15 November 2007 - Agenda

To All Members of the Strategy Committee

Mrs J Antill
Mr N A Bennett
Mr M P Booth
Mrs S Carpendale
Mr R E Kemp

Dr M R Miller
Mr N A Ridley
Mr C M Spence
Mr H N Todd
Mrs S M Wigglesworth            

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 27 September 2007 as a correct record.

4

PETITIONS

The Head of Corporate Services to report, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 13, the receipt of the following petition submitted to the Chief Executive:

Stanstead Bus Service

Petition signed by approximately 140 residents of the District relating to the retention of a bus route via the village of Stanstead.  The Head of Contract and Asset Management has dealt with the petition under his delegated powers. 

In accordance with Procedure rules, the Chief Executive will report receipt of the petition to the Council meeting on 18 December 2007.

5

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS

The Chairman 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 the Committee of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No.15.4 (a) and (b).

6

ISSUES ARISING FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEES

None received.

Paper G112

7

RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES

(a)        Discretionary Rate Relief – Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Minute No.37

The Head of Customer Services presented a report (Paper G112), recommending the adoption of a revised Discretionary Rate Relief Policy to take effect from 1 April 2008.

He drew attention to an omission on page 5 of Appendix A.  Members noted that the following should be added to the list of additional or supplementary criteria to be taken into account for facilities in a rural settlement:-

            “The rateable value of the premises is £10,000 or less.”

Members noted that the proposals placed a new emphasis on applicants identifying how they proactively supported the Council’s priorities.  They were aware that adoption of the proposed Rate Relief Policy would mean a reduction of around £83,000 in discretionary relief, with a corresponding reduction in cost of £62,000 for the Government, and £21,000 for the Council.  Details of the range of premises affected were shown in paragraph 5.6 of Paper G112.

RECOMMENDED TO STRATEGY COMMITTEE

That the Rate Relief Policy attached as Appendix A to Paper G112 be adopted and come into effect from 1 April 2008, subject to the addition of the following to the list of additional or supplementary criteria to be taken into account for facilities in a rural settlement:

            “The rateable value of the premises is £10,000 or less.”

Paper G126 and Paper G132

(b)               Post Office Network Change Programme – Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Minute No.45 

Ms Sheila McCann made a presentation to the Committee.  A copy of the presentation was circulated to Members and subsequently numbered Paper G126.  She outlined the background to the five year plan for changes to the Post Office network which had been drawn up in response to a Government decision that nationally there should be 2,500 compulsory compensated closures, with 500 Outreach Services.

It was noted that within Babergh the following Post Offices were scheduled for closure:

Acton
Ballingdon
Burstall
Copdock and Washbrook

In addition it was proposed that the Assington Post Office should operate as an Outreach Service.

Mr M Hammond, Corporate Director, had written to the affected parishes, and invited them to send representatives to observe the Committee’s discussions.  Four representatives of town and parish councils were present as observers.

The following were among the points noted:

• The current local public consultation was about the implementation of the closures programme, rather than about the closures themselves.  The closing date for comments was 19 November 2007.  It was envisaged that the first closures would take effect from January 2008, and that the entire programme would be completed within 18 months.
• Ms McCann described four models of Outreach Service; partner, mobile, home and hosted.
• Babergh District Council had previously written to Post Office Ltd expressing deep concerns about the minimal and limited nature of involvement in the process.

There followed a session during which Members were able to ask questions and make comments on what they had heard.

The meeting was adjourned at 10.33am to give representatives of Parish Councils affected by the proposals an opportunity to ask questions.  It was noted that there had been no formal consultation with Town and Parish Councils.  The meeting re-convened at 10.53am and Mr M Hammond, Corporate Director, summed up the views of Members as expressed at the meeting as follows:

• Concern about the limited role of Babergh in the consultation process.
• Concern about the impact of Post Office closures in Babergh on the elderly and vulnerable.
• Concern about the lack of consultation with Town Councils and Parish Councils.
• Members wished to encourage Post Office Limited to engage fully with local communities and parish councils to develop Outreach Services.

