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Venue: Committee Room 1 & 2, The Guildhall, Market Square, Cambridge, CB2 3QJ. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services Committee Manager
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Apologies for Absence Minutes: None. |
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Declarations of Interest Minutes:
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Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the 19th March 2018 were agreed and signed as a correct record. |
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Public Questions Minutes: There were no public questions. |
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A
key decision by the Executive Councillor for Strategy & External
Partnerships is required which has not been on the Forward Plan giving 28 days notice of that decision. Under the Constitution, Part
4B-Access to Information Procedure Rules, this decision can still be taken if a
notice is given setting out the reasons why compliance with the publicity
requirement is impractical. The reason that this decision cannot wait until 28 days notice has passed is that a decision is needed by 31 May 2018, as explained in the officer report the timing is very relevant and therefore cannot wait until 28 days has elapsed. Additional documents:
Minutes: Matter for
Decision The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) were
required to acquire consent from constituent councils for various powers and
duties. For the CPCA, the constituent councils are Cambridgeshire County Council
and all the District Councils. Consent was being sought in respect of the power to:
i.
Levy a
Business Rates Supplement; and
ii.
Transfer
the Adult Education Budget and associated powers for the delivery of adult
education services Both these powers were allowed by statute for an elected Mayor and the CPCA but there were strict controls around their implementation. It was noted that by the Council giving the aforementioned consent it does not in any way make the Council liable for any costs associated with these powers. Decision of Executive Councillor
for Strategy and External
Partnerships
i.
Gave
consent on behalf of the Council to the making of regulations under the Local
Government Act 2003 Part 1 contained in the two ‘Draft’ Statutory Instruments
attached (Appendix 2 and Appendix 4 of the Officers report).
ii.
Asked
the Combined Authority to provide detailed background reports to member
Councils in support of such decision requests in future, including the option
of a Combined Authority Officer to attend committee meetings to explain future
proposals where requested. Reason for the Decision As set out in the Officer’s report. Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected Not applicable. Scrutiny
Considerations The Committee received a report from the Head of Legal Practice. The Head of Legal Practice said the following in response to Members’
questions:
i.
A speedy decision was needed on these matters due
to parliamentary timetabling.
ii.
Any additional costs incurred in collecting any
additional business rates would be reimbursed. Councillor Bick tabled a copy of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
East Anglia Devolution Proposal of June 2016. He raised concerns that the way
the Combined Authority was working was not in line with the original proposals.
The Committee discussed the need to maintain autonomy over local
decisions while retaining a good working relationship with the Combined
Authority. Members were unhappy that they were being asked to make quick
decisions based on limited information. Councillor Herbert stated that there was considerable cross party
and cross authority agreement on the Greater Cambridgeshire Partnership
approaches to transport, congestion and housing. Discussions were on-going with
the Mayor to align approaches on these complex matters. Rejecting the decisions
under consideration would be unhelpful to the longer term partnership approach.
There were some anomalies in the current delegations of power to the Mayor and to other bodies.
However, clear delegations to the Greater Cambridgeshire Partnership were in
place and there was capacity to deliver a transport strategy. Councillor Bick stated that the City needed to reinforce its position as
a partner and not a subordinate. He proposed the following amendment to the
recommendation (struck through words deleted and those in bold added): To give consent on behalf of the Council to
the making of regulations under the Local Government Act 2003 Part 1 contained
in the To
give consent on behalf of the Council to the making of regulations under the
Local Government Act 2003 Part 1 contained in the Draft Statutory Instrument
attached in Appendix 2, conditional upon his satisfaction that the Mayor’s
Transport Statement has been withdrawn or rejected. The amendment was lost by 2 votes 4. The Committee agreed that Combined Authority should be asked to provide
more information on any future decisions. Councillor Herbert proposed an additional recommendation as follows: To
ask the Combined Authority to provide detailed background reports to member
Councils in support of such decision requests in future, including the option
of a Combined Authority Officer to attend committee meetings to explain future
proposals where requested. The Committee resolved by 4 votes to 0 to endorse the amended
recommendations. The Executive Councillor
approved the recommendation. |