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  • Agenda and draft minutes

    Babergh Council - Tuesday, 23rd February, 2021 5.30 pm

    • Attendance details
    • Agenda frontsheet PDF 386 KB
    • Agenda reports pack PDF 5 MB
    • Printed draft minutes PDF 170 KB

    Venue: Virtual Meeting

    Contact: Committee Services 

    Media

    Items
    No. Item

    53.

    DECLARATION OF INTERESTS BY COUNCILLORS

    Minutes:

    Full Minute text to follow.

    54.

    BC/20/23 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 19 JANUARY 2021 pdf icon PDF 344 KB

    Minutes:

    It was Resolved:-

     

    That the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2021 be confirmed as a true record and signed at the next practicable opportunity.

    Recorded Vote
    TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
    That the Minutes of the meeting held on 19th January 2021 be confirmed and signed as a true record Resolution Carried
  • View Recorded Vote for this item
  • 55.

    LEADER'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Minutes:

    Full Minute text to follow.

    56.

    TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES

    • View the background to item 56.

    In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11, The Chief Executive will report the receipt of any petitions. There can be no debate or comment upon these matters at the Council meeting.

    Minutes:

    Full Minute text to follow.

    57.

    QUESTIONS BY THE PUBLIC IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES

    The Chairmen of Committees to answer any questions by the public of which notice has been given no later than midday three clear working days before the day of the meeting in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 12.

     

    Minutes:

    57.      None received.

    58.

    QUESTIONS BY COUNCILLORS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES

    • View the background to item 58.

    The Chairman of the Council, Chairs of Committees and Sub-Committees and Portfolio Holders to answer any questions on any matters in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affect the District of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.

    Minutes:

    58.      None received.

    59.

    BC/20/24 GENERAL FUND BUDGET 2021/22 AND FOUR-YEAR OUTLOOK pdf icon PDF 864 KB

    • View the background to item 59.

    Cabinet Member for Finance

     

    In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.3, immediately after any vote is taken at a budget decision meeting of the Council the names of Councillors who cast a vote for the decision or against the decision or who abstained from voting shall be recorded in the Minutes of that meeting.

     

    At its meeting on 4 February 2021, Cabinet considered Paper BCa/20/32, together with an addendum to the General Fund Budget.  Paper BC/20/24 now includes all the relevant updated information plus the tax base, precepts and council tax band information at parish level, together with the necessary recommendations.

     

    Proposed amendment from the Green Group also attached.

    Additional documents:

    • Appendix D - BDC Budget Book , item 59. pdf icon PDF 556 KB
    • Appendix E , item 59. pdf icon PDF 108 KB
    • Proposed Amendment from Green Group , item 59. pdf icon PDF 521 KB

    Minutes:

    Full Minutes to follow.

     

    To Vote on Part 1 (Planning and Community Needs) of the Amendment from the Green Party as detailed in the meeting reports pack.

     

    In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.3, the vote was recorded as follows:

     

    For

    Against

    Abstain

     

    Clive Arthey

     

    Sue Ayres

     

     

     

    Melanie Barrett

     

     

    Peter Beer

     

     

    David Busby

     

     

    Sue Carpendale

     

    Trevor Cresswell

     

     

     

    Derek Davis

     

     

    Sian Dawson

     

     

    Mick Fraser

     

    Jane Gould

     

     

     

    Honor Grainger-Howard

     

     

    Kathryn Grandon

     

    Richard Hardacre

     

     

     

    John Hinton

     

     

    Michael Holt

     

    Bryn Hurren

     

     

    Leigh Jamieson

     

     

    Robert Lindsay

     

     

     

    Elizabeth Malvisi

     

    Margaret Maybury

     

     

     

    Alistair McCraw

     

     

    Mary McLaren

     

     

    Mark Newman

     

     

    Zac Norman

     

    John Nunn

     

     

     

    Adrian Osborne

     

     

    Jan Osborne

     

    Alison Owen

     

     

     

    Lee Parker

     

     

    Stephen Plumb

     

     

    John Ward

     

    TOTAL     10

    TOTAL     22

     

     

     

    To Vote on Item 2 (Biodiversity and Environment) of the Amendment from the Green Party as detailed in the meeting reports pack.

