Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils
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Agenda and minutes

Venue: King Edmund Chamber, Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich. View directions

Contact: Committee Services 

Note: Note change to start time 

Items
No. Item

163.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS BY COUNCILLORS

Minutes:

2.1                   There were no declarations of interests.

 

164.

BC/19/15 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 23 JULY 2019 pdf icon PDF 452 KB

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED: -

 

That the Minutes of the meeting held on the 23 July 2019 be confirmed and signed as a true record.

 

165.

BC/19/16 ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND LEADER pdf icon PDF 23 KB

In addition to any announcements made at the meeting, please see Paper BC/19/16 attached, detailing events attended by the Chair and Vice-Chair.

 

Minutes:

4.1               The Chair referred to Paper BC/19/16, Announcements from the Chair, which was for noting.

 

4.2                The Chair announced that she was opening the Hadleigh on Show event on the 5th October 2019, and invited Members to attend.

 

4.3                The Chair invited Councillor Ward, the Leader of the Council, to deliver his announcements.

 

4.4                The Leader felt that the Council was often criticised for the work undertaken and that the Council’s successes were often overlooked.  He therefore detailed three recent success stories, which had taken place in the community.

 

4.5                Silk Stories Film

 

On Saturday 7th September the first ever Sudbury Silk Festival was held.  The centrepiece of this was the Silk Stories Film, produced by a team led by Babergh. This had a private showing the previous evening for an invited audience, including many of the workers in the industry and who took part in the film.  Councillor Davis and the Leader were there to represent the Council. The Leader thought the film was an excellent production and he gave his thanks to all involved – the weaving companies, Gainsbourgh’s House, Sudbury Town Council, Sudbury Library – but particularly to the project team, led by Zoey Banthorpe,  Communities Officer - Arts and Wellbeing  and Carole Creasey, and to the film producer Paul Press. He also appreciated the expertise of a talented young professional filmmaker, Councillor Newman’s son Dan who, with help from pupils from the Thomas Gainsborough School and Ormiston Academy, created a very informative and interesting film.

 

4.6                Democracy Presentation to the Sudbury RAFA at Endeavour House

 

Councillors Grandon and Beer recently hosted the Sudbury branch of the Royal Air Force Association (RAFA) here at Endeavour House, giving them a tour of the building and arranged by officers, who provided a presentation of the planning process, showing how democracy works at a local level. The president of the branch had written a letter of thanks for what had been an enjoyable and informative visit.

 

4.7                Free Swims

 

The free swimming for under 17s in Sudbury and Hadleigh over the Summer holiday period had been a great success. 12% of under 17s in the district registered. 1,525 registered in Sudbury and there were 3,288 attendances. In Hadleigh there were 393 registrations and 1,205 attendances. There was money remaining, which would be used to run the programme at half term. The Leader thanked Councillor Davis, Cassandra Clements, Assistant Director –  Environment and Commercial Partnerships,and others in the team for their hard work.  He also thanked Abbeycroft Leisure for their cooperation on this project.

 

4.8                Equality and Diversity Training

 

The Leader had been asked by officers to remind everyone that Equality and Diversity Training courses were being run. To date, the update had been disappointing. There were plenty of spaces on the next one on Monday 30th September at 2.30pm and he asked that Members took advantage of this.

 

4.9                Leaking of Council Documents

 

The Leader announced that there have been two recent leaks to a member of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 165.

166.

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:

5.1               The Deputy Monitoring officer advised that the following validated petitions had been received and  had been dealt with through the usual planning process:

 

1.     20 valid signatures regarding planning applications DC/19/01422, DC/19/0147 and DC/19/01428 in Bures

 

2.     20 valid signatures regarding planning application B/14/01103 and subsequent applications relating to the Slaughter House site in Bures.

 

 

167.

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:

None received.

168.

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:

None received.

169.

TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM CABINET MEMBERS pdf icon PDF 127 KB

CMU1 – Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments

CMU2 – Cabinet Member for Communities

CMU3 – Cabinet Member for Customers, Digital Transformation & Improvement

CMU4 – Cabinet Member for Economic Growth

CMU5 – Cabinet Member for Environment

CMU6 – Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance

CMU7 – Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance (Law and Governance)

CMU8 – Cabinet Member for Housing

CMU9 – Cabinet Member for Planning

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

8.1             Councillor Ward, the Leader of the Council, made the introduction to Cabinet Members’ Reports and invited Members to direct questions to the respective Cabinet Members.

