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

2.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS BY COUNCILLORS

Minutes:

2.1           The Monitoring Officer had granted dispensations to all Members for item MC/19/7 Draft Joint Local Plan.

 

2.2           Councillor Welham declared a local no-pecuniary interest for item MC/19/7, as a member of the Stowupland Neighbourhood Plan Working Group.

 

 

 

3.

MC/19/5 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 20 MAY 2019 pdf icon PDF 301 KB

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED:-

 

That the Minutes of the Annual meeting held on 20 May 2019 be confirmed and signed as a true record.

 

4.

MC/19/6 CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS pdf icon PDF 25 KB

Minutes:

4.1       The Chair referred to Paper MC/19/6 for her announcements, which were NOTED, and invited the Leader to present the Leaders Report.

 

5.

LEADER'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Minutes:

5.1               The Leader referred to her tabled paper, Mid Suffolk Leaders Report, and responded to questions.

 

5.2               Councillor Welham referred to the Leisure Contract Working Party and if this Group also included other areas such as Stradbroke.

 

5.3               Councillor Flatman responded by saying that she would take this back to the Task and Finish Group for discussion.

 

5.4               Councillor Eburne enquired when Portfolio Holders’ reports would be presented to the Council and if the Leader would report back on the Local Government Association’s Annual Conference (LGA) to the Council.

 

5.5               The Leader responded that she would bring an update on the LGA Annual Conference in the next Leader’s Report and that Portfolio Holders’ Reports would be brought to Council in due course.

 

6.

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:

6.1               It was stated that the following validated petition was received and would be dealt with through the usual planning process.

 

47 valid signatures regarding planning application DC/19/1558 in Thornham Magna.

 

7.

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:

7.1           None received.

8.

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 13.

Minutes:

8.1               None received.

9.

MC/19/7 BABERGH AND MID SUFFOLK DRAFT JOINT LOCAL PLAN: PREFERRED OPTIONS pdf icon PDF 381 KB

Cabinet Member for Planning

Additional documents:

Minutes:

9.1               The Chair stated that the Draft Joint Local Plan could not be changed apart from typographical and factual errors and Members should focus on the policies within the report and avoid getting into specific issues relating to Members’ wards.  Such issues should be raised as part of the consultation.

 

9.2               Councillor David Burn, Cabinet Member for Planning introduced report MC/19/7 Babergh and Mid Suffolk Draft Joint Local Plan: Preferred Options and summarised the key points in the report.

 

9.3               Councillor Burn suggested that some Members felt that the report was not ready to be published, however the Council could not afford any more delaying and any issues could be raised during the consultation period, which Councillor Burn proposed to cover ten weeks instead of the statutory six weeks.

 

9.4               Councillor Burn then MOVED the amended recommendations, which Councillor Brewster SECONDED.

 

9.5               Councillor Brewster said that the Joint Local Plan had been in preparation for a long time and that the document was as much up to date as possible.

 

9.6               Councillor Eburne PROPOSED the following amendment:

 

That the Corporate Manager – Strategic Planning, before the non-strategic Place and Allocations Policies are finalised for consultation, reviews and, where it would not necessitate further viability or sustainability appraisal, amends or clarifies the proposals maps or supporting text in consultation with any ward member that raises concerns about their ward before Noon of Friday 5th July 2019.

She was also concerned that data and not Neighbourhood Plans had been the basis for the Joint Local Plan.

 

9.7               Councillor Stringer SECONDED the amendment.

 

9.8               The Chair put the amendment to Councillor Burn, the proposer of the Recommendations, who accepted the amendment.

 

9.9               Councillor Burn assured Councillor Eburne that the Joint Local Plan was based on both evidence and data and he hope that the amendment would alleviate any concerns regarding this.

 

9.10           The amendment was PUT to Members and was CARRIED.

 

9.11           Councillor Passmore stated it was important to listen to the communities, some who had expressed concerns about water resources in area with larger developments.

9.12           However, there were villages who welcomed developments and others who was concerned about the opportunities for local first times buyers.  It was important that the Council delivered a Joint Local Plan responding to these issues. He was afraid the consultation period would not be meaningful.

