Agenda and minutes

The Mayor gave permission for Mr Taylor to film the meeting. It was confirmed that filming would cease if members of the public or speakers expressed a desire not to be filmed.

 

13/62/CNL – Oral Question 7

Councillor Ashton requested that it be noted that the Executive Councillor for Housing stated she did not regret the Council’s decision to demolish the bungalows in Cherry Hinton and East Chesterton.

The Executive Councillor for Housing confirmed that this was correct.

 

With this minor amendment the minutes of the meeting held on 24 October 2013 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

 

1.       APOLOGIES

 

Apologies were received from Councillors Bird, Birtles, Dryden, Hart and Marchant-Daisley.

 

2.       FUND RAISING

 

The Mayor thanked those Councillors who had supported the fund raising event for Centre 33 when over £3,000 was raised and the event for the Blue Smile Project when £3,000 was raised.

 

 3.       104 (CITY OF CAMBRIDGE) SQUADRON AIR TRAINING CORPS

 

In 1999, No. 104 (City of Cambridge) Squadron Air Training Corps was granted the Honorary Freedom of the City. To mark the Squadron’s 75^th anniversary and the 15^th anniversary of receiving the Honorary Freedom, the Mayor confirmed that Cadets would march around Market Square on Friday, 4 April at 6.30pm. The Lord Lieutenant and the Mayor would take the salute outside the Guildhall.                              

 

4.        CAMBRIDGE-HEIDELBERG EASTER FESTIVAL

 

The Mayor confirmed that Cambridge would host the Easter Festival, and invitations to attend a civic reception on Thursday, 17 April would be despatched to Councillors.

 

5.          FIRST WORLD WAR COMMEMORATIONS

 

The Mayor confirmed that that the University of Cambridge would be hosting an ecumenical service at Great St. Mary’s Church on Monday, 4 August at 6pm. This would take the form of a ceremonial occasion, and Members of the Council will be invited to participate. Full details will be circulated nearer the time.                                              

 

6.       DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

No interests were declared.

Mr Sargeant addressed the Council and made the following points:

 

       i.                    Mitcham’s Corners suffers as a result of a dominating gyratory road system which has a negative impact on the area.

     ii.                    In light of the number of shop closures in recent times, asked if the Executive Councillor believed that this was due to a drop in real wages or the lack of Liberal Democratic investment over many years.

   iii.                    Questioned why it has taken so long to invest in Mitcham’s Corner

   iv.                    Expressed support for the Labour amendment and the recruitment of a Chesterton Coordinator.

 

The Executive Councillor for Public Places responded with the following:

 

i.                 Agreed that the removal of the gyratory road system would be beneficial to the area. She agreed to work with Cambridgeshire County Council to address the issue. 

ii.               Could not say why there has been a drop in shop closures in recent times.

iii.             The opportunity to develop Mitcham’s Corner had been identified and the funds had then been allocated.

 

Mr Sargeant made the following supplementary points:

 

                           i.          Questioned if the sum of approximately £200,000 allocated to Mitcham’s Corner was being used to simply “decorate” the area before major building works take place.

                         ii.          Stated that there were underlining problems which residents would like addressed.

                       iii.          Asked what detailed plans were in place for improving Mitcham’s Corner.

 

The Executive Councillor for Public Places responded with the following:

 

                           i.          Confirmed that more details on the ambitious Mitcham’s Corner initiative would be provided later in the meeting.

                         ii.          The more complex issues would be addressed through consultation with stakeholders.

 

Ms Sinnott addressed the Council and made the following points:

 

                           i.          The Executive Councillor for Housing and some leading members of the Liberal Democrats Group had made it clear they do not support the spare room subsidy (bedroom tax).

                         ii.          Yesterday Julian Huppert MP voted in favour of tightening the legislation to ensure that more City tenants would be hit by this tax. This was unfair and would cost more to implement than it would save.

                       iii.          By voting against the HRA Labour amendment the Council were agreeing with an attack on Cambridge’s vulnerable.

                       iv.          Asked if the Executive Councillor for Housing passed on her views to Julian Huppert MP ahead of the debate in Parliament.

