Agenda and draft minutes

To confirm and sign the minutes of 16 December 2024.

The minutes of the meeting of 16 December 2024 were confirmed and signed.

Councillor Meekins drew members’ attention to the civic activities undertaken by himself and the Vice-Chairman in the weeks preceding full Council.

There were no announcements from the Chairman or Chief Executive on this occasion.

The Chairman stated that no written questions had been received under Procedure Rule 8.6. Councillor Booth, as Leader of the Opposition, asked the following questions under Procedure Rule 8.4:

·         What is the update on Local Government Reorganisation, assuming that is why the extraordinary Council meeting has been called on 14^th March? Councillor Boden advised that discussions are ongoing with the leaders and chief executives of various local authorities. He confirmed that LGO is the reason why the meeting has been called but at this stage he cannot say what the options are being put forward. However, the Council has little choice in the process, it will put forward the best possible case for Fenland residents but ultimately it will be for Government to decide, and they may ignore what is put forward. 

·         Why is the extraordinary meeting planned for a Friday evening and not the normal meeting time on a Monday afternoon? Councillor Booth expressed his concern that he will be unable to attend due to his work pattern saying that members plan their schedules around regular meeting times. He also asked why the last meeting of Audit and Risk Management Committee was moved at short notice. Councillor Boden apologised to Councillor Booth for the inconvenience of these changes. Careful consideration had been given to the best date to hold an extraordinary meeting given the constraint of having to make a submission to Government by a specific date in March, hence a Friday was deemed most practical as it clashed least with other meetings. In future, he will do his utmost to ensure that dates are not changed but sometimes it is unavoidable. Audit and Risk Management Committee had been moved on that occasion due to availability of the external auditors. Councillor Booth thanked Councillor Boden for his response and for giving assurances about future meetings. He added for the record that he believes four tiers of local government are unnecessary and reorganisation is badly needed in Cambridgeshire.

Members asked questions of Portfolio Holders in accordance with Procure Rules 8.1 and 8.2 as follows:

·         Councillor Nawaz stated he had made several presentations to the Leader along with a 632-name petition, regarding the Station Road recreation ground in Whittlesey. He asked if Councillor Boden could support the wishes of residents to save the facility. Councillor Boden replied that last year Cabinet had considered this piece of land surplus to requirements and its disposal a potential means to finance the substantial and costly works needed to improve the Manor Leisure Centre. However, now that Government have announced this authority will not exist in three years’ time, the Council’s approach to the financing of capital projects has changed. He thanked Councillor Nawaz for his work on this, but he can confirm that the Station Road recreation ground will not be sold by Fenland District Council. 

·         Councillor Patrick said he is aware that MVV are starting work regarding the Wisbech incinerator which will include compulsory purchase orders, some of which will include FDC land. He would like to know if this authority has received any CPOs from MVV. Councillor Benney responded there had been no approaches at this time.

·         Councillor Tierney spoke of escalating and frequent anti-social behaviour occurring in Wisbech. A group of young men on electric scooters are terrorising and intimidating business owners and customers and engaging in vandalism for the sake of causing trouble. He said that the police have been called on many occasions and whilst he is sure they are doing all they can, much of which may be going on behind the scenes that people are unaware of, both he and Wisbech residents are very unhappy that nobody seems to be dealing with this serious issue. Town centres are struggling to survive, and there cannot exist a situation where people are being scared away, and business owners cannot afford to keep replacing their smashed windows. Councillor Tierney also expressed his concern that before too long people will take the law into their own hands. He would therefore request that the Leader have officers write to the police to demand intervention as a serious priority and to invite a senior member of the police to visit the Council to answer questions about their approach. Furthermore, he would like officers to bring a paper to Cabinet to look at options regarding this prolific behaviour, which may ultimately help some people from going down a road from which they cannot escape.  Councillor Boden agreed that the situation is disgraceful, saying the police are relied upon to keep order and it is disappointing that this situation has not been nipped in the bud. He will ask the Chief Executive to write to the police to ask them to provide an urgent response to this matter. Public safety is vital, and this behaviour cannot and must not be allowed to continue.

·         Councillor Purser said he understands there are plans to close the Sixth Form at Neale Wade and asked if the  ...  view the full minutes text for item C45/24

For Council to consider and approve the Final Business Plan 2025/26.

Members considered the Final Business Plan 2025/26 report presented by Councillor Tierney. 

Councillor Tierney advised Fenland has always been a financially sensible council with strong leadership and has provided good services whilst freezing FDC’s portion of council tax. Unfortunately, due to local government reorganisation, this Council may potentially be amalgamated with authorities that have not been so financially prudent. It is therefore imperative that Fenland residents, who have funded this Council, get a legacy for the future, hence the Business Plan has been changed to include the Fenland Inspire! Project. 

