Agenda and minutes

Councillor Meekins announced with sadness the passing Bernard Keane who had been a Fenland District Councillor for March East from May 1999 until 2015. During that time, he served as Chairman from 2007 to 2009 and also contributed to the work of various committees to include Licencing, Planning, and Overview & Scrutiny. He was also a founding member of the Golden Age Team. 

The Council offered their sincere condolences to Bernard’s friends and loved ones and a minute’s silence was held to commemorate his life. 

To provide background information regarding the extensive reforms to the local government framework across England set out in the White Paper on English Devolution published on 16 December 2024.To provide an LGR progress update for the Peterborough and Cambridgeshire area.Consider the questions in appendix 1 for Cabinet to compose the required submission to Government by 21 March 2025

Councillor Meekins announced that to have a full debate on this important item, he proposed that the standing orders be modified to allow members to speak on each of the questions contained in Appendix 1 of the report as well as have an opportunity to make a general point. Councillor Boden seconded the proposal which was agreed by Members.

Councillor Boden proceeded to present the Local Government Reorganisation – Draft Proposal report which was seconded by Councillor Mrs French.

Members responded to each question in turn as follows:

Question 1

Should FDC initially express our concern and opposition to the manner and timing of this Local Government reform process, whilst recognising the right of Central Government to impose this and whilst also confirming our eagerness to participate fully in the process and to co-operate fully with other local councils so as to get the best possible outcome for local residents?

·         Councillor Boden said he thinks it is not improper for the Council to express concern about how quickly it is being done and will not end up with the best outcome. Government is in charge and has the democratic right to impose what they want. LGO is long overdue, but this is not the way of doing it. In 1972, the contrast of all the work that went into that is stark.  It is appropriate to say we are not happy, but it is vitally important to cooperate and go along with the process otherwise we will have no voice or say at all.  We may come up with the same solution and Government may still ignore that so in participation we do not guarantee that we get a voice but if we do not, we guarantee that we will notget a voice. Members must try and be as constructive as possible in getting the best outcome for Fenland.

·         Councillor Tierney said he is in support of this except that it is too nice. He would much rather be tougher, we are not eager, we have to do this because we are forced to. This is a terrible thing to be doing for this area, there will be far less ability to change what a giant council can do for local people, taking away all the things that FDC does, such as free parking and council tax freezes. He would like to express this in every piece of literature put to Government.

·         Councillor Hoy reiterated the same, we should not be eager to do this, we will end up in a very terrible situation particularly if we go with Peterborough, do we want their rough sleepers and problems with drugs and alcohol? FDC has much cheaper properties, we are going to only make up a very small portion. The Council works very well, the officers do exceptionally well, we will lose some of those, it is very sad. We must accept it, but we should not say we are eager.

·         Councillor Nawaz said there are good and bad  ...  view the full minutes text for item C53/24