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BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL
STRATEGY COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE STRATEGY COMMITTEE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, COUNCIL OFFICES, CORKS LANE, HADLEIGH ON THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2009
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PRESENT: Mr N A Ridley – Chairman
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Mr N A Bennett
Mr M P Booth
Mrs S Carpendale
Mr A J Hinton
Ms J A Jenkins |
Mr R E Kemp
Dr M R Miller
Mr C M Spence
Mrs S M Wigglesworth |
Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Chairman referred to Item 18 of the Agenda and informed Members that the confidential report, Paper H200, had been withdrawn from consideration. Members noted that the issues it addressed will be dealt with through the Council’s normal tendering procedures.
Mr J A B Long Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee attended the meeting in order to present the Committee’s recommendations referred to in Minute No.120 below.
At the invitation of the Chairman, Mrs S P Clarke commented on items relating to the Budget (Minute No.123).
The following Members declared personal interests in the item referred to in Minute No.123 – Budget 2009/10 – in the capacity indicated but stated their interest was such that they were able to speak and vote on the item in question:-
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Colin Spence |
Member of Suffolk County Council |
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Richard Kemp |
Member of Suffolk County Council and Long Melford and Alpheton Parish Councils |
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Sue Carpendale |
Employee of University Campus Suffolk |
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Nigel Bennett |
Member of Sudbury Town Council |
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John Hinton |
Parish Councillor |
The following Members declared personal interests in the item referred to in Minute No.124 – Consultation on Waste Core Strategy Issues – in the capacity indicated but stated that their interest was such that they were able to speak and vote on the matter in question.
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Colin Spence |
Member of Suffolk County Council |
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Richard Kemp |
Member of Suffolk County Council and SCC Development Committee |
The following Members declared personal interests in the item referred to in Minute No.127 – Belle Vue Sudbury – in the capacity indicated but stated that their interest was such that they were able to speak and vote on the matter in question.
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Richard Kemp |
Suffolk County Council representative on the Trustees of the Sudbury CAB |
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Nigel Bennett |
Member of Sudbury Town Council |
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2009 be confirmed and signed as a correct record subject to a minor correction to Minute No. 100 - “Campus” to replace “College”.
The Director of Corporate Services reported that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 13, a petition had been submitted to the Chief Executive relating to:-
North Street Car Park, Sudbury
Petition signed by approximately 1,000 residents of the District in support of Siam Surgery staff being allowed to use North Street Car Park, Sudbury for excess of the 3 hour limit during surgery opening hours. It was noted that in accordance with the Procedure Rules, the Chief Executive will report receipt of the petition to the Council meeting on 24 February 2009.
Members considered that the issues raised by the petition should be the subject of consideration by the relevant Committees. It was therefore agreed that reports would be made as follows:-
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To the next meeting of the Strategy Committee - on the car parking issues raised by the petitioners.
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To Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee - on the process by which the Council deals with petitions received from the public and the issue of the public’s awareness of the process.
None received.
None received.
Planning Enforcement Policy (Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee Minute No. 56)
Mr J A B Long Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee presented the Committee’s recommendation for the adoption of a planning enforcement policy. Members were aware that the recommended policy is consistent with the corporate Common Enforcement Policy and the Enforcement Concordat already adopted by the Council.
RESOLVED
That the planning enforcement policy set out in Appendix A to Paper H186 be adopted with immediate effect, subject to the re-numbering of paragraph 8.5 to 8.6 and the inclusion of the following wording as paragraph 8.5:-
“Circumstances may occasionally arise where there are conflicting priorities between the amenity and environmental aspects of a minor breach of planning control. Due regard will be given to the conflicting priorities when making decisions on whether or not it is expedient to take enforcement action.”
(a) Regeneration Scheme – Wattisham Road, Bildeston
Mrs S M Wigglesworth Chairman of the Housing Panel introduced Paper H191 requesting approval (a) to transfer Council owned land at 45 – 51 Wattisham Road, Bildeston to Orwell Housing Association and (b) to authorise the Head of Contract and Asset Management in connection with the transfer.
RESOLVED
That the disposal to Orwell Housing Association of the land shown outlined on Appendix 1 to Paper H191 on terms and conditions to be agreed by the Head of Contract and Asset Management in consultation with the Housing Panel be approved. Further that the level of discount be negotiated to a level that will secure a minimum payment to the Council of £25,200 to pay the full cost of Home Loss and Disturbance payments to existing tenants on the site.
