The meeting primarily discussed the governance model of Cambridge City Council, the honorary freedom of the city for HMS Protector, and the minutes from the previous meeting. The most significant discussion was about the governance model, followed by the honorary freedom of the city, and lastly, the approval of the previous meeting's minutes.

Cambridge City Council Governance: The council debated a proposal to move towards a leader and cabinet model of governance, replacing the current hybrid system. This change was recommended by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny, which found the current system to be opaque and inefficient. Councillor Bennett and Councillor Young expressed opposition, citing concerns about reduced involvement for backbenchers and opposition members. Councillor Davey and Councillor Shields supported the proposal, emphasizing the need for better scrutiny and democratic debate. The recommendation to proceed with developing this new model was approved, with the final decision to be made by full council in May 2025.

Honorary Freedom of the City for HMS Protector: The council discussed granting honorary freedom of the city to HMS Protector, a Royal Navy icebreaker affiliated with Cambridge since 2011. Councillor Bennett raised concerns about public perception, given Cambridge's inland location. Councillor McPherson explained the strong scientific ties between HMS Protector and Cambridge, particularly with the British Antarctic Survey and the Scott Polar Institute. The committee agreed to recommend this honor to the full council.

Minutes from the Previous Meeting: The minutes from the meeting held on February 7, 2024, were approved without any amendments or comments.

Other Items:

• Public questions were withdrawn, so no public questions were addressed.
• Councillor Bennett suggested taking items in reverse order, which was agreed upon.
• Councillor David discussed appointments related to the planning committee and the JDCC, with no significant objections raised.

The meeting concluded with the approval of the governance model proposal and the honorary freedom of the city for HMS Protector, setting the stage for further discussions and decisions in future council meetings.