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The Mayor ruled in for consideration Appendix 1A and the accompanying
officer briefing note, despite a copy not being available for public inspection
5 clear days before today’s meeting. He
ruled under 100B (4b) of the Local Government Act 1972 the urgency is that all
the Councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough must consider this item of
business by end of 22 November.
The Chief Executive explained that P11 of the covering report contained a
typographical error. The table should refer to 285, not 262 responses. All the
percentages quoted were based on those 285 respondents,
they were accurate and reflected the actual figures in the data tables.
The following Officer recommendation was put forward:
That Full Council considers whether it
wishes to:
i.
Consent to the
Secretary of State making an Order to establish the Cambridgeshire and
Peterborough Combined Authority (Appendix A of the Officer’s report);
ii.
Consent to the Council
being a constituent member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined
Authority with effect from the commencement date determined by the final Order;
iii.
Authorise the Chief
Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to consent to the
final draft Order and associated documents, specifically:
-
To agree minor
drafting amendments to the Combined Authority Order to be laid before
Parliament;
-
To consent to the
Council being included within the draft Parliamentary Order thereby reflecting
this Council’s decision;
iv.
Authorise the
Combined Authority to have a power to issue a levy to the constituent Councils
in respect of any financial year. (This will be subject to the inclusion of a
unanimity clause in the Combined Authority constitution on this specific
matter);
v.
Recommend to the
Combined Authority that the costs of establishing the Combined Authority,
holding the elections in May 2017 and running the Combined Authority (including
Mayoral Office) for 2016/17 and 2017/18 are funded from the gain share grant
provided by Government (as outlined in para 10.11);
vi.
Appoint the Leader of
Council to act as Council's appointee to the Shadow Combined Authority and once
established, to the Combined Authority;
vii.
Appoint Councillor
Price to act as the substitute to the above (ref vi);
viii.
Note the outcome of
the public consultation on the establishment of the Cambridgeshire and
Peterborough Combined Authority as outlined in paragraph 5.1 and 5.2 and
Appendices 2A - 2D;
ix.
Note the timetable
for the implementation of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough devolution Order
as summarised in paragraph 7.1;
x.
Note the Government's
response to the outline business case for Housing capital investment funds
secured as part of the devolution deal as set out in Appendix 3.
xi.
Note that a report will come to Civic
Affairs committee on 15 February 2017 making proposals for City Council
scrutiny of its representative on the Combined Authority, as requested by Council on 27 June
2016, and to confirm detailed arrangements for the Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny and Audit Committee.
xii.
Note that in the interim period the Leader will
report to Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee and to full Council on
progress made with setting up the Combined Authority and the devolution deal.
Councillor Bick proposed and Councillor Avery seconded the following
amendments:
Delete all original text and replace with:
Council notes:
·
the lack of democratic legitimacy
in Cambridge for the changes to governance within our area which are inherent in
the current Devolution Deal, especially its proposal for an extra layer of
government in the form of an elected mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough;
·
that no other predominantly
non-metropolitan area has so far accepted this model of “Devolution” and that
several other councils of various political complexions have already rejected
it to negotiate a different deal;
·
that there is no necessary
relationship between the incentives offered by the government to accept this
deal and the creation of an elected mayor and many have proven achievable
elsewhere without acceptance of an elected mayor.
Council remains committed to:
·
bringing powers closer to
communities of shared interest and substantial interdependence;
·
working with neighbours to
confront challenges, share benefits, co-ordinate planning and to gain economies
of scale for the delivery of selected services;
·
achieving
decision making structures which promote simplicity, joined-up policy,
transparency and clear democratic accountability.