Councillor Boden agreed that the key part of the Plan has changed because it is necessary to consider the best interests of local people whilst FDC still exists. As a second-tier authority this Council gets to spend money on pleasant things such as leisure services and leisure centres, but most local government expenditure is on children’s and adult social services, as well as SEND provision, all currently delivered by county council. All upper tier authorities are already under immense pressure in those three areas. Following reorganisation, FDC will become part of a unitary authority and the priority will be on those services to the detriment of everything else. The danger is that a new unitary authority will not want to spend money on improving leisure centres so they will just close them. This is why the Fenland Inspire! Project has come about, as an insurance policy so that the new unitary authority has modernised facilities secured for Fenland residents for the long-term. The Business Plan has therefore been changed to emphasise what needs to be done now so residents have decent facilities for decades to come.

Councillor Booth said he had previously raised at Overview & Scrutiny a lack of emphasis on rural areas in the Plan, and he would have expected to have seen details of the consultation responses but accepts that the landscape will change dramatically over the next few years.   

In summing up, Councillor Tierney commented that he believes local government reorganisation will lead to a loss of localism and the ability to try unusual things such as free parking will disappear. However, if Fenland Inspire! can be delivered for the people of Fenland as a legacy for the future, members can say they did everything they could.

Proposed by Councillor Tierney, seconded by Councillor Boden and AGREED to approve the Business Plan 2025/26.

To consider the Cabinet recommendations in relation to the General Fund Budget Estimates 2025/26 and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2025/26 to 2029/30; the Council Tax levels for 2025/26; the Capital Programme 2025/26-2027/28; and the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement, Capital Strategy and Annual Treasury Investment Strategy for 2025/26.

Members considered the Corporate Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy report presented by Councillor Boden. 

Councillor Boden thanked officers within the Finance Team for their work in this most difficult budget process, particularly given the news about local government reorganisation. As a result, the figures produced are vastly different to those set out in December because the Council now faces a fundamental change. Many projects that the Council would once have aspired to undertake gradually when they could have been afforded, have now been incorporated into the new Fenland Inspire! Project. Without this project all these opportunities will be lost because they will not happen under a new unitary authority, and furthermore some of the things that currently exist, such as the leisure centres, will be lost if no action is taken now. Much of the money put forward for inclusion in the project is for leisure facilities, specifically the four leisure centres. It is essential to ensure they are in the best possible condition physically and financially to protect their existence when they are taken over by the new authority. Fenland Inspire! is therefore a massive commitment and Councillor Boden proceeded to run through the list of proposed projects. He thanked members and portfolio holders who had provided him with a list of suggestions of what could be included, particularly Councillor Sennitt Clough who put forward a list of arts and culture schemes and Councillor Hay who lobbied strongly for a swimming pool in Chatteris.

Councillor Sennitt Clough thanked Councillor Boden for taking forward members’ suggestions.

Councillor Tierney said this is a sensible and prudent response given the situation the Council is in. He has always argued that it is up to the Council to take difficult decisions and not pass them onto the public, it is an idea that all members share. Residents are already taxed enough and this is good news.

Councillor Nawaz said he was grateful to hear that the Station Road recreation ground has been spared and thanked the residents of Whittlesey who generated the petition and spread the message. He asked if more provision could be made for children’s play equipment in local parks as open spaces are needed for physical and mental well-being.

Councillor Booth stated that he supports the proposals and is glad to hear that there will be a review of playground equipment, having asked for this back in 2019. Along with other rural areas, Murrow is in dire need for an upgrade and time is now of the essence. His concern is the Medium-Term financial forecast and future years deficits and would like assurances that these will be dealt with considering this Council still has three years of existence and it is a legal requirement to have a balanced budget.

Councillor Miscandlon said he supports the project; this is future proofing and will benefit all the residents of Fenland.

Councillor Boden thanked members for their comments and agreed the value of play areas in rural areas, noting that towns do tend  ...  view the full minutes text for item C47/24

Following consideration of this report to Council on 24 February 2025 and the setting of the Revenue Budget for 2025/26, the Council is required to pass the resolution to set the Council Tax requirement.

Members considered the Council Tax Resolution 2025/26 report presented by Councillor Boden.

Councillor Boden pointed out that there will need to be a unification of council tax levels across the new unitary authority. It is a matter of great gratitude that officers have not needed to raise council tax over the last eight years.

Proposed by Councillor Boden, seconded by Councillor Mrs French and AGREED the resolution set out in the report for the Council Tax requirement to be approved.

