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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.
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2 |
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
Members to declare any interests as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.
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3 |
MINUTES
To confirm and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2005 as a correct record.
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4 |
PETITIONS
The Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services to report that, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No.13, a petition has been submitted to the Chief Executive relating to:-
Nuisance of ball games Chaplin Road, East Bergholt
Petition signed by approximately 23 residents relating to the above.
In accordance with Procedure Rules the Chief Executive will report receipt of the petition to the Council meeting on 13 December 2005.
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5 |
QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS
The Chairman to answer any questions on 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 the Committee of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 15.4 – (a) and (b).
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Paper E154
previously circulated |
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ISSUES ARISING FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEES (OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY RULES 33 AND 34)
None received.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES
(a) Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee Minute No. 42 – Audit and Inspection Plan
Mr Geoff Kistner, Corporate Director, presented Paper E154, providing further information supplied by the Audit Commission, as requested by the Committee as its meeting on 16 August 2005 (Minute No. 29 refers).
Members were not satisfied with the amount of detail provided by the Audit Commission but acknowledged that there was nothing more Mr Kistner could do to obtain further information or further renegotiate the proposed fee. They noted that Babergh’s proposed fee increase of 4.6% was one of the lowest percentage increases for Suffolk authorities. They reluctantly agreed to recommend that the revised fee be approved. |
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RECOMMENDED TO STRATEGY COMMITTEE
(1) That in the light of the information received and earlier negotiations which have reduced the Audit Commission’s proposed fee for 2005/06, the revised fee of £130,000 be approved. |
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Paper E161
previously circulated |
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(2) That the Corporate Director on behalf of a number of Suffolk authorities write to the Chairman of the Audit Commission expressing concern and highlighting the discrepancy between national announcements by The Audit Commission on reducing fee levels and the reality of higher fees.
(b) Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee Minute No. 36 – Annual Report of Development Committee
Mr D C Rose left the meeting whilst the discussion of the Annual Report of the Development Committee took place.
Mr R Thake, Chairman of the Development Committee, presented the Annual Report of the Development Committee for 2005/06 (Paper E161). In the discussion which followed the following were among the points noted:-
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There was concern that although 521 complaints of possible breaches of Planning Control had been received for investigation, these had only resulted in the service of 34 Enforcement Notices and 6 Breach of Condition Notices.
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There appeared to be a problem in retaining staff in Planning Control because staff were being trained by Babergh and then achieving promotions outside the District Council.
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Officers were congratulated on the training session held on 30 September 2005 entitled “Material considerations in Development Control”. This had been open to Members from other authorities and everyone who had attended had found the training very helpful. However, a number of Babergh Members had withdrawn from the training at short notice.
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It was considered that all Members of the Development Committee should undertake on-going training during their period of office, and it was suggested that a policy be introduced requiring Members of the Development Committee to attend a certain number of training sessions each year. |
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Members expressed concern at the number of times the Development Committee Members had reached decisions contrary to agreed policies. They suggested that future training sessions for Members should focus of the existing policies relating to Holiday Homes, Pub Closures and the retention of Employment Sites. It was agreed that if a new policy on training were introduced, the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee should review the situation after 6 months to see whether the additional training had had any impact on the number of decisions made contrary to policy. |
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RECOMMENDED TO STRATEGY COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL
That Members of the Development Committee should be required to undertake a minimum of 4 half-day training sessions per year (such training to be open to non-Members of the Development Committee).
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Paper E176
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8 |
RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM TASK GROUPS/PANELS
Signature of Small Business Friendly Concordat.
Report by the Procurement Task Group attached. |
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Paper E177
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9 |
REPORTS FROM MEMBERS
To consider reports from Mr R E Kemp and Mr P Jones attached. |
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Paper E178 |
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WORK PLAN
Report by the Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services attached.
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Paper E188
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11 |
APPOINTMENT OF CONSULTANTS FOR REFUSE COLLECTION PROCUREMENT
Report by the Head of Environmental Services attached. |
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Paper E180 |
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CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2005/06
Report by the Head of Technical Services attached.
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Paper E181 |
13 |
CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2005/06 – NON COMMITTED SCHEMES
Report by the Head of Technical Services attached.
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Paper E182
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14 |
SUFFOLK PROVISIONAL LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN 2006/2011
Report by the Head of Technical Services attached. |
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Paper E183
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15 |
IEG 5 STATEMENT
Report by the Head of Organisational Development attached. |
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Paper E184
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16 |
CAST – FUNDING FOR PROJECT OFFICE
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Paper E185 |
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EFFICIENCY POSITION
Joint report by Geoff Kistner, Corporate Director and the Head of Finance and Performance Review attached.
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Paper E186 |
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BUSINESS PROCESS RE-ENGINEERING: CONSULTANCY
Report by Geoff Kistner, Corporate Director attached.
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Paper E187
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19 |
STATE OF DISTRICT DEBATE: AREAS FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION
Report by Geoff Kistner, Corporate Director attached.
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Paper E189
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20 |
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE ACT 1988 – REVIEW OF RATE RELIEF POLICIES
Report by the Head of Revenues attached.
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21 |
EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC (WHICH TERM INCLUDES THE PRESS)
To consider whether, pursuant to Section 100A(4) 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 these items, it is likely that there would be the disclosure to them of exempt information as indicated against each item. |
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PART II
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Paper E190
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22 |
APPLICATION FOR DISCRETIONARY RATE RELIEF (Exempt information by virtue of paragraph 7 of Part I)
Report by the Head of Revenues attached.
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Paper E194
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23 |
APPLICATION FOR DISCRETIONARY RATE RELIEF (Exempt information by virtue of paragraph 7 of Part I)
Report by the Head of Revenues attached.
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Paper E191
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24 |
SOUTH SUFFOLK LEISURE ((Exempt information by virtue of paragraphs 8 and 9 of Part I)
Report by the Procurement Task Group attached.
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Paper E192 |
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CREATION OF SOUTH SUFFOLK LEISURE AND CONTRACT FOR MANAGEMENT OF HADLEIGH SWIMMING POOL AND KINGFISHER LEISURE CENTRE, SUDBURY (Exempt information by virtue of paragraphs 8 and 9 of Part I)
Report by the Head of Leisure and Community Services attached. |
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Paper E193
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26 |
PARTNERING ARRANGEMENTS FOR PROGRAMMED WINDOW AND EXTERNAL DOOR RENEWALS (Exempt information by virtue of paragraphs 8 and 9 of Part I)
Report by the Head of Technical Services attached. |