Agenda, decisions and minutes
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Contact: Graham Watts 03450 450 500 Email: democratic.services@scambs.gov.uk
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ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL 2016/17 To ELECT the Chairman of the Council for the 2016/17 Civic Year. Decision: Council RESOLVED that Councillor Sue Ellington be elected as Chairman of the Council for the 2016/17 civic year. Minutes: Council RESOLVED that Councillor Sue Ellington be elected as Chairman of the Council for the 2016/17 civic year.
Councillor Ellington signed the acceptance of office. |
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Election of Vice-Chairman of the Council 2016/17 To ELECT the Vice-Chairman of the Council for the 2016/17 Civic Year. Decision: Council RESOLVED that Councillor David McCraith be elected as Vice-Chairman of the Council for the 2016/17 civic year.
Minutes: Council RESOLVED that Councillor David McCraith be elected as Vice-Chairman of the Council for the 2016/17 civic year.
Councillor McCraith signed the acceptance of office.
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APOLOGIES To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Andrew Fraser, Sebastian Kindersley, Des O’Brien and Ben Shelton. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST To receive any declarations of interest for items on this agenda. Minutes: Councillor Richard Turner declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 13 due to him being a Member of the Ermine Street Housing Board, and indicated that he would leave the Council Chamber for the consideration of that item. |
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Register of Interests Members are requested to inform Democratic Services of any changes in their Register of Members’ Financial and Other Interests form. Minutes: The Chairman reminded Members that they needed to update their register of interests whenever their circumstances changed. |
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To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2016 and the Minutes of the extraordinary meeting held on 23 March 2016 as correct records. Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes of the previous meeting held on 25 February 2016 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the amendment of typographical errors.
The minutes of the extraordinary meeting held on 23 March 2016 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the amendment of a typographical error and a change to reflect that the Inspectors’ letter had been received in May 2015. |
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Report of the Returning Officer To RECEIVE the attached report on the results of the local elections held on 5 May 2016. Minutes: Council RECEIVED the report of the Returning Officer on the results of the local elections held on 5 May 2016 and welcomed Councillors John Batchelor, Doug Cattermole and Ingrid Tregoing to their first meeting of the Council since their election. |
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Election of Leader of the Council To ELECT a Leader of the Council. Decision: Council RESOLVED that Councillor Peter Topping be elected as Leader of the Council. Minutes: On the nomination of Councillor Simon Edwards, seconded by Councillor Lynda Harford, Council RESOLVED that Councillor Peter Topping be elected as Leader of the Council.
Councillor Topping signed the acceptance of office.
Members took this opportunity to pay tribute to the outgoing Leader of the Council, Councillor Ray Manning, for his leadership, character and humour during his term of office. |
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ANNOUNCEMENTS To receive any announcements from the Chairman, Leader, the Executive or the Head of Paid Service. Minutes: Councillor Peter Topping, Leader of the Council, announced Members of his Cabinet and their respective responsibilities, as follows:
Councillor Topping took this opportunity to pay tribute to the outgoing Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Councillor Nick Wright, and thanked him for his valuable contributions in working with the business community and raising the economic profile of South Cambridgeshire. |
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QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC To note that no questions from the public have been received. Minutes: No questions from the public had been received. |
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PETITIONS To note that no petitions for consideration by Full Council have been received. Minutes: No petitions for consideration by Council since the last meeting had been received. |
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TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS: |
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Name of Corporate Governance Committee (Corporate Governance Committee, 18 March 2016) The Corporate Governance Committee RECOMMENDED to Annual Council that the name of the Committee be amended to the ‘Audit and Corporate Governance Committee’. Decision: Council RESOLVED to change the name of the Corporate Governance Committee to the Audit and Corporate Governance Committee. Minutes: Councillor Tony Orgee proposed that the name of the Corporate Governance Committee be changed to the Audit and Corporate Governance Committee, as recommended by the Committee at its meeting on 18 March 2016.