Council therefore resolves to withhold
acceptance of the proposed deal at this time and calls on the Leader to:
·
establish an immediate dialogue
with government to deliver on its welcome willingness to fund new council
housebuilding in Cambridge in recognition of the need which they have now
accepted;
·
in the meantime take action, which
his colleagues are currently withholding, to improve and expand the supply of
council homes in the city with powers and resources they already have;
·
re-engage in discussions with
surrounding councils and the government to secure devolved powers which may be
operated on a shared basis without an elected mayor and for such an agreement
to be legally enforceable;
·
couple this with building
agreement to reduce the current two tiers of council, providing in our own area
for a unitary council focused on the economic sub region of Greater Cambridge;
·
seek
endorsement of the resulting package through a local referendum.
On a show of hands the amendment was lost by 11 votes to 26.
Resolved (by 26 votes to 1)
to:
i.
Consent to the
Secretary of State making an Order to establish the Cambridgeshire and
Peterborough Combined Authority (Appendix A of the Officer’s report);
ii.
Consent to the
Council being a constituent member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Combined Authority with effect from the commencement date determined by the
final Order;
iii.
Authorise the Chief
Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to consent to the
final draft Order and associated documents, specifically:
-
To agree minor
drafting amendments to the Combined Authority Order to be laid before
Parliament;
-
To consent to the
Council being included within the draft Parliamentary Order thereby reflecting
this Council’s decision;
iv.
Authorise the
Combined Authority to have a power to issue a levy to the constituent Councils
in respect of any financial year. (This will be subject to the inclusion of a
unanimity clause in the Combined Authority constitution on this specific
matter);
v.
Recommend to the
Combined Authority that the costs of establishing the Combined Authority,
holding the elections in May 2017 and running the Combined Authority (including
Mayoral Office) for 2016/17 and 2017/18 are funded from the gain share grant
provided by Government (as outlined in para 10.11);
vi.
Appoint Councillor
Herbert as the Council's appointee to the Shadow Combined Authority and once
established, to the Combined Authority;
vii.
Appoint Councillor
Price to act as the substitute to the above (ref vi);
viii.
Note the outcome of
the public consultation on the establishment of the Cambridgeshire and
Peterborough Combined Authority as outlined in paragraph 5.1 and 5.2 and
Appendices 2A - 2D;
ix.
Note the timetable
for the implementation of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough devolution Order
as summarised in paragraph 7.1;
x.
Note the Government's
response to the outline business case for Housing capital investment funds
secured as part of the devolution deal as set out in Appendix 3.
xi.
Note that a report will come to Civic
Affairs committee on 15 February 2017 making proposals for City Council
scrutiny of its representative on the Combined Authority, as requested by Council on 27 June
2016, and to confirm detailed arrangements for the Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny and Audit Committee.
xii.
Note that in the interim period the Leader will
report to Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee and to full Council on
progress made with setting up the Combined Authority and the devolution deal.
The Leader of the Council indicated he agreed with the recommendations
in paragraph 2.2 of the Officer’s report. The record of decision is listed
separately.
Matter for Decision
The Officer’s report presented the
outcome of negotiations with government about a Devolution Deal for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Decision of the Leader
i. Consented to the Secretary of State making an Order to establish the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (Appendix A of the Officer’s report);
ii. Consented to the Council being a constituent member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority with effect from the commencement date determined by the final Order;
iii. Authorised the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to consent to the final draft Order and associated documents, specifically:
- To agree minor drafting amendments to the Combined Authority Order to be laid before Parliament;
- To consent to the Council being included within the draft Parliamentary Order thereby reflecting this Council’s decision
iv. Authorised the Combined Authority to have a power to issue a levy to the constituent Councils in respect of any financial year. (This will be subject to the inclusion of a unanimity clause in the Combined Authority constitution on this specific matter).
v. Recommended to the Combined Authority that the costs of establishing the Combined Authority, holding the elections in May 2017 and running the Combined Authority (including Mayoral Office) for 2016/17 and 2017/18 are funded from the gain share grant provided by Government (as outlined in para 10.11 of the Officer’s report).
vi. Appointed Councillor Herbert to act as the Council's appointee to the Shadow Combined Authority, and once established, to the Combined Authority;
vii. Appointed Councillor Price to act as the substitute to the above (ref (vi));
viii. Noted the outcome of the public consultation on the establishment of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority as outlined in paragraph 5.1 and 5.2 and Appendices 2A - 2D of the Officer’s report;
ix. Noted the timetable for the implementation of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough devolution Order as summarised in paragraph 7.1;
x.
