Agenda and minutes

The Chair was minded moving the Motion on Notice before item 8 on the Agenda.

53.1          In accordance with delegated authority the Monitoring Officer had granted dispensations to all Members in respect of the 2021/22 Budget papers.

53.2          Councillor Jan Osborne declared a local non-pecuniary interest in Item 8 in her capacity as Trustee for the Sudbury and District Citizens Advice.

53.3          Councillor Maybury declared a local non-pecuniary interest in Item 8 in her capacity as Director of Sudbury and District Citizens Advice.

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.

54.1          The Chair of the Council invited the Leader, Councillor Ward to make his announcements.

54.2           Councillor Ward made the following announcements:

Covid-19

The District was now well into a sustained period of significant weekly decreases in infections. The latest data from the Suffolk Coronawatch site showed that in Babergh the infection rate was down to 52.2 per 100,000 which was so much better than a few weeks ago. In total, there had been 3,708 confirmed cases and sadly 209 deaths since the pandemic began, although this latter number was the latest data from the ONS and was only up to 5^th February.

The progress that had been made in recent weeks with the delivery of the vaccines had been amazing. Despite the recent snow, this progress had catapulted Suffolk up the league tables in terms of delivery of the first doses to the first 4 cohorts and the Council was now one of the best-performing parts of the country. Approximately 60,000 vaccinations had now been delivered and capacity was currently standing at 20,400 pw in SNEE and 17,200 in WS. The latest news about the effectiveness of the two vaccines was really encouraging.

The work clearly wasn’t done however, and last week he had met with Ed Garrett from our CCGs to ensure that the Council was working as closely as possible with the NHS to support the delivery of the vaccine. Together they would be targeting resources in getting to the minority that qualify but had not yet received their jab.

It was also really good to see a huge increase in testing capability with the new community testing programme. Rapid asymptomatic testing sites were being rolled out across the county. There was now one in Cornard; Nayland opened yesterday, Holbrook would open on Thursday and Hadleigh on Friday.

He was pleased that the Council had been able to extend the council tax hardship scheme to provide further help to the most vulnerable in the district who had been most impacted by Covid.

In respect of the Government’s plans for leading the country out of lockdown, there were lots of reasons to be hopeful but in the meantime, he would like to reiterate the wider Suffolk messages that Suffolk Needs You: to follow the guidance – hands, face, space; to get tested regularly if you were unable to work from home; and to get your Covid jab when it’s your turn. In return Suffolk Supports You: through Home But Not Alone and our community involvement, the distribution of business grants, self-isolation payments and practical support for those most in need.

Bins

He wanted to pay tribute to the Council’s bin crews who were back out within 48 hours including working on the past two Saturdays, making collections and clearing the backlog as best they could despite the weather. They had now managed to catch up, despite additional staff absences due to several having to go into isolation.

Holiday Hunger

As it was half term last week,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

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.

56.1         The Deputy Monitoring officer reported that the following validated petitions had been received:

1.       364 valid signatures urging the Council to reconsider and continue to fund the Customer Access Point.

2.       34 valid signatures urging the Council to reconsider and continue to fund the Customer Access Point in its current location for at least 2 years.

The petitions would be dealt with through the usual petitions process.

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.

57.       None received.

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.

58.       None received.

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

59.1           The Chair informed Council that she was minded to limit the debate to 30 minutes and invited Councillor Cresswell to move the Motion.

59.2            Councillor Cresswell PROPOSED the Motion as detailed in the agenda and explained why this Motion had been brought to Council.  The Motion was SECONDED by Councillor Owen, who reserved her right to speak.

59.3            Councillor Lindsay began the debate by stating that while he would be voting for the Motion, he was hesitant and felt that the Cabinet system was not working.

59.4            Councillor Beer stated that there had been an opportunity at the recent Cabinet meeting to put questions forward on some of the issues raised, in particular parking in Hadleigh and Sudbury.  The meeting had been attended by some Members however, Councillors Cresswell and Owen had not taken part in the meeting.

59.5            Councillor Ayres supported the Motion as she was elected to represent the interests of her Ward and she has been inundated with letters from constituents expressing their unhappiness with how the Council had been dealing with issues in Sudbury.

59.6            Councillor Jan Osbourne expressed her support for Councillor Ward and stated that she would not be supporting the Motion.

59.7            Councillor Fraser stated that he would not be supporting the Motion and agreed with Councillor Beer that there had been no representation from Sudbury Members at the Cabinet Meeting on 4^th February regarding parking issues. 

59.8            Councillor Malvisi stated that the Cabinet system was working well and that it was Members’ responsibility to attend Cabinet meetings and to question and challenge Cabinet thinking. She stated that since she had become a Cabinet Member, she had never seen a non-Cabinet Member attending Cabinet meetings.

59.9            Councillor Maybury responded that she had attended Cabinet meetings and had asked questions.  She would be supporting the Motion, as she believed Councillor Ward was not fulfilling the roles and functions of all Councillors as set out in the Constitution.

59.10         Councillor McCraw stated that it had been an incredibly difficult year, however, despite this the Council was being presented with a balanced budget and all essential works had continued. The three main issues raised by Councillor Cresswell were the work of a variety of different decision-making processes.  He felt the Motion assigned blame which he felt was not appropriate and he urged Members not to support the Motion.

59.11         Councillor Davis commented that he had been a part of the Cabinet for a while and the current administration was far more cohesive and productive whilst having to make some tough decisions, made for the benefit of the residents of Babergh. These decisions had been taken by Cabinet as a whole not just by Councillor Ward.

59.12         Councillor Hurren stated that he would not be supporting the Motion as he felt it smacked of political opportunity, however he felt that things were being presented badly, which was creating a disconnect.

