Andrew Hunkin DMS, FMS

Head of Corporate Services

Babergh District Council
Corks Lane, Hadleigh, Ipswich IP7 6SJ
DX NO: 85055 Exchange: Babergh
Main Switchboard: 01473 822801
Website: www.babergh.gov.uk

TO: THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL

23 July 2007

ITEM

BUSINESS

1

MINUTES

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meetings held on 19 June and 26 June 2007 as correct records.

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 a petition as detailed below. There can be no debate or comment upon this matter at the Council meeting.

Proposed affordable housing development on Babergh-owned land to rear of Downlands and Winding Road, Elmsett

Petition signed by approximately 45 residents objecting to the proposed development.

The petition will be taken into account in conjunction with the appropriate report on the Council’s Affordable Housing Programme, which will be considered by the Strategy Committee on 27 September 2007.

Paper G38

6

RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES

Timetable for replacing Babergh’s current Local Plan (Strategy Committee Minute No. 27)

The Head of Natural and Built Environment submitted a report (Paper G38) requesting Members’ agreement to a new programme for replacing the Council’s current Local Plan through a new Local Development Framework (LDF). This programme will be set out in a formal document known as Babergh’s Local Development Scheme (LDS).

During the course of discussion of this item, a number of amendments to the LDS were proposed and seconded and these are incorporated in the recommendation below.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

(1) That the programme, attached as Appendix 1 to the Local Development Scheme document, for replacing the Council’s current Local Plan with a new Development Framework be approved subject to the following amendments:

(a) That other relevant authorities, including (but not limited to) Suffolk and Essex County Councils and Braintree District Council, be liaised with, on the need for further transport and any other relevant infrastructure research for each part of the district, and this amendment be incorporated into a revised Appendix 5 to the Local Development Scheme document.

(b) That an additional sentence be added to confirm and explain that Babergh District Council considers it has a sufficient 5 year supply of housing land.

(c) That an explanation be added to confirm the relationship between the new LDF and the recently adopted Local Plan.

(2) That authority be given to the Head of Natural and Built Environment to approve changes to the Council’s LDS in the future (although these would still need to be approved by GoEast) subject to such changes not raising significant issues in relation to the Council’s policies or financial interests.

7

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.

8

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 G65

9

COMMUNITY ENERGY PROJECT – CEP (SUDBURY COMMUNITIES AREA FORUM)

The Council at its Annual Meeting appointed Colin Spence as its representative on the CEP Board, on an interim basis pending the outcome of a review of the CEP. This review has now been completed and a report on the future of the CEP was considered by the Board at its meeting on 10 July 2007.

The Board decided, regretfully, that it was not sensible to continue meeting. There are no sources of funding available to enable the Board to hold a local ‘pot’ to be distributed in the way that the Single Regeneration Budget initially allowed the partnership to flourish, and new partnerships have grown that can undertake the residual roles of the CEP.

The report to the Board from Sara Jackson, the CEP Manager, is attached as Paper G65 and describes the current position together with the legacy of the CEP. The recommendations set out at the end of Paper G65, including the proposal to disband the CEP, were accepted by the Board. Colin Spence, who chaired the meeting of the Board on 10 July, will present this item at the Council meeting.

Paper G65 is submitted to the Council in place of the normal Annual Report which was not submitted to the May Council meeting pending the outcome of the review.

Members are asked to note

• The decision to disband the CEP
• The contents of Paper G65

10

APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES

Ipswich CAB – Board Member

The Head of Corporate Services to report that at the Annual meeting of the Council, no nominations were received for this representative role. Members are asked to give further consideration to making an appointment to this body which meets 6 times a year in Ipswich, 5.30-7pm on alternate Tuesday/Wednesday evenings.