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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, 1 MAY 2008
PRESENT: Mr N A Ridley – Chairman
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Mr M P Booth
Mrs S Carpendale
Mr A J Hinton
Ms J A Jenkins
Mr R E Kemp |
Dr M R Miller
Mr R W Thake
Mr C M Spence
Mrs S M Wigglesworth |
Mr N A Bennett was unable to be present.
Mr C W Arthey, Ward Member for North Cosford, and Mr P G Gibson, Ward Member for Lavenham, were present at the meeting and with the consent of the Chairman spoke on the item referred to in Minute No. 9 below.
1. Substitutes
2. Election of Vice-Chairman
3. Declaration of Interests
4. Minutes
5. Questions from Members
6. Issues Arising from Overview and Scrutiny Committees
7. Recommendations and Reports from Committees
8. Workplan
9. NATS (Formerly National Air Traffic Services) - Proposed Changes to Air Space over Babergh and East Anglia
10. Exclusion of the Public (which term includes the press)
11. Disposal of Property at Hadleigh (exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1)
12. Strategic Plan and the Service and Financial Planning (SFP) Process
13. Suffolk Coastal and Heaths of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) - Proposed Management Plan (2008 - 2013)
14. Capital Programme 2008/09
15. Proposed Development of Kingfisher Leisure Centre Sudbury
16. Action out of Meeting
It was noted that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 5 a substitute was in attendance as follows: -
Mr R W Thake (substituting for Mr N A Bennett)
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RESOLVED
That Mr A J Hinton be elected Vice-Chairman of the Committee for the ensuing year.
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Mr A J Hinton declared a personal interest in Minute No. 7 below by virtue of being the Council’s representative on the Haven Gateway Partnership.
Mr R W Thake stated that he had no personal or prejudicial interest in Minute No. 11 below but would not be present during consideration of the item as he is Chairman of the Development Committee.
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RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2008 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
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None received.
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None received.
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Review of Strategic Partnerships (Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee Minute No. 73)
Members had before them a copy of Paper H10 which was circulated with the Agenda for the meeting and contained updates on various matters including comments on the report (Paper G230) which was considered by the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee.
Members noted that Babergh’s Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership is now the Community Safety Partnership (CSP).
RESOLVED
(1) That the information contained in Paper H10 be noted.
(2) That the existing arrangements for Babergh’s participation in the following partnerships be continued:-
Babergh East Local Strategic Partnership
Babergh Community Safety Partnership
Western Suffolk Local Strategic Partnership
(3) That the Council approaches the Haven Gateway Partnership seeking the inclusion of the whole of the area of the Babergh District within the Haven Gateway.
(4) That further consideration be given to the Council’s position regarding the Suffolk Development Agency when the outcome of the reviews referred to in paragraph 5.4(d) of Paper G230 are known.
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Paper H13 (updated) was circulated prior to the meeting.
RESOLVED
That the Workplan set out in Paper H13 (updated) be noted.
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The Head of Natural and Built Environment submitted a report (Paper H14) advising Members of the proposed changes to air space use over Babergh District and seeking agreement to representations being made to NATS. A copy of a suggested draft response (Paper H23) was circulated to Strategy Committee Members prior to the meeting.
Councillors C W Arthey and P G Gibson were present at the meeting and spoke on this matter in their capacity as Ward Members, with the consent of the Chairman. The Chairman reported receipt of an objection letter to NATS from Kettlebaston Parish Council.
Members considered Paper H23 in some detail and suggested various modifications and amendments to the wording including a strengthening of the Council’s stated position. It was agreed that a redrafted letter should be circulated to all Members of Strategy Committee prior to finalisation for responding to NATS.
RESOLVED
That the Deputy Chief Executive be authorised to send a letter of objection on behalf of the Council to NATS for the reasons outlined in paragraph 5.7 of Paper H14, subject to the wording of the draft contained in Paper H23 being amended to cover additional matters raised at the meeting. Further that a revised draft letter be circulated to all Members of the Strategy Committee for comments: the letter to be finalised by the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Chairman of the Strategy Committee with the final letter being copied to all Members of the Council for information.