59.13         Councillor Hardacre stated that he would be supporting the Motion and although the pandemic  ...  view the full minutes text for 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.

60.1           The Chair invited the Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Ward to introduce Paper BC/20/24.

60.2            Councillor Ward provided a summary of the General Fund Budget to Members.  He thanked the Finance Team and the Section 151 Officers for preparing a balanced budget.

60.3            Councillor Ward MOVED the recommendations in the report which was SECONDED by Councillor Arthey.

60.4            Councillor Jamieson introduced his Amendment, as detailed in the Agenda and MOVED the Amendment.

60.5            Councillor Lindsay SECONDED the Amendment.

60.6            The Chair asked Councillor Ward if he accepted the Amendment, to which he responded that he did not.

60.7            Members debated the Amendment and Councillor Arthey said that though he agreed with many of the issues in the Amendment, this was not the right way to achieve them. He addressed the four parts of the Amendment and thought that just allocating money to address issues was not the way and that this required a more constructive approach.

60.8            Councillor Gould thought that climate change was the biggest challenge faced by the Council and she felt that the Council had to do something and needed to speak up for the people they represented.

60.9            Councillor Malvisi said a plan was being followed in relation to biodiversity and that the issues were being addressed. She detailed the various projects and funding for the bio-diversity projects.

60.10         Councillor Jan Osborne responded to the Housing issues and advised Members that a retrofit programme was being defined and funded.  The request in the Amendment was already in the budget for 2021-22.

60.11         Councillor Davis stated that funding for Local Citizens Advice was already in the budget and had recently been scrutinised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

60.12         Councillor McCraw thought that the Amendment was not evidence based.  He pointed Members to the Budget and that Babergh District Council did not have the money due to serious gaps in the budget for the next couple of years.

60.13         Councillor Maybury stated that she supported the Amendment, though there were some points with which she did not agree. However, she agreed with that planning enforcement required additional support and that training was never a waste of time. Further, that the free pre-application advice for community needs, would be a way to help communities in a post-Covid-19 recovery period.  She supported food banks and the funding for an additional Tree Officer to help this department including tree protecting orders.

60.14         Councillor Hinton thought there was some good points within the Amendment but considered if the Council could reduce costs to pay for other services.  He questioned why accommodation costs in Endeavour House were going up next year to £128K.

60.15            Councillor Lindsay, the Seconder of the Amendment, asked that the Members supported the Amendment, as it was very modest sums involved in the projects. The Amendment addressed the priorities of the Council and he questioned whether the Cabinet Members and the Leader were doing enough to deal with the issues addressed in the Amendment. He thought it  ...  view the full minutes text for 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.

61.1          The Chair invited the Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Ward to introduce Paper BC/20/25.

61.2           Councillor Ward introduced the paper and provided a summary of the Housing Revenue Account Budget (HRA) and Four-Year Outlook report.

61.3           Councillor Ward PROPOSED Recommendations 3.1 to 3.7 as detailed in the report.

61.4           Councillor Jan Osborne thanked the Cabinet Member for Finance for his introduction to the report and stated that as Cabinet Member for Housing she was fortunate to see first-hand the work of the Housing Service each day.  She also said that the income received by the HRA was invaluable to support tenants by ensuring the housing provided was safe, decent and somewhere tenants were proud to call home and she SECONDED Councillor Ward’s proposal.

61.5           Councillor Jamieson introduced his Amendment as detailed in the Agenda and PROPOSED the Amendment.

61.6           Councillor Lindsay SECONDED the Amendment and reserved his right to speak.

61.7           The Chair asked Councillor Ward if he accepted the Amendment, to which he replied that he did not.

61.8           Councillor Maybury commented that she agreed with the Amendment because to reduce the Council’s use of fossil fuels and install heat source pumps would be the way forward for the Council.

61.9           Councillor Jan Osborne stated that officers were currently working to develop a revised Housing Revenue Business Plan which would set out the ambitions and investments in the medium to long term and this was expected to be brought forward during the summer after a consultation period involving all Members. Therefore, there was no benefit to creating a specific reserve for the HRA housing stock.

61.10        Councillor McCraw stated that he would not be supporting the Amendment, as it was an ill-defined proposal unsupported by evidence.

61.11        Councillor Lindsay commented that a lot of work had gone into the Amendment and was offended by the assumption that no research had been undertaken.  He said that he appreciated that the team were struggling to undertake an audit of the housing stock in relation to how much energy they were leaking. The process needed to be accelerated and officers needed the money to enable them to undertake this work.

Note: Councillor Holt Left the meeting at 8:43pm.

61.12  The Amendment as detailed in the Agenda was put to Members for voting.

By 9 votes for and 22 votes against, the Amendment was LOST.

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

61.12         Members returned to the original motion and the Chair invited questions.

61.13         Councillor Hinton queried that there was no proposed increase to garage charges  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

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.

63.1          The Chair invited Councillor Hurren to introduce Paper BC/20/26 and to move the Recommendations in the report.

63.2           Councillor Hurren introduced the report and provided a summary of the key information contained within it.

63.3           Councillor Hurren expressed his thanks to the Finance team and PROPOSED Recommendations 3.1 to 3.7 as detailed in the report.

63.4           Councillor McLaren SECONDED the proposal and also expressed her thanks to the Finance team.

Note: Councillor Ward left the meeting at 9:03pm.

63.5 Recommendations 3.1 to 3.7 were put to Members for voting and the vote was CARRIED.

By 26 votes for, 3 votes against and 1 abstention

It was RESOLVED:-

That the following be approved:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

64.1         There were no updates to Councillor Appointments.