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DECLARATION OF INTERESTS BY COUNCILLORS To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests, other registrable or non-registrable interests by Members.
Minutes: 16.1 There were no declarations of interests by Councillors.
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BC/22/5 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING HELD ON 25 MAY 2022 PDF 342 KB Minutes: It was RESOLVED:-
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 25th May 2022 be confirmed and signed as a true record.
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BC/22/6 ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND LEADER PDF 19 KB In addition to any announcements made at the meeting, please see Paper BC/22/6 attached, detailing events attended by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
Minutes: 18.1 The Chair referred Councillors to Paper BC/22/6 and also informed Councillors that she had attended an event earlier in the day in Framlingham to mark the official start of Suffolk Day.
18.2 The Chair also draw Councillors’ attention to the forthcoming Armed Forces Day event due to be held in Hadleigh on Thursday 23rd June.
18.3 Councillor Ward made the following announcements:
Gt Yarmouth Market It was a busy month for me. It started on the 1st with an invitation to the official opening of the first phase of the new market in Great Yarmouth. The total project cost was £4.6m, partly funded by the council but also with Future High Streets Fund support. The town was bustling and thriving, having had a bumper tourism season last year due to travel restrictions and expecting similar this Summer. It was bit galling that they are category 1 for the Levelling Up Fund, which they hope to take advantage of, while we languish in category 3.
And on the evening of the 1st, I was invited to attend a major road accident training exercise by the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service at Assington Autos. This was their biggest training drill in two decades and it was very interesting to see the detail and complexity that goes into a response – and to see the variety of equipment that they can draw on to help the victims and save lives.
Jubilee Like many of you, I attended several Jubilee events in my ward, all of which were very well attended and enjoyable. The weather threatened on the Sunday, but it did remain dry, if a little chilly. We had about 200 at the Polstead beacon lighting on a warm Thursday evening in an idyllic location with views across to Stoke by Nayland where we could see their beacon.
6th June On 6th June, along with Cllr Davis, I was invited to the mast lowering ceremony at HMS Ganges. After several years of inactivity, this site is now on the way to being redeveloped into a vibrant new community with residential, commercial, retail and leisure facilities. The mast will be renovated and returned to its position at the centre of the site.
Later, I watched the Women’s Tour speed through Raydon in a slight drizzle at lunchtime as I headed for Shimpling to see Mount Farm Vineyard with Cllr Holt and Michelle Gordon. They have a great idea for a tourism theme linking all the vineyards along the Stour valley. This would sit well with the artistic and heritage offerings in Babergh.
Sudbury On Thursday last week, I attended the preview of the ‘What’s Next for Sudbury?’ exhibition. A lot of work was put into this, and it is gratifying to know that is was so well attended over the three days it was on. There was a total of 442 visitors – members of the public, business representatives and county, district and town councillors. We have had ... view the full minutes text for item 18. |
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TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 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: 19.1 None received.
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QUESTIONS BY THE PUBLIC IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES PDF 224 KB The Chairman of the Council 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: 20.1 The Chair invited Mr Riley to ask his question to Councillor Ward, Leader of the Council.
Question 1 Mr Riley to Councillor Ward, Leader of the Council
What possible justification is there for £9,000 a month to be spent every month on security for the Corks Lane properties?
Response
Thank you for your question, Mr Riley.
The justification is to protect the premises. It has been necessary to have 24/7 security in operation at Corks Lane in Hadleigh due to the level of break-ins and anti-social behaviour that was occurring at the vacant site. I am sure you will agree that we couldn’t leave it unattended.
The security presence on site has reduced this activity: it has protected the listed buildings from damage and vandalism and reduced the impact of any anti-social behaviour on the immediate neighbours and community.
Security will be provided by our contractors as part of the development once the works commence on site in August.
Supplementary Question
If Babergh is not making money out of the project, who is?
Response
Mr Riley you have stated that Babergh would break even or make a slight loss, Babergh has never said that. This Council has always said we will break even or make a profit. We are redeveloping the site, we will break even or make a profit more likely the latter. It is a project which has been delayed unfortunately but we are finally making progress with it and indeed it will allow me to honour a commitment that I and my colleagues opposite made in our manifesto in 2019.
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QUESTIONS BY COUNCILLORS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES The Chairman of the Council, the Chairmen 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 No. 13.
Minutes: 21.1 None received.
