Agenda - 20 October 2009

                                                                                             12 October 2009

Dear Sir/Madam

The Meeting of the Babergh District Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Corks Lane, Hadleigh on TUESDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2009 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 25 June 2009 as a correct record. Top of page
	2	DECLARATION OF INTERESTS Members to declare any interests as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting. Top of page
	3	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive apologies for absence. Top of page
	4	CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS Top of page
	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. Alleged Noise Nuisance from Port of Ipswich on Cliff Quay  Petition signed by approximately 40 residents of the District. The receipt of the petition was reported to the Strategy Committee at its meeting on 8 October 2009.  The issues raised are being dealt with by the Head of Natural and Built Environment under his delegated powers. Top of page
Paper J39	6	Recommendations and reports from committees (a)       Member Involvement at Ward Level (Strategy Committee Minute No.             21)      The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper J39) outlining proposals on how Members involvement at Ward level can be improved.  Members approved the actions and improvement proposed at paragraph 5.5 of Paper J39, together with the development of a training and awareness raising programme for Officers. RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL That the Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Chairman of Strategy Committee be authorised to update Appendix 1 to Paper J39 and that the Member/Officer Protocol be amended accordingly.
Paper J85                           Paper J91		(b)       Affordable Housing Programme (Strategy Committee Minute No. 42) Mrs S M Wigglesworth, Chairman of the Housing Panel, introduced Paper J85 requesting approval to include within the Council’s Housing Programme schemes on Council owned land and to note schemes that are being developed on privately owned land. It was agreed that when the matter is reported to Council a note should be provided outlining the net increase in the potential number of units as well as the gross.  The relevant figures are as follows:- Estimated number of units to be provided Gross                                                                                 83 Replacement                                                                        4 Net increase                                                                        79 RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL That the schemes on Babergh owned land as shown in Part 1 of Appendix 1 to Paper J85 be approved and be included within the Council’s Affordable Housing Programme.  Further, that the inclusion within the Programme of the schemes on privately owned land as shown in Part 2 of Appendix 1 to Paper J85 be noted. Note:   Mr R E Kemp voted against the decision referred to above and requested that this be recorded in the Minutes. (c)        The Council’s Annual Report 2008/09 (Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee Minute No. 39) The Director of Corporate Services and the Director of Finance submitted a joint report (Paper J91) recommending an Annual Report to provide Babergh residents and businesses with a review of achievements and financial performance for the 2008/09 year. Peter Quirk, Policy and Communications Manager, presented the report and answered Members’ questions. RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL That the Director of Corporate Services be authorised to make final amendments to the draft Annual Report attached as Appendix A to Paper J91 prior to its publication.
Paper J97 (excluding Appendix 1)		(d)       Gambling Act 2005: Statement of Licensing Principles (Licensing and Appeals Committee Minute No. 5) The Head of Natural and Built Environment submitted a report (Paper J97) advising that following the meeting of the Committee held on 2 July 2009, Officers had carried out a period of statutory consultation in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005 legislation and regulations.  It was noted that no objections or representations had been received.
Paper J117		Babergh’s Licensing Team had worked closely in partnership with all other Suffolk Licensing Authorities and had led much of the project on the redrafted “Statement of Licensing Principles”.  The Committee asked for their thanks to the Licensing Team to be recorded and RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL. That, subject to the Head of Natural and Built Environment being authorised to update the population figures referred to in Page 5, the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles (second edition) document attached as Appendix 1 to Paper J97, be adopted and published to take effect for a three-year period from 31 January 2010. Further to the above recommendation, the population figures referred to have now been updated by the Head of Natural and Built Environment.  The Council is therefore asked to adopt the Statement of Principles attached as Paper J117 in accordance with the following recommendation:- RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL That the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Principles (second edition) document attached as Paper J117 be adopted and published to take effect for a three-year period from 31 January 2010.
Paper J105		(e)       Interim Report on the 2009/10 Strategic and Financial Planning Process (Strategy Committee Minute No. 54) The Director of Finance introduced Paper J105 relating to the Council’s medium term planning, savings and efficiencies and the development of the 2010/11 Budget.  Members were asked to note the current position and to endorse the proposals for a balanced Budget being referred to the SFP Task Group for further consideration. A wide-ranging discussion ensued on the various areas and issues covered by the report, following which the Committee accepted the recommendations for consideration by the Council. RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL (1)        That the current position on achieving the Council’s savings and efficiencies targets for 2009/10 and 2010/11, and the current position on the development of the 2010/11 Budget, be noted. (2)        That the approaches and specific actions set out in this report to seek to meet the savings and efficiencies targets in order to achieve a balanced 2010/11 Budget be endorsed; and that these be referred to the SFP Task Group for development and identification of the likely impact on service levels and staffing establishment. Top of page
	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. Top of page
	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). Top of page
Paper J118	9	STATE OF THE DISTRICT DEBATE Report from the Strategic and Financial Planning Task Group attached. Top of page
Paper J119	10	ACTION OUT OF MEETING To note the action taken to include the following schemes within the Council’s Affordable Housing Programme:- (a)       Land adjacent to Palfrey Heights, Brantham and 3 Boleyn Place, Erwarton (b)       45-51 Wattisham Road, Bildeston             Paper J119 attached.  Top of page
	11	EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC (WHICH TERM INCLUDES THE PRESS) To consider whether, pursuant to Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public should 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 author of the report proposed to be considered in Part II of the Agenda is satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. Top of page

 PART II 

Paper J120

13

DEVELOPMENT OF SWIMMING PROVISION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUTH SUFFOLK LEISURE (Exempt Information by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1) Recommendations of Strategy Committee attached (Minute No. 58 refers). Top of page

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