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Contact: Committee Services
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive apologies for absence. Minutes: 29.1 Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Ayres, Councillor Sue Burgoyne, Councillor Peter Burgoyne, Councillor Burrows, Councillor Ferguson, Councillor Holt, Councillor Jenkins, Councillor Maybury, Councillor Nunn, Councillor Rose and Councillor Steer. |
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DECLARATION OF INTERESTS BY COUNCILLORS Minutes: 30.1 Councillor Busby, being a board member of the Babergh Holding Board for CIFCO declared a local non pecuniary interest in Item 12 and item 14 (BC/18/15) Capital investment Fund company (CIFCO Capital LTD) Business trading and Performance Report. |
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BC/18/12 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 19 JUNE 2018 PDF 363 KB Minutes: It was Resolved:-
That subject to Minute 19.14 being amended to read “Minute 19.7” the Minutes of the meeting held on the 19 June 2018 were approved as a true record. |
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BC/18/13 ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND LEADER PDF 28 KB In addition to any announcements made at the meeting, please see Paper BC/18/13 attached, detailing events attended by the Chair and Vice-Chair. Minutes: 32.1 The Chairman introduced his report and drew attention to two errors contained in the report. Firstly, that he had not attended the NSPCC AGM and reception held at Orwell Park due to an error in his diary and secondly that the Vice Chair was in attendance at Suffolk Day.
32.2 The Chairman then invited the Leader to present his report.
32.3 The Leader announced that Councillor Patrick had stepped down from the Cabinet. In view of this the Leader had taken on the responsibility for the Finance Portfolio. Councillor Simon Barrett had been appointed as the Cabinet Member for the Economy and had re-joined the Conservative Group.
32.4 The Leader updated the Council on the Suffolk Public Sectors Leaders meeting that had taken place on 13 July 2018. At the meeting the Leaders had reviewed a number of proposals for projects to be funded from the business rate retention pilot that was taking place in the County this year.
32.5 Each district had submitted a list of projects that could be funded through the business rates collected. The Babergh list included the following items:-
· Sudbury Town Centre Regeneration · Angel Court redevelopment and work around the Delphi site · Newton Road and the South Suffolk Business Area of Sudbury · Smart Grid Energy Project for the former Sproughton Sugar Beet Site (potentially joint funded with IBC)
32.6 The Leader went on to say that he would update Council further once details of the funding that had been granted was known.
32.7 Suffolk Public Sector Leaders had also agreed to support bids from the pooled business rates as follows:-
· £200k with a possible further £200k to tackle youth unemployment in the county. · £255k for the Safer and Stronger Community Group to support its ongoing work, particularly in tackling domestic abuse.
32.8 Commenting further the Leader reported that the Suffolk Growth Portfolio Holders Group had also made a recommendation to Suffolk Public Sector Leaders to back three priority infrastructure projects.
32.9 The Leader reported that he and the Deputy Leader had taken part in a question and answer session at Shotley. Twenty two residents had attended and had asked questions on a range of topics including specific planning applications of interest and the possibilities and options for local government reorganisation in Suffolk.
32.10 Finally, the Leader was pleased to announce that he had attended the East Anglia Building Excellence awards where the Council’s new social housing at Meadow Close Lavenham was shortlisted, in addition the Building Control team were involved in winning an award for the best individual house. |
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TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 10, 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: 33.1 The Corporate Manager for Democratic Services reported that a petition had been received for the Cuckoo Hill planning application signed by 872 people. |
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QUESTIONS BY THE PUBLIC IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES The Committee Chairs 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. 11. Minutes: 34.1 There were no questions received. |
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QUESTIONS BY COUNCILLORS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES PDF 123 KB The Chairman of the Council, the 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 No. 12. Minutes: 35.1 The following questions were received in accordance with Council Procedure 12:-
Councillor Bavington to the Leader of the Council
My questions are all to do with the continued productive existence of high precision engineering manufacture on the Sudbury site, making use of the outstanding levels of skill and professionalism of the existing workforce, when the production transfer of Delphi Technologies to Romania is completed in summer 2020; and the support that Babergh District Council can and will give to ensure that there is a successful and smooth transition of the site to a new employer who will be able to employ those outstanding skills to continue high precision engineering in the Sudbury area.