 

8.2              CMU1 Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments

There were no questions for this report.

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

That report CMU1 be noted.

 

 

8.3              CMU2 Cabinet Member for Communities

Councillor Hinton asked why there were references to Mid Suffolk District Council in the report and Councillor Davis, Cabinet Member for Communities, responded that the Assistant Director for Communities had been informed and this would be amended in the next report.

 

It was RESOLVED: -

 

That report CMU2 be noted.

 

 

8.4              CMU3 Cabinet Member for Customers, Digital Transformation and Improvement

There were no questions for this report.

 

It was RESOLVED: -

 

That report CMU3 be noted.

 

 

8.5              CMU4 Cabinet Member for Economic Growth – Councillor Ward responded on behalf of the Cabinet Member

Councillor Hinton stated that 50% of new homes were built in rural areas and asked how many new jobs were being created as a result of these developments.  The Cabinet Member for Economic Growth responded that the answer would be circulated after the meeting.

 

It was RESOLVED: -

 

That report CMU4 be noted.

 

 

8.6              CMU5 Cabinet Member for Environment

There were no questions for this report.

 

It was RESOLVED: -

 

That report CMU5 be noted.

 

 

8.7              CMU6 Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance

There were no questions for this report.

 

It was RESOLVED: -

 

That report CMU6 be noted.

 

 

8.8              CMU7 Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance (Law and Governance)

Councillor Hinton enquired whether recruitment requirements had been fulfilled for the Shared Legal Service, as he thought there was still a backlog of cases being processed.

 

Arthur Charvonia, Chief Executive, responded that the Shared Legal Service team had been reconfigured since the service had been established and were now fully operating.  The service provided legal support for West Suffolk Council, Mid Suffolk and Babergh District Councils.

 

Councillor Hinton then asked for clarification on the arrangements for the possible upcoming General Elections and the Chief Executive responded that there would be sufficient ballot boxes for any upcoming elections and that ballot boxes could be compacted using the standard issued Ballot Box Compactor.

 

In response to Councillor Dawson’s question, the Chief Executive explained that the formal publication of the Electoral Register was prescribed by Central Government and would be published annually on the 1st of December each year.

 

It was RESOLVED: -

 

That report CMU7 be noted.

 

 

8.9              CMU8 Cabinet Member for Housing

Councillor Hinton referred to paragraph 3.3 in the report and asked how many rough sleepers there were in Babergh District.

 

Councillor Jan Osborne responded that although the number of rough sleepers was increasing in Suffolk, there were none in Babergh. Recent funding of £209,000 had been made available, some of which provided funding for an Out-reach officer working across the two Districts.

 

Councillor Maybury enquired if there had been any rough sleepers during the last two months and Councillor Jan  ...  view the full minutes text for item 169.

170.

BC/19/17 OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE REPORT pdf icon PDF 220 KB

Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Minutes:

Councillor McCraw, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, summarised the main points in his report to Members.  He informed Members that a Task and Finish Group was to be set-up for a cross-authority scrutiny process for Citizens Advice.  The Authorities participating were West Suffolk Council, Ipswich Borough Council, Mid Suffolk District Council and Babergh District Council.

171.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CABINET / COMMITTEES

172.

JAC/19/4 ANNUAL TREASURY MANAGEMENT REPORT – 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 893 KB

At its meeting on 29 July 2019, the Joint Audit and Standards Committee considered Paper JAC/19/4 – Annual Treasury Management Report 2018/19.

The recommendations set out in the report were accepted.

 

It was RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

 

1)      That the Treasury Management activity for the year 2018/19 be noted. Further, that it be noted that performance was in line with the Prudential Indicators set for 2018/19.

 

2)      That it be noted that Babergh District Council treasury management activity for 2018/19 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 by £391k, as mentioned in Appendix C, paragraph 4.6, the Council has complied with all the Treasury Management Indicators for this period.

 

Note – It is a requirement of the legislation that the Annual Treasury Management Report is submitted to the Full Council for noting.

