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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive apologies for absence. Minutes: 60.1 Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Burke, Councillor Green, Councillor Kearsley, Councillor Marchant, Councillor Mayes, Councillor Norris, Councillor Osborne, Councillor Storey and Councillor Whybrow.
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DECLARATION OF INTERESTS BY COUNCILLORS Minutes: 61.1 There were no declarations of interest. |
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MC/18/23 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 27 SEPTEMBER 2018 PDF 352 KB Minutes: It was Resolved: -
That subject to Minute 53.8 being amended to read “the change of 40 million” the Minutes of the meeting held on the 27th September 2018 be confirmed as a true record. |
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MC/18/24 CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS PDF 28 KB Minutes: 63.1 The Chairman presented his report for noting.
63.2 Councillor Otton asked if it would be possible to circulate he names of the recipients of Long Service Awards to all councillors in the future.
63.3 The Chairman noted the request. |
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TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, The Chief Executive will report the receipt of the following petition. There can be no debate or comment upon these matters at the Council meeting.
A petition with 161 valid signatures in support of Planning Applications DC/18/03267 & DC/18/03268 – Change of Use – Cherry Tree Inn – Debenham. Minutes: 64.1 The Corporate Manager for Democratic Services reported that a petition with 161 valid signatures in support of planning application DC/18/03267 and DC/18/03268 the change of use for Cherry Tree Inn, Debenham had been received and would be dealt with through the planning process. |
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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 11. Minutes: 65.1 There were no questions received. |
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QUESTIONS BY COUNCILLORS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES 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 12. Minutes: 66.1 The following questions were received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12:-
Question 1:
From Councillor Rachel Eburne to Councillor Jill Wilshaw, Cabinet Member for Housing
Given the issues with meeting house-building targets and the Five-Year Housing Land Supply when is Mid Suffolk District Council going to set up a housing company, to build the homes that we need both for sale and for rent, to contribute towards this?
Response
As you are aware the Council are in the final stages of investigating options to assist in delivering more homes within Mid Suffolk, and a report will be presented to Cabinet in December. The Council has already identified land to deliver the Councils current ambitious pipeline of housing, with the delivery of 309 homes predicted over the next 3 years with200 of these being affordable. A housing company is one of many vehicles the Council will be looking to use to accelerate housing development, though as we know from other Councils nationally that having a housing company, on its own, does not necessarily deliver more homes. We are though confident that with a range of different vehicles and partnerships we can be at the forefront of making a positive intervention in the housing market and we endeavour to meet, and hopefully exceed, the housing targets we have been set. Supplementary Question
Given the importance of this and the relatively low ambitions really within the housing strategy which is at a draft form at the moment there are housing companies that are quite successful and one is just north of the border actually but will the Council therefore provide a quarterly update on the amount of homes built in order to give confidence to local communities that we will achieve the overall housing numbers?
Response
Yes, we can do that.
Question 2:
From Councillor Keith Welham to Councillor Jill Wilshaw, Cabinet Member for Housing
Could we please have an update on progress towards building a passivhaus development in Mid Suffolk?
There has never been a more opportune time to purchase land to
provide truly affordable energy efficient homes for
tenants. Climate change is happening
and becoming critical; energy prices are continuing to rise; more
and more families are finding that Universal Credit makes them
worse off financially.
‘That this Council calls on Executive to investigate further how to achieve the aspiration for building Passivhomes’. Please detail for Members the steps taken in the three years since that resolution of Council in October 2015.
Response
Whilst I accept that Mid Suffolk District Council have yet to build a Passivhaus since we ... view the full minutes text for item 66. |
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TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM CABINET MEMBERS PDF 117 KB CMU25 – Leader and Cabinet Member for Assets and Investment CMU26 – Cabinet Member for Communities CMU27 – Cabinet Member for Economy CMU28 – Cabinet Member for Environment CMU29 – Cabinet Member for Finance CMU30 – Cabinet Member for Housing CMU31 – Leader and Cabinet Member for OD (Law and Governance) CMU32 – Cabinet Member for Organisational Delivery CMU33 – Cabinet Member for Planning
Additional documents:
Minutes: 67.1 CMU25 Councillor Gowrley, Leader and Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments
Q1 Councillor Otton to Councillor Gowrley, Leader and Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments
How many people do we have in the Foyer at the moment? Response Cllr Gowrley Leader and Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments
The Foyer is full. There was one vacancy because there was a fire in one of the units recently but that’s being dealt with by BMBS. The Foyer is not just for Mid Suffolk residents it’s for Babergh residents as well and anybody else that wants to use it.
67.2 CMU26 Councillor Flatman, Cabinet Member for Communities
Q1 Councillor Welham to Councillor Flatman, Cabinet Member for Communities
The Parish Liaison meeting - I attended that meeting and I was thoroughly embarrassed for most of the time, speakers could not be heard, the live demonstration via the internet couldn’t be live because there was no internet and the feedback from attendees. I’m sure that officers will have seen feedback from attendees. This was really a lost opportunity and I would like you to note that.
Response Councillor Flatman, Cabinet Member for Communities
I certainly have noted this. I have a meeting with the Assistant Director next week and I will certainly raise this.
Q2 Councillor Matthissen to Councillor Flatman, Cabinet Member for Communities
There is a need for health and wellbeing initiatives to include some measure of performance. How many subsequent initiatives have begun as a result of the active wellbeing launch by Suffolk Sport on the 17th of July?
Response Councillor Flatman, Cabinet Member for Communities
Active Wellbeing is a programme MSDC have commissioned Suffolk Sport (the County Sports Partnership) to undertake on its behalf. Over the next 3 years the project will deliver a targeted physical activity programme based in the GP surgeries in Fressingfield and Stradbroke (2018/19), Debenham (2019/20) and Eye (2020/21) supporting older patients/residents to become and stay more active and socially connected in their local community. The project launched in mid-July and as at end of September, 19 people have been referred to Physical Activity Advisor Annie Groves and successfully supported to access an appropriate community-based initiative to support their health and wellbeing. This performance is on track with the annual target set out in the performance and evaluation framework. Suffolk Sport are currently surveying local residents in the catchment area for this GP practice group to understand what additional or new activities are needed. This is likely to involve them establishing new health walks locally and ‘Fit village’ type activities such as Otago and New Age Curling, tailored to local need. Linked to this initiative the Council are also working with our leisure operator (SLM) to establish a gym-based GP exercise-on-referral scheme at Stradbroke Swimming Pool & Fitness Centre. Q3 Councillor Matthissen to Councillor Flatman, Cabinet Member for Communities
How many people took part in the Women on Wheels events on the 22nd of September?
Response Councillor Flatman, Cabinet Member for Communities
The event in Debenham was ... view the full minutes text for item 67. |
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MC/18/25 OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE REPORT PDF 347 KB Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee Minutes: 68.1 Councillor Welham introduced his report to Council and updated Council on the latest activity that the Committee had undertaken.
68.2 The Chairman thanked Councillor Welham for his report.
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MC/18/26 DISBANDMENT OF JOINT HOUSING BOARD PDF 292 KB Cabinet Member for Housing Minutes: 69.1 Councillor Wilshaw introduced the report and informed Council that the purpose of the report was to gain agreement from the Council that the Joint Housing Board should be disbanded and to describe the alternative form of tenant engagement that was being pursued.
69.2 The proposal to disband the Joint Housing Board followed on from a review of Babergh and Mid Suffolk tenant engagement structure carried out by HQN between October 2016 and July 2017. A project was commissioned in October 2017 to explore ways to involve tenants that would both ensure compliance and also allow tenants to have meaningful involvement in the development and scrutiny of the housing services. The project team held a series of consultations and workshops with the principal tenant groups, the Tenants’ Forum and the Joint Housing Board and other key individuals. These sessions developed an alternative tenant engagement structure that would replace the existing groups with a single tenant board. It is intended that this board will be able to scrutinise services and act as a consultative group and it would be supported by the Housing Management Team and Tenant Sounding Boards. It should be noted that this structure should also put the Babergh and Mid Suffolk Councils in a good position to meet the government’s expectations as set out in the recent Housing Green paper. In particular that it ensures genuine engagement with residents so that they have influence over the decisions that affect their lives. The Tenant Board is now up and running and is working closely with staff and external consultants to develop their skills and knowledge. The Board have agreed their own Terms of Reference and Code of Conduct and will soon be developing their work schedule for 2019. As you can see in the report both the Joint Housing Board and the Tenants’ Forum have been consulted on this proposal and have voted in favour of their disbandment and replacement with the Tenant Board.
69.3 Councillor Wilshaw then moved the recommendations in the report which Councillor Gowrley seconded.
69.4 On the proposal of Councillor Mansel and seconded by Councillor Eburne an amendment to the recommendation adding the additional wording “disbanded subject to the Sounding Boards as outlined in the report under Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6 being created instead”.
69.5 This was PUT to the meeting and AGREED.
It was Resolved:-
That the Joint Housing Board be disbanded, subject to the Sounding Boards as outlined in the report under Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6 being created instead.
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MC/18/27 COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE REVIEW - BATTISFORD PDF 216 KB Electoral Registration Officer Additional documents:
Minutes: 70.1 The Chief Executive introduced the report and informed Council that a request had been received from Battisford Parish Council to carry out a community governance review that related to a proposed development of 10 homes. The Council were being asked whether to agree to hold a review as a result of this request.
70.2 On the proposal of Councillor Gowrley and seconded by Councillor Killett
It was Resolved:-
(i) That a Community Governance Review be undertaken in respect of the boundary of Battisford and the Terms of Reference at Appendix B be approved. (ii) That a politically balanced Community Governance Review Working Group be created to conduct the review, consisting of 5 members nominated by group leaders (iii) That the Community Governance Review Working Group be required to report its findings and recommendations to full Council for decision.
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COUNCILLOR APPOINTMENTS Minutes: 71.1 There were no changes made. |
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UPDATES TO 2019/20 TIMETABLE OF MEETINGS To note the cancellation of the Development Control Committee A meeting scheduled for 29 May 2019. Minutes: 72.1 The Corporate Manager for Democratic Services informed Council that the Development Control Committee A that was scheduled for 29th May 2019 had been cancelled.
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