1 February 2011 - Agenda

Members

Mr A C Bavington
Mrs S P Clarke
Mr B D Hurren

Mr J A B Long
Mrs M O Munson
Mr M Newman

Mr A F D W Osborne
Mr J R A Sayers
Mr D L Wood

                        ITEM

BUSINESS

1

SUBSTITUTES AND APOLOGIES 

Any Member attending as an approved substitute to report giving his/her name and the name of the Member being substituted. 

To receive apologies for absence.

2

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS 

Members to declare any interests as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.

3

MINUTES 

To confirm and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2010 as a correct record.

4

PETITIONS

The Director of Corporate Services to report, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 13, the receipt of any petitions submitted to the Chief Executive.

5

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS 

The Chairman to answer any questions on any matters in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the District and which fall within the terms of reference of the Committee of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 15.4 – (a) and (b).

6

UPDATE ON IMPLEMENTING THE FLOODING ACTION PLAN 

Jane Burch, Flood and Coastal Policy Manager at Suffolk County Council, will attend the meeting to update Members on the development process and proposed timelines for the Suffolk Flooding Action Plan.

Papers
K166 and K193

 
Paper
K194

Papers K171 and K171A Paper
K199  (amended Appendix A together with covering note)

 
Paper
K195

7

BUDGET SCRUTINY 

Attached are the following for scrutiny by the Committee: 

General Fund Budget 2011/12  

· Savings and other proposals (as set out in Paper K166, considered by Strategy Committee on 13 January) and the detailed draft Budget (Paper K193) that, subject to any amendments, will be submitted to Strategy Committee and Council in February for final approval. 

· Equality Impact Assessments and the draft 2011/12 Budget (Paper K194 attached).  Members are asked to have regard to the EqIAs as part of the scrutiny process.  

Council Housing (HRA) Budget 2011/12 

· Attached are Papers K171 and K171A, together with Paper K199 which includes supporting Appendix A as amended for the Strategy Committee’s recommendation that an average rent increase of 5% be approved for next year.  The Appendix included in Paper K199 also incorporates further proposed amendments to various aspects of the detailed budgets following further review by officers, including potential Supporting People charges, which will be subject to a report to Strategy Committee in February. 

Paper K199 will be submitted to the Housing Panel on 28 January.

Future of Public Conveniences

· Report by the Head of Natural and Built Environment (attached) setting out the current position. 

The Director of Finance will explain the position further at the meeting.

 


Paper
K196

8

RECREATION CONTRIBUTION FOR THE PROVISION OF OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND OPEN SPACE SECURED FROM DEVELOPERS UNDER SECTION 106 PLANNING OBLIGATIONS UNDER LOCAL PLAN POLICY HS32 

Report by the Head of Natural and Built Environment attached.

 
Paper
K197

9

UPDATE ON SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL’S SCRUTINY ARRANGEMENTS AND EFFECT ON BABERGH REPRESENTATION 

The Director of Corporate Services to update Members following the recent SCC decision to replace its previous scrutiny arrangements with a single Scrutiny Committee of 12 County Councillors, from 4 January 2011. 

The new arrangements will be reviewed at the May 2011 meeting of the SCC.  Consideration will also be given at that time to the involvement of local councils and voluntary and community representatives in the scrutiny process.  As advised at the last meeting, Andrew Hunkin will report back in due course on the development of local arrangements for the scrutiny of health related matters.   

The Chairman of the new Committee has written to all former co-opted members of SCC Scrutiny Committees (including Mary Munson, who was the Council’s representative on the Health Scrutiny Committee) as only statutory co-options (parent governors and Diocesan representatives) will continue to be made under the new arrangements.  However, former co-optees were invited to suggest topics for possible inclusion in the new Committee’s work programme, including any which were outstanding from the Health Scrutiny Committee (a copy of those topics is attached as Paper K197).   

Although the appointment of Mrs Munson (substitute – Richard Cave) to the Health Scrutiny Committee has been superseded, the Chairman of the new Committee is asking that former co-optees continue their involvement by contributing to the development of the new arrangements and work programme.  Such appointees will not now be expected to regularly attend the Scrutiny Committee, but may be invited to specific meetings, and such attendance will continue to be treated as approved duty under the Members’ Allowances Scheme.  Any appointments relevant to the new arrangements can be considered following the May 2011 District Council Elections.  

Members are asked to note the position as set out above.

 

Paper
K198

10

WORK PLAN

Report by the Director of Corporate Services attached.

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