     

    In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.3, the vote was recorded as follows:

    For

    Against

    Abstain

     

    Clive Arthey

     

    Sue Ayres

     

     

     

    Melanie Barrett

     

     

    Peter Beer

     

     

    David Busby

     

     

    Sue Carpendale

     

    Trevor Cresswell

     

     

     

    Derek Davis

     

     

    Sian Dawson

     

     

    Mick Fraser

     

    Jane Gould

     

     

     

    Honor Grainger-Howard

     

     

    Kathryn Grandon

     

    Richard Hardacre

     

     

     

    John Hinton

     

     

    Michael Holt

     

    Bryn Hurren

     

     

    Leigh Jamison

     

     

    Robert Lindsay

     

     

     

    Elizabeth Malvisi

     

    Margaret Maybury

     

     

     

    Alistair McCraw

     

     

    Mary McLaren

     

     

    Mark Newman

     

     

    Zac Norman

     

    John Nunn

     

     

     

    Adrian Osborne

     

     

    Jan Osborne

     

    Alison Owen

     

     

     

    Lee Parker

     

     

    Stephen Plumb

     

     

    John Ward

     

    TOTAL     10

    TOTAL     22

     

     

     

    To Vote on Item 3 (Housing and Climate Change) of the Amendment from the Green Party as detailed in the meeting reports pack.

     

    In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.3, the vote was recorded as follows:

     

    For

    Against

    Abstain

     

    Clive Arthey

     

    Sue Ayres

     

     

     

    Melanie Barrett

     

     

    Peter Beer

     

     

    Dave Busby

     

     

    Sue Carpendale

     

    Trevor Cresswell

     

     

     

    Derek Davis

     

     

    Sian Dawson

     

     

    Mick Fraser

     

    Jane Gould

     

     

     

    Honor Grainger-Howard

     

     

    Kathryn Grandon

     

    Richard Hardacre

     

     

     

    John Hinton

     

     

    Michael Holt

     

    Bryn Hurren

     

     

    Leigh Jamieson

     

     

    Robert Lindsay

     

     

     

    Elizabeth Malvisi

     

     

    Margaret Maybury

     

     

    Alistair McCraw

     

     

    Mary McLaren

     

     

    Mark Newman

     

     

    Zac Norman

     

     

    John Nunn

     

     

    Adrian Osborne

     

     

    Jan Osborne

     

    Alison Owen

     

     

     

    Lee Parker

     

     

    Stephen Plumb

     

     

    John Ward

     

    TOTAL     8

    TOTAL     24

     

     

     

    To Vote on Item 4 (Travel) of the Amendment from the Green Party as detailed in the meetings reports pack.

     

    In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.3, the vote was recorded as follows:

     

    For

    Against

    Abstain

     

    Clive Arthey

     

    Sue Ayres

     

     

     

    Melanie Barrett

     

     

    Peter Beer

     

     

    Dave Busby

     

     

    Sue Carpendale

     

    Trevor Cresswell

     

     

     

    Derek Davis

     

     

    Sian Dawson

     

     

    Mick Fraser

     

    Jane Gould

     

     

     

    Honor Grainger-Howard

     

     

    Kathryn Grandon

     

    Richard Hardacre

     

     

     

    John Hinton

     

     

    Michael Holt

     

    Bryn Hurren

     

     

    Leigh Jamieson

     

     

    Robert Lindsay

     

     

     

    Elizabeth Malvisi

     

    Margaret Maybury

     

     

     

    Alistair McCraw

     

     

    Mary McLaren

     

     

    Mark Newman

     

     

    Zac Norman

     

     

    John Nunn

     

     

    Adrian Osborne

     

     

    Jan Osborne

     

    Alison Owen

     

     

     

    Lee Parker

     

     

    Stephen Plumb

     

     

    John Ward

     

    TOTAL     9

    TOTAL     23

     

     

    To Vote on Recommendations 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 as detailed in report BC/20/24.

     

    In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.3, the vote was recorded as follows:

     

    For

    Against

    Abstain

    Clive Arthey

     

     

     

    Sue Ayres

     

    Melanie Barrett

     

     

     

    Peter Beer

     

    David Busby

     

     

    Sue Carpendale

     

     

     

    Trevor Cresswell

     

    Derek Davis

     

     

    Sian Dawson

     

     

     

     

    Mick Fraser

     

    Jane Gould

     

    Honor Grainger-Howard

     

     

    Kathryn Grandon

     

     

    Richard Hardacre

     

     

    John Hinton

     

     

    Michael Holt

     

     

    Bryn Hurren

     

     

     

    Leigh Jamieson

     

     

    Robert Lindsay

     

    Elizabeth Malvisi

     

     

     

    Margaret  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

    Recorded Vote
    TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
    To Vote on Part 1 (Planning and Community Needs) of the Amendment from The Green Party as detailed in the meeting reports pack. Motion

    It is essential that developers comply with the requirements set out in planning approvals and that should be enforced by a well-resourced team. This is essential if the public are to have faith in the planning process. To ensure that the work can be completed effectively and in a timely manner we propose that an extra officer should join the team. In particular, viability claims should be examined and where these prove to be over cautious with regard to profitability then further social contributions should be required of the developer.

