2005-2010

Following the capping regime imposed by the government, SCDC now faces some of the most difficult decisions in its history. At the same time consideration is being given as to how to accommodate the new budget without significant impact on services, the Local Development Framework process continues.

2005/06

Amendments are made to the process for the annual election of the Leader.

Following a government mistake in the Local Development Framework process, Council must reconsider all its documents and hold another series of extraordinary meetings and further public consultation. Statistics fans will be pleased to know that the extraordinary meetings of Council to consider the LDF lasted 85.4 hours with 8864 pages of information (with a distribution list of 98, that's 868,672 pieces of paper, excluding maps). In the end it was all worth it when, in 2006, SCDC became the first authority in the country to have its Core Strategy examined and found to be sound.

A consultation is launched on suggested improvements to the A14.

In light of the financial pressures faced by the Council, the Chairman's Reception is cancelled.

The outcome of the Housing Stock Options Appraisal consultation was received and Council voted narrowly in favour of retaining the stock within the Council's control.

The local media undertakes a campaign to require all Council meetings to be held in public. The Council tries to explain that, by necessity, some business must be transacted in private session and that the vast majority of meetings are open to the press and public, but an inaccurate impression of "private meetings" has been formed in the minds of some members of the public. The media are again invited to meet the Chief Executive and members of the Council to explain how local government business is conducted, but decline the invitation.

The South Cambridgeshire Climate Plan is adopted. Councillor Dr Steve Harangozo offers £5 to the Chairman's Charity for any members using the bus to attend 3 business meetings between October and December, or any officer making 3 bus trips a week during the same period. Maps are posted in the "street" area showing members' and officers' addresses to increase car sharing.

Public consultation begins on the proposal to move to four-yearly district elections, rather than the current system of election in thirds.

The Transformation Committee is established to oversee the restructuring of the authority from four departments into a front office / back office structure, with the resultant re-organisation. There was concern and dismay expressed at the negative reporting style taken by the local media, especially at a very difficult time for officers and members, and without any recognition of the Council's continuing successes.

The Licensing team manage to finalise 75% of applications under the 2003 Act, far above the national average of 33%.

Members and officers give gifts to children and young people in care over the Christmas period.

The Local Government Minister meets with Leaders and Chief Executives from the East of England, at which time it is made clear that authorities believe that the present system should be maintained and that there should not be a reorganisation of local government.

Council commits itself to achieving Fairtrade status.

The Government announces free bus travel for concessionary pass holders from 2008, but does not set out a viable framework for concessionary fares in the interim. SCDC works in partnership with other Cambridgeshire authorities to ensure that a county-wide scheme is established, with some routes extending beyond county boundaries.

2006/07

As part of the Transformation Project, Chief Executive John Ballantyne and Development Services Director David Hussell retired. Finance and Resources Director Greg Harlock accepts a one-year post as Chief Executive and Housing and Environmental Services Director Steve Hampson becomes the Executive Director.

The Liberal Democrat group withdraw from the Cabinet and go into opposition; this is the first time in the Council's history that there has been an official opposition. At the annual meeting of Council it is agreed that all committees, advisory groups and other bodies will be appointed on a politically proportionate basis. Before the end of the civic year, the Constitution is amended to include recognition of Major and Minor Opposition Groups, the Major Opposition Group Leader, who must report annually to Council, and Minor Opposition Group Leaders.

The Cabinet size is reduced from eight to seven by combining the Resources and Staffing and the Information and Customer Services Portfolios. A further reduction, to six members, possibly with new portfolios, is proposed in light of the overall organisation re-structuring.

SCDC gains Beacon Council status for its recycling and waste management programmes and receives a PARSOL (Planning and Regulatory Services Online) award for technical innovation for our "planning expert" on the web site.

Environmental Services is awarded Investors in People accreditation.

Consideration of a move to four-yearly district council elections is deferred for a year.

The South Cambs Biodiversity Strategy is adopted.

An unfavourable Corporate Governance Inspection report is met with a commitment to rectify and overcome the problems identified, and to improve the Council's services and performance. The Inspire Project is established and Cecilia Tredget is seconded from East Cambs DC to lead the project and to help build management capacity. Within a year, a re-inspection confirms that the hard work is paying off and that the Council has made good progress.

A Climate Change Working Task and Finish Group is established, reporting directly to Council on ways the authority can respond to climate change issues.

