Issue - meetings

1) Councillor Bick to the Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources

How does the Executive Councillor feel about the extensive overseas marketing of the new private housing on council-owned sites at Ironworks (the former Mill Road Depot) and Timberworks (Cromwell Road) being constructed by the Council’s joint venture with Hill?

 

Executive Councillor Response:

Was not aware of any extensive overseas marketing of the private housing on the council owned sites at Cromwell Road and Mill Road. Was aware of the recent Youtube video promoting the site, this was un-authorised and had not been commissioned by Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) and the Sales Manager was seeking to get this removed.  Two online council promoted events had taken place. Sales were restricted to individual purchasers rather than bulk sales. There was a guide level of 25% of sales to overseas buyers.

 

2) Councillor S Baigent to the Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Sustainable Food and Community Well being

Can the Executive Councillor give an update on the city’s food justice work and, in particular, comment on whether there are any plans for Cambridge to become a Right to Food City?

 

Executive Councillor Response:

The Council played an active role within the city’s Food Poverty Alliance and were long term supporters of a whole range of food justice programmes, which includes holiday hunger projects, food hubs and emergency food aid. The Food Poverty Alliance was vital during the pandemic and the Council planned to continue its support. Work now was moving from food poverty to food justice. Would be exploring the ‘Right to Food’ campaign with the Food Poverty Alliance.

 

3) Councillor Sargeant to the Executive Councillor for Communities

We hear a lot about the allocation of community grants, but sometimes less about what happens to those grants. Could the executive councillor please update us on the outcomes of some of the activities which have received funding in previous years?

 

Executive Councillor response:

Every award made was monitored against activity and outcomes contained within the grant agreement. A few example case studies included: the Money Advice Centre (MAC) and debt advice. John came to the MAC with a folder detailing his debts. It took over 100 hours to work out what debt he had and who he owed money to. This work was undertaken by MAC staff and volunteers. John would be debt free in a few months. He had turned his life around and the MAC was thrilled to have worked with him. Another example included the Meadows Children and Family wing funding which was used for a family support project. 

 

Councillors thanked Jackie Hanson for all the work she had undertaken with the Grants Team and the community, she would be missed following her retirement. 

 

4) Councillor Hauk to the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport

Could the Executive Councillor please confirm that she is committed to working with the Cambridge South station development process to ensure that Hobson's Park and its vital biodiversity and amenity areas are protected as much as possible during and after any works that may take place.

 

Executive Councillor response:

Strong statements had been made by officers in the Shared Planning Service, the Street and Open Spaces Team and Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Sustainable Food and Community Wellbeing to the recent public examination regarding the proposals for Cambridge South Station. This included objecting to the proposals for a number of reasons, including concerns about the implications on Hobson’s Park. As a result of substantial engagement and the council’s objections the promoters of the station made a number of amendments to the proposals aimed at reducing the impacts of the construction phase and ensuring that the final post-construction mitigation proposals met the Council’s biodiversity and recreational objectives. Subject to these changes the Council was then able to support the proposals.

 

5) Councillor D.Baigent to the Executive Councillor for Housing

Can the Exec Cllr provide information on the additional winter support for rough sleepers in Cambridge?

 

Executive Councillor response:

The severe weather emergency provision (SWEP) consisted of several communal spaces where people could sleep for the night, with the expectation that they would vacate the building the following morning. This winter 20 beds were available at the Cross Way site in Chesterton through the charity ‘It takes a city’ with grant funding and support including from the Council. Beds were available to rough sleepers who were identified by the Outreach Team and were locally connected to the city. In previous arrangements bed were only available during periods of severe weather. From November 2021 – 28 February 2022, winter provision was open permanently, this was also to be extended into March if there was a period of severe weather, which would have triggered the SWEP. This was a much more stable environment allowing each resident to have their own room. The facility also sought to enable residents to move on to suitable long term accommodation. The Street Outreach Team also sought to contact all known rough sleepers during the stormy weather to ensure that they had appropriate accommodation.

 

6) Councillor Hauk to the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport

Following the recent collapse of a roof wall in Whittle Avenue, Trumpington, during storm Eunice, what is the Council doing and what will it do to ensure that the new developments are and will be built up to the required and expected standards, especially with respect to the health and safety of their residents.