Minutes:

10a.1 Councillor Hurren, Chair of the Joint Audit and Standards Committee, introduced report JAC/19/4 and summarised the main points in the report. He MOVED recommendations 3.1 and 3.2, which was SECONDED by Councillor Ward.

 

10a.2 Councillor Ward commented that the Report detailed how the Council was able to Fund the work decided by Committees, Council and Cabinet.

 

10a.3 Councillor Maybury asked if the Council incurred a penalty for the one occasion when the Council exceeded its daily bank account limit, and Councillor Hurren responded that no penalty had been incurred.

 

10a.4  Recommendations 3.1 and 3.2 were put to Members for voting and the vote was CARRIED.

 

It was RESOLVED: -

 

1.1               That the Treasury Management activity for the year 2018/19 be noted. Further, that performance was in line with the Prudential Indicators set for 2018/19 be noted.

 

That Babergh District Council treasury management activity for 2018/19 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 by £391k, as mentioned in Appendix C, paragraph 4.6, the Council has complied with all the Treasury Management Indicators for this period be noted.

173.

BC/19/18 BABERGH CIL REGULATION 62 MONITORING REPORT pdf icon PDF 136 KB

Cabinet Member for Planning

Additional documents:

Minutes:

11.1           Councillor Arthey, Cabinet Member for Planning, introduced report BC/19/18 and clarified the statutory requirements for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and outlined the content of Appendices A and B.  He reminded Members that the information in Appendix B was available on the Website, which included further information regarding CIL funding and commissions collected.

 

11.2            He detailed that Babergh had potential outstanding commissions for CIL of £11.4M, of which £3.5M had been collected previously in CIL commissions.  There was a further £2M commissions collected more recently.

 

11.3            Councillor Arthey MOVED recommendation 3.1, which was SECONDED by Councillor Davis.

 

11.4            Councillor Barrett enquired what action the Council could take if a developer was slow to pay CIL. She was referring to a specific case.

 

11.5            Councillor Arthey responded that if Councillor Barrett could forward the details of that particular case to him, he would be able to provide an answer outside of the meeting.

 

11.6            Councillor Maybury queried Appendix B, as she felt there were discrepancies in the list provided and Councillor Arthey offered to assist Councillor Maybury to locate specific CIL allocations after the meeting.

 

11.7            Councillor Jan Osborne referred to Appendix B and said that this was good news for the Council, which should be circulated. CIL funding had provided communities with funding, which had been used effectively and efficiently and she thanked officers for their efforts.

 

11.8            Recommendation 3.1 was put to Members for voting and the vote was UNANIMOUS.

 

It was RESOLVED: -

 

That the Babergh CIL Regulation 62 Monitoring Report for 2018-19 be noted.

174.

BC/19/19 TIMETABLE OF MEETINGS 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 114 KB

Leader of the Council

Additional documents:

Minutes:

12.1           The Chair of the Council asked that Members directed any queries regarding Report BC/19/19 to the Corporate Manager for Democratic Services.

 

12.2            Councillor Ward, Leader of the Council, MOVED recommendation 2.1, which was SECONDED by Councillor Osborne.

 

12.3            Recommendation 2.1 was put to Members for voting and the vote was UNANIMOUS.

 

It was RESOLVED: -

 

That the draft Committee Timetable for 2020/21 be approved.

175.

COUNCILLOR APPOINTMENTS

To agree the following appointment to an Outside Body:

 

East-West Rail Consortium

Councillor Michael Holt

Minutes:

13.1          Councillor Ward, Leader of the Council, PROPOSED that Councillor Michael Holt be appointed as a representative on the East West Rail Consortium, which was SECONDED by Councillor McCraw.

 

13.2           The recommendation was put to Members for voting and was CARRIED.

 

It was RESOLVED: -

 

That Councillor Michael Holt be appointed as a representative on the East West Rail Consortium.

176.

MOTION ON NOTICE pdf icon PDF 113 KB

To consider the Motion on Notice received from Councillor Malvisi:

 

This Council recognises the increasing pace with which our natural habitat is being decimated that it too has now become a biodiversity emergency. Over the past 100 plus years there has been a significant reduction in biodiversity and loss of natural habitats.

