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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 18 JUNE 2009
PRESENT: Mr N A Ridley – Chairman
Mr N A Bennett Mr R E Kemp
Mr M P Booth Dr M R Miller
Mrs S Carpendale Mr C M Spence
Ms J A Jenkins Mrs S M Wigglesworth
Mr A J Hinton was unable to be present
11 - Declaration of Interests
12 - Minutes
13 - Petitions
14 - Questions from Members
15 - Issues Arising from Overview and Scrutiny Committee
16 - Recommendatins from Task Groups and Panels
17 - Work Plan
18 - Sudbury Town Centre Bus Station Site - Timescale/Early Stakeholder Consultation Stage for Development Brief
19 - Department of Transport Consultation - Possible Changes to the Administration of Concessionary Travel
20 - 2009/10 Captial Programme - Non Committed Schemes
21 - Member Involvement at Ward Level
22 - Exclusion of the Public (Which term includes the press)
23 - Calais Street Recreation Ground, Hadleigh (Exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1)
Mr C M Spence and Mr R E Kemp both declared personal interests in the items referred to in Minute Nos. 18 and 19 below by virtue of being a member of Suffolk County Council but indicated that their interests were such that they were able to speak and vote on the matters concerned.
Mr N A Bennett declared a personal interest in the item referred to in Minute No. 19 below by virtue of being a member of Sudbury Town Council but indicated that his interests were such that he was able to speak and vote on the matter concerned.
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RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 May 2009 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
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None received.
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None received.
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None received.
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Proposed Affordable Housing Schemes at Brantham and Erwarton
Mrs S M Wigglesworth, Chairman of the Housing Panel, introduced Paper J34 requesting approval to include, within the Council’s Affordable Housing Programme, schemes on Council owned land at Palfrey Heights, Brantham and Boleyn Place, Erwarton.
Plans showing the sites of the proposed developments were attached to the report.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
That the following schemes on Council owned land be included within the Council’s Affordable Housing Programme:
· Two three-bedroomed dwellings for social rent at land adjacent to 1 Palfrey Heights, Brantham
· Two two-bedroomed dwellings for social rent at land adjacent to 3 Boleyn Place, Erwarton.
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The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper J35) on items identified for the Strategy Committee.
RESOLVED
That the Work Plan set out in Paper J35 be noted.
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The Head of Natural and Built Environment submitted a report (Paper J36) providing an update in respect of the Sudbury Town Centre/Bus Station site development brief.
The report sought agreement to the proposed timescale and process and the criteria against which options for the Sudbury Town Centre/Bus Station site will be assessed, as part of the consultation with stakeholders.
A discussion then ensued on the timetable and consultation for the development brief, in particular as to how we could engage members of the public who were unable to attend any exhibitions. It was also important to recognise that anybody submitting a response should receive a reply.
It was noted that the timescale and process outlined in Appendix A to Paper J36 was only the surface and that there would be another layer beneath this providing further details as to how that would be achieved. This would include the possibility of developing a communication plan and this would be included in the next report to be submitted to Committee.
RESOLVED
(1) That the timescale process set out in Appendix A to Paper J36 be agreed.
(2) That the criteria set out in paragraph 5.9 of Paper J36 be agreed as a basis for assessing options as part of the stakeholder consultation subject to Public “realm” being changed to “space” and an additional criteria being added on the vitality and viability of the Town Centre.
(3) That Parish Councils in the area of the West LSP be notified of the two stage consultation process and advised that they will be able to submit comments during the second stage.
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The Head of Customer Services reported that Babergh District Council had received consultation from the Department of Transport regarding the future responsibility of the administration of concessionary travel transferring from the District Councils to “upper tier” Local Authorities or to the Department of Transport.
It was noted that the Political Leaders Group had considered the matter and their recommendations were reported to the meeting. This included that a draft response to the Department of Transport be submitted to Strategy Committee which was now submitted as Paper J37.
RESOLVED
(1) That the draft outline letter (attached as Paper J37) be sent to the Department of Transport as Babergh District Council’s response to the possible changes to the administration of Concessionary Travel.
(2) That the Head of Customer Services be delegated authority to respond to the detailed questions by the Department of Transport in respect of this consultation supporting the views expressed in the context of the draft outline letter submitted as Paper J37.
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The Head of Contract and Asset Management submitted a report (Paper J38) seeking approval to implement schemes within the Council’s housing revenue account.
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 J38.
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The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper J39) outlining proposals on how Members involvement at Ward level can be improved.
RESOLVED
That the actions and improvement proposed at paragraph 5.5 of Paper J39 be approved and that a training and awareness raising programme for Officers is developed and implemented to support the actions and improvements.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
That the Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Chairman of Strategy Committee be authorised to update Appendix 1 to Paper J39 and that the Member/Officer Protocol be amended accordingly.
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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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Mrs S M Wigglesworth, Chairman of the Housing Panel, introduced Paper J40 requesting approval of the terms and conditions of a lease of land at Calais Street Recreation Ground, Hadleigh to the Hadleigh Community Playgroup.
RESOLVED
(1) That approval be given to the demolition of the Pavilion as recommended in Paragraph 7.1 of Paper J40 and that the Head of Contract and Asset Management be authorised to take all necessary action to give effect to this decision.
(2) That the Head of Contract and Asset Management be authorised to enter into an agreement with the trustees of the Hadleigh Community Playgroup to lease the area of Council owned land shown in Appendix 2 within the Calais Street Recreation Ground in Hadleigh on terms and conditions set out in Paragraph 6 of Paper J40.
(3) That the Head of Contract and Asset Management be authorised to agree the rent in accordance with Paragraph 3.2 of Paper J40 should this be appropriate. Top of page
Note: The meeting adjourned between 11.07 and 11.30 am for refreshments.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 12.30 pm.
............................................................... Chairman
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