 

Executive Councillor response:

Storm Eunice was an extreme case and effected some buildings across the country and in Cambridge. As soon as the council became aware of the issue, a building control officer visited the location and discussions took place with the management agent and owners to ensure the safety of residents within the building. Responsibility for building safety sat with the person carrying out the construction work and inspections were carried out during construction by Building Control Surveyors (either by Approved Inspectors or the local authority Building Control Service).  The Council was currently trying to raise awareness with architects and agents, residents and communities of the importance of complying with the minimum standards of building control through a number of awareness sessions which were open to all and were taking place virtually. Were investigating about engaging with developers and agents at the earliest point within the build process to secure a voluntary commitment to building control standards which may be above the minimum standards.  The City Council did not undertaken the building control work on the Whittle Avenue development.

 

7) Councillor Bird to the Executive Councillor for Communities

Following on from the council's recent stand on racism against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities, what will be taking place to enhance our community development work with those communities and to promote and celebrate GRT culture

 

Executive Councillor response:

As part of the transformation programme, the work undertaken in the Communities Team was being reviewed, including whether what the council currently does meets the needs of the communities and if there was anything that the council needed to do differently. As part of this work it was being explored whether a new post was required to specially support GRT families and the community. Felt it was important to give a platform to celebrate GRT culture. A specific project was being set up, which would be held at the Corn Exchange. There would also be activities at Midsummer Fair too.

 

8) Councillor Payne to the Executive Councillor for Climate Change, Environment and City Centre

Does the Executive Councillor think that there is a fundamental problem with Green Bin collection in Cambridge?

 

Executive Councillor response:

She did not think there was a fundamental problem with the green bin collection in Cambridge, the Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Team had been doing an outstanding job during the covid-19 pandemic. The staff worked day in and day out when many others could work safely from home. The service had been impacted by staff illness. There was also a shortage of agency workers who would normally have been employed to fill any gaps. The service had also been impacted by Brexit and the HGV driver shortages. The council had a statutory duty to collect residual waste and recycling; green bin collection was a discretionary service. When there was a staffing shortage blue and black bin collections were therefore prioritised. Acknowledged recently that 30% of green bins had been unable to be collected on time but crews had worked over time to catch up.

 

The following oral questions were tabled but owing to the expiry of the period of time permitted, were not covered during the meeting.

 

9) Councillor Sweeney to the Leader of the Council

Given the Government's recent announcement that it is going to remove most of the remaining covid protections, what is the leader's message to Cambridge residents?

 

10) Councillor Pounds to the Executive Councillor for Housing

Can the Exec Cllr for Housing give an update on the government’s ‘First Homes’ policy

 

11) Councillor Payne to the Executive Councillor for Climate Change, Environment and City Centre

Can the Executive Councillor offer an update on the development towards a city-wide litter strategy?

 

12) Councillor Lee to the Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Sustainable Food and Community Well Being

Whilst noting that national regulation is needed for pavement and highway usage, will the Executive Councillor agree to work cross party within the city, with our County colleagues and with local volunteer groups to look at how best to promote the safe use of (legal) e-bikes and e-scooters and deter antisocial and illegal use across our city council open spaces and shared paths, moving at speed and often without lights, putting pedestrians and vulnerable road users at risk?

 

13) Councillor Copley to the Leader of the Council

Despite covid restrictions being rolled back, a number of residents are still vulnerable and / or shielding due to their health conditions. How can the council best support these residents as they continue living with uncertainty and personal covid risk?

 

14) Councillor Scutt to the Executive Councillor for Communities

Can the executive councillor provide an update on the plans for lending, loaning and reuse projects in the city?

 

15) Councillor H. Davies to the Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Sustainable Food and Community Well being

Council has been really encouraged to see the start of the herbicide-free trial this year. Can the Executive Councillor update members on progress so far, and timescales for action?

 

16) Councillor Dalzell to the Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Sustainable Food and Community Well Being

Our Council owns a number of enclosed green spaces that do provide important refuge for nature. When these sites are licensed for use by third parties, what steps does the Council take to ensure that local wildlife is suitably protected?

 

17) Councillor Porrer to the Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Sustainable Food and Community Well being

Could the Executive Councillor for Open Spaces please provide an update on the proposed electricity supply to the centre of Parker's Piece, which is going to be essential to stop future fossil fuel use at events contracted with the council to take place on this land.

 

18) Councillor Healy to the Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Sustainable Food and Community Well being

Can the Executive Councillor update members on the partnership working with other local councils to support the national scheme to resettle Afghan refugees?

 

19) Councillor D Baigent to the Leader of the Council

What is the leader's response to the recent levelling up white paper?