Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils
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Venue: Virtual Meeting

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No. Item

55.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS BY COUNCILLORS

Minutes:

55.1         In accordance with the delegated authority the Monitoring Officer had granted dispensation to all Members in respect of the 2021/22 Budget papers.

 

There were no other declarations made by Members.

56.

MC/20/23 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 21 JANUARY 2021 pdf icon PDF 331 KB

Minutes:

It was Resolved:-

 

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2021 be confirmed and signed as a true record at the next practicable opportunity.

Recorded Vote
TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2021 be confirmed and signed as a true record and be signed at the next practicable opportunity. Resolution Carried
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  • 57.

    LEADER'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Minutes:

    57.1    The Chairman invited the Leader of the Council to make her announcements.

     

    57.2    Councillor Morley announced the following:

     

     

    Covid-19

    The progress that had been made in recent weeks with regard to the delivery of the vaccine had been amazing. Despite the snow, this progress had catapulted Suffolk up the league tables in terms of delivery of the first doses to the first 4 cohorts. 

    The Leader had met with Ed Garrett from CCGs to ensure that the Council was working as closely as possible with the NHS to support the delivery of the vaccine.  Together they would be targeting the Council’s resources in getting to the minority that qualify but have not yet received their jab. 

    It was also fantastic to see the new asymptomatic testing site being rolled out in Stowmarket, which will shortly be followed be even more local sites too. 

    The Leader was also proud that the Council have been able to extend the Council tax hardship scheme to further help the most vulnerable in the district who have been most impacted by Covid.

    In terms of Covid, she was sure the Council would all be glued to the TV on Monday to hear the PM outline the Government’s plans for leading us out of this lockdown.  There were lots of reasons to be hopeful but in the meantime, she would like to reiterate the Suffolk wider messages that Suffolk Needs You… to follow the guidance:  hands, face, space; to get tested regularly if you are unable to work from home; and to get your Covid jab when it’s your turn.  In return Suffolk Supports You… through Home But Not Alone and our community involvement, the distribution of business grants, self-isolation payments and practical support for those most in need.

     

    She wanted to pay tribute to our bin crews who were back out within 48 hours including working on Saturday, making collections and clearing the backlog as best they could despite the weather.  They were currently 2 to 3 days behind and so unfortunately the delays would run into early next week even with working on Saturday again.  This was particularly difficult since the Council had Covid related staff absences within the team which had caused the garden waste service to be suspended for now. 

     

    As it was half term, she also wanted to highlight the fantastic initiative in place, building on what had been done during the winter half term, to tackle holiday hunger. This scheme involved food parcels containing ingredients for five meals for a family of four distributed to families during half term.  The initiative, delivered on behalf of the Council by Abbeycroft Leisure’s Explore Outdoor team, ensured no child went hungry when free school meals were paused during the school holidays.  Families in need were identified by local schools and the food parcels also included ideas on how to make food stretch further in future – making a real difference to the lives of low-income families in our district.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

    58.

    TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES

    In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 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:

    58.1     None Received.

     

    59.

    QUESTIONS BY THE PUBLIC IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES

    The Chairs of Committees to answer any questions from 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 12.

    Minutes:

    59.1     None Received.

     

    60.

    QUESTIONS BY COUNCILLORS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES pdf icon PDF 97 KB

    The Chairman of the Council, 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 13.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Councillor Andrew Stringer to Councillor Fleming, Cabinet Member for the Environment

     

    Given the justified public outcry of this Council cutting down three of the walnut trees planted by my former Head Teacher Mike Arbon in Walnut Tree Walk in Stowmarket, and the Council subsequently stating, incorrectly, that this was because Suffolk County Council Highways demanded their removal within 21 days. when will the Council offer an apology and admit it was wrong?

     

    Councillor Fleming – Cabinet Member for the Environment

     

    The District Council already have made a public statement in the EADT which makes it clear that the Council regrets the loss of the trees.  I too personally regret the loss of 3 walnut trees which were cut down on Walnut Tree Walk following miscommunications and what appears to have been errors of judgement on site, the details of which have been publicly reported.  Mistakes happen, as all of us know and this was one of them.  Important lessons have been learned and measures are being put in place to avoid any similar error.  As Cabinet Member for Environment including public realm, I am sorry that this happened and realise that the trees were planted by a former headmaster of the middle school, the Council intends to make amends by ensuring that healthy and well located replacement trees are planted as soon feasible as part of the agreed planning conditions.