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BC/22/7 THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT BUSINESS PLAN PDF 472 KB Cabinet Member for Housing Additional documents:
Minutes: 22.2 The Chair invited Councillor Jan Osborne – Cabinet Member for Housing to introduce Paper BC/22/7.
22.3 Councillor Beer referred to several pages within the report and asked when improved car parking, the satisfaction of residents and other priorities would be addressed.
22.4 Councillor Jan Osborne replied that the council was working with Suffolk County Council to make improvements to car parking provision, a garage review was underway, and an update was scheduled to be tabled at the September Cabinet meeting. Also, a lot of work was being undertaken alongside partners regarding anti-social behaviour.
22.5 Councillor Beer stated that he would appreciate more information regarding the improvements to car parking.
22.6 Councillor Hinton referred to page 35 of the report where it mentioned both rent increases and a rent freeze and asked for this to be clarified. He also asked why there was no mention of solar panels within the environmental section of the report.
22.7 Councillor Osborne advised councillors to watch the recording of the housing briefing held on 20th June which gave a thorough update on what the housing team had done over the last 12 months and what was planned for the next 12 months.
22.8 Gavin Fisk – Assistant Director for Housing thanked the councillors for their kind words regarding him leaving the council and stated that solar panels were going to be key to improving energy performance of existing homes and apologised for any confusion regarding rent freezes. He clarified that on page 43, scenario 2 looked at the impact of a potential rent freeze in 2023/24, this was one of a number of alternative impact examples.
22.9 Councillor Ward thanked the Assistant Director for Housing for the clarity regarding a likely rent freeze and stated that more than 65 houses a year for the next 5 years would need to be built to fulfil the numbers of social and affordable housing outlined in the Joint Local Plan.
22.10 Councillor Ayres expressed her concern regarding digital transformation and asked what support would be given to those unable to use or access the service digitally.
22.11 Councillor Jan Osborne gave assurance that ongoing support would be given and that choices on how to access the housing services were being increased not decreased.
22.12 The Assistant Director – Housing stated that people skill training was being embarked on in some sheltered housing schemes and an update on that would be brought to a future meeting.
22.13 Councillor Beer enquired why grass cutting was being reduced.
22.14 Councillor Jan Osborne replied that grass cutting was being reduced as part of the biodiversity plans to avoid and encourage wildflower areas.
22.15 Councillor Melanie Barrett commented that an increase in council owned properties would also mean an increase in maintenance costs, and it was not clear if this was reflected in the report, she also asked if the measures available to councils to ask residents to renew their tenancy agreement after five years was being used to good effect ... view the full minutes text for item 22. |
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BC/22/8 OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2021/22 PDF 218 KB Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee Additional documents: Minutes: 23.1 The Chair invited Councillor McLaren to introduce Paper BC/22/8.
23.2 Councillor Maybury asked why the review of Shared Legal Services was only monetary and not a review of the whole service.
23.3 Councillor McLaren replied that this was because a member of the public had raised concerns regarding the Shared Legal Services costs.
23.4 The Monitoring Officer said that any issue regarding the Shared Legal Services could be directed to her.
23.5 Councillor Maybury enquired about the increased funding for Citizens Advice.
23.6 Councillor McLaren replied that the recommendation from Overview and Scrutiny regarding the index linked increase of funding for Citizens Advice was due to be presented at the September Cabinet Meeting.
23.7 Councillor Melanie Barrett asked if the call-in process was sufficient when the option can be removed by Cabinet.
23.8 Councillor McLaren stated that there was some misunderstanding regarding the call-in process and detailed the 3 options available.
23.9 The Chair thanked Councillor McLaren for her report.
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BC/22/9 OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE WORK PLAN 2022/23 PDF 217 KB Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Additional documents: Minutes: 24.1 The Chair invited Councillor Hinton to introduce Paper BC/22/9 which detailed the upcoming works planned for Overview and Scrutiny.
24.2 Councillor Simon Barrett stated that he was looking forward to working with Councillor Hinton as the new Chair of Overview and Scrutiny.
24.3 The Chair thanked Councillor Hinton for his report.
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Leader of the Council Additional documents: Minutes: 25.1 The Chair invited Councillor Ward to introduce Paper BC/22/10 which detailed the general exception decision taken by Cabinet under delegated powers.
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COUNCILLOR APPOINTMENTS Minutes: 26.1 There were no new councillor appointments.
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MOTIONS ON NOTICE Minutes: 27.1 There were no Motions on Notice.
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