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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, 28 JUNE 2007
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16 Additional Item At Meeting,
17 Substitutes,
18 Declaration Of Interests,
19 Minutes,
20 Petitions,
21 Questions From Members,
22 Issues Arising From Overview And Scrutiny Committees,
23 Recommendations And Reports From Committees,
24 Recommendations And Reports From Task Groups/Panels,
25 Work Plan,
26 Community Strategy From Suffolk 2008-2028,
27 Timetable For Replacing Babergh's Current Local Plan,
28 Haven Gateway Sub-Region Framework For Growth,
29 Best Value Performance Plan 2007-08,
30 Corporate Plan 2008 Onwards And Service And Financial Planning Process,
31 Allocation Of 2006/07 Funds To Corporate Priorities,
32 Hadleigh Swimming Pool Steering Group,
33 Exclusion Of Public (Which Term Includes The Press),
34 Rate Relief Section 47 Application (Exempt information by virtue of paragraph 3 of part 1),
35 Rate Relief Section 49 Application (Exempt information by virtue of paragraph 3 of part 1),
PRESENT: Mr N A Ridley – Chairman
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Mrs J Antill
Mr N A Bennett
Mr M P Booth
Dr M R Miller |
Mr C M Spence
Mr A J Ward
Mrs S M Wigglesworth
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Mrs S Carpendale, Mr R E Kemp and Mr H N Todd were unable to be present.
Mr D M Busby attended the meeting in order to present the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee referred to in Minute No. 23(a) and 23(b) below.
The Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 provides that an item of business may not be considered by a Committee unless it is included on an Agenda. The Act does, however, make provision for an exception to this general rule to be made where by reason of special circumstances the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.
The Chairman advised that a situation had arisen where it has become necessary for the Committee to consider an item not included on the Agenda (Hadleigh Swimming Pool Steering Group) and that he was satisfied that there are good reasons for dealing with this matter at this meeting as a matter of urgency.
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It was noted that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 5, a substitute was in attendance as follows:-
Mr A J Ward (substituting for Mrs S Carpendale)
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Mr N A Bennett declared a personal interest in respect of the item referred to in Minute No. 31 below by virtue of being a Member of Sudbury Town Council but indicated that his interests were such that he was able to speak and vote on the matter.
Mr N A Bennett also declared a personal interest in respect of the item referred to in Minute No. 35 below by virtue of being acquainted with some of the Trustees but indicated that his interests were such that he was able to speak and vote on the matter.
Mr M P Booth declared a personal interest in respect of the item referred to in Minute No. 35 below by virtue of being acquainted with some of the Trustees but indicated that his interests were such that he was able to speak and vote on the matter.
Mr C M Spence declared a personal interest in respect of the item referred to in Minute No. 31 below by virtue of being a Member of Sudbury Town Council and Suffolk County Council but indicated that his interests were such that he was able to speak and vote on the matter.
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RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 31 May 2007 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
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None received.
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None received.
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None received.
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(a) Improving Use of Resources (Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee Minute No. 7)
Mr D M Busby, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee presented the recommendations of that Committee.
RESOLVED
(1) That the outcomes of the 2006 Use of Resources Assessment be noted as set out in Paper G20.
(2) That in relation to the 2007/08 Assessment the Committee note the improvement opportunities and approve the Action Plan relating to these as set out in Appendix A to Paper G20.
(3) That Officers report back to the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee in due course on progress on this and on the outcomes of the 2007 Assessment. In addition, that Officers report to that Committee on actions that would need to be taken to achieve level 4 over the life of the Council.
(b) Significant Business Risks (Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee Minute No. 8 and Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee)
Mr D M Busby, as Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee presented the recommendations of that Committee.
It was noted that the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee had also considered this matter and agreed with the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee.
The Head of Finance provided a PowerPoint presentation to assist with the consideration of this item.
