Decisions

The purpose of this report is to enable Cabinet to consider a proposal relating to the way our economic development function is carried out.

Cabinet considered the report and RESOLVED to:

·         Approves, in principle, the integration of Opportunity Peterborough into the Council

·         Delegates authority to the Executive Director for Place and Economy, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to formally engage with the Opportunity Peterborough Board in order to facilitate and implement an effective transfer, subject to the outcome of consultation with affected staff.

·         Notes the exceptional performance of Opportunity Peterborough over many years, and formally thanks the Opportunity Peterborough Board of Directors for their governance and leadership

The report is presented to Cabinet to recommend that the Council gives notice to terminate the agreement with NPS Peterborough Limited. 

With the approval of the Chair of the Growth, Resources, and Communities Scrutiny Committee, the urgency procedures have been invoked to suspend the requirement to publish the decision on the forward plan for 28 days. The consideration and call-in period remain in place. This procedure has been invoked to enable the 12 months’ notice to start at the earliest opportunity, with delay to September Cabinet considered detrimental to future service provision. 

Cabinet considered the report and RESOLVED to:

1.    Agrees to terminate the Council’s agreement with NPS Peterborough Ltd in relation toproperty and estate management services by giving twelve months notice. 

2.    Notes that alternative arrangements for delivery of property and estate management services will be put in place within the twelve month period. 

3.    Delegates to the Director of Law and Governance in consultation with the Director of Resources the authority to issue notices and take all other steps necessary to give effect to recommendation 1 above. 

The report provides Cabinet with the outturn position for both the revenue budget and capital programme for 2021/22, subject to any changes that may be needed as part of the finalisation of the Statement of Accounts and subsequent external audit.   

The report has performance information on the payment of creditors and collection performance for debtors, local taxation, and benefit overpayments.   

Cabinet considered the report and RESOLVED to note:

1.    The final outturn position for2021/22 (subject to finalisation of the statutory statement of accounts) of a £4.5m underspend on the Council’s revenue budget.  

2.    The reserves position outlined in section 7, which includes a contribution to of £4.5m to reserves balances, resulting from theunderspend highlighted in the revenue outturn report in Appendix A. 

3.    The outturn spending of £79.3min the Council’s capital programme in 2021/22 outlined in section 7. 

4.    That the financial performance for the year is a positive first step and is line with the Improvement Plan and Tactical Budget approved by Council, however, the financial challenge for the Council remains and requires continued focus and discipline to deliver per both aforementioned plans. 

5.    The performance against the prudential indicators outlined in Appendix C. 

6.    The performance on the payment of creditors, collection performance for debtors, local taxation and benefit overpayments outlined in Appendix D. 

The purpose of this report is to advise Cabinet of the work of the Task and Finish group and seek endorsement of the recommendations proposed by the Communities Scrutiny Committee. 

Cabinet consider the interim report from the Task and Finish Group and RESOLVD to endorse the report and recommendations contained within; namely: 

1.    That the council shares this interim report with Cambridgeshire Police with a view to agreeing a memorandum of understanding which supports the Council with the implementation of injunction(s), community protection orders or public space protection orders.  

2.    That the Chief Executive of Peterborough City Council and a member of the Council’s cabinet agree to champion this issue and to engage with both Peterborough MPs and the Police and Crime Commissioner to secure their support in championing this issue. 

3.    That the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Police and Crime Commissioner is asked to work with the Chief Constable to compile a reportcompile a report on how the police should tackle this issue.  

4.    That the council fully costs the financial implications of developing an injunction for car meets in Peterborough.  

5.    That the council fully costs the financial implications of introducing Community Protection Orders. 

6.    That the council fully costs the financial implications of developing measures to prevent car meets from taking place at Pleasure Fair Meadow car park, as part of the Woodston PSPO. 

7.    That the Highways Team produces detailed plans, with a clear indication of costs, of how it proposes to alter the layout of Stapledon Road to ensure it is no longer suitable for antisocial driving.  

8.    That the Task and Finish Group continues its work by exploring sources of funding that are available to reduce the funding burden on city finances. 

9.    That the Task and Finish Group makes a further attempt to engage the car cruise community. 

10.  That the council’s Planning Department should actively consider whether future planning applications should consider measures that will prevent antisocial driving. 

The purpose of this report is for Cabinet to consider and approve the award of £165k to Milestone Infrastructure Limited(in addition to £500k previously awarded in January 2021) to deliver preliminary design of active travel schemes to be delivered as part of the A1260 Nene Parkway Junction 32 to Junction 3 improvement scheme.

Cabinet considered the report and RESOLVED to:

1.    Approve the award of £165k to Milestone Infrastructure Limited to deliver preliminary design of active travel schemes to be delivered as part of the A1260 Nene Parkway Junction 32 to Junction 3 improvement scheme. 

The purpose of this report is to set out the necessary steps to secure funding, allocated to Peterborough City Council through the 2021 Peterborough Town Deal, in relation to three of the Town Deal projects.  

·         Submission of the business cases and subsequent funding provides £6.0m investment which will deliver a pedestrian bridge over the River Nene, providing a walking and cycling route between the Embankment and Fletton Quays and also support the ambition of opening up the waterfront for regeneration. 

·         Upgrade Lincoln Road through public realm improvements to the streetscape, through improving pedestrian experiences, improving vitality and vibrancy of businesses and encouraging social interaction. This will be achieved through various improvements including resurfacing of footway and frontages within the curtilage of businesses with block paving, new pedestrian crossings, soft landscaping and street furniture. 

