Agenda and minutes

To confirm and sign the public minutes of the meeting held 15 July 2024.

The public minutes of the meeting held 15 July 2024 were agreed and signed.

To present the Annual Report of the Council for Cabinet to note the achievements made in delivering the Council's corporate priorities in 2023/24.

Members considered the Annual Report of the Council 2023/24 presented by Councillor Boden.

Proposed by Councillor Boden, seconded by Councillor Mrs French and AGREED to approve the Annual Report of the Council 2023/24.

The report provides information about the new Environmental Offences (Fixed Penalties) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023 and sets out an option for increasing Fixed Penalty Notice fines for enviro-crime offences as permitted by these Regulations.

Members considered the Review of Fixed Penalty Notice Fine Levels for Environmental Crime Offences report presented by Councillor Murphy.

Members commented as follows:

·         Councillor Seaton said although he fully supports the proposal, he does not think the new fine is enough to deter fly tipping.

·         Councillor Mrs French said that she also supports the proposal but agreed with Councillor Seaton that the fine should be greater.

·         Councillor Miscandlon commented that whilst he agrees with the proposal, he also thinks the fine should be higher although he accepts it cannot be changed currently.

·         Councillor Tierney said that he supports the proposal but the public wants to see strong action from the Council so there must be a proper deterrent. He is in support of higher fines, and they should be increased going forward.

Proposed by Councillor Murphy, seconded by Councillor Mrs French and AGREED to approve the proposed changes in fine levels as enabled by the Environmental Offences Regulations.

To review and adopt the proposed increase of the Hackney Carriage Vehicle Table of Fares.

Members considered the Proposed Increase to Current Hackney Carriage Vehicle - Table of Maximum Fares report presented by Councillor Hoy.

Councillor Boden said members would note the recommendations within the report stated that Council is being recommended to approve the proposals within Appendix A, however, for the avoidance of doubt, this recommendation should read that Cabinet approve the proposals. Quoting relevant paragraphs within the constitution, Councillor Boden requested that the recommendation therefore be amended so the word ‘Council’ is replaced with the word ‘Cabinet’.  Members approved the recommendation.

Councillor Hoy said that along with the published report, members had been tabled some items. One was a letter that she presumed had been duplicated and circulated as multiple copies had been received signed by residents. Also, there was a similar letter from hackney carriage drivers and a written statement from Councillor Patrick. Councillor Hoy said that because the additional information had been received less than an hour ago, she felt compelled to address the issue of process.

Councillor Hoy pointed out the report recommendations were agreed at Licensing Committee, where Councillor Patrick’s group are represented under political proportionality and had agreed with Conservative members on the recommendations. It was a shame that any concerns with the report were not raised by members of his group at that time, neither was she contacted directly by Councillor Patrick or any taxi drivers to make their complaints about the increase.  

Councillor Hoy advised that it was the taxi trade themselves that requested the rise and Councillor Patrick also put in a proposal for a rise. In his proposal, she recalls he wanted the flag to go from £4 to £5, a 25% increase, whereas Licensing Committee’s proposal of £4 to £4.40 was cheaper. She said that this leaves Cabinet in a bizarre situation where they have a request for a fee increase asked for by the taxi trade, which Councillor Patrick fed into whilst also requesting an increase, and now he is saying he does not want an increase.

Councillor Hoy pointed out that she is not a taxi driver, and she rarely uses them because if she needs one it tends to be in an evening when there are none available. The drivers she has spoken to suggest that one of the many reasons that people are not joining the trade is because it is too costly for them; this is something she understands as what driver would want to leave their home on a Friday evening for the sake of a £4.60 fare for example? She can understand the logic of increasing the fares to allow for that, but it must be remembered that Fenland District Council are not increasing the fares, they are increasing the maximum amount that can be charged by taxi drivers. When people are saying that this Council is increasing the fares, this is being done to make a political point and to try and stir up ammunition, therefore she would like to talk through the tabled items.  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB14/24

For Cabinet to approve the outcome of the procurement process in relation to Emergency Interim Accommodation for local homelessness.

