BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL

ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, COUNCIL OFFICES, CORKS LANE, HADLEIGH ON THURSDAY 17 MAY 2007

Quick Links

• 1 - Election of Chairman,
• 2 - Election of Vice-Chairman,
• 3 - Minutes,
• 4 - Declaration of Interests,
• 5 - Chairman's Announcements,
• 6 - To receive notification of Petitions in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 13,
• 7 - Recommendations and Reports from Committees,
• 8 - Questions from the Public,
• 9 - Questions from Members,
• 10 - Political Balance and Composition of Committees,
• 11 - Appointment of Substitutes - Council Procedure Rule No. 5,
• 12 - Election of Chairmen of Committees,
• 13 - Member Champions,
• 14 - Task Groups and Panels (a) Appointment of Members (b) Annual Reports,
• 15 - Appointment of Members to serve on Outside Bodies/Partnerships.

PRESENT: Ms J A Jenkins – In the Chair

The following Members were unable to be present:- Mr D M Busby, Mr P Gibson, Mr P Jones.

The proceedings were opened with Prayer.

Prior to the commencement of the meeting Ms J A Jenkins advised that, with the agreement of the Chairman, Item No. 13 on the Agenda relating to the appointment of a Leader of the Council had been withdrawn and would not be discussed.

1     ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

It was proposed and seconded that Mr R W Thake be elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED

That Mr R W Thake be elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

Ms J A Jenkins vacated the chair and Mr R W Thake thereupon made his Declaration of Acceptance of Office and presided over the meeting.

Back to Top

2     ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN

It was proposed and seconded that Ms J A Jenkins be elected Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED

That Ms J A Jenkins be elected Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

Ms J A Jenkins thereupon made her Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

Back to Top

3     MINUTES

RESOLVED

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 April 2007 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Back to Top

4     DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

None declared.

Back to Top

5     CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Civic Reception

Invitations will be sent out shortly for the Chairman’s Reception that is to take place on the evening of Friday 27 July at Stoke-by-Nayland Golf Club.

Photographs

The Chairman reminded Members that a photographer would be available in the Members Room to take Members photographs.

Golf Day

The Chairman referred to an invitation to enter a team of Members and staff in a golfing competition and asked anyone interested to contact him for further details.

Possible Additional Council Meeting

Ipswich Borough Council’s proposal for a single Council for Ipswich has been shortlisted by the Government. The Government has set a consultation period seeking views by 22 June. A Council meeting is scheduled for 26 June and the Department for Communities and Local Government has been asked if Babergh’s response can be submitted as soon as possible after that meeting. A reply has yet to be received.

If the answer is no it is proposed that a meeting of the Council is held on 19 June and Members are asked to make a provisional note of this in their diaries.

Code of Conduct Training

The Code of Conduct Training scheduled for 16 May had to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. At the conclusion of the Council meeting a further training session on the Code of Conduct will now be undertaken.

6     TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULE NO. 13

None received.

Back to Top

7     RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES

Adoption of New Members’ Code of Conduct (Standards Committee Minute No. 49)

It was noted that since the meeting of the Standards Committee, the Standards Board has issued statutory guidance on the Code and recommends that the 10 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 has been attached to the report.

RESOLVED

That the new Members’ Code of Conduct as shown as the Revised 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.

Back to Top

8     QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC

See Appendix 1 attached.

Back to Top

9     QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS

See Appendix 2 attached.

Back to Top

10     POLITICAL BALANCE AND COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEES

Members had before them a report (Paper G1) by the Head of Corporate Services, relating to the Council’s duty to review the allocation of seats to Political Groups and to approve the composition of its Committees. Members were aware that the names of the Group Members listed in Appendix 2 were as notified by the Group Leaders.

RESOLVED

(1)     That the Committee sizes and numerical allocation of seats be approved as set out below:

(2)     That the ungrouped member, Mr C W Arthey, be appointed to serve on the Development Committee.

(3)     That the composition of Committees be allocated as set out below:-

STRATEGY COMMITTEE

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (STEWARDSHIP) COMMITTEE

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (COMMUNITY SERVICES) COMMITTEE

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

LICENSING AND APPEALS COMMITTEE

HADLEIGH AND DISTRICT SWIMMING POOL TRUST COMMITTEE

	Co-opted Members	Parish Council Representatives
S P Clarke R E Kemp B Riley P Jones	*J B Newton One Vacancy	*J M Cole *P F Cook
	*Appointed for 2 years with effect from 1 March 2006

Back to Top

11     APPOINTMENT OF SUBSTITUTES – COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULE NO. 5

Members had before them a report (Paper G2) by the Head of Corporate Services setting out details of substitutes proposed to be appointed under Council Procedure Rule No. 5.

