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Venue: via Microsoft Teams
Contact: Democratic Services Committee Manager
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Apologies Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillors Ashton, Sheil and Tunnacliffe and Councillor McPherson provided apologies for lateness. Councillors Page-Croft and Sargeant indicated that they would need to leave the meeting part way through.
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To consider the recommendations of Committees for adoption |
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Civic Affairs: Pay Policy Statement 2021/22 PDF 183 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Resolved (unanimously): i. Approved the draft Pay Policy Statement
2021/22 attached as Appendix 1 of the Officer’s report. ii. Delegated authority to the Head of Human Resources to update the Pay Policy Statement 2021/22 should a chief executive and/or chief officer and/or NJC pay award be agreed. |
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Civic Affairs: Member Allowances - review by the Independent Remuneration Panel PDF 188 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Resolved (unanimously): i.
Approved
the 2020/21 allowance scheme (attached to the officer’s report) and that it is
not index linked for 2021/22 (ie. kept at the rate
for 2020/21). |
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Licensing Committee: Statement of Licensing Policy PDF 179 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: Resolved (unanimously): i. Considered the results of the public
consultation exercise as summarised in Appendix B of the Officer’s report. ii. Approved the amended Statement of Licensing Policy attached to the Officer’s report as Appendix D. Appendix C included tracked changes showing the amendments that have been made. |
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Licensing Committee: Cumulative Impact Assessment PDF 177 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: Resolved (unanimously):
i.
Considered the results of the public consultation
exercise as summarised in Appendix B of the Officer’s report and the
information provided by Cambridge Constabulary and Public Health before the
public consultation as attached to the Officer’s report as Appendix C.
ii.
Approved the proposed Cumulative Impact Assessment
attached to the Officer’s report as Appendix D. Appendix E is the current
section in the Statement of Licensing Policy on the cumulative impact of a
concentration of licensed premises. |
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To deal with oral questions Minutes: From: Cllr Payne To: Ex Cllr for Climate Change,Environment and City Centre After a Liberal Democrat motion highlighted the dramatic increase in littering over the summer months, the Environment and Community Scrutiny Committee recently unanimously supported a new litter strategy. While work on this strategy begins, what immediate steps will the Council take to try to prevent another inundation of litter as outdoor socialising begins? The Executive Councillor responded: Officers had worked tirelessly during the pandemic. The Executive Councillor did not agree there was a litter problem in the city in 2020. There was some littering in known hot spots and the cleansing team cleared these areas before daytime use of the open spaces commenced. Littering was a general issue experienced by local authorities across the country during the pandemic. Following publication of the Government roadmap out of lockdown, officers were meeting to discuss ways forward and what measures needed to be put in place in advance of the summer period, including advice, guidance and enforcement. Question 2 From: Cllr Gehring To: Leader Brexit continues to be a greatly unsettling process,
especially for EU citizens. How is the Council ensuring that EU citizens will
excercise their right to vote in the upcoming local elections for Council,
County, P&C Commissioner and Metromayor? The Executive Councillor responded: The Council continued to give its full support to EU citizens. It was a key priority to make EU citizens aware that they could and were welcome to vote. A leaflet was to be sent out with all council tax bills giving advice regarding the EU resettlement scheme and also about registering to vote. The Cambridge Matters magazine would be sent to all households in Cambridge and would contain articles regarding the EU resettlement scheme and advice regarding voting. In May every political position was up for election in Cambridge except the MP and it was therefore vital that everyone who was entitled to vote could vote. Urged people to apply for a postal vote to ensure that they could exercise their democratic right. Question 3 From: Cllr O'Reilly To: Leader What are the city council’ s priorities so Cambridge recovers strong when COVID is beaten? The Executive Councillor responded: The well organised vaccination programme in Cambridge was helping but the city wasn’t fully protected yet. Noted and agreed that people needed to stick to the Covid rules set out in the Government’s roadmap. Recovery needed to be based on the virus being controlled. There were four forms of recovery: economic, social, environmental and the council itself. Economic and social recovery were linked. The city had 2,100 additional people claiming universal credit. The Council would be working closely with its partners to get the recovery right. The Council would need to improve the way it delivered its services with less finance. Question 4 From: Cllr Bird To: Ex Cllr for Communities What is the council doing to support LGBTQ+ history
month? The Executive Councillor responded: LGBTQ+ history month celebrated the lives and
achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. It ensured
stories were heard and voices were not silenced; their contribution to history
had often been ignored. The City Council was proud to support and fund this
month in February. Thanked the Encompass Network for their online events. Noted
that there was still a lot of work to do and noted an extract from the Equality
Pledge which stated ‘Wanted Cambridge to be a safe, welcoming and inclusive