1. Are you aware that: · the Delphi Sudbury site gives employment not just to people who live in Sudbury itself but to those who live in surrounding villages, for example Great Cornard? · Delphi supports other small engineering companies in the local area and beyond? · Delphi wage levels are the benchmark for the whole Sudbury sub-district area? 2. Do you accept that the loss of high precision engineering to the local economy will undermine the ambitions laid out in the recently published ‘Sudbury Vision for Prosperity’ document? 3. Has Babergh District Council commissioned an Economic Impact Assessment of the devastating effects full Delphi site closure would have on the local economy? 4. What active steps is Babergh taking to encourage a new employer with a good business fit in high-precision automotive or aerospace related industries to take over the site and take the development of this uniquely talented workforce to the next level? 5. What financial incentives, for example business rate relief and business development grants, are the Council offering to suitable potential employers to take on this site without any time gap once Delphi leave in 2020? 6. What co-ordination is there between Babergh District Council and the South Suffolk Taskforce set up by James Cartlidge M.P.? Is Babergh contributing to the ‘Options Appraisal’ apparently being undertaken and will he ensure that any report is published in a reasonable timescale? 7. As far as I am aware, there has been no discussion of this issue at either Council or Cabinet. What steps will you take to ensure that the Council is kept informed of the steps you are taking to preserve this unique high-precision machine tool design manufacturing capability in the most highly populated corner of our district?
Response from the Leader, Councillor John Ward
In terms of the employment in Sudbury and surrounding villages. Yes, obviously I and also my colleagues are aware of the impact on employment in all of the villages and communities around Sudbury, we know that the Delphi site is a major employer and as members and representatives for those communities, we are acutely aware of the impact. That is why we are working hard to come to a resolution and a way forward for this. In terms of the other small engineering companies, again yes I and other members ... view the full minutes text for item 35. |
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TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM CABINET MEMBERS PDF 114 KB CMU9 – Cabinet Member for Assets and Investment CMU10 – Cabinet Member for Communications CMU11 – Cabinet Member for Communities CMU12 – Cabinet Member for Economy CMU13 – Cabinet Member for Environment CMU14 – Cabinet Member for Finance CMU15 – Cabinet Member for Housing CMU16 – Leader & Cabinet Member for OD (Law and Governance) CMU17 – Cabinet Member for Organisational Delivery CMU18 – Cabinet Member for Planning Additional documents:
Minutes: 36.1 Councillor Ward introduced the reports and invited questions from Members:-
8a. CMU9 Cabinet Member for Assets and Investment – Councillor Lawrenson
Councillor Arthey to Councillor Lawrenson
Q. The Council recently gifted a property known as the Gainsborough Chambers, how does this compare with the ongoing negotiations with Lavenham Parish Council about the future of the Tourist Information Centre?
Response: Councillor Lawrenson
A. Nothing is effectively off the table at this point, negotiations are continuing so it would be unwise of me to pre-empt anything at this stage.
Councillor Arthey to Councillor Lawrenson
Q. In paragraph 3.2 of the report it provides details about Angel Court and the consultation - how will this be funded?
Response: Councillor Jan Osborne
A. This will be mainly funded by the Housing Revenue Account but also some funding may be supplied from the business rates retention scheme.
8b. CMU10 Cabinet Member for Communications – Councillor Grandon
Councillor Hurren to Councillor Grandon
Q. Can Councillor Grandon explain what is meant by infographics?
Response: Councillor Grandon
A. They are the whizzy designs and illustrations contained in the report. If any Member has any interesting information or case study that they may wish to put forward for the end of term report, could they please send it to the Comms team.
Councillor Hurren to Councillor Grandon
Q. Presumably this is a report on the last four years of this current Council - will it be something that the whole Council can study and approve before it goes out or will it be based on a party- political basis?
Response: Councillor Grandon
A. It is still in the early stages of being formulated, but it is something the whole Council can contribute to. As to whether the whole Council will be approving it, I don’t think that will be the case, however there is a team working on it to produce a well- balanced interesting report.
Councillor Hurren to Councillor Grandon
Q. Who makes the decision about what is included in the report?
Response: Councillor Grandon
A. There is a cross party group working on this. There will more information on this in the next report, I was merely referring to this earlier for those Members that are here today who may wish to submit information for it.
Councillor McCraw to Councillor Grandon
Q. What is the membership of this Group?
Response: Chief Executive
A. As Councillor Grandon has already said this is not a specific item for this report. However, we will come back in greater detail but perhaps outside of the meeting where we can circulate the full details in that regard, including the initial scoping and the planned timetable.
8c. CMU11 – Cabinet Member for Communities - Councillor Maybury (in the absence of Councillor Maybury, the Leader accepted questions on behalf of the Portfolio Holder)
Councillor Hinton to Councillor Ward
Q. Do members of the Communities Team regularly meet with the SNT’s?
Response: Councillor Ward
A. I will find out and come back to you ... view the full minutes text for item 36. |
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OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE REPORT PDF 338 KB Verbal update from the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Minutes: 37.1 The Overview and Scrutiny Committee report was tabled for reference.