9.13           Councillor Stringer stated that by publishing a flawed set of maps the Council had ignored the wishes of the communities and that there was a risk of damaging the relationship with Parish Councils as a result of this.

9.14           The Assistant Director for Planning and Communities responded to the issues raised and assured Members that the work on the Joint Local Plan had been undertaken in accordance with, not just planning policies but other policies and strategies concerning both the Council and communities. 

9.15           Councillor Burn, Cabinet Member for Planning responded by stressing the importance of working closely and collaboratively with Members and communities.  It was possible to update a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

MC/19/8 PUBLICATION OF THE MID SUFFOLK HOUSING DELIVERY TEST ACTION PLAN pdf icon PDF 241 KB

Cabinet Member for Planning

Additional documents:

Minutes:

11.1          Councillor Burn, Cabinet Member for Planning introduced report MC/19/8, Publication of the Mid Suffolk Housing Delivery Test Action Plan.

 

11.2          Councillor Burn MOVED recommendations 3.1 and 3.2, which was SECONDED by Councillor Flatman.

 

11.3          Councillor Stringer enquired who were to undertake the work detailed from page 126 to 135 in the Housing Delivery Test Action Plan.

 

11.4          The Professional Lead for Key Sites and Infrastructure explained that various team would be involved in this work including the Strategic Planning Development Management Team and the Strategic Housing Team.

 

11.5          Councillor Mansel questioned Table 1 on page 135 of the report and whether the figures for school sites also included lapsed planning permissions.

 

11.6          The Professional Lead for Growth and Sustainable Planning responded that lapsed planning permissions would be renewed if it was considered that the development would be deliverable.

 

11.7          Councillor Otton referred to the bullet points on page 125 of the Action Plan and sought reassurance that the Council had all the relevant data available and that it was accurate. She thought it was important that Members knew, who the developers were and where they had developed properties. 

 

11.8          Councillor Otton also hoped that due consideration would be exercised in relation to approval of Section 106. 

 

11.9          In response to Councillor Carter’s question, the Assistant Director for Planning and Communities detailed the various policies, data and work undertaken by officers to enable the action plan to be achieved.  He suggested to Members that further details could be discussed outside the meeting to ensure all Councillors had confidence in the process.

 

11.10       Councillor Scarff commented that he felt there were too many actions in the Action Plan for stalled sites and suggested that a six months update be brought to Council.

 

11.11       Officers responded that this would be included in the Portfolios Holders reports to Council.

 

11.12       Councillor Eburne stated that the Housing Delivery Action Plan had been a requirement made by the Government.  She asked for assurance from the Leader and the Chief Executive Officer that there were enough staff resources to undertake the work required before sites were stalled. 

 

11.13       The Chief Executive responded that there were enough resources to undertake the work required.

 

11.14       Councillor Stringer added that the failure to deliver houses were noticeable locally through the Planning committees. He was also concerned about Staff resources and how this would affect planning permissions. He PROPOSED an amendment to Recommendations 3.1 and 3.2 to read as follows:

 

That sufficient resources be found to ensure that the outcome detailed in the Mid Suffolk Housing Delivery Test Action Plan can be meet.

 

11.15       Councillor Carter SECONDED the amendment.

 

11.16       The amendment was put to the proposer of the recommendations Councillor Burn, who accepted the amendment.

 

11.17       The amendment was PUT to Members and the vote was CARRIED.

 

It was RESOLVED: -

 

That sufficient resources be found to ensure that the outcome detailed in the Mid Suffolk Housing Delivery Test Action Plan can be meet be included in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

MC/19/9 STOWUPLAND NEIGHBOURHOOD [DEVELOPMENT] PLAN pdf icon PDF 208 KB

Cabinet Member for Planning

 

Minutes:

11.1          Councillor Burn, Cabinet Member for Planning, introduced report MC/19/9 and provided Members with a brief overview of the key points in the report.

 

11.2          Councillor Burn MOVED recommendations 3.1 and 3.2, which was SECONDED by Councillor Welham.

 

11.3          By a unanimous vote

 

It was RESOLVED: -

 

1.               That the Stowupland 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.