Members considered the Emergency Interim Accommodation Procurement for Local Homelessness report presented by Councillor Hoy.

Councillor Mrs French said she agreed with the report but requested  Councillor Hoy investigate the number of vacant properties owned by social landlords, as some have been empty for over a year. Councillor Hoy agreed, adding that although discussions were ongoing between officers and registered providers, much of the delay has been caused by housing associations reviewing the condition of their housing stock for damp and mould which has slowed down the process.

Proposed by Councillor Hoy, seconded by Councillor Mrs French and AGREED to approve accepting 9 companies for the provision of emergency interim accommodation to place homeless households.

To provide Cabinet with a monthly update regarding ongoing construction work at 24 High Street, and progress regarding the options for 11-12 High Street, Wisbech.

Members considered the Wisbech High Street Update report presented by Councillor Seaton.

Proposed by Councillor Seaton, seconded by Councillor Tierney and AGREED to note the monthly update relating to the works at 24 and 11-12 High Street, Wisbech.

For information purposes.

Members noted the draft 6-month Cabinet Forward Plan.

This report updates members on the proposed acquisition of residential property which, if acquired, will assist Fenland District Council both in terms of supporting objectives from a housing duties and commercial investment perspective.

(Schedules 3 and 4 to this report comprise exempt information – to exclude the public (including the press) from a meeting of a committee it is necessary for the following proposition to be moved and adopted: “that the public be excluded from the meeting for Items which would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) as indicated.”

Members considered the Purchase of a Property Portfolio in Fenland report presented by Councillor Boden.

Proposed by Councillor Boden, seconded by Councillor Hoy and AGREED to review the report, particularly the financial and legal implications as set out in confidential schedules 3 and 4 and:

a)    Authorise officers to purchase through the Council’s Section 151 Officer the portfolio of property available at Meadowcourt, Elm in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Finance and Housing and following satisfactory due diligence procedures.

b)   Authorise officers to proceed with a planning application for the conversion of the main house to provide additional accommodation as detailed with costs to be approved in advance in consultation with the S151 Officer and Portfolio Holder for Finance.

For Cabinet to consider the Outline Business Case (OBC) in respect of the Corporate Accommodation Review and agree a singular preferred option to progress through to the development of a Full Business Case (FBC).

(The Appendix to this report comprises exempt information – to exclude the public (including the press) from a meeting of a committee it is necessary for the following proposition to be moved and adopted: “that the public be excluded from the meeting for Items which would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) as indicated.”

Members considered the Future Space Requirements Accommodation Review report presented by Councillor Boden. 

Proposed by Councillor Boden, seconded by Councillor Benney and AGREED to:

·         Note the content of the Outline Business Case.

·         Progress Option 1B iv and subject to that decision being taken, to authorise the development of a Full Business Case (FBC) in relation to that preferred option.

·         Delegate to the Corporate Director and S151 Officer in conjunction with the Leader of the Council the appointment of a consultant and associated allocation of funding necessary to complete the FBC.

·         Delegate to the Corporate Director and S151 Officer, in conjunction with the Assistant Director and Head of Property, authority to negotiate the terms and pricing of the purchase as required. 

(Members resolved to exclude the public from the discussion on this item of business on the grounds that the appendix to the report involved the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) as indicated).

This paper seeks to update Cabinet on the status of options.  

Members considered the Options for the Renewal of a Lease of Operational Land in March confidential report presented by Councillor Mrs French.

Proposed by Councillor Mrs French, seconded by Councillor Boden and AGREED to note the contents of the confidential report and authorise officers to act accordingly to the recommendations suggested.

(Members resolved to exclude the public from the meeting for this item of business on the grounds that the report involved the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) as indicated).

To confirm the confidential minutes of the meeting held 15 July 2024.

The confidential minutes of the meeting held 15 July 2024 were approved and signed.