Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Due to the meeting of Council ending later than anticipated, Cabinet commenced at 5.30pm.

To provide a Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) progress update for the Peterborough and Cambridgeshire area and for Members to review and agree which of the five options to submit to Government by the deadline of 28 November 2025 as per the Government’s White Paper.

AGREED:

·         To note the comments of Full Council.

·         That whilst not in favour of Local Government Reorganisation, the proposal of the Leader as set out at Appendix 3 of the report which is that Fenland District Council supports Option D – Greater Peterborough (Cambridgeshire Fens Unitary Authority) be put forward as the preferred option of Fenland District Council

·         To delegate to the Leader and Chief Executive the submission on behalf of the Council to MHCLG regarding electoral arrangements and any other matters for the new Unitary Authorities, with a view to minimising electoral inequality within each new Unitary Authority. 

Cabinet considered Fenland District Council’s submission to Government regarding Local Government Reorganisation, following discussion at Council as a guide to the decision making and a dispensation from the Monitoring Officer enabling members full participation on this decision.

Members commented as follows:

·         Councillor Hoy said she is in a difficult position having already said at Council why she does not want to vote. However, Cabinet is being asked to endorse what Council said and so it would be undemocratic to ignore that. She has therefore chosen to abstain; something she would not normally do, but whilst not wanting to ignore democracy she does not want to support this process. 

·         Councillor Christy asked what the consequences are of putting forward an option that does not meet the criterion, because some of the options look closer than that chosen at Council. The White Paper frequently refers to Government’s objective being to give local control and local power and he wants to ensure the message sent to Government is that the option FDC proposes may not meet their criterion but meets the intent of what they are trying to set out.

·         Councillor Boden stated that no option really meets the criterion, which themselves are somewhat dubious, and Government will pay little attention to what they set, and that is the weakness of this whole process and shows what a mockery it is. In some form or other though, Government are going to reorganise FDC, and all members can do is try to facilitate an option that is less bad than some of the other options. He added that Councillor Christy made a very good point about local control and local power, and the Chief Executive has taken note of that. The best control is to have an authority the size of Fenland.

·         Councillor Tierney said he is against all the options, and although Councillor Hoy made a good point that Cabinet are here to endorse a democratic process by Council, he cannot compromise and will be voting against.

Proposed by Councillor Boden, seconded by Councillor Mrs Laws and AGREED:

·         To note the comments of Full Council.

·         That whilst opposing Local Government Reorganisation, the proposal of the Leader as set out at Appendix 3 of the report which is that Fenland District Council supports Option D – Greater Peterborough (Cambridgeshire Fens Unitary Authority) be put forward as the preferred option of Fenland District Council

·         To delegate to the Leader and Chief Executive the submission on behalf of the Council to MHCLG regarding electoral arrangements and any other matters for the new Unitary Authorities, with a view to minimising electoral inequality within each new Unitary Authority. 

(In respect of the proposal of the Leader to put forward Option D as the preferred option, Councillor Hoy abstained from voting, and Councillors Tierney and Imafidon voted against the proposal)