Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - South Cambs Hall. View directions

Contact: Ian Senior  03450 450 500 Email: democratic.services@scambs.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

To receive Apologies for Absence from Cabinet members. 

Minutes:

There were no Apologies for Absence from Cabinet members. However, Councillor Grenville Chamberlain (Chairman of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee) did send Apologies.

2.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

3.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 168 KB

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

Minutes:

Cabinet authorised the Leader to sign, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 October 2019.

4.

Announcements

Minutes:

There were no announcements.

5.

Public Questions

Minutes:

There were no public questions.

6.

Issues arising from the Scrutiny and Overview Committee pdf icon PDF 235 KB

Minutes:

Cabinet received and noted a report from the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee.

 

The report related to the Committee’s consideration of the following:

 

·         Public Space Protection Order – proposed gating of Setchel Drove, Cottenham

·         General Fund Capital Programme Updateand new bids

·         Property acquisition – Cambridge Science Park

·         Property acquisition – Colmworth Trading Estate, St. Neots

·         Greater Cambridge Local Plan: Issues and Options consultation

 

The Leader agreed to Councillor Brian Milnes’ (Vice-Chairman, Scrutiny and Overview Committee) request that he contribute further comments as part of Cabinet’s consideration of the current agenda.

7.

Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues and Options pdf icon PDF 398 KB

 

The following Appendices are only available online:

 

·         Appendix F: Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report

·         Appendix G: Sustainability Appraisal of Issues & Options document

·         Appendix H: Habitats Regulations Scoping Report

 

Those reading a hard copy of the agenda can view them by typing the following short link (case sensitive) into a web browser, pressing Enter and scrolling down to the relevant item:

 

https://bit.ly/2JIhmzl

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Cabinet

 

a.  Noted the Lessons Learned and Good Practice review (Appendix A);

 

b.  Noted the Statement of Consultation – Report on Local Plan Workshops (Appendix B – chapters 2-5);

 

c.  Noted the feedback from the Joint Local Plan Advisory Group (Appendix I);

 

d.  Approved the Local Plan Issues & Options report text (at Appendix E), supporting documents (at Appendices F, G and H) and consultation process (at Section VIII and Appendix B, chapter 6);

 

e.  Delegated authority to the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning, in liaison with Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces, and in consultation with members of the Joint Local Planning Advisory Group, to consider and agree, as is consistent with this Council’s corporate objectives, any material changes to the Local Plan Issues & Options report text (at Appendix E) and supporting documents (at Appendices A, B (chapter 6), F, G and H) prior to the commencement of the consultation period, including any proposed by Cambridge City Council, and

 

f.   Delegated authority to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, in liaison with the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning and Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces, and in consultation with members of the Joint Local Planning Advisory Group, to make editorial changes to the Local Plan Issues & Options report text (at Appendix E) and supporting documents (at Appendices A, B (chapter 6), F, G and H)  prior to the commencement of the consultation period (to comprise minor amendments and factual updates and clarifications).

 

g.  Delegates authority to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, in liaison with the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning and Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces, to update the Local Development Scheme to reflect the amended consultation period.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report seeking its views on the proposed content of, and the participation and communication strategy for, the first formal round of consultation (the Issues & Options consultation) for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan. This consultation would form part of the early stages in jointly preparing the next Local Plan with Cambridge City Council. The report set

 out:

·         an overview of the Local Plan process

·         the member governance process ahead of the Issues & Options consultation

·         the findings of an independent Lessons Learned and Good Practice review of the adopted local plans

·         conclusions of initial stakeholder engagement workshops for the Local Plan

·         the draft Issues & Options format and text for consultation

·         supporting evidence documents

·         the proposed participation and communication strategy for the Issues & Options consultation

 

Members noted in particular the comments in Sections II, VI and VIII of the report, which had been made by the Joint Local Plan Advisory Group and by South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Scrutiny and Overview Committee.

