Dear Sir/Madam

A Meeting of the Babergh District Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Corks Lane, Hadleigh on TUESDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2007 AT 9.30 A.M.

The proceedings will be opened with Prayer.

Yours faithfully

Andrew Hunkin
Head of Corporate Services

Members are asked to bring with them to the meeting Paper G116 which has been previously circulated to Strategy Committee Members and made available on BEN.

PART I

	1	MINUTES To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2007 as a correct record.
	2	DECLARATION OF INTERESTS Members to declare any interests as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.
	3	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive apologies for absence.
	4	CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
	5	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 G120A	6	REVIEW OF THE CONSTITUTION Report by the Chief Executive attached.
Paper G121A	7	STATE OF THE DISTRICT DEBATE Report from the Corporate Plan Working Group attached.  The Head of Corporate Services will update Members at the meeting on any further issues which arise from a meeting with Stakeholders and Partners on the evening of 29 October.
Paper G92	8	RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES (a)       The 2007 Housing Review (Strategy Committee Minute No. 56(c)) Members had before them Paper G92, the report of the Housing Panel to the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee. During the course of the discussion on this item it was noted that Recommendation (9) should have included a specific reference to the Council’s Service and Financial Planning process.  RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL (1)    That the following Council owned sites be included within the Affordable Housing Programme for the development of new affordable housing, and that approval for the disposal of these sites be granted, subject to the appropriate terms and conditions:- Land at 28 Cornerth Crescent, Great Cornard Land to the rear of Garrards Road, Elmsett (site is now known as Downlands) Land at Palfrey Heights Brantham Land adjacent to 36-38, 44-46 and 45-47 Kingsland Shotley (2)    That the following amendments be made to the approved Affordable Housing Programme: To develop the land adjacent to No. 2 The Street, Monks Eleigh as social housing instead of selling it on the open market. To change the tenure mix at Rotheram Road, Bildeston to provide 8 houses for rent and 7 houses for shared ownership instead of 15 houses for shared ownership (3)    That the updated Affordable Housing Programme, as detailed in Appendix 1 to Paper G92, be approved. (4)    That the Head of Community Development be delegated authority to approve any minor amendments (changes to number of units, tenure mix, the partner RSL, estimated start/completion dates and deletion of failed schemes) in the approved Affordable Housing Programme in consultation with the Housing Panel, such delegation to exclude land where Ministerial consent for the sale is required under Article 4(17) of the Council’s Constitution. Notes: 1.    Wording in italics in recommendations (1) and (2) has been added for clarity.  Recommendation (4) – wording in italics has been added to clarify the expression ‘minor amendments’. 2.    If Members are minded to approve recommendations (1), (2), (3) and (4) above including the amendments suggested for clarification purposes it will be necessary to pass the following additional resolution: - (4a)    That, except in cases where Ministerial Consent is required to sell land under Article 4(17) of the Council’s Constitution, the Head of Contract and Asset Management be authorised in consultation with the Housing Panel to dispose on appropriate terms and conditions of all Council-owned property detailed in the Affordable Housing Programme approved from time to time by the Council, including (a)    the amendments referred to in (1) and (2) above (b)    the amendments incorporated in the updated Programme approved at (3) above and (c)    any future minor amendments to the approved Programme made under the delegation approved at (4) above. (5)    That delegated authority be given to the Head of Contract and Asset Management in consultation with the Head of Community Development to sell the Council owned cottages at Nos. 30 and 31 Thatched Cottages, Tattingstone on the open market in their present condition and for the proceeds of sale to be used, in the first instance, for the delivery of affordable housing in Tattingstone and its surrounding area, then, failing that, for affordable housing elsewhere in the Babergh District. (6)    That the Council works in partnership with a preferred Registered Social Landlord, selected by the Head of Community Development in consultation with the Housing Panel, to provide a Private Leasing Scheme in the Babergh District.  Further, that the Council adopts a revision to its current grants and loans policy so that financial assistance is only given to those landlords who take part in the Private Sector Leasing scheme and landlords who are registered charities. (7)    That the Terms of Reference of the Hadleigh Swimming Pool Steering Group, approved by the Strategy Committee on 29 June 2006, be extended to enable the Steering Group to consider the future use of the disused Pavilion building and adjoining land on the Calais Street recreation ground. (8)    That the Housing Panel undertakes a feasibility study into the redevelopment and regeneration of the Council’s sheltered housing scheme at Tenterpiece, Lavenham in consultation with the local Member and reports back to Strategy Committee with its conclusions. (9)    That the temporary post of Homelessness Prevention Officer (Post No. CC210T) be made permanent; subject to the inclusion of the additional amount in the Council’s budget following consideration through the Service and Financial Planning process. (10)    That Babergh works with neighbouring local authorities to assess the best way of jointly meeting the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers.
Paper G116 previously circulated Paper G122		(b)    Licensing Act 2003: Statement of Licensing Policy Review (Post Consultation) (Licensing and Appeals Committee Minute No.24) The Head of Natural and Built Environment submitted a report (Paper G116) requesting the Committee to recommend for approval a final (post consultation) draft version of the Statement of Licensing Policy document. It was noted that at its meeting on 2 August 2007, the Committee had approved, for consultation purposes, a draft Statement of Licensing Policy and that the document had been the subject of a consultation period with statutory and identified stakeholders. Following the period of consultation, Appendix 1 to Paper G116 had been prepared to summarise the consultation responses received and any suggested consequential revisions to the draft Policy by the Licensing Officer.  Appendix  2 to Paper G116 reproduced the written consultation responses received in full. RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL That the “Statement of Licensing Policy” incorporating the revisions suggested at Appendix 1 to Paper G116 be adopted for publication and take effect for three years (unless sooner revised) with effect from 7 January 2008. Further to the above recommendation, a revised Statement of Licensing Policy (Paper G122 attached) has been prepared, incorporating the amendments referred to.  It is therefore RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL That the Statement of Licensing Policy (Paper G122) be adopted for the period from 7 January 2008 until 7 January 2011, or until such time as revision is required, whichever is the earlier.
	9	QUESTIONS FROM 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).
	11	APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES TO JOINT WASTE STRATEGY WORKING GROUP WITH MID SUFFOLK DISTRICT COUNCIL The Head of Natural and Built Environment to report on a request for up to 5 Babergh Members to join Mid Suffolk’s existing Waste Management Task Group with the intention of recommendations being made to both Councils early in 2008.  It is anticipated that there will be 5 – 6 meetings between November 2007 and February 2008 together with site visits as required.  The Political Group Leaders have each been asked to consider nominating a Member to serve on this Task Group.  PLG has been made aware of the background to the proposal for a joint Task Group arrangement which arises from the need to improve the amount of waste diverted from landfill and which impacts on the future operation of the joint refuse collection with Mid Suffolk District Council, particularly in relation to vehicle requirements.  Members will also be aware that through the Suffolk Waste Partnership  Babergh is a signatory to the Suffolk Joint Waste Management Strategy, on which it is represented by Clive Arthey, Babergh’s Waste Strategy Champion.  It is recommended that Babergh appoints up to 5 Members, to include one from each of its three political groups together with the Member Champion for Waste Strategy, as its representatives to serve on the Joint Waste Strategy Working Group for the remainder of the current municipal year.

Note:       A buffet lunch will be provided for Members in the Courtyard Restaurant.

For further information on any of the Part 1 items listed above, please contact Linda Sheppard on 01473 826610 or via email at committeeservices@babergh.gov.uk