(b) One Year Delivery Plan
Mr N A Ridley, Chairman of the Strategic and Financial Planning Task Group, introduced Paper H193 seeking approval to the contents of the one year delivery plan appended to Paper H193 and the arrangements for its monitoring.
RESOLVED
(1) That the Babergh District Council Delivery Plan 2009/10 appended to Paper H193 be approved.
(2) That the arrangements set out at paragraph 5.10 of Paper H193 for the monitoring and management of the Delivery Plan be approved.
(3) That the Deputy Chief Executive be authorised to make any future amendments to the Plan provided those amendments are in accordance with, and assist in the delivery of, the Council’s 10 Year Strategic Plan. Further that the statements in the last two bullet points on page 9 of the Plan be re-worded to align them with the heading ‘What we want to achieve over the next ten years.’
The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper H192) on items identified for the Strategy Committee meeting on 7 April 2009.
RESOLVED
That the Work Plan set out in Paper H192 be noted.
The Chairman introduced this item with a reference to the effect of the delayed Local Government Review announcement on this and future Budgets, highlighting the key issues relating to Council Tax, the impact of the economic downturn on the Council’s finances, additional funding towards Strategic Plan priorities and Council House rents.
The Director of Finance then presented Paper H194 setting out the position on the Budget for 2009/10, levels of Council Tax and representations made to the Government on Council House rents, following consultation with business ratepayers and scrutiny by the Overview and Scrutiny Committees on 27 January and 3 February 2009. It was noted that the Strategy Committee at its meeting on 15 January 2009 had approved the draft General Fund (Paper H162) and Council Housing (Appendix A of Paper H174) budgets for consultation and scrutiny.
The Director of Finance clarified a number of matters relating to the budget proposals, including the effect of this budget on future budgets, and asked Members to consider making amendments to the final budget proposals in relation to the following:-
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The reinstatement of the items suggested by Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee by reallocating some of the money that had been originally proposed for an LGR reserve, which would be reduced accordingly.
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The figure of £250k for University Campus Suffolk in the 2009/10 uncommitted capital programme being reduced to £187k to reflect the actual request for funding together with the inclusion of a note indicating that this and any funding requests for future years are strictly non-committed at this stage.
Both matters were the subject of considerable debate as a result of which the Committee agreed that they be incorporated in its recommendations to Council.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
(1) That the General Fund Budget attached in Appendix A to Paper H194, including a Council Tax increase of 2.9% for 2009/10 and the revised charges for 2009/10 which are to be implemented with effect from 1 April 2009 be approved subject to amendments to
(a) reduce to £187,000 the uncommitted Capital Programme provision for UCS 2009/10 and
(b) include the following items as set out in paragraph 5.4 of Paper H194:-
£000
Further support to CABs 17.5
Mobile CCTV camera 2.5 (Capital financing cost)
Sanctuary Scheme 6.0
(domestic violence)
Further that the resulting addition to the Budget of £26,000 be financed from a corresponding reduction in the amount transferred to the Local Government Review Reserve.
(2) That the Council Housing budget and Revised Charges for 2009/10 attached in Appendix B to Paper H194be approved. Further that the weekly rents for council dwellings and compulsory let garages be increased on average by 6.7% in accordance with the Government’s rent restructuring requirements with effect from Monday 13 April 2009.
(3) That the prudential indicators for capital finance and treasury management and Minimum Revenue Provision statement set out in Appendix C be approved.
(4) That the Budget Risk Assessment in Appendix D to Paper H194be approved.
(5) That where expenditure is included within the approved budget the Director of Finance be authorised to:-
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Vary the timing of revenue and capital payments between financial years in accordance with Financial Regulations and Procedures and Council resolutions.
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Vary the method of financing capital schemes if he is satisfied that it is in the financial interest of the Council to do so.
Members had before them a draft response (Paper H195) to Suffolk County Council based on the Committee’s decision at its meeting on 15 January 2009. The draft response was prepared by the Head of Natural and Built Environment and confirmed in principle the suitability of the two sites identified in Babergh for inclusion within the Core Strategy document, subject to a series of detailed concerns.
RESOLVED
That Paper H195 be agreed as Babergh District Council’s response to Suffolk County Council subject to:-
(a) Amendments to the wording to reflect the Strategy Committee decision on 15 January 2009 and
(b) Corrections to clarify the comments made under paragraph 1.5 in relation to Layham.
The Head of Natural and Built Environment submitted a report (Paper H196) relating to a proposal to introduce a star rating system for food safety standards based on food premises inspections in Babergh.
