To all Members of the Strategy Committee

Mr N A Bennett
Mr M P Booth
Mrs S P Clarke
Mr J J Quinlan
Mr D J Read

Mr N A Ridley
Mr C M Spence
Mr H N Todd
Mrs S M Wigglesworth
Mr L H Young

ITEM

BUSINESS

1

SUBSTITUTES AND APOLOGIES

Any Member attending as an approved substitute to report giving his/her name and the name of the Member being substituted.

To receive apologies for absence.

2

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

Members to declare any interests as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.

3

MINUTES

To confirm and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2006 as a correct record, subject to Minute No.124 – 2006/07 Corporate Plan – Recommendation (1) being amended by the inclusion of the wording set out below and the reference to Paper E274 being corrected to E273: -

Page 45
Inclusion of a reference to the Sudbury Western Bypass under Economic Development – bullet point 7.

4

PETITIONS

The Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services to report, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 13, the receipt of any petitions submitted to the Chief Executive.

5

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS

The Chairman to answer any questions on matters in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affect the District and which fall within the terms of reference of the Committee of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 15.4 – (a) and (b).

6

ISSUES ARISING FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEES

None received.

Paper E269
previously circulated

7

RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES

(a) Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 - Implications for Enforcement and Fixed Penalty Fines (Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee Minute No. 61 )

DEFRA has indicated that a number of matters falling within this topic are out for consultation at the moment and further matters may be reported in due course. Accordingly the recommendations contained in the above mentioned Minute will not be reported to Strategy Committee until further details are known.

(b) Review of Refuse Collection Policy (Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee No. 62 )

The Head of Environmental Services presented a report (Paper E269) reviewing the Council’s Refuse Collection and Waste Management Policy. He highlighted the following proposed changes to the existing Policy:-

· The unacceptably high level of contamination in blue recycling bins meant that the scheme was significantly below the performance target and was involving the Council in additional landfill disposal costs. The report presented measures to tackle this problem including the introduction of a fixed penalty fine for persistent offenders.

· For clarity the policy on bin ownership and responsibilities had been expanded.

· Policy statements on dog waste and litter bin servicing as well as fly tipping had also been added to the document in order to reflect current practice.

It was noted that the proposed bin contamination enforcement procedure set out in Appendix 3 to the new policy outlined a series of steps to warn residents if their blue bins contained inappropriate material for recycling. The proposed fixed penalty fines would be imposed only as a last resort in the case of persistent offenders.

RECOMMENDED TO STRATEGY COMMITTEE

That the proposed amendment to the Refuse Collection Policy as set out in Paper E269 be approved, specifically:-

· The proposed blue bin contamination and enforcement procedure.

· A levy for an unscheduled collection of a contaminated bin.

· The principle of the proposed arrangements for acceptance of excess recyclable materials in sacks, including a nominal charge for sacks.

Paper E286

Paper E287

8

RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM TASK GROUPS/PANELS

(a) CAST

Report by the CAST Programme Board attached.

(b) IEG 6 Statement

Report from the E-Government Steering Group attached.

Paper E288

9

WORK PLAN

Report by the Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services attached.

Paper E289

10

TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY AND REVIEW

Report by the Head of Finance attached.

11

EFFICIENCY STATEMENT 2006/07

Helen Style, Corporate Director, to report that the Council has to submit an annual Efficiency Statement to the Government and that the next one is due by 18 April 2006.

The deadline, combined with the fact that further guidance on completing the Statement from the ODPM is not expected until the end of February, means it has not been possible to submit a report to this meeting.

It is recognised that the agreed efficiency framework includes this Committee’s involvement but, given the circumstances, it is proposed that the Efficiency Statement for next year is submitted directly to the Council meeting on 11 April 2006 on the understanding that the Statement will be signed by the Chairman of the Strategy Committee, the Chief Executive and the Head of Finance.

Paper E290

12

STANSTED AIRPORT – PROPOSED SECOND RUNWAY – BAA CONSULTATION

Report by the Acting Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development attached.

Paper E291

13

HAVEN GATEWAY PARTNERSHIP BID FOR ‘GROWTH POINT’ STATUS

Report by the Acting Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development attached.

Paper E292

14

RESPONSE TO THE LYONS INQUIRY CONSULTATION PAPER

Report by the Corporate Support Manager attached.

Paper E293

15

ODPM CONSULTATION – ‘LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP; SHAPING THEIR FUTURE’

Report by the Corporate Support Manager attached.

Paper E294

16

WEST SUFFOLK LSP DRAFT COMMUNITY STRATEGY

Report by Colin Spence (Babergh’s representative on the West Suffolk LSP Board) attached.

Paper E295

17

POLICY FOR ABANDONED VEHICLES

Report by the Head of Environmental Services attached.

18

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC (WHICH TERM INCLUDES THE PRESS)

To consider, whether pursuant to Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public should be excluded from the meeting for the business specified below on the grounds that if the public were present during these items, it is likely that there would be the disclosure to them of exempt information as indicated against each item.

The authors of the reports proposed to be considered in Part II of the Agenda are satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

PART II

Paper E296

19

CYCLICAL COUNCIL HOUSE PAINTING PROGRAMME (Exempt information by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1)

Report by the Head of Technical Services attached.

Paper E297

20

DISPOSAL OF LAND AT SUDBURY (Exempt information by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1)

Report by the Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services attached.