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 

Items
No. Item

192.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS BY COUNCILLORS

Minutes:

192.1       There were no declarations of interests.

 

193.

BC/19/26 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 22 OCTOBER 2019 pdf icon PDF 415 KB

Minutes:

It was Resolved:-

 

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2019 be confirmed and signed as a true record.

 

194.

BC/19/27 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING HELD ON 22 OCTOBER 2019 pdf icon PDF 110 KB

Minutes:

It was Resolved:-

 

That the Minutes of the extraordinary meeting held on 22 October 2019 be confirmed and signed as a true record.

 

 

195.

BC/19/28 ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND LEADER pdf icon PDF 58 KB

In addition to any announcements made at the meeting, please see Paper BC/19/28 attached, detailing events attended by the Chair and Vice-Chair.

 

Minutes:

195.1         Councillor Grandon, Chair of Babergh Council, referred to Paper BC/19/28, which was for noting.

 

195.2          The Chair informed the Council that Glen Young, who was a member of the Council for twelve years had passed away and that she and Members of the Council passed their condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.

 

195.3          The Chair announced that the Chairman’s Charity Ball would be supporting the Hadleigh Dementia Action Alliance and would take place on the 16th of May 2020.  Tickets could be purchased from Mandy Smith, Member Support Officer.

 

195.4          She then invited Councillor Ward to make his announcement, which was for noting.

 

195.5          Councillor Ward, the Leader of the Council announced the following:

 

Public Realm

 

Just before Christmas Peter Garrett sent out a very informative update on what had been done by the Public Realm team, and the extensive range of day-to-day activities that the team undertook. Peter also said that the team would be offering Ward Tours to enable Members to see the team’s work at first hand in their wards. The things that the team do have a direct and highly visible effect on the quality of residents’ lives and there was a growing interest in the management of the Council’s open spaces for well-being and the environment. The Council’s proposals for tree planting and biodiversity corridors would also mean working directly with our communities. Peter also mentioned a new 5-year programme of play site improvements. So please contact Peter to arrange a tour and discuss improvements Members would like to see in their wards.

 

Thomas Gainsborough School

 

The Leader took the opportunity to congratulate TGS on behalf of the Council for becoming the first school in Suffolk to be accredited as a Heritage School. This was in recognition of the work that students and also teachers put into the Sudbury Silk Stories Project. It was something that the whole school and community can be proud of.

 

Food Bank Visit

 

Last Friday Councillor Jan Osborne and the Leader visited the Sudbury Food Bank run by the Vineyard Church. They were told how the food bank operated and discussed the increasing demand that it was experiencing. It was a very productive meeting, which identified some good ideas about how Babergh could work with the voluntary sector to help reduce the need for food banks, and how the Council could also provide some practical help for rough sleepers. This would be discussed with officers to see what the Council could do.

 

Sudbury Consultation

 

Next week there would be two days of consultation at St. Peters Church in Sudbury on several key aspects of the Council’s vision for the town. The results of a survey into the relocation of bus stops and public realm improvements to the Market Hill would be presented, to be conducted by WSP on behalf of SCC and Babergh District Council. There would also be a presentation of the four proposals received for the reuse of Belle Vue House, ideas  ...  view the full minutes text for item 195.

196.

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:

196.1       The Corporate Manager – Democratic Services advised that the following validated petitions had been received:

 

1.           111 valid signatures regarding planning application         DC/19/04923 in Monks Eleigh.

 

2.          22 valid signatures in Hadleigh supporting the following statement:

 

We request that the bungalows numbered 1-12 Toppesfield Close, IP7 5AJ be restricted to people aged 60 and above, returning them to their original restriction of residency to those of retirement age.

 

197.

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:

197.1   There were no questions received from the public.

 

198.

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:

198.1         There were no questions received from Councillors.

 

 

199.

TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM CABINET MEMBERS pdf icon PDF 125 KB

CMU10 – Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments

CMU11 – Cabinet Member for Communities

CMU12 – Cabinet Member for Customers, Digital Transformation & Improvement

CMU13 – Cabinet Member for Economic Growth

CMU14 – Cabinet Member for Environment

CMU15 – Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance

CMU16 – Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance (Law and Governance)

CMU17 – Cabinet Member for Housing

CMU18 – Cabinet Member for Planning

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

199.1         The Chair advised Members that it was her intention to limit the discussion of this item to thirty minutes. She would therefore draw the questioning to a close after 30 minutes had elapsed, if the item had not already been concluded.