The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 impose an obligation on Local Authorities (after 25 February 2014) to record all votes on decisions on budget and council tax, with this in mind Members voted on this item as follows:

In favour of the proposal: Councillors Barber, Benney, Boden, Booth, Carney, Christy, J Clark, S Clark, Cutler, Mrs Davis, Foice-Beard, Mrs J French, K French, Gowler, Hicks, Hoy, Humphrey, Imafidon, Mrs Laws, Marks, Meekins, Miscandlon, Mockett, Murphy, Nawaz, Patrick, Purser, Roy, Seaton, Sennitt Clough, Summers, Taylor, Tierney, Woollard

Against the proposal: None

Abstentions: None

(Councillor Sennitt Clough declared an interest in this item by virtue that her husband has a visiting forces exemption for council tax but she will remain open minded).

(Councillor Nawaz advised he has tenanted properties in Peterborough where there may be issues with tenants, but he personally does not owe any council tax). 

For Council to agree upon Cabinet’s recommendation an updated waste collection system for domestic waste collection in Fenland that provides for the legislative changes resulting from the Environment Act 2021 as they commence from 30 March 2026.

Members considered the Fenland Waste Strategy report proposed by Councillor Tierney.

Proposed by Councillor Tierney, seconded by Councillor Murphy and Council AGREED to:

·         approve Fenland’s updated Waste Service Standards as set out in appendix 1 of the report,

·         approve the updated TEEP statement as set out in appendix 2 in line with Simpler Recycling and Environment Act 2021 requirements,

·         approve the suggested amendment to the waste strategy as set out in appendix 4 to allow for the required weekly food waste collections to commence from 30 March 2026, and

·         note the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Waste Partnership are working on an update to the current area-based waste strategy approved by Council in 2008. This will be presented for member consideration later in 2025.

The purpose of this report is for Council to adopt the Senior Manager Pay Policy Statement for 2025-2025.

Members considered the Senior Manager Pay Policy report presented by Councillor Boden.

Proposed by Councillor Boden, seconded by Councillor Nawaz and AGREED to adopt the Senior Managers Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25.

The making of Immediate and Non-Immediate Article 4 Directions in Wisbech will give the Local Planning Authority (LPA) the ability to properly consider the implications of all new HMOs that are created, avoid excessive concentrations of HMOs in particular areas and continue to monitor their distribution and effects on the wider area.

Schedule 5 to this report comprises exempt information - to exclude the public (including the press) from a meeting of a committee it is necessary for the following proposition to be moved and adopted: “that the public be excluded from the meeting for Items which would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraph 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) as indicated.”

Members considered the Article 4 Direction – HMOs in Wisbech report presented by Councillor Mrs Laws.

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

·         Councillor Booth voiced his concern about the unintended consequence for the rest of Fenland. He questioned why the Article 4 Direction was written only for Wisbech rather than the entire district as the problem would likely spread.

·         Councillor Tierney said members should represent the views of the people who vote for them and the behaviour in some HMOs is something that he is regularly approached about. Whilst many HMOs are run very well, there are problematic ones. Until now, anybody could open an HMO housing up to six unrelated people without planning permission so this will provide an additional check and balance to ensure everything is done properly to prevent problems for neighbours.

·         Councillor Nawaz commented that there is more to it than social issues, there are also safety measures involved.  For example, properly licensed premises will follow legal requirements regarding fire safety and HMO operators will have to fulfil conditions to maintain the comfort and safety of their tenants and for this reason he supports this.

·         Councillor Hoy referred to Councillor Booth’s comment and said this is not something that can be brought in across the whole district because it needs to be evidence based and there is no evidence currently that this is a problem elsewhere. In response to comments about behaviours, she said this is not about combating antisocial behaviour as there are already powers to deal with this. This is solely a planning matter to stop smaller properties being used to house additional people inappropriately where planning permission is not currently required. Wisbech is saturated with HMOs, and this is a good proposal to contain the number available. Councillor Hoy added that she often finds an element of snobbery regarding HMOs which is unfair and unjustified as generally they are an affordable and respectable way for single people to live, however there is sometimes an element of justification because there are those that do cause problems and some streets are almost entirely made up of HMOs and this needs to stop.

Proposed by Councillor Mrs Laws, seconded by Councillor Hoy and AGREED to:

·         Approve the making of a direction under article 4(1) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) having non-immediate effect for Wisbech Town apart from the excluded areas (the excluded areas being Wisbech Riverside and Wisbech South wards) withdrawing the permitted development right to change use from a dwelling house (Class C3) to a small HMO (Class C4) use as set out in Schedule 1.

·         Approve the making of a direction under article 4(1) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) having immediate effect for the area of Wisbech Riverside and Wisbech South wards withdrawing the permitted development right to change use from a dwelling house (Class C3) to a small HMO (Class C4)  ...  view the full minutes text for item C51/24