Council’s accountancy team; and
(g) To hold a Member Briefing on the changes that are being made to the council’s procurement process; and
2. requested that progress against any agreed recommendations be reviewed in 12 months’ time. |
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Brexit Advisory Group - Priorities for action PDF 137 KB Decision: Cabinet
(a) Approved the priorities for action agreed by the Brexit Advisory Group; and
(b) Directed officers to develop the priorities into detailed actions to be agreed with the Leader of the Council and implemented during 2019 or to be incorporated into the Council’s developing plan, as outlined in the Council’s Business Plan, to support the South Cambridgeshire economy and local businesses. Minutes: Cabinet considered a report on the priorities for action identified by the Brexit Advisory Group.
The Lead Cabinet Member for Finance commented that the Group might have more work to do in the event of a ‘No Deal’ Brexit.
Those present engaged in a short debate before Cabinet
1. Approved the following priorities for action agreed by the Brexit Advisory Group, as detailed in paragraphs 16 to 25 of the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, namely
o Priority 1: Improving the flow of information and advice to business
o Priority 2: Establish Greater Cambridge internationally as a great place to work and do business.
o Priority 3: Ensuring that the importance of Greater Cambridge to the national economy is recognised and that its funding needs are addressed
o Priority 4: Supporting agricultural businesses
o Priority 5: (continue to) Manage Brexit Impact upon Council
2. Directed officers to develop the priorities into detailed actions to be agreed with the Leader of the Council and implemented during 2019 or to be incorporated into the Council’s developing plan, as outlined in the Council’s Business Plan, to support the South Cambridgeshire economy and local businesses. |
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East-West Rail Bedford to Cambridge consultation response PDF 192 KB Additional documents:
Decision:
1. amendments to reflect the following:
· On the approach to Cambridge section, removal of an expression of a preference, and focus instead on issues that should be taken into account, including emphasise the importance of connectivity, to the east of Cambridge, to the proposed Cambridge South railway station, and to other transport links; · an assessment of the impact on the amenity of communities located along the chosen route · an expression of the Council’s disappointment that trains using the route at least at the outset would be diesel rather than electric, · highlighting the necessity for measures to minimise any adverse impact on the environment and on heritage assets, and to explore opportunities for environmental enhancement, including to address flood risk.
2. delegation to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, in consultation with the Deputy Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, to finalise the wording of the response. Minutes:
Cabinet heard that representatives from 52 most affected Parish Councils in South Cambridgeshire had been invited to participate in a series of workshops. Comments included
Councillor Hazel Smith highlighted the proposal’s potential implications for the development of new housing, but regretted that it did little to improve local transport.
Councillor Nigel Cathcart (local Member for Bassingbourn) was concerned about the scale of growth that might be located around a new railway station in South Cambridgeshire. The Cambourne route appeared to be the better option, but timescale was an issue.
In response to an email query as to the Council’s opinion on whether the railway required Strategic Environmental Assessment, officers provided a verbal update that this was a matter between the applicant – East West Rail Company – and those raising the question. However, the Council’s draft response did refer to the need to integrate the project with environmental and planning issues.
Following further discussion, and on behalf of South Cambridgeshire District Council, Cabinet approved the draft consultation response to the East-West Rail Bedford to Cambridge consultation, attached as Appendix 1 to the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, subject to
1. amendments to reflect the following:
· On the approach to Cambridge section, removal of an expression of a preference, and focus instead on issues that should be taken into account, including emphasise the importance of connectivity, to the east of Cambridge, to the proposed Cambridge South railway station, and to other transport links; · an assessment of the impact on the amenity of communities located along the chosen route · an expression of the Council’s disappointment that trains using the route at least at the outset would be diesel rather than electric, · highlighting the necessity for measures to minimise any adverse impact on the environment and on heritage assets, and to explore opportunities for environmental enhancement, including to address flood risk.
2. delegation to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, in consultation with the Deputy Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, to finalise the wording of the response. |
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South Cambridgeshire District Council - an organisation for a sustainable future PDF 144 KB Decision:
a) Noted the progress of the organisational review to date; b) Agreed the proposed approach to communicating the findings and recommendations of the consultant’s report; c) Approved a budget of £40,000 to enable the organisational review to progress to the next phase of developing a programme plan; d) Approved the Leader as Programme Sponsor; e) delegated further decisions relating to the next phase to the Leader, in consultation with the Cabinet, Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer. Minutes: Cabinet considered a report updating it about progress with the organisational review being undertaken by Castlerigg.
The report outlined the next phase, including briefings for councillors and staff, and feedback to partners and other stakeholders. It also considered the activity and resources required to take forward the findings and recommendations outlined within the consultants’ report into a programme plan for implementation.
After a brief discussion among those present, Cabinet
a) Noted the progress of the organisational review to date;
b) Agreed the proposed approach to communicating the findings and recommendations of the consultant’s report;
c) Approved a budget of £40,000 to enable the organisational review to progress to the next phase of developing a programme plan;
d) Approved the Leader as Programme Sponsor; and
e) delegated further decisions relating to the next phase to the Leader, in consultation with the Cabinet, Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer. |
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Date of next meeting The next scheduled meeting of the Cabinet will be on Wednesday 3 April 2019, starting at 9.30am. Minutes: Cabinet noted that its next scheduled meeting would be on Wednesday 3 April 2019, starting at 9.30am. |