Agenda and minutes

To confirm the public minutes of the meeting held 17 November 2020.

The minutes of the meeting of 17 November 2020 were approved. 

The purpose of this report is to review the Council’s Treasury Management activity for the first six months of 2020/21.

Members considered the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy Mid-Year Review 2020/21 report presented by Councillor Boden.

Cabinet AGREED to note the report. 

To consider and approve the revised General Fund Budget and Capital Programme for 2020/21; the Draft General Fund Budget Estimates 2021/22 and the Draft Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2021/22 to 2025/26 for consultation, and the Capital Programme 2021-2024. 

Members considered the Draft Budget 2020/21 and Draft Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2021/22 to 2025/26 report presented by Councillor Boden.

Councillor Boden congratulated Peter Catchpole, Mark Saunders, Neil Krajewski and their colleagues within the Finance Team for producing this report under very difficult and exceptional circumstances. 

Councillor Mrs French raised her concern about the high yearly figure proposed to be spent at the Port under the Capital Programme, although she accepted that we have a duty to maintain it. Councillor Boden said we would be looking at all capital expenditure thoroughly for the next year and beyond. However, there needs to be significant expenditure at the Port and there is no easy, contractual way of getting around that. As a port authority we have significant liabilities and requirements that we must meet. Councillor Mrs French thanked Councillor Boden,

Cabinet AGREED to recommend that: -

(i)              the draft budget proposals for 2021/22 outlined in this report be approved for consultation;

(ii)            the revised General Fund Budget and revised Capital Programme for 2020/21 be approved;

(iii)           the proposed Capital Programme for 2021-2024 be approved.

For Cabinet to approve the Draft Business Plan 2021-22 for public consultation.

Members considered the Draft Business Plan 2021-22 report presented by Councillor Boden. 

Councillor Boden thanked officers and Councillor Tierney for their improvements to making this yearly report more focussed. Councillor Hoy praised the report, saying it was an interesting read and a good development. Councillor Tierney responded with his thanks; officers had worked hard to make it easier to read. He said he was pleased to see the inclusion of future projects and these were well presented within the report. Councillor Seaton updated members that over £218,000 has been secured for the Whittlesey Heritage Walk project and delivery is scheduled between January 2021 and March 2022.

Cabinet AGREED to approve the Draft Business Plan 2021-22 for public consultation. 

This report gives an update on the progress of funding bids submitted including any resulting capital or revenue implications for the Council should the bids be successful.

Members considered the Projects Update – Growing Fenland and CCC Capital Community Fund report presented by Councillor Boden.

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

·         Councillor Mrs French said it is great to see the amount of money coming into Fenland. Her only disappointment is that we have still not heard about the March High Street Fund. £900,000 out of £1million was allocated towards this and her concern now is that if we do not get something put in before the deadline and we do not get the fund, then March will lose that sum. She added that Councillor Count has been pushing the Government behind the scenes so hopefully we will soon get some news. If not, we will have to relook at what we can do for March as we were hoping to get this Government funding. In respect of civil parking enforcement, the Town Councils had each agreed to put in £100,000.  An enlightening meeting was held some weeks ago and she is hoping to have a draft report from the consultant before Christmas.

·         Councillor Boden asked Councillor Mrs French to ensure that the application made to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) on civil parking enforcement incorporates all the potential capital costs, taking into account all the costs incurred in starting up. Councillor Mrs French confirmed that the business plan would be ready for the deadline.

·         Councillor Boden said we hoped that we would soon hear from Government regarding the March High Street Fund; it is essential that we put in the application with the CPCA even if it is provisional based on our receiving money from the Future High Street Fund. Not only has the Mayor of the CPCA agreed to the £900,000 but he has also agreed to underwrite a further £1.1 million for which we are very grateful. We are hoping and waiting for the Government to announce who will be receiving what as this money will transform March town centre.

·         Councillor Mrs Laws raised her concern that it seems a long time, particularly in her experience with the Whittlesey Interactive Flood Signs, between announcing to the community that funding has been received for any project and the delivery of these projects. She said this was not a criticism of officers, who she appreciated were dealing with a huge amount of legal work behind the scenes. Councillor Boden said this was a justified concern. He advised that there are two elements, the first was the interrelationship between the CPCA and FDC for all these funding schemes. It took a lot of sorting which mainly caused the delay and secondly, our specific legal requirements for each individual project. However, we now have full agreement in respect of the interrelationship between the CPCA and FDC, which means those initial delays will not be repeated and future schemes will have a far shorter delay. We just need to ensure that scheme-specific legal details are sorted out, but these will vary between each  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB41/20

This report relates to the application and approval of funding.

Members considered the Funding Agreement (1) for Wisbech High Street report presented by Councillor Seaton.

Councillor Tierney said it is exciting to see such projects come to fruition; many people do not realise the amount of bureaucracy, time and complications involved. There are a number of projects for Wisbech and other towns coming together at a similar pace now and it is great news.   

Cabinet AGREED to:

·         Note the successful bid for funding from the NLHF in the sum of £518,537.87 to assist in the delivery of significant improvement works to 13-17 High Street, Wisbech;

·         Authorise entry into the grant funding agreement between Fenland District Council and the recipient of the funding;

·         Subject to the above being agreed, permit officers to enter into all required legal and financial documentation and arrangements to give effect to this decision; and

·         As the works progress, to give delegate authority for the approval of any minor project variations to the Head of Economic Growth and Assets and the Townscape Heritage Officer, Wisbech High Street Project in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Social Mobility and Heritage and the Leader of the Council.

For information purposes.

Councillor Boden presented the Cabinet Forward Plan for information.

To confirm the confidential minutes of the meeting held 17 November 2020.

The confidential minutes of the meeting held 17 November 2020 were approved.