BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL
COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, COUNCIL OFFICES, CORKS LANE, HADLEIGH ON TUESDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2007
PRESENT: Mr R W Thake – Chairman
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Mrs J Antill
Mr C W Arthey
Mr P K Beer
Mr M P Booth
Mr J C Brand
Mr D M Busby
Mrs S Carpendale
Mr J R B Cave
Mr P G Gibson
Mr D G Grutchfield
Mr A J Hinton
Mr P J Holbrook
Ms J A Jenkins
Mr L S Johnson
Mr D H Keane
Mr R E Kemp
Mr B L Lazenby
Mr J A B Long |
Dr M R Miller
Mrs M O Munson
Mr M Newman
Mr A F D W Osborne
Mr N A Ridley
Mr B Riley
Mr C A Roberts
Mr D C Rose
Mr J R A Sayers
Mr R C Smith
Mr C M Spence
Mr D M Walton
Mr A J Ward
Mr R Whiting
Mrs S M Wigglesworth
Mr D L Wood
Mr L H Young |
The following Members were unable to be present:
Mr N A Bennett, Mrs S P Clarke, Mr B D Hurren, Mr P Jones, Mrs C A Todd, Mr H N Todd and Mr G S White.
The proceedings were opened with Prayer.
Members stood in silence in memory of Mr Jim Baxter, Babergh District Councillor from 1973 to 1999.
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The Local Government (Access to Information Act) 1985 provides that an item of business may not be considered unless it is included on an Agenda. The Act does, however, make provision for an exception to this general rule to be made where by reason of special circumstances, the Chairman of the Meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency. The Chairman advised that a situation had arisen where it has become necessary for the Council to consider a matter not included on the Agenda (Appointment of replacement Member to Housing Panel) and that he was satisfied that there were good reasons for dealing with this matter at this meeting as a matter of urgency.
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RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 October 2007 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
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Mr B L Lazenby and Mrs M O Munson both declared prejudicial interests in respect of the item referred to in Minute No. 72 below by virtue of being members of Hadleigh Town Council and indicated that they would not be present during consideration of the item.
Mr D G Grutchfield declared a personal interest in respect of the item referred to in Minute No. 72 below by virtue of being a member of Hadleigh Town Council and indicated that he would not be present during consideration of the item.
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Mr R Whiting
The Chairman welcomed Mr R Whiting to his first Council meeting following his recent election as a Member for Hadleigh (North).
Christmas
The Chairman extended Christmas wishes to all Members and reminded Members of the invitation to meet with staff at 2.30 pm.
Ms H Style
The Chairman advised Members that this would be the last Council meeting for Helen Style following her appointment as Pathfinder Director for Hertfordshire. Best wishes for the future were extended to her.
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In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 13, it was noted that the following petition had been received:
Stanstead Bus Service
Petition signed by approximately 140 residents of the district relating to the retention of a bus route via the village of Stanstead which was reported to Strategy Committee at its meeting on 15 November 2007 and which has been dealt with by the Head of Contract and Asset Management through his delegated powers.
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Term of Office of Co-opted Members of Standards Committee (Standards Committee Minute No. 20)
RESOLVED
(1) That the term of office for the four existing co-opted Members of Standards Committee be extended from two years to four years.
(2) That subject to the needs or requirements of any joint Standards Committee established with other authorities, future vacancies for co-opted Members of the Committee be advertised for a term of four years.
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None received.
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None received.
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The Head of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper G160) advising that the Electoral Administration Act 2006 changed the way that reviews into Polling Districts, Places and Stations are undertaken.
A full review had to be undertaken by the end of 2007 and every four years thereafter. As a result of the review, which included a public notice, Appendix A to Paper G160 had been produced which included any proposed alterations in the final column.
During consideration of this item it was suggested that in respect of the two wards for the town of Hadleigh, there be a single polling place which would be situated at the Town Hall. Upon being put to the vote, this suggestion was accepted and its incorporated in the resolution below.
RESOLVED
That, in order to improve facilities for electors and comply with the requirements of the Electoral Administration Act 2006, the schedule of polling districts, places and stations contained in Appendix A to Paper G160, as amended in accordance with the Returning Officer’s representations set out in the final column of that schedule, be approved subject to:
A single polling place being provided for Hadleigh at the Town Hall, Hadleigh.
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The Head of Corporate Services reported that in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Council at its Annual Meeting in May 2007, agreed to the sizes and numerical allocation of seats to the various groups and ungrouped Member and to the composition of Committees. The appointment of substitutes to serve on the various Committees were also agreed.
Following the resignation of Mr D B Warner, as a Member for Hadleigh (North), a by-election was held and Mr R Whiting was successful. Both Mr Warner and Mr Whiting stood as Liberal Democrat Candidates, accordingly there is no need to recalculate the number of seats allocated to each group.
The Liberal Democrat Group have advised that Mr Whiting is to replace Mr Warner on the Committee he served on and as the nominated substitute on the Strategy Committee.
It was also noted that, following the suspension of Mrs C A Todd from the Conservative Group, that Group had indicated that Mr G S White would be appointed as the replacement Conservative Member to serve on the Development Committee.
RESOLVED
(1) That Mr R Whiting be appointed to serve on the Development Committee.
(2) That Mr R Whiting be the approved substitute for Mr M P Booth on the Strategy Committee.
(3) That Mr G S White be appointed as the replacement Member (for Mrs C A Todd) on the Development Committee.
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Following the resignation from the Panel by Mrs C A Todd, the meeting were requested to appoint a replacement Member to serve on the Housing Panel.
RESOLVED
That Mr D H Keane be appointed as the replacement Member to serve on the Housing Panel.
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Members had before them the draft Timetable (Paper G161) prepared by the Head of Corporate Services and which had been subject to consultation with Management Team, Heads of Service and Political Group Leaders.
RESOLVED
That the Timetable of Meetings for 2008/09 set out in Paper G161 be approved.
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RESOLVED
That pursuant to Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the business specified below on the grounds that if the public were present during this item it is likely that there would be the disclosure to them of exempt information as indicated against the item.
The Council was also satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.
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Mr N A Ridley, as Chairman of the Strategy Committee, introduced that Committee’s recommendation on the matter as contained in Paper G146.
Further to the deliberation of the matter by Strategy Committee, a copy of a briefing paper from the District Valuer was submitted as Paper G162 together with a Plan, Paper G163, outlining the preliminary route of the proposed access. Appropriate plans showing the proposals were also on display in the Council Chamber.
Mr John Dennis, from the Valuation Office, was in attendance at the meeting, presented Paper G162 and answered questions from Members.
During the consideration of this matter it was proposed and seconded that the draft terms 15.2 and 17 contained in Paper G146 be deleted. Upon being put to the vote this amendment was lost.
RESOLVED
That the Head of Contract and Asset Management be authorised to dispose the freehold of land within the area shown black on the plan attached to Paper G146 subject to:
(a) A consideration as agreed by the Council’s valuer.
(b) Any other terms deemed necessary to protect the Council’s interests.
Mr L S Johnson and Mr R W Thake abstained from voting in respect of the decision referred to in Minute No. 72 above and requested that this be recorded in the Minutes.
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The business of the meeting was concluded at 11.55 a.m.
Chairman
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