Decisions

The purpose of this decision is to commission a contractor to install field drainage to rectify waterlogging in the Northstowe Phase 1 allotment and orchard land. This will bring the land into a serviceable condition and ensure it remains fit for purpose in the long term. The land has not proven to be free draining; the drainage solution proposed accords with the drainage strategy for this area. The freehold of the allotment and orchard land belongs to the district council. The allotments are operated by the Northstowe Horticultural Association under licence; plot holders are unable to work their plots whilst the drainage issue remains unresolved. Officers undertook a procurement exercise inviting contractors to devise and cost a solution to prevent future waterlogging and a successful bidder has been identified. This would result in the district council incurring £27kin costs, which will be reimbursed from the Phase 1 Open Space Management and Maintenance fund as agreed by the Phase 1 Northstowe Open Space Management Steering Group (August 2021).

To commission the drainage works required.

On 7 September the Licensing Committee met to discuss proposed changes to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy. It was decided that only part of the amendments would be considered which were urgent or pressing (or mandatory), with a decision that other matters be discussed at a workshop prior to a further Committee in November.

Recommendations for Consideration

The following recommendations were agreed:

1.Fixing of plates

To amend paragraph 3.6 e and k in the policy (reference to bolting plates to vehicles) to be “securely fixed”.

Rationale

To allow officers to explore more cost effective and more sustainable solutions to plates. One option is to switch to an adhesive variant of the plate which avoids the need for brackets being bolted to vehicles. Agreeing to this proposal will allow officers to undertake a procurement exercise to enable alternatives to be considered.

2. CCTV

The current policy mandated that all vehicles were to have CCTV installed by no later than March 2021. The Licensing Committee agreed that this would be amended to “no later than March 2023”.

Rationale

As this date has now passed, and CCTV has not been installed into vehicles due the recent (and ongoing) effects of the pandemic upon staff resources, capacity and the taxi trade, this policy must be amended to extend the implementation date. The additional time would allow the sourcing of CCTV in line with the agreed specification and allow officers to consider best practice amongst other Authorities.

In addition, it should be noted that in July 2020, the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards were published, which included new and additional guidance on CCTV. In particular, it stated that the government is fully supportive of the use of overt surveillance cameras in a public place (taxis and private hire vehicles), whenever that use is:

• in pursuit of a legitimate aim;

• necessary to meet a pressing need;

• proportionate;

• effective, and;

• compliant with any relevant legal obligations.

The guidance also stated that: “The imposition of a blanket requirement to attach CCTV as a condition to a licence is likely to give rise to concerns about the proportionality of such an approach and will therefore require an appropriately strong justification and must be kept under regular review”.

The additional time scales will allow Officers to consider  existing evidence and

data, to ensure this aspect of the policy remain robust and meets the most recent

guidance.

3 . Mandatory Amendment

The inclusion in the Policy relating to a new tax conditionality requirement for Drivers coming into effect in April 2022.

(The second aspect was no longer accepting an EU Passport as right to remain and work in the United Kingdom (this is not within the Policy))

To amend the Policy at the three points detailed above.

On 27 August 2021 the Grants Advisory Committee reviewed all Community Chest applications 16 June 2021 and 15th August 2021, to the Community Chest funding scheme during 2021/2022.

9 Community Chest Applications were brought forward in Appendix A of the meetings report pack 27 August 2021 Agenda Pack . 8 applications were approved and one was deferred.  The total amount of the funding requested is £6,791.35.

After consideration of these applications, the Committee recommended to the Lead Cabinet Member for Finance that:

Community Chest Applications

1. Arthur Rank Hospice (BNTSJXGH)– to be funded at the requested amount of £1,000
2. Foxton Football Club (TXMMDXXG) – to be funded at the requested amount of £1000
3. Gamlingay Schools Out Club (TCSCDBTD) – to be funded the requested amount of £350
4. Hardwick Pre School (PWPDTNMW) - to be funded at the requested amount of £1000
5. Harston Residents Group (JXWFDGDV) - to be funded at the requested amount of £441.36
6. Meldreth Bowls Club (JNLCSPZX) - to be funded at the requested amount of £1000
7. Northstowe Community Wing (ZZGDWWGM) - to be funded at the requested amount of £1000
8. Wilbraham Memorial Hall (FVZGBTBZ) - to be funded at the requested amount of £999.99

 * Please refer to further information section

To accept the recommendations of the Grants Advisory Committee (see above).