                        v.          Asked if the Executive Councillor for Housing agreed with Julian Huppert’s continued support for the coalition’s legislative attack on Council tenants?

 

The Executive Councillor for Housing responded with the following:

 

       i.          She was not aware that the issue was going to Parliament so did not speak to Julian Huppert MP prior to the debate. She thanked Ms Sinnott for bringing the matter to her attention.

     ii.          The spare room subsidy did not affect a large number of tenants in Cambridge but six or seven people had payments deducted wrongly.

   iii.          The aspect of the spare room subsidy discussed during the debate, did not affect a large number of tenants in Cambridge but six or seven people had been wrongly deducted payments.

   iv.          There were more people on the City Council’s Needs Register who want to move property because of overcrowding.

    v.          Thanked the City Council staff who had been dealing with City Council discretionary housing payments.

 

Ms Sinnott made the following supplementary points:

 

       i.          The tax was unfair and it should not make a difference if only a small number of tenants had been affected.

     ii.          Questioned why Julian Huppert MP had not informed the Executive Councillor for Housing that a debate would be held in Parliament.

 

The Executive Councillor for Housing responded with the following:

 

       i.          She had discussed the item on a previous occasion with Julian Huppert MP.

     ii.          The issue of spare room subsidy was complex.

   iii.           She acknowledged that there were flaws in the system.

   iv.          Going forward she would like to see the exemptions expanded considerably.

    v.          She stated that many people were in larger properties than they really needed, and the tax payer should be paying for this. This did not however apply to disabled tenants.

 

Mr Carpen addressed the Council and made the following points:

 

       i.  He had recently visited Parliament and met with Aileen Walker, the Director of Public Engagement. She challenged the City of Cambridge to do more to promote Parliament Week.

 

The Executive Councillor for Community Wellbeing responded with the following:

 

       i.  Whilst Julian Huppert MP had promoted Parliament Week in Secondary Schools, more encouragement from the Schools was required.

 

Mr Carpen made the following supplementary points:

 

       i.      More local organisations should be contacted to promote this event.

     ii.      Invited Councillors to attend ‘Skillsfest’ at Anglia Ruskin University on Sunday, 2 March 2014, 2.00pm which Mr Carpen has organised in conjunction with Anglia Ruskin Students Union, the Cambridge Student Hub and Transition Cambridge.

   iii.      Thanked those who have helped organise the ‘Skillsfest’ event.

 

The Executive Councillor for Community Wellbeing responded with the following:

       i.      Thanked Mr Carpen for his comments.

       ii.    Emphasised her comments regarding the promotion of the event.

 

 

Housing Revenue Account Budget Setting Report – attached separately 

 

Councillor Price proposed and Councillor Johnson seconded the following addition:

 

After Recommendation x (page 38 of agenda) add:

 

xi.             Approve an in-depth review of the Housing Capital Investment Plan alongside the already planned update to the HRA Asset Management Plan, to identify capital funding for a significant citywide City Homes Estate Improvement Programme, including dealing with the estimated £1m backlog of fencing repairs required across our estates following years of under-investment.

 

On a show of hands the amendment was lost by 13 votes to 21

 

Resolved (by 21 votes to 13) to:

 

Treasury Management

 

       i.          Approve the revised approach to treasury management, setting-aside a proportion of the surpluses generated over the life of the Business Plan to allow for potential debt redemption, but re-investing up to 75% of the surplus generated in the acquisition or development of new affordable housing, as outlined in Section 7 of the HRA Budget Setting Report.

