Meeting documents

Venue: Council Chamber

Contact: Peter Druce - Democratic Services - 

Items
No. Item

21.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Z Ahmed (Deputy Cabinet Member for Strategy & Communications), D J Carroll (Cabinet Member for Youth and External Partnerships) and D Knights (Deputy Cabinet Member for HR, ICT & Customer Services).

 

22.

Minutes

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 10 July 2017 be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

 

23.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

24.

New Wycombe District Local Plan, Little Marlow Lakes Country Park and Community Infrastructure Levy Receipts

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The report before Cabinet outlined in detail the new Local Plan and included the 500+ page pre-submission version of the Plan for proposal to the Planning Inspectorate. The Plan set out a vision for the future of the District including objectives and strategic policies necessary to achieve that vision. Inclusive of allocations of sites to meet the housing and economic needs for the District up to 2033, along with a number of development management policies, these were to be used as the basis for determining planning applications alongside the Delivery and Site Allocations Plan previously adopted in 2013.

 

Alongside the proposed recommendation to Full Council of the Local Plan and accompanying delegated authorities, officers had included a provision for the delivery of the Little Marlow Lakes Country Park.

 

Additionally a modification of the previous resolution of Cabinet of September 2015 in respect of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) receipts regards Princes Risborough Town Council and Longwick-cum-Ilmer Parish Council was also included.

 

Councillor D Johncock (Cabinet Member for Planning) presented the Report along with a supplement issued prior to the Meeting. This supplement included a number of late changes to the Local Plan as published in the appendix, it was proposed that these amendments be included in the Plan for recommendation to Council.

 

Councillor Johncock outlined that of these amendments the major two were:

 

·                A strengthening of the specifications re the spine road in the Gomm Valley to further prevent ultimate use as a ‘cut through’; and

 

·                Detailed definition of both the ‘Princes Risborough Expansion Area’ and the ‘Main Princes Risborough Expansion Area’ for clarification.

 

Councillor Johncock also referred Members to the circulated report to the Improvement & Review Commission meeting of 13 September 2017 of the Local Plan Task and Finish Group (and attached appendix), acknowledging the considerable scrutiny of both the final plan and its development over the preceding years. He asked that an additional resolution be considered noting the input of the Task and Finish Group.

 

Members discussed the Plan comprehensively and received clarification on a considerable number of issues and queries.

 

The following decisions were made to ensure that the Council had an up to date Local Plan to guide development over the next 15 years, including setting out new housing and employment targets and the strategy and locations for new development in the period up to 2033, and satisfied Government requirements to produce a Local Plan.

 

These decisions formally recognised the role that the Little Marlow Lakes area played in providing a range of recreational uses, and its future potential and ensured that the Princes Risborough Town and Longwick-cum-Ilmer Parish, which were taking considerable development, were not disadvantaged in their CIL receipts by the lack of neighbourhood plans, for reasons outside of their control and to provide appropriate local discretion in the spending of the Community Infrastructure Levy.

 

Recommended: That (i) the pre-submission version of the new Wycombe District Local Plan as set out at Appendix 2 subject to the amendments outlined in the Supplement submitted to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

25.

Air Quality Management Areas

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet noted from the report before them that exceedances for Nitrogen Dioxide have been found to exist along arterial and busy road routes through High Wycombe and Marlow. An area that contained these exceedances had been mapped as the proposed AQMAs (Air Quality Management Areas) for both towns. In addition, a new area had been mapped for exceedances along the M40 corridor. The latter resulted in a reduced area from the existing declared AQMA, as pollution levels had been found to have improved along the motorway.

 

Wycombe District Council had a statutory duty, under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995, Section 83, to declare Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) where exceedances of National Air Quality objectives had been identified. Where an AQMA had been declared there was a consequent duty upon the Council under Section 84 to produce an Air Quality Action Plan, with the intention of working towards bringing pollutant levels back below National Air Quality objectives, within 12 months.

