Agenda - 17 September 2009

Members

Mr N A Bennett
Mr M P Booth
Mrs S Carpendale
Mr A J Hinton
Ms J A Jenkins

Mr R E Kemp
Dr M R Miller
Mr N A Ridley
Mr C M Spence
Mrs S M Wigglesworth

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 30 July 2009 as a correct record.

4

PETITIONS

The Director of Corporate 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 any 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 J74

7

RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES

Procedures for dealing with Petitions (Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee Minute No. 31)

The Director of Corporate Services, in accordance with the request of the Strategy Committee at its meeting on 12 February 2009, submitted a report (Paper J74) on the procedures that the Council had adopted for dealing with petitions submitted by members of the public.

It was pointed out that there were proposals in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill which, if enacted, would require the Council to publish a scheme for handling petitions and that Guidance would be published to specify what should be included in such a scheme.  Under the circumstances, it was not proposed that any amendment be made to the existing procedures pending the enactment of the Bill and the receipt of the necessary Guidance. However, it was suggested that the information provided to those organising or thinking of organising a petition be clarified and more widely published.

Members noted the following details of the 11 petitions received in the past twelve months, 9 of which related to planning applications:-

• 3 matters yet to be decided
• 1 matter already determined under delegated powers prior to submission of the petition
• 4 matters resolved substantially according to the petitioners wishes
• 3 matters decided other than in accordance with the petitioners request

RECOMMENDED TO STRATEGY COMMITTEE

That, in view of the impending changes included in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, no action be taken at this time to amend the Council’s procedures for dealing with petitions but that additional information be provided for petitioners in the form of the guidance attached as Appendix 1 to Paper J74.

Paper J85

8

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM TASK GROUPS AND PANELS

Affordable Housing Programme

Report by the Housing Panel attached.

Paper J86

9

WORK PLAN

Report by the Director of Corporate Services attached.

Paper J87

10

CONDITION OF THE CEREMONIAL MAST  HMS GANGES  SHOTLEY GATE  SHOTLEY

Report by the Head of Natural and Built Environment attached.

Paper J88

11

PROPOSED PARTNERSHIP STRATEGY

Report by the Deputy Chief Executive attached.

Paper J89

12

2009/10 CAPITAL PROGRAMME – NON COMMITTED SCHEMES

Report by the Head of Contract and Asset Management attached.

13

CONSULTATION ON SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL WASTE CORE STRATEGY - UPDATE

The Head of Natural and Built Environment to report that a report was submitted to Strategy Committee on 15 January 2009 (Paper H166 refers) about the consultation regarding the Suffolk Waste Core Strategy (Issues and Options).  A Babergh District Council response was agreed by Strategy Committee on 12 February 2009 (Paper H195 refers) and this response was submitted to Suffolk County Council.   

The final consultation document for the Waste Core Strategy has been published in the meantime and comments regarding this consultation document can be submitted until 9 October 2009.  The consultation material does not raise any new issues that have not previously been considered by Strategy Committee.  The only change in circumstances since the previous consultation earlier this year is that Suffolk County Council has now confirmed the highways depot site that it  owns  at Great Blakenham as the currently favoured site  for  development of a Residual Waste Treatment Facility for the county's municipal waste (the waste collected by Babergh and the other Suffolk districts).  This and all other sites previously identified in the Waste Strategy are still included in the Strategy document , those directly affecting Babergh being Sproughton former sugar beet site and Layham Quarry .   

It is therefore recommended that Babergh District Council’s response to Suffolk County Council on the latest consultation be the same as the previous response as agreed by Strategy Committee on 12 February 2009.