Agenda - 1 June 2010

21 May 2010

 Dear Sir/Madam

A Meeting of the Babergh District Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Corks Lane, Hadleigh on TUESDAY, 1 JUNE 2010 AT 9.30AM.

The proceedings will be opened with a short prayer for those Members who choose to participate.

Yours faithfully

Andrew Hunkin

Director of Corporate Services

 

ITEM

BUSINESS

                                                                       PART I

	1	MINUTES To confirm and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 April 2010 as a correct record.
	2	DECLARATION OF INTERESTS Members to declare any interest 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. Under 5’s Play Area – Catesby Meadow, Sudbury Petition signed by approximately 57 residents of the District objecting to the proposed use of galvanised steel fencing around a small residential play area. The petition was reported to the Development Committee at its meeting on 12 May 2010 and was taken into account by the Chief Planning Control Officer when considering the submission of details pursuant to Condition 5 (Details of the play space including equipment, railings and landscaping) of planning permission no B/99/00512/OUT (Outline – residential development Priory Stadium, Priory Walk Sudbury).  The submission of details was approved by the Chief Planning Control Officer and the Notification of Decision was issued on 14 May 2010.
Paper K16                             Paper K17	6	RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES (a)      Babergh Development Framework – Draft Core Strategy (Preferred Options and Issues and Options Consultation) (Strategy Committee Minute No 11) The Head of Natural and Built Environment submitted a report (Paper K16) asking Members to approve a public consultation exercise based on the Draft Core Strategy Document appended to the report. Members were aware that the tracked changes shown on the Draft Document now reflected to a large extent the points raised through Members’ earlier consideration at the Strategy Committee meeting on 8 April 2010.  They noted that Appendix B listed the response to other issues raised on which no change was considered necessary, together with reasons, whilst Appendix C listed the consultation questions which were considered to address comments made by Members. The Head of Natural and Built Environment explained the evidence based approach to the process which included account being taken of consultation responses.  He explained that comments should be supported by reasons expressed in a similar way to representations made through the development control process.  Members were also informed that additional evidence based information had been included to back up the Draft Document where appropriate. RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL (1)        That the Draft Core Strategy (Preferred Options and ‘Issues and Options’ elements) Document at Appendix A to Paper K16 be approved for public consultation.  (2)              That the Head of Natural and Built Environment be authorised to make any revisions to the Draft Core Strategy prior to consultation, subject to the revisions not altering the substance or intent of the Strategy. (3)       That the arrangements for public consultation in paragraph 5.13 of Paper K16 be noted.  (b)       Car Parking Issues (Strategy Committee Minute No 12) The Head of Contract and Asset Management presented a report (Paper K17) advising the outcome of investigations into a possible discount scheme for public parking.  Members were asked whether they wished to recommend the Council to adopt a discount scheme for long term car parks and if so the type of scheme to be recommended.  They were also asked to consider whether car park charges should be introduced for parking at the Council’s Corks Lane car parks. Members were aware that the Council on 23 February 2010 asked for consideration to be given to the possibility of some form of discount for workers in the town centres of Hadleigh and Sudbury parking in long stay car parking spaces.  After some discussion Member accepted the officer view set out in paragraph 5.3 of Paper K17 that it would not be practicable to introduce such a scheme.  However the conclusion was that a discount scheme similar to those operated by neighbouring Councils, but for a limited number of spaces, would be appropriate and feasible.  The Head of Contract and Asset Management confirmed that the wording of the relevant bullet points under 5.7 of the report related to season tickets being available on an annual, quarterly or monthly basis.  The Solicitor to the Council clarified the legal position on the car park adjacent to the play ground, as a result of which the final bullet point under paragraph 5.15 was to be deleted from the report.  Members noted however that any charge made for parking on that area of land (owned by the Town Council) would be likely to result in a corresponding increase in the rent charged to Babergh District Council under the lease. RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL (1)         That a Season Ticket discount scheme be implemented in the Council’s car parks based on the terms and conditions set out in paragraph 5.7 of Paper K17 and that the types of season tickets be annual, quarterly or monthly as set out in the table under the final bullet point. (2)        That no charging for car parking at the Council’s Corks Lane car parks be introduced in 2010/11.
	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 2 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).
	9	MR H N TODD The Director of Corporate Services to report that Mr Todd has 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 Council on 28 January 2010. Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972 provides that if a Member of a Local Authority fails to over a period of six consecutive months from the date of his last attendance to attend any meeting in the Authority, he shall, unless 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 Todd’s health will allow him to resume attendance at District Council meetings. The Council is therefore asked to approve Mr Todd’s ill health as a reason for his failure to attend meetings of the District Council.
	10	REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES/PARTNERSHIPS Suffolk County Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee The Director of Corporate Services to report that, following the annual appointment of Members to Committees, Mr L H Young no longer sits on an Overview and Scrutiny Committee and is therefore ineligible to serve as the Babergh representative on the Suffolk County Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Mrs M O Munson (Overview and Scrutiny – Community Services) is the current Substitute Member and is willing to serve on the County Committee.  If she is appointed, a Substitute Member should come from the Overview and Scrutiny  (Stewardship) Committee Members. Meetings are held approximately bi-monthly with the next meeting provisionally arranged for 28 June.  All meetings are held at 10.30 a.m. at Endeavour House.  This is an important Scrutiny role but does not involve a significant legal or other liability. The Group Leaders have been contacted with regard to representation but to date, only Mrs Munson’s name has been put forward. It is therefore recommended (1)         That Mrs M O Munson be appointed as the Council’s representative on the Suffolk County Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the remainder of the current term of office. (2)         That a Substitute Member be appointed from the membership of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee.
For further information on any of the Part 1 items listed above, please contact Linda Sheppard on 01473 826610 or via email at committee.services@babergh.gov.uk