RESOLVED
That a Scores on the Doors Scheme be adopted in Babergh based on the details outlined in Paper H196.
At this point the meeting adjourned for refreshment at 1.10 p.m and resumed at 1.45 p.m. when the following Members were present:-
Mr N A Ridley – Chairman
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Mr N A Bennett
Mr M P Booth
Mrs S Carpendale
Mr A J Hinton
Ms J A Jenkins |
Mr R E Kemp
Dr M R Miller
Mr C M Spence
Mrs S M Wigglesworth |
The Head of Contract and Asset Management submitted a report (Paper H197) seeking retrospective approval to implement a scheme (originally approved but now extended) within the Council’s Housing Revenue Account.
RESOLVED
That additional expenditure from the Council’s Housing Revenue Account be approved to carry out the proposed extended scheme at 137 Cordell Place, Long Melford in accordance with paragraph 6.1 of Paper H197.
The Head of Contract and Asset Management submitted a report (Paper H199) seeking Members’ views on the future of the Belle Vue House and adjacent derelict swimming pool site at Sudbury as shown on the plan attached to Paper H199. Members were advised that notification had been received that Belle Vue House will not be listed.
During the course of the discussion on the alternatives set out in paragraph 2.1 (a) and (b) of the report, Members expressed the view that the Council should not enter into an option agreement to dispose of Belle Vue House and the adjacent swimming pool site as this would constrain the opportunity for considering the widest range of options in the best interests of Sudbury. Nonetheless, the Committee felt that it was not necessarily appropriate to wholly defer consideration of this issue until the delayed outcome of local government review was known, but acknowledged that consideration at any stage would need to have regard to any relevant issues related to West Suffolk College and the Citizens Advice Bureau. Members were aware that Target E16 of the adopted 2009/10 Delivery Plan provided the scope to consider possible future options for the site if appropriate during 2009/10.
RESOLVED
(1) That the Council does not enter into an option agreement to dispose of Belle Vue House and the adjacent derelict swimming pool site.
(2) That it be noted that the One Year Delivery Plan target, E16, provides the scope for developing options for the Belle Vue site if appropriate during 2009/10.
RESOLVED
That pursuant to Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the items 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 Committee was satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.
The Solicitor to the Council introduced Paper H198A providing Members with legal advice on matters arising from Paper H198 and updating them on other legal issues relevant to the delivery of the Hadleigh Community Facility as referred to in Paper H165A (considered by Strategy Committee at its meeting on 15 January 2009). Members were aware that the advice given by the Solicitor in Paper H198A was to be taken into account before their consideration of the substantive report, Paper H198.
RESOLVED
That the legal advice given by the Solicitor to the Council as set out in Paper H198A and updated by her be taken into account in considering Paper H198.
At this point in the meeting the public and press were re-admitted.
The Project and Programme Executive introduced Paper H198 asking Members to agree the way forward on this project taking into account objections to the proposed disposal of public open space and the legal issues that remain outstanding and were subject of the advice given in Paper H198A.
The Committee first considered the objections to the proposal to dispose of the land (as shown on the plan attached to Paper H198) which were received following the statutory advertisement of the proposed disposal. In doing so they took into account the matters referred to in paragraphs 5.4 to 5.7 of the report including the summary of the letters of objection in paragraph 5.6 and the officer response to the objections as set out in paragraph 5.7. Having considered the objections Members concurred fully with the officer response, and did not accept that the proposal had been ‘rushed.’ In the light of its consideration, the Committee agreed that the actions and timetable detailed in paragraphs 5.9 and 5.10 of the report should be implemented.
Members then discussed options for improving public understanding of the Council’s position including the development of a Communications and PR Strategy to support the delivery of this facility, which has been identified as the Council’s highest priority in its Capital Programme.
RESOLVED
(1) That, having considered and taken into account
(a) the advice given by the Solicitor to the Council (Minute No.129 above refers)
(b) the objections received (as summarised in paragraph 5.6 of Paper H198) and
(c) the comments in paragraph 5.7 of Paper H198 in response to those objections to the proposed disposal of the open space land,
the relevant officers be authorised to implement the actions and timetable detailed in paragraphs 5.9 and 5.10 of Paper H198.
(2) That the Chief Executive in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee be authorised to develop a Communications/PR Strategy (for endorsement if necessary by the Council).
Note: The meeting adjourned between 10.50 am and 11.15 am for refreshments.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 4.10 pm.
Chairman
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