Agenda and minutes

To approve the record of the Cabinet meeting held on 6^th November 2006.                 (Attached)

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 6^th November 2006 were approved as a correct record.

No declarations were made.

Report number CEX360 by the Chief Executive.                             (Attached)

DECISION:

That the draft Waste Strategy Document be issued for consultation subject to amendments made during the meeting, with the results thereof going back to the Cabinet meeting on 8^th January 2007.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision

(1)               Report number CEX360 by the Chief Executive on the consultation draft of the Waste Management Strategy for 2007 to 2015 and the draft strategy attached as appendix 1;

(2)               The list of proposed questions on which feedback should be sought as detailed in report CEX360;

(3)               The draft strategy would seek to reduce the carbon footprint within the district;

(4)               Proposals within the draft strategy would help the council meet targets set by the government and the European Union;

(5)               The use of new and developing technology could help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the waste collection service;

(6)               Data from waste analysis has allowed the Council to target the most appropriate schemes and working methods;

(7)               Amendments made at the meeting: to amend the reference on page 11 to Stamford as the first conservation town, to remove the municipal waste section of the draft strategy and to amend page 15 to “waste arising per household”.

Report number CHFR24 by the Service Manager, Finance & Risk Management.       (Attached)

DECISION:

The Cabinet approves in principle, the draft Fees and Charges Strategy subject to amendments made in consultation with the Resources and Assets Portfolio Holder and the Leader of the Council.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision

(1)               Report number CHFR24 by the Service Manager, Risk and Finance Management on the proposed strategy for fees and charges and the draft strategy attached as an appendix to the report;

(2)               Considerations of the Resources Development and Scrutiny Panel on 28^th September 2006 and 23^rd November 2006;

(3)               The Strategy supports Principle 11 of the Medium Term Financial Strategy adopted by the Council on 7^th September 2006;

(4)               Alignment with the Council priority of the use of resources;

(5)               Income figures should be identified as “gross income”;

(6)               Discretionary and statutory targets should be identified within the strategy;

(7)               The rolling three-year programme would provide the opportunity to review all charges on an annual basis and make any adjustments.

Report PLA626 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder.                     (Attached)

DECISION:

Having considered each option for each of the policy topics included in the Core Strategy – Preferred Options, the Cabinet approves in principle the preferred option for each of the 12 policy topics included in the Core Strategy for public consultation in accordance with Reg. 26 and the Council’s SCI subject to amendments made in liaison with the Economic Development Portfolio Holder and the Leader of the Council.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision

(1)               Report number PLA626 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder on options considered for policy areas to be covered by the LDF Core Strategy and appendix 1 to the report detailing all options considered and identifying the preferred option having taken into account the sustainability appraisal;

(2)               The Core Strategy should provide an overarching policy framework which establishes the vision and objectives for the plan period;

(3)               The Core Strategy should reflect the vision of the District Council and the Local Strategic Partnership;

(4)               The decision of the Cabinet on 6^th November 2006 that agreed key policy areas for the document;

(5)               Report PLA627 which detailed full responses to consultation carried out during summer 2006;

(6)               The necessity for a minimum period of six weeks for consultation on the revised Core Strategy in compliance with The Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004 (Reg 26) and the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement;

(7)               Comments as noted during the meeting.

Other options considered and assessed

1.                  The objective of the “preferred options” stage in the LDF process is to consider all reasonable alternative options. Consultation should provide sufficient information about the alternatives and their potential impacts to allow members of the public to make an informed comment and choice. It is considered that the options outlined in the report have been fully considered and the “preferred option” selected on the basis of a full assessment of background evidence, sustainability appraisal and with sound judgement.

Report PLA627 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder.                     (Attached)

DECISION:

The Cabinet notes the comments made about the Core Strategy Preferred Options during public consultation in Summer 2006 and recognise that, where applicable, these comments have been used in the preparation of the revised Preferred Options for the Core Strategy, which will be published for public consultation in early 2007.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision

(1)               Report number PLA627 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder on the results of consultation on the preferred options for the Core Strategy and the list of feedback in appendix 1 to the report;

(2)               Comments from consultation support the draft Core Strategy for the LDF;

(3)               Following consultation in June 2006, GOEM and the Planning Inspectorate stated concerns regarding the manner in which options were presented for public consultation based on the first examinations of LDF Core Strategies;

(4)               All documents needed to go through the preferred options consultation stage again, however responses submitted during summer 2006 were used to help formulate the preferred options presented in report PLA626;

(5)               Figures in the draft Regional Plan have resulted in fundamental changes to the approach for housing, employment and retail development within the revised Core Strategy Preferred Options report;

(6)               Those who responded in Summer 2006 would be invited to submit further comments about the options that have altered.

Other options considered and assessed:

1.                  The alternative approach would be to disregard the comments received in response to the consultation held in the summer and rely upon comments made when the preferred options stage is repeated next year. As the preferred options stage is to be repeated this would not present any technical issues relating to the statutory process set out in the regulations. However it must be recognised that many people have spent time and money reading and commenting upon the documents in order to inform us of their views. In these circumstances it would be inappropriate and unreasonable for the Council to disregard what consultees had said. The object of public involvement in the LDF process is to gauge public opinion of policies as they are being developed to involve the community in shaping policies and therefore ensure that the final policies have a degree of public support/consensus.

12:10pm        Councillor Bryant entered the meeting.