     

    To further improve the confidence of our residents in the planning process we recommend that all planning committee members undertake regular training. Also, in order to support community-led planning applications we would like to be able to offer free pre-application advice.

     

    Finally, in this section we recommend that the Council pay a grant of £50K to invest into Citizens Advice and £50K into the local food banks to help support our residents during these difficult times.

    Rejected
    To Vote on Item 2 (Biodiversity and Environment) of the Amendment from The Green Party as detailed in the meeting reports pack. Motion

    Biodiversity is in serious decline globally. The risks this poses to us all is becoming critical and we should be actively looking for opportunities to improve the biodiversity in our district.

     

    We are proposing that an additional tree officer is required to facilitate pro-active management of trees on council owned land. An additional tree officer is needed to protect more valued and ancient trees with Tree Preservation Orders, and to ensure that approved planting schemes are carried out and maintained as developments are implemented.

     

    In addition, we are proposing that we need an additional Biodiversity officer to work with local communities and businesses to actively look for and implement opportunities to improve Biodiversity in the district. The officer will also look to prevent Biodiversity loss.

     

    We are also proposing installation of Electric Vehicle charging points in our major public parking spaces, including Pin Mill.

    Rejected
    To Vote on Item 3 (Housing and Climate Change) of the Amendment from The Green Party as detailed in the meeting reports pack. Motion

    We are also proposing an officer be dedicated to support the retrofit programme of our stock; to support a programme of retrofitting private homes and to ensure new builds are built to the highest environmental standards.

    Rejected
    To Vote on Item 4 (Travel) of the Amendment from The Green Party as detailed in the meeting reports pack. Motion

    To facilitate and assist with the modal shift away from fossil fuelled vehicles we are proposing that all EV parking places in our public car parks remain free after the parking charges come into force.

     

    In addition to this we propose that any profit that is made from the charges, once ongoing maintenance costs are taken, should be ring fenced for Sustainable transport. The council should also undertake a full sustainable travel plan to identify actions that can be undertaken to use these funds.

    Rejected
    To vote on Recommendations 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 as detailed in report BC/20/24. Resolution

    3.1 That the General Fund Budget proposals for 2021/22 and four-year outlook set out in the report be approved.

     

    3.2 That the General Fund Budget for 2021/22 is based on an increase to Council Tax of £5 per annum (10p per week) for a Band D property, which is equivalent to 2.96%.

     

    3.3 That the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy at Appendix E be approved.

     

    3.4 Subject to approval by Council, notify the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) of the adoption of the Strategy.

    Carried
  • View Recorded Vote for this item
  • 60.

    BC/20/25 HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT (HRA) 2021/22 BUDGET AND FOUR-YEAR OUTLOOK pdf icon PDF 295 KB

    • View the background to item 60.

    Cabinet Member for Finance

     

    In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.3, immediately after any vote is taken at a budget decision meeting of the Council the names of Councillors who cast a vote for the decision or against the decision or who abstained from voting shall be recorded in the Minutes of that meeting.

     

    At its meeting on 4 February 2021, Cabinet considered Paper BCa/20/33, the Housing Revenue Account.  Paper BC/20/25 is unchanged from the Cabinet meeting and includes the necessary recommendations.

     

    Proposed amendment from the Green Group also attached.

     

     

     

    Additional documents:

    • Proposed Amendment from Green Group , item 60. pdf icon PDF 484 KB

    Minutes:

    Full Minutes to follow.

     

    To Vote on the Amendment from The Green Party as detailed in the meeting reports pack.