Councillor Francis Burkitt seconded the proposal.
Council unanimously RESOLVED to change the name of the Corporate Governance Committee to the Audit and Corporate Governance Committee. |
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Ermine Street Housing Ltd: Re-appointment of Director To APPROVE the re-appointment of Stephen Hills as Director of the Council’s housing company, Ermine Street Housing Ltd, for a further 12 months alongside his role as Director of Housing for the Council. Decision: Council APPROVED the re-appointment of Stephen Hills as Director of Ermine Street Housing Ltd, the Council’s housing company, for a further 12 months alongside his role as Director of Housing for the Council. Minutes: NOTE – further to his declaration of a non-pecuniary interest, Councillor Richard Turner left the Council Chamber for the duration of the consideration of this item.
Councillor Lynda Harford, Portfolio Holder for Housing, proposed that Stephen Hills be re-appointed as the Director of Ermine Street Housing Ltd.
Councillor Mark Howell seconded the proposal.
Council unanimously APPROVED the re-appointment of Stephen Hills as Director of Ermine Street Housing Ltd, the Council’s housing company, for a further 12 months alongside his role as Director of Housing for the Council. |
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Political proportionality and allocation of seats to Committees for 2016/17 To APPROVE:
(a) The allocation of seats on committees.
(b) The nominations of the political group leaders to seats on committees.
(c) The appointment of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of committees.
(d) The re-appointment of Grant Osbourn as the Council’s lead independent person and Gillian Holmes as the Council’s deputy independent person for a further four-year term of office.
(Appendices B and C of the report will follow). Additional documents:
Decision: Council APPROVED:
(a) The allocation of seats on committees and joint committees, as follows:
(b) The nominations of the political group leaders to seats on committees and joint bodies, as set out below:
Civic Affairs Committee Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Non-Group David Bard Bridget Smith Deborah Roberts Nigel Cathcart Simon Crocker Janet Lockwood Sue Ellington David McCraith Charles Nightingale Peter Topping Bunty Waters See Non-Group
Substitutes in hierarchical list: Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Grenville Chamberlain Sebastian Kindersley Douglas de Lacey Ray Manning Aidan Van de Weyer Neil Davies Alex Riley Edd Stonham Raymond Matthews Peter Johnson Mick Martin Cicely Murfitt
Audit and Corporate Governance Committee Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Simon Crocker John Batchelor Douglas de Lacey Christopher Cross John Williams Andrew Fraser Roger Hall Tony Orgee Nick Wright
Substitutes in hierarchical list: Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Non-Group Ray Manning Philippa Hart See Non-Group Nigel Cathcart Grenville ChamberlainAnna Bradnam Edd Stonham Sue Elllington Charles Nightingale Richard Turner
Employment Committee Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Val Barrett Doug Cattermole Edd Stonham Simon Edwards Sebastian Kindersley Pippa Corney Bridget Smith Ray Manning Alex Riley
Substitutes in hierarchical list: Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Grenville ChamberlainPhilippa Hart Douglas de Lacey Sue Ellington Neil Davies Caroline Hunt Peter Johnson Christopher Cross Deborah Roberts Cicely Murfitt
Licensing Committee Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Non-Group Val Barrett Anna Bradnam Cicley Murfitt Nigel Cathcart Graham Cone Jose Hales Deborah Roberts Kevin Cuffley Janet Lockwood Andrew Fraser See Non-Group Mervyn Loynes Charles Nightingale Alex Riley Richard Turner Raymond Matthews
Substitutes in hierarchical list: Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Grenville Chamberlain Henry Batchelor Douglas de Lacey Nick Wright Hazel Smith Peter Johnson Mark Howell Neil Davies Bunty Waters Edd Stonham
Planning Committee Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group David Bard John Batchelor Deborah Roberts Brian Burling Anna Bradnam Pippa Corney Sebastian Kindersley Kevin Cuffley David McCraith Des O’Brien Robert Turner Tim Scott