Noted the Government's response to the outline
business case for Housing capital investment funds secured as part of the
devolution deal as set out in Appendix 3.
xi.
Noted that a report would come to Civic Affairs
committee on 15 February 2017 making proposals for City Council scrutiny of its
representative on the Combined Authority, as requested by Council on 27 June
2016, and to confirm detailed arrangements for the Combined Authority Overview
and Scrutiny and Audit Committee.
xii.
Noted that in the interim period the Leader will report
to Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee and to full Council on progress
made with setting up the Combined Authority and the devolution deal.
Reason for the Decision
As set out in the Officer’s report.
Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected
Not applicable.
Scrutiny Considerations
The Mayor ruled in for consideration Appendix 1A and the accompanying
officer briefing note, despite a copy not being available for public inspection
5 clear days before today’s meeting. He
ruled under 100B (4b) of the Local Government Act 1972 the urgency is that all
the Councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough must consider this item of
business by end of 22 November.
The Chief Executive explained that P11 of the covering report contained a
typographical error. The table should refer to 285, not 262 responses. All the
percentages quoted were based on those 285 respondents,
they were accurate and reflected the actual figures in the data tables.
The following Officer recommendation was put forward:
That Full Council considers whether it
wishes to:
i.
Consent to the
Secretary of State making an Order to establish the Cambridgeshire and
Peterborough Combined Authority (Appendix A of the Officer’s report);
ii.
Consent to the
Council being a constituent member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Combined Authority with effect from the commencement date determined by the
final Order;
iii.
Authorise the Chief
Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to consent to the
final draft Order and associated documents, specifically:
-
To agree minor
drafting amendments to the Combined Authority Order to be laid before
Parliament;
-
To consent to the
Council being included within the draft Parliamentary Order thereby reflecting
this Council’s decision;
iv.
Authorise the
Combined Authority to have a power to issue a levy to the constituent Councils
in respect of any financial year. (This will be subject to the inclusion of a
unanimity clause in the Combined Authority constitution on this specific
matter);
v.
Recommend to the
Combined Authority that the costs of establishing the Combined Authority,
holding the elections in May 2017 and running the Combined Authority (including
Mayoral Office) for 2016/17 and 2017/18 are funded from the gain share grant
provided by Government (as outlined in para 10.11);
vi.
Appoint the Leader of
Council to act as Council's appointee to the Shadow Combined Authority and once
established, to the Combined Authority;
vii.
Appoint Councillor
Price to act as the substitute to the above (ref vi);
viii.
Note the outcome of
the public consultation on the establishment of the Cambridgeshire and
Peterborough Combined Authority as outlined in paragraph 5.1 and 5.2 and
Appendices 2A - 2D;
ix.
Note the timetable
for the implementation of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough devolution Order
as summarised in paragraph 7.1;
x.
Note the Government's
response to the outline business case for Housing capital investment funds
secured as part of the devolution deal as set out in Appendix 3.
xi.
Note that a report will come to Civic
Affairs committee on 15 February 2017 making proposals for City Council
scrutiny of its representative on the Combined Authority, as requested by Council on 27 June
2016, and to confirm detailed arrangements for the Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny and Audit Committee.
xii.
Note that in the interim period the Leader will
report to Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee and to full Council on
progress made with setting up the Combined Authority and the devolution deal.
