Agenda and minutes

To confirm and sign the minutes of 18 September 2019.

The minutes of the meeting of 18 September 2019 were confirmed and signed.

For Cabinet to consider the Local Discretionary Business Rate Relief Policy (LDBRR) and, if they agree, to recommend adoption of the Policy to Full Council.

Cabinet considered the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy report presented by Councillor Boden. 

Councillor Boden stressed that the policy is absolutely discretionary and there is no obligation to the Council to give support to any organisation that may put in a request.  

Cabinet AGREED to endorse and recommend that Council adopts the proposed Local Discretionary Business Rate Relief Policy, guidance and application form and note the proposed application and assessment process.

Further to the September 2019 Cabinet discussion regarding Fenland's play areas, this paper details a planned refurbishment programme for FDC's play areas and the potential FDC capital investment necessary for a 5 year plan.

Members considered the report on Fenland’s play areas detailing the planned refurbishment programme and the potential capital investment necessary for a 5-year plan presented by Councillor Murphy.

Councillor Murphy pointed out that there was a discrepancy on the report between the table and the narrative. Namely the table at paragraph 4.4 of the report should state Burcroft Road and not Jasmine Close. The play equipment at Jasmine Close does not require planned maintenance. Members accepted the amendment. 

Further to the recommendation within the report, Councillor Murphy asked if Members would agree to a second recommendation, that being to delegate to the Portfolio Holder for Environment any changes to the planned replacement programme outlined at 4.4 of the report. 

Councillor Clark asked a question on behalf of Councillor Humphrey and quoted Appendix A, point 8 of the report: “The Council is also contacting Housing Associations and Town and Parish Councils to ascertain the play equipment they manage and maintain so that we have a complete picture of the play equipment available across the District”. Councillor Clark asked when this is happening and what is the plan, as Councillor Humphrey was under the impression this was going to be a district-wide survey as discussed at full Council in May.  Councillor Murphy replied that this is happening now, and at the last Cabinet meeting in September Councillor Hoy suggested it would also be useful to have information in relation to non-council owned play equipment across the district, as this would give a true reflection of all play areas.  This would help us to make informed future investment decisions based on need and ensure as far as possible there is equity of equipment across the area.

Councillor Boden thanked Councillor Murphy and said he is looking forward to seeing the comprehensive list of play equipment across the whole of Fenland, whoever owns them. The report in front of us today concerns replacement equipment on existing sites and if external sources of funding become available at short notice, knowing the totality of provision across Fenland will be extremely helpful in helping us to focus our attention where it is most needed. 

Cabinet AGREED to approve the planned approach to capital spending identified in the report, and ask that the S151 officer make appropriate funding available within the Council’s capital programme where identified should additional Section 106 funding or external funding not be available by the time the replacement work is due. Cabinet also AGREED to a second recommendation to delegate to the Portfolio Holder for Environment any changes to the planned replacement programme outlined at 4.4 of the report, and noted an amendment that Jasmine Close be replaced by Burcroft Road in the table at 4.4 of the report.  

For information purposes.

A revised draft six-month Cabinet Forward Plan was tabled at the meeting for information.  Councillor Boden pointed out that changes had to be made to the original draft Cabinet Forward Plan to take into account Purdah and certain legal requirements due to the calling of the General Election, of which we were unaware when the original draft Cabinet Forward Plan was produced.