Substitutes in hierarchical list: Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Charles Nightingale Hazel Smith Cicely Murfitt Roger Hall Aidan Van de Weyer Douglas de Lacey Val Barrett Philippa Hart Peter Johnson Alex Riley Henry Batchelor Edd Stonham Nick Wright Doug Cattermole Neil Davies
Partnerships Review Committee Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group David Bard Henry Batchelor See Liberal Democrat Kevin Cuffley Janet Lockwood Andrew Fraser Ingrid Tregoing Ray Manning Ben Shelton Bunty Waters
Substitutes in hierarchical list: Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Grenville Chamberlain Aidan Van de Weyer Deborah Roberts Roger Hall Tumi Hawkins Douglas de Lacey Tony Orgee Peter Johnson Val Barrett Neil Davies David McCraith Edd Stonham
Scrutiny and Overview Committee ... view the full decision text for item 14. Minutes: Consideration was given to a report on the revised political proportionality of the Council and allocation of seats to committees following the local elections held on 5 May 2016 and Councillor Cicely Murfitt’s subsequent decision to join the Independent Group.
Councillor Peter Topping, Leader of the Council, proposed the allocation of committee seats, as set out in Appendix A to the report circulated with the supplementary agenda, and nominations of political group leaders to seats on committees.
Councillor Robert Turner seconded the proposal.
Council unanimously APPROVED:
(a) The allocation of seats on committees and joint committees, as follows:
(b) The nominations of the political group leaders to seats on committees and joint bodies, as set out below:
Audit and Corporate Governance Committee Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Simon Crocker John Batchelor Douglas de Lacey Christopher Cross John Williams Andrew Fraser Roger Hall Tony Orgee Nick Wright
Substitutes in hierarchical list: Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Non-Group Ray Manning Philippa Hart See Non-Group Nigel Cathcart Grenville Chamberlain Anna Bradnam Edd Stonham Sue Elllington Charles Nightingale Richard Turner
Civic Affairs Committee Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Non-Group David Bard Janet Lockwood Deborah Roberts Nigel Cathcart Simon Crocker Bridget Smith Sue Ellington David McCraith Charles Nightingale Peter Topping Bunty Waters See Non-Group
Substitutes in hierarchical list: Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Grenville Chamberlain Sebastian Kindersley Douglas de Lacey Ray Manning Aidan Van de Weyer Neil Davies Alex Riley Edd Stonham Raymond Matthews Peter Johnson Mick Martin Cicely Murfitt
Employment Committee Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Val Barrett Doug Cattermole Edd Stonham Pippa Corney Sebastian Kindersley Simon Edwards Bridget Smith Ray Manning Alex Riley
Substitutes in hierarchical list: Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Grenville Chamberlain Philippa Hart Douglas de Lacey Sue Ellington Neil Davies Caroline Hunt Peter Johnson Christopher Cross Deborah Roberts Cicely Murfitt
Licensing Committee Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Non-Group Val Barrett Anna Bradnam Cicley Murfitt Nigel Cathcart Graham Cone Jose Hales Deborah Roberts Kevin Cuffley Janet Lockwood Andrew Fraser See Non-Group Mervyn Loynes Raymond Matthews Charles Nightingale Alex Riley Richard Turner
Substitutes in hierarchical list: Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Grenville Chamberlain Henry Batchelor Douglas de Lacey Nick Wright Hazel Smith Peter Johnson Mark Howell Neil Davies Bunty Waters Edd Stonham
Planning Committee Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group David Bard John Batchelor Deborah Roberts Brian Burling Anna Bradnam Pippa Corney Sebastian Kindersley Kevin Cuffley David McCraith Des O’Brien Robert Turner Tim Scott
Substitutes in hierarchical list: Conservative Liberal Democrat Independent Group Charles Nightingale Hazel Smith Cicely Murfitt Roger Hall Aidan Van de Weyer Douglas de Lacey Val Barrett Philippa ... view the full minutes text for item 14. |
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Appointments to outside, joint and other member bodies for 2016/17 To APPROVE appointments to outside, joint and other Member bodies for 2016/17.
