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BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL HELD AT THE STOKE-BY-NAYLAND CLUB, LEAVENHEATH ON THURSDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2009
PRESENT: Mr D L Wood – Vice-Chairman in the Chair
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Mrs J Antill
Mr P K Beer
Mr M P Booth
Mr J C Brand
Mr D M Busby
Mrs S Carpendale
Mr J R B Cave
Mrs S P Clarke
Mr P G Gibson
Mr D G Grutchfield
Mr A J Hinton
Mr P J Holbrook
Mr B D Hurren
Mr L S Johnson
Mr P Jones |
Mr B L Lazenby
Dr M R Miller
Mrs M O Munson
Mr A F D W Osborne
Mr N A Ridley
Mr B Riley
Mr D C Rose
Mr J R A Sayers
Mr C M Spence
Mr R W Thake
Mr A J Ward
Mr G S White
Mr R Whiting
Mrs S M Wigglesworth |
The following Members were unable to be present:- Mr C W Arthey, Mr N A Bennett, Ms J A Jenkins, Mr D H Keane, Mr R E Kemp, Mr J A B Long, Mr M Newman, Mr C A Roberts, Mr R C Smith, Mrs C A Todd, Mr H N Todd, Mr D M Walton and Mr L H Young.
The proceedings were opened with a short prayer for those Members who had chosen to participate.
37 - Declaration of Interests
38 - Chairman's Announcements
39 - To Receive Notification of Petitions in Accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 13
40 - Questions from the Public
41 - Questions from Members
42 - State of the District Debate
Mrs J Antill declared a personal interest in the item referred to in Minute No. 42 (State of the District Debate) in her capacity as a Director of the Sudbury CAB, but indicated that her interest was such that she was able to speak and vote on the item in question.
Ms J A Jenkins
The Vice-Chairman informed Members that Ms Jenkins was currently unwell and that he would convey Members’ best wishes to her.
None received.
None received.
None received.
Members had before them a report from the Strategic and Financial Planning Task Group (Paper J118).
Mr N A Ridley, Chairman of the Strategic and Financial Planning Task Group introduced the report. He referred to the current stage in the process for understanding the issues facing Babergh’s public and its businesses, and developing outcomes and actions to deal with these, particularly taking into account the effect of the downturn in the economy. He indicated that the issues this year are much the same as the previous year, and that these are reflected in the Strategic Plan which was designed to last ten years. However, as Members were aware, the one big change related to the budgetary pressures facing every Council and the huge challenge currently facing Babergh; those issues having been discussed at length in the Council meeting on 20 October. He then invited the Director of Corporate Services, together with Peter Quirk, Policy and Communications Manager, to make a presentation on the results of the latest consultations and research into the issues. A copy of the presentation is attached to these Minutes as Appendix 1.
The Vice-Chairman of the Council advised Members that to achieve a more comprehensive discussion, he proposed to allow Members to speak more than once during the debate with individual speeches not exceeding three minutes. Members were then invited to identify issues and outcomes for further consideration and development by the Strategic and Financial Planning Task Group as part of the 2010/11 planning process. The key issues identified for the Group to take forward are shown below. These and a record of the Debate were subsequently circulated to all Members by the Director of Corporate Services.
KEY ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED BY SFP TASK GROUP
Members agreed that debt advice, protecting the vulnerable, community safety and employment actions should continue as high priority areas. In support of this, the SFP Task Group was asked to:
· Consider the provision of greater emphasis on actions to mitigate the impact of the recession (i.e. debt advice), promote and publicise actions already taken
· Review how services are provided for vulnerable groups – especially the elderly
· Review access to and provision of services in rural areas
· Consider how the elderly could be supported to remain in their communities
· Consider the impact of the provision of activities for young people on community safety.
. The Group was also asked to consider how the Council could have greater input on improving skills and educational attainment. In particular:
· Consider how to improve support to school leavers seeking employment
· Consider the provision of support to local FE establishments (especially adult learning).
Housing and affordable housing were seen as high priority and the Group was asked to consider how the LDF process could be best used to drive affordable housing provision – especially in rural communities.
In addition the Group was asked to:
· Give consideration to the importance of tourism to the local economy
· Ensure that the focus on the environment was high – especially areas such as carbon reduction and recycling
· Consider how red tape and bureaucracy could be reduced for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
It was recognised that for a number of the above issues, the Council had different roles – sometimes as a service provider, but very often as a community leader in carrying out a lobbying role. Therefore the Group was asked to:
· Use SAVO/SALC networks and the voluntary sector as a whole to develop partnership working
· Review the links to the LSPs and the community strategies
· Lobby the Government to reduce red tape and unnecessary nationally prescribed bureaucracy
· Ensure that the Council does not duplicate services or actions carried out by other agencies.
It was recognised that these issues needed to be considered as part of the strategic and financial planning process, which was also seeking to set a budget for 2010/11. The following was reinforced:
· Review costs, value for money and resourcing of non core functions
· Review costs, value for money and method of delivery for services
· Value for money needs to be demonstrated to taxpayers
· Think very carefully on the need to develop new initiatives. Concentrate on being more effective and efficient
· Review list of contracts for renewal savings etc.
· Look to maximise grant income.
RESOLVED
That the key issues identified by Members in the course of the Debate as set out above be considered and developed further by the Strategic and Financial Planning Task Group as part of the 2010/11 Strategic and Financial Planning process.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 10.40 a.m.
............................................................... Chairman
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