·         Improve accessibility and connectivity between Peterborough Station and the city centre through the provision of a ramp at the Bus Station and a number of other walking and cycling improvements. 

Cabinet considered the report and, following the endorsement of the Town Deal Board on 14 March 2022 in respect of the business cases for River Nene Pedestrian Bridge, Lincoln Road and Peterborough Station Quarter, delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer, Director of Resources (s151 officer) and the Executive Director Place and Economy to RESOLVED to; 

1.    Approve Town Deal Summary Documents, as set out at Appendix 1, 2 and 3 of this report, and submit them to Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) for approval in line with our agreed Towns Fund programme. 

The purpose of this report is to seek Cabinet approval to extend the Lyons Gardens contract by 18 months from 1 May 2022 to 31 October 2023 and to enter into a collaboration agreement with the CCG, to ensure the continuation of health crisis respitefunding for people with Learning Disabilities (LD) in Peterborough, whilst a wider respite review is undertaken. 

Cabinet considered the report and RESOLVED to:

1.    Approve the contract extension with Hereward Care Services Ltd in relation to Lyons Gardens from 1 May 2022 to 31 October 2023 to align with the ongoing work around the respite review. The annual contract value is £787,125.60 per annum which equates to £1,180,688.40 over the life of the extension.  

2.    Approve Peterborough City Council entering into a collaboration agreement with the CCG in relation to their acceptance to fund 50% of the contract costs, for the period 1 May 2022 to 31 October 2023.   

The purpose of this report is to gain Cabinet approval to extend the Contracts for the Provision of Day Opportunities until 31^st March 2024 for the following Providers: 

·                     Thera East Anglia 

·                     Sense, the National Deafblind and Rubella Association 

·                     Helping Hands Group 

thus ensuring the continuation of the Peterborough Learning Disabilities Day Opportunities contracts. 

  It is recommended that Cabinet: 

1.    Approve the Agreements for the Provision of Day Opportunities to be extended until 31 March 2024 for the following Providers: 

·         Thera East Anglia 

·         Helping Hands Group 

·         Sense, the National Deafblind and Rubella Association 

The total value of the extension period is £5,199,512.  

The Cabinet Member:  

1.    Noted that the advice the Council has received from the ‘third expert’ (Ian Brett-Pitt of Brett-Pitt Associates Ltd) is that the damage that has occurred is “probably caused by root induced subsidence” and that “we do not believe there is any evidence which shows the damage was caused by heave movement”.  

2.    Noted that Ian Brett-Pitt includes a view that “it is not possible to conclude that roots from T2 have caused and will continue to cause subsidence to nearby property in Barnard Way” (Conclusion C) and “any decision to remove/retain T2 should be predicated on recent/current evidence of movement and subsidence” (Conclusion H). In essence, the view of this expert is that categorical proof that T2 has, and will continue to, cause the damage, is not yet possible.  

3.    Noted that the original expert advice PCC received (Mr P Harris advice), as previously published to Cabinet, noted “oak tree roots have been found beneath the foundations” and “T2 is very substantially larger than T1. The extent of its roots would be expected to encompass most, if not all, of the footprint of this house (and the adjacent one, 10 Barnard Way)”, and “so long as roots continue to extract moisture from beneath this house there will be continued seasonal subsidence with associated damage”. Consequently, it should be noted that the difference of opinion between these two experts is that one seeks more definitive proof whilst the other uses the available evidence to determine a cause. 

4.    Noted the typical cost of installing a root barrier in this case would be “around £30,000 per property” (excluding any potential compensation costs, and assuming “the owners are prepared to allow appropriate and necessary access mindful of the inevitable disruption and inconvenience that will arise”) 

5.    Noted the estimated cost by Ian Brett-Pitt of underpinning costs are “in the region of £150,000 for each property” 

6.    Noted that the advice of Ian Brett-Pitt is that five realistic options are available to PCC (see his response to Q2 in his report), each of which he describes as having varying degrees of cost, risk and amenity impact, but the options in short are: 

a)    Removal of T2 

b)    Retaining T2 but with PCC meeting the costs of underpinning to any affected properties 

c)    Retaining T2 but with PCC meeting the costs of a root barrier to be constructed in the rear gardens of any affected properties  

d)    Retaining T2 but with PCC undertaking a 70% Hortlink compliant management and control of T2 i.e. 70%+ crown volume reduction followed by biennial pruning 

e)    Retaining T2 but with PCC undertaking a 40%+ Hortlink compliant management and control of T2 coupled with a suitable root barrier as per C & D above. i.e. 40%+ crown volume reduction followed by biennial pruning and the construction of a root barrier across the rear gardens of all affected properties. 

7.    Note that in considering the options available, officers have had to apply a judgement, balancing a wide range of issues, including professional expertise (arboriculture, structural engineering, insurance, landscape, environment, biodiversity and more) as well as taking consideration of the corporate financial situation.  

8.    Note that the position taken by the Insurance company representing the homeowners affected is that a root barrier is not a feasible option, meaning the deliverability of such a solution is now very low. 

9.    Note that, in the opinion of officers, the view remains that the only effective way to legally discharge our duty to abate the nuisance and to implement an affordable solution is the felling of the tree.  

10.  Agree to the felling of the tree, together with?provision of 100 oak trees (‘feathered’ nursery stock, c2m high) to be planted across the city, as a contribution towards mitigating the loss of the oak tree remains the most appropriate solution having made a balanced judgement on this difficult decision.