 

199.2          Councillor Ward advised that the Cabinet Members were present to respond to questions for the Cabinet Members’ reports. He notified the Council that this was the last time that Cabinet Members’ reports would be presented to Council.  In the future the quarterly reporting would be enhanced to include Portfolio Members’ updates and be brought to Cabinet, as part of the Cabinet agenda. This would also include aspects of finance and risk assessments.

 

199.3          CMU10 – Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments

 

Councillor Lindsay outlined his vision for the Borehamgate Shopping Centre in Sudbury and asked what the Council could do to create town centres with attractive focal points to increase footfall and support the local economy.

 

Councillor Busby, the Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments responded that he agreed that towns needed an attractive centre and that developments were underway for the direction that Sudbury needed to take for the future.

 

It was Resolved: -

 

That Report CMU10 be noted.

 

199.4     CMU11 – Cabinet Member for Communities

Councillor Hinton asked in relation to paragraph 3.1 when decisions relating to the visits and applications for grants referred to in the report were likely to be made.

Councillor Davis responded he would provide an answer outside the meeting.

Councillor Busby referred to paragraph 3.4 in relation to the Strategic Leisure Advisor. He understood that this appointment was coming to an end and asked if there was a contingency plan in place to continue the work.

Councillor Davis responded that the work would continue and that individual applications would be in February.

Councillor Davis welcomed the Community Team’s new Corporate Manager Vicky Moseley.

Councillor Barrett congratulated on the opening of the Kingfisher Leisure Centre and asked if there was any scope for running more classes and Councillor Davis responded he would pass this request on to Abbeycroft Leisure.

It was Resolved: -

 

That Report CMU11 be noted.

 

199.5          CMU12 – Cabinet Member for Customers, Digital Transformation & Improvement

Councillor Hinton referred to paragraph 3.2 and asked if there was any information regarding the increase in the number of calls to the Call Centre from Quarter 2 to Quarter 3.

Councillor Parker responded that he would provide a response outside the meeting.

The Chief Executive added that it was likely that the increase between the two quarters was caused by the General Election as members of the public contacted the call-centre with queries in relation to registration and voting arrangements.

It was Resolved: -

 

That Report CMU12 be noted.

 

199.6          CMU13 – Cabinet Member for Economic Growth

Councillor Owen referred to paragraph 3.6 and asked for more information regarding the Delphi Site and Councillor Holt responded that updates would be forwarded to Members in due course.

Councillor Hinton referred to paragraph 3.6  ...  view the full minutes text for item 199.

200.

BC/19/29 OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE REPORT pdf icon PDF 534 KB

Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Minutes:

200.1       Councillor McCraw, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee provided a brief summary of the report, which had been produced by the Cross-Authority Task and Finish Group for Citizens Advice.  The recommendations agreed by the Task and Finish Group had been distributed widely to all authorities concerned, including Suffolk County Council.  However, for Babergh Council many of the recommendations were already underway, when the recommendations were presented to Cabinet. At Cabinet it was agreed that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee should review Citizens Advice annually.

 

200.2        In response to Councillor Arthey’s question, Councillor McCraw clarified that Cabinet had agreed to a three-year rolling funding for Citizens Advice in Babergh.

 

200.3        Councillor Ward thought it would have been useful if Suffolk County Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been involved in the process of the Task and Finish Group.  He asked how the Overview and Scrutiny Committee would encourage future participation by Suffolk County Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

200.4        Councillor McCraw responded that all Council Authorities had been approached to participate in the Cross-Authority Task and Finish Group by either the Chair of Babergh or Mid Suffolk Overview and Scrutiny Committees. However, East Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council had for various reasons chosen not to take part. 

 

200.5        Councillor Ward made an observation on recommendations A and B in the report and wondered why a precise figure for Suffolk County Council’s contribution to Citizens Advice had been included. He thought that this made it difficult to make adjustments for funding options, should the Suffolk County Council in the future wish to review funding for Citizens Advice.