Councillor Bick proposed and Councillor Avery seconded the following
amendments:
Delete all original text and replace with:
Council notes:
·
the lack of democratic legitimacy
in Cambridge for the changes to governance within our area which are inherent in
the current Devolution Deal, especially its proposal for an extra layer of
government in the form of an elected mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough;
·
that no other predominantly
non-metropolitan area has so far accepted this model of “Devolution” and that
several other councils of various political complexions have already rejected
it to negotiate a different deal;
·
that there is no necessary
relationship between the incentives offered by the government to accept this
deal and the creation of an elected mayor and many have proven achievable
elsewhere without acceptance of an elected mayor.
Council remains committed to:
·
bringing powers closer to
communities of shared interest and substantial interdependence;
·
working with neighbours to
confront challenges, share benefits, co-ordinate planning and to gain economies
of scale for the delivery of selected services;
·
achieving
decision making structures which promote simplicity, joined-up policy,
transparency and clear democratic accountability.
Council therefore resolves to withhold
acceptance of the proposed deal at this time and calls on the Leader to:
·
establish an immediate dialogue
with government to deliver on its welcome willingness to fund new council
housebuilding in Cambridge in recognition of the need which they have now
accepted;
·
in the meantime take action, which
his colleagues are currently withholding, to improve and expand the supply of
council homes in the city with powers and resources they already have;
·
re-engage in discussions with
surrounding councils and the government to secure devolved powers which may be
operated on a shared basis without an elected mayor and for such an agreement
to be legally enforceable;
·
couple this with building
agreement to reduce the current two tiers of council, providing in our own area
for a unitary council focused on the economic sub region of Greater Cambridge;
·
seek
endorsement of the resulting package through a local referendum.
On a show of hands the amendment was lost by 11 votes to 26.
Resolved (by 26 votes to 1)
to:
i.
Consent to the
Secretary of State making an Order to establish the Cambridgeshire and
Peterborough Combined Authority (Appendix A of the Officer’s report);
ii.
Consent to the
Council being a constituent member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Combined Authority with effect from the commencement date determined by the
final Order;
iii.
Authorise the Chief
Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to consent to the
final draft Order and associated documents, specifically:
-
To agree minor
drafting amendments to the Combined Authority Order to be laid before
Parliament;
-
To consent to the
Council being included within the draft Parliamentary Order thereby reflecting
this Council’s decision;
iv.
Authorise the
Combined Authority to have a power to issue a levy to the constituent Councils
in respect of any financial year. (This will be subject to the inclusion of a
unanimity clause in the Combined Authority constitution on this specific
matter);
v.
Recommend to the
Combined Authority that the costs of establishing the Combined Authority,
holding the elections in May 2017 and running the Combined Authority (including
Mayoral Office) for 2016/17 and 2017/18 are funded from the gain share grant
provided by Government (as outlined in para 10.11);
vi.
Appoint Councillor
Herbert as the Council's appointee to the Shadow Combined Authority and once
established, to the Combined Authority;
vii.
Appoint Councillor
Price to act as the substitute to the above (ref vi);
viii.
Note the outcome of
the public consultation on the establishment of the Cambridgeshire and
Peterborough Combined Authority as outlined in paragraph 5.1 and 5.2 and
Appendices 2A - 2D;
ix.
Note the timetable
for the implementation of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough devolution Order
as summarised in paragraph 7.1;
x.
Note the Government's
response to the outline business case for Housing capital investment funds
secured as part of the devolution deal as set out in Appendix 3.
xi.
Note that a report will come to Civic
Affairs committee on 15 February 2017 making proposals for City Council
scrutiny of its representative on the Combined Authority, as requested by Council on 27 June
2016, and to confirm detailed arrangements for the Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny and Audit Committee.
xii.
Note that in the interim period the Leader will
report to Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee and to full Council on
progress made with setting up the Combined Authority and the devolution deal.
The Leader of the Council indicated he agreed with the recommendations
in paragraph 2.2 of the Officer’s report.
Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Leader (and any
Dispensations Granted)
No conflicts of interest
were declared by the Leader.