     

    In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.3, the vote was recorded as follows:

     

    For

    Against

    Abstain

     

    Clive Arthey

     

    Sue Ayres

     

     

    Melanie Barrett

     

     

     

    Peter Beer

     

     

    David Busby

     

     

    Sue Carpendale

     

    Trevor Cresswell

     

     

     

    Derek Davis

     

     

    Sian Dawson

     

     

    Mick Fraser

     

    Jane Gould

     

     

     

    Honor Grainger-Howard

     

     

    Kathryn Grandon

     

    Richard Hardacre

     

     

     

    John Hinton

     

     

    Bryn Hurren

     

    Leigh Jamieson

     

     

    Robert Lindsay

     

     

     

    Elizabeth Malvisi

     

    Margaret Maybury

     

     

     

    Alistair McCraw

     

     

    Mary McLaren

     

     

    Mark Newman

     

     

    Zac Norman

     

     

    John Nunn

     

     

    Adrian Osborne

     

     

    Jan Osborne

     

    Alison Owen

     

     

     

    Lee Parker

     

     

    Stephen Plumb

     

     

    John Ward

     

    TOTAL     9

    TOTAL     22

     

     

     

    To Vote on Recommendations 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7 as detailed in report BC/20/25.

     

    In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.3, the vote was recorded as follows:

     

    For

    Against

    Abstain

    Clive Arthey

     

     

    Sue Ayres

     

     

    Melanie Barrett

     

     

    Peter Beer

     

     

    Dave Busby

     

     

    Sue Carpendale

     

     

     

    Trevor Cresswell

     

    Derek Davis

     

     

    Sian Dawson

     

     

    Mick Fraser

     

     

     

    Jane Gould

     

    Honor Grainger-Howard

     

     

    Kathryn Grandon

     

     

     

    Richard Hardacre

     

    John Hinton

     

     

    Bryn Hurren

     

     

     

    Leigh Jamieson

     

     

    Robert Lindsay

     

    Elizabeth Malvisi

     

     

     

    Margaret Maybury

     

    Alistair McCraw

     

     

    Mary McLaren

     

     

    Mark Newman

     

     

    Zac Newman

     

     

    John Nunn

     

     

    Adrian Osborne

     

     

    Jan Osborne

     

     

     

    Alison Owen

     

    Lee Parker

     

     

    Stephen Plumb

     

     

    John Ward

     

     

    TOTAL     24

    TOTAL     7

     

     

     

    It was RESOLVED:-

     

    3.1 That the HRA Budget proposals for 2021/22 and four-year outlook set out in the report be approved.

     

    3.2 That the CPI + 1% increase of 1.5% in Council House rents, equivalent to an average rent increase of £1.35 a week be implemented.

     

    3.3 That garage rents are kept at the same level as 2020/21.

     

    3.4 That Sheltered Housing Service charges be increased by £0.69 per week to ensure recovery of the actual cost of service.

     

    3.5 That Sheltered Housing utility charges are kept at the same level as 2020/21.

     

    3.6 That the budgeted surplus of £127k be transferred to the Strategic Priorities reserve in 2021/22.

     

    3.7 That in principle, Right to Buy (RTB) receipts should be retained to enable continued development and acquisition of new council dwellings.

    Recorded Vote
    TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
    To Vote on the Amendment from The Green Party as detailed in the meeting reports pack. Motion

    We have set out this amendment to help us with the worsening Climate crisis and to help the council meet the commitment it has made to net zero climate emissions by 2030.

     

    In proposal 2.2 of the Councils Carbon Reduction Plan we have committed to “seek the resources to assess the environmental performance of our housing stock.” And in proposal 2.3 we state that we will “Implement a programme of upgrades to heating systems in council stock, replacing oil systems wherever possible and prioritising heat pumps where appropriate”.

     

    To ensure progress is made in the retrofitting of our housing stock and to ensure residents have healthy, secure, and warm housing we propose that £2,000,000 be made available from the housing revenue reserves. This will be in addition to the money already earmarked for retrofit this year by the housing team. It can also be used to assist the housing team to identify the best properties, area and approach for this work.

    Rejected
    To Vote on Recommendations 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7 as detailed in report BC/20/25 Resolution

    3.1 That the HRA Budget proposals for 2021/22 and four-year outlook set out in the report be approved.

     

    3.2 That the CPI + 1% increase of 1.5% in Council House rents, equivalent to an average rent increase of £1.35 a week be implemented.

     

    3.3 That garage rents are kept at the same level as 2020/21.

     

    3.4 That Sheltered Housing Service charges be increased by £0.69 per week to ensure recovery of the actual cost of service.

     

    3.5 That Sheltered Housing utility charges are kept at the same level as 2020/21.

     

    3.6 That the budgeted surplus of £127k be transferred to the Strategic Priorities reserve in 2021/22.

     

    3.7 That in principle, Right to Buy (RTB) receipts should be retained to enable continued development and acquisition of new council dwellings.