 

200.6        Councillor McCraw explained that the recommendations were to be used by respective Councils, who were participating in the Task and Finish Group. He reminded Members that there was no formal way of making recommendations to Suffolk County Council, as they had not been a constituent part of the review.  However, the report and the recommendations had been forwarded to the Chair of Suffolk County Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.   Recommendations A and B had used the previous funding from Suffolk County Council, as a baseline for future funding. But that this would be a matter for Suffolk County Council to determine.

 

 

201.

BC/19/30 ALDHAM NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN pdf icon PDF 224 KB

Cabinet Member for Planning

Minutes:

201.1         Councillor Arthey, Cabinet Member for Planning, introduced Paper BC/19/30 and detailed the results for the Aldham Neighbourhood Development plan as set out in paragraph 4.3, which would be posted on the website. He MOVED recommendation 3.1 and 3.2, which was SECONDED by Councillor Beer.

 

201.2         Councillor Fraser thanked Aldham Parish Council for their commitment to the Neighbourhood plan.

 

201.3         The PROPOSAL was put to Members for voting and the vote was UNANIMOUS.

 

It was RESOLVED: -

 

1.1         That the Aldham Neighbourhood Plan be formally ‘made’ (adopted) as part of the District Council’s Development Plan and be used to help determine planning applications where relevant.

1.2             1.2    That the Decision Statement (Appendix 1) be published with immediate effect.

 

 

202.

BC/19/31 DECISION TAKEN BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE DURING THE PRE-ELECTION PERIOD UNDER DELEGATED POWERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PART 2 OF THE CONSTITUTION pdf icon PDF 116 KB

Cabinet Member for Planning

Additional documents:

Minutes:

202.1         Councillor Arthey, Cabinet Member for Planning, introduced Paper BC/19/31 and thanked Paul Bryant, the Neighbourhood Planning Officer, for his contribution to the creation of the Elmsett Neighbourhood Plan.  He detailed the results of the referendum for the Elmsett Neighbourhood Development plan as set out in Appendix A.

 

202.2          Councillor Arthey informed Members that there were now five completed Neighbourhood plans and a further 24 in the process of being completed for BDC Council.

 

202.3          Councillor Lindsay congratulated Elmsett on the completion of the Neighbourhood plan.  He thought that the village had felt besieged by developers and hoped that the completion of the neighbourhood plan would allow the village to have some say in future development in their community.

 

202.4          Councillor Parker agreed with Councillor Lindsay and encouraged other villages, who felt they were being besieged by developers to complete neighbourhood plans.  He also wanted to thank all the volunteers, who spent many hours on these projects.

 

202.5          In response to Councillor Barrett’s question regarding support for villages, who were embarking on the neighbourhood planning process, Paul Bryant, the Neighbourhood Planning Officer, responded that lessons were learnt all the time.  Neighbourhood plan groups had access to consultants, who provide guidance and support.  The Council also encouraged Parish Councils to share information with each other.

 

It was Resolved:-

 

That the Council noted the decision taken under delegated powers by the Chief Executive to make ‘adopt’ the Elmsett Neighbourhood Plan during the pre-election period.

 

203.

COUNCILLOR APPOINTMENTS

To agree the following appointments to Outside Bodies:

 

Babergh Domestic Violence and Abuse Forum

Councillor Mary McLaren (replacing Cllr Grainger-Howard)

 

Suffolk Violence and Abuse Partnership

Councillor Mary McLaren (replacing Cllr Grainger-Howard)

 

Suffolk Health and Wellbeing Board

Councillor Derek Davis (replacing Cllr Grainger-Howard)

 

 

Minutes:

203.1       The Chair of the Council was in the process of closing the meeting when she was made aware that Item 13, Councillor Appointments, was outstanding on the Agenda.  She referred to the appointments, as set out in Agenda Item 13, and put the appointments to Members for voting which was CARRIED.

 

It was Resolved:-

 

1.1That Councillor Mary McLaren be appointed to the Babergh Domestic Violence and Abuse Forum.

 

1.1          That Councillor Mary McLaren be appointed to the Suffolk Violence and Abuse Partnership.

 

2.1          That Councillor Derek Davis be appointed to the Suffolk Health and Wellbeing Board.