COUNCILLORS’ BULLETIN WEDNESDAY, 30 JANUARY 2008
CONTENTS
1. Committee Meetings from 31 January to 15 February 2008 Date Time Name Venue Contact Thu 31 10 am Licensing Committee: Taxi Jeavons Room Maggie Jan Hearing Jennings 2 pm Council Council Chamber Richard May Fri 1 Feb 10 am Planning Sub-Committee Swansley Room Ian Senior
Mon 4 10 am Planning Committee Chairman’s Mezzanine Emma George Feb Delegation 10 am Licensing Committee: Taxi Jeavons Room Maggie Hearing Jennings 12 noon Deadline for registration of public speakers at Ian Senior Planning Committee Tue 5 Feb Wed 6 10 am Joint Strategic Growth New Hall College Sally Feb Implementation Committee Hutchinson 2 pm Planning Committee Council Chamber Ian Senior Thu 7 Feb 10.30 Standards Committee Members’ Holly Adams am Appointments Procedures Task Lounge and Finish Group Fri 8 Feb 2 pm Electoral Arrangements Monkfield Room Holly Adams Committee
Mon 11 10 am Housing and Environmental Jeavons Room Maggie Feb Services Portfolio Holder Jennings 5.30 pm Budget Scrutiny Training Monkfield Room Jackie Sayers Tue 12 10 am Northstowe Briefing: Planning Swansley Room Susan Davies Feb Application 10 am Housing Options Portfolio Holder Mezzanine Guy Moody 1 pm Influencing Skills Training – Council Chamber Guy Moody Local Leadership Academy Wed 13 10 am Planning Committee Chairman’s Swansley Room Emma George Feb Delegation Thu 14 5.30 pm Scrutiny and Overview Swansley Room Patrick Adams Feb Committee Fri 15 Feb
INFORMATION FOR DISTRICT COUNCILLORS 2. Council Meeting 31 January 2008 - Changes to the Cambridge East Area Action Plan The attached schedule has been published with the Agenda for the next Council meeting. It contains amendments to the version of the Cambridge East Area Action Plan (AAP) which is recommended for adoption at the Council meeting on Thursday 31 January . One relates to an error in the Inspector's Report and the others are cases where the Inspector's changes have not found their way into the AAP. Please accept officers' apologies for these omissions.
Whilst unfortunate, the errors have been spotted before the plan is adopted and the Council is beyond the point of no return.
The attached report should be self-explanatory. However, if you have any queries ahead of the Council meeting or would like a briefing, please contact Caroline Hunt, Principal Planning Policy Officer, telephone 01954 713196 e-mail [email protected] . The schedule has been published with the Agenda papers and is available to view on the Council's website and Intranet.
3. Council Meeting 31 January 2008 - Background Information for Items 5c and 15 Attached is supporting information to be read in conjunction with Items 5c (Question from Councillor MJ Mason for the Growth and Sustainable Communities Portfolio Holder: Cambridge Guided Busways contract) and 15 (Updates from Members Appointed to Outside Bodies) on the Council agenda for 31 January 2008 . Paper copies will be available at the meeting, but all members are asked to read the documentation before these items are reached, to reduce the amount of time required at the meeting to provide background to the issue.
4. Find out more about the Local Area Agreement (LAA) Three ways to learn more about the Local Area Agreements: • Read the magazine about Cambridgeshire Together , the Cambridgeshire LAA • Read a Councillor’s Guide to LAAs • Read the County Council’s explanation of Scrutiny of the LAA
For any more info, contact the Strategic Partnerships Officer, Gemma Webb on 01954 713340.
5. Planning Committee 8 February 2008 Information Items In the interests of sustainability, these information reports will appear on the Weekly Bulletin, rather than in paper form on the 6 February 2008 Planning Committee agenda. They will be available as electronic attachments to the agenda, and will be circulated to Elected Members, officers and agenda subscribers via e-mail.
For those wishing to register as public speakers, the absolute deadline for the registration of public / parish council / local member speaking is noon on Monday 4 February . Once it is known which items have such speakers and which do not, the agenda order will be changed so that items without public speakers are dealt with after all items with have been determined. The website version of the agenda will also be republished next week (if the order of items changes).