RESOLVED

That substitutes be approved as set out below:-

STRATEGY COMMITTEE

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (STEWARDSHIP) COMMITTEE

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (COMMUNITY SERVICES) COMMITTEE

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

HADLEIGH AND DISTRICT SWIMMING POOL TRUST COMMITTEE

Back to Top

12     ELECTION OF CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES

RESOLVED

(1)     That Mr N A Ridley be elected Chairman of the Strategy Committee for the ensuing year.

(2)     That Mr J A B Long be elected Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee for the ensuing year.

(3)     That Mr D M Busby be elected Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee for the ensuing year.

(4)     That Mr A J Hinton be elected Chairman of the Development Committee for the ensuing year.

(5)     That Mr B L Lazenby be elected Chairman of the Licensing and Appeals Committee for the ensuing year.

(6)     That Mr D H Keane be elected Chairman of the Hadleigh and District Swimming Pool Trust Committee for the ensuing year.

Back to Top

13     MEMBER CHAMPIONS

The Head of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper G3) advising that in 2006/07 Members gave consideration to Member Champions, Priority Champions and remuneration for such posts. Final decisions on these matters need to be made in the future and, to allow Members the opportunity to consider the way forward, it was suggested that the Council continues with the current Member Champion posts which were outlined in paragraph 5.2 of Paper G3.

The following names were proposed and seconded for the Waste Management Strategy Champion, Mr C W Arthey and Mr P K Beer.

The following names were proposed and seconded for the Children and Young People Champion, Mr G S White and Mr R W Thake.

RESOLVED

(1)     That the following Members be appointed to the Member Champion posts:

(2)     That the Member Champions be requested to maintain a detailed record of the amount of work carried out, for a period of 6 months and carry out a form of self-assessment following which a further report be made to the Council for a decision on the level of SRA to be paid for individual Champion roles.

Back to Top

14     TASK GROUPS AND PANELS (a) APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS (b) ANNUAL REPORTS

Members had before them a report (Paper G4) by the Head of Corporate Services requesting the Council to consider appointing Members to serve on Task Groups/Panels, to note the progress of the Work Plans for 2006/07 (Appendix 1) and to approve their Work Plans for 2007/08 (Appendix 2).

RESOLVED

(1)     That the progress of the Task Groups/Panels during 2006/07 as outlined in Appendix 1 to Paper G4 be noted.

(2)     That the following Task Groups/Panels continue for 2007/08 and that Members be appointed to serve on them as set out below:-

(a)     HR Panel

J Antill B L Lazenby D C Rose

R W Thake H N Todd

(b)     Substitutes for Staff Joint Consultative Committee

C W Arthey

L H Young

(c)     Pin Mill Task Group

B D Hurren P Jones D H Keane

D C Rose L H Young

(d)     Village of the Year Awards Panel

J A B Long A Roberts

J R A Sayers L H Young

(e)     Housing Panel

S P Clarke D G Grutchfield J A Jenkins

C Todd S M Wigglesworth

(f)     Procurement Task Group

D G Grutchfield J A Jenkins M R Miller

H N Todd L H Young

(g)     Cast Programme Board

J Antill J C Brand D G Grutchfield

M R Miller H N Todd

(h)     Information Management Group (to replace E-Government Steering Group)

J Antill J C Brand D G Grutchfield

M R Miller B Riley

(3)     That the proposed Work Plans of the Task Groups/Panels for 2007/08 as set out in Appendix 2 to Paper G4 be approved.

Back to Top

15     APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO SERVE ON OUTSIDE BODIES/PARTNERSHIPS

The Head of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper G5) requesting the Council to consider appointing representatives to outside bodies and partnerships for the period from 17 May 2007. Updates and amendments to Paper G5 were reported at the meeting.

Members were aware that voting on appointments would normally be by show of hands; however, it was agreed that where there were more candidates than seats, election would be by ballot. The Chairman indicated that in the event of there being an equality of votes, he would exercise his casting vote by the drawing of lots.