(Nominations from Group Leaders will follow). Decision: Council APPROVED the below appointments to outside bodies:
Minutes: Councillor Peter Topping proposed the appointments to outside, joint and other member bodies for 2016/17 as circulated at the meeting.
Councillor Bridget Smith seconded the proposal.
Council unanimously APPROVED the below appointments to outside, joint and other bodies:
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To RECEIVE the joint Scrutiny & Overview and Partnerships Review Committee Annual Report for 2015/16. Decision: Council RECEIVED the joint Scrutiny & Overview Committee and Partnerships Review Committee Annual Report 2015/16. Minutes: Council RECEIVED the joint Scrutiny & Overview Committee and Partnerships Review Committee Annual Report 2015/16. |
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Major Opposition Group Leader's Annual Statement To RECEIVE the Major Opposition Group Leader’s Annual Statement. Decision: Council RECEIVED the Major Opposition Group Leader’s Annual Statement. Minutes: Councillor Bridget Smith, Leader of the Opposition, presented her annual statement.
Councillor Smith welcomed Councillors John Batchelor, Doug Cattermole and Ingrid Tregoing to the Council and also welcomed the elevation of Councillor Lynda Harford to Cabinet, making the point that she would like to see more women on the body.
Councillor Smith questioned how the Council’s new Leader would approach key issues facing the authority, such as:
· the Greater Cambridge City Deal and how the Leader would ensure that South Cambridge got its fair share out of the Deal; · the Local Development Plan and whether it would be adopted, together with balancing the need to provide housing against protecting rural South Cambridgeshire and, in particular, the green belt; · the implications of the Government’s Housing Bill and how they would be handled locally; · shared services and their implementation; · devolution and the implications for South Cambridgeshire.
Council RECEIVED the Major Opposition Group Leader’s Annual Statement. |
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WRITE OFF OF OUTSTANDING DEBTS 2015/16 To NOTE the amounts written off under delegated powers.
Decision: Council NOTED the amounts written off under delegated powers. Minutes: Councillor Simon Edwards, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Staffing, presented a report which notified Council of debts written off under powers delegated to him as Portfolio Holder and the Chief Finance Officer as required by the Constitution.
In answer to a question by Councillor John Williams, Councillor Edwards clarified that the figures in the report were different to those reported at his recent Portfolio Holder Meeting. This was due to the fact that the report considered at his Portfolio Holder Meeting related to in-year write offs only, whereas this report for Council covered all write offs with some cases being from a number of years ago.
Council NOTED the amounts written off under delegated powers. |
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Approval of UK Municipal Bonds Agency's Framework Agreement The Council is recommended to:
(a) APPROVE the Council’s entry into the Framework Agreement and its accompanying schedules including the joint and several guarantee;
(b) DELEGATE authority to the Executive Director as Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer to sign those documents, as appropriate, on behalf of the Council.
(c) GRANT the Section 151 Officer delegated authority to agree amendments to the Framework Agreement as appropriate.
Due to its size, the appendix to the report for this item has not been included in the agenda pack and can instead be viewed online at www.scambs.gov.uk under ‘your council’, followed by ‘councillors, minutes and agendas’.
Additional documents: Decision: This item was WITHDRAWN. Minutes: This item was WITHDRAWN. |
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QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILLORS A period of up to 30 minutes will be allocated for this item, to include those questions where notice has been provided (as set out on the agenda below) and questions which may be asked without notice.
