Meeting documents

AVDC Cabinet
Tuesday, 14th August, 2001

Document: 2001-08-14 CABINET
 

PRESENT:  Councillor Cartwright (Leader); Councillors Liverseidge, Mrs Morgan-Owen, Mrs Paternoster, Mrs Polhill, Rowlands, Sir Beville Stanier and Stewart. Councillors Baldwin, Cole, Cooper, Mrs Glover, Kennell, Richards and Mrs Roberts attended also.
 

1.

MINUTES
 

RESOLVED -
 

That the Minutes of 31st July, 2001 were approved as a correct record.
 

2.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
 

A report was received from the Chief Executive giving details of the proposed assignment of responsibilities for each of the Council's Strategic Objectives.  It was felt that the proposals represented the best fit with Cabinet portfolios and it was accordingly
 

RESOLVED -
 

That the proposed assignment of responsibilities for each of the Council's Strategic Objectives as set out in the report submitted be approved, subject to the inclusion of Councillor Mrs Polhill in the list of “others involved” in relation to Health Improvement - Cancer.
 

3.

CLEANSING AND RELATED SERVICES
 

Consideration was given to a discussion paper by the Director of Planning, Property and Construction Services outlining ways in which the current level of cleansing might be enhanced.  The report dealt in particular with litter, abandoned cars, street cleansing, graffiti, fly tipping, fly poster removal, chewing gum removal and dog fouling.
 

RESOLVED -
 

That the Officers be asked to investigate in more detail the possible initiatives outlined in the above-mentioned report and to prepare detailed costed proposals for consideration at a subsequent meeting.
 

4.

PROCESS FOR THE ADOPTION OF OPEN SPACE
 

Members received a report by the Director of Housing, Health and Leisure outlining a much more co-ordinated approach to the process for the adoption of open space.
 

RESOLVED -
 

(1)

That the process for the adoption of open space as set out in the report submitted be approved.
 

(2)

That the Head of Planning be authorised to compile Supplementary Planning Guidance regarding the provision of open space.
 

(3)

That the Leisure budget be increased in line with Section 106 agreements in future to cover the on-going maintenance costs of open space.
 

(4)

That the Officers be asked to investigate means of encouraging owner/occupiers to maintain small areas of land abutting their property boundary.
 

5.

CONTAMINATED LAND STRATEGY FOR AYLESBURY VALE
 

The Council was required by statute to produce and adopt a contaminated land strategy by July, 2001.  This would not replace existing controls through the planning system.  The Strategy, a draft of which was submitted, was based around a risk assessment model in order to ensure that those sites that posed the greatest risk were dealt with as a matter of priority.
 

RESOLVED -
 

That the draft Contaminated Land Strategy appended to the report of the Director of Housing, Health and Leisure be approved and adopted.
 

6.

SERVICE PLANNING AND RESOURCE REDEPLOYMENT
 

The Cabinet received a report by the Director of Corporate Resources outlining the issues that needed to be addressed if the Council was to implement resource redeployment as part of the financial planning process.
 

RESOLVED -
 

(1)

That financial planning for 2002/03 and subsequent years should seek where possible to use resource redeployment as the means of releasing funding to meet budget pressures.
 

(2)

That the Officers progress budget planning by considering options for alternative service delivery together with a review of the flexible elements of the Council's budget to identify options for resource reallocation and savings.
 

7.

OPERATION OF THE STRATEGY FUND
 

Consideration was given to a report outlining suggested principles for the operation of the Strategy Fund established as part of the 2001-2002 budgetary planning process.
 

RESOLVED -
 

That the principles for the operation of the Strategy Fund and the timing for consideration of allocations as set out in the report submitted be approved and adopted.
 

8.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE TOURISM GROUP BUSINESS PLAN
 

Since 1996 the local authorities in Buckinghamshire had been working in partnership to promote tourism within the County.  This authority along with others in the County had contributed £4,000 on an annual basis to a joint promotional budget to enable the districts to support development campaigns that would otherwise be financially prohibitive to individual authorities.  It was reported that in order to increase the long term effectiveness of the joint campaigns, it had been agreed to produce a three year business plan.  Details of the five main elements of the Plan were contained in the report of the Director of Housing, Health and Leisure.
 