6. Planning Committee Chairman's Delegation Meeting Agenda 4 February 2008 Attached is the agenda for the Planning Committee Chairman’s Delegation Meeting on 4 February 2008 at 10 am.
PARISH COUNCIL INFORMATION 7. GREAT SHELFORD: Hunt for Relatives of Pre-War Certificate’s Owner South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) is seeking the public’s help to reunite a unique certificate with a relative of the original owner.
The certificate was presented to Frederick Bunnett for nearly 40 years’ service when he left Chesterton Rural District Council, one of SCDC’s two predecessor authorities, in 1940. Mr Bunnett worked at the council as a sanitary inspector and the certificate is handwritten with a poignant message to Mr Bunnett in pre-war Britain. The certificate was found in legal services and staff are hoping to reunite it with Mr Bunnett’s family.
From research carried out by staff members the following information is known about Mr Bunnett: • he was born in Needingworth in 1878 • he lived at 44 Rock Road in Cambridge and died in 1966 • his parents were Frederick Bunnett ( born 1857) of Cambridge and Isabella Dean (1853- 1917) of Great Shelford • he married in 1902 • he had one daughter called Marjorie who was born in 1906 and died in 1982, unmarried • he had a younger brother called Albert Victor Bunnett who married Grace Willson • Albert Bunnett had three sons, Leslie and twins Claude and Stanley. Leslie was born in 1912 and died in 2000. Claude and Stanley were born in 1913 and Stanley died in 1992 and Claude in 1996. All three sons’ deaths were registered in Cheshire and Stockport.
Cllr Jim Stewart, chairman of SCDC, said, “We are very keen to give this beautiful certificate back to a relative of Mr Bunnett. The certificate has been painstakingly handwritten in an intricate style and really is a look back in time. We suspect when his daughter died whoever was responsible for her estate could have returned the certificate to SCDC.
“We really hope to find a relative of Mr Bunnett so that the certificate can be returned. If we cannot find a relative then perhaps a local history museum might be interested in displaying this valuable piece of local history.”
Anyone with information on Frederick Bunnett or any living relatives can contact Helen Simpson at SCDC on (01954) 713262 or [email protected]
The certificate reads:
To Frederick Bunnett
We Members of Chesterton Rural District Council record our deep appreciation of the great service which you have given to the public during your long tenure of the office of Sanitary Inspector.
From your joining the Council’s staff in 1901 till your retirement on December 31st 1939 you have seen great changes in the District, in the Council, and in the conditions and life in the villages, indeed, in bringing about many of these changes you have yourself with your wide knowledge and rich experience wisely guided the Council. At a time when few of us care to look forward, you can look back with satisfaction to a very memorable record of useful achievement in the service of the public.
We wish you many years of health, happiness and leisure; may you be with us to see the clouds of war lifted and peace and goodwill restored to the world.
30th April 1940
The certificate is signed by the thirty-four members and the Clerk of Chesterton RDC.
8. Proposed Schedule of Meetings for parishes and residents regarding NORTHSTOWE Application: February - March 2008 Parish Councils are asked to note the schedule of Northstowe briefings, in particular the one scheduled for next Monday, 4 February, at Longstanton Village Hall. Clerks are asked to contact Susan Davies, Administrative Officer (Growth Areas), 01954 713430 ([email protected] ) to confirm attendance so refreshments can be organised.
