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 FEBRUARY 2007
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89 Declaration of Interests,
90 Minutes,
91 Petitions,
92 Questions from Members,
93 Issues arising from Overview and Scrutiny Committee,
94 Recommendations and Reports from Task Groups/Panels,
95 Work Plan,
96 Budget 2007/08,
97 East of England Plan 2001-2021,
98 Disposal of Land adjacent to East House, Hadleigh,
PRESENT: Mr N A Ridley – Chairman
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Mr N A Bennett
Mr M P Booth
Dr M R Miller
Mr D J Read |
Mr C M Spence
Mr H N Todd
Mrs S M Wigglesworth
Mr L H Young |
Mr J J Quinlan was unable to be present.
Mr P Jones was also present and with the permission of the Chairman spoke in respect of the Item referred to in Minute No. 97 below.
Mr C M Spence declared a personal interest in respect of the item referred to in Minute No. 96 below by virtue of his mother being a tenant in Sheltered Housing Accommodation.
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2007 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
The Head of Corporate Services reported, in accordance with Council Procedural Rule No. 13, that a petition has been submitted to the Chief Executive relating to:
Request to reconsider the decision to demolish the pavilion on Calais Street Playground (Hadleigh) so that it can be used as a youth facility. The petition has been signed by approximately 56 residents and will be dealt with by the Head of Community Development.
In accordance with procedure rules the Chief Executive would report the receipt of the petition to the Council Meeting on 26 February 2007.
None received.
None received.
(a) Corporate Plan
Mr N A Ridley, as Chairman of the Corporate Plan Working Group, presented a report (Paper F180) outlining a draft Corporate Plan for 2007/08 (attached as an appendix to the report).
To assist in the continuity of focused, prioritised service delivery following the May 2007 elections, the Corporate Plan has been revised to highlight the key actions necessary during 2007/08 to deliver the Council’s currently agreed corporate priorities. This is intended to assist the new Council in maintaining momentum on agreed priorities in its first year, whilst at the same time it reviews the Corporate Plan for 2008/09 onwards and determines medium and longer term targets in respect of agreed priorities.
During the course of discussion of this item, a number of minor amendments to the text to the draft Corporate Plan were discussed and agreed by the Committee.
It was proposed and seconded that the Council’s priorities be split into an A list and B list. Upon being put to the vote this proposal was lost.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
That the revised Corporate Plan for 2007/08, attached as an appendix to Paper F180, be approved subject to the amendments discussed at the meeting.
Note: A list of the amendments agreed at the meeting will be prepared by the Head of Corporate Services for consideration by the Council on 26 February 2007. This was subsequently circulated as Paper F189.
(b) The Redevelopment of Stour House
Mrs S M Wigglesworth, as Chairman of the Housing Panel, presented Paper F181 which outlined the results of the assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of each of the three short listed options for the future of Stour House that had been agreed by the Committee at its meeting on 16 November 2006.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
(1) That approval be given to the transfer of Stour House to a Registered Social Landlord (RSL) partner at a discount of up to 100% for the delivery of affordable housing for the homeless subject to:-
(a) the RSL to develop and make available in perpetuity a range of self-contained units of accommodation for general homeless use and also a supported housing scheme for homeless single people with multiple needs in accordance with the Council’s Homelessness Strategy.
(b) Babergh to enter into an agreement to have full nomination rights for homeless households to all the vacant units of accommodation.
(c) appropriate terms and conditions to protect the interests of the Council to be agreed by the Head of Contract and Asset Management.
(2) That the Head of Community Development in consultation with the Housing Panel be authorised to:-
(a) undertake the selection of the successful RSL in line with existing procedures, as previously agreed by the Strategy Committee.
(b) agree the timetable for the project implementation and monitor its progress.
The Head of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper F182) on items identified for future meetings of the Strategy Committee.
RESOLVED
That the Work plan set out in Paper F182 be noted.