RESOLVED
(1) That the nine Significant Business Risk themes and risk scores as set out in Paper G21 and as summarised in the Appendices to that Paper, be agreed subject to any revision arising from the Members Workshop to be arranged later in 2007.
(2) That the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee monitor the key elements of the Management Action Plans for each risk on a quarterly basis.
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Sub-Regional Choice Based Lettings Scheme: Memorandum Of Understanding
It was noted that this item had been withdrawn from the Agenda.
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The Head of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper G34) on items identified for future meetings of the Strategy Committee.
RESOLVED
That the Work Plan set out in Paper G34 be noted.
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The Chief Executive submitted a report (Paper G35) requesting the Committee to consider a response to a consultation on a draft Community Strategy for Suffolk 2008 – 2028.
The Chief Executive advised that the draft response attached as an appendix to Paper G35 reflected the discussion that had taken place at the Members Seminar on 11 June 2007. Members were satisfied that this was a matter that did not need to be reported on to Council.
During the course of discussion of this item amendments were proposed and seconded and these have been incorporated in the resolution below.
RESOLVED
That the Council’s response on the consultation on a draft Community Strategy for Suffolk 2008 – 2028 as contained in the Appendix to Paper G35 be approved subject to the following amendments:-
Page 3 – first paragraph – addition of second bullet point “Developing land use planning policies that mitigate the adverse impact of climate change.
Page 3 – fifth paragraph – second bullet point – delete the words “sport and leisure activities” and replace with “participation in sport, art and leisure activities”.
Page 4 – seventh paragraph – reword second bullet point to “Healthy lives eg. freedom from abuse; decent housing; participation in sport, art and leisure activities; tackling obesity; tackling smoking, drug and substance misuse; reducing unwanted teenage pregnancies.
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The Head of Natural and Built Environment submitted a report (Paper G38) requesting Members agreement to a new programme for replacing the Council’s current Local Plan through a new Local Development Framework (LDF). This programme will be set out in a formal document known as Babergh’s Local Development Scheme (LDS).
During the course of discussion of this item, a number of amendments to the LDS were proposed and seconded and these are incorporated in the recommendation below.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
(1) That the programme, attached as Appendix 1 to the Local Development Scheme document, for replacing the Council’s current Local Plan with a new Development Framework be approved subject to the following amendments:
(a) That other relevant authorities, including (but not limited to) Suffolk and Essex County Councils and Braintree District Council, be liaised with, on the need for further transport and any other relevant infrastructure research for each part of the district, and this amendment be incorporated into a revised Appendix 5 to the Local Development Scheme document.
(b) That an additional sentence be added to confirm and explain that Babergh District Council considers it has a sufficient 5 year supply of housing land.
(c) That an explanation be added to confirm the relationship between the new LDF and the recently adopted Local Plan.
(2) That authority be given to the Head of Natural and Built Environment to approve changes to the Council’s LDS in the future (although these would still need to be approved by GoEast) subject to such changes not raising significant issues in relation to the Council’s policies or financial interests.
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Mike Hammond, Corporate Director, submitted a report (Paper G39) advising the Committee of the implications for Babergh of the draft Haven Gateway Framework for Growth which is a non statutory sub-regional strategy for the Haven Gateway, which is intended to assist the delivery of housing and employment growth in the area, and to inform decisions on Central Government infrastructure investment necessary to deliver this growth.
The draft report, produced by Haven Gateway Partnership Planning Group was attached as an appendix to Paper G39.
The views of Councillor A J Hinton, Babergh’s representative on the Haven Gateway Partnership were submitted to the meeting.
RESOLVED
(1) That the draft Haven Gateway Framework for Growth document, attached as an appendix to Paper G39 be endorsed by the Committee subject to a note being added advising that brownfield sites should be used for employment uses as well as residential purposes.
(2) That the Corporate Director (Mike Hammond) in consultation with the Chairman of the Strategy Committee, be authorised to make any minor amendments necessary following production of the final draft in August 2007.
