Meeting documents

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Miss S Brown (Deputy Cabinet Member for Community) and L Wood (Cabinet Member for Digital Development and Customer Services).

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 11 November 2019 be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman, subject to Minute 43 being amended to include the following paragraph:

Councillor Collingwood, the Vice-Chairman of the Parking Task and Finish Group, requested that the new authority be asked to ensure that capital funding be available for two schemes to increase capacity at the Duke Street car park and Marlow Central car park.

There were no declarations of interest.

The report before Cabinet detailed the response to the Motion received at Council on Monday 21 October 2019. The Motion stated the following:

 "World leaders are at last taking an interest in the potential devastation caused by global warming and climate change. Climate Science experts from around the world tell us that unless we switch away from fossil fuels within the next 12 years, we will be unable to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. We face a Climate Emergency. Reducing energy use and switching to clean energy will increase our energy security, improve our air quality, minimise fuel poverty, boost our local economy and provide jobs and training.

Wycombe District Council is prepared to play its small part in this big debate by declaring a climate emergency and committing to being carbon neutral by the year 2030. This move will raise the profile of this vital issue with our residents and enable us to secure additional external support and funding. Wycombe District Council also agrees to sign up to the covenant of Mayors, to track our progress and itself with Towns around the world who are engaged in cutting emissions."

The Cabinet Member for Environment detailed the significant progress Wycombe District Council had already made in preserving the environment, including recycling, 25% tree canopy cover to be included within developments and air quality management areas. She suggested that Cabinet support the recommendations.

Councillor R Raja, the mover of the Motion was present and emphasised the importance of ensuring that action was taken to minimise emissions.

The Leader paid tribute to the Cabinet Member and officers in relation to the work that had been undertaken.

During discussions, it was confirmed that in accordance with Standing Order 12.7, Cabinet "shall report back by way of recommendation to Full Council and the report shall advise the Council as to whether or not the motion should be adopted or give such other advice as was appropriate.

The following recommendations were made to support national and international efforts to minimise the effects of climate change.

Recommended: That Council resolves to (i) recognise that climate change, and the associated challenges it brings, constitutes a global emergency;

(ii)    understand that, although it contributes 1% of global carbon emissions, the UK must irrespectively lead by example in promoting change both within the UK and globally;

(iii)   note that Wycombe District Council had already made significant progress to date in preserving the environment, as evidenced by its strong recycling performance and the adoption of an air quality action plan. It has recently developed supplementary planning documents requiring 25% tree canopy cover to be included within developments, was at the public consultation stage for an air quality supplementary planning document and had recently launched an anti-engine idling campaign, signing its air quality management areas, so informing drivers of this;

(iv)   Wycombe District Council declares a climate emergency by supporting the UK government target to be net-zero by 2050, as contained in the 2008 Climate Change Act  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

Cabinet approval was sought to release funds from the Special Expenses Reserve (£143k) and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) (£500k) to enable construction to commence on the new cemetery at Penn Road, Hazlemere.

Councillor T Green, the Chairman of the High Wycombe Town Committee, confirmed that the additional funding requirements had been endorsed by the High Wycombe Town Council at its meeting on 21 January 2020.

The Chairman of the Improvement and Review Commission emphasised the importance of ensuring that sufficient budget was available to ensure that the peripheral area of the site was well maintained or enhanced.

The following decisions were made as Wycombe was running out of burial capacity, and the project was needed to meet the legal requirement to be able to provide burials in the High Wycombe Town area.

RESOLVED: That (i) a build contract be entered into with the successful bidder to build the new cemetery at Penn Road, High Wycombe;

(ii)    delegated authority be granted to the Acting Chief Executive to agree and approve the contract and final designs and sign the build contract on behalf of Wycombe District Council;

(iii)   the increase in the cost of £253,210 be approved, resulting in total project cost of £1,933,000;

(iv)   the remaining funding of the project from the Special Expenses Reserve: £143k and CIL: £500k be agreed; and

(v)    the £50,000 annual maintenance cost of the new facility be built into the budget setting process.

