Issue - meetings

1) Councillor Payne to the Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control, and Infrastructure

 

Do you think a Development Corporation for Cambridge is a good idea?

 

The Leader responded:

      i.          ‘No’ in principle, but it depended on circumstances in reality. Would look at the details of the proposal about the problems the Development Corporation was trying to fix if an application was made (one had not been). Queried if the Development Corporation would be fit for purpose.

     ii.          Expected the Democratic Leaders of the City Council and South Cambs District Council to be involved in the Development Corporation. Not members appointed by Central Government. Residents needed a voice.

 

2) Councillor McPherson to the Executive Councillor for Community Wealth Building and Community Safety

 

Can the Exec Cllr for Community Wealth Building and Community Safety update the Council on the work of the Cambridge BID?

 

The Executive Councillor responded:

      i.          Cambridge BID (Business Improvement District) had undertaken several initiatives and activities this year to support local businesses and enhance the city for residents and visitors.

     ii.          Areas of work included:

a.    Purple Flag and Night-time economy – the BID were a key partner in Purple Flag Group, which brings together the Cambridge BID, city council, police, local business, Cambridge Businesses Against Crime, voluntary services and higher education organisations to help keep Cambridge safe, particularly in relation to the night-time economy. This included providing funding for Taxi Marshalls to help people to get home safely, street pastors to help people in distress and a communication network run by the police and CAMBAC for venues to alert each other about suspicious behaviour when people were moving between venues. As a result Cambridge had retained Purple Flag status since 2019.

b.    Street Cleaning: The BID continued to fund additional street cleaning and a rapid response service to help keep the city centre streets clean, deal with graffiti and fly tipping.

c.    Events: The Cambridge BID had organized a range of events and arts and cultural activities to bring vibrancy to the city. These include the organising and funding the Cambridge Christmas Lights and switch on events, support for the ‘Out of the Ordinary’ street arts festival last summer and the upcoming Standing Tall Sculpture Trail which followed the successful Cows About Cambridge in 2021 and will offer families a free and fun way to explore the city and help raise money for the BREAK charity which supported young care leavers. It also had a grant funding pot which supported locally organised events throughout the year.

 

3) Councillor Pounds to the Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources

 

Can the Executive Councillor explain how the Government's confirmed Local Government Finance Settlement impacts our Council and residents?

 

The Executive Councillor responded:

      i.          The City Council needed certainty to deliver services.

     ii.          It had received the annual settlement late so had to plan how to delivery services and balance the budget without financial certainty.

   iii.          Changes to Central Government funding made it hard to deliver services. It was hard to delivery services due to Central Government austerity.

 

4) Councillor Griffin (on behalf of Councillor Ashton) to the Leader

 

Can you update Council regarding progress on Cambridge 2040?

 

The Leader responded:

      i.          Michael Gove made an announcement in the Sunday Times July 2023 about supercharging Cambridge to make it the science capital of Europe by building new homes.

     ii.          Funding was announced for a multi-agency group to address water scarcity and boost local planning capacity (£9m announced for this so far which could assist schemes that had stalled from 2018 Local Plan). Support was also offered from Homes England for North East Cambridge development.

   iii.          Michael Gove met Council Leaders in December 2023 then made an announcement in the paper without first liaising with South Cambs and City Council Leaders.

   iv.          City Officers were working with civil servants.

    v.          There was a good working relationship between South Cambs and City Council Leaders plus Peter Freeman (Chair of Homes England).

   vi.          Was not aware what would be included in the Budget Speech. Undertook to update Council in future.

 

5) Councillor Divkovic to the Executive Councillor for Housing & Homelessness

 

In August 2023, the Council was reaccredited by the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance. What does the accreditation signify?