37.2 The Chair of Overview and Scrutiny, Councillor McCraw introduced the report and drew attention to the work of the Committee over May and June and the areas that the Committee had been scrutinising.
37.3 Commenting further, Councillor McCraw highlighted a matter which had been previously referred to the Committee for scrutiny, which was void times for empty Council properties. The reduction in void times was particularly pleasing and Councillor McCraw thanked the previous Chairman for the worked that he carried out on that issue.
37.4 Finally, the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny reported that the Committee had undertaken a robust review of CIFCO and were able to be a lot more confident in the ability of CIFCO to achieve its targets. Copies of that review had been included in the papers relating to the Business Plan for CIFCO LTD.
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BC/18/14 LOCAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME UPDATE PDF 236 KB Cllr Nick Ridley - Cabinet Member for Planning Additional documents: Minutes: 38.1 Councillor Ridley introduced the report and MOVED the recommendations within the report.
38.2 Councillor Ridley went on to highlight the revised timescale to reflect a further round of public consultation to ensure the Joint Local Plan was robust and the Council could take account of the comments made before producing the draft Local Plan for examination. Thus, the Local Development Scheme timetable, proposed submission of the draft plan in the summer of 2018 for examination in late spring/early summer 2019.
38.3 Councillor Beer seconded the report and asked whether the plan would ensure that there was greater autonomy for the planning enforcement team?
38.4 In response Councillor Ridley stated that having a joint up to date plan would enable the Council to be more robust in its decision making and would probably give some additional weight to the decisions that enforcement officers may make.
38.5 Councillor Busby queried that where villages and parishes were working on Neighbourhood plans, what would be the cut off date for them to get them accepted to be included in this Local Plan, and if they produced reports after that would the Joint local plan to be updated to include those?
38.6 In response the Corporate Manager for Strategic Planning stated that Neighbourhood Plans need to be in conformity with the strategic priorities in the Local Plan but were part of the development plan alongside the Local Plan. If a Neighbourhood Plan is more up to date with policies than the Local Plan, then on local matters that would count.
38.7 The Chief Executive added that as there appeared to be a lot of confusion on this issue he suggested that a training session in relation to neighbourhood planning and local plans be provided as soon as possible.
It was Resolved:
That the revised timetable for the preparation of the Joint Local Plan be agreed and the revised Local Development Scheme be brought into effect by 31st July 2018.
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BC/18/14a COUNCILLOR APPOINTMENTS PDF 123 KB Additional documents: Minutes: It was Resolved:
(i) That the Committees’ size and numerical allocation of sheets be approved as detailed in Appendix A to the report.
(ii) That Council notes the following appointments to Committees:-
(a) Councillor Michael Holt appointed to the Planning Committee as a Conservative Group member.
(b) Councillor Melanie Barrett appointed to the Joint Audit and Standards Committee as a Conservative Group member.
(c) Councillor Peter Patrick appointed to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee as a Conservative Group member. |
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Cllr Nick Ridley – Chair of BDC (Suffolk Holdings) Ltd Additional documents:
Minutes: 40.1 Councillor Ridley introduced the report and MOVED the recommendations in the report.
40.2 Commenting further he went on to say that the report was to provide the Council as a 50% shareholder, with an oversight of the CIFCO Capital Ltd performance activity in its first year of trading and its proposed investment strategy for 2018/9 forming the base of trading in year 2.
40.3 Councillor Ridley informed Council that a Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee had reviewed the plan on 28 June 2018 and had resolved that the additional information provided for by the performance of risk reporting structure had reassured the Committee that a reporting structure was in place to enable CIFCO Capital Ltd to achieve its targets within the business plan.
40.4 Councillor Beer seconded the report and reserved the right to speak.
It was Resolved:-
That the CIFCO trading activity and performance for the year to the end of April 2018 be noted.
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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 these items, it is likely that there would be the disclosure to them of exempt information as indicated against each item.
The author(s) of the report(s) proposed to be considered in Part 2 of the Agenda are satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. Minutes: 41.1 On the proposal of Councillor Ward and seconded by Councillor Jan Osborne,
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 in the Minutes 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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CONFIDENTIAL APPENDIX - CIFCO CAPITAL LTD BUSINESS PLAN 2018/19 (Exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1)
Cllr Nick Ridley – Chair of BDC (Suffolk Holdings) Ltd Minutes: It was Resolved:-
That the CIFCO Capital Business Plan 2018/19 be approved.
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BC/18/16 TO CONFIRM THE CONFIDENTIAL MINUTE OF 19 JUNE 2018 MEETING Minutes: It was Resolved:
That the confidential Minute of 19 June 2018 be approved as a true record. |