RESOLVED

That Mike Hammond, in consultation with the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee, prepare for consideration by the Strategy Committee a response to Post Office Limited reflecting the views expressed by Members.

Following the decision referred to above a copy of the proposed response is attached as Paper G132 and Strategy Committee are RECOMMENDED to approve the response.

Paper G133

8

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM TASK GROUPS AND PANELS

(a)        Alcohol and Drugs Policy

            Report by the HR Panel attached.

Paper G134

(b)        A Strategic Framework for Procurement – Issues Paper

             Report by the Procurement Task Group attached.

Paper G135

9

WORK PLAN

Report by the Head of Corporate Services attached.

 
Paper G136

10

USE OF RESOURCES – RECOVERY OF ARREARS

 Report by the Head of Customer Services attached.

Paper G137

11

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RATING ACT 1997 – RATE RELIEF – RURAL SETTLEMENTS

The Head of Customer Services to report that the Council is required to conduct an annual review  of the rural settlement list it uses for the purposes of awarding mandatory and discretionary rate relief, under sections 42A(1), 43 and 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, to confirm that the list remains appropriate for the coming financial year.

The criteria for inclusion on the list is effectively self regulating, as it requires a population of less than 3,000 and specific designation as a “rural area” (Housing – Right to Acquire etc. Order 1997) to potentially qualify as a “rural settlement”.  The Council can, however, sub-divide and amalgamate rural areas, when determining “rural settlements”. 

Sudbury and Pinewood are not designated as rural areas and cannot be included in our rural settlement list.

Glemsford, Great Cornard, Hadleigh and Long Melford are rural areas but have populations over 3,000.  There is no obvious logic for breaking these areas down into smaller units, so these parishes also cannot be included.  The existing rural settlement list is therefore derived from the remaining 70 parishes in the district.

The rural settlements defined in that list still have populations of less than 3,000 and the topography of those areas remains unchanged.  There is no prospect of this situation changing prior to 31 March 2008.

It is therefore recommended that the existing rural settlement list as shown in Paper G137 remain in force for the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009.

Paper G138

12

CONCESSIONARY TRAVEL SCHEME AND NEW NATIONAL TRAVEL SCHEME 2008

Report by Helen Style, Corporate Director attached.

Paper G139

13

SUFFOLK WASTE PARTNERSHIP AND FUTURE WASTE TARGETS

Report by the Head of Natural and Built Environment attached.

Paper G140

14

CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISALS

(a)         Little Waldingfield

             Report by the Head of Natural and Built Environment attached.

Paper G141

(b)        Bures St Mary

             Report by the Head of Natural and Built Environment attached.

Paper G142

(c)       Pin Mill

            Report by the Head of Natural and Built Environment attached.

Paper G143

15

OFF-STREET PARKING PLACES ORDER 2007

Report by the Head of Contract and Asset Management attached.

Paper G144

16

2007/08 CAPITAL PROGRAMME – NON COMMITTED SCHEMES

Report by the Head of Contract and Asset Management attached.

17

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC (WHICH TERM INCLUDES THE PRESS)

To consider whether, pursuant to Part I 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 these items it is likely that there would be the disclosure to them of exempt information as indicated against each item.

The authors of the reports proposed to be considered in Part II of the Agenda are satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

PART II

Paper G145

18

SUFFOLK PATHFINDER (Exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part I)

Report by the Head of Contract and Asset Management attached.

Paper G120

19

CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV) IN BABERGH - Overview and Scrutiny (COMMUNITY SERVICES) COMMITTEE Minute No.50 (Exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part I)

The Head of Community Development submitted a Report (Paper G120) detailing the results of a feasibility study into alternative arrangements for the monitoring and recording of CCTV footage in Babergh. 

RECOMMENDED TO STRATEGY COMMITTEE

That Option 1 as set out in Paragraph 7 of Paper G120 be adopted.

Paper G146

20

DISPOSAL OF LAND (Exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part I)

Report by the Head of Contract and Asset Management attached.

A buffet lunch will be provided for Members in Committee Room 1