 

Housing Capital

 

     ii.          Approve the capital bids, shown in Appendix H of the HRA Budget Setting Report, to include resource to implement the Cambridge Public Sector Network across housing offices, to purchase an additional module for the Housing Management Information System, to undertake emergency water mains replacement at Kingsway and to carry out remedial works to a specific HRA dwelling and the surrounding block.

   iii.          Approve the re-phasing of £15,000 of resource between 2014/15 and 2013/14 to complete communal floor covering works to an entire block whilst the relevant equipment is on site.

   iv.          Approve the re-phasing of funding for UPVC window replacements of £500,000 from 2014/15 and £850,000 from 2015/16 into later years in the Housing Capital Investment Plan, recognising that it was too early to move to a full investment standard.

    v.          Approve the re-phasing of £250,000 from 2014/15 to 2015/16 in respect of the communal areas uplift, recognising that the full programme of works had not yet been finalised.

   vi.          Approve the gross funding of £16,210,000 for the development of the affordable housing project at Clay Farm, in line with the scheme specific report being presented to Community Services in January 2014, which assumes 75% affordable rented and 25% shared ownership housing.

 vii.          Approve the funding of £2,875,000 for the provisional purchase of 13 market housing units on the garage re-development sites (or other units of existing market housing), recognising this as an appropriate use of retained right to buy receipts.

viii.          Approve the earmarking of the required level of additional funding for new build investment in 2016/17 and 2017/18 to ensure that the anticipated level of future retained right to buy receipts can be appropriately utilised.

   ix.          Approve the revised Housing Capital Investment Plan as shown in Appendix M of the HRA Budget Setting Report.

    x.          Approve a provisional addition to the Housing Capital Allowance of £30,591,000 in respect of anticipated qualifying expenditure in 2014/15.

 

 

 

 

 

The Executive presented its budget recommendations as set out in the Council Agenda and on the amendment sheet circulated around the Chamber. 

 

Councillor Herbert presented the Labour Group’s alternative budget as set out in the Council Agenda and on the amendment sheet circulated around the Chamber. 

 

Labour Group Alternative Budget Amendment

 

Under the Council’s budget procedure, the Labour Group’s alternative budget was deemed to have been moved and seconded as an amendment.

 

On a show of hands the Labour Group’s alternative budget amendment was lost by:

 

15 votes in favour: Councillors Abbott, Ashton, Benstead, Blencowe, Gawthrope, Herbert, Johnson, McPherson, Moghadas, O’Reilly, Owers, Price, Roberts, Todd-Jones and Meftah.

 

to 21 votes against: Councillors Bick, Blackhurst, Boyce, Brierley, Brown, Cantrill, Kerr, Kightley, Pippas, Pitt, Reid, Reiner, Rosenstiel, Saunders, Smart, Smith, Stuart, Swanson, Tucker, Tunnicliffe and Ward. 

 

with 1 abstention: Councillor Hipkin.

 

In accordance with the Council’s budget procedure, Councillor Herbert moved separately the following proposals, which formed part of the Labour Group alternative budget: 

 

Reference	Details
LNCL2	Contribution to create ‘Sharing Prosperity Fund’

 

Reference	Details
LX2	Living Wage External Campaign Officer

 

Reference	Details
LX6	Youth Apprenticeship Programme

 

On a show of hands the proposal was lost by:

 

15 votes in favour: Councillors Abbott, Ashton, Benstead, Blencowe, Gawthrope, Herbert, Johnson, McPherson, Moghadas, O’Reilly, Owers, Price, Roberts, Todd-Jones and Meftah.

 

to 21 votes against: Councillors Bick, Blackhurst, Boyce, Brierley, Brown, Cantrill, Kerr, Kightley, Pippas, Pitt, Reid, Reiner, Rosenstiel, Saunders, Smart, Smith, Stuart, Swanson, Tucker, Tunnicliffe and Ward. 

 

with 1 abstention: Councillor Hipkin.