Meeting Date /Time Venue Invitees Officers Parish Monday Longstanton Representatives SCDC Officers / meetings/ 4 February Village Hall from County Officers surgeries 2008 01954 781621 Longstanton , Bar Jane Green 7.30pm – Hill , Dry Drayton , Julie Ayre 9.30pm Lolworth Parish Joseph Whelan Councils Parish Wednesday Methodist Representatives SCDC Officers / meetings/ 6 February Church Hall – from Cottenham , County Officers surgeries 2008 Oakington Oakington , 7.30pm – ( L Davis – Histon/Impington/ Julie Ayre 9.30pm 01223 232745) Girton Parish Joseph Whelan Councils Parish Tuesday 5 Willingham Representatives SCDC Officers / meetings/ February 2008 Primary School from Over , County Officers surgeries 7.30pm – Willingham Swavesey , 9.30pm 01954 283030 Willingham , Jane Green Rampton Parish Julie Ayre Councils Joseph Whelan Themed Thursday 6 Oakington SCDC Officers / Meeting - March 2008 Primary School All Parish Councils County Officers Drainage 7.30 pm –10.30 01223 232328 / Environment pm Agency/ IDB/Developers /Consultants Peter Studdert Julie Ayre Pat Matthews Joseph Whelan David Atkinson EA Simon Darch (IDB) Themed Tuesday 4 Longstanton All Parish Councils SCDC Officers / Meeting March 2008 Village Hall County Officers - Highways 8.00 pm –10.30 / Highways pm Agency/ Developers /Consultants Peter Studdert Jane Green Julie Ayre Joseph Whelan David Abbott
General Public Saturday 9 Longstanton Open to general SCDC Officers / Surgery February 2008 Village Hall Public County Officers 10.00 am – Julie Ayre 12.30 Joseph Whelan General Public Monday 18 Oakington Open to general SCDC Officers / Surgery February 2008 Primary School Public County Officers 7.30 pm– 9.30 Julie Ayre pm Joseph Whelan Contact Details: Environment Agency – Owen Pitt – 01480 483944 Highways Agency- David Abbott – [email protected] Anglian Water – Gary Parsons - [email protected] Old West IDB And Swavesey IDB – Simon Darch - [email protected]
GENERAL INFORMATION 9. Rural Services Network Weekly Digest 29 January 2008 NEWS HEADLINES http://www.ruralfocus.co.uk
Hundreds of village schools face closure Hundreds of small rural schools could face closure – despite a government pledge to keep them open.
Communities to help improve services The government is to give communities more say in the way local councils deliver services.
Tax change 'bad for rural business' Government changes to Capital Gains Tax will do little for rural business, say experts and entrepreneurs.
Durham to improve rural bus network Plans have been unveiled to improve rural bus services across County Durham.
Councils to tackle rural road safety An £8 million government project aims to reduce the number of fatal accidents on rural roads.
MP calls for rural refund over digital TV Rural viewers unable to receive a digital TV signal should have their licence refunded, the Lib Dems have said.
Warning over neglected heathland Wildlife is at risk due to the poor condition of lowland heathland, says the government's landscape agency.
About The Rural Services Network The Rural Services Network is a group of over 250 service providers and local authorities working to establish best practice across the spectrum of rural service provision. The network has representation across the complete range of rural services.
Forthcoming Events National Association of Local Councils Local Leadership in Action conference 30 January, London
Train to Gain/Lantra Rural Business Improvement Day 15 February, Somerset
SDUK08 Sustainable Development Conference 2008 6 March, London
Local Government Association Sustainable Communities Conference Exhibition 11-13 March, Liverpool
University of Plymouth Rural Futures conference 1-4 April, Plymouth
Action with Communities in Rural England Rural Life conference 12-13 June, Staffordshire
Ruralnet UK Ruralnet 2008 conference 9-10 October, Kenilworth
Contact Information For general comments or enquiries, email [email protected]
10. Weekly Planning List To view the list of planning applications submitted in the past seven days, please visit the Council’s on-line Planning Application Search . Once the page has loaded, select the relevant parish from the drop-down list, set the date period to ‘7 days’ and click the Search button or click the Advanced button, select a ward from the drop-down list, then set the date period to ‘7 days’ and click the Search button.
The system will provide a range of information on current and decided applications since 1948, including a brief description of the development, reference number, decision and the date of decision. More recent applications show the name and telephone number of the council officer who is dealing with the application.
Search results are presented in a collection of pages, the number of which depends on the number of results your search produces. Each page displays 30 results and there are navigation tools to allow you to browse these results.
EXECUTIVE DECISIONS TAKEN SINCE 23 JANUARY 2008 In accordance with the Access to Information Procedure Rules , any executive decision shall be published normally within five days of being made. That record will bear the date on which it is published and will specify that the decision will come into force, and may then be implemented, on the expiry of 5 working days after the publication of the decision, unless called in for review by the Chairman of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee or by any five other councillors.
A list of decisions currently within the call-in period is available on the Council’s website .
Unless otherwise specified, the Democratic Services Manager must be notified of any call in by Wednesday 6 February 2008 at 5 pm . All decisions not called in by this date may be implemented on Thursday 7 February 2008 .