Members wishing to ask a question without notice should indicate this intention to the Democratic Services Team Leader prior to the commencement of the item. Members’ names will be drawn at random by the Chairman until there are no further questions or until the expiration of the 30 minute time period. |
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From Councillor Sebastian Kindersley "When Members attended a meeting with the Leader on 10 March we were told agreeing to the outline Devolution Deal was the first step in a negotiation process and was necessary in order to keep a 'seat at the table'. Further, we were told by the Leader that signing up at that point would not commit South Cambridgeshire District Council to the Devolution Deal as proposed.
Despite those assurances the Chancellor announced East Anglian Devolution as a 'done deal' in the subsequent Budget.
I understand further negotiations have been taking place but that the Chancellor is not prepared to concede either the principle of a directly elected Mayor nor the geographic spread proposed of Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Suffolk and Norfolk.
The Council meeting proposed for 28 June is two days before the Government deadline for a decision on Devolution. Given that there will only be about four weeks between the 19 May meeting and the publication of the papers for the 28 June meeting there is clearly little scope for meaningful input from South Cambridgeshire residents.
That being the case, it would be useful to know what the Leader’s recommendation might be; what the Leader is asking for in the current negotiations with government and why all councillors have not been kept updated of the progress in negotiations since the Budget on 16 March, over 2 months ago?
Is the Leader planning on involving Councillors in this process at all or is he planning on simply presenting the Council with a fait accompli when the papers for the 28 June meeting are published?
Negotiations are rapidly approaching a 'take it or leave it' point.
Will the Leader and his Conservative administration be taking the Devolution Deal as required by the Chancellor or will they be leaving it as not currently being in the best interests of the people of South Cambridgeshire?"
Minutes: Philippa Hart asked the following question on behalf of Councillor Sebastian Kindersley in respect of the devolution proposals:
“Is the Leader planning on involving Councillors in this process at all or is he planning on simply presenting the Council with a fait accompli when the papers for the 28 June meeting are published?”
She also asked, on Councillor Kindersley’s behalf:
“Will the Leader and his Conservative administration be taking the Devolution deal as required by the Chancellor or will they be leaving it as not currently being in the best interests of the people of South Cambridgeshire?”
Councillor Peter Topping, Leader of the Council, responded by saying that this was a matter for the Council but that it was also a matter for leaders of communities and, as elected Members, all South Cambridgeshire District Councillors had to take this matter very seriously. He invited all Members to a seminar provisionally scheduled to be held on 7 June 2016 in order that the devolution proposition could be openly discussed, acknowledging that it had changed since originally put forward. Councillor Topping also made the point that the leadership of the Council had been fighting to get the best possible deal out of any devolution proposals for the people of South Cambridgeshire.
Councillor Philippa Hart, as a supplementary question, asked whether the Leader would be bound by any vote taken at the extraordinary meeting of the Council scheduled to be held on 28 June 2016 in respect of the devolution proposal.
Councillor Topping said that, in the spirit of democracy, he would be bound by the result of that vote.
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From Councillor Bridget Smith “The new Cabinet Member for The City Deal has not yet set any dates for his Portfolio Holder Meetings. When might we expect these to commence, how often will they take place and how will he use them to include members in scrutiny of the City Deal and in its processes and decision making?”
Minutes: Councillor Bridget Smith asked the following question:
“The new Cabinet Member for The City Deal has not yet set any dates for his Portfolio Holder Meetings. When might we expect these to commence, how often will they take place and how will he use them to include members in scrutiny of the City Deal and in its processes and decision making?”
Councillor Francis Burkitt, Portfolio Holder for the Greater Cambridge City Deal, referred to briefings that would be held for all Members of the three partner Councils throughout the year, with the first scheduled to be held at Shire Hall in Cambridge on 24 May 2016. He confirmed that he would not be holding Portfolio Holder Meetings, reminding Members that meetings of the City Deal Joint Assembly and Executive Board were public meetings that anyone could attend, which he felt effectively acted as his Portfolio Holder Meetings. He was of the opinion that any scrutiny of the City Deal from a South Cambridgeshire perspective could be undertaken through the Council’s scrutiny and overview function.
