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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1 & 2, The Guildhall, Market Square, Cambridge, CB2 3QJ. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services  Committee Manager

Items
No. Item

18/22/Civ

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Rob Bennett the Council’s Independent Person.

 

18/23/Civ

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made.

18/24/Civ

Minutes pdf icon PDF 202 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 March 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

18/25/Civ

Public Questions

Minutes:

There were no public questions.

 

18/26/Civ

Officer Delegated Decision

18/26/Civa

Implementation of the National Joint Council Pay Award for 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Minutes:

The decision was noted.

18/27/Civ

Committee Appointments for Municipal Year 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 250 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a paper setting out the proposed Committee allocations by party and the nominations received. The Committee considered the rules on political balance set out in the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 in developing the recommendations set out below.

 

Councillor Bick confirmed that Councillor Page-Croft would become a substantive member of the Licensing Committee rather than an alternate member following the adjustment to the Licensing Committee size.

 

The Committee noted the nominations.

 

Resolved (unanimously) to:

 

Recommend to Council to agree the number and size of committees, and to note the nominations listed below:

 

Ordinary Committee

 

 

Environment and Community Scrutiny Committee 10 (6 Labour + 3 Lib Dem + 1I/G)

Smart, Bird, Massey, Sheil, Barnett, Thittala

 

O’Connell, McGerty, Martinelli

 

Gillespie

 

Alternates - Sargeant, O’Reilly, Gehring, Nethsingha

 

Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee  8 (5 Labour + 2 Lib Dem + 1I/G)

Sargeant, Smart, Baigent, Thornburrow, McQueen

 

Bick, Payne

 

Hipkin

 

Alternates – TBC Lab, TBC Lab, Dalzell, TBC Lib Dem

 

Housing Scrutiny Committee 8 (5 Labour + 3 Lib Dem)

Todd-Jones, Bird, Thittala, Thornburrow, Sheil

 

Cantrill, Payne, McGerty

 

Alternates – Barnett, Sinnott, Page-Croft, TBC Lib Dem

 

Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee 6 (4 Labour + 2 Lib Dem)

Barnett, Baigent, Sargeant, Sinnott

 

Bick, Dalzell

 

Alternates – Massey, TBC Lab, Cantrill, TBC Lib Dem

 

Civic Affairs Committee 6 (4 Labour + 2 Lib Dem)

McPherson, Benstead, Gawthrope, Robertson,

 

O’Connell, Dalzell

 

Alternate – Sargeant, Martinelli

 

Employment (Senior Officer) Committee 6 (4 Labour +2 Lib Dem)

Blencowe, Hart, Herbert, Price

 

Bick, Nethsingha

 

Licensing Committee 12 (8 Labour+ 4 Lib Dem)

Bird, Thittala, Moore, Gawthrope, Benstead, McPherson, Sargeant, McQueen

 

Pippas, Gehring, Holt, Page-Croft

 

Alternates – TBC Lab, TBC Lib Dem

 

Planning Committee 10 (6 Labour+ 3 Lib Dem + 1 I/G)

Smart, Blencowe, McQueen, Hart, Sinnott, Thornburrow

 

Tunnacliffe, Nethsingha, Page-Croft.

 

Hipkin

 

Alternates – TBC Lab Holt

 

Cambridge City Joint Area Committee (with County Council) 6 (4 Labour + 2  Lib Dem )

Sargeant, Bird, Blencowe, Robertson

 

Gehring, Holt

 

Alternates - Smart, Payne

 

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority - 1 seat

Herbert, Leader of the Council 

 

Alternate - Price

 

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee 1 Labour + 1 Lib Dem

Sargeant

 

Gehring

 

Alternates – Thornburrow, Holt

 

 

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Audit and Governance Committee 1 Labour + one alternate

Robertson

 

Alternate – Ashton

 

Greater Cambridge City Deal Joint Assembly 3 (2 Labour + 1 Lib Dem)

Price, Massey,

 

Bick

 

Joint Development Control Committee - Cambridge Fringes 6 (4 Labour+ 2 Lib Dem)

Blencowe, Smart, Bird, Price

 

Tunnacliffe, Page-Croft

 

Alternates- Thornburrow, Sargeant, Holt, Nethsingha

 

 

 

18/28/Civ

Nominations for Chairs and Vice Chairs for Municipal Year 2018/19

Minutes:

The Committee received nominations for Chairs and Vice Chairs of Scrutiny and Regulatory Committees.