 

 

Reference	Details
LB2	Bolstering Public Realm Enforcement

 

Reference	Details
LB1	‘Clean It Up’ anti dog fouling campaign

 

Reference	Details
LX1	Expanded programme of ‘Community Clear-Out Days’

 

On a show of hands the proposal was lost by:

 

16 votes in favour: Councillors Abbott, Ashton, Benstead, Blencowe, Gawthrope, Herbert, Johnson, McPherson, Moghadas, O’Reilly, Owers, Price, Roberts, Todd-Jones, Hipkin and Meftah.

 

to 21 votes against: Councillors Bick, Blackhurst, Boyce, Brierley, Brown, Cantrill, Kerr, Kightley, Pippas, Pitt, Reid, Reiner, Rosenstiel, Saunders, Smart, Smith, Stuart, Swanson, Tucker, Tunnicliffe and Ward. 

 

 

Reference	Details
FPPF2	Chesterton Co-ordinator

 

On a show of hands the proposal was lost by:

 

15 votes in favour: Councillors Abbott, Ashton, Benstead, Blencowe, Gawthrope, Herbert, Johnson, McPherson, Moghadas, O’Reilly, Owers, Price, Roberts, Todd-Jones and Meftah.

 

to 21 votes against: Councillors Bick, Blackhurst, Boyce, Brierley, Brown, Cantrill, Kerr, Kightley, Pippas, Pitt, Reid, Reiner, Rosenstiel, Saunders, Smart, Smith, Stuart, Swanson, Tucker, Tunnicliffe and Ward. 

 

with 1 abstention: Councillor Hipkin.

 

 

Reference	Details
LSR1	Reverse Service Review SR3299 – Cessation of the Pest Control Service

 

On a show of hands the proposal was lost by:

 

15 votes in favour: Councillors Abbott, Ashton, Benstead, Blencowe, Gawthrope, Herbert, Johnson, McPherson, Moghadas, O’Reilly, Owers, Price, Roberts, Todd-Jones and Meftah.

 

to 21 votes against: Councillors Bick, Blackhurst, Boyce, Brierley, Brown, Cantrill, Kerr, Kightley, Pippas, Pitt, Reid, Reiner, Rosenstiel, Saunders, Smart, Smith, Stuart, Swanson, Tucker, Tunnicliffe and Ward. 

 

with 1 abstention: Councillor Hipkin.

 

 

Reference	Details
LS8 + LC2	Commercial Property Portfolio Extra Income from Further Additional Investments

 

On a show of hands the proposal was lost by:

 

16 votes in favour: Councillors Abbott, Ashton, Benstead, Blencowe, Gawthrope, Herbert, Johnson, McPherson, Moghadas, O’Reilly, Owers, Price, Roberts, Todd-Jones, Hipkin and Meftah.

 

to 21 votes against: Councillors Bick, Blackhurst, Boyce, Brierley, Brown, Cantrill, Kerr, Kightley, Pippas, Pitt, Reid, Reiner, Rosenstiel, Saunders, Smart, Smith, Stuart, Swanson, Tucker, Tunnicliffe and Ward. 

 

Unless otherwise stated, all references in the recommendations to sections, pages and appendices relate to Version 3 of the Budget Setting Report (BSR).

 

This can be found via:

http://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/documents/b8058/Budget%20Setting%20Report%20BSR%2027th-Feb-2014%2018.00%20Council.pdf?T=9

 

RESOLVED to agree the Executive’s budget proposals by:

 

22 votes in favour: Councillors Bick, Blackhurst, Boyce, Brierley, Brown, Cantrill, Kerr, Kightley, Pippas, Pitt, Reid, Reiner, Rosenstiel, Saunders, Smart, Smith, Stuart, Swanson, Tucker, Tunnicliffe, Ward and Hipkin.

 

With 15 abstentions: Councillors Abbott, Ashton, Benstead, Blencowe, Gawthrope, Herbert, Johnson, McPherson, Moghadas, O’Reilly, Owers, Price, Roberts, Todd-Jones and Meftah.