Councillor Smith, as a supplementary question, asked whether there was any truth to rumours that the Executive Board was holding closed meetings regarding the Cambridge Access Study.
Councillor Burkitt confirmed that the Board did have informal meetings with officers, which enabled Members of the Board to receive briefings and updates on specific aspects of the individual projects associated with the City Deal programme. He said that they were incredibly useful and that they needed to take place to ensure that Members were up to date and knew what was happening.
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From Councillor Aidan Van de Weyer “It is with considerable regret that we find that our
Council has once again featured in the pages of Private Eye
(edition dated 1 April 2016 - www.private-eye.co.uk/issue-1415/news). If we are to believe the account given, our Leader
was allegedly involved in providing misleading information to a
planning inspector.
Minutes: Councillor Van de Weyer asked the following question in the context of the Council having been featured in a Private Eye article on 1 April 2016 where the former Leader of the Council was allegedly involved in providing misleading information to a planning inspector:
“Do we agree that our role should be to ensure that the planning process works fairly for the common good of all? Do we agree that we cannot do this if we exacerbate the already deep sense of unfairness among so many participants?”
Councillor Peter Topping, Leader of the Council, said that planning decisions were made on the basis of facts and application of the relevant laws. He added that the Council had a very effective, cross-party, Planning Committee that took its role very seriously. By way of addressing the concerns set out in the question, Councillor Topping said that this would be best done by demonstrating that the Council delivered services to all communities for which they were entitled. He closed by saying that the Council delivered excellent services and he felt that Members worked hard for the communities they represented. |
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From Councillor Tumi Hawins “Firstly I would like to congratulate the Leader, Councillor Manning on his emphatic re-election. However, I note with interest the comments he is quoted in the Cambridge News, to have made. The quote I refer to is this:
‘Overall, the Lib Dems have won some seats back today which were always safe Lib Dem seats. We didn't lose any councillors, but we lost some seats where some Conservative members had stood down. For us [the Conservatives] it's steady as we go; there is no change for us.’ I found the statement rather disappointing, as it seemed to denigrade such a good result and the hard work done by so many people. Now, I know that sometimes the press inadvertently get it wrong. So, can the Leader please clarify for the records which seats he was referring to as being safe Lib Dem seats and explain how the Conservatives could say there is no change when the party lost 2 seats it previously held, and failed to gain the seat vacated by an Independent which they had so wanted?”
Minutes: Councillor Tumi Hawkins asked the following question:
“Firstly I would like to congratulate the former Leader, Councillor Manning, on his emphatic re-election. However, I note with interest the comments he is quoted in the Cambridge News, to have made. The quote I refer to is this:
‘Overall, the Lib Dems have won some seats back today which were always safe Lib Dem seats. We didn't lose any councillors, but we lost some seats where some Conservative members had stood down. For us [the Conservatives] it's steady as we go; there is no change for us.’
I found the statement rather disappointing, as it seemed to denigrade such a good result and the hard work done by so many people.
Now, I know that sometimes the press inadvertently get it wrong. So, can the Leader please clarify for the records which seats he was referring to as being safe Lib Dem seats and explain how the Conservatives could say there is no change when the party lost 2 seats it previously held, and failed to gain the seat vacated by an Independent which they had so wanted?”
Councillor Peter Topping, Leader of the Council, said that, ultimately, it was the electorate that decided. |
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From Councillor Anna Bradnam “Under the arrangements for Shared Services between South Cambridgeshire District Council, Huntingdon District Council and Cambridge City Council we understood that the Terms and Conditions for employees would be protected under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations, known as TUPE. This involved staff in IT and Building Control being transferred to Huntingdon DC, staff in Legal Services being transferred to Cambridge City and staff from City Waste Services being transferred to South Cambs.
