Agenda and minutes

To confirm and sign the minutes of 15 November 2024.

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

To consider and approve the Revised General Fund Budget and Capital Programme 2024/25, Draft General Fund Budget Estimates 2025/26 and Draft Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2025/26 to 2029/30 and Capital Programme 2025/26 to 2027/28

Members considered the Revised General Fund Budget and Capital Programme 2024/25; the Draft General Fund Budget Estimates for 2025/26 and Draft Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2025/26 to 2029/30 and Capital Programme for 2025-2028 report presented by Councillor Boden.

·         Councillor Boden commented that there is a lot of uncertainty around council finances particularly given that central government have not yet indicated what Fenland will receive, and the Chief Accountant had said this is the most difficult budget he has ever had to put forward as a result. There are specific issues that need to be addressed, for instance the cost of the Internal Drainage Board levies and homelessness, which continues to be a significant drain on resources and is above the budgeted figure for the current year. However, the transformation programme continues to look at all services with a view to how they can be reformed and made more efficient whilst providing the same outcomes.

·         Councillor Mrs French congratulated Councillor Boden and officers for producing this budget at such a difficult time.

·         Councillor Tierney said some councils would simply raise council tax to address the challenges and so it is admirable that this council’s approach is always to aim to keep the strain off local people by making difficult choices until it is impossible to do otherwise.

·         Councillor Boden stated that members may find themselves having to make the choice between unpalatable changes or increasing council tax but will always look first at ways to save money and reduce costs before even considering raising council tax.

·         Councillor Miscandlon said with reference to internal drainage boards and their costings, this was raised by himself and the Section 151 Officer at a recent Special Interest Group (SIG) meeting. Given that 41 councils have signed up to the SIG relating to IDBs and the worsening funding gap, central government are going to have to take notice and help find a solution to the problem.

Proposed by Councillor Boden, seconded by Councillor Tierney and AGREED that:

(i)           the revised General Fund Budget and revised Capital Programme for 2024/25 be approved

(ii)          the draft budget proposals for 2025/26 outlined in this report be approved for consultation

(iii)        the proposed Capital Programme for 2025/26 – 2027/28 be approved.

To approve the draft Business Plan 2025-26 for public consultation.

Members considered the Draft Business Plan 2025/28 presented by Councillor Tierney.

Proposed by Councillor Tierney, seconded by Councillor Boden and AGREED to approve the Draft Business Plan 2025-26 for public consultation.

To confirm that the properties as listed in Appendix 1 are surplus to the Council’s requirements and recommended for disposal.

Members considered the Proposed Disposal of Property Assets report presented by Councillor Benney.

·         Councillor Boden pointed out that auction is not the only way in which the Council may necessarily be disposing of one or two of these assets. It may be that there are special prices which could be obtained from interested parties which would allow officers, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer, to get best value by means other than auction but it is key to always get best value.

·         Councillor Hoy said she slightly disagrees with Councillor Boden’s comment regarding best value having noted that the Chapel in Wisbech Cemetery is on the list for disposal. She would be very unhappy for it to be disposed of, and the building then potentially used negatively that would be inappropriate for the setting for example as a nightclub or youth club. She agreed that whilst best value is important, there should be caveats that in certain places thought needs to be given to who is potentially buying it rather than selling it to the highest bidder regardless of what they are going to do. Councillor Boden thanked Councillor Hoy for her helpful comment but said it is worth pointing out that best value does not necessarily mean the greatest amount of money; best value also looks at the context within which a particular decision is made, and her comments will have been noted about the sensitive nature of the site. He is sure that officers and members understand a site such as that is hardly going to be suitable for something like a nightclub.

·         Councillor Benney emphasised that as councillors, they are expected to get best value for money. That rationale could be applied to every site in the report because every person that lives next door does not want it.

·         Councillor Laws agreed that auction is not necessarily the best place to sell land. The Council has a list of developers, and it would be appropriate to advertise these assets on the Council's website first, again with sensitivity. Planning can be a very emotive subject for the people who live nearby and if any items go to auction there should be something that ties it to a development rather than anything like a youth club or nightclub that is going to cause problems for people. 

·         Councillor Boden stated that it is important to look at each asset individually. Generally public auction is the best way for the Council to obtain, and be seen to obtain, a fair price, however when restrictions are placed on the number of individuals who might see something, there is the risk that someone else may miss it and say they would have put in a better offer if only they had known about it. Therefore, public auction should be seen as the default position but is not a guaranteed position on any asset.

·         Councillor Tierney said there is at least one site where there has been a genuine suggestion by an elected  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB35/24

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.

Councillor Tierney commented that he was pleased to see the project taking shape and that there is a building at last. He praised the good work being done, great progress has been made and it is good news for Wisbech.

AGREED to note the monthly update relating to the works at 24 and 11-12 High Street, Wisbech.

For information purposes.

Noted for information.

To update members on the proposed acquisition of residential property known as Meadowcourt and located in Elm, near Wisbech.

(The Appendices 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 and 5 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 – update on Due Diligence report presented by Councillor Hoy.

Councillor Boden said the rationale at the meeting of Cabinet on 30^th September remains the same. This property is not a business acquisition to generate an income, it is to assist with homelessness and will reduce the Council’s costs for homelessness and housing benefit subsidy.

Councillor Hoy said that when this came to Cabinet in September, some people asked why there had been what they felt was secrecy over the matter and wondered whether it was because the property was to be used for asylum seekers. She explained at the time and would like again now to confirm that the property is not being used for asylum seekers. The reason that the appendices are confidential are purely financial; the Council is bidding for the property and wants to prevent someone else offering the same or a higher bid. She reiterated that the property is not for asylum seekers and will not be while she is the portfolio holder for housing.

Proposed by Councillor Hoy, seconded by Mrs French and AGREED to consider new information presented in this report, in particular the financial and legal implications as set out in Schedule 1, and:

a)    To reaffirm its decision of 30^th September 2024, which was to:

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

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

b)   Authorise officers to undertake the actions proposed as set out at Schedule 1 as part of the ongoing due diligence.

To update Cabinet following the purchase of the former Barclays Bank at 2 Broad Street, March.

(Appendix 2 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 paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) as indicated.”

Members considered the Former Barclays Bank, March update report presented by Councillor Boden.

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

·         note the update provided

·         approve the revised disposal strategy detailed in the report

·         give delegated authority to the Leader of the Council, in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and S151 Officer to approve the disposal of the property on terms to be agreed.

To update Cabinet on the disposal of surplus land in Doddington.

Members considered the confidential Disposal of Surplus Land in Doddington report presented by Councillor Benney.

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

·         note the contents of the report

·         authorise the Head of Property, Assets and Major Projects, in consultation with the S151 Officer and Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, to agree the sale documents on the terms reported.

(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 provide members with an overview of Wisbech Port.

Members considered the confidential Port Operations report presented by Councillor Benney.

Members carefully considered the report recommendations and reviewed the options.

Proposed by Councillor Benney, seconded by Councillor Boden and AGREED to the report recommendations. 

(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).