    Carried
  • View Recorded Vote for this item
  • 61.

    RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM CABINET / COMMITTEES

    • View the background to item 61.

    62.

    BC/20/26 JOINT CAPITAL, INVESTMENT AND TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 2 MB

    • View the background to item 62.

    Chair of Joint Audit and Standards Committee

     

    At its meeting on 25 January 2021, Joint Audit and Standards Committee considered Paper JAC/20/10, the Joint Capital, Investment and Treasury Management Strategies.  Paper BC/20/26 now includes all the relevant updated information following consideration by the Joint Audit and Standards Committee, together with the necessary recommendations.

     

     

    Minutes:

    Full Minutes to follow.

    To Vote on Recommendations 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7 as detailed in report BC/20/26.

    In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.3, the vote was recorded as follows:

    For

    Against

    Abstain

    Clive Arthey

     

     

    Sue Ayres

     

     

    Melanie Barrett

     

     

    Peter Beer

     

     

    Dave Busby

     

     

    Sue Carpendale

     

     

     

    Trevor Cresswell

     

    Derek Davis

     

     

    Sian Dawson

     

     

    Mick Fraser

     

     

    Jane Gould

     

     

    Honor Grainger-Howard

     

     

    Kathryn Grandon

     

     

     

    Richard Hardacre

     

    John Hinton

     

     

    Bryn Hurren

     

     

    Leigh Jamieson

     

     

     

     

    Robert Lindsay

    Elizabeth Malvisi

     

     

     

    Margaret Maybury

     

    Alistair McCraw

     

     

    Mary McLaren

     

     

    Mark Newman

     

     

    Zac Norman

     

     

    John Nunn

     

     

    Adrian Osborne

     

     

    Jan Osborne

     

     

    Alison Owen

     

     

    Lee Parker

     

     

    Stephen Plumb

     

     

    TOTAL     26

    TOTAL    3

    TOTAL   1

     

    It was RESOLVED:-

     

    3.1 The Joint Capital Strategy for 2021/22, including the Prudential Indicators, as set out in Appendix A.

    3.2 The Joint Investment Strategy for 2021/22, as set out in Appendix B.

    3.3 The Joint Treasury Management Strategy for 2021/22, including the Joint Annual Investment Strategy as set out in Appendix C.

    3.4 The Joint Treasury Management Indicators as set out in Appendix D.

    3.5 The Joint Treasury Management Policy Statement as set out in Appendix G.

    3.6 The Joint Minimum Revenue Provision Statement as set out in Appendix H.

    3.7 That the key factors and information relating to and affecting treasury management activities set out in Appendices E, F, and I be noted.

     

    Recorded Vote
    TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
    To Vote on Recommendations 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, and 3.7 as detailed in report BC/20/26 Resolution

    That the following be approved:

     

    3.1 The Joint Capital Strategy for 2021/22, including the Prudential Indicators, as set out in Appendix A.

     

    3.2 The Joint Investment Strategy for 2021/22, as set out in Appendix B.

     

    3.3 The Joint Treasury Management Strategy for 2021/22, including the Joint Annual Investment Strategy as set out in Appendix C.

     

    3.4 The Joint Treasury Management Indicators as set out in Appendix D.

     

    3.5 The Joint Treasury Management Policy Statement as set out in Appendix G.

     

    3.6 The Joint Minimum Revenue Provision Statement as set out in Appendix H.

     

    3.7 That the key factors and information relating to and affecting treasury management activities set out in Appendices E, F, and I be noted.

    Carried
  • View Recorded Vote for this item
  • 63.

    COUNCILLOR APPOINTMENTS

    • View the background to item 63.

    Minutes:

    63.      There were no Councillor Appointments.

    64.

    MOTION ON NOTICE

    • View the background to item 64.

    To consider the Motion on Notice received from Councillor Cresswell:

     

     

    That this council does not have faith in the leadership of John Ward and asks that he resigns with immediate effect.

     

     

    Proposer: Cllr Trevor Cresswell

    Seconder: Cllr Allison Owen

     

    Minutes:

    Full Minutes to follow.

    Recorded Vote
    TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
    To Vote on Motion received from from Councillor Cresswell - That this Council does not have faith in the leadership of John Ward and asks that he resigns with immediate effect. Resolution Rejected
  • View Recorded Vote for this item
  •