We note with concern that a number of experienced employees left after the recent TUPE transfers.
Please would the Council let us know the number and grades of SCDC staff who were involved in the TUPE process, who subsequently lost or left their jobs?”
Minutes: Councillor Anna Bradnam asked the following question:
“Under the arrangements for Shared Services between South Cambridgeshire District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and Cambridge City Council we understood that the Terms and Conditions for employees would be protected under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations, known as TUPE. This involved staff in ICT and Building Control being transferred to Huntingdonshire District Council, staff in Legal Services being transferred to Cambridge City and staff from City Waste Services being transferred to South Cambridgeshire.
We note with concern that a number of experienced employees left after the recent TUPE transfers.
Please would the Council let us know the number and grades of South Cambridgeshire District Council staff who were involved in the TUPE process, who subsequently lost or left their jobs?”
Councillor Simon Edwards, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Staffing, said that it was very difficult to answer this question in an open forum as individuals would be easily identified as a result. He agreed to provide Councillor Bradnam with the information outside of the meeting and also confirmed that the TUPE process was carried out in accordance with the regulations.
Councillor Bradnam referred to reassurances that had been given regarding shared services ensuring greater resilience. As a supplementary question, she asked whether there would continue to be a service desk facility at South Cambridgeshire Hall for elected Members, covering each of the services.
Councillor Edwards, in his capacity of Portfolio Holder for Finance and Staffing, was unable to answer the question as it related to services outside of his Portfolio and therefore offered to ensure that Councillor Bradnam received a written response to this supplementary question. |
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From Councillor Hazel Smith “The Conservative leaflet for the local elections stated that ‘SCDC’s plan to build new council homes for local people has taken off’. We all know that the policies introduced by the Conservative government since May 2015 mean that this just isn’t true! The Council’s business plan for its council house building programme is now in tatters.
At previous meetings, we have been reassured that the Council leadership is doing all it can to reduce the impact of government policies but that the Council itself could not clearly state its opposition to them.
Could the Leader and the Housing Portfolio holder update the Council on their success in this regard and tell us about their plans to continue their efforts?” Minutes: Councillor Hazel Smith asked the following question:
“The Conservative leaflet for the local elections stated that ‘SCDC’s plan to build new council homes for local people has taken off’. We all know that the policies introduced by the Conservative government since May 2015 mean that this just isn’t true! The Council’s business plan for its council house building programme is now in tatters.
At previous meetings, we have been reassured that the Council leadership is doing all it can to reduce the impact of government policies but that the Council itself could not clearly state its opposition to them.
Could the Leader and the Housing Portfolio Holder update the Council on their success in this regard and tell us about their plans to continue their efforts?”
Councillor Mark Howell, former Portfolio Holder for Housing, reminded Council that a programme for new Council housing was still in place. 72 new homes were currently in that programme and would be built, with Members and officers looking at other creative ways to include more in the programme.
Councillor Hazel Smith was pleased to hear that and said that more affordable housing was needed in the district for renting. As a supplementary question, she asked whether the Portfolio Holder agreed with Heidi Allen MP regarding signing up to the devolution proposal.
Councillor Lynda Harford, Portfolio Holder for Housing, was of the opinion that the devolution proposals may offer some pathways to enable this Council to build more Council housing. She reminded Councillor Smith, however, that in the past this leadership had committed to build Council houses and had embarked on a programme, with that programme continuing. Councillor Harford reported that the first 20 homes as part of the programme had been completed in Swavesey last week and she felt that this demonstrated the Council’s ability to be innovative and think its way through adversity. She was keen to continue to use the talents at the Council’s disposal, face each challenge and grasp any further opportunities that may be presented.
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CHAIRMAN'S ENGAGEMENTS To NOTE engagements attended by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman since the last Council meeting:
Minutes: Those engagements attended by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman since the last meeting, as set out in the agenda, were noted. |