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 OCTOBER 2005
PRESENT: Mrs S M Wigglesworth – Chairman
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Mr C W Arthey
Mrs E F Bates
Mr P K Beer
Mr N A Bennett
Mr M P Booth
Mr J C Brand
Mr D M Busby
Miss J J Chapman
Mr K Grimsey
Mr D G Grutchfield
Mr A J Hinton
Mr C J Hunt
Mr B D Hurren
Mr N H J Irwin
Mrs J A Jenkins
Mr P Jones |
Mr D H Keane
Mr B L Lazenby
Mr J A B Long
Dr M R Miller
Mr J M Owen
Mr J J Quinlan
Mr D J Read
Mr N A Ridley
Mr J W Roberts
Mrs W J Sadler
Mr J R A Sayers
Mr C M Spence
Mr G S White
Mr D L Wood
Mr L H Young |
The following Members were unable to be present:-
Mr A C Bavington, Mrs S Carpendale, Mrs S P Clarke, Mr P J Holbrook, Mr R E Kemp, Mr C D Kerr, Mr N MacMaster, Mr A E Pearce, Mr D C Rose, Mr R W Thake and Mr H N Todd.
The proceedings were opened with Prayer.
51 MINUTES
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2005 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
52 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
None declared.
53 CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Events Attended
The Chairman informed the meeting of events which she and the Vice-Chairman had attended on behalf of the Council including the Village of the Year Celebrations at Holton St Mary, winner of the Babergh and Suffolk rounds of the competition, and the Babergh Youth Conference on 17 October 2005. Jill Barton and her team were congratulated for the organisation of this event.
54 TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULE NO. 13
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 13, it was noted that the following petition had been received:-
Application No. B/05/1487/FUL – erection of 1 two-storey dwelling with attached double garage and 2 bungalows with 2 detached single garages (existing dwelling to be demolished). Construction of new vehicular access, 77 High Road, Leavenheath.
Petition signed by approximately 104 residents of Babergh which was reported to the Development Committee meeting held on 12 October 2005 and taken into account by the Head of Planning (Control) when dealing with the matter under his delegated powers. Planning Permission was refused and the decision notice issued on 13 October 2005.
55 RECOMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES
(a) Review of the Council’s Housing and Homelessness Strategy and Business Plan (Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee Minute No. 25 and Strategy Committee Minute No. 57)
Mr N J Ridley, Chairman of the Strategy Committee, in introducing the recommendations of that Committee referred to recommendation (2) relating to appointments to the Choice Based Lettings Development Group. Members were informed that the names of Sue Wigglesworth, Jennie Jenkins and Neil MacMaster had been put forward by the Housing Panel to serve on the Group, subject to Keith Grimsey acting in an interim capacity until such time as Mr MacMaster was able to attend meetings. Councillors John Sayers and David Grutchfield were then proposed for the remaining two places on the Group, and Members were aware that Group leaders had been consulted in relation to the nominations.
Chris Foti, Head of Housing, was present at the meeting to answer questions on the recommendations and report (Paper E111) of the Housing Panel, including matters related to the current waiting list. He also updated Members on the post of Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator referred to in recommendation (5) which would now be funded by the Government for a further period of up to two years. Members were aware that the funding elements of recommendations (3) and (5) would be subject to consideration through the Council’s Service and Financial Planning process in the normal way.
RESOLVED
(1) That the updated Affordable Housing Programme, as detailed in Appendix 1 to Paper E111 be approved.
(2) That (a) a Choice Based Lettings Development Group be established to undertake the tasks detailed in section 4B of Paper E111 (b) the Group’s membership includes five elected Members, three of which to be Housing Panel Members. Further that the following Members be appointed to serve in the capacities indicated:-
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Ms J Jenkins
Mr N MacMaster
Mrs S M Wigglesworth |
Housing Panel Members. |
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Mr K Grimsey |
Interim reserve Member for Mr N MacMaster. |
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Mr D G Grutchfield
Mr J R A Sayers |
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(3) That the current allocation of £100,000 per annum for Registered Social Landlords to provide affordable housing be increased to £200,000 per annum, subject to consideration through the Council’s Service and Financial Planning process.
(4) That up to twelve properties a year in the Babergh District be provided for successful asylum seekers from Ipswich Borough Council as part of the Suffolk wide agreement as detailed in Section 4D of Paper E111.
(5) That the temporary posts of Estate Ranger (Post JO32T) and the Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator (Post JO29) be made permanent and that 100% of Post JO32T and 25% of Post JO29 be funded by the Housing Revenue Account and that the remaining 75% of Post JO29 be funded from the General Fund, subject to (a) consideration through the Council’s Service and Financial Planning process and (b) the funding split being reviewed after 12 months.
(b) Risk Management and Internal Control (Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee Minute No. 43)
RESOLVED
That the Terms of Reference for the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee be updated to refer to the Committee’s risk management and internal control responsibilities, as set out in Appendix 1 to Paper E155.
56 QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
None received.
57 QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS
Question from Councillor J R A Sayers to the Chairman of the Council:-
Does Babergh District Council have a complete and up to date record of land in its ownership?
Answer
BDC “deeds” relating to land in its ownership are held in the Council’s strongroom. Land in our ownership is plotted onto a computerised datamap system which is updated every week.
58 APPOINTMENT OF BABERGH MEMBERS TO THE BOARD OF SOUTH SUFFOLK LEISURE (NPDO)
Mike Hammond, Corporate Director, outlined the background to the request for the Council to appoint two Babergh Councillors to serve as Trustees on the Board of South Suffolk Leisure, the charitable company limited by guarantee which is being set up to manage the Kingfisher Leisure Centre Sudbury and Hadleigh Swimming Pool. Members were aware that the memorandum and articles of association approved by Strategy Committee on 4 August provided for a maximum of two Councillors to serve on the Board. He confirmed that the Business Plan for the Company was subject to approval by the Council. He also referred to the process for appointing Board Members from the Community. Members had before them a copy of the person specification for Board Members provided by Lawrence Graham, the Solicitors acting for the Council in the creation of the Trust, which was circulated with the Agenda as Paper E167.
