Agenda and minutes

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting of 2 December 2024.

The minutes of the meeting of 2 December 2024 were confirmed and signed.

To receive an update on the previous meeting’s Action Plan.

Members considered the update on previous actions.

Councillor Booth asked about the business plan from Anglian Water and the upgrade of pipes in the rural areas which remains unanswered. Councillor Davis agreed to get this actioned.

To review the Council’s Fees and Charges for 2025/26, in line with the Budget Strategy considered by Cabinet on 16 December 2024.

Members considered the review of Fees and Charges 2025/26 report presented by Councillor Boden.

Members made comments, asked questions, and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Barber referred to 3.1 in the presentation, The Port of Wisbech Authority, and the 10% increase on statutory fees seems high after the 25% increase last year. She asked is this because the Council has been substantially undercharging in the past as all the other charges are 5% or less and might this have the effect of less usage of the Council’s facilities and, therefore, a lower income over the year? Councillor Boden responded that in 2024/25 there was a proposal for the increase in fees particularly around the pilotage, boarding and landing due fees in relation to Sutton Bridge of 25%, but after discussions with the Port of Sutton Bridge during the course of 2024 and given how price sensitive the fees are in relation to the volume of business that goes through the port, it was agreed that the 25% would be reduced in December 2024 by 12% giving a net increase of 10% on the previous years figures. He stated that it is planned that there will be a further 10% increase which is likely to take place in December 2025 and not in April 2025, with the matter currently being looked into and will be reported at the next Cabinet meeting to determine.

·         Councillor Booth asked when the review for the Wisbech Harbour is to be completed as the issue concerning funding was raised several years ago and there appears to still be no firm decision on the Port which does impact the decisions made on what fees and charges should be made. He recalled having the same conversation last year and it appears that nothing has changed, potentially there is £50 million pounds of capital expenditure needed, and he feels a decision needs to be made so it does not keep being delayed year on year. Councillor Boden agreed with Councillor Booth that this is an urgent matter and confirmed that meetings are taking place on a weekly basis to progress on how to move forward and when any changes are made a report will be shared at Cabinet and Council. Councillor Booth asked when the target date is for getting the decision made and how long will the process take afterwards to implement the decision? Councillor Boden replied the target date is ‘to progress with this as quickly as possible’, when and if the Council are able to move forward then it depends upon the nature of any agreements which may be reached, but the timescale in terms of the final position could take as long as three years, depending upon whether Parliamentary approval is required.

·         Councillor Sennitt Clough stated that as part of the Growth and Infrastructure she felt The Boathouse, South Fens and Fenland Hall were not marketed well enough to get bookings, especially The Boathouse at weekends due to staff not being available and wondered if  ...  view the full minutes text for item OSC27/23

To comment on Draft Business Plan 2025-26.

Members considered the Draft Business Plan 2025/26 report presented by Councillor Boden.

Councillor Davis stated that items 7 and 8 have been impacted by the pending Local Government reorganisation and the Leader, Councillor Boden, would like to take this time to share the significant changes that may arise relevant to these agenda items. She proposed items 7 and 8 be considered before raising any specific questions for members and officers.

Councillor Boden informed members that:

·         the Councill has had for six years or more a consistent policy which has been followed in about how to move forward, prudently, cautiously and carefully looking after the assets of the Council and at the same time making sure the burden on the Council Taxpayer is kept as low as possible, and when things have to change policies have to change, too.

·         the Council has experienced a significant change in the last month, a week before Christmas the Government issued a White Paper which was called ‘Devolution’ which informed the Council that it was going to create Mayoral Combined Authorities across the whole of England, and it was going to institute Local Government reform such that all of the Councils which currently are two tier authorities together with some of the neighbouring smaller unitary authorities would all be subject to a reorganisation so that there would be a consistent pattern of unitaries right across the Country

·         the Government advised that these unitaries would have a population of between 500,000 and 1 million each, with District Councils such as Fenland being abolished, the County Council such as Cambridgeshire would be abolished, and the timescale involved is that it would be in two phases, one phase involved the changes taking place on the 1 April 2027 and the second phase on the 1 April 2028.

·         County Councils were asked which of the two tranches they wish to go in, the County Councils were meant to consult with their District Councils, but that process of consultation has not worked particularly well in several areas of the Country. Nevertheless some 16 of the 21 County Councils gave notice by the 10 January that they wish to cancel their election this year and to proceed in the first tranche of changes.

·         in addition to those 16 Councils two unitary authorities, Thurrock and the Isle of Wight, also gave notice that they wish to cancel their elections this year and move towards the fast track of being part of the new Unitary Authorities.

·         a great deal of conversation has taken place between Council Leaders and between Chief Executives of various Councils all around the Country and there has been particular concern that the Councils do not know the rules of the game as far as how these changes are going to take place.

·         Cambridgeshire decided because of the uncertainties involved and because there is already a Mayoral Combined Authority, there was no advantage to move to the quicker first tranche and that the second tranche was more appropriate which is  ...  view the full minutes text for item OSC28/23

To consider and make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet on the Draft Medium Term Financial Strategy, Draft General Fund Budget 2025/26 and Draft Capital Programme 2025-2028 for consultation.

Members consider the Revised Budget and Capital Programme 2025/26 report presented by Councillor Chris Boden

Councillor Boden paid tribute to the work undertaken by Mark Saunders stating his expertise and knowledge is second to none and made reference to the White Paper and the future plans of the Council.

Members made comments, asked questions, and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Hicks stated that in light of the information shared in the budget plan it shows that over the next two years there will be a £2.5 million pound deficit, and he would like to know how this was going to be addressed and how will the shortfall be made up in the time the Council has left? Councillor Boden responded the Council has to be aware of the revenue accounts position, the revenue savings that were made and the reserves created, specifically the budget equalisation reserve, all of these things will need to be taken into account in the new balance that the Council will create between the different priorities that the Council will be putting forward for next year and for the years following up until 2028.

·         Councillor Booth raised a point on the budget that it does appear that the Council are getting into a worse position and asked if the Council should not be a little more cautious particularly with the point around Council Tax given that it will be around £5 million in deficit before this Council ceases to exist and obviously the Council as it is right now does not want to be seen as not providing the best governance for the Fenland residents. Councillor Boden responded there needs to be a definition between dept and revenue deficit and agreed the Council has to bear in mind the revenue account and it needs to look at the expenditure that it was going to occur which now may no longer be appropriate to do, some of that is on the capital side which would have had revenue implication. He stated that it is difficult to overstate just how fundamental the change of mindset has to be as a result of what has now been announced which means the Council now has to look out for the best interests for the longer term of the people of Fenland and the services this Council provides at a standard that the Fenland people expect right up until the 31 March 2028 with the Council needing to be prudent with the resources on the Council Tax side and on the assets side in the Council with the resources which belong to Fenland which should be used for the benefit of the people of Fenland. Councillor Boden continued there is an interesting set of choices to make between priorities to achieve the best outcome that is possible for the people of Fenland when Fenland District Council becomes 15% of a new Unitary Authority on 1 April 2028.

·         Councillor Roy stated given the amount of work that goes into the Business Plan  ...  view the full minutes text for item OSC29/23

To consider the Draft Work Programme for Overview & Scrutiny Panel 2025

Members consider and note the Future Work Programme.

Councillor Davis stated that the members are still working to the proposed timetable at present and ahead of the next meeting arrangements will be made to incorporate meeting dates for 2025/26 once they have been finalised, and with what has been heard today, this will have an impact on what comes before Overview and Scrutiny and a few items may need to be moved around throughout the year.