Report number PLA628 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder.                    (Attached)

DECISION:

The Cabinet:

1.                  Approves the second Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) for publishing subject to amendments made at the meeting. The AMR will be formally submitted to the Secretary of State before the end of December 2006. Publication of the documents should include making it available on the Council’s website and at all of the local libraries and district offices;

2.                  The conclusions of the AMR in relation to policy performance should be used to inform the development of new policies included in the emerging LDF;

3.                  The Local Development Scheme is currently in the process of being changed and updated to reflect the changes established in October 2006 and the delay that has already occurred this year in the preparation of LDF documents.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision

(1)              Report number PLA628 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder on the Annual Monitoring report for the LDF from 1^st April 2005 to 31^st March 2006 and the Annual Monitoring Report attached as an appendix which monitors core output and local indicators with progress on the preparation of the LDF;

(2)              The report needed to be submitted to the First Secretary of State by the 31^st December each year and should comply with requirements of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004;

(3)              Local authorities were advised to identify local indicators to provide a better understanding of the District and provide a measure to determine whether development plan policies are effective;

(4)              The Council has undertaken basic monitoring of housing completions and commitments since 1990 and further monitoring of other development;

(5)              Within the AMR period good progress was made towards achieving the objectives of the Local Development Scheme, although the timetable had slipped;

(6)              The label of the graph on page 13 should be amended to read “cumulative annual requirement”.

Other options considered and assessed

1.                  The Council is required to monitor policy performance and progress in preparing the Local Development Framework. This information must be published annually. No other options are available for consideration.

12:47  The Leader and the Chief Executive left the meeting.

Report number PLA629 by the Economic Development Portfolio.                                 (Attached)

DECISION:

That the Cabinet endorses the comments set out in Appendix A to report PLA629 as the basis for the Council’s response to consultation on the Draft Regional Plan, in preparation for the Examination in Public in Summer 2007, together with comments made during the meeting.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision

(1)               Report number PLA629 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder on the draft East Midlands Regional Plan as part of the review of the Regional Spatial Strategy, which was attached as an appendix to the report;

(2)               It was anticipated that a joint Lincolnshire response would be submitted to East Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA) through the Lincolnshire Assembly;

(3)               The East Midlands Regional Plan forms part of the development plan for each district in the region and sets out the broad spatial framework in which the LDF must sit and has materiality in decision making on individual planning applications;

(4)               When considering report number PLA542 on “Options for Change”, the Council supported option 2A (trend-based growth and trend-based distribution) alongside a sub-area boundary designation and core policies for sustainable development, which was taken forward;

(5)               The draft plan was informed by responses to the “Options for Change” paper and background evidence including a sustainability appraisal;

(6)               Comments needed to be submitted by 20^th December 2006 to the Panel Secretary. An independent Panel appointed by the Secretary of State would consider any comments submitted. Key issues would be discussed at an “examination in public”;

(7)               Key aspects of the Regional Plan that impacted on South Kesteven were: the Core Strategy, the Spatial Strategy and Topic-Based Priorities;

(8)               Some element of local flexibility on targets for affordable housing was desirable to allow for projects with large community benefits;

(9)               Recognition was made of Spalding as a sub-regional centre; this could impact on Grantham and Boston;

(10)          No account was taken within the housing quota of Grantham’s status as a growth point. There was no provision in the infrastructure section for a bypass for Grantham; this would be necessary for Grantham to become a successful sub-regional centre and to complement growth point status;

(11)          No explanations or specific details were provided on carbon neutral urban development sites;

(12)          Figures for employment allocations could be added following the consultation period. The District Council would not have the opportunity to comment on these and the Cabinet objected to the addition of any late information without consultation.

Other options considered and assessed

1.                  The recommended comments set out in Appendix A of report PLA629 have been derived in consultation with Members at Cabinet Briefing on 20^th November 2006. Alternative responses were discussed at this meeting, but it is felt that the content of Appendix A provides a balanced response to the Draft Plan that seeks to ensure that the Regional Plan supports the Council’s priorities and objectives.

Report by the Corporate Head of Finance and Resources.           (Enclosure)

DECISION:

The Cabinet approves the recording of the amounts shown below as the council tax bases for 2007/8, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 (as amended).

Considerations/Reasons for Decision

(1)               Report number CHFR26 by the Corporate Head of Finance and Resources on the Council Tax base for 2007/08;

(2)               The Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended by S.84 of the Local Government Act 2003 allowed each local authority to make its own arrangements for adopting the Council Tax base;

(3)               The total number of dwellings on the Valuation List after allowance for discounts and exemptions was converted to estimate the number of Band D equivalents.

Councillor Frances Cartwright: Portfolio –Organisational Development and Housing Services

DECISION:

To approve the purchase of theOPTITIME scheduling module in the sum of £57,860 to take advantage of the negotiated discount.  The system to be part of the drive to modernise the repair team (formerly the DWO) and to improve administrative processes and offer a better and more dependable customer service.

[Decision made on 04.12.06]

CouncillorJohn Smith: Portfolio – Economic Development

DECISION:

That approval be given to the following names in order to provide new postal addresses for new residential development at:-

1.                  RIVER VIEW MALTINGS for the residential development at the former Maltings off Bridge Street/Harrowby Road, Grantham;

2.                  SPRINGBANK DRIVE for zones 1 & 2 area 3 Elsea Park development off South Road, Bourne.

[Decision made on 04.12.06]

DATE DECISIONS EFFECTIVE:

All decisions as made on 4^th December 2006 can be implemented on 13^th December 2006 unless subject to call-in by the Chairman of the relevant Development and Scrutiny Panel or five members of the Council.