Agenda item

1.    To approve the 2020-25 Business Plan at Appendix A to the report (with the Action Plan primarily focused on delivery 2021-22); and

2.    Authorise the Chief Executive to make any minor wording changes required to the final draft, in consultation with the Deputy Leader.

Council Agreed

A)       To approve the 2020-25 Business Plan at Appendix A to the report (with the Action Plan primarily focused on delivery 2021-22); and

B)       Authorise the Chief Executive to make any minor wording changes required to the final draft, in consultation with the Deputy Leader, including the percentage of total homes built that will be Council houses over the coming year.

Council considered the 2020-25 Business Plan. Councillor Neil Gough, Deputy Leader and Lead Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport and for Transformation and Projects, presented a report. He highlighted the fact that delivery of actions was in the context of the pandemic, and moved the recommendations as set out.

Councillor Peter McDonald, Leader Cabinet Member for Business Recovery and Skills, seconded the motion. He said the allocation of grants to businesses had been done effectively and had provided a lifeline to businesses. He said the council was one of the best performing councils in the county and that it had passed the threshold to secure future Government grants. He thanked all  officers involved for their support for ensuring rapid deployment of grants.

Councillor John Williams, Lead Cabinet Member for Finance, said he supported this strong business plan and that the council needed a strong financial base. He referred to progress over the last three years and the income from investment and business rates. He said the council had delivered a sound financial base for this business plan and commended colleauges and officers for their work to produce it.

Councillor Bill Handley, Lead Cabinet Member for Community Resilience, Health and Wellbeing, said the communities team had worked extremely hard in delivering much of the work arising from Covid-19. He commended the fantastic service they had given.

Councillor John Batchelor, Lead Cabinet Member for Housing, said he had taken on the housing portfolio only recently, but had been impressed. He highlighted the fact that from its significant housing asset base the council still provided affordable housing and support for tenants. He welcomed the measures being taken to green the housing stock, including a trial with Southampton University. The words “Green to our Core” were apt, as the council had been recognised in the public sector transformation awards. He highlighted the dedicated officer role for climate change which had been set up, and a number of other initiatives and the aspiration of the council to conduct air quality monitoring through the district.

Councillor Deborah Roberts said it was the government to whom people should be grateful, for providing the money to councils to help people through the pandemic. She referred to the history of her having fought to keep housing under the authority’s control, which she said the current administration was now taking the credit for. She referred also to risks of a fall in value of the commercial property investments the council was making, which she considered was being conducted without transparency and openness, and to the need for the authority’s accounts to be audited.

Councillor Grenville Chamberlain said the Business Plan contained much that was good, but investment in commercial property was risky. There was in his view no doubt the market was debating whether to reduce space requirements, with break clauses for some in the future. He had grave concerns at the prospect of such investments.

Councillor Grenville Chamberlain referred to the liaison meetings being run to minimise disruption and help new residents settle in but said the approval of the Bourn Airfield planning application maximised disruption. The range of traffic calming measures should not have been approved.

Councillor Heather Williams said the Opposition had challenged each year the lack of reference to pubs, so she was grateful that they had now been included in the Business Plan. She recognised there might be much merit in the Business Plan, and that her Group would be willing to work collaboratively where it felt it could. However, she was not able to support all that was in this Business Plan, and referred to a number of concerns, including Bourn Airfield, the percentage of homes which were affordable to live in and the financial basis for the business plan, which she noted was a political document and not one which reflected on officers. Councillor Heather Williams went on to express concern that in order to achieve the stated income from the Council’s investment strategy, the Council had to have a high risk appetite, with which she was uncomfortable given this was taxpayers’ money. The business plan contained too much that she could not support.

Councillor Nick Wright said this business plan was based on that of the Conservative Group, with additions. He supported the greening plans and said ambitious targets had been set, which he would expect to be met. He had concerns at the level of risk to achieve the level of growth stated in the plan and at the quality of life for residents facing growth in housing development and transport.

Councillor Mark Howell supported the comments made earlier by Councillor Deborah Roberts in respect of housing. He acknowledged the need to look forward, but shared the reservations expressed by others regarding commercial pressures.

Councillor Dr Richard Williams welcomed the inclusion of the mobile warding scheme and said he shared many of the green ambitions. He expressed concern regarding the amount of borrowing which could not be referred to in an open meeting. He supported the proposals for supplementary planning documents and hoped more attention would be paid to them than had been the case for Waterbeach New Town.

Councillor Nigel Cathcart said this was on the whole a good plan. There was a balance of risk and reward of investment to keep in mind, particularly in changing circumstances. He fully supported financing the green agenda. He agreed the importance of recognition of supporting the District’s pubs.

On behalf of Councillor Gavin Clayton, who had thought it would be possible to join the meeting online, the Chief Executive said Councillor Clayton wished to make the following points:

·       Regarding A1, the Encompass and Safe Space, to ensure badging of hospitality businesses for championing equality of access for the LGBTQ community;

·       Regarding B1 – to add Universal Credit as an ongoing objective and as a more general point, he hoped cultural provisions could be built into this plan. To add what percentage of total homes built would be Council Houses over the coming year

·       To add the achievement of funding of renewed Benefits and Welfare Advisor position

·       Whether any of the plastic recycling collected by South Cambs residents was sent abroad and burned

Councillor Neil Gough responded to the points raised in the debate. In response to the points passed on by the Chief Executive on behalf of Councillor Gavin Clayton, he said he would look into the question of Encompass training and into the other matters. The reference regarding the Benefits Adviser would be incorporated into the Plan. To the best of his knowledge, all the plastic recycled from this district was treated in the UK.

In response to Councillor Deborah Roberts, Councillor Neil Gough said the source of the Covid relief funding was unimportant, it was for this council to allocate it appropriately and with care. He thanked Councillor Nigel Cathcart for his comments and said the investment decisions were not entered into lightly but were closely scrutinised first. This was an ambitious business plan and one which aimed to support residents.

A vote being taken, votes were recorded as follows:

In favour (27):

Councillors Henry Batchelor, John Batchelor, Paul Bearpark, Anna Bradnam, Martin Cahn, Nigel Cathcart, Claire Daunton, Peter Fane, Corinne Garvie, Neil Gough, Jose Hales, Bill Handley, Sally Ann Hart, Geoff Harvey, Tumi Hawkins, Pippa Heylings, Steve Hunt, Tony Mason, Peter McDonald, Brian Milnes, Dawn Percival, Bridget Smith, Ian Sollom, Aidan Van de Weyer, Fiona Whelan, John Williams, Eileen Wilson.

Against (9):

Councillors Grenville Chamberlain, Graham Cone, Sue Ellington, Mark Howell, Deborah Roberts, Bunty Waters, Heather Williams, Richard Williams, Nick Wright

Abstain (0)

Council resolved

A)        To approve the 2020-25 Business Plan at Appendix A to the report (with the Action Plan primarily focused on delivery 2021-22); and

B)         Authorise the Chief Executive to make any minor wording changes required to the final draft, in consultation with the Deputy Leader, including the percentage of total homes built that will be Council houses over the coming year.