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 16 SEPTEMBER 2010
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PRESENT: Mr N A Ridley – Chairman
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Mrs J Antill
Mr M P Booth
Mrs S Carpendale
Mr A J Hinton |
Ms J A Jenkins
Mr B L Lazenby
Mr R W Thake
Mrs S M Wigglesworth |
The following Members were unable to be present:-
Mr N A Bennett, Dr M R Miller and Mr R E Kemp.
It was noted that, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No.5, substitutes were in attendance as follows:-
Mr B L Lazenby (substituting for Mr N A Bennett)
Mr R W Thake (substituting for Dr M R Miller)
Mr A J Hinton declared a personal interest in Paper K94 (Minute No 54) as a member of a Parish Council which had submitted representations on the LEP Consultation, but indicated that he was able to speak and vote on the matter.
Mrs J Antill subsequently declared a personal interest in Paper K88 (Minute No 49) in her capacity as a Trustee of Sudbury CAB, but indicated that her interest was such that she was able to speak and vote on the matter.
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 July 2010 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
None received.
None received.
None received.
Report of the Joint Member Integration and Merger Review Board meeting held on 7 September 2010 – Detailed Business Case
Mr N A Ridley, one of the Babergh Representatives on the Review Board, introduced Paper K88 asking Members to consider the detailed Business Case attached to the report and the Board’s recommendations as set out in Paragraph 2 of Paper K88.
Officers responded to Members’ questions during the course of the ensuing discussion particularly in relation to various financial aspects and in this connection the Director of Finance was asked to provide clarification on the effects of capitalisation when the Committee’s recommendations are considered by the Council. Reference was also made to the process which would be required for the creation of a new single Council, the timing of the local Referendum which would be required if the Council were minded to proceed, and the relationship of the timetable to forthcoming local elections.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
(1) That the principle of the creation of a new single Council be endorsed as the preferred way forward and communicated to stakeholders
(2) That further detailed work be undertaken on the transitional arrangements, including the necessary preparatory work for a public referendum in May 2011
(3) That the process of integrating the staff of both Councils into a single management and staffing structure be continued as assumed in the Business Case in this transitional period
(4) That a further report and recommendations be submitted to both Councils as soon as practicable, seeking endorsement of the proposed detailed approach and timetable for moving towards a single Council from April/May 2012
(5) That the report referred to in (4) above include the recommended process and timing for instigating the recruitment of a single Chief Executive and, if necessary, appropriate interim arrangements to provide adequate leadership to the process of staff integration prior to the start date of the Chief Executive’s appointment
(6) That the two staff related documents “Consultation Framework for Matters Affecting Staff, August 2010”, and the “Vacancy and Post Management Protocol for Integration, August 2010” (attached to the Detailed Business Case as Appendix 11) be endorsed to support the necessary changes
(7) That the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government be informed of the decision of the two Councils with a view to seeking suspension of the May 2011 District elections in Babergh and Mid Suffolk, on the grounds that both Councils, subject to a local referendum, are committed in principle to the creation of a new single Council from April 2012.
The Head of Contract and Asset Management submitted a report (Paper K89) asking Members to endorse the final policies included within the Shoreline Management Plan, details of which were summarised in Appendix A to Paper K89.
RESOLVED
That the Policies within the Essex and Suffolk Shoreline Management Plan, as outlined in Paper K89, be endorsed.
The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper K90) on items identified for the Strategy Committee.
RESOLVED
That the Work Plan set out in Paper K90 be noted.
The Director of Finance presented Paper K91 asking Members to approve a response to the Government’s Consultation on Formula Grant arrangements in relation to concessionary fares and proposals for Council Tax Referendum and ‘veto.’
Members noted that the Council’s response as set out in Appendix B to Paper K91 had now been jointly agreed with Mid Suffolk District Council. Members strongly supported the comments made in Appendices A and B of Paper K91 in relation to the consultation.
RESOLVED
(1) That the response on Formula Grant arrangements in relation to concessionary fares transferring to upper-tier authorities from April 2011 as set out in Appendix A to Paper K91 be approved.
(2) That the response on Council Tax referendum and ‘veto’ proposals as set out in Appendix B to paper K91 be approved.
(3) That the Director of Finance be authorised to make any minor or consequential amendments to these in relation to any joint response with Mid Suffolk and other Councils.
At this point in the meeting Members adjourned for lunch at 1.00 p.m. and resumed at 1.40 p.m. when the following Members were present.
Mr N A Ridley – Chairman
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Mrs J Antill
Mr M P Booth
Mrs S Carpendale
Mr A J Hinton |
Ms J A Jenkins
Mr B L Lazenby
Mr R W Thake
Mrs S M Wigglesworth |
The Director of Finance presented Paper K93 asking the Committee to recommend the Council to establish a Shared Revenues Partnership (SRP) with Mid Suffolk District Council and Ipswich Borough Council from April 2011.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
That Council:
(1) Approves the business case for the Shared Revenues Partnership (SRP) presented in Paper K93.
(2) Approves the Implementation Plan for the SRP as set out in Paper K93.