 

Resolved (unanimously) to:

 

     i.        Agree the nominations for Chairs and Vice Chairs as below:

 

 

Chair

Vice Chair

Environment and Community Services

Smart

Bird

Planning and Transport

Sargeant

Smart

Housing

Todd-Jones

Bird

(nb. Tenant/Leaseholder is Chair of Part 1 of the meeting)

Strategy & Resources

Barnett

Baigent

Civic Affairs

McPherson

Benstead

Licensing

Bird

Thittala

Planning

Smart

Blencowe

JDCC

Blencowe as Lead Cllr

 

18/29/Civ

Constitutional Amendments

Minutes:

Resolved (unanimously):

 

To recommend to Council the changes to the Constitution as set out below:

 

1.   An amendment to the Committee designated as the Crime and Disorder Committee as required under the Police and Justice Act 2006, this will now be the Environment and Community Scrutiny Committee (extract of the amendment to the Constitution detailed below).

 

6.1    Strategy and Resources (Scrutiny) Committee

 

Terms of Reference

1.Overview and scrutiny of the functions for which the Leader (and Executive Councillor for Strategy and Transformation) is responsible.

2.Overview and scrutiny of the functions for which the Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources is responsible.

3.Overview and scrutiny of any functions exercised by the Executive collectively.

4.Overview and scrutiny of any Council functions which fall outside the remit of any other scrutiny committee.

5. As required by Section 19 of the Police and Justice Act 2006 to be the crime and disorder committee with the power to review or scrutinise decisions made by the Council or by the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.

6.2       Environment and Community (Scrutiny) Committee

 

Terms of Reference

Overview and scrutiny of the functions for which the Executive Councillors for (i) Communities (ii) Environmental Services and City Centre and (iii) Streets and Open Spaces  are responsible

 

As required by Section 19 of the Police and Justice Act 2006 to be the crime and disorder committee with the power to review or scrutinise decisions made by the Council or by the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.

 

2.   Council is requested to note that the following transfer of Executive Councillor responsibilities and clarifications made by the Leader of the Council and to note the Leader’s portfolio is renamed Executive Councillor for Strategy and External Partnerships.

 

 

Proposed Amendments to Part 3 Section 2.3, 2.5 and 2.9 of Constitution, deleted text struckthrough and additional text underlined.

Transfer of responsibilities
- In italics and underlined, to the Executive Councillor for Communities
- In capitals and underlined, to the Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources
- In bold and underlined, clarity on capital responsibility of the Executive Councillor for Housing

2.3 Responsibilities of the Executive Councillor for Strategy and Transformation External Partnerships

2.3.2 The Leader shall have power to determine which Executive Councillor shall have responsibility for the exercise of executive functions in cases of doubt or in cases for which provision has not been made in the Constitution.


2.3.3 The development, implementation and monitoring of the Council’s plans, policies and strategies relating to:


corporate objectives, policies and strategies of the Council subject, where necessary, to the approval of the Council and excluding those objectives, policies and strategies which are the responsibility of another Executive Councillor

 

programmes which give direction to, and co-ordinate, the implementation of the Council's corporate policies and priorities,including Detailed oversight of race equality, disability equality and equal opportunity in service delivery and Council policy

 

the need for, and the development of, new services and policy not within the terms of reference of other Executive Councillors

 

Lead on Business Transformation, working with the Executive Councillor; specific responsibility for leading plans, where not delegated otherwise delegated, for new externally facing shared services, trusts, service reviews and joint projects involving other councils and organisations or taking lead on projects which involve the responsibilities of more than one Executive Councillor.

 

matters falling substantially within the Terms of Reference of more than one other Executive Councillor, where not otherwise delegated.

 

The exercise of the Council’s functions and the delivery of services including

 

Strategy and Partnerships - including the devolution Combined Authority, City Deal, and the expansion of joint working with other councils, the Universities and other partners

Business Transformation – creation of new external shared services, or joint structures including trusts and joint projects with other councils and organisations which involve the responsibilities of more than one other Executive Councillor

All matters concerning national local government associations and corporate projects with Government, including council-wide bids for resources

The giving of any guarantee or incurring of any other commitments not specifically referred elsewhere

The exercise of compulsory purchase powers except where these are allocated to Executive Councillors relating to their portfolio responsibilities.

 

The development, implementation and monitoring of the Council’s plans, policies and strategies relating to:

Data protection and freedom of information.

 

Functions and Services

The exercise of the Council’s functions and the delivery of services in respect of the areas listed in Paragraph 1 including, by way of illustration:

Corporate And Other Services

The Independent Complaints Investigator Service

The Council's emergency planning functions

Democratic Services

Other responsibilities which do not fall within the remit of another Executive Councillor.

 

Civic functions (insofar as these are not within the remit of the Civic Affairs Committee)

Matters relating to the democratic functions of the Council, including

O The mayoralty

o Civic hospitality and town twinning and other partnerships with local authorities overseas

o Relationships, including the appointment or nomination of Council representatives, with outside organisations not directly related to the programme area of any committee or other Executive Councillor.


Community Safety Including the Community Safety Partnership, work with the police and the CCTV system and, working with the Leader, work with Cambridge police, the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Council’s representative on the Police and Crime Panel.