The Head of Finance submitted a report (Paper F183) regarding the Budget for 2007/08 and level of Council Tax, which had been the subject of consultation with Business Rate payers and others and had been scrutinised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committees on 30 January and 6 February. It was noted that the Committee had approved the draft General Fund (Paper F147) and Council Housing (Paper F154) budgets for consultation and scrutiny.
The Chairman referred to the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) which will report on the review of Members’ allowances and that their recommendations on this would be submitted direct to Council on 26 February 2006. Depending upon the outcome of this it may be necessary to adjust the level of reserves to be used.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
(1) That subject to the outcome of the Independent Remuneration Panel Review (of Member’s Allowances), the draft General Fund budget in Paper F147 be approved on the basis that, in any event the Council Tax increase for 2007/08 will not exceed 2.9% and that any variations to the draft budget (in relation to this or any other minor amendments) will be accommodated by adjusting the use of reserves in 2007/08 within the overall reserves strategy.
(2) That the revised General Fund charges shown in the draft budget attached to Paper F147 be implemented with effect from 1 April 2007.
(3) That the Council Housing budget be approved and the revised Council Housing charges, which are set out in Appendix B attached to Paper F154 on 11 January, be implemented with effect from Monday, 16 April 2007.
(4) That the weekly rents for Council dwellings and compulsory let garages be increased on average by 5.0% and in accordance with rent restructuring requirements with effect from Monday, 16 April 2007.
(5) That the temporary amendments to the staffing establishment set out in paragraph 4.9 of Paper F183 be approved.
(6) That the prudential indicators for capital finance and treasury management set out in Appendix 1 to Paper F183 be approved.
(7) That where expenditure is included within the approved budget, the Head of Finance, be empowered to:-
- Vary the timing of revenue and capital payments from the current financial year to 2007/08 or vice versa in accordance with Financial Regulations and Council resolutions.
- Vary the method of financing capital schemes, if he is satisfied that it is in the financial interest of the Council to do so.
The Head of Natural and Built Environment submitted a report (Paper F184) requesting approval to take appropriate action to ensure that the achievement of two of the Council’s corporate priorities, affordable housing and sustainable environment, are not jeopardised. The action necessary is the proposed responses to the current consultation on the East of England Plan (2001-2021).
It was noted that the numbers alongside the bullet points contained in paragraph 5.1 of the report should not appear and that in respect of paragraph 5.13 the following words should be added to the first bullet point “and road networks as a whole particularly those serving the Districts main employment centres such as the Sudbury / Chilton areas”.
Councillor Peter Jones, the Babergh’s representative on the East of England Regional Assembly, circulated at the meeting a report (subsequently numbered Paper F186) on the proposed changes to the East of England Plan.
RESOLVED
(1) That Members note the information set out on the East of England Plan and the implications for Babergh.
(2) That the responses as set out to the current consultation on the Government’s proposed changes to the draft East of England Plan, as outlined in paragraphs 5.4 to 5.13 of Paper F184 be approved subject to the above.
(3) That the Development Plan Manager be authorised to submit additional representations on matters of detail arising from the government’s proposed changes to the Plan.
(4) That the contents of Paper F186 be noted.
The Head of Contract and Asset Management submitted a report (Paper F185) advising that following further investigations into the disposal of East House, Hadleigh it had become apparent that an area of land adjoining East House may be suitable for residential development and authority was sought to dispose of this additional land.
RESOLVED
(1) That the Head of Contract and Asset Management be authorised to market the freehold of the land (approximate area as shown edged black on the plan attached to Paper F185) on the basis of:
(a) A consideration as agreed by the Council’s valuer.
(b) Appropriate terms and conditions in order to protect the interests of the Council and
(c) The capital receipt generated from the disposal to go towards facilities within Hadleigh.
Subject to the final decision on any disposal to be a matter for Members.
(2) That the Head of Contract and Asset Management be authorised to seek any necessary consents (including planning) required.
Notes:
1. Due to the inclement weather the meeting did not commence until 10.30 a.m.
2. The meeting adjourned between 12.20 p.m. and 12.30 p.m.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 1.40 p.m.
Chairman
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