The meeting was adjourned for lunch at 1pm and resumed at 1.25 pm when the following Members were present:-
Mr N A Ridley – Chairman
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Mr N A Bennett
Mr M P Booth
Dr M R Miller |
Mr C M Spence
Mr A J Ward
Mrs S M Wigglesworth |
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The Head of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper G36) advising that to ensure the Best Value performance Plan (BVPP) requirements issued under Section 6 of the Local Government Act 1999 are met, it is a statutory requirement for all local authorities to publish a BVPP.
RESOLVED
That the Best Value Performance Plan 2007/08 attached as an appendix to Paper G36 be approved.
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The Head of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper G37) advising that a ten year Corporate Plan for 2008 onwards will be developed during 2007/08 and it is proposed that a Member Working Group is set up to oversee the development of the plan.
Effective and complimentary arrangements for the Service and Financial Planning Process also need to be discussed and agreed by the two Overview and Scrutiny Committees. It was proposed that the Service and Financial Planning Group (SFP) has two Strategy Committee Members to assist in achieving a better integrated approach to developing the Corporate Plan and the Council’s Service and Financial Planning Process.
Resolved
(1) That a Corporate Plan Working Group be set up consisting of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Strategy Committee and, in order to give political representation, one Liberal Democrat and one Independent Member of the Strategy Committee. Further, that Mr N A Bennett be appointed as the Liberal Democrat Representative and Mrs S M Wigglesworth as the Independent Representative.
(2) That one Member from each of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees serving on the SFP Group be invited to join the Corporate Plan Working Group.
(3) That, subject to the Overview and Scrutiny Committees agreement, two of the Strategy Committee Members serving on the Corporate Plan Working Group join the SFP Group. Further, that these Members be the Chairman of the Strategy Committee and Mr N A Bennett.
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The Head of Finance submitted a report Paper G40 requesting the Committee to consider and approve the allocation of funds which are available as a result of lower net expenditure compared to budget in 2006/07, to a number of projects/areas that will help to deliver the Council’s Corporate Priorities.
The projects/areas to be proposed were contained in paragraph 5.2 of Paper G40 and further details for each proposal were outlined in the Appendix to the report.
During consideration of this item an amendment was proposed and seconded that only those items considered to be urgent should be approved, the remainder of which could be considered by the SFP Group.
RESOLVED
That approval be given to the allocation of funds to the following areas and projects in paragraph 5.2 of Paper G40:-
Building Control Partnership Manager
Affordable Housing Officer
Hadleigh Pool (on the proviso that if a substantial amount of expenditure is proposed for any one item on the Pool then a report be submitted to Committee for consideration).
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Following the decision taken by the Strategy Committee meeting on 31 May 2007 to appoint four Members to serve on the Hadleigh Swimming Pool Steering Group, it was considered expedient to appoint reserves to act in respect of the three political groups.
It was noted that the Vice-Chairman of the Committee would act as any reserve for the Chairman of the Committee.
RESOLVED
That, for the current term of office, Babergh’s reserve representatives to serve on the Hadleigh Swimming Pool Steering Group be as follows:-
Liberal Democrat Member – Mr M P Booth
Conservative Member – Mrs J Antill
Independent Member – Mr R E Kemp
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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 these items, it is likely there would be the disclosure to them of exempt information as indicated against each item.
The Committee was satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemptions outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
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The Head of Customer Services submitted a report (Paper G42) advising of an application that has been received requesting Discretionary Rate Relief under Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.
RESOLVED
That the application for rate relief received from the applicant referred to in Paper G42 be refused for the reasons contained in the report.
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The Head of Customer Services submitted a report (Paper G41) outlining a request for Rate Relief under Section 49 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.
RESOLVED
That the application for 100% Discretionary Rate Relief under the ‘Hardship’ provisions contained in Section 49 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 for the applicant referred to in Paper G41 be granted.
Note: The meeting adjourned between 11.10 a.m. and 11.35 a.m. for refreshments.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 2.25 pm.
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Chairman
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