|
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, 8 MARCH 2007
Quick Links
- 99 - Substitutes,
- 100 - Declaration of Interests,
- 101 - Minutes,
- 102 - Petitions,
- 103 - Questions from Members,
- 104 - Issues arising from Overview and Scrutiny Committees,
- 105 - Recommendations and Reports from Committees,
- 106 - Recommendations and Reports from Task Groups/Panels,
- 107 - Work Plan,
- 108 - Treasury Management Strategy 2007/08,
- 109 - Efficiencies Update,
- 110 - Exclusion of the Public (which term includes the Press),
- 111 - Application for Redundancy
PRESENT: Mr N A Ridley – Chairman
|
Mr M P Booth
Mr A J Hinton
Dr M R Miller |
Mr D J Read
Mr H N Todd
Mrs S M Wigglesworth |
Mr N A Bennett, Mr J J Quinlan, Mr C M Spence and Mr L H Young were unable to be present.
Mr B L Lazenby attended the meeting in order to present the recommendation of the Licensing and Appeals Committee referred to in Minute No. 105(a) below.
Mr C J Hunt attended the meeting in order to present the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee referred to in Minute No. 105(b) below.
It was noted that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 5, a substitute was in attendance as follows:-
Mr A J Hinton (substituting for Mr C M Spence).
Back to Top
None declared.
Back to Top
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2007 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
Back to Top
None received.
Back to Top
None received.
Back to Top
None received.
Back to Top
(a) Private Hire Licensing – Stretched Limousines Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (Licensing and Appeals Committee Minute No. 5)
Mr B L Lazenby, Chairman of the Licensing and Appeals Committee presented the recommendations of that Committee.
During the course of discussion of the item concern was expressed at the length of time taken by the Government to publish guidance on the licensing of stretched limousines.
It was noted that some Council’s have taken the view that stretched limousines can be fitted into existing licensing regimes as a separate “special event” class of vehicle. Locally Ipswich and St Edmundsbury have taken this view whilst nationally two thirds of Councils have not done so. If Babergh was to adopt a licensing scheme it is possible that assistance could be sought in setting conditions and testing regimes from Ipswich or St Edmundsbury.
RESOLVED
(1) That the Council await the publication of further detailed national guidance from the Department for Transport for Licensing Authorities on the issues surrounding the licensing of stretched limousines before considering the matter further and that in the meantime the Council’s current policy, that such vehicles be deemed unsuitable for licensing, be continued. Further, that illegal use of any vehicle be dealt with through appropriate enforcement measures.
(2) That the Chief Executive be requested to write to the appropriate Government Department and raise with the Suffolk Local Government Association, the urgent requirement for the issuing of national guidance on the licensing of stretched limousines.
(3) That the appropriate officers be requested to investigate the position on licensing of stretched limousines in other Authorities and submit a report to the Licensing and Appeals Committee.
(b) Brown Bin Garden Waste Collection Service (Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee Minute No. 44)
Mr C J Hunt, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee presented the recommendation of that Committee.
The following Notice of Motion had been submitted to the Council on 19 December 2006:-
That Babergh District Council offers its Brown Bin Garden Waste Collection Service free to persons who are registered disabled on the basis that, because they may not have the physical ability to compost or dispose of their garden waste, they do not have the choice available to non-disabled persons and therefore have no alternative but to pay for a collection service.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
That the Notice of Motion set out above be not accepted, and that the current arrangements for the collection of garden waste remain, with charges being reduced for qualifying individuals in accordance with the Council’s strategic charging policy.
Back to Top
(a) CAST
Mr H N Todd, Chairman of the Cast Programme Board introduced Paper F198 providing a progress update on the Cast Programme of Work. He also referred to Appendix A to Paper F198 that had been circulated prior to the meeting which provided a table setting out the deliverables and milestones within the Cast Programme and the current status of each task or activity.
RESOLVED
(1) That the current position as outlined in Paper F198 and Appendix A to that report be noted.
(2) That the Head of Customer Services be requested to produce a report for consideration by the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees listing topics outside the scope of the Cast Programme where it is felt business process engineering benefits/efficiency gains will result in better performance or improved service.
(b) E-Government Update
Mr D J Read, Chairman of the E-Government Steering Group, introduced Paper F199 providing an update of the progress being made by the E-Government Steering Group.
RESOLVED
That the report be noted.
Back to Top
The Head of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper F200) on items identified for future meetings of the Strategy Committee.
RESOLVED
That the Work Plan set out in Paper F200 be noted.
Back to Top
The Head of Finance submitted a report (Paper F201) requesting approval to the Treasury Management Strategy for the Financial Year 2007/08 and providing an update on activities in 2006/07.
RESOLVED
That the Treasury Management Strategy for 2007/08, including the key elements of the Annual Investment Strategy, as set out in the appendices to Paper F201 be approved.
Back to Top
The Head of Finance submitted a report (Paper F202) advising that the Council has to submit an annual efficiency statement to the Government by the 14 April 2007.
It was noted that the years referred to in the emboldened type in paragraph 5.4 of Paper F202 should be 2007 and not 2006. It was also agreed that amended wording should be provided to Appendix 1 regarding the setting up of the Leisure Trust under the column on “Comments” on the area for Culture and Sport.
RESOLVED
That, subject to the Head of Finance being authorised to make appropriate additions and amendments before submitting the final statement to the Government, the details set out in the Appendix to Paper F202 be included in the Council’s 2007/08 Efficiency Statement.
Back to Top
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 this item, it is likely that there would be the disclosure to them of exempt information as indicated against the item.
The Committee was also satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.
Back to Top
The Head of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper F203) requesting the Committee to consider an application for voluntary redundancy from the holder of Post No. E051 in accordance with the Council’s Policy for Early Voluntary Retirement and Voluntary Redundancy.
The figures referred to in paragraph 3.1 of Paper F203 were updated to reflect the position at 31 March 2007.
RESOLVED
That the application for voluntary redundancy referred to in Paper F203 be approved, with the award of added years in accordance with the Council’s policy for Early Voluntary Retirement and Voluntary Redundancy. Further that the effective date be as soon as possible.
Back to Top
Note:-
The meeting adjourned between 11.00 a.m. and 11.25 a.m. for refreshments.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 12.10 p.m.
Chairman
|