The following Members were proposed and seconded to serve as Trustees on the Board of South Suffolk Leisure and it was agreed that voting be conducted by ballot (Council Procedure Rule No.22.4 refers):-
Mr B L Lazenby
Mr J M Owen
Mr G S White
RESOLVED
That Mr B L Lazenby and Mr J M Owen be appointed as Trustees representing Babergh District Council on the Board of South Suffolk Leisure.
59 AUDITOR’S REPORT ON THE 2004/05 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Members had before them the Auditor’s Report (Paper E168). Geoff Kistner, Corporate Director, reported that the Auditor’s work is now substantially complete and it was anticipated that a qualified opinion on the accounts would be issued. There were no material matters to be brought to the attention of Members and only one issue to note, as set out in paragraph 6 of the Report.
RESOLVED
That the report be noted.
60 MR N MACMASTER
The acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services reported that Mr N MacMaster had been unable by reason of ill health to attend meetings of the District Council in recent months and that his last attendance was at the meeting of the Development Committee on 8 June 2005.
Section 25 of the Local Government Act 1972 provides that if a Member of a Local Authority fails throughout a period of six consecutive months from the date of his last attendance to attend any meeting of the Authority, he shall, unless the failure was due to some reason approved by the Authority before the expiry of that period, cease to be a Member of the Authority.
It is not known when Mr MacMaster’s health will allow him to resume attendance at District Council meetings.
RESOLVED
That Mr MacMaster’s ill health be approved as a reason for his failure to attend meetings of the District Council.
61 STATE OF THE DISTRICT DEBATE
Geoff Kistner, Corporate Director, presented Paper E166 asking Members to discuss the issues raised through the consultation exercises leading up to the Debate as set out in the report and its appendices, and to decide which issues should be considered further as part of the 2006/07 Corporate Plan and Budget process.
Members considered the areas highlighted for further consideration under each of the five priorities listed in the report. Various items referred to specifically during the course of the debate included the following:-
Priority 1
Various options which could be considered to promote healthy living initiatives throughout the District in partnership with others.
Priority 2
The planning aspects of affordable housing policies. Making representations through SPARSE and the LGA on the issue of property being excluded from pension portfolios.
Priority 3
Sudbury Western Bypass. Expansion of references to environmental/antisocial behaviour/road safety issues.
Priority 4
Discounts (this will be investigated separarately) Correction of information relating to Broadband.
Priority 5
A presentation to help clarify the University issue.
RESOLVED
(1) That the areas identified in Paragraphs 4.12, 4.18 , 4.26, 4.34 and 4.42 of Paper E166 as amended following the Council’s discussion and listed below be considered further by the relevant officers and the Strategy Committee as part of the 2006/07 Corporate Plan and Budget process, with appropriate recommendations being made to the meeting of the Council in February 2006.
Priority 1 – Promote healthy living and reduce health inequalities
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The future of Hadleigh Swimming Pool and its funding
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Clarifying and communicating the Council’s ‘health’ role, including better promotion and marketing of the services Babergh currently offers, eg. Care and Repair.
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In partnership with others actively create, implement, sustain and promote initiatives and programmes to increase healthy living throughout all areas of the district and all sectors of the population.
Priority 2 – Increase the supply of housing that local people can afford to rent or buy
Increasing the number of affordable homes provided beyond the current target of 700.
Priority 3 - Maintain a safe, clean and sustainable environment
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Increasing the number of recycling sites.
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In particular for older and disabled people, looking at distances that need to be travelled to the civic amenity sites, and ease of access for people to put things into receptacles when they get to the sites. In addition it was requested that all sites should accept small items of hazardous waste (e.g. paint tins), otherwise individuals were travelling long distances to dispose of these. These points should be raised with Suffolk County Council which is responsible for these sites.
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Reviewing the fly-tipping policy. However the Corporate Plan does include a number of initiatives being put in place to tackle fly-tipping.
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Looking at the way the Council maintains the ‘street scene’. It has been shown that there is a close link between how clean an area is and public satisfaction with the Council.
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Looking into the possibility of turning waste into energy.
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Supporting the call for more police ‘on the beat’ and for an overall more visible presence.
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Road safety, especially in rural areas, which is not mentioned in the Corporate Plan, but came through the forums as a factor in gauging how safe people felt.
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Continue to encourage the County Council to work towards a Sudbury western bypass.
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Continue the implementation of new powers and develop initiatives on anti social behaviour across the district.
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Monitor the impact of the new licensing regulations upon the night-time environment and economy.
- Seek to monitor and improve climate issues such as air quality, and investigate ways that the district and population should adapt to cope with climate change.
Priority 4 – Give easy, convenient access to quality services
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Providing training and support for people wishing to access the Council’s services electronically.
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Promote the setting up of customer access points to allow the public to experience accessing our services.
- Promote the user ability and availability of Broadband.
Priority 5 – Raise individual and community ambitions and encourage active citizenship
(2) That feedback on how consultation has influenced the Council’s State of the District Debate and decision-making be fed back to those who participated and to the general public through Babergh Matters.
(3) That Babergh Matters be used to conduct any further consultation required for the 2006/07 Corporate Plan and Budget Process.
The Chairman thanked officers for the work involved in producing the report for the State of the District Debate.
Note: The meeting adjourned for refreshments between 10.45am and 11.10am.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 1.15pm.
Chairman
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