Agenda, decisions and minutes

Cllr John Batchelor declared an interest as Chairman of Linton Action for Youth who had previously received grant aid for the organisation from the Council. 

The Portfolio Holder is asked to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2011 as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2011 were agreed as a correct record. 

The Leader RESOLVED to rescind the notice given on 11 March 2010, thus confirming the Council’s ongoing LGA membership.

Other Options Considered: 

(a)               to issue a further year’s notice of intention to quit, on a `rolling forward’ basis, or

(b)               to confirm the Council’s cessation of the LGA membership in accordance with the notice previously given.

Reason for decision:

Having recently met with representatives from the LGA, the Leader was given increased confidence that retaining membership of the LGA, would provide good value for money by being a supportive network for District Councils.

The Leader reported that having recently met with representatives from the LGA, he had been given increased confidence that retaining membership of the LGA would provide good value for money by being a supportive network for District Councils.

The Leader RESOLVED to rescind the notice given on 11 March 2010, thus confirming the Council’s ongoing LGA membership.

The Leader ENDORSED the Community & Customers Services Service Plan 2011/12.

Other Options Considered: None

Prior to consideration of this item, the Corporate Manager, Community & Customer Services tabled a spreadsheet and an explanatory note for inclusion in Section 8 of the Service Plan headed `Our Financial Resources’.

In presenting his report, the Corporate Manager highlighted the following aspects of the Partnerships element of the service plan:

·         The achievements made during 2010/11

·         The planned areas for improvement; these were detailed in the Improvement Plan and would be monitored on a quarterly basis throughout 2011/12

·         Developing the Localism and Big Society agenda

·         Refresh partnership working with the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP)

·         The launching of a consultation process regarding the Parish Charter. The Charter would outline the proposed services the County and District Council would be willing to discuss delegating to Parish Councils. It was noted that the County/District and Parish Councils had all been involved in the development of the draft Parish Charter

As a result of the ensuing discussion, Members raised the following:

·         The need to improve public perception of the Council, particularly regarding value for money. It was noted that further measures would be undertaken to promote to the public that only a proportion of Council Tax was spent on the services provided by SCDC

·         It was emphasised that, although the issues raised in the service improvement action plan had a completion date of 31 March 2012, regular reviews would be required in the intervening period. The Corporate Manager assured the Leader that quarterly monitoring reports would be provided at his meetings throughout 2011/12

·         The success of the South Cambs magazine. It was noted that interim results of a consultation process on the public’s perception of the magazine had resulted in very positive feedback.

The Leader ENDORSED the Partnerships element of the Community & Customers Services Service Plan 2011/12.

The Corporate Manager presented an update of grant funding to the voluntary sector, giving details of the applications received from the voluntary sector for grant funding for 2011/12. Sections 1,2 and 3 were in their second year of a three-year term with Section 4 relating to one-year only grants.

Cllr James Hockney, on behalf of Waterbeach Youth Project, expressed appreciation of the grant awarded to them.

The Leader NOTED the report.

The next scheduled meeting due to be held on 19 May 2011 has been cancelled due to lack of business. The financial monitoring report due to be considered at that meeting will be circulated to the Leader, Scrutiny & Overview Committee Monitors and the Opposition Spokesperson by the Principal Accountant (General Fund and Projects) in due course.

 The Forward Plan for the meetings to be held during 2011/12 is not yet available.

It was noted that the meeting due to be held on 19 May 2011 had been cancelled by the Leader due to lack of business. The financial monitoring report due to be considered at that meeting would be circulated to the Leader, Scrutiny & Overview Committee Monitors and the Opposition Spokesperson by the Principal Accountant (General Fund and Projects) in due course.

The next meeting will be held at 10am on 21 July 2011. 

It was NOTED that the next meeting would be held at 10am on 21 July 2011.