place’. Question 5 From: Cllr Matthews To: Ex Cllr for Planning Policy and Open Spaces The planning department appears to be becoming
stricter with the timelines available to councillors to “call-in” applications
so that they can be decided by the planning committee. Are there clear
guidelines for councillors on when to call-in applications to committee? Could
councillors be given clarity in writing on how the planning department’s
discretionary powers are now being applied to call-ins after the official
deadlines? The Executive Councillor
responded: Wasn’t aware that Officers were becoming stricter with
timelines for councillors to ‘call in’ applications. The procedure for the
‘call in’ of an application to Planning Committee were set out in the Planning
Committee Scheme of Delegation which was contined in the Council’s
Constitution. This was reviewed as part of the Statement of Community Involvement
which was updated in 2019. The procedure stated that within 21 days of the date
of publication of the weekly list or within 14 days of any significant
amendments any member including County Council members representing a city ward
could request in writing that the application should be determined by the
Planinng Committee. The request had to include the planning grounds on which
the request was based. Timelines were strict as planning applications needed to
be determined in accordance with statutory timescales. Question 6 From: Cllr McGerty To: Ex Cllr for Transport and Community Safety Wednesday’s meeting of the Greater Cambridge
Partnership Joint Assembly provided some interesting updates on plans to ease
congestion and resulting pollution around the Cambridge Biomedical Campus,
including progress on Cambridge South Station, the Cambridge Southeast
Transport scheme and various walking and cycling projects. Would the leader of
the council join me in welcoming these measures? The Executive Councillor responded: Transport around the two hospitals was key for
patients, visitors and staff. Noted that further hospitals were due to be built
on the site. Welcomed improvements to the biomedical campus especially walking,
cycling and sustainable transport improvements. Question 7 From: Cllr Baigent To: Leader What obligations do local political parties in
Cambridge have to follow Government national safety guidance during the current
lockdown on campaigning? The Executive Councillor responded: Everyone needed to follow the Covid rules, including
political parties. Subject to safety
precautions, policitical parties were able to start campaigning from the 8
March 2021. Question 8 From: Cllr Porrer To: Leader Would the Leader of the council agree that we need to
continue to make representations to the ONS (Office of National Statistics) to
ensure that the Census on 21st March 2021 fully accounts for those in our
community who may not currently be resident in our city. In particular those in
our EU and International student populations who may not have had accommodation
in the city over the pandemic, and who won't otherwise be counted. The Executive Councillor responded: The census was vital and provided high quality data.
There were problems with the 2011 census as this underestimated the number of
students at Anglia Ruskin University and Cambridge University. Cambridge was a
dynamic city with a lot of movement. A
significant number of students, researchers, academics, post graduates and
people from the hospitality sector would not be in the city when the census
took place. The risk was that the census severely underestimated Cambridge’s
population and deprived the city of funding for health, schools, police and
councils. Asked everyone to complete the census. Was disappointed that the
Government did not follow the Scottish Government and hold the census in 2022. Question 9 From: Cllr Hadley To: Ex Cllr for Planning Policy and Open Spaces Are there any interesting outcomes from Draft Chalk
Stream Project Report? The Executive Councillor responded: There were lots of interesting outcomes from the report.
For each stretch of the chalk streams, 9 features were assessed and ranked red,
amber or green representing poor, moderate and good state. The emphasis was on
the ecological quality of the streams. Only 1 stretch had a feature without a
red designation, 2 stretches had 7, 12 stretches were designated red because
they had invasive species. 11 stretches had weirs or barriers which disrupted
the passage of fish. 8 stretches were designated red because the flow regime
did not support biodiversity. Only 1 stretch was designated green for flow and
that had a caveat that it had become more prone to low flows in the last 10
years. 46 projects had been put forward for improvments as a result of the
report totalling an estimated £300,000. Would be working with South Cambs
District Council, the County Council and Water Resources East and their
partners. Question 10 From: Cllr Sheil To: Ex Cllr for Housing Can the Executive Councillor provide an update on the
council’s work helping support rough sleepers during the pandemic into
sustainable, longer-term housing placements? The Executive Councillor responded: Since the beginning of the pandemic 297 offers of
accommodation had been made, this included repeated refusals and offers to
previously evicted people. As at 19
February 2021, there were 37 rough sleepers in temporary accommodation. Since
March 2020, 132 people had been moved into longer term accommodation or had
found an alternative permanent solution. In terms of longer term accommodation
options had agreed with landlords in the private sector for 10 properties for
rent and had the council had agreed to pay the rent to these landlords. Funding
for this had come from a grant from the Ministry of Housing Communities and
Local Government. There were 4 modular homes at Dundee Close and 6 in Kings
Hedges were due to go online in March. 6 further modular homes had been given
permission at Barnes Close in Abbey. Question 11 From: Cllr Thittala To: Leader Given the Covid 19 impact on the BAME community, what
measures are in place to provide additional support to the community in
Cambridge? The Executive Councillor responded: The Council and its partners had been in regular
contact with different minority ethnic groups and organisations across the city.