     

    Supplementary Question from Councillor Stringer to Councillor Fleming:

     

    Can I thank Councillor Fleming for saying the word sorry in that speech publicly.  That helps me certainly to draw a line and move on, which I really hope to do.  Would Councillor Fleming agree whether it would be a good idea to rethink our proposals on the site we own in Walnut Tree Walk to make sure we are bringing back better than we are taking away and communicate that to the wider area, so we avoid these mistakes in the future.

     

    Councillor Fleming – Cabinet Member for the Environment

     

    I am not sure anything that I can say about this particular site will help avoid anything in the future, I think the new procedures will.  However, this particular site is scheduled for redevelopment for housing and the road along the close where the trees were cut is unfortunately going to be widened. The trees that were cut down, would have had to have been cut down anyway and the planning application which was determined earlier last year passed muster with about four or five objections. The plans have already been approved as far as I understand.  I don’t think there is anything I or anyone else can do to revisit planning conditions that have already been through the planning process.

     

    Councillor Sarah Mansel to Councillor David Burn, Cabinet Member for Planning

     

    The Healthy Homes Act calls for a set of Healthy Homes Principles to be made law and as such part of national planning policy.  Since advising officers of this initiative in January we have not heard anything more.  Will  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

    61.

    MC/20/24 GENERAL FUND BUDGET 2021/22 AND FOUR-YEAR OUTLOOK pdf icon PDF 984 KB

    Cabinet Member for Finance

     

    In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.3, immediately after any vote is taken at a budget decision meeting of the Council the names of Councillors who cast a vote for the decision or against the decision or who abstained from voting shall be recorded in the Minutes of that meeting.

     

    At its meeting on 8 February 2021, Cabinet considered Paper MCa/20/29, together with an addendum to the General Fund Budget.  Paper MC/20/24 now includes all the relevant updated information plus the tax base, precepts and council tax band information at parish level, together with the necessary recommendations.

     

    Proposed amendment from the Green and Liberal Democrat Group also attached.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    61.1             The Chairman invited the Cabinet Member for Finance to introduce Paper MC/20/24 and to move the Recommendations within the report.

     

    61.2             Before introducing the paper Councillor Whitehead expressed his sincere thanks to the Finance team.

     

    61.3             Councillor Whitehead introduced the report and highlighted that the focus from Central Government had focused its attention on fighting Covid-9 and generous government assistance had meant that reserves did not have to be used to the extent that was originally anticipated.  However, several finance reviews had been delayed making the future beyond March 2022 uncertain.

     

    61.4             Councillor Whitehead PROPOSED recommendations 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 in the report.

     

    61.5             Councillor Morley SECONDED the proposal and stated that due to the careful management of the financial position in recent years under the stewardship of Councillor Whitehead, Mid Suffolk District Council was  now seeing the benefits by avoiding many of the financial challenges being faced by other local authorities  and that  now was the time to use the Councils’ financially strong position to invest back into  communities to both stimulate and support swift recovery.

     

    61.6             Councillor Field PROPOSED the Amendments which were detailed in the agenda reports pack.

     

    61.7             Councillor Warboys SECONDED the Amendments and said that the Amendments supported the Mid Suffolk District Council’s six strategic priorities and would help enable the Council to achieve its goal of being carbon neutral by 2030.  They had also been scrutinised by the Section 151 Officer and were achievable without compromising the budget or increasing council tax or rents.

     

    61.8             The Chairman asked Councillor Whitehead if he accepted the Amendments or any elements of the Amendments.

     

    61.9             Councillor Whitehead stated that it was clear that the opposition had spent time and diligence in putting the Amendments together. However, at the last Cabinet meeting it had been announced that there were four pots of £1 million to be allocated for economy, housing, communities and wellbeing and it was intended for cross party discussions to decide how this money should be allocated.  Councillor Whitehead asked if Councillor Field and the Opposition would be willing to withdraw the Amendments and take part in cross party workshops to work together to allocate the significant sums of money to the benefit of the Council’s residents and communities.

     

    61.10         To provide confidence to the Opposition around the cross party working, Councillor Whitehead suggested adding additional wording to Recommendation 3.1 so that it would now read ‘That the General Fund Budget proposals for 2021/22 and four-year outlook set out in the report be approved, and that recommendations to Cabinet be prepared, using a balanced, cross-party approach, for the allocation of the additional £4m of funding for investment in our local economy, housing, the wellbeing of our residents and in our communities. This cross-party approach would also give consideration to the budget amendments proposed in 2020/21 and 2021/22.’

