17th May 2007 - Agenda

9 May 2007

TO: THE CHAIRMEN AND MEMBERS OF BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL

PLEASE NOTE DAY OF MEETING

Dear Sir/Madam

The Annual Meeting of the Babergh District Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Corks Lane, Hadleigh on THURSDAY 17 MAY 2007 AT 9.30 A.M.

The proceedings will be opened with Prayer.

Yours faithfully

Andrew Hunkin
Head of Corporate Services

ITEM

BUSINESS

PART I

	1	ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
	2	ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
	3	MINUTES To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 17 April 2007 as a correct record.
	4	DECLARATION OF INTERESTS Members to declare any interests as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.
	5	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive apologies for absence.
	6	CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
	7	TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULE NO. 13 In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 13, the Chief Executive will report the receipt of any petitions. There can be no debate or comment upon these matters at the Council meeting.
Paper F220 attached.	8	RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEE Adoption of New Members’ Code Of Conduct (Standards Committee Minute No. 49) The Monitoring Officer presented a report (Paper F220) concerning the adoption of a new Members’ Code of Conduct. Kathryn Saward reported that the Local Authority’s (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2007 comes into effect on 3 May 2007. The Order provides a new Code of Conduct for Members which must be adopted by all Local Authorities before 1 October 2007. The provisions of the Code are mandatory with the very limited exceptions described in Paper F220. Members noted that the conduct to which the new Code will apply includes any criminal offence for which a Member is convicted (including an offence committed before the date that the Member takes office, but for which he/she is convicted after that date). However, the Committee noted that this provision of the new Code is in breach of the Local Government Act and will not be enforceable until the Government amends the Act. It was also noted that the new Code does not change the Law on predetermination. Members noted that the Council could decide to adopt more onerous provisions than those contained in the Model Code. Members were asked to consider making training on the Code a compulsory requirement. The Committee recalled that in the past not all Members have attended training on the Code of Conduct, and it was agreed that the proposed paragraph 7A set out in Appendix 2 to Paper F220 would help to ensure that all Members were aware of their obligations under the new Code. RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL That the new Members Code of Conduct shown at Appendix 1 to Paper F220 be adopted with immediate effect with an additional requirement to attend training as set out in Appendix 2 to Paper F220, in replacement of the existing Code contained in Part 5 of the Constitution. Note: Since the meeting of the Committee the Standards Board has issued statutory guidance on the Code and recommends that the ten general principles of conduct contained within the 2001 Order are set out within the Code. These have been annexed to Appendix 1 of Paper F220 and a revised set of Appendices have been attached to the report.
	9	QUESTIONS BY THE PUBLIC The Chairmen of Committees to answer any questions from the public of which Notice has been given no later than midday two working days before the day of the meeting in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 14.
	10	QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS The Chairman of the Council and the Chairmen of Committees and Sub-Committees to answer any questions on any matters in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affect the District and which fall within the terms of reference of that Committee or Sub-Committee of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 15.4 (a) and (b).
Paper G1	11	POLITICAL BALANCE AND COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEES Report by the Head of Corporate Services to follow.
Paper G2	12	APPOINTMENT OF SUBSTITUTES – COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULE NO.5 Report by the Head of Corporate Services to follow.
	13	APPOINTMENT OF A LEADER OF THE COUNCIL The Head of Corporate Services to report that in accordance with the appropriate terms of the Constitution the Conservative Group has formally requested that an item is placed on the Agenda for this meeting requesting that consideration be given to the appointment of a Leader of the Council. In the circumstances where Council elects a Leader of the Council, the Leader shall take up the Chairmanship of Strategy Committee. The meeting will be asked to consider:- (1) whether to appoint a Leader of the Council (2) if it is agreed to do so, to consider any nominations.
	14	ELECTION OF CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES To elect a Chairman for each of the following Committees:- Strategy (see 13 above) Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Development Licensing and Appeals Hadleigh and District Swimming Pool Trust NOTE: Standards Committee appoint its own Chairman
Paper G3	15	MEMBER CHAMPIONS Report by the Head of Corporate Services attached.
Paper G4	16	TASK GROUPS AND PANELS (a) APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS (b) ANNUAL REPORTS Report by the Head of Corporate Services attached.
Paper G5	17	APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO SERVE ON OUTSIDE BODIES / PARTNERSHIPS Report by the Head of Corporate Services to follow.
		NOTE: A photographer will be available in the Members Room from 9.00 a.m. to take Members’ photographs. These will be used in Council publications and available for use by the Press.

For further information on any of the Part 1 items listed above, please contact Steve Ellwood on 01473 825876 or via email at committeeservices@babergh.gov.uk