 

The following decisions were made to ensure that Wycombe District Council worked towards its obligations to bring Nitrogen Dioxide pollution levels to below the National Air Quality objectives as required by Part IV of the Environment Act 1995.

 

RESOLVED: That (i) Air Quality Management Area orders (AQMAs) for High Wycombe and Marlow are declared;

 

(ii) the amendment of the existing M40 Air Quality Management Area as described in the report is carried out;

 

(iii) delegated authority to the Head of Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and the District Solicitor is granted in order to make the necessary orders, subject to public consultation, as set out in the report; and

 

(iv) delegated authority to the Head of Environment to proceed with the preparation of a draft Air Quality Action Plan be granted, to be reported to a future meeting of Cabinet for approval.

26.

2017/18 Service Performance: Q1 (April – June)

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet noted the attached report which included a quarterly update on the key frontline performance measures and an exception report for any performance measures which were not on target.

 

The report provided an update for the 41 corporate service performance indicators.

 

The following decision was made in order to ensure a comprehensive review of performance as at 30 June 2017 to ensure that the Council was performing at the appropriate level.

 

RESOLVED that the summary of the year to date service performance out-turns (April – June 2017) be noted.

27.

Discretionary Business Rate Relief

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

From the report Members noted that the Government had announced a new scheme of discretionary relief for businesses in the spring budget. The Department for Communities and Local Government had made it clear that it was for each local authority to design its own scheme. 

 

A standard scheme throughout Buckinghamshire had been designed, with flexibility for local variations if required.

Wycombe District’s planned discretionary business rate scheme was aimed at supporting those businesses facing a large increase in their business rates as a result of the revaluation. The Government believed that local authorities were best placed to judge the criteria for relief and the amount awarded, as a result Wycombe’s scheme was aimed at supporting local businesses.

 

The following decision was made as Cabinet approval was needed to implement the new scheme that would benefit local businesses.

 

RESOLVED: That (i) the discretionary scheme as set out in Appendix 1 is agreed; and

 

(ii) Delegated authority be granted to the Head of Finance and Commercial Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance to agree the final % award for the financial years 2017/18 & 2018/19, and future changes having regard to Government guidance, the Council’s financial position and such other considerations as they may think fit.

 

28.

Budget Monitoring Report Quarter 1

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The report before Cabinet set out the Council’s financial position as at Period 3 2017/18 (30 June 2017), reflecting that which had been reported to Senior Management Board and incorporating the new format of subjective reporting.

 

The following decision was made in order that Cabinet approves a budget each year within the context of a Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) to achieve the Council’s priorities. 

RESOLVED: That the forecast outturn position for the financial year 2017/18 as at end of June 2017 be noted.

29.

Digital First

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

From the report Cabinet noted that Digital First was about more than just technology. Digital means applying the culture, practices, processes and technologies of the internet era to respond to people’s raised expectations.

 

The overarching strategy featured in the report was seen as being about how Wycombe District Council, as an organisation, engaged, communicated and responded to people, how services were designed and delivered and how information was used to make decisions, inform policy and evaluate performance and outcomes.

 

The following decisions were made as under the "Pounds" priority of the Corporate Plan the ambition was set for the Council to, "Continue to innovate and transform our services; to provide them in the most efficient and accessible way."

 

Additionally, as part of the requirements of the Local Government Finance Settlement Offer, the Council was required to develop and submit an Efficiency Plan, with the plan submitted to DCLG (Department for Communities and Local Government) in July following Cabinet approval. Included in this plan was a commitment to develop a:"Corporate business case for empowering customers through adoption of a "digital by default" and increased self-service Customer Strategy".

 

RESOLVED: That (i) the vision concept within the Report be adopted;

 

(ii) approval to develop a Digital First strategy and roadmap, setting out how the vision is to be delivered be agreed; and

 

(iii) an intention to present the Digital First strategy & roadmap to Cabinet in November be noted.

30.

Information Sheets

Minutes:

Cabinet received the following Information Sheet issued since the last meeting:

 

               3/2017 Rye Improvement Plan – issued 8/8/17.