 

The Executive Councillor responded:

      i.          The Council was first accredited by DAHA in 2019. The accreditation was recognised as a national benchmark for how housing providers should respond to domestic abuse, given that they were in a unique position to identify it, prevent it and provide help for people suffering its effects.

     ii.          To achieve its re-accreditation the Council had to meet new, more rigorous DAHA criteria to demonstrate the quality of service it provided to those seeking housing advice, and supporting tenants, residents and council staff who may be experiencing domestic abuse.

   iii.          As part of the accreditation process DAHA assessors inspected the council’s procedures and case files, and interviewed staff.

   iv.          The assessors praised the Council’s work, including:

a.    The quality of risk assessments completed.

b.    Demonstrating a proactive approach to identifying signs of domestic abuse in people approaching the council for housing support, plus other residents and council staff.

c.    Providing a trauma informed, non-judgemental and believing response.

d.    Partnering with other agencies to tailor the service provided according to survivors’ individual needs.

    v.          The reaccreditation demonstrated the Council’s commitment to supporting residents who experience all forms of domestic abuse. The Council would continue to make improvements to  services based on feedback from survivors.

 

6) Councillor Nestor to the Executive Councillor for Communities

 

In 2023, the Cambridge Folk Festival was awarded Greener Festival Outstanding Certification. As work is going into promoting and arranging the 2024 festival, could the Executive Councillor for communities let us know what work is the Council doing to build on this certification?

 

The Executive Councillor responded:

      i.          “Outstanding” means the Council had (at the festival):

a.    Reduced greenhouse gas emissions and its carbon footprint.

b.    Minimised water use.

c.    Excellent travel, transport and food waste policies.

     ii.          To build on this in 2024 the Council aimed to:

a.    Further reduce water consumption by using compost toilets.

b.    Encourage re-use of equipment through a repair café to discourage broken/wonky items going to landfill.

c.    Introduce a share initiative around camping equipment to reduce the amount of items brough onto site.

d.    Encourage people to bring their own crockery and cutlery to reduce waste.

e.    Encourage people to use less water.

f.      ‘Sew Positive’ would be present to reduce waste and increase recycling.

 

7) Councillor Lee to the Leader

 

In light of a recent Housing Scrutiny Committee where the Executive Councillor not only failed to answer a member of the public’s supplementary question, but instead answered someone else’s question, how can the Leader of the Council ensure that when the public asks the Council questions, the public are listened to, respected and have their questions answered in a coherent way?

 

The Leader responded:

      i.          All Executive Councillors were dedicated and committed to their portfolio.

     ii.          The error was unintentional and the Executive Councillor apologised.

   iii.          The Executive Councillor listened to, and advocated for, her residents.

   iv.          If the questioner wished to resubmit the same question in writing, a response would be given again in writing or informally as the questioner wished.

 

8) Councillor Todd-Jones to the Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control and Infrastructure

 

How is the Design Code trial progressing in the North of the city, and how might it help improve the planning process in the long run?

 

The Executive Councillor responded:

      i.          The Design Code trial was progressing well. There were three phases to the project.

     ii.          A consultation had been undertaken.

   iii.          There had been a design review of the Code jointly between Cambridge City Council,  Greater Cambridge Design Review Panel and the Cambridgeshire Quality Panel.

   iv.          It took six months to prepare the Code.

    v.          The Planning Service would learn from this experience for other master planning activity.

 

9) Councillor Varkey to the Executive Councillor for Open Spaces and City Services

 

Could the Executive Councillor for Open Spaces and City Services explain whether (and if so, how) the County Council's recent decision to reinstate herbicide spraying will affect our ambition not to use herbicides in our regular operations?

 

The Executive Councillor responded:

      i.          On 23 January the County Council Highways Committee reviewed their earlier decision and reinstated herbicide spraying.

     ii.          The City Council was running a trial not to use weedkillers.

   iii.          The City Council hoped to work with the County Council to encourage the elimination of herbicide use.

   iv.          The County Council said they would not use chemicals/herbicides in areas which had alternative plans. The County Council recognised the City Council was one such area as it had a Herbicide Reduction Plan ie alternatives to herbicides.

 

A full list of oral questions including those not asked during the meeting can be found in the Information Pack, which is published on the meeting webpage Agenda for Council on Thursday, 29th February, 2024, 6.00 pm - Cambridge Council.

This item was deferred to the adjourned council meeting taking place on 29 February 2024.