RESOLVED

That the following be appointed to serve on the undermentioned bodies for the four year term of office from 17 May 2007 except

(a)     where the appointment is linked to the holder of a particular role within Babergh District Council

(b)     Where the body or partnership in question imposes a different timescale

(c)     in the case of the CEP – Sudbury Communities Area Forum, on an interim basis subject to the outcome of the current review of the CEP.

Association for Suffolk Museums

John Sayers

Babergh Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership Responsible Authorities Group (RAG)

Nick Ridley – Chairman of Strategy Committee
Martyn Booth

Babergh Domestic Violence and Abuse Forum

Bryn Hurren

Babergh East Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) Board

Penny Clarke

Babergh Housing Associations Liaison Group

Carol Todd
Sue Wigglesworth

CEP – Sudbury Communities Area Forum

Colin Spence (Interim appointment pending review of CEP)

Chilton Woods Master Plan Joint Member Advisory Group

Nick Ridley – Chairman of Strategy Committee
Nigel Bennett

Councillors Cultural Network

Sue Wigglesworth – Member Champion for Arts and Culture

County Domestic Violence Forum

Bryn Hurren

County-wide Member Forum on Children and Young People

Rex Thake – Member Champion for Children and Young People
Substitute Member – Gerald White

Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Joint Advisory Committee (JAC)

Peter Holbrook
Martyn Booth

Dual Use Sports Centre Management Committees

East Bergholt High - Michael Miller
Great Cornard Upper Humphrey Todd
Hadleigh High - Brian Riley
Sudbury Upper - John Sayers

East of England Regional Assembly (EERA)

Peter Jones

East of England Regional Resilience Forum

David Wood

Eastern Orchestral Board Annual General Meeting

Humphrey Todd

FOSIG (Fourth Option Authorities Special Interest Group)

David Busby – Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee

Gainsborough’s House Society Board of Governors

John Sayers

Greenways Countryside Management Project Joint Advisory Committee

Peter Jones

Hadleigh Environmental and Traffic Management Working Party

Brian Riley
Mary Munson

Hanover At Home – HIA Advisory Group Member Forum (Countywide)

Sue Wigglesworth

Haven Gateway Partnership

John Hinton

Idaway Support Group

(Idaway is a Group Home run by the Suffolk Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Trust)
Michael Miller and John Hinton – Ward Members

Ipswich and District Citizens Advice Bureau

No appointment made

Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy Member/Officer Steering Group

Clive Arthey – Member Champion for Waste Management Strategy

Local Area Agreement (LAA) – Accountable Bodies Group

Nick Ridley – Chairman of Strategy Committee

Local Government Arts Forum

Sue Wigglesworth – Member Champion for Arts and Culture

Local Government Association Assembly

Nick Ridley – Chairman of Strategy Committee

Local Government Association – Rural Commission (LGARC)

Richard Kemp

South Suffolk Leisure Trust Board

Brian Lazenby
Gerald White

Sparsity Partnership for Authorities Delivering Rural Services (SPARSE)

Richard Kemp

Sudbury and District Citizens Advice Bureau

John Sayers

Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB Partnership

David Rose – JAC and Partnership
Tony Roberts – JAC only

Suffolk County Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Dean Walton
Substitute – Mark Newman

Suffolk Development Agency Limited

Richard Cave

Suffolk Joint Emergency Planning Unit Working Group

John Hinton
Substitute – Peter Holbrook

Suffolk Local Government Association

Nick Ridley – Chairman of Strategy Committee
Colin Spence and Nigel Bennett – Leaders of Conservative and Liberal Democrat Groups
Reserve Member – Sue Wigglesworth – Leader of Independent Group

Suffolk Rail Policy Group

John Sayers

Suffolk Sport

David Wood

Suffolk Strategic Partnership Board

Nick Ridley – Chairman of Strategy Committee

Supporting People Members Panel

Jennie Jenkins

The Quay Theatre at Sudbury Limited

Bryn Hurren

University Campus Suffolk – Foundation Board

Sue Wigglesworth
Substitute – Nigel Bennett

Waste Management Project Board

Humphrey Todd
Substitute – Peter Beer

Western Suffolk Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) Board

Colin Spence

Western Suffolk Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) Forum

Len Young
Richard Kemp

Back to Top

Note: The meeting adjourned between 11.00 a.m. and 11.25 a.m. for refreshments.

The business of the meeting was concluded at 11.55 a.m.

Chairman