31.

File on Action Taken Under Delegated Authority

Minutes:

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

 

Community    C26-28/17

Environment      E3-5/17

Finance    F21-22/17

Housing    H3/17

HR,ICT & Customer Services HR1/17

32.

Capital Budget Amendment - Land Acquisition, Princes Risborough

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The report before Cabinet outlined that the Local Plan proposed 2050 homes at Princes Risborough in the plan period to 2033, with a further 600 homes in later years. To accommodate this, a new road was needed through the town.  The site lay outside the boundary of the Green Belt and the AONB.

 

The properties that were the subject of the report were located near an existing underbridge that connects the B4009 to the A4010 at Grove Lane. The new road required this junction to be straightened, which would involve the construction of a new railway underbridge, and the demolition of the identified properties.

 

The following recommendation to Council was made to facilitate the delivery of the alternative route round Princes Risborough. The expansion of Princes Risborough, with an alternative route, was a key proposal in the Local Plan.  The property owners were willing to sell by private treaty and the land and property in question could therefore be acquired by negotiation, avoiding the expense and time delay that a CPO (Compulsory Purchase Order) would involve.

 

Recommended: That (i) land and properties needed to enable the delivery of the Local Plan within the budget set out in the exempt appendix are acquired; and

 

(ii) delegated authority be given to the Corporate Director in consultation with Head of Finance & Commercial and Head of Democratic, Legal & Policy Services in relation to the acquisition of the land and property described in the appendix, including associated legal and transactional costs.

EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

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 33, 34 and 35, because of their reference to matters which contain exempt information as defined as follows:

Minute 33 – Baker Street Area Renewal Phase 1 Budget

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 34 – Glory Mill Aquisition

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 35 - File on Action taken under Exempt Delegated Powers

Economic Development and Regeneration sheet nos: EDR/38/17 – EDR/47/17

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).

 

33.

Baker Street Area Renewal Phase 1 Budget

Minutes:

Members considered the report before them in which additional funding was sought to enable the first phase of the Baker Street area renewal programme and public realm works to progress.

 

The following recommendation was made as at the time of the previous Cabinet report, the full costs of the Baker Street development were not known. Over the past nine months, the scheme had evolved through detailed design development. A change to the project phasing required the full costs of public realm works to be borne by the first two phases of the overall Baker Street scheme. These increased and additional costs now needed to be met.

 

Recommendation to Council: That the funding of the proposed Phase 1 development, as set out in paragraph 4 of the report be agreed and resultant revision to the Capital Programme (Major Projects) be approved.

34.

Glory Mill Acquisition

Minutes:

Cabinet were asked to recommend to Council an addition to the 2017-18 Capital Budget to provide regeneration of the Glory Mill area.

 

Members had a comprehensive discussion on the recommendations, during which Councillor D Watson wished it to be recorded that he had asked a question in respect of whether this land could be used for housing to reduce the need for the release of the Green Belt sites for Housing, near to Glory Mill, specified in the earlier Local Plan recommendation to Council. It was confirmed that it was needed for employment land.

 

The following recommendations and decision were made as the District was losing employment land to developer pressure for housing, which generates higher financial returns. The proposals within the report would prevent this loss of employment land which constrains the sustainable development of the District and removes locally accessible employment opportunities.

 

Recommended: That (i) an addition to the 2017/18 Capital Budget as set out in the Exempt report and appendix, to fund the acquisition of undeveloped employment land at Glory Park, be approved; and

 

(ii) delegated authority be given to the Major Projects & Estates Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economic Development & Regeneration, Head of Financial Services and Cabinet Member for Finance, to seek to negotiate a purchase price be approved.

 

RESOLVED: That Compulsory Purchase powers be sought in the absence of an agreement to acquire by private treaty.

35.

File on Action Taken Under Exempt Delegated Powers

Minutes:

Cabinet received the following files on exempt actions taken under delegated

powers:

 

Economic Development and Regeneration: EDR/38/17 – EDR/47/17.