(3) Approves the financial implications as set out in section 3 of Paper K93.
(4) Agrees to the establishment of the Shared Revenues Partnership (SRP) between Ipswich Borough Council, Babergh District Council and Mid Suffolk District Council.
(5) Approves entering into a Partnership Agreement between Ipswich Borough Council, Babergh District Council and Mid Suffolk District Council to commence the SRP from 1 April 2011.
(6) Authorises the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Solicitor to the Council, to conclude the Partnership Agreement in accordance with the Heads of Terms set out in Appendix 3 of Paper K93.
(7) Authorises the establishment of and participation in the SRP Joint Committee and in respect of the Council functions, as referred to in the Heads of Terms set out in Appendix 3 of Paper K93, delegates its functions to the Joint Committee with effect from the execution of the Partnership Agreement.
(8) Authorises the Monitoring Officer to make consequential amendments to the Council’s Constitution.
(9) Agrees to the appointment of two Strategy Members to the SRP Joint Committee.
(10) Notes that the above decisions are subject to similar resolutions being approved by the other partner authorities involved in the Partnership.
The Deputy Chief Executive presented Paper K94 seeking approval for a Babergh response in support of the creation of an East Anglian LEP.
RESOLVED
That Babergh District Council responds to the Government’s consultation on Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) by supporting the proposal for the creation of an East Anglian LEP as set out in Appendix 2 and Appendix 3 of Paper K94.
The Head of Natural and Built Environment presented Paper K95 relating to the outcome of the Building Control Partnership Final Business Case and the recommendation of the Partnership Joint Management Board.
RESOLVED
(1) That the recommendation of the Partnership Board regarding Option 3 as outlined in paragraph 6.10 of Paper K95 be approved and that the Head of Natural and Built Environment in consultation with the Solicitor to the Council be authorised to develop and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with other Building Control partners within Suffolk.
(2) That the current Building Control Service establishment be retained on a ‘self financing’ basis subject to review within the next 12 months by the Head of Natural and Built Environment.
The Head of Natural and Built Environment presented Paper K96 setting out the new Scheme for the recovery of Building Regulation Charges for adoption.
RESOLVED
(1) That the Local Authority Building Control model – proposed Scheme and charges as outlined in Appendix 1 be adopted. Further that the new charges come into force on 1 October 2010.
(2) That the Head of Natural and Built Environment be authorised to
(a) negotiate a fee charge in relation to larger projects not covered by the standard charges in Tables A, B and C of the charges Scheme and
(b) revise the fees and charges structure to reflect changes in operational costs as appropriate and in accordance with the Council’s Scheme of delegation
(3) That the Building Control Manager be authorised to operate and obtain further associated services within the Building Control service subject to ensuring that the costs of providing these services are fully recovered.
RESOLVED
That pursuant to Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the business specified below on the grounds that if the public were present during these items there would be the disclosure to them of exempt information as indicated against the items. The Committee was satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.
The Minute relating to the above mentioned item is excluded from the public record. A summary of the Minute made by the Proper Officer in accordance with sub-section 2 of Section 100(c) of the Local Government Act 1972 is set out below.
The Head of Community Development presented Paper K97 seeking approval to extend an existing contract instead of re-tendering. Members were aware that the proposed extension would give an opportunity for the Council to undertake a joint review with Suffolk County Council on future arrangements for VSH services as part of the County Council’s Strategic Review of these services across the whole of Suffolk. Members agreed to approve the extension of the contract for the period to 31 August 2011.
The Director of Corporate Services presented Paper K98 to enable Members to consider an application for Voluntary Redundancy. The application had been held over pending a review of the Caretaking and Cleaning function, which has now been completed.
RESOLVED
(1) That the application for Voluntary Redundancy from the holder of the post referred to in Paper K98 be approved with a compensatory payment in accordance with the Council’s policy for Early Voluntary Retirement and Voluntary Redundancy to be effective as soon as possible.
(2) That the effective date referred to (1) above be as determined by the Head of Contract and Asset Management in consultation with the Human Resources and Organisational Development Manager.
The Minute relating to the above mentioned item is excluded from the public record. A summary of the Minute made by the Proper Officer in accordance with sub-section 2 of Section 100(c) of the Local Government Act 1972 is set out below.
Members had before them Paper K92 (including Appendices 1-3) – the report submitted by the Legal/HR Workstream to the meeting of the Babergh and Mid Suffolk Joint Member Integration and Merger Review Board held on 7 September 2010. Members were aware that the Board had accepted the Workstream recommendations and that the Strategy Committee was being asked to endorse those recommendations for consideration at the Babergh Council meeting on 28 September.
After a lengthy discussion, the Committee did not accept the recommendations as set out in paragraphs 2.1 and 2.2 of Paper K92, but made alternative recommendations to Council. Recommendation 2.3 of Paper K92 (the selection criteria to be applied through the recruitment process) was accepted.
Note: The meeting adjourned between 12.15 a.m. and 12.35 a.m. for refreshments.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 4 p.m.
Chairman
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