CONFIRM EXECUTIVE COUNCILLOR FOR FINANCE AND RESOURCES
text on Constitution p40

Responsibility for all capital projects etc.
- except responsibility for housing development on council sites that includes significant new council housing or affordable housing


BUT AMEND

Management of all land and buildings held by the Council, except for:

 

o property in use for specific operational purposes which fall within the responsibility of another Executive Councillor

o those parts of council sites developed for housing including new council housing, and dwellings held within the Housing Revenue Account  and land held by the Council for housing purposes used for or in connection with the provision of facilities or amenities for local tenants or residents, which shall be the responsibility of the Executive Councillor for Housing.

 

 

 

A clean version of Part 3 Section 2.3, 2.5 and 2.9 with amendments incorporated is detailed below.

2.3    The Leader and Executive Councillor for Strategy and External Partnerships

 

2.3.1 The Leader shall be responsible for exercising functions on behalf of the Executive in the circumstances set out in the Council’s Executive Procedure Rules in Part 4 of this Constitution.

 

2.3.2 The Leader shall have power to determine which Executive Councillor shall have responsibility for the exercise of executive functions in cases of doubt or in cases for which provision has not been made in the Constitution.

 

2.3.3 The development, implementation and monitoring of the Council’s plans, policies and strategies relating to:

·        corporate objectives, policies and strategies of the Council subject, where necessary, to the approval of the Council and excluding those objectives, policies and strategies which are the responsibility of another Executive Councillor

·        programmes which give direction to, and co-ordinate, the  implementation of the Council's corporate policies and priorities.

·        the need for, and the development of, new services and policy not within the terms of reference of other Executive Councillors

·        matters falling substantially within the Terms of Reference of more than one other Executive Councillor, where not otherwise delegated.

 

The exercise of the Council’s functions and the delivery of services including

 

·        Strategy and Partnerships - including the devolution Combined Authority, City Deal, and the expansion of joint working with other councils, the Universities and other partners

·        All matters concerning national local government associations and corporate projects with Government, including council-wide bids for resources

·        The giving of any guarantee or incurring of any other commitments not specifically referred elsewhere

·        The exercise of compulsory purchase powers except where these are allocated to Executive Councillors relating to their portfolio responsibilities.

 

The development, implementation and monitoring of the Council’s plans, policies and strategies relating to:

 

·        Data protection and freedom of information.

 

Functions and Services

The exercise of the Council’s functions and the delivery of services in respect of the areas listed in Paragraph 1 including, by way of illustration:

 

Corporate And Other Services

 

·        The Independent Complaints Investigator Service

·        The Council's emergency planning functions

·        Democratic Services

·        Other responsibilities which do not fall within the remit of another Executive Councillor.

 

Civic functions (insofar as these are not within the remit of the Civic Affairs Committee)

 

·        Matters relating to the democratic functions of the Council, including

o   The mayoralty

o   Civic hospitality and town twinning and other partnerships with local authorities overseas

o   Relationships, including the appointment or nomination of Council representatives, with outside organisations not directly related to the programme area of any committee or other Executive Councillor.                                                                                

2.4    Deputy Leader

 

2.4.1 The responsibilities of the Deputy Leader are set out in the Executive Procedure Rules in Part 4 of this Constitution.

 

2.5    Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources

 

2.5.1 Strategic control of the use of the financial resources of the Council, (subject to the necessary financial approvals of the Council)

Treasury Management including for the Housing Revenue Account

Insurance and banking services

The approval of Council contributions towards projects being funded from the National Lottery

Supervision of the borrowing of money and management of the Council's cash flow
Management of other income and specific reserves
Other detailed financial management matters, including  the writing off of debts except where the responsibility of the Executive Councillor for Housing

Collection and management of Council Tax, National Non-Domestic Rates and Housing Benefit.

 

Strategic information technology issues, information technology projects which either have implications for the Council as a whole or which fall significantly within the remit of more than one Executive Councillor.

 

·        corporate implementation of improvements and efficiency reviews, and the development and monitoring of core performance indicators and targets

·        Business Transformation-internal service reviews and responsibility for leading plans, where not otherwise delegated, for new externally facing shared services, trusts , service reviews and joint projects involving other councils and organisations. The creation of new external shared services, or joint structures including trusts and joint projects with other councils and organisations which involve the responsibilities of more than one other Executive Councillor

·        Corporate and support services as exemplified under “Functions and Services” below.

·        Procurement (at a strategic level - oversight of individual procurement exercises will remain with the portfolio-holder for the relevant service area).

·        The policy and management of moorings

·        Climate Change Policy

 

Trading Services

·        Council strategy to expand trading activities and additional income generation opportunities, including responsibility for those which do not fall within the remit of another Executive Councillor

 

Customer Services and ICT

 

·        Delivery of quality customer services and the customer access centre

·        Corporate telephony and IT systems to support joined up customer service delivery.