RESOLVED -
 

(1)

That approval be given to the Buckinghamshire Tourism Group Business Plan.
 

(2)

That approval be given to the continuation of the contribution of £4,000 per annum partnership funding for the 3 year life of the Plan, with a 12 month exit option, to support the activities of the Buckinghamshire Tourism Group.
 

9.

MONITORING THE EFFECTS OF THE MODERNISED COUNCIL
 

The Cabinet received a report outlining proposals for monitoring the effect, both qualitative and quantitative, of the new political management arrangements introduced in May, 2001.
 

RESOLVED -
 

That the proposals set out in the report of the Director of Corporate Resources be approved.
 

10.

STREET NAMING AND NUMBERING
 

At its meeting on 19th July, 2001, the Development Control Committee had recommended that part of a new industrial estate off the A421 Buckingham Ring Road be named Pateman Drive in memory of former Councillor Pateman who died recently.
 

The Director of Planning, Property and Construction Services reported however that Buckingham Town Council had opposed the proposed name as it wished to honour former Councillor Pateman in some other way.
 

RESOLVED -
 

(1)

That the matter be referred back to the Development Control Committee for further consideration in the light of the representations received from Buckingham Town Council.
 

(2)

That the Director of Planning, Property and Construction Services, after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planned Development, be authorised to determine the name of the development having regard to the views of the Development Control Committee.
 

11.

APPOINTMENT OF HACKNEY CARRIAGE STANDS
 

The Leader reminded Members that prior to the commencement of the meeting he had consented to consideration being given to this additional item as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972 in order to address issues relating to highway safety.
 

The Cabinet received a report by the Director of Housing, Health and Leisure regarding the appointment of a taxi stand in Kingsbury, Aylesbury.  The report outlined the reasons why the taxi stand had been relocated from Kingsbury to Buckingham Street and set out details of a meeting held recently between representatives from the taxi trade, the police and County and District Officers to discuss the concerns expressed by the taxi drivers about highway safety in relation to the Buckingham Street rank.  The police had concurred with the view that there were potential safety risks at the Buckingham Street rank.
 

In the circumstances, it was suggested that a temporary rank be created in Kingsbury whilst the Buckingham Street rank was made safe.
 

RESOLVED -
 

(1)

That it be noted that the Council had received formal consent from the Highway Authority to appoint a stand for hackney carriages at Kingsbury, on that part of the highway shown on the map submitted adjacent to the central island facing George Street for 6 spaces, and on that part of the highway outside Nos 18-22 Kingsbury for 3 spaces, also shown on the map submitted, under Section 63 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1976.
 

(2)

That the Head of Environmental Health Services be authorised to give public notice of the above proposal by advertisement in the local newspaper.
 

(3)

That if no objections or material representations were received to the proposal as a result of the advertisement or if any duly made were subsequently withdrawn, the Head of Legal Services be authorised to make the appropriate Order which would be revoked after a period of 18 months.
 

(4)

That if objections were received and not subsequently withdrawn, the matter be referred back to Cabinet for further consideration.
 

12.

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC FROM THE MEETING
 

RESOLVED -
 

That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the Paragraphs indicated in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act:-
 

Plot C, Brunel Road, Aylesbury.  (Paragraphs 7 and 9).
 

13.

PLOT C, BRUNEL ROAD, AYLESBURY
 

Members received the report of the Director of Planning, Property and Construction Services regarding the method considered most appropriate for the development of Plot C at Brunel Road, Aylesbury.
 

RESOLVED -
 

(1)

That the Director of Planning, Property and Construction Services, after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Asset Management be authorised to invite bids from the applicants listed in the report who should:-
 

(a)

provide plans and elevations of proposed developments together with details of energy management features and the use of recycled materials, and
 

(b)

make offers of a capital sum on the basis that the Council reserves the right not to accept the highest or any tender, and if a decision was made to accept a bid, subject to contract and planning consent, then the Council would either enter into a building agreement/lease for 150 years at a peppercorn rent.
 

(2)

That the final submissions be considered and one selected by the Director of Planning, Property and Construction Services after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Asset Management.