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Summary

The meeting focused on several key topics, including the honorary freedom of the city for HMS Protector and changes to the Cambridge City Council's governance model. The council also discussed appointments and the minutes of the previous meeting.

The most significant topic was the proposal to grant honorary freedom of the city to HMS Protector. Dan presented the report, explaining that HMS Protector has strong ties to Cambridge through its work with the British Antarctic Survey and the Scott Polar Institute. Councillor Bennett supported the proposal but suggested better communication to the public about the reasons behind it. Councillor McPherson highlighted HMS Protector's contributions to climate change research and its historical connection to the city. The committee agreed to recommend this proposal to the full council.

Another major topic was the proposed changes to the Cambridge City Council's governance model. Dan introduced the report, which recommended moving from the current hybrid system to a leader and cabinet model. Councillor Bennett opposed the report's claim that the leader and cabinet model was the best fit, arguing that the decision was not unanimous. Councillor Young expressed concerns that the new model would reduce the involvement of backbenchers and the opposition. Councillor Davey and Councillor Shields supported the proposal, emphasizing the need for better scrutiny and involvement in policy formation. The committee voted in favor of recommending the proposal to the full council, with four votes for and two against.

The council also discussed appointments to various committees. Councillor Davies raised a point about the planning committee and the Joint Development Control Committee (JDCC), suggesting changes to representation and vice-chair positions. Councillor McPherson acknowledged the discussion and moved on without further comments.

Lastly, the minutes of the previous meeting were approved without amendments, and there were no public questions as the previously submitted question had been withdrawn. The meeting concluded with a vote on the governance changes, which will be further discussed at the full council meeting.

Attendees

Profile image for Councillor Mark Ashton
Councillor Mark Ashton Labour and Co-operative • Labour • Cherry Hinton
Profile image for Councillor Dave Baigent
Councillor Dave Baigent Your Party • Romsey
Profile image for Councillor Naomi Bennett
Councillor Naomi Bennett Leader of the Green Group; Green (Spokes) Finance and Resources • Green • Abbey
Profile image for Councillor Tim Bick
Councillor Tim Bick Leader of Liberal Democrat Group and Lib Dem (Spokes) Culture, Economy and Skills • Liberal Democrat • Market
Profile image for Councillor Gerri Bird
Councillor Gerri Bird Cabinet Member for Housing • Labour • East Chesterton
Profile image for Councillor Hugh Clough
Councillor Hugh Clough Green (Spokes) Finance & Resources, Culture, Economy & Skills • Green • Newnham
Profile image for Councillor Mike Davey
Councillor Mike Davey Labour • Petersfield
Profile image for Councillor Robert Dryden
Councillor Robert Dryden Labour and Co-operative • Labour • Cherry Hinton
Profile image for Councillor Ingrid Flaubert
Councillor Ingrid Flaubert Liberal Democrat • Trumpington
Profile image for Councillor Jenny Gawthrope Wood
Councillor Jenny Gawthrope Wood Labour • King's Hedges
Profile image for Councillor Jean Glasberg
Councillor Jean Glasberg Green (Spokes) for Communities, Climate, Action & Environment, Open Spaces & City Services • Green • Newnham
Profile image for Councillor Tim Griffin
Councillor Tim Griffin Labour • Coleridge
Profile image for Councillor Olaf Hauk
Councillor Olaf Hauk Lib Dem (Spokes) Open Spaces & City Services and Climate Action and Environment • Liberal Democrat • Trumpington
Profile image for Councillor Cameron  Holloway
Councillor Cameron Holloway Leader • Labour • Newnham
Profile image for Councillor Delowar Hossain
Councillor Delowar Hossain Conservative • King's Hedges
Profile image for Councillor Matthew Howard
Councillor Matthew Howard Green (Spokes) Planning & Transport • Green • Abbey
Profile image for Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Daniel Lee Liberal Democrat • Queen Edith's
Profile image for Councillor Nadya Lokhmotova
Councillor Nadya Lokhmotova Liberal Democrat • Trumpington
Profile image for Councillor Anthony Martinelli
Councillor Anthony Martinelli Lib Dem (Spokes) Housing • Liberal Democrat • Market
Profile image for Councillor Russ McPherson
Councillor Russ McPherson Labour • Cherry Hinton
Profile image for Councillor Rosy Moore
Councillor Rosy Moore Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Environment • Labour • Coleridge
Profile image for Councillor Antoinette Nestor
Councillor Antoinette Nestor Cabinet Member for Culture, Economy and Skills • Labour • Castle
Profile image for Councillor Cheney Payne
Councillor Cheney Payne Lib Dem (Spokes) Communities • Liberal Democrat • Castle
Profile image for Councillor Katie Porrer
Councillor Katie Porrer Deputy Leader of Liberal Democrat Group and Lib Dem (Spokes) Planning & Transport • Liberal Democrat • Market
Profile image for Councillor Dinah Pounds
Councillor Dinah Pounds Mayor of Cambridge • Labour • Romsey
Profile image for Councillor Richard Robertson
Councillor Richard Robertson Labour and Co-operative • Labour • Petersfield
Profile image for Councillor Martin Smart
Councillor Martin Smart Cabinet Member for Nature, Open Space and City Services • Labour • King's Hedges
Profile image for Councillor Anna Smith
Councillor Anna Smith Cabinet Member for Communities • Labour • Coleridge
Profile image for Councillor Simon Smith
Councillor Simon Smith Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources • Labour • Castle
Profile image for Councillor Richard Swift
Councillor Richard Swift Deputy Mayor of Cambridge • Labour • West Chesterton
Profile image for Councillor Baiju Thittala
Councillor Baiju Thittala Labour • East Chesterton
Profile image for Councillor Katie Thornburrow
Councillor Katie Thornburrow Cabinet Member for Planning and Transport • Labour • Petersfield
Profile image for Councillor Mike Todd-Jones
Councillor Mike Todd-Jones Cabinet Member for Safety, Wellbeing and Tackling Homelessness • Labour • Arbury
Profile image for Councillor Elliot Tong
Councillor Elliot Tong Deputy Leader of Green Group and Green (Spokes) Housing, Safety, Wellbeing & Tackling Homelessness • Green • Abbey
Profile image for Councillor Rachel Wade
Councillor Rachel Wade Deputy Leader • Labour • West Chesterton
Profile image for Councillor Karen Young
Councillor Karen Young Lib Dem (Spokes) Safety, Wellbeing and Tackling Homelessness • Liberal Democrat • Queen Edith's
Profile image for Councillor Immy Blackburn-Horgan
Councillor Immy Blackburn-Horgan Liberal Democrat • Queen Edith's

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

Meeting Documents

Agenda

Agenda frontsheet 23rd-May-2024 11.05 Council

Reports Pack

Public reports pack 23rd-May-2024 11.05 Council

Additional Documents

Information Pack 23rd-May-2024 11.05 Council
Information Pack_Revised
Committee Appointment Update report
CivicAffairs_Adoption Minutes for Council - Governance review
Cambridge City Council Governance report
Minutes Public Pack 15022024 Council
Minutes Public Pack 29022024 Council
Committee and Constitutional Report_May_24
CivicAffairs_Committee Appointments 2024