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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, 16 AUGUST 2007
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36 Substitutes
37 Declaration Of Interestes
38 Minutes
39 To Receive Notification Of Petitions In Accordance With Council Procedure Rule No.13
40 Questions From Members
41 Issues Arising From Overview And Scrutiny Committees
42 Play Policy For Babergh
43 Recommendations And Reports From Committees
44 Work Plan
45 Hadleigh Swimming Pool
46 Delivery Of Building Control Services In Partnership
47 2007/08 Capital Programme - Non-Committed Schemes
48 Exclusion Of The Public (Which Term Includes The Press)
49 Open Spaces Contract (Exempt Information By Virtue Of Paragraph 3 of Part I)
PRESENT: Mr N A Ridley – Chairman
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Mrs J Antill
Mr N A Bennett
Mrs S Carpendale
Mr P Jones
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Dr M R Miller
Mr C M Spence
Mr H N Todd
Mrs S M Wigglesworth |
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Mr M P Booth and Mr R E Kemp were unable to be present.
Mr A J Hinton attended the meeting in order to present the recommendations of the Development Committee referred to in Minute No. 43(b) below.
Mr R W Thake attended the meeting in order to present the Babergh Play Policy referred to in Minute No. 42 below.
36 SUBSTITUTES
It was noted that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 5 a substitute was in attendance as follows:-
Mr P Jones (substituting for Mr R E Kemp)
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37 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
None declared.
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38 MINUTES
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 June 2007 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
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39 TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULE NO. 13
The Head of Corporate Services reported, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 13, that a petition had been submitted to the Chief Executive objecting to proposed affordable housing development on Babergh-owned land to rear of Downlands and Winding Road, Elmsett.
The petition has been signed by approximately 45 residents and will be taken into account in conjunction with the appropriate report on the Council’s Affordable Housing Programme, which will be considered by the Strategy Committee on 27 September 2007.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rules, the Chief Executive reported receipt of the petition to the Council Meeting on 31 July 2007.
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40 QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS
None received.
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41 ISSUES ARISING FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEES
None received.
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42 PLAY POLICY FOR BABERGH
Members had before them a report by the Project and Programme Executive (Paper G72) which was presented by Mr R W Thake, Member Champion for Children and Young People. Denise Causier from Suffolk County Council Play Unit was present at the meeting and answered questions from Members. Mr Thake referred to some minor amendments to the Play Policy document appended to Paper G72 and to the role of the Policy in securing funding. During the course of the discussion on this item it was suggested that the reference at paragraph 2.3 of the report to ‘three play projects’ needed to be clarified. Members noted that any appropriate feedback could be linked to the Youth Conference in September.
RESOLVED
(1) That the Babergh Play Policy attached as Appendix (a) to Paper G72 be adopted.
(2) That the Suffolk Play Strategy attached as Appendix (b) to Paper G72 be endorsed.
(3) That an application be submitted to the Big Lottery for funding for three play projects detailed at paragraph 5.5 – (a), (b) and (c) of Paper G72.
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43 RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES
(a) Managing Capital and Revenue Budgets (Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee Minute No. 19)
Helen Style, Corporate Director, presented the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee. Members were aware of the issues set out in paragraph 5.5 of Paper G47 and accepted the approach recommended by the Committee.
RESOLVED
That the suggested approach and framework for improving the management of capital and revenue budgets as set out in paragraph 5.7 of Paper G47 be approved, subject to the following amendment:-
The last sentence of paragraph 5.7(a) to be amended to read “Clear strategies for dealing with variances before the year end.”
(b) The Planning White Paper Proposed Response by Babergh District Council (Development Committee Minute No. 22)
Mr A J Hinton, Chairman of the Development Committee, presented the recommendations of that Committee, and explained its response in relation to the ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects’ (paragraph 5.4). Members were aware that this paragraph has particular relevance to the Haven Gateway experience of the need for infrastructure to be in place when major development takes place.
A motion in relation to sustainability criteria for affordable housing was withdrawn on the basis that this issue could be addressed at a forthcoming Members Seminar. Members noted that a Green Paper on sustainability was due shortly, and were aware of the needs criteria for affordable housing.
RESOLVED
(1) That the scope of potential changes to the Planning system proposed under the Government’s current Planning White Paper: “Planning for a Sustainable Future” be noted.
(2) That the proposed response outlined in Paper G44 be approved subject to the following amendments:-
Paragraph 5.4 of Paper G44 and in the second bullet point, Members agreed that insufficient detail was produced on how requirements for adequate public consultation would be ensured and subsequently adhered to for nationally significant infrastructure projects.
Paragraph 5.4 of Paper G44 – in the third line of the proposed response replace the word “unlikelihood” with the word “likelihood”.
Paragraph 5.4 of Paper G44 – in the fourth line of the proposed response delete the words “are unlikely to” and replace with the words “could still”.