 

On behalf of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee, Councillor Brian Milnes (Vice-Chairman) thanked officers for their commitment to the Local Plan process. His principal concern surrounded the timescales involved in consultation. He wondered whether the availability of ‘pre-information’ might ease the process, especially for those Parish Councils not meeting on a monthly basis.

 

Following further discussion, Cabinet

 

a.  Noted the Lessons Learned and Good Practice review (Appendix A);

 

b.  Noted the Statement of Consultation – Report on Local Plan Workshops (Appendix B – chapters 2-5);

 

c.  Noted the feedback from the Joint Local Plan Advisory Group (Appendix I);

 

d.  Approved the Local Plan Issues & Options report text (at Appendix E), supporting documents (at Appendices F, G and H) and consultation process (at Section VIII and Appendix B, chapter 6);

 

e.  Delegated authority to the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning, in liaison with Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces, and in consultation with members of the Joint Local Planning Advisory Group, to consider and agree, as is consistent with this Council’s corporate objectives, any material changes to the Local Plan Issues & Options report text (at Appendix E) and supporting documents (at Appendices A, B (chapter 6), F, G and H) prior to the commencement of the consultation period, including any proposed by Cambridge City Council;

 

f.   Delegated authority to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, in liaison with the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning and Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces, and in consultation with members of the Joint Local Planning Advisory Group, to make editorial changes to the Local Plan Issues & Options report text (at Appendix E) and supporting documents (at Appendices A, B (chapter 6), F, G and H)  prior to the commencement of the consultation period (to comprise minor amendments and factual updates and clarifications); and

 

g.  Delegated authority to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, in liaison with the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning and Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

General Fund Capital Programme Update and New Bids pdf icon PDF 306 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Cabinet

 

(a)          Acknowledged the performance achieved in relation to the Capital Programme Schemes substantially completed in 2018/2019, summarised at Appendix A in the report;

 

(b)          Considered the capital programme bids for new projects outlined in the report at Appendix B and approved the new capital schemes; 

 

(c)          Recommended to Full Council that additional funding of £545,000 be allocated from the Renewables Reserve to complete the footpath lighting upgrades given the environmental benefits, and that a full report be submitted to Cabinet for approval that outlines the programme of work, timescales, costs and payback period;

 

(d)          Recommended to Full Council that funding of £1,300,000 be allocated from the Renewables Reserve for a range of energy efficiency and green energy measures at South Cambridgeshire Hall, and that a full report be submitted to Cabinet for approval that outlines the range of modifications and enhancements proposed, costs and payback period;

 

(e)          Supported, if resources permit, the establishment of a Renewal and Repairs Fund for vehicles, plant and equipment, as part of the 2020/2021 revenue determination process; and

 

(f)           Recommended to Full Council the revised General Fund capital programme for the period 2019/2020 to 2024/2025, at Appendix C, to reflect the new scheme bids, amendments to the programme and the reprofiling of expenditure identified in the report.

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report on the performance of the Council’s Capital Programme during 2018-2019 and the new Capital Programme bids from 2020-2021.

 

In response to a query from Councillor Heather Williams, the Lead Cabinet Member for Finance referred to the impact of external influences on the Council’s ability to control some aspects of the capital budget.

 

Following further debate, Cabinet

 

(a)          Acknowledged the performance achieved in relation to the Capital Programme Schemes substantially completed in 2018/2019, summarised at Appendix A in the report;

 

(b)          Considered the capital programme bids for new projects outlined in the report at Appendix B and approved the new capital schemes; 

 

(c)          Recommended to Full Council that additional funding of £545,000 be allocated from the Renewables Reserve to complete the footpath lighting upgrades given the environmental benefits, and that a full report be submitted to Cabinet for approval that outlines the programme of work, timescales, costs and payback period;

 

(d)          Recommended to Full Council that funding of £1,300,000 be allocated from the Renewables Reserve for a range of energy efficiency and green energy measures at South Cambridgeshire Hall, and that a full report be submitted to Cabinet for approval that outlines the range of modifications and enhancements proposed, costs and payback period;

 

(e)          Supported, if resources permit, the establishment of a Renewal and Repairs Fund for vehicles, plant and equipment, as part of the 2020/2021 revenue determination process; and

 

(f)           Recommended to Full Council the revised General Fund capital programme for the period 2019/2020 to 2024/2025, at Appendix C, to reflect the new scheme bids, amendments to the programme and the reprofiling of expenditure identified in the report.