Any member considering calling in a decision is requested to contact the Democratic Services Section to determine whether any relevant amendments have been incorporated.
The call in procedure is set out in full in Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution, ‘Scrutiny and Overview Committee and Policy Development Committee Procedure Rules’ , paragraph 12.
11. Contact Centre - Improvement Programme Update The Portfolio Holder: (a) NOTED the content of the improvement programme update; (b) CONTINUED TO SUPPORT the efforts being made to address the identified areas of concern; and (c) in recognition of the end of the agreed six-month period allowed for improvement to be demonstrated, REQUESTED THAT a further report be brought forward at end of March 2008.
The Portfolio Holder stated that it would be a policy decision of the Cabinet on how service would be provided in the future, and, with the agreement of that body’s Chairman, REFERRED the issue to the Policy Development Committee for review at their February 2008 meeting to ensure that as many members as possible would be able to contribute before Cabinet’s decision in April 2008. She explained that the Scrutiny and Overview Committee would be able to review the matter if they called-in the Cabinet decision.
For information only.
12. LITLINGTON: Remediation of Litlington Clunch Pit – Transfer of Monies from Contingency The Resources Portfolio Holder AGREED that approval be given to the transfer of £75,000 from contingencies to allow remediation proposals to go out to tender in respect of Litlington Clunch Pit, as the site currently poses a risk to the health of site users and the Council has liability, as owner, to eliminate risk and make the site suitable for use.
Decision taken and published 24 January 2008; call-in expires 31 January 2008; may be implemented from 1 February 2008 if not called-in .
13. Local Authority Insurance Cover for Flooding The Resources Portfolio Holder AGREED : (1) that the issue be deferred for reconsideration following the receipt of up-to-date quotes for the external insurance of the Council's housing stock, to be accompanied by a map detailing the locations of properties located within flood plain areas (a final decision to be taken in consultation with the Executive Director and Housing and Environmental Services Portfolio Holder); and (2) that an article be included in the next South Cambs Magazine reminding all residents of the District of their responsibility to insure the contents of their properties against fire, flood or theft.
For information only.
14. Review of Fees charged for Enforcement Action in the Magistrates’ Court for Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rates
The Portfolio Holder AGREED the charges to be made in respect of legal proceedings through the Magistrates Court in connection with Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rates with effect from 1 April 2008 as set out in the tables below:
Liability orders Council Tax £68.00 Non-Domestic Rates £84.00
Charges in connection with application for committal to prison For the 1 st or only application (per liable person) Initial application £85.00 Arrest warrant with bail £85.00 Arrest warrant without bail £105.00 For each subsequent simultaneous application (per liable person) Charge made to the Council by the court plus £15.00
Council Tax criminal prosecution Prosecution for failing to provide information £120.00
Decision taken and published 24 January 2008; call-in expires 31 January 2008; may be implemented from 1 February 2008 if not called-in .
15. Single Status Agreement (including Equal Pay Audit) Noting that this would be a lengthy process, without any major decisions and changes to pay and grading before the 2009/10 municipal year, the Portfolio Holder RECOMMENDED TO CABINET that the Council make changes to the job evaluation and pay and grading structure and implement the NJC job evaluation scheme and a new pay structure process.
For information only.
DECISIONS MADE BY OFFICERS AND REPORTED FOR INFORMATION 16. ELSWORTH: 28 and 30 Brook Street - Cambridgeshire Cottage Housing Society (2 Grants) In the absence of a Conservation Manager, the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities) approved Historic Building Grants G/12/07 and G/13/07 of £1,938 (25%) and £1,463 (25%) respectively to Cambridgeshire Cottage Housing Society towards the cost of repairing, reridging and rewiring the longstraw thatched roofs on 28 and 30 Brook Street, Elsworth .
17. HISTON and IMPINGTON: Community Safety Grant for Cambridge City Council The Community Development Manager awarded a grant of £700 to fund the cost of borrowing CCTV cameras from Cambridge City Council to monitor anti-social behaviour and criminal activity in Histon and Impington . Residents are very concerned about incidents that have been taking place in the area and evidence is required in order to identify the offenders. The project will be monitored by Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
The remaining community safety grant budget available for 2007/08 is £5,900.