Cabinet:

Noted the KPI results and comments at Appendix A and progress against Business Plan actions at Appendix B

To adopt the Strategy.

Cabinet:

Adopted the Corporate Fraud Strategy; acknowledging the governing body’s responsibility for ensuring that risks associated with fraud and corruption are managed effectively across all parts of the organisation.

SCDC Cabinet has to approve the CSP Plan as we are the lead agency on the Partnership.

Cabinet:

Agreed the content of the Action Plan for 2021/22 as set out in Appendix A, and the lead role the Council takes in its delivery and the resources committed to it.

Comparison of budget to actual for 20/21.

Cabinet:

a)    Noted the 2020/21 revenue outturn position and the net underspend in the year of £1.091 million, and the explanations provided for the variances compared to the approved 2020/21 revenue budget;

b)    Noted the overall reduction in the Housing Revenue Account balance as at 31 March 2021 to £4.639 million;

c)    Recommended to Council the Housing Revenue Account Revenue Budget Carry Forwards in the sum of £0.035 million, in relation to Consultancy costs.

d)    In relation to the Capital Programme:

(i) Noted the 2020/21 capital outturn of £15.987 million;

(ii) Recommended to Council the carry forwards to 2020/21 of £1.822 million in relation to HRA Housing improvements due mainly to slippage.

(iii) Recommended to Council carry forward amounts of £1.213 million to 2021/22 in relation to HRA housebuilding during 2020/21, due to slippage.

(iv) Noted that a full review of the Capital Programme will be submitted to Cabinet at its October 2021 meeting to include re-phasing of the existing programme and new Capital bids for the next budget cycle.

Comparison of budget to actual for 20/21.

Cabinet:

a)    Acknowledged the 2020/21 general fund revenue outturn position and the net underspend (after income from Taxation and Government Grants) in the year of £0.281 million and the explanations provided for the variances compared to the revised 2020/21 revenue budget;

b)    Acknowledged the consequent decrease in the General Fund as at 31 March 2021 of £1.994m to around £14.5m;

c)    In relation to the Capital Programme:

(i) Noted the 2020/21 capital outturn of £43,252 million;

(ii) Recommended to Council the carry forwards of £2.081 million in relation to General Fund capital projects due mainly to slippage.

(iii) Recommended to Council additional lending of £5.237 million in 2021/22 to enable Ermine Street housing to meet its target of 500 property purchases.

(iv) Noted that a full review of the Capital Programme will be submitted to Cabinet at its December 2021 meeting to include re-phasing of the existing programme and new Capital bids for the next budget cycle.

To note the spending compared to budget.

Cabinet:

a)    Acknowledged the forecast 2021/22 revenue position against the approved revenue budget shown in Appendix B, the projected major variances with reasons for these variances at Appendices C1 and C2 and the action being taken to address the underlying issues.

b)    Acknowledged the latest Capital Programme 2021/22 position as shown in Appendix D.

Agree the updated MTFS.

Cabinet:

a)    Acknowledged the projected changes in service spending and the overall resources available to the Council over the medium term.

b)    Recommended to Full Council the refreshed Medium Term Financial Strategy at Appendix A and updated financial forecast at Appendix B.

To Adopt Act to enable Street Trading controls to be applied District-wide.

Cabinet:

Approved the adoption of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (“The Act”) for the whole of the South Cambridgeshire District, and designate all roads and streets within the District as Consent Streets (with the exception of the A11 and A14).

A draft little Shelford Village Design Guide SPD has been prepared by the local community. The Council has been asked to take it through the relevant processes to enable it to become an SPD.

Cabinet:

a)    Approved the consultation draft Little Shelford Village Design Guide SPD, for Regulation 13 public consultation in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 and in accordance with the consultation arrangements set out in the Consultation Statement accompanying the SPD; the consultation will be for a period of four weeks during the autumn and the setting of the dates of this consultation will be delegated to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development in liaison with the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning Policy and Delivery.

b)    Delegated authority to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, in liaison with the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning Policy and Delivery to make editorial changes to the consultation draft SPD to comprise minor amendments and changes required to ensure accessibility.