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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 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 satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.
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The Head of Contract and Asset Management submitted a report (Paper H20) relating to the disposal of property at Hadleigh. Representatives of Strutt and Parker, the Council’s agents, were present at the meeting to outline the discussions which formed the background to the recommendations set out in the report.
RESOLVED
(1) That the Head of Contract and Asset Management be authorised to dispose of the freehold of East House Hadleigh and adjoining land (approximate area as shown edged black and hatched black on the plan attached to Paper H20) to the bidder named in paragraph 2.1 of the report subject to:-
(a) A consideration as agreed by the Council’s Valuer.
(b) Appropriate terms and conditions to protect the Council’s interests.
(c) The capital receipt generated from the disposal to go towards facilities within Hadleigh.
(2) That in the event of the proposed disposal to the bidder named in paragraph 2.1 of Paper H20 not being able to proceed, the Head of Contract and Asset Management be authorised to dispose of the freehold of East House Hadleigh and adjoining land (approximate area as shown edged black and hatched black on the plan attached to Paper H20) to the second-named bidder in paragraph 2.2 of the report subject to:-
(a) A consideration as agreed by the Council’s Valuer.
(b) Appropriate terms and conditions to protect the Council’s interests.
(c) The capital receipt generated from the disposal to go towards facilities within Hadleigh.
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Note: At this point the public and press were re-admitted to the meeting.
The Director of Finance presented a joint report with the Director of Corporate Services (Paper H15) outlining proposals for a Member Task Group (combining the separate Corporate Plan and SFP working groups) to oversee the work of developing a three year Medium-Term Plan linked to a clear Financial Strategy. Members were asked to consider the principles and proposed Terms of Reference for establishing such a Task Group on the understanding that the final details would be reported to the Council for agreement at its next meeting, including nominations for appointment.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
(1) That a Medium-Term Planning Task Group be set up consisting of 6 Members with appropriate political representation.
(2) That the Task Group be made up of two thirds Strategy Committee/one third Overview and Scrutiny Committee Members and containing the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Strategy Committee.
(3) That the key areas of work for the Task Group relating to its Terms of Reference, as set out in paragraph 5.7 of Paper H15, be approved.
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The Head of Contract and Asset Management presented a report (Paper H16) asking Strategy Committee to adopt the Management Plan and to support the actions contained therein.
RESOLVED
(1) That the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Management Plan 2008 – 13 (the Plan) be adopted.
(2) That the statement in paragraph 5.11 of Paper H16 be approved for inclusion in the finalised Plan.
(3) That the actions identified in paragraph 5.6 of Paper H16 be acknowledged as largely representing the Council’s agreed commitments.
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The Head of Contract and Asset Management submitted a report (Paper H17) seeking approval to implement schemes within the Council’s Housing Revenue Account capital programme which are ready to proceed. Members noted that the ‘Balance of Budget Figure’ in relation to Decent Homes improvements should read £72,000 (not £78,000) and that the Head of Contract and Asset Management will look at current arrangements for committing uncommitted budget monies particularly in relation to ’urgent’ works.
RESOLVED
That expenditure from the Council’s Housing Revenue Account be approved to carry out the proposed schemes detailed in paragraph 5.1 of Paper H17.
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The Head of Community Development submitted a report (Paper H18) outlining proposals to develop options for the improvement and expansion of the Kingfisher Leisure Centre, Sudbury, and seeking approval for Officers to proceed as detailed in Paper H18. Members noted that the detailed proposals would include a Business Plan which would be developed via the procurement process.
RESOLVED
That detailed proposals be developed for the expansion of the Kingfisher Leisure Centre, Sudbury for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee.
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Participation of Babergh in Dry Port Bid Partnership
RESOLVED
That the information contained in Paper H19 be noted.
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Note: The meeting adjourned between 11.10 and 11.35 a.m. for refreshments.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 1 p.m.
Chairman
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