 

To:

 

General Fund Revenue Budgets: [Section 4, page 39 refers]

Budget 2013/14:

 

a)      Approve the revised budget items shown in Appendix C(a).

b)      Approve the Non-Cash Limit budget items for 2013/14 as shown in

          Appendix C(b).

c)      Approve the overall revised budget for 2013/14 for the General Fund,      as shown in Section 4 [page 39 refers] and Appendix D(a).

 

Budget 2014/15:

 

d)      Approve any recommendations for submission to the Executive in respect of:

• Non-Cash Limit items as shown in Appendix C(b).

• Revenue Savings and Bids as shown in Appendix C(c), (d) & (e).

• Priority Policy Fund (PPF) Bids as shown in Appendix C(f) – based

  on the position as outlined in Section 4 [page 48 refers].

• Bids to be funded from External or Earmarked Funds as shown in

 Appendix C(g).

e)      Note the Council Tax taxbase, as set out in Appendix B(a), as calculated and determined by the Director of Resources under delegated authority.

 

f)       Approve the level of Council Tax for 2014/15 as set out below:

 

Appendix B(b)

 

1.      The Council calculated its Council Tax Base 2014/15 for the whole Council area as 38,675.1 [Item T in the formula in  Section 31B of  the Local Government Finance Act  1992, as amended (the “Act”)]

 

2.      The Council calculates that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2014/15 is £6,702,010

 

3.      That  the  following  amounts  be  calculated  for  the  year  2014/15 in  accordance  with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

 

 

(a)	£173,622,350	being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act
(b)	£166,920,340	being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act
(c)	£6,702,010	being the amount by which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year. [Item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act]
(d)	£173.29	being the amount at 3(c) above (Item R), all divided by the amount at 1 above (Item T), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.

 

 

4.         To note that Cambridgeshire County Council, the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Fire Authority have issued precepts to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for each of the categories of dwellings in the Council’s area as indicated in the table below.

 

5.      That the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in the table below as the amounts of Council Tax for 2014/15 for each of the categories of dwellings in the Council’s area.

 

D

Dwelling   Band	City   Council   £	County   Council   £	Police and   Crime   Commissioner £	Fire &   Rescue   Authority £	Aggregate   Council Tax £
A	115.53	747.96	120.90	42.84	1,027.23
B	134.78	872.62	141.05	49.98	1,198.43
C	154.04	997.28	161.20	57.12	1,369.64
D	173.29	1,121.94	181.35	64.26	1,540.84
E	211.80	1,371.26	221.65	78.54	1,883.25
F	250.31	1,620.58	261.95	92.82	2,225.66
G	288.82	1,869.90	302.25	107.10	2,568.07
H	346.58	2,243.88	362.70	128.52	3,081.68

 

 

6.      The Council determines that, in accordance with Section         52ZB of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the basic      amount of its council tax for 2014/15 is not excessive.

 

 

g) Approve:

 

(i)      the Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix M(a) and to    confirm that the Authorised Limit for external borrowing           determined for 2014/15 will be the statutory limit determined     under section 3 of the Local Government Act 2003,

(ii)      delegation to the Section 151 officer, within the borrowing       totals for any financial year within (i) above, to effect movement between the separately agreed figures for ‘borrowing’ and ‘other long term liabilities’,

(iii)     the Treasury Management Annual Borrowing and Investment          Strategies set out in Appendices M(b) and M(c) , and

(iv)    the Council’s Counterparty List shown in Appendix M(c),          Annex 1.

 

Other Revenue:

 

h)        Delegate to the Section 151 officer the authority to finalise changes relating to any corporate and/or departmental restructuring and any reallocation of support service and central costs, in accordance with the CIPFA Service Reporting Code of Practice for Local Authorities (SeRCOP).