This included the mosque and the Ethnic Community Forum. The Council had
focussed on hard to reach groups including those most at risk. Ethnicity was a
big issue in the pandemic, welcomed the response of leaders in those
communities. Noted a number of people in Cambridge did not use English as their
first language. Question 12 From: Cllr McQueen To: Ex Cllr for Communities What impact does the executive councillor think that
universal credit has had on the people of Cambridge? The Executive Councillor responded: There
was a 5-week delay before people were able to receive their money, which forced
people into debt if they took out a loan. The default to 1 payment per
household was problematic if people were victims of domestic abuse. The Council
had done what it could to mitigate the negative impacts of Universal Credit
including the provision of a dedicated universal credit support officer, a
financial inclusion officer, retained the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and
funded an outreach worker at the Citizens Advice Bureau. There were 1218
claimants on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme in February 2020, this had
doubled to 2458. A fair system was required which did not patronise or punish
people. Details
of the oral questions which were tabled but were not covered during the meeting
can be found in the Information Pack via Agenda for Council on Monday, 1st March, 2021, 6.30 pm -
Cambridge Council. |
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To consider the following notices of motion, notice of which has been given by: |
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Councillor Bick: The future of Cambridge city centre Council is aware of the large
structural changes in the retail sector occurring during the pandemic, both
reflecting and accelerating the trend towards online shopping, and that recent
bankruptcies impact a significant proportion of retail space in Cambridge city
centre; Council believes that this has the
potential for profound impact not only on the precious environment in the
centre itself but also on the economic and social contribution it makes to the
whole of our city and beyond; that this represents a challenge beyond
straight-forward bounce-back recovery; and that it is therefore timely and
opportune to start a conversation to take stock of the centre's recent
evolution and to re-imagine it for the future, using a placemaking approach in
the public interest. It resolves that the council, as the
city’s representative body and, with its key roles in planning, streets &
open spaces and commercial property ownership, should lead this process,
working with partners and stakeholders and involving the public: the broad aim
of the exercise to maintain the city centre as a destination of vitality and
jobs for local people, and of hospitality to its many visitors, in a way which
complements its identity as historic university city encircled by public open
spaces and residential areas and growing city quarters with neighbourhood
centres of their own. In the process it urges consideration
of:
Council requests the Chief Executive to
bring an initial report to the July meeting of Strategy & Resources
Scrutiny Committee on how the council can most effectively start to take this
matter forward. Minutes: Councillor
Bick proposed and Councillor Porrer seconded the following motion: Council is aware of the large structural
changes in the retail sector occurring during the pandemic, both reflecting and
accelerating the trend towards online shopping, and that recent bankruptcies
impact a significant proportion of retail space in Cambridge city centre; Council believes that this has the
potential for profound impact not only on the precious environment in the
centre itself but also on the economic and social contribution it makes to the
whole of our city and beyond; that this represents a challenge beyond straight-forward
bounce-back recovery; and that it is therefore timely and opportune to start a
conversation to take stock of the centre's recent evolution and to re-imagine
it for the future, using a placemaking approach in the public interest. It resolves that the council, as the
city’s representative body and, with its key roles in planning, streets &
open spaces and commercial property ownership, should lead this process,
working with partners and stakeholders and involving the public: the broad aim
of the exercise to maintain the city centre as a destination of vitality and
jobs for local people, and of hospitality to its many visitors, in a way which
complements its identity as historic university city encircled by public open
spaces and residential areas and growing city quarters with neighbourhood
centres of their own. In the process it urges consideration
of:
Council requests the Chief Executive to
bring an initial report to the July meeting of Strategy & Resources
Scrutiny Committee on how the council can most effectively start to take this
matter forward.
The pandemic has had a major impact on the
We therefore welcome the proposed appointment
of the Economic Recovery Officer as set out in the Budget Setting Report.
