Decisions

This report provides Cabinet with the forecast for 2020/21 as at June 2020 budgetary control position. 

Cabinet considered the report RESOLVED to note:

1.      The Budgetary Control position for 2020/21 as at July 2020 is a forecast overspend of £9.6m against budget. This includes the current estimated impact of COVID-19; 

2.      The specific impact COVID-19 on the Councils expenditure and income and the additional funding being received; 

3.      The reduction in collection rates in respect of Council Tax and National Non-Domestic Rates, in comparison to the levels achieved in 2019/20, as outlined in section 4; 

4.      The additional funding that has been made available and allocated to the business community and households due to COVID-19, as outlined in section 4; 

5.      An update on the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2021/22 process as set out in section 4; 

6.      The key variance analysis and explanations are contained in Appendix A;  

7.      The Councils reserves position, as outlined within Appendix A. 

Cabinet considered the report RESOLVED to recommendto Council:  

8.         The Capital virements contained in Appendix B, which include the purchase of 62-68 Bridge Street, and a contribution to a new access to the parkway as part of the University development which require additional borrowing to the existing capital programme. 

The purpose of this report is to seek Cabinet’s approval to form a Cycling and Walking Member Working Group and to review / approve the terms of reference in Appendix A. The recommendation has come from a recent Group Leaders meeting and the Working Group will be made up of one Member from each party.  

Cabinet considered the report and RESOLVED to:

1.         Agree to form a Cycling and Walking Member Working Group. 

2.         Review and approve the draft terms of reference for the Working Group 

The purpose of this report is to: 

·                          Receive an update on the progress of the refinancing of the Council’s loan facility provided to ECS Peterborough 1. 

·                          To authorise the amendment of the current loan facility from a construction loan facility to a long term loan facility. 

Cabinet considered the report and RESOLVED to:

1.      Approve the amendment of the terms of the Strategic Partnership with Empower Community Management LLP. 

2.      Approve the amendment of the financing agreement with ECS Peterborough 1 LLP.  

3.      Delegate to the Acting Corporate Director Resources and Director of Law and Governance the ability to finalise matters 1 and 2 above. 

The purpose of this report is to seek Cabinet’s approval to alter Peterborough Limited’s Articles of Association (Articles) and list of Reserved Matters. 

Cabinet considered the report and RESOLVED to approve:

1.     Alterations to Peterborough Limited’s (trading as Aragon Direct Services) Articles of Association (“Articles”) to allow inspection by the Council and its auditors of documents relating to Peterborough Limited and the supply of such documents as set out in Appendix A; 

2.     Alterations to the Reserved Matters, Appendix B to allow Peterborough Limited to swiftly pursue commercial opportunities

The purpose of this report is to inform Cabinet of proposed changes to the planned implementation of the University of Peterborough project, including the arrangements for the proposed transfer of Council owned land into a special purpose joint venture (JVCo) to develop the new campus and the associated issues of the Council’s shareholding arrangements in the JVCo and issues including Board Membership, voting rights and control. 

Cabinet reviewed the report and RESOLVED to:

1.      Note the approval by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, at its Board meeting of 20 July 2020, of the final business case for the University of Peterborough project. 

2.      Note the selection by CPCA of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) as the academic delivery partner for the new University and the intention of ARU to invest directly in the development of the University.        

3.      Approve the formation of a special purpose joint venture vehicle with CPCA and ARU in which the Council will retain shares of equivalent value to the land transferred into this company. 

4.       Authorise the transfer of around 4 acres of Council-owned land (edged in red in the site map at appendix 1) to a special purpose joint venture vehicle to be formed among the Council, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and Anglia Ruskin University for the purpose of delivering phase one of the University. 

5.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director Place and Economy and Director of Law and Governance to finalise the necessary legal and related documents needed to execute the recommendations and approach outlined in this report. 

6.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director Place and Economy and Director of Law and Governance to agree the transfer of further tranches of land to the joint venture company as may be needed to facilitate the delivery of further phases of the University subject to such land being identified for Higher Education related use within the local plan and suitable for development taking due account of the emerging University masterplan.    

7.      Authorise the Council to enter into a Subscription and Project Management Agreement to enable delivery of the University in Peterborough. 

8.      Approve the amendment of the ‘Appointments to External Organisations’ list to include the joint venture company within the ‘key partnerships’ category, to enable the Leader to appoint a Member to take up the position of non-Executive Director on the Board of the company. 

9.      Recommend to Full Council: 

a.      amends the Capital Strategy and Asset Management Plan to take account of the proposed transfer of this land to the special purpose joint venture vehicle. 

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the activities and achievements of Opportunity Peterborough; to provide an overview of the opportunities and challenges that face the company in the very near future; and to provide information to the Committee for its consideration regarding the continued funding of the company.

The Shareholder Cabinet Committee considered the report and RESOLVED to:

·         Note the achievements and impact of Opportunity Peterborough with regards to support for the local economy and jobs creation.

·         Note the opportunities for enhancing its services, and thus its impact, as laid out in the Business Plan in Appendix A.

·         Note the challenges that the company will face should it be unsuccessful in securing a new contract with the CPCA.

·         Recommend that Cabinet consider the continuing benefits of Opportunity Peterborough as a valued asset, and to pursue the potential to share costs and service outcomes with neighbouring authorities such as Cambridgeshire County Council and South Kesteven District Council.

The purpose of this report is to describe the progress made to date relating to the transition of Vivacity services to Peterborough Ltd and City College Peterborough, as set out in the Cabinet Member Decision Notice reference AUG20/CMDN/22.

The Shareholder Cabinet Committee considered the report and RESOLVED to note and commented upon the progress being made to secure the safe transition of services from Vivacity, specifically referencing any points that need to be considered as part of the transition or following transition, relating to the other services overseen by Shareholder Cabinet Committee.

The Cabinet Member:

1.    Endorsed the outcomes of the analysis set out in this report and the accompanying annexes and support the case for replacing the existing Regional Pool facility.

2.    Approved the selection of Pleasure Fair Meadows as the preferred location for a new Regional Pool leisure facility subject to a detailed business case being developed.

3.    Instructed Council officers to develop a detailed business case, working with Peterborough Investment Partnership.