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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 17 SEPTEMBER 2009
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
Mrs S M Wigglesworth |
Mr N A Bennett and Mr C M Spence were unable to be present.
Mr D M Busby, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee attended the meeting in order to present that Committee’s recommendation referred to in Minute No. 41 below.
36 - Declaration of Interests
37 - Minutes
38 - Petitions
39 - Questions from Members
40 - Issues Arising from Overview and Scrutiny Committees
41 - Recommendations and Reports from Committees
42 - Recommendations from Task Groups and Panels
43 - Work Plan
44 - Condition of the Ceremonial Mast HMS Ganges Shotley Gate Shotley
45 - Proposed Partnership Strategy
46 - 2009/10 Captial Programme - Non Committed Schemes
47 - Consultation on Suffolk County Council Waste Core Strategy - Update
None declared.
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 July 2009 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
None received.
None received.
None received.
Procedures for dealing with petitions (Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee Minute No. 31)
Mr D M Busby, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee introduced Paper J74 describing the current arrangements for dealing with petitions submitted to the Council and the new legal duties that will be placed on the Council in the event that proposals in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill are enacted.
During consideration of this matter it was agreed that a footnote be included to Appendix 1 to Paper J74 providing a link to the report and also advising that the guidance is provided prior to any new legislation being adopted.
RESOLVED
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.
Affordable Housing Programme
Mrs S M Wigglesworth, Chairman of the Housing Panel, introduced Paper J85 requesting approval to include within the Council’s Housing Programme schemes on Council owned land and to note schemes that are being developed on privately owned land.
It was agreed that when the matter is reported to Council a note should be provided outlining the net increase in the potential number of units as well as the gross.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
That the schemes on Babergh owned land as shown in Part 1 of Appendix 1 to Paper J85 be approved and be included within the Council’s Affordable Housing Programme. Further, that the inclusion within the Programme of the schemes on privately owned land as shown in Part 2 of Appendix 1 to Paper J85 be noted.
Note: Mr R E Kemp voted against the decision referred to above and requested that this be recorded in the Minutes.
The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper J86) on items identified for the Strategy Committee.
RESOLVED
That the Work Plan set out in Paper J86 be noted.
The Head of Natural and Built Environment submitted a report (Paper J87) updating Members on the options and issues relating to the Ceremonial Mast at the former Royal Naval Training Base, HMS Ganges, Shotley, and to seek agreement if necessary, to commission a condition survey should the Council resort to formal action.
The Head of Natural and Built Environment gave a verbal update to the meeting advising that the owners of the site have now delivered a pre-application advisory proposal outlining the intentions for renovations of the mast. The owners have now appointed a firm of Architects to act on their behalf and pre-application proposals and discussions would be ongoing. However, should discussions not proceed to the satisfaction of the Head of Natural and Built Environment it would be necessary to consider commissioning a condition survey.
RESOLVED
(1) That Strategy Committee notes the options available under the provisions of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, and the potential financial implications of pursuing formal action, and supports resolution of this matter in co-operation with the landowner.
(2) That the Head of Natural and Built Environment be authorised, if necessary, to commission a condition survey of the Mast prior to consideration of further action.
The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (Paper J88) requesting authority to approve a partnership strategy for Babergh. This was felt necessary in view of the fundamental and growing importance of partnership working to Babergh especially in view of the emerging Use of Resources Assessment.
RESOLVED
That the “Babergh District Council Partnership Strategy” attached as an Appendix to Paper J88 be adopted.
The Head of Contract and Asset Management submitted a report (Paper J89) seeking approval to implement a scheme within the Council’s Housing Revenue Account.
RESOLVED
That expenditure from the Council’s Housing Revenue Account be approved to carry out the proposed scheme detailed in paragraph 5.1 of Paper J89.
The Head of Natural and Built Environment reported that Strategy Committee on 15 January 2009 considered a report (Paper H166) about the consultation regarding the Suffolk Waste Core Strategy (Issues and Options). A Babergh District Council response was agreed on 12 February 2009 (Paper H195) and this 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 was noted that following the further public consultation undertaken by Suffolk County Council there had been additional local concerns raised. Although there was no change to the principle of the consultation response sent following the 12 February 2009 Strategy Committee meeting then this was subject to the detailed resolution of the concerns previously raised. It was agreed that officers should submit an updated response on this basis which would include changes to the text to place greater emphasis on those matters raised at the meeting.
RESOLVED
That the Head of Natural and Built Environment be authorised to submit a response to Suffolk County Council based on the previous response agreed by Strategy Committee on 12 February 2009 but re-emphasising growing local concerns as a result of the additional consultation undertaken by Suffolk County Council. Further that he be authorised to adjust the text to clarify certain points raised at the meeting.
Note: The meeting was adjourned between 10.50 a.m. and 11.10 a.m. for refreshments.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 12.05 p.m.
Chairman
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