·        The delivery of front line services to Council customers through the Council’s reception areas and telephone services

·        Council’s evolving digital strategy and the benefits it will deliver for residents, and also to staff in helping them do their jobs better and more easily

 

Property Matters

 

·        Leadership on corporate and cross-portfolio major capital projects and oversight of the council’s overall capital programme, including the development, redevelopment, change of use or other major change to land or property owned by the Council considered by the Chief Executive to be major, significant or sensitive in terms of the Council's policies and priorities.

·        Any realisation of assets programme which may be considered necessary to generate capital receipts for the Council.

·        The approval of any proposal to re-allocate land between functions and any formal appropriation of land or property from one purpose to another.

·        Management of all land and buildings held by the Council, except for:

 

o   property in use for specific operational purposes which fall within the responsibility of another Executive Councillor

o   those parts of council sites developed for housing including new council housing, and dwellings held within the Housing Revenue Account  and land held by the Council for housing purposes used for or in connection with the provision of facilities or amenities for local tenants or residents, which shall be the responsibility of the Executive Councillor for Housing.

·        The acquisition (by purchase or lease) of property by the Council.

·        Management of  the Council's office accommodation

·        The Council's Land Charges service.

 

Shared Services and Service Reviews, and Employee and Management Matters 

 

To be responsible for:


- corporate service reviews and other efficiency and effectiveness reviews which involve the responsibilities of more than one other Executive Councillor, or have not been otherwise delegated.

- the performance of corporate and other shared services in meeting financial performance objectives in business plan, except that responsibility for operational matters in relation to non-corporate shared services shall be the responsibility of the appropriate other Executive Councillor.

To establish, monitor and ensure funding for Council-wide employment and training and apprenticeship policies and delivery

 

·        To comply with all relevant employment legislation and the Council's corporate strategy, policies and objectives.

·        To exercise strategic control of, and agree policies for, the use of the staffing, property and information technology resources of the Council.

·        To co-ordinate and monitor the arrangements for employee Health and Safety at Work

·        To oversee the provision of professional and central support services, including:

o   Corporate human resources support and information including training

o   Financial services

o   Legal services.


The relevant exercise of compulsory purchase powers.

2.9    Executive Councillor for Communities

 

2.9.1 Plans, policies and strategies

 

The development, implementation and monitoring of the Council’s plans, policies and strategies relating to:

 

·        The local welfare and community development needs of all neighbourhoods throughout the City.

·        The provision, promotion and development of policies and programmes to provide children and young people to play and participate in community life, including providing direction and advice to other committees of the Council in pursuance of these aims; the provision and promotion of leisure, sporting, artistic and cultural activities

·        Anti-poverty initiatives and the Sharing Prosperity Fund, including the powers and duties of the Council in respect of issues relating to tackling inequality and the provision of opportunities for individuals and communities in the City to overcome disadvantage

·        The provision and promotion of advice relating to citizens’ legal rights and responsibilities, social security benefits, money management , employment and immigration

·        Supporting the Leader in the delivery of Equalities initiatives, and measures to tackle discrimination.

·        Detailed oversight of race equality, disability equality and equal opportunity in service delivery and Council policy

 

Functions and Services

 

The exercise of the Council’s functions and the delivery of services including

 

·        The powers and duties of the Council in respect of children's activities and youth facilities    

·        Community strategy including the powers and duties of the Council in respect of opportunities for individuals and communities in the City including:

o   education and self-development

o   play programmes

o   artistic, cultural, sporting and leisure activities and entertainments

o   the provision, maintenance and management of places of public entertainment, sport and recreation (including the Guildhall Halls)

o   council owned or operated community facilities

o   museums and art galleries

o   the Council’s responsibilities for public health, working with the county council and health services.

o   health promotion

·        Community Safety Including the Community Safety Partnership, work with the police and the CCTV system and, working with the Leader, work with Cambridge police, the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Council’s representative on the Police and Crime Panel.

    

Progressing the objectives set out in this section by:

 

·        direct provision

·        grant aid and other  financial assistance  to voluntary sector and other agencies

·        partnership,  joint work and liaison  with  public, private or voluntary sector organisations, including community and joint  use agreements,  community primary school agreements and  support for national lottery projects

·        regenerating and encouraging the development of community life and enabling local  communities to take action on their own behalf      

·        giving advice and guidance to other Executive Councillors and committees of the Council on community engagement addressing, in particular, the needs of those experiencing social or economic inequality

·        advocacy.

 

The relevant exercise of compulsory purchase powers.

 





 

 

18/30/Civ

Nominations of Honorary Councillors pdf icon PDF 229 KB

Minutes:

There were no Honorary Councillor nominations.