Decisions

The Council voted (6 voting in favour, 16 voting against, 2 abstaining from voting) on an amendment submitted by Councillor Heather Williams, which was defeated.

Councillors In Favour: Dr Shrobona Bhattacharya, Tom Bygott, Sue Ellington, Daniel Lentell, Dr Richard Williams, Heather Williams

Councillors Against: John Batchelor, Paul Bearpark, Anna Bradnam, Dr Martin Cahn, Stephen Drew, Peter Fane, Sunita Hansraj, Helene Leeming, Brian Milnes, Dr Lisa Redrup, Judith Rippeth, James Rixon, Peter Sandford, Dr Susan van de Ven, Natalie Warren-Green, John Williams

Councillors Abstaining: Ariel Cahn, Libby Earle

The Council (unanimously, with 2 abstaining from voting) agreed the following motion:

“Council notes:

-          This council declared an Ecological Emergency in July 2019 and further declared a Climate Emergency in November 2019.

-          This Council has previously committed to a target of halving emissions across the district by 2030 (compared to a 2018 baseline) and to achieving net-zero by 2050, including delivering a reduction in our own carbon footprint of at least 45% by 2025, and at least 75% by 2030.

Council believes:

-          Whilst this Council rightfully has a role to play in combating the climate and ecological emergency, it is the responsibility of Government to establish more rigorous support and frameworks to help transition communities towards a zero-carbon future.

-          The current framework to ensure the United Kingdom fulfils its obligations under the Paris Climate Accords is not robust enough and will result in the UK failing to meet its objectives if not strengthened.

Council further notes:

-          There have been various attempts at passing a ‘Climate and Nature’ private member’s bill through parliament since 2020. This bill would amongst other things:

o   require the government to develop and carry out a strategy to achieve various climate and nature targets for the United Kingdom (in line with the UK’s obligations under the Paris Agreement with the goal of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5°C and of reversing the decline in nature); and

o   establish a climate and nature citizens assembly to advise the government on the creation of that strategy.

-          The most successful of these bills, as introduced by the Lib Dem peer, Lord Redesdale, passed all stages in the House of Lords but failed to complete its second reading in the House of Commons.

-          These bills have received cross-party support within Parliament but have failed to pass into law due to a lack of parliamentary time being allocated to them.

-          Liberal Democrat MP, Dr Ros Savage, has re-introduced the Climate and Nature Bill into the House of Commons following the General Election. The bill received its first reading on the 16th October 2024 and is scheduled to receive its second reading on the 24th January 2025.

Council resolves to:

-          Endorse the Climate and Nature Bill, encouraging the Council to communicate this resolution to residents, media and others, as well as to inform the Zero Hour Campaign of our support.

-          Direct the Leader of the Council to write to the three MP’s covering the district, expressing our support for their stated position in favour of the bill and to further encourage them to push for this bill to be passed.

-          Direct the Leader of the Council to write to the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Leader of the House of Commons and the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, as well as other party leaders as she sees fit, asking them to publicly commit their parties to supporting this bill should they not already do so, highlighting the existing cross-party support for this bill and encouraging them to do that which they can in order to ensure this bill receives adequate parliamentary time within this parliamentary session.”

The Council (25 voting in favour, 0 voting against, 0 abstaining from voting) agreed the following motion:

“Council notes that:

• The recent 2024 Autumn Budget change to Inheritance Tax relief announced by the Labour Government will introduce a Family Farm Tax and will have a detrimental impact on Family Farms and farmers’ ability to pass on their farms to the next generation of farmers and essentially putting at risk our nation’s food security.
• House of Commons Library research, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that farming subsidies have fallen by 20% in real terms since 2015 - equivalent to the loss of £722 million in public funding for farmers.
• Last year alone 8,100 UK farms closed their doors - equal to one in 25 of all farms in the country.

Council believes that:

• The Labour Government have committed a shameful betrayal and let down farmers by breaking their promise to not introduce a Family Farm Tax.
• The Family Farm Tax will damage the ability of farmers to pass on their farms to the next generation of local farmers.
• Labour’s Family Farm Tax will threaten food security by forcing the sale of family farms and, with a smaller number of farmers, removing competition from the marketplace by stealth, risk basic food cost hikes for our residents.
• The Labour Government’s Family Farm Tax will make British food production harder.
• That the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed and Keir Starmer promised not to introduce a tax like this.
• Numerous rural and farming organisations such as the National Farmers’ Union and Country Land and Business Association have warned that countless farms will be harmed, threatening food security and rural areas like ours.
• The comments made by Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed that already struggling farmers will have to ‘do more with less’ shows an absolute ignorance as to how the rural economy works.
• At a time when many farmers in South Cambridgeshire are struggling with soaring costs and energy prices, this sudden tax rise will damage the future of their farms and our local economy.
• There are more equitable ways of making sure that people do not use the agricultural property relief to avoid tax by buying agricultural land (often at the expense of small family farms).
• The Government’s claims surrounding the proposals are reliant on a number of dubious assumptions:
  • The number of farms likely to be affected by the proposal is significantly higher than the Government’s estimates – according to the NFU, this will affect 75% of active commercial farms, compared to the Treasury’s estimate of 27% (which would include bare farm land and non-commercial farms).
  • The assumption that all farmers will be able to benefit from exemptions for married couples is flawed.