18. ORWELL: 16 and 18 High Street - Cambridgeshire Cottage Housing Society In the absence of a Conservation Manager, the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities) approved Historic Building Grants G/14/07 and G/15/07 of £798 (10%) and £425 (10%) respectively to Cambridgeshire Cottage Housing Society towards the cost of repairing, reridging and rewiring the combed wheat reed thatched roofs on 16 and 18 High Street, Orwell .
19. STAPLEFORD: The Slaughterhouse, Church Street - Stapleford Parish Council In the absence of a Conservation Manager, the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities) approved Historic Building Grant G/8/07 of £1,388 (25%) to Stapleford Parish Council towards the cost of rethatching, reridging and rewiring the longstraw thatched roof on The Slaughterhouse, Church Street, Stapleford.
OTHER INFORMATION 20. Newly-Published Items on modern.gov Agendas • Planning Committee 6 February 2008 • Planning Sub-Committee 1 February 2008
Reports • Customer Satisfaction Survey - tabled at Meeting of Jan 24 2008 Staffing and Communications Portfolio Holder • Public Questions received 28 January 2008 – supplementary to the Council 31 January 2008 meeting agenda
Decisions • Elsworth : 28 and 30 Brook Street - Cambridgeshire Cottage Housing Society • Histon and Impington : Community Safety Grant for Cambridge City Council • Orwell : 16 and 18 High Street - Cambridgeshire Cottage Housing Society • Resources Portfolio Holder 24 January 2008 : • Litlington: Remediation of Litlington Clunch Pit – Transfer of monies from contingency • Review of Fees charged for Enforcement Action in the Magistrates’ Court for Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rates • Staffing and Communications Portfolio Holder 24 January 2008 • Stapleford : The Slaughterhouse, Church Street - Stapleford Parish Council
Minutes • Constitution Review Working Party 21 January 2008 (intranet only) • Growth and Sustainable Communities / Planning Services Portfolio Holders’ Joint Meeting 16 January 2008 • Housing Options Portfolio Holder 11 December 2007 (ICT Items) • Planning Committee 9 January 2008 • South Cambridgeshire Local Strategic Partnership Board 22 January 2008 • Staffing and Communications Portfolio Holder Meeting 24 January 2008
Plans • Staffing and Communications Portfolio Holder February-May 2008 (final)
Issues • Changes to Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Regulations • Elsworth : 28 and 30 Brook Street - Cambridgeshire Cottage Housing Society • Histon and Impington : Community Safety Grant for Cambridge City Council • Member Toolkit and Induction Pack 2008-2009 • Members' Allowances Levels 2008-2009 • Orwell : 16 and 18 High Street - Cambridgeshire Cottage Housing Society • Request to Secretary of State to make an Order under Section 29 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (Joint Planning) • Stapleford : The Slaughterhouse, Church Street - Stapleford Parish Council
Meetings Added / Cancelled • Constitution Review Working Party 15 April 2008 • Resources Portfolio Holder 3 April 2008 and 23 May 2008 • South Cambridgeshire Local Strategic Partnership Board 18 February 2008 • Staffing and Communications Portfolio Holder 28 February 2008 – cancelled • Standards Committee Appointments Procedures Task and Finish Group February 2008 – confirmed
21. Upcoming Training Sessions for Members Subject: Date: Trainer: For: Contact: CIPFA – Budget 11 February External All members Jackie Sayers Scrutiny 2008 Influencing Skills 12 February External All members Guy Moody 2008 Community 26 February External All members Guy Moody Cohesion 2008 Communication 3 March 2008 External All members Guy Moody Skills Influencing Skills 6 March 2008 External All members Guy Moody Communication 3 April 2008 External All members Guy Moody Skills Standards 23 April 2008 External Members of Fiona McMillan Committee – Standards Local Committee Assessment and Hearing Panels
22. SCDC Starters and Leavers Starter Jennifer Nuttycombe will be starting on 18 February 2008 as a Planning Policy Officer.
Transfer Andrew Grimmer will be changing post on 1 February 2008 from Admin (Temporary) to Administration Assistant within Development Control, Planning and Sustainable Communities.
Leaver Tim Waller, Planning Policy Officer, left on 20 January 2008.