The Parish Council may have to change how several committees operate in the upcoming year, with one at risk of disbanding again if there is a shortage of councillors willing to serve on it.
Councillor responsibilities for Histon and Impington will be formally decided at the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council on Monday (18 May). The meeting will also include the election of the Chair and Vice Chair.
Members will also be appointed to serve on committees. But with four seats currently vacant on the Parish Council, decisions may be needed on how some committees will operate.
For example, Sarah Smith is currently the only councillor listed for the Nature and Biodiversity Committee – leaving five spaces vacant – and the agenda warns it may have to disband if quorum cannot be achieved. The same committee was dissolved last year, and there have been calls for the Council to recommit to tackling climate change.
The Parish Council may also need to reduce the membership size of three other committees if too few councillors come forward to fill seats. Planning & Development also currently has five vacancies; Highways, Drainage & Formal Spaces has four; and Wellbeing, Recreation and Leisure has three.
Councillors Yvonne Murray and Edd Stonham as well as new members John Dent and Adam Morgan are yet to have their names placed on committee lists featured in the agenda – which will potentially help boost numbers.
Other matters
The meeting will also see working Group members, and their convenors, appointed for key areas for the village. These include groups for: Cambridge Science Park North, the Recreation Development Group, the Pump Track Working Group, Local Government Reorganisation, Communications and Youth Provision.
Separately, the Parish Council will consider paying off nearly £110,000 in outstanding public loans in a move aimed at reducing reserve levels and cutting future borrowing costs.
A motion to repay the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) loan will be put to H&I members, with the maximum repayment total recommended by the Finance, Governance and Legal Committee standing at £108,716.56.
The motion states: “Final figures will change as repayment calculations are done daily, but value is maximum it is considered it will be.”
The Annual Meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Monday (18 May) in the Community Room at the Rec, starting at 7.30pm. All Histon & Impington residents are invited to attend to listen to the debates, and any resident wishing to address the meeting should contact the office to request a slot. Email clerk@hisimp-pc.gov.uk For more details, see the agenda pack here.
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