Cabinet had before them the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping, Private Sector and Affordable Housing Strategy for 2020 to 2022 and was reminded of the requirements placed upon the Council in regard to the Strategy. The Strategy considered the homelessness demand in the district, the provision of services, and the future priorities including an action plan.

Members noted that the Strategy took into account the successes of the previous Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan, in addition to addressing the challenges which had arisen during that time.

Councillor Mrs Langley, the Cabinet Member for Housing, thanked all the officers involved for their hard work in relation to the recent accomplishment that, as of Friday 17 January every single person who otherwise might have been sleeping on the street in Wycombe had been provided with a bed. Cabinet then expressed their thanks to the Cabinet Member for Housing for all of her hard work. The Leader concluded by expressing her thanks to all those involved.

The following recommendation was made as the Council was required under section 1 of the Homelessness Act 2002 to publish a Homelessness Strategy based upon a review of homelessness in the area every 5 years.

Recommended: That the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping, Private Sector and Affordable Housing Strategy 2020 – 2022 be adopted.

Cabinet recalled that the current Public Spaces Protection Orders that covered the High Wycombe town centre and the Desborough Road area, were due to expire in February 2020.

Cabinet were informed that formal consultation had been undertaken on the proposed extension of the two Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) for High Wycombe Town Centre and the surrounding area. The consultation responses and findings were included in the report before Cabinet.

After due consideration, Cabinet approval was sought to endorse the extension of the Orders until February 2023.

The following decision was taken as the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) within High Wycombe town centre, which dealt with the consumption of alcohol, and the Desborough Road Public Spaces Protection Order, which deals with prostitution, expired in February 2020. A decision was required as to whether the PSPOs should be extended. The Order was made pursuant to Anti-social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014.

RESOLVED: That both PSPOs be extended for a further three years.  There was support from both the public and High Wycombe BIDCo to extend both PSPOs for a further three years, and whilst the police support the extension of the Town Centre PSPO, there were clear benefits to extending the Desborough Road PSPO as well – in order to continue to provide an additional tool for both the police and delegated Wycombe District Council Officers.      

Cabinet were asked to consider the report which set out the position for all revenue accounts and capital spending for the first nine months of 2019/20. Cabinet considered the actions set out in the report and whether any further action was necessary.

The Cabinet approved a budget each year within the context of a Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) to achieve the Council’s priorities. The report updated Cabinet Members on the 2019/20 forecast position for Quarter 3.

RESOLVED: That  (i) the forecast outturn position for the financial year 2019/20 as at end of December 2019 be considered; and

        (ii) the £100k capital virement as set out in section 6.7 of the report be agreed.

Cabinet received the following files on actions taken under delegated powers:

Community                                                           C/16/19 – C/21/19

Economic Development & Regeneration               EDR/01/20 – EDR/02/20

Finance                                                                F/07/19 – F/08/19

Planning & Sustainability                                        PS/15/19 – PS/23/19

                                                                               PS/01/20

RESOLVED: That pursuant to Regulation 4(2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Minute Nos 58 and 60, because of their reference to matters which contain exempt information as defined as follows:

Minute 58 Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring Report for Period 9/Quarter 3 Ending 31 December 2019 – Appendix B

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) (Paragraph 3, Part 1 of Schedule 12A, Local Government Act 1972)

(The need to maintain the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure, because disclosure could prejudice the Council’s position in any future tender process or negotiations)

Minute 60 - File on Action taken under Exempt Delegated  Powers

Community sheet nos: C/04/19 – C/05/19

  Economic Development & Regeneration sheet nos: EDR/45/19 - EDR/54/19

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) (Paragraph 3, Part 1 of Schedule 12A, Local Government Act 1972)

(The need to maintain the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure, because disclosure could prejudice the Council’s position in any future tender process or negotiations)

Cabinet received the following files on exempt actions taken under delegated

powers:

Community Sheet Nos: C/04/19 – C/05/19

Economic Development & Regeneration Sheet Nos: EDR/45/19 – EDR/54/19