9.

2019-20 Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring report pdf icon PDF 166 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Cabinet

 

1.    Acknowledged the 2019-2020 revenue budget position as at 30 September 2019 against the approved revenue budget shown in Appendices A, B(1) and B(2) to the report, the major variances with reasons for these variances and the action being taken to address the underlying issues; and

 

2.    Acknowledged the position as at 30 September 2019 in respect of the Capital Programme for 2019-2020 and the variances as shown in Appendices C(1) and C(2).

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report containing monitoring data and trends in respect of the 2019-2020 revenue and capital budgets and emerging budget issues for the period to 30 September 2019.

 

Cabinet

 

1.    Acknowledged the 2019-2020 revenue budget position as at 30 September 2019 against the approved revenue budget shown in Appendices A, B(1) and B(2) to the report, the major variances with reasons for these variances and the action being taken to address the underlying issues; and

 

2.    Acknowledged the position as at 30 September 2019 in respect of the Capital Programme for 2019-2020 and the variances as shown in Appendices C(1) and C(2).

10.

Public Space Protection Order - Proposed gating of Setchel Drove, Cottenham
pdf icon PDF 389 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Cabinet agreed

 

a.    A three-step “education, enforcement & engineering” approach to reducing incidences of illegal fly-tipping of waste at Setchel Drove, Cottenham;

 

b.    That, as part of that approach, some combination of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to restrict access to Setchel Drove, Cottenham and surveillance of Setchel Drove and the surrounding areas be justified to reduce the incidence of illegal fly-tipping of waste, and increase the likelihood of successful prosecution when incidents do occur;

 

c.     That the task of liaising with local interested parties be delegated to the Director of Housing, Health and Environmental Services in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Licensing and the local Ward Members to determine the optimal combination and location of physical barriers and surveillance equipment to achieve the desired results; and

 

d.    the Public Space Protection Order and the effectiveness of the solution be reviewed after two years of operation.

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report from the Director of Housing, Health and Environmental Services.

 

Councillor Neil Gough addressed the meeting as a local Member. He highlighted the issues needing to be addressed, and thanked officers for the actions they had taken so far.

 

Councillor Brian Milnes (Vice-Chairman of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee) welcomed the amount of public engagement but recognised that it was unlikely that a solution could be found that would satisfy all the interested parties.

 

Councillor Nick Wright urged caution. He said that the Council should learn from the experience of dealing with similar issues on other Travellers sites. He said that the crucial point was to tackle fly-tipping itself and suggested that a gate would simply divert that fly-tipping to elsewhere in South Cambridgeshire or nearby while being inconvenient to those farmers using Setchel Drove. Councillor Gough pointed out that Setchel Drove was relatively secluded and that, while fly-tipping might indeed be diverted elsewhere, it was likely to be to more visible areas and therefore to areas that would be cleared up more quickly.

 

The Director of Housing, Health and Environmental Services acknowledged the challenge and said that the Council was keen to adopt a mixed approach to find a solution acceptable to all interested parties, including farmers.