 

The biodiversity of our District does not sit in isolation but is intrinsically intertwined into our lives and thus Climate Change which currently is seriously impacted.

 

It is therefore imperative that we work towards a system where we enable ‘net biodiversity gain’.

 

The Environment & Climate Change Task Force will work with partners, such as Suffolk Biodiversity Information Services, to understand the range of and the risk to our District’s biodiversity. We will understand sites of value in terms of biodiversity to enable us to understand which areas on which to focus. 

 

We will help to develop incentive schemes with sponsors and other interested parties to turn appropriate grass verges into ‘Wild Flower’ verges using low growing flowers that stifle the growth of grasses but are very attractive to bees, butterflies and other insects necessary to maintain a balanced eco system.

 

We will work with partners and communities to help enhance and protect the biodiversity of Babergh District.

 

Therefore, this Council pledges that:

 

1.          Creation and development of a Wildlife Network Map from which Wildlife Corridors will be identified and created. The map, available to the public, will assist the District to develop Eco Tourism, thereby attracting much needed tourist revenue to the region.

2.          As part of our commitment to Biodiversity the Council will work closely with our existing Partners, the County Council and other NGO’s involved in protecting our natural habitats.

3.          Introduction of the ‘Trees for Life’ scheme in Babergh District. This offers every family with a new-born baby a tree to plant. The trees to be planted will be native trees and will be locally grown and sourced.

4.          The cost of maintaining and improving the Biodiversity of our Area will form part of the work of the Task Force that will report back to Cabinet in Spring 2020.

 

Proposer – Councillor Malvisi

Seconder – Councillor Norman

 

 

Minutes:

14.1           The Monitoring Officer explained to Members that the Motion related to a Cabinet function, therefore whilst Council could debate the Motion and pledge to carry this out, it would be for Cabinet to decide how they wished to undertake this, based on the pledges made.

 

14.2            The Chair of the Council then invited Councillor Malvisi to move the Motion on Notice.

 

14.3            Councillor Malvisi, Cabinet Member for Environment, introduced the Motion, which supported the previous Motion for Climate Emergency resolved by Council on the 23 July 2019. She then read the Motion on Notice:

 

This Council recognises the increasing pace with which our natural habitat is being decimated that it too has now become a biodiversity emergency. Over the past 100 plus years there has been a significant reduction in biodiversity and loss of natural habitats.

 

The biodiversity of our District does not sit in isolation but is intrinsically intertwined into our lives and thus Climate Change which currently is seriously impacted.

 

It is therefore imperative that we work towards a system where we enable ‘net biodiversity gain’.

 

The Environment & Climate Change Task Force will work with partners, such as Suffolk Biodiversity Information Services, to understand the range of and the risk to our District’s biodiversity. We will understand sites of value in terms of biodiversity to enable us to understand which areas on which to focus. 

 

We will help to develop incentive schemes with sponsors and other interested parties to turn appropriate grass verges into ‘Wild Flower’ verges using low growing flowers that stifle the growth of grasses but are very attractive to bees, butterflies and other insects necessary to maintain a balanced eco system.

 

We will work with partners and communities to help enhance and protect the biodiversity of Babergh District.

 

Therefore, this Council pledges that:

1.           Creation and development of a Wildlife Network Map from which Wildlife Corridors will be identified and created. The map, available to the public, will assist the District to develop Eco Tourism, thereby attracting much needed tourist revenue to the region.

2.           As part of our commitment to Biodiversity the Council will work closely with our existing Partners, the County Council and other NGO’s involved in protecting our natural habitats.

3.           Introduction of the ‘Trees for Life’ scheme in Babergh District. This offers every family with a new-born baby a tree to plant. The trees to be planted will be native trees and will be locally grown and sourced.

4.           The cost of maintaining and improving the Biodiversity of our Area will form part of the work of the Task Force that will report back to Cabinet in Spring 2020.

14.4            Councillor Malvisi MOVED the motion, which was SECONDED by Councillor Norman.

 

14.5            Councillor Norman said he supported the Motion, including the wildlife network map and thought it would be useful for both the Council and the public, to be able to identify where the wildlife corridors were.  He also thought that the Tree for Life scheme would be a way  ...  view the full minutes text for item 176.