Council further believes that:

• Farmers are key allies in tackling climate change and the natural capital crisis, caring for and restoring the countryside while producing high-quality food for our tables. But their ability to do this has already been threatened by the transition away from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and the failure to properly rollout the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme, which has resulted in many farmers fearing that new systems will fall short of what is needed.

• The many failings of the Brexit deal have also contributed to the problems facing farmers including increased food production costs and shortages as well as severely damaging their ability to export to their main markets in Europe. New trade deals have undermined animal welfare and environmental protection, undercutting responsible British farmers and setting a dangerous precedent for future deals.

Council resolves:

• To request that all Group Leaders write to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to outline the Council’s dismay at this decision and call on the Government to stop the Family Farm Tax and to reverse the damage inflicted on our Farmers by fixing our relationship with the EU.
• To request that the Lead Cabinet Member for Economic Development continues to work with our MPs, to represent the challenges faced by farmers in South Cambridgeshire, as they meet with groups representing local farmers.
• To request that Cabinet reviews how local family farms are better able to access the support made available by the Council to SMEs across South Cambridgeshire and how we can support them as they transition to nature-friendly farming practices.”

Councillors In Favour: John Batchelor, Paul Bearpark, Dr Shrobona Bhattacharya, Anna Bradnam, Tom Bygott, Ariel Cahn, Dr Martin Cahn, Stephen Drew, Libby Earle, Sue Ellington, Corinne Garvie, Sunita Hansraj, William Jackson-Wood, Helene Leeming, Daniel Lentell, Dr Lisa Redrup, Judith Rippeth, James Rixon, Peter Sandford, Richard Stobart, Dr Susan van de Ven, Natalie Warren-Green, Dr Richard Williams, Heather Williams, John Williams

Councillors Against: None

Councillors Abstaining: None

The Council (unanimously) noted that Councillor James Rixon had been added as member of the Climate and Environment Advisory Committee.

The Council (32 voting in favour, 0 voting against, 1 abstaining from voting) agreed:

a)    The introduction of additional Council Tax Premiums to be applied from 1 April 2026 for long term empty properties and second homes (Option 1) as detailed within the report.

b)    To delegate authority to the Head of Finance (Section 151 Officer) to implement the introduction of these premiums, considering future guidance and best practices issued by the government.

Councillors In Favour: Michael Atkins, Henry Batchelor, John Batchelor, Paul Bearpark, Dr Shrobona Bhattacharya, Anna Bradnam, Ariel Cahn, Dr Martin Cahn, Stephen Drew, Libby Earle, Sue Ellington, Corinne Garvie, Jose Hales, Bill Handley, Sunita Hansraj, Sally Ann Hart, Dr James Hobro, William Jackson-Wood, Helene Leeming, Brian Milnes, Lina Nieto, Annika Osborne, Dr Lisa Redrup, Judith Rippeth, James Rixon, Peter Sandford, Richard Stobart, Dr Susan van de Ven, Natalie Warren-Green, Bunty Waters, Dr Richard Williams, Heather Williams

Councillors Against: None

Councillors Abstaining: Daniel Lentell

The purpose of this decision is to decide whether the land/building should be included as an asset of community value (“ACV”) on the Council’s register of ACVs.

On 24 October 2024 a nomination was received from Toft Parish Council in respect of Toft People’s Hall, School Lane, Toft, Cambridge, CB23 2RE. This is a re-nomination of an asset that is due to be removed from the list on 19 December 2024 in accordance with the legislation following expiry of the listing.

Following consideration of the nomination, Notice of Nomination was sent Cllr Lina Nieto, (for the district Ward of Hardwick) and to the Parish Council acknowledging their nomination and who are also owners of the asset. The nomination was publicised through the Council’s Parish e-bulletin and the Lead Member for Communities was notified.

Officers have considered the nomination along with the feedback received following issue of Notices of Nomination and are satisfied that the non-ancillary and current use of the asset as detailed in the nomination form and accompanying map does further the social well-being, or cultural recreational or sporting interests of the local community.  It is also considered realistic to think there can continue to be non-ancillary use of the asset which will further the social interests of the local community. Therefore, it can be accepted, in accordance with Section 88 (1) of the Localism Act 2011.

The purpose of this decision is to fund the Meldreth Community Group in Marvell Green to support the ongoing maintenance of their communal garden. The group has been cultivating a wildflower meadow and developing a wildlife corridor to encourage biodiversity. Their work brings together 18 households in Marvell Green to care for the communal space, fostering a strong community spirit, supporting mental health and well-being, and providing a nurturing habitat for local wildlife and plants. They are seeking funding to purchase one compost bin and two compost bin extensions.

Application Ref. DXNZVBVB

Grant award £409.95 

To award £409.95 to Meldreth Community group to sustain their community growing project of wildflower meadow.

The aim of this decision is to fund the Dry Drayton community to establish and maintain a herb garden which will be established on Dry Drayton Parish Church grounds, featuring a bay tree alongside a variety of annual and perennial herbs. The group intends to encourage wider community involvement in growing and caring for these herbs. Dry Drayton currently lacks local amenities, and supermarket herbs are costly and often available only in small quantities. The group plans to make the produce freely accessible for village residents to collect, as well as to offer small herb packs at local coffee mornings and events. They will also distribute herbs to elderly and infirm residents upon request.

Application Ref. TMMTVSZM

Grant award £375 

To award £375 to the Dry Drayton Community to create and sustain their herb garden.