Council writes to the Government to add its support for rural post offices.

Financial pressures lead to difficult decisions about the future of Milton Country Park and Council resolves to dispose of the park.

Council adopts the revised Model Code of Conduct, a statutory document, and also its own Member Toolkit, which combines all relevant codes and protocols into one easy reference, and Member Undertaking to abide by these codes and protocols, along with a procedure to be followed in the event of a breach.

The former Audit Panel is disbanded in favour of a more robust Corporate Governance Committee.

2007/08

The Conservative group takes control of the Council after the 3 May 2007 elections, the first time in the Council's history that it has had a controlling group.

SCDC, Cambridge City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council set their proposals for joint planning committees before the Department of Communities and Local Government, establishing bodies to oversee development and planning policy issues for Northstowe and the Cambridge Fringe sites.

A working group of councillors and tenants is established to look at future options for the Council's housing stock. The group supports development of a housing transfer proposal, in consultation with tenants, and Council applies to the Department for Communities and Local Government to be included on the 2008 housing transfer programme.

Public speaking at the Planning Committee is introduced and proves popular, with many residents and parish councillors attending meetings to make representations in person.

The Scrutiny and Overview Committee goes on the road and begins holding meetings in venues around South Cambridgeshire. The Scrutiny function is separated into two bodies: Scrutiny and Overview, and Policy Development, and standing Advisory Groups are disbanded in favour of issue-specific task and and finish groups and public meetings of Portfolio Holders, attended by nominated Scrutiny and Overview Monitors and Opposition Spokesmen.

Council resolves the selection of Cambridge Sports Lakes Trust as the preferred bidder for running Milton Country Park.

The national Concessionary Bus Fares scheme is introduced, improving the 2006 interim scheme to provide free bus travel after 9.30 am on weekdays, and all day on weekends and holidays, to those over 60 or with certain disabilities.

To underpin everything it does, Council adopts its five core values: Professionalism, Customer Service, Commitment to improving services, Mutual respect, and Trust.

A decision on moving to four-yearly District Council elections is deferred for a further year in light of forthcoming legislative changes which would allow the Council to set its own election schedule without having to apply to the Secretary of State.

A group of Year Nine students from Sawston Village College, accompanied by their Assistant Head Teacher, present a petition to Council asking for introduction of a paper recycling collection scheme from local schools.

The Cambridge Southern Fringe and Cambridge East Area Action Plans, setting out the planning policies to govern future development on these Cambridge fringe sites, are adopted.

A rather belated oversight is rectified when Council, on 31 January 2008, formally adopts Sections 17, 18 and 19 of the Public Health Act 1925, which grants the authority the right to name or re-name streets within South Cambridgeshire.

2008/09

Ownership of Milton Country Park transfers to Cambridge Sports Lakes.

The Council formally responds to the planning application for the new settlement of Northstowe, following the conclusion of the 13-week consultation period.

The Council joins with other authorities and Cambridge Horizons to oppose the Government's plans for an eco-town called Hanley Grange to be built in South Cambridgeshire. The plans are ultimately shelved.

South Cambs Magazine wins an award for best external magazine at the recent British Association of Communications in Business awards.

The Council decides to open its main offices between Christmas and New Year.

Kerbside collection begins of plastics for recycling .

The British Safety Council awards SCDC with a four star Health and Safety award.

Investors in People accreditation is achieved.

The new parish of Orchard Park is created in April 2009 and the Scrutiny Committee's review on Orchard Park wins the Centre for Public Scrutiny's Best Use of Scrutiny Resources award in 2009.

2009/10

The results of the housing futures ballot show 72.6% of tenants are in favour of remaining with the Council instead of being transferred to a Housing Association. Chief Executive reports that "I would take their vote as a sign of their confidence in the job our housing and other staff do each day."

The Council is awarded a revenue grant of up to £261,000 to Cambridge Sports Lake Trust (CSLT) towards the cost of an extension and improvements to the Visitor Centre at Milton Country Park.

The Council achieves the National Clean Air award gold standard.

Cabinet considers the Government's proposal to transfer £17 billion of debt to housing authorities, in return for which the councils would be allowed to keep 100% of rent and capital receipts.

Developers begin remediation work on former Bayer Crop Science site in Hauxton.

The first meeting of the Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire Local Strategic Partnership Board is held, following the merger of both Boards.

2010-present

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