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44 WORK PLAN
The Head of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper G70) on the items identified for future meetings of the Strategy Committee.
RESOLVED
That the Work Plan set out in Paper G70 be noted.
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45 HADLEIGH SWIMMING POOL
Mike Hammond, Corporate Director, presented a joint report by the Project and Programme Executive, the Head of Contract and Asset Management and the Head of Finance (Paper G73) advising Members of the findings of the Stage 2 report undertaken by SMC Charter Architects in respect of two options for a new Hadleigh Swimming Pool.
Members were aware that the outline business case attached to Paper G73 raised serious concerns as to the affordability of a new pool and the significant upwards impact this would have on Council Tax levels. They considered the potential ways forward as set out in paragraph 5.5 of Paper G73 and took into account the views of the Hadleigh Swimming Pool Steering Group contained in paragraph 5.6 of the report. Members agreed with the Steering Group’s conclusion in paragraph 5.6 (1), that a new Pool at a cost of £5.5 - £7.2M is unaffordable. They also accepted the variation of Options 2 and 3 in paragraph 5.5 which were put forward by the Steering Group, as set out in paragraph 5.6 (2), together with the Group’s request for its Terms of Reference to be extended in relation to the studies proposed under Stages 1 and 2.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
That the Council does not proceed with the construction of a new 25 metre x 6-lane swimming pool in Hadleigh.
RESOLVED
(1) That the proposals of the Hadleigh Swimming Pool Steering Group (as set out in para 5.6 (2) of Paper G73) that Babergh pursues a variation of Options 2 and 3, described in paragraph 5.5 of Paper G73, be accepted.
(2) That the Head of Contract and Asset Management in consultation with the Chairman of Strategy Committee be authorised to engage an independent expert conversant with the construction of swimming pools to conduct a structural assessment of Hadleigh Pool.
(3) That £45,000 be added to the capital programme in relation to the additional feasibility work and that this be funded from the Earmarked Capital Reserve of £775,000. [Policy and Budget Framework 2007/08, page 36, line 29 refers].
(4) That the terms of reference of the Hadleigh Swimming Pool Steering Group, approved by the Strategy Committee on 29 June 2006, be extended to enable the Steering Group to consider the studies detailed in Stage 1 and Stage 2 (paragraph 5.6 (2) of Paper G73) and to make comments to the Strategy Committee and Council, as appropriate.
(5) That the Council be asked to note the decisions of the Strategy Committee as set out above. [i.e. when considering the Committee’s recommendations that Babergh does not proceed with the construction of a new pool.]
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46 DELIVERY OF BUILDING CONTROL SERVICES IN PARTNERSHIP
Mike Hammond, Corporate Director, presented a report (Paper G74) seeking approval for the Council to enter into a partnership with Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk Coastal District Council for the delivery of Building Control Services. Amendments to the recommendations in paragraph 2 of the report were circulated at the meeting, relating to the appointment of a Member to serve on the joint Building Control Partnership Board and an additional wording to ensure that the Solicitor to the Council can take all necessary actions appertaining to the Council entering into such an agreement.
RESOLVED
(1) That the entering into partnership with Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk Coastal District Council to appoint a joint manager for the delivery of Building Control Services be approved and that Council be asked to nominate a Member to serve on the Joint Building Control Partnership Board.
(2) That further investigation of partnership working in Building Control towards a more fully integrated service operating across the three authorities be supported.
(3) That the Solicitor to the Council in consultation with the Head of Natural and Built Environment be authorised to take all necessary actions appertaining to entering into a Partnering Agreement with Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk Coastal District Council for the delivery of Building Control Services within the District.
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47 2007/08 CAPITAL PROGRAMME – NON-COMMITTED SCHEMES
The Head of Contract and Asset Management presented a report (Paper G75) seeking approval to implement schemes within the Council’s Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme which are ready to proceed.
RESOLVED
(1) That expenditure from the Council’s Housing Revenue Account be approved to carry out the proposed schemes detailed in paragraph 3.1 of Paper G75.
(2) That £27,500 each be transferred from the HRA budgets for ‘Paths and Walls’ and ‘Fences and Gates’ to the HRA budget for ‘Badly Neglected Properties’.
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48 EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC (WHICH TERM INCLUDES THE PRESS)
RESOLVED
That pursuant to Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the item 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 outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
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49 OPEN SPACES CONTRACT (Exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part I)
Mr H N Todd, Chairman of the Procurement Task Group introduced the joint report of the Head of Contract and Asset Management and the Head of Finance (Paper G76) together with an addendum (circulated at the meeting) which set out the views of the Procurement Task Group and clarified certain issues.
RESOLVED
That the appointment of English Landscapes Ltd for the delivery of a term contract for open space services be approved.
Note: The meeting adjourned between 11.15 a.m. and 11.40 a.m. for refreshments.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 12.50 p.m.
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Chairman
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