 

Capital: [Section 5, page 50 refers]

Capital & Revenue Projects Plan: [Section 5, page 54 refers]

 

i)         Approve project appraisals and new programmes that have been referred by Executive Councillors:

(i)        Project appraisals that have been referred by Executive Councillor for Public Places (for schemes already in the capital and revenue projects plan):

i.          Parker’s Piece Lighting

ii.         Jesus Green Footpath / Cycleway Improvements

iii.        Perne Road / Radegund Road Roundabout

iv.        City Centre Cycle Parking Project

(ii)       To set up new capital programmes and associated remits within the following portfolios:

i.          Customer Services & Resources - Additional investment in

           Commercial Property Portfolio

ii.         Public Places - Local Centres Improvement Programme - see (new) remit below:

 

PR037 – Local Centres Improvement Programme

Approved Timescale: 2014/15 to 2019/20

Lead Officer: Andy Preston

Remit: To undertake schemes to improve the quality of the public realm at Local Centres, aiming to lift pride in the environment for residents and traders and to encourage parallel investment in private businesses. At least three schemes will be delivered, subject to full public consultation and will deliver environmental and public realm improvements.

 

Outcomes: Successful delivery of three Local Schemes of between £200k - £340k per scheme by 2019/20.

 

j)         Approve the bids outlined in Appendix G(a) & (b) for approval to include in the Capital Plan, or put on the Hold List, including any additional use of reserves required.

k)        Approve the carry forward of resources from 2013/14, resulting from variances as detailed in Appendix G(c), to fund re-phased capital spending.

l)         Approve the revised Capital & Revenue Projects Plan as set out in Appendix G(d), the Hold list set out in Appendix G(e), and the Funding as set out in Appendix G(f) for the General Fund.

 

Note that the Appendices include new bids and the rephasing included in the above recommendations.

 

General Fund Reserves:

 

m)       Note the impact of revenue and capital budget approvals and approve the resulting level of reserves to be used to:

(i)        support the 2013/14 budget

(ii)       support the 2014/15 and future year’s budgets as set out in Appendix D(c).

 

Other:

 

n)        Local Retention of Business Rates: approve establishing an earmarked reserve for retained business rates in order to manage the accounting implications of the Government’s Business Rates Retention scheme.

 

 

Resolved (by 32 votes to 0) that:

The existing Members’ Allowances Scheme be continued for the 2014/15 municipal year.

 

Resolved (by 22 votes to 0):

 

i.                 That only full Council may authorise salary or severance packages of £100,000 or more, following consideration by the Employment (Senior Officer) Committee.

 

ii.               That the Terms of Reference of the Employment (Senior Officer) Committee be amended by the addition of:

 

“To make recommendations to Council with regard to proposals for salary or severance packages of £100,000 or more.”

 

iii.             To note the recommendations of the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee in relation to review of the Living Wage Policy for agency workers.

 

iv.              To approve the draft Pay Policy Statement 2014/15.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Councillor Ashton to the Executive Councillor for Community Wellbeing. 

 

What is the Council doing to celebrate the 50th Folk Festival this year?

 

This event began as a local event and is now recognised as a National/International Event. Not only is it an event for all ages but has brought in considerable revenue over the years to this Council that has been used to subsidise other music events in the City.

 

It has been mooted for some kind of memorial to the local man who started it all off Ken Woollard. It would be a great injustice, after being recognised Nationally for an award to the Festival organiser and Ken’s widow, if we as a Council did not publicly acknowledge this wonderful event.

 

The Executive Councillor for Community Wellbeing responded that:

 

i.             The 50th anniversary of Cambridge Folk Festival is a cause for much celebration. In addition to curating a wonderfully strong programme, in response to requests from festival supporters, the Council team had commissioned a limited edition retrospective illustrated poster by the original festival illustrator. Throughout the Festival there would also be various 50th anniversary themed artwork and a celebratory artistic programme.

ii.            The 50th anniversary presented an opportunity to celebrate the tremendous work and legacy of founder Ken Woollard. Ken's widow Joan, together with the Council's Eddie Barcan, collected the BBC Radio 2 Folk Music's Good Tradition Award last week. This is awarded to a person, group or organisation for their contribution to the preservation, dissemination and continuance/progression of traditional music over a number of years.