·
The work of the Economic Recovery
Officer in facilitating the recovery of the city centre and neighbourhood
shopping areas
Council requests the Chief Executive to
bring a report to the July meeting of Strategy & Resources Scrutiny
Committee on the ongoing work that the council has taken to respond to the
needs of the City. On a show of hands the amendment was carried by 21 votes to 0. Resolved (by 21 votes
to 0) that: The pandemic has
had a major impact on the precious environment of the city centre itself and also on the economic
and social contribution it makes to the whole of our city and beyond. Equally concerning
has been the effect of COVID 19 on neighbourhood shopping areas such as Mill
Rd, Cherry Hinton Rd, Arbury Ct., Chesterton Road and Chesterton High St.
Council recognises the work undertaken to date to prepare for the future and
thanks all City Council staff for their outstanding endeavours over the last 12
months. Council notes the structural changes in the retail sector that have
occurred over the last twelve months and of the significant challenge still to
come. Therefore, it is timely to take stock, and review and coordinate our
ongoing activity with an eye to the future. We therefore welcome the proposed appointment of the
Economic Recovery Officer as set out in the Budget Setting Report. We also
resolve that the council, as the city’s representative body and, with its key
roles in planning, streets & open spaces and commercial property ownership,
should continue to lead the process of preparing the City’s recovery, building
on the effective work undertaken to date to respond to COVID19. This work
should be undertaken in conjunction with the Cambridge Business Development (BID),
established partnerships such as the GCP and the Combined Authority, working
with stakeholders and actively involving the public. The proposed Review will consider: ·
The work of the Economic Recovery Officer in
facilitating the recovery of the city centre and neighbourhood shopping areas
Council requests the Chief Executive to bring a report to
the July meeting of Strategy & Resources Scrutiny Committee on the ongoing
work that the council has taken to respond to the needs of the City. |
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Councillor Massey: Domestic Abuse in the Workplace As an organisation Cambridge City
Council is committed to the Work to Stop Domestic Abuse campaign. Cambridge
City Council fully recognise that for many people, the workplace is not just a
vital source of independent income but can also be a source of support, which
enables staff to be safe at home and at work. Much has been done by the Council
to date, however the GMB has recently introduced a Charter which identifies
good practice, and now is the time to review our practice using the Charter as
a model. Everyone has a responsibility to end domestic abuse and as an
organisation, Cambridge City Council will commit to the following actions:
Minutes: Councillor Massey proposed and Councillor Davey seconded the following motion. As an organisation Cambridge City Council
is committed to the Work to Stop Domestic Abuse campaign. Cambridge City
Council fully recognise that for many people, the workplace is not just a vital
source of independent income but can also be a source of support, which enables
staff to be safe at home and at work. Much has been done by the Council to
date, however the GMB has recently introduced a Charter which identifies good
practice, and now is the time to review our practice using the Charter as a
model. Everyone has a responsibility to end domestic abuse and as an
organisation, Cambridge City Council will commit to the following actions:
Resolved (unanimously)
to support the motion. |
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Councillor Payne: Young Carers' Action Day Council commends
the young people in Cambridge who selflessly provide care for others. • Caring for
someone can be isolating, worrying and stressful. For young carers, this can
negatively impact on their experiences and outcomes in education, having a
lasting effect on their life chances. • Each year, The
Carers Trust has organised a Young Carers’ Action Awareness Day. In 2021 this
will be renamed Young Carers’ Action Day and marked on March 16. • The purpose of
the day is to raise public awareness of the challenges faced by young people
and young adults because of their caring role, and to campaign for greater
support for young carers to meet their needs.
Minutes: Councillor Payne proposed and Councillor Chadwick seconded the following motion. • Caring for someone can be isolating, worrying and
stressful. For young carers, this can negatively impact on their experiences
and outcomes in education, having a lasting effect on their life chances. • Each year, The Carers Trust has organised a Young
Carers’ Action Awareness Day. In 2021 this will be renamed Young Carers’ Action
Day and marked on March 16. • The purpose of the day is to raise public
awareness of the challenges faced by young people and young adults because of
their caring role, and to campaign for greater support for young carers to meet
their needs.
The Executive Councillor asked to note the Council’s thanks to the
following organisations for their support to young carers: Caring Together Pinpoint - siblings and carers in Cambridgeshire Big Sibs at Student Community Action Young Sibs, a national organisation Young Carers The Carers Trust Resolved
(unanimously) to support the motion. |
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Written questions No discussion will take place on this
item. Members will be asked to note the written questions and answers document as
circulated around the Chamber.
Minutes: Members were asked to note the written questions and answers
that had been published in the Information Pack via. |