 

Cabinet agreed

 

a.    A three-step “education, enforcement & engineering” approach to reducing incidences of illegal fly-tipping of waste at Setchel Drove, Cottenham;

 

b.    That, as part of that approach, some combination of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to restrict access to Setchel Drove, Cottenham and surveillance of Setchel Drove and the surrounding areas be justified to reduce the incidence of illegal fly-tipping of waste, and increase the likelihood of successful prosecution when incidents do occur;

 

c.     That the task of liaising with local interested parties be delegated to the Director of Housing, Health and Environmental Services in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Licensing and the local Ward Members to determine the optimal combination and location of physical barriers and surveillance equipment to achieve the desired results; and

 

d.    the Public Space Protection Order and the effectiveness of the solution be reviewed after two years of operation.

11.

Exclusion of Press and Public

 

Agenda items 12 and 13 contain exempt information.

 

The law allows Councils to consider a limited range of issues in private session without members of the Press and public being present.  Typically, such issues relate to personal details, financial and business affairs, legal privilege and so on.  In every case, the public interest in excluding the Press and Public from the meeting room must outweigh the public interest in having the information disclosed to them.  The following statement will be proposed, seconded and voted upon. 

 

"I propose that the Press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item number(s) ….. in accordance with Section 100(A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that, if present, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.”

 

If exempt (confidential) information has been provided as part of the agenda, the Press and public will not be able to view it.  There will be an explanation on the website however as to why the information is exempt.

Minutes:

Cabinet agreed by affirmation that the Press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items 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).

12.

Potential property acquisition decision - Cambridge Science Park

Decision:

Cabinet recommended to Full Council:

 

(a)       The investment of up to the sum referred to in the confidential report from the Interim Director of Finance, comprising property acquisition costs and refurbishment and letting costs in accordance with the approved Investment Strategy to acquire the property at Cambridge Science Park and to refurbish the building as a multi-let office investment;

 

(b)       The re-profiling of the Investment Strategy capital allocations to bring forward sufficient funds to enable the property at (a) above to be acquired in 2019-2020 and refurbishment to be commenced thereafter;

 

(c)       The use of the General Reserve, if required, for the potential revenue cost impacts of the acquisition prior to the realisation and inclusion of the net additional income from the portfolio investment (after allowing for borrowing costs and property portfolio management costs), in the revenue budget.

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a confidential report seeking its approval for a commercial property investment that would enable the Council to pursue its Business Plan objective of supporting businesses and delivering positive financial returns.

 

The Leader commended the efforts of those officers involved in identifying what she described as a substantial investment.

 

Following a short debate, Cabinet recommended to Full Council:

 

(a)       The investment of up to the sum referred to in the confidential report from the Interim Director of Finance, comprising property acquisition costs and refurbishment and letting costs in accordance with the approved Investment Strategy to acquire the property at Cambridge Science Park and to refurbish the building as a multi-let office investment;

 

(b)       The re-profiling of the Investment Strategy capital allocations to bring forward sufficient funds to enable the property at (a) above to be acquired in 2019-2020 and refurbishment to be commenced thereafter;

 

(c)       The use of the General Reserve, if required, for the potential revenue cost impacts of the acquisition prior to the realisation and inclusion of the net additional income from the portfolio investment (after allowing for borrowing costs and property portfolio management costs), in the revenue budget.

13.

Potential property acquisition decision - Colmworth Trading Estate, St. Neots

Decision:

Cabinet

 

1.    approved the investment and purchaser’s costs outlined in the confidential report from the Interim Director of Finance;

 

2.    agreed that the acquisition of the property at Colmworth Trading Estate, St. Neots should be funded by the approved capital programme and be used as a multi-let trade counter investment in accordance with the approved Investment Strategy.

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a confidential report seeking its approval for a commercial property investment that would enable the Council to pursue its Business Plan objective of supporting businesses and delivering positive financial returns.

 

Following a short debate, Cabinet

 

1.    approved the investment and purchaser’s costs outlined in the confidential report from the Interim Director of Finance;

 

2.    agreed that the acquisition of the property at Colmworth Trading Estate, St. Neots should be funded by the approved capital programme and be used as a multi-let trade counter investment in accordance with the approved Investment Strategy.