iii.           The Council had received a request for a memorial to Ken Woollard at Cherry Hinton Hall, and in September last year, the Head of Streets and Open Spaces had met with Mrs Woollard along with a representative from the Folk Festival Volunteer Group and Friends of Cherry Hinton Hall Group.

iv.          It had been agreed that a bespoke bench would be appropriate and that the Volunteer and Friends Group would work with Mrs Woollard to raise funds to pay for the bench. Council Officers had since offered advice on siting, design and technical requirements and hoped very much that this memorial could be installed ready for the 2015 Festival.

 

 

2. Councillor Pippas to the Executive Councillor for Housing.

 

How has the Single Homelessness Service done since it started last autumn?

 

The Executive Councillor for Housing responded that:

 

i.             15 people had been found permanent accommodation through the Single Homelessness Service.

ii.            5 people had been referred by Officers to alternative services.

iii.           5 people were currently awaiting suitable accommodation.

 

3. Councillor Johnson to the Leader.

 

On 6th November 2013, following an intervention from Labour Councillors, the Leader was quoted in the Cambridge News saying he would request that ‘Clear Channel’ - whom the Council have a contract with to provide advertising in bus shelters across the City - remove advertising from payday lenders. Can the Leader update Council on this matter?

 

The Leader responded that:

 

i.             ‘Clear Channel’ had been approached in November regarding this issue. They responded that it was a complicated issue and that a review was being undertaken.

ii.            On completion of this review ‘Clear Channel’ confirmed that they would continue all legal advertising.

iii.           ‘Clear Channel’ had confirmed that payday lenders had never been advertised in Cambridge, and consultation with the Council would take place before such a decision was agreed.

iv.          The Council had a long term contract in place with ‘Clear Channel’ running from 1999 to 2019.

v.           Currently the contract only bans political, religious or tobacco advertising in the bus shelters.  

 

4. Councillor Pitt to the Executive Councillor for Planning and Climate Change.

 

Could the Executive Councillor update us on progress on the 20mph project, in particular when will installation begin in north area, and when will the next round of public consultation begin?

 

The Executive Councillor for Planning and Climate Change responded that:

 

i.             The 20mph consultation for the north of the City would start on the 3 March 2014 and be completed by the end of March.

ii.            The 20mph consultation for the east of the City started last week and had so far received 300 responses.

iii.           A number of public consultation events were planned.

iv.          The consultation on Victoria Road would start on 10 March 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

Mindful of the heavy costs awarded against the City Council at recent planning appeals, this Council urges the Review Panel charged with examining how the planning committee might avoid such costs in the future to consider the following measures and to recommend accordingly:

 

-        that planning committee meetings should be conducted with the same decorum and impartiality as a court of law.

 

-        that members of the planning committee should be required to undertake regular training [including basic training before any member sits on a planning or area committee for the first time] and to attend briefings to ensure that their knowledge of current planning law and practice is up to date and that they are fully aware of how previous decisions of the committee relate to prospective applications.

 

-        that where members of the planning committee are minded to overturn officer recommendations on major applications, that the determination of such applications should be postponed so that further advice on the potential risks and implications of that decision can be given to members by officers and others appointed to advise the planning committee.

 

-        that councillors, whose votes are contrary to officer advice and likely to trigger appeals, should be required to nominate one or more of their number to defend their decisions before an Inspector at appeal.

Councillor Hipkin proposed and Councillor Meftah seconded the following motion:

 

“Mindful of the heavy costs awarded against the City Council at recent planning appeals, this Council urges the Review Panel charged with examining how the Planning Committee might avoid such costs in the future to consider the following measures and to recommend accordingly:

 

-        that Planning Committee meetings should be conducted with the same decorum and impartiality as a court of law.