     

    61.11         Councillor Field stated that there was a broad area of agreement between both halves of the Council and that a genuine offer to indulge in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

    Recorded Vote
    TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
    To vote on recommendations 3.1 and 3.2 as detailed in report MC/20/21 including additional wording to recommendation 3.1 as detailed by Councillor Whitehead. Resolution Carried
    To vote on recommendations 3.3 and 3.4 as detailed in report MC/20/21 Resolution Carried
  • View Recorded Vote for this item
  • 62.

    MC/20/25 HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT (HRA) 2021/22 BUDGET AND FOUR-YEAR OUTLOOK pdf icon PDF 294 KB

    Cabinet Member for Finance

     

    In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.3, immediately after any vote is taken at a budget decision meeting of the Council the names of Councillors who cast a vote for the decision or against the decision or who abstained from voting shall be recorded in the Minutes of that meeting.

     

    At its meeting on 8 February 2021, Cabinet considered Paper MCa/20/30, the Housing Revenue Account.  Paper MC/20/25 is unchanged from the Cabinet meeting and includes the necessary recommendations.

     

    Proposed amendment from the Green and Liberal Democrat Group also attached.

     

     

     

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

     

    62.1             The Chair invited Councillor Whitehead to introduce Paper MC/20/25 and to move the Recommendations in the report.

     

    62.2             Councillor Whitehead encapsulated the main subjects in the report and MOVED Recommendations 3.1 to 3.7. 

     

    62.3             Councillor Hadingham SECONDED the Recommendations and reserved her right to speak.

     

    62.4             Councillor Field PROPOSED the Amendment, which was detailed in the Agenda and made a short introduction of the Amendment.

     

    62.5             Councillor Warboys SECONDED the Amendment and outlined the reasons behind the Amendment, including that Council had a responsibility, as a major provider for housing, and that this Amendment would bring economic resilience to the budget.  The Amendment had been scrutinised by the Section 151 Officers and did not include any increases to council tax or rents.

     

    62.6             The Chair asked whether Councillor Whitehead accepted the Amendment, and Councillor Whitehead replied that he did not accept the Amendment, as the Capital expenditure had a modest increase of £2.5m over two years and an ambitious 30 Year Housing Revenue Plan which would be brought forward later in the year.

     

    62.7             Members debated the Amendment and Councillor Otton began by stating that she supported the Amendment, as there was a lack of good insulated social housing, which would be essential in the coming years, as an increasing number of families would be unable to provide housing for themselves.

     

    62.8             Councillor Eburne thought that the Amendment would improve the lives of tenants and that the Council would need to look to the future when budgeting for the HRA.  She was not aware of the referred Housing Revenue Plan and asked that this information was shared with Members.

     

    62.9             Councillor Mansel said that the Council should be committed to build its own housing for social rent and not only affordable rent, which was only a reduction to 80% of the rent.  Some tenants could not afford this.  Mid Suffolk District Council had a high tenancy rent in comparison to income.  It was important to undertake the work for retrofitting of council housing stock to reduce carbon emissions when heating up homes, as this would not only support tenants but also help the Council to meet the challenge of carbon neutral by 2030.Councillor Geake stated that social housing was the only way to solve the housing crisis, and there was a need to provide good social housing, which would enable tenants to save up for a deposit to buy their own homes. 

     

    62.10         Councillor Amorowson thought this amendment would allow the Council to show leadership for the spirit of wellbeing and embrace those values.

     

    62.11         The Chair asked if Councillor Field would like to provide a finishing statement before the vote, which he declined.

     

    62.12         Councillor Whitehead informed Members that the HRA Business Plan would be presented to Members in due course.

     

    62.13         The Amendment was put to Members for voting.

     

    By 16 votes for and 18 against, the vote was LOST

     

    To Vote on the amendment to the 2021/22 HRA Budget as proposed by the Green and Liberal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

    Recorded Vote
    TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
    To vote on the Amendment to the 2021/22 HRA Budget as proposed by the Green and Liberal Democrat Group Amendment

    To ensure progress is made at pace to ensure everyone has healthy, secure and warm housing we propose ensuring the Council’s existing housing stock is upgraded and any new build homes are built to the highest specification possible.

    Rejected
    To vote on recommendations 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7 as detailed in report MC/20/25 Resolution

    3.1       That the HRA Budget proposals for 2021/22 and four-year outlook set out in the report be approved.

     

    3.2       That the CPI + 1% increase of 1.5% in Council House rents, equivalent to an averagerent increase of £1.25 a week be implemented.

