Venue: King Edmund Chamber, Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich. View directions
Contact: Committee Services
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DECLARATION OF INTERESTS BY COUNCILLORS Minutes: 17.1 Dispensations had been granted by the Monitoring Officer to all councillors for Item 18 - Recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel.
17.2 Members who were on the Boards of the Council’s companies had been granted dispensations from the Monitoring Officer with regard to Item 11 - CIFCO Business Trading and Performance report.
There were no other declarations of interests by Councillors.
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BC/22/24 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 6 OCTOBER 2022 PDF 127 KB To follow Minutes: It was RESOLVED:-
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 October 2022 be confirmed and signed as a true record.
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BC/22/25 ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND LEADER PDF 17 KB In addition to any announcements made at the meeting, please see Paper BC/22/25 attached, detailing events attended by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
Minutes: 19.1 The Chair referred councillors to paper BC/22/25 for noting and asked Councillors to save 28th January 2023 in their diaries to attend an event to support the Chairman’s charity.
19.2 The Chair invited the Leader of the Council to make his announcements.
19.3 Councillor John Wards announcements were as follows:-
Corks Lane Along with Cllrs Busby and Dawson, I recently went on a site visit and photo shoot to our former offices in Hadleigh to view the works and talk to the developers. Good progress is being made and they expect that the first apartments will be on sale next summer.
West Suffolk Operational Hub I also visited the new West Suffolk Operational Hub last week with Cllrs Arthey, Busby and Malvisi. This is an excellent facility that combines facilities for their vehicles, storage, workshops, a waste transfer station and a household waste recycling centre. It gives us a pointer to what we could do as we look to providing a new depot for our districts.
Innovation Awards Last week the second Babergh and Mid Suffolk Innovation Awards ceremony was held and, unlike the first which was an online event held during lockdown two years ago, this time it was a gala evening at Wherstead Park. Unfortunately, I was unable to be there as it clashed with a wedding in Warwickshire, but, from all the reports I have received, it was a great success.
There were very worthy winners and a strong field of candidates that represent a breadth of businesses across our districts – and which show that innovation is happening in many sectors. There were 22 finalists in 8 categories and also a Business Innovator of the Year award. I really want to say a big thank you to the Economic Development and Communications teams for putting in a huge amount of effort to make the evening so successful and so much fun for everyone.
Town and Parish Council Briefing Notes Finally, I just want to make a plea for the Town and Parish Council briefing notes. Each month we produce this round-up of all that has happened at Babergh for you to pass on to your communities at Town and Parish Council meetings. These are designed to be entirely factual and non-political and are there to make your reporting job easier. I do urge you all to use them, either verbatim or to weave into your own narrative should you wish. They are informative and do contain the sorts of things that the public would find interesting. If anyone has ideas for improving them, please let us know.
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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: 20.1 None received.
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QUESTIONS BY THE PUBLIC IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES 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: 21.1 None received.
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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: 22.1 None received.
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BC/22/26 OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE REPORT PDF 100 KB Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee Minutes: 23.1 The Chair invited Councillor Hinton to introduce report BC/22/26.
23.2 Councillor Hinton highlighted the key items within the report including the CIFCO business trading and performance report where it was recommended that future business plans be scrutinised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and then reported to Council to allow all Councillors to take ownership.
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TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM CABINET MEMBERS PDF 82 KB CMU1 – Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments Minutes: 24.1 The Chair invited Councillor Busby, Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments to introduce report CMU1.
24.2 Councillor Busby introduced the report and invited questions from Council.
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RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CABINET / COMMITTEES |
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JAC/21/33 ANNUAL TREASURY MANAGEMENT REPORT – 2021/22 PDF 543 KB Chair of Joint Audit and Standards Committee
At its meeting on 25 July 2022, Joint Audit and Standards Committee considered Paper JAC/21/33 attached.
RECOMMENDATION TO BOTH COUNCILS
3.1 That the treasury management activity for the year 2021/22 as set out in this report and appendices be noted. 3.2 That it be noted that both Councils activity was in accordance with the approved Prudential Indicators for 2021/22.
RECOMMENDATION TO BABERGH COUNCIL
3.3 That it be noted that Babergh District Council’s treasury management activity for 2021/22 was in accordance with the approved Treasury Management Strategy, and that, except for one occasion when the Council exceeded its daily bank account limit with Lloyds, as mentioned in Appendix C, paragraph 4.1, the Council has complied with all the Treasury Management Indicators for this period
Minutes: 25.1 The Chair invited Councillor Hurren to introduce report JAC/21/33.