 

-        that members of the Planning Committee should be required to undertake regular training [including basic training before any member sits on a Planning or Area Committee for the first time] and to attend briefings to ensure that their knowledge of current planning law and practice is up to date and that they are fully aware of how previous decisions of the committee relate to prospective applications.

 

-        that where members of the Planning Committee are minded to overturn officer recommendations on major applications, that the determination of such applications should be postponed so that further advice on the potential risks and implications of that decision can be given to members by officers and others appointed to advise the Planning Committee.

 

-        that Councillors, whose votes are contrary to officer advice and likely to trigger appeals, should be required to nominate one or more of their number to defend their decisions before an Inspector at appeal.”

 

Councillor Ward proposed and Councillor Stuart seconded the following amendment:

 

Delete all and replace with:

 

“Mindful of the heavy costs awarded against the City Council at recent planning appeals, this Council notes that

1.    Planning Committee on 8th January agreed that a Review Panel comprising all Planning Committee members, alternates and senior officers, and facilitated by the Council’s Independent Persons, would be convened to discuss the outcome of the Station Road appeals.  A meeting of this Review Panel, has been arranged for 14th April, with the outcomes of the review meeting and any agreed further actions to be reported back to Planning Committee later

2.    The Chair of Planning Committee has wide discretion as to how to conduct the meeting and is entrusted with finding the right balance between maintaining order and allowing business to be conducted in public

3.    Planning training is provided to all new members after the elections and refresher and other training is arranged during the course of the year, which all members are encouraged to attend

 

This Council invites the Review Panel to consider, alongside its other sources of advice, views expressed by members during this debate, which may touch upon but which may not be limited to

a.    whether it would be helpful to amend the Chair’s Notes regarding the conduct of Planning Committee meetings

b.    any changes that might be desired to the programme of training for members involved in making planning decisions

c.    what part it might be helpful for members to play in defending decisions before an inspector at appeal.”

 

On a show of hands the amendment was carried unanimously.

 

Resolved (unanimously) that:

 

Mindful of the heavy costs awarded against the City Council at recent planning appeals, this Council notes that

1. Planning Committee on 8th January agreed that a Review Panel comprising all Planning Committee members, alternates and senior officers, and facilitated by the Council’s Independent Persons, would be convened to discuss the outcome of the Station Road appeals.  A meeting of this Review Panel, has been arranged for 14th April, with the outcomes of the review meeting and any agreed further actions to be reported back to Planning Committee later

2. The Chair of Planning Committee has wide discretion as to how to conduct the meeting and is entrusted with finding the right balance between maintaining order and allowing business to be conducted in public

3. Planning training is provided to all new members after the elections and refresher and other training is arranged during the course of the year, which all members are encouraged to attend

 

This Council invites the Review Panel to consider, alongside its other sources of advice, views expressed by members during this debate, which may touch upon but which may not be limited to

a.    whether it would be helpful to amend the Chair’s Notes regarding the conduct of Planning Committee meetings.

 

b.    any changes that might be desired to the programme of training for members involved in making planning decisions.

 

c.    what part it might be helpful for members to play in defending decisions before an inspector at appeal.

 

 

 

 

The Council notes that Councillor Gail Marchant-Daisley is currently unable to attend meetings of the Council due to family illness. The Council therefore, for the purposes of section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, gives its approval to Gail’s absence at meetings until notified further. The Council sends its best wishes to Gail and her partner Anne.

 

 

Councillor Herbert proposed and Councillor O’Reilly seconded the following motion:

 

“The Council notes that Councillor Gail Marchant-Daisley is currently unable to attend meetings of the Council due to family illness. The Council therefore, for the purposes of section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, gives its approval to Gail’s absence at meetings until notified further. The Council sends its best wishes to Gail and her partner Anne.”

 

Resolved (unanimously) that the motion be agreed as set out above. 

 

 

 

Members noted the written questions and answers circulated around the Chamber.