     

    3.3       That garage rents are kept at the same level as 2020/21.

     

    3.4       That Sheltered Housing Service charges be increased by £1 per week to ensure recovery of the actual cost of service.

     

    3.5       That Sheltered Housing utility charges are kept at the same level as 2020/21.3.6 That the budgeted surplus of £102k be transferred to the Strategic Priorities reserve in 2021/22.

     

    3.7       That in principle, Right to Buy (RTB) receipts should be retained to enable continued development and acquisition of new council dwellings.

    Carried
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  • 63.

    RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM CABINET / COMMITTEES

    64.

    MC/20/26 JOINT CAPITAL, INVESTMENT AND TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 2 MB

    Chair of Joint Audit and Standards Committee

     

    At its meeting on 25 January 2021, Joint Audit and Standards Committee considered Paper JAC/20/10, the Joint Capital, Investment and Treasury Management Strategies.  Paper MC/20/26 now includes all the relevant updated information following consideration by the Joint Audit and Standards Committee, together with the necessary recommendations.

     

     

    Minutes:

    64.1           The Chair invited the Chair of the Joint Audit and Standards Committee, Councillor Muller to introduce Paper Mc/20/26 and to move the Recommendations in the report.

     

    64.2           Councillor Muller provided Members with a summary of the report including the Appendices and MOVED Recommendations 3.1 to 3.7 in the report.

     

    64.3           Councillor Caston SECONDED the Recommendations.

     

    64.4           Councillor Eburne referred to the appendices and the Environment and Social Government report for Gateway 14 (ESG) (page 152). There seemed to be a reticence on behalf of the Council to implement the report. She asked why there was such a reticence and for the time frame for when the Council would be implementing the ESG on its investments.

     

    64.5           The Assistant Director – Corporate Resources responded there was not reticence but that the Council would have to move funds to be able to implement the ESG and that Council was not in a position currently to do that. This had been discussed at the last Joint Audit and Standards Committee (JASC) meeting and the Committee had requested for a report for ESG to be presented at the May JASC meeting.

     

    64.6           In response to Councillor Eburne’s question concerning the implementation date for ESG, the Assistant Director responded that this would be a Cabinet decision, as this was a policy to be implemented and it would not be possible to provide a timescale until the report had been written and discussed.

     

    64.7           Members move to debate and Councillor Matthiessen commented that the problem was that the Treasury Management Policy did not support the climate change policy. The County wide pension scheme had moved forward and had saved a great deal of pension fund staff money and he wished the Council would follow suit soon.

     

    64.8           Recommendations 3.1 to 3.7 were put to Members for voting.

     

    By 17 votes for and 17 votes against

     

    The Chair used his casting vote, and the vote was CARRIED

     

    It was RESOLVED:-

     

    That the following be approved:

     

    1.1       The Joint Capital Strategy for 2021/22, including the Prudential Indicators, as set out in Appendix A.

     

    1.2       The Joint Investment Strategy for 2021/22, as set out in Appendix B.

     

    1.3       The Joint Treasury Management Strategy for 2021/22, including the Joint Annual Investment Strategy as set out in Appendix C.

     

    1.4       The Joint Treasury Management Indicators as set out in Appendix D.

     

    1.5       The Joint Treasury Management Policy Statement as set out in Appendix G.

     

    1.6       The Joint Minimum Revenue Provision Statement as set out in Appendix H.

     

    1.7       That the key factors and information relating to and affecting treasury management activities set out in Appendices E, F, and I be noted.

     

    Recorded Vote
    TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
    To vote on recommendations 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7 as detailed in report MC/20/26 Resolution

    That the following be approved:

     

    3.1       The Joint Capital Strategy for 2021/22, including the Prudential Indicators, as set out in Appendix A.

     

    3.2       The Joint Investment Strategy for 2021/22, as set out in Appendix B.

     

    3.3       The Joint Treasury Management Strategy for 2021/22, including the Joint Annual Investment Strategy as set out in Appendix C.

     

    3.4       The Joint Treasury Management Indicators as set out in Appendix D.

     

    3.5       The Joint Treasury Management Policy Statement as set out in Appendix G.

     

    3.6       The Joint Minimum Revenue Provision Statement as set out in Appendix H.

     

    3.7       That the key factors and information relating to and affecting treasury management activities set out in Appendices E, F, and I be noted.

    Carried
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  • 65.

    COUNCILLOR APPOINTMENTS

    Minutes:

    The were no updates to Councillor appointments

    66.

    MOTIONS ON NOTICE

    Minutes:

    There were no Motions on Notice.