25.2 Councillor Hurren highlighted the key points in the report and PROPOSED the recommendations.
25.3 Councillor Hinton enquired when the investment in the Funding Circle would end.
25.4 The Director – Corporate Resources replied that an update would be made in the half year Treasury Management report which was going to the Joint Audit and Standards Committee meeting in November.
25.5 Councillor John Ward SECONDED the recommendations and by a unanimous vote,
It was RESOLVED:-
1.1 That the treasury management activity for the year 2021/22 as set out in the report and appendices be noted.
1.2 That it be noted that both Councils activity was in accordance with the approved Prudential Indicators for 2021/22.
1.3 That it be noted that Babergh District Council’s treasury management activity for 2021/22 was in accordance with the approved Treasury Management Strategy, and that, except for one occasion when the Council exceeded its daily bank account limit with Lloyds, as mentioned in Appendix C, paragraph 4.1, the Council has complied with all the Treasury Management Indicators for this period.
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Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments Additional documents:
Minutes: 26.1 The Chair invited Councillor Busby to introduce report BC/22/27.
26.2 Councillor Busby introduced the report which looked at the performance of CIFCO Capital during financial year 2021/2022 and set out the direction of travel for financial year 2022/2023.
26.3 Councillor Hinton queried the wording of recommendation 3.3 as it differed from the recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
26.4 Councillor Busby and Councillor Ward as proposer and seconder of the recommendations in the report agreed to adopt the wording from Overview and Scrutiny Committee, therefore recommendation 3.3 should read ‘That future CIFCO Business Plans continue to be scrutinised by the Councils’ Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee and then reported to Council’.
26.5 Councillor Jamieson asked what mitigations were being put in place to deal with the deteriorating economic situation, Councillor Busby explained that rents had not been affected and this was likely to continue, and work was ongoing to minimise the affect of rising interest rates.
26.6 Councillors debated issues in the report including ensuring scrutiny of CIFCO by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee continued, CIFCO’s good performance through the pandemic and reassurance that this looks to continue through the current economic situation.
26.7 Councillor Busby asked Sir Christopher Howarth, Chair of CIFCO Board to speak on behalf of the CIFCO Board about the upcoming 12 months.
26.8 The Chair of CIFCO stated that it was hard to predict what was going to happen, however having a diverse portfolio which was set across different sectors and different sizes with a good range of tenants, had allowed it to perform well over a challenging couple of years. He also stated that the portfolio was seen as an income generating portfolio, the key role of the board was to look forward and negotiate to take out risks of some of the upcoming circumstances. The feeling of the board was that over the next couple of years the portfolio would remain strong despite the challenges.
26.9 Councillor Ward SECONDED the recommendations and by a vote of 15 votes for and 1 abstention,
It was RESOLVED:-
1.1 That the CIFCO Capital Ltd activity and performance for the year to 31st March 2022 be noted.
1.2 That CIFCO Capital Ltd’s 2022/23 Business Plan be approved for adoption by CIFCO Capital Ltd.
1.3 That future CIFCO Business Plans continue to be scrutinised by the Councils’ Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee and then reported to Council.
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EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC (WHICH TERM INCLUDES THE PRESS) To consider whether, pursuant to Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public should 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 author of the report proposed to be considered in Part 2 of the Agenda is satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
Minutes: It was 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 discussion of this item, it is likely that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as indicated in the report.
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RESTRICTED APPENDIX - CIFCO CAPITAL LTD BUSINESS PLAN (Exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1) Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments |
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RE-ADMITTANCE OF THE PUBLIC (WHICH TERM INCLUDES THE PRESS) |
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BC/22/28 JOINT LOCAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME 2022-2025 PDF 135 KB Cabinet Member for Planning Additional documents: Minutes: 30.1 The Chair invited Councillor Arthey to introduce report BC/22/28.
30.2 Councillor Arthey introduced the report, highlighted the key points and PROPOSED the recommendations within the report.
30.3 Councillor Busby asked how this would affect future planning decisions.
30.4 Councillor Arthey replied that this document would carry no weight in future planning decisions however it would timetable the Joint Local Plan works and the supplementary planning documents which would carry weight in planning decisions.
30.5 Councillor Hinton asked if the Biodiversity and Tree SPD would give trees more protection, Councillor Arthey replied that it would by increasing the importance of trees and biodiversity in developments.
30.6 Councillor Gould asked if the LCWIP and sustainable travel strategies would feed into this document, the Corporate Manager – Strategic Planning confirmed that the Local Cycling Walking Infrastructure Plan was very much connected to the Local Plan in the implementation of the transport policies.
30.7 Councillor Jamieson asked what the risks were that if the plan would not be completed before the election next year. Councillor Arthey replied that according to the timetable, part 1 would be completed but part 2 would be running over the election period.
30.8 Councillors debated the issues in the report including the length of time it had taken to construct the Plan, the importance of having an up to date plan and the increase in numbers of neighbourhood plans.
30.9 Councillor Busby SECONDED the recommendations and by a unanimous vote,
It was RESOLVED:-
That the Babergh and Mid Suffolk Joint Local Development Scheme 2022-2025 (October 2022) (Appendix A of the report) be agreed to be brought into effect from 31st October 2022.
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Chief Executive
Additional documents: Minutes: 31.1 The Chair invited the Chief Executive to introduce report BC/22/29.
31.2 The Chief Executive explained that as a Monitoring Officer was not able to be appointed at the last council meeting it was necessary to use his delegated powers outside of the meeting to appoint a Monitoring Officer and this report is to ask the Council to ratify the decision to appoint Ifty Ali as Interim Monitoring Officer.
31.3 Councillor Ward PROPOSED the recommendation which was SECONDED by Councillor Davis and by a unanimous vote,
It was RESOLVED:
That Council ratifies the decision taken under delegated powers by the Chief Executive as detailed in Appendix A of the report.
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BC/22/30 DRAFT 2023/24 TIMETABLE OF MEETINGS PDF 68 KB Leader of the Council Additional documents: Minutes: 32.1 The Chair invited Councillor Ward to introduce report BC/22/30.
32.2 Councillor Ward introduced the report and PROPOSED the recommendations.
32.3 Councillor Hinton queried that there was a planning meeting scheduled for the day before the elections in May 2023, the Corporate Manager Governance and Civic Office stated that this was correct as regulatory committees were able to continue during the moratorium period.
32.4 Councillor McLaren SECONDED the recommendations and by a unanimous vote,
It was RESOLVED:
1.1 That the draft Committee Timetable for 2022/23, attached as Appendix A be approved.
1.2 That the Chief Executive calls the meetings in accordance with the agreed Timetable unless there is insufficient business for the meeting to go ahead.
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BC/22/31 RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE INDEPENDENT REMUNERATION PANEL PDF 135 KB Independent Remuneration Panel Additional documents:
Minutes: 33.1 The Chair invited the Corporate Manager, Governance and Civic Office to introduce report BC/22/31 on behalf of the Independent Remuneration Panel.
33.2 The Corporate Manager, Governance and Civic Office introduced the report and explained the Panel’s process and other key information in the report.
33.3 The Chair PROPOSED the recommendations in the report which were SECONDED by Councillor Jan Osborne.
33.4 Councillor Ward PROPOSED amendments to the recommendations which were detailed in Appendix F of the report and explained the reasoning behind the suggested amendments which were the result of the deliberations of a cross party working group. The amendments were SECONDED by Councillor Hinton.
33.5 The amendments to the recommendations were accepted by Councillor Grandon and Councillor Jan Osborne. By a unanimous vote, the amended recommendations were accepted.
33.6 Councillors debated the key points in the report and amended recommendations including the timing of the implementation of the revised members allowance scheme, the need to have relevant allowances to encourage more people to become councillors, the implementation of a childcare and dependents allowance and the formulation of a parental leave policy.
33.7 By a vote of 15 votes for and 1 abstention,
It was RESOLVED:-
1.1a That the Basic (Ward Representation) Allowance be set at £6,510.
1.1b That the Special Responsibility Allowances (SRA) be set at:-
1.1c That no Councillor will be entitled to claim more than two SRA’s
1.1d That the Travel and Subsistence Allowance be set as the maximum levels payable to council staff in line with HM Revenue advertised Customs’ rates. Currently at:-
Mileage Rate 45p per mile Cycle Mileage Rate 27.7p per mile Passenger Allowance 5p per mile
1.1e That the Childcare and Dependants Allowance be set at:-
Childcare Allowance up to £13 per hour (subject to a receipt) Dependants Relative Care/Specialist Nursing Care Allowance up to £30 per hour (subject to a receipt)
With no cap on the maximum amount you can claim per month for approved duties.
1.2 That the revised Members Allowance Scheme will take effect from 8th May 2023.
1.3 That the revised Basic Allowance be increased in line with the Local Government Officer pay awards until the scheme is next reviewed in 2026 or earlier. If future officer pay award was to be in the form of a lump sum the increase would be calculated by establishing the percentage increase of the lump sum using the council’s average ... view the full minutes text for item 33.
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COUNCILLOR APPOINTMENTS Minutes: 34.1 There were no changes to placings.
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MOTIONS ON NOTICE Minutes: 35.1 There were no motions on notice.
35.2 The Chair informed Councillors that the Motion from Councillor Lindsay that was due to come back to this meeting was currently with legal officers for sign off and would be coming forward to the next meeting.
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