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

1.

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL

To elect the Chairman of the Council for the Municipal Year 2019/20.

Minutes:

1.1       Councillor Derrick Haley welcomed the Council and asked for nominations for Chairman of the Council for the Municipal Year 2019/20.

 

1.2       A nomination for Councillor Lavinia Hadingham was proposed by Councillor Flatman and seconded by Councillor Muller.

 

1.3       Councillor Field proposed Councillor Mike Norris as Chairman of the Council, which was duly seconded by Councillor Matthissen.

 

1.4       The vote for Councillor Hadingham was 17 For and 17 Against.

 

1.5       The vote for Councillor Norris was 17 For and 17 Against.

 

1.6       Due to a deadlock vote, the Chairman, Councillor Haley, exercised his casting vote in favour of Councillor Hadingham.

 

By the Chair’s casting vote

 

It was RESOLVED

 

That Councillor Lavinia Hadingham be appointed Chairman of the Council for the Municipal Year 2019/20.

 

1.7       Councillor Hadingham passed on her thanks to Councillor Haley and thanked Members for her election as Chairman which she considered an honour.  She announced her chosen charity as Mid Suffolk Home Start.  She welcomed newly appointed Members to the Council.

 

1.8       Councillor Passmore, Councillor Otton, Councillor Eburne and Councillor Morley all paid tribute and thanks to Councillor Haley for all he had done for Mid Suffolk District Council over the years.

 

1.9       Note:  Councillor Hadingham thereupon made her Declaration of Acceptance of Office and presided over the meeting.

 

2.

ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL

To elect the Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Municipal Year 2019/20.

 

Minutes:

2.1       Councillor Muller proposed Councillor Barry Humphreys, which was duly seconded by Councillor Morley.

 

2.2       Councillor Stringer proposed Councillor Rowland Warboys, which was duly seconded by Councillor Scarff.

 

2.3       The vote for Councillor Humphreys was 17 For and 17 Against.

 

2.4       The vote for Councillor Warboys as 17 For and 17 Against.

 

2.5       Due to a deadlock vote, the Chairman, Councillor Hadingham, exercised her casting vote in favour of Councillor Humphreys.

 

By the Chair’s casting vote

 

It was RESOLVED

 

That Councillor Barry Humphreys MBE be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Municipal Year 2019/20.

 

2.6       Note:  Councillor Humphreys thereupon made his Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

 

3.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS BY COUNCILLORS

Minutes:

3.1       None received.

 

4.

MC/19/1 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 18 MARCH 2019 pdf icon PDF 295 KB

Minutes:

It was Resolved:-

 

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2019 be confirmed and signed as a true record.

 

5.

MC/19/2 CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS pdf icon PDF 24 KB

Minutes:

5.1       The Chairman referred to Paper MC/19/2 outlining recent events attended by the outgoing Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

6.

ELECTION OF LEADER OF THE COUNCIL

To elect the Leader of the Council for the current Term of Office.

 

Minutes:

6.1       A nomination for Councillor Suzie Morley was proposed by Councillor Guthrie and seconded by Councillor Hicks.

 

6.2       Councillor Mansel proposed Councillor Rachel Eburne, which was duly seconded by Councillor Otton.

 

6.3       Councillor Eburne stated that as no one party had a majority she believed that there should be a Leader who could ensure a Cabinet where there were portfolio holders from all parties as this is what the electorate would expect.  She considered that if she was elected Leader she would be able to carry that through and ensure that all was equal around the table.

 

6.4       Councillor Mansel commented on her disappointment that the Green Party Leader and Liberal Democrats Leader have tried to work with the Leader of the Conservative and Independent Group but that this had come to nothing.  She did not consider it was the most efficient way to run a Council where parties were unable to work together collaboratively.

 

6.5       The vote for Councillor Morley was 17 For and 17 Against.

 

6.6       The vote for Councillor Eburne as 17 For and 17 Against.

 

By the Chair’s casting vote

 

It was RESOLVED

 

That Councillor Suzie Morley be appointed Leader of the Council for the current Term of Office.

 

7.

LEADER'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Minutes:

7.1       Councillor Morley thanked Members for electing her.  She said it was a great and humbling honour to be elected Leader to Mid Suffolk District Council during a significant time of change but also following a time of great progress and achievement. 

 

7.2       She went on to state that whilst the elections earlier this month were clearly very difficult, she believed their party record was strong and wished for her thanks for their achievements be put on record.  Since the elections she had met with the Leaders of the other Groups and was grateful to them for entering into talks which she considered had been productive, helpful and focussed on how they might be able to work together. 

 

7.3       Unfortunately discussions had focussed on areas of disagreement, in particular the future role of CIFCO and the location of the headquarters.  The political asks of the opposition were not acceptable and therefore a consensus was unable to be reached. 

 

7.4       She informed Members that the Conservative group had joined with Councillor Brewster to form an administration.  The offer of a seat on Cabinet remained open to Councillor Eburne and Council Field should they wish to take it.

 

7.5       Councillor Morley said that in the coming months the administration would set out its priorities for the next 4 years.  She went on to make two of her personal priorities, the first being the people we are here to serve. Having been a Cabinet Member for Organisational Development with responsibility for customer services she had learnt very quickly how important it was to put residents and service users at the heart of everything and wished to pay tribute to the dedicated and hard working staff.  As Leader she would make this a fundamental pillar of work in Mid Suffolk, involving people in decision making, improving access to services or designing services for their needs and improving the Council’s communication with the public to be far better and proactive.

 

7.6       Her second priority being a review of the Joint Local Plan stating that it is vital that we ensure that housing and building development in our district is where and how we want it to be.  It is important to our residents that we get it right.

 

7.7       Councillor Morley announced Councillor Gerard Brewster as the Deputy Leader, and informed Members that she was still working on the Cabinet Member appointments.

 

7.8       Councillor Eburne welcomed Councillor Morley as Leader, and informed Members that in the run up to this meeting that she had asked for meetings in order to develop a consensus across the chamber, but this had not been taken up, stating that she would have liked a seat on Cabinet, provided it was an equal basis, with a portfolio.  She went on to say that she would like to see much more investment in housing in this area, to put a hold on CIFCO, bring money back here and invest in housing and asked if that could be one of the first  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

DESIGNATION OF COMMITTEES AND JOINT COMMITTEES

To appoint the following Committees and Joint Committees:

·                  Mid Suffolk Overview and Scrutiny Committee

·                  Development Control Committee A

·                  Development Control Committee B

·                  Planning Referrals Committee

·                  Mid Suffolk Licensing and Regulatory Committee

·                 Joint Audit and Standards Committee

·                 Joint Appointments Committee

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED:-

 

That the following Committees and Joint Committees be appointed:-

 

Mid Suffolk Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Development Control Committee A

Development Control Committee B

Planning Referrals Committee

Mid Suffolk Licensing and Regulatory Committee

Joint Audit and Standards Committee

Joint Appointments Committee

 

9.

MC/19/3 POLITICAL BALANCE AND COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEES pdf icon PDF 134 KB

The Monitoring Officer

Additional documents:

Minutes:

9.1       Under the provisions of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, a Local Authority has a duty to review the allocation of seats to Political Groups at every annual meeting of the Council or as soon as practicable after that meeting.  In addition, the composition of Committees must be approved at the Annual Council meeting.

 

9.2       The Corporate Manager – Democratic Services pointed out a change to recommendation 2.2 of the Paper MC/19/3, stating it should read “That Committee members be appointed as set out in Appendix B to this report.”

 

9.3       Councillor Mansel pointed out that Councillor Richardson and Councillor Turner, both who represent the Thurston Ward, may cause an issue as both were listed to sit on Development Control Committee A, and that should an application for Thurston go to Development Control Committee A meeting they would have to move across the floor and there would only be 6 members making that decision, so questioned whether that was the best composition for Development Control Committee A.

 

9.4       Councillor Morley informed Members she would investigate further.

 

The vote was carried

 

It was RESOLVED:-

 

1.          That the Committees’ size and numerical allocation of seats be approved as detailed in Appendix A to Paper MC/19/3.

 

2.          That Committee members be appointed as set out in Appendix B to Paper MC/19/3, as follows:-

 

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (6)

 

James Caston

Dave Muller

Lavinia Hadingham

Keith Scarff

Andy Mellen

Keith Welham 

 

JOINT AUDIT AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE (5)

 

Oliver Amorowson

Dave Muller

James Caston

Mike Norris

John Matthissen

 

 

DEVELOPMENT CONTROL COMMITTEE A (8)

 

Rachel Eburne

Sarah Mansel

John Field

Dave Muller

Lavinia Hadingham

Harry Richardson

Matthew Hicks

Wendy Turner

 

DEVELOPMENT CONTROL COMMITTEE B (8)

 

Terence Carter

John Matthissen

Peter Gould

Richard Meyer

Kathie Guthrie

Mike Norris

Barry Humphreys

Rowland Warboys

 

LICENSING & REGULATORY COMMITTEE (10)

 

Gerard Brewster

Dave Muller

Paul Ekpenyong

Stephen Phillips

Julie Flatman

Penny Otton

Helen Geake

Daniel Pratt

Kathie Guthrie

Andrew Stringer

 

JOINT APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE (3)

 

Gerard Brewster

Suzie Morley

Rachel Eburne

 

 

 

10.

ELECTION OF CHAIRS AND VICE-CHAIRS OF COMMITTEES

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution (Article 6 (6.2.1)) the Leader shall take up Chairmanship of the Cabinet.

To elect a Chair and Vice-Chair for the following Committees and Joint Committees:

·                  Mid Suffolk Overview and Scrutiny Committee

·                  Development Control Committee A

·                  Development Control Committee B

·                  Planning Referrals Committee

·                  Mid Suffolk Licensing and Regulatory Committee

·                 Joint Audit and Standards Committee

·                 Joint Appointments Committee

 

Minutes:

10.1   Nominations for Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Committees were received as follows:-

 

Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

Chair:                       Councillor Keith Welham

Vice-Chair:               Councillor Keith Scarff

 

Vote: Carried

 

Development Control Committee A:

Chair:                       Councillor Sarah Mansel

                                Councillor Matthew Hicks

 

Vote: By the Chair’s casting vote – Councillor Matthew Hicks

 

Vice-Chair:               Councillor Lavinia Hadingham

 

Vote: Carried

 

Development Control Committee B:

Chair:                       Councillor Kathie Guthrie

Vice-Chair:               Councillor Barry Humphreys

 

Vote: Carried

 

Licensing and Regulatory Committee:

Chair:                       Councillor Kathie Guthrie

                                Councillor Andrew Stringer

 

Vote: By the Chair’s casting vote – Councillor Kathie Guthrie

 

Vice-Chair:               Councillor Dave Muller

                                Councillor Andrew Stringer

 

Vote: By the Chair’s casting vote – Councillor Dave Muller

 

Joint Audit and Standards Committee:

Chair:                       Councillor Dave Muller

                                Councillor Mike Norris

 

Vote: By the Chair’s casting vote – Councillor Dave Muller

 

Joint Appointments Committee:

Chair:                       Councillor Suzie Morley

Vice-Chair:               Councillor Gerard Brewster

 

Vote: Carried

 

It was RESOLVED:-

 

That the following Councillors be appointed as Chairs and Vice-Chairs to the Committees until the Annual Council Meeting 2020, as shown below:-

 

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Chair:

Councillor Keith Welham

Vice-Chair:

Councillor Keith Scarff

Joint Audit and Standards Committee

Chair:

Councillor Dave Muller

 

 

Development Control Committee A

Chair:

Councillor Matthew Hicks

Vice-Chair:

Councillor Lavinia Hadingham

Development Control Committee B

Chair:

Councillor Kathie Guthrie

Vice-Chair:

Councillor Barry Humphreys

Licensing and Regulatory Committee

Chair:

Councillor Kathie Guthrie

Vice-Chair:

Councillor Dave Muller

Joint Appointments Committee

Chair:

Councillor Suzie Morley

Vice-Chair:

Councillor Gerard Brewster

 

 

11.

MC/19/4 APPOINTMENTS TO OUTSIDE BODIES FOR 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 132 KB

Leader of the Council

Additional documents:

Minutes:

11.1   Members had before them Paper MC/19/4, circulated in the tabled papers.

 

11.2   Councillor Otton enquired whether there was an opportunity for an opposition leader to attend the East of England Local Government Association meeting, but noted that there is only one voting place.

 

11.3   The Monitoring Officer clarified that we only have one place on each of those bodies, but we will take it away and make enquiries.

 

11.4   Councillor Welham pointed out that there appeared to be “East Suffolk Drainage Board” and “East Suffolk Internal Drainage Board” listed which he believed were one in the same.

 

11.5   Councillor Eburne commented that it was disappointing that the allocations were not representative of the whole Council and it would have been good to have mixed this up.  She considered it would be a good idea to put Outside Bodies to Scrutiny Committee to review as there may be other bodies/partnerships that representation should be on.

 

11.6   The Corporate Manager – Democratic Services responded that the Scrutiny Committee did have it on their Work Plan last year and some initial work had been carried out on it, and that it was going back in the future once work is being done and to also look at other organisations to see whether it is appropriate and who we should be appointing to those bodies as well.

 

11.7   Councillor Richardson proposed an amendment to Appendix A, the Suffolk Health and Wellbeing Board, as he was not able to sit on both the Suffolk Health Scrutiny Committee and the Suffolk Health and Wellbeing Board, he proposed that Councillor Flatman be appointed in his place.  This amendment was duly agreed by the proposer and seconder.

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

That Councillors be appointed to Outside Bodies as detailed in Appendix A to Paper MC/19/4, and following the amendment to the Suffolk Health and Wellbeing Board, as follows:

 

NAME OF BODY OR PANEL

COUNCILLOR

ASSOCIATION FOR SUFFOLK MUSEUMS

Richard Meyer

EAST OF ENGLAND ASSEMBLY OF LEADERS

The Leader

EAST OF ENGLAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

Suzie Morley

EAST SUFFOLK DRAINAGE BOARD

James Caston

Jessica Fleming

Keith Welham

HAVEN GATEWAY PARTNERSHIP   

Gerard Brewster

HOME-START MID SUFFOLK

Lavinia Hadingham

IPSWICH STRATEGIC PLANNING AREA BOARD

David Burn

JOINT WASTE MANAGEMENT BOARD 

Jessica Fleming

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION – SPARSE

Suzie Morley

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION ASSEMBLY 

Suzie Morley

MID SUFFOLK DOMESTIC ABUSE FORUM  

Lavinia Hadingham

MUSEUM OF EAST ANGLIAN LIFE LTD

Richard Meyer

SUFFOLK VIOLENCE AND ABUSE PARTNERSHIP   

Lavinia Hadingham

SUFFOLK FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT SCRUTINY SUB COMMITTEE

James Caston

SUFFOLK HEALTH AND WELLBEING BOARD

Julie Flatman

SUFFOLK HEALTH SCRUTINY COMMITTEE   

Harry Richardson

SUFFOLK JOINT EMERGENCY PLANNING POLICY PANEL 

Gerard Brewster

Barry Humphreys

SUFFOLK POLICE AND CRIME PANEL

Barry Humphreys

SUFFOLK WASTE PARTNERSHIP (SWP)

Jessica Fleming

WESTERN SUFFOLK COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP (WSCSP)

Julie Flatman

Harry Richardson

 

 

12.

APPOINTMENT OF COUNCILLORS TO THE SHARED REVENUE PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE

The Assistant Director – Law and Governance to report that, in accordance with the joint arrangements established with Babergh District Council and Ipswich Borough Council, Council is asked to appoint two Cabinet Members and two substitutes to serve on the Committee for the Current municipal year.

The political balance rules do not apply to Mid Suffolk’s appointees. 

Minutes:

12.1   In accordance with the joint arrangements established with Babergh District Council and Ipswich Borough Council, the Council was asked to appoint two Cabinet Members and two substitutes to serve on the Committee for the current municipal year, but as the Cabinet Members were yet to be announced this item would be deferred until the next Council meeting.

 

13.

APPOINTMENTS TO THE SUFFOLK JOINT STANDARDS BOARD pdf icon PDF 82 KB

The Assistant Director – Law and Governance to report that, in accordance with the joint arrangements established with Babergh District Council and Suffolk County Council, Council is asked to appoint three Councillors to serve on the Board for the current municipal year.

The political balance rules do not apply to Mid Suffolk’s appointees who cannot be:

·       The Chairman of the Council

·       Members of the Cabinet

Minutes:

13.1   In accordance with the joint arrangements established with Babergh District Council and Suffolk County Council, Council was asked to appoint three Councillors to serve on the Board for the current municipal year.

 

13.2   The political balance rules did not apply to Mid Suffolk’s appointments who could not be:

 

·             The Chairman of the Council

·             Members of the Cabinet

 

It was RESOLVED:-

 

That the following Councillors be appointed to serve on the Suffolk Joint Standards Board for the ensuing municipal year:-

 

Councillor Paul Ekpenyong

Councillor Barry Humphreys

Councillor John Matthissen

 

14.

APPOINTMENTS TO THE JOINT GYPSY AND TRAVELLER STEERING GROUP pdf icon PDF 82 KB

Council is asked to appoint four Councillors to the Joint Gypsy and Traveller Steering Group.

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED:-

 

That the following Councillors be appointed to serve on the Joint Gypsy and Traveller Steering Group for the ensuing municipal year:-

 

Councillor John Field

Councillor Julie Flatman

Councillor Lavinia Hadingham

Councillor Andrew Stringer

 

15.

APPOINTMENTS TO COUNCIL WORKING GROUPS pdf icon PDF 220 KB

Minutes:

15.1   Following clarification from the Monitoring Officer, Councillor Eburne requested that Councillor Mansel be included to sit on the Community Governance Review Working Group.

 

It was RESOLVED:-

 

That the following Councillors be appointed to the Council Working Groups as detailed in the tabled papers Agenda Item 16 – Appointments to Council Working Groups, as follows:-

 

Member Learning and Development Working Group:

 

Councillor Rachel Eburne

Councillor Suzie Morley

Councillor Stephen Phillips

 

Joint Local Plan Working Group:

 

Councillor David Burn

Councillor Kathie Guthrie

Councillor John Field

Councillor Andrew Stringer

 

Constitution (Planning Charter) Working Group:

 

Councillor Sarah Mansel

Councillor Suzie Morley

Councillor Keith Scarff

 

Community Governance Review Working Group:

 

Councillor James Caston

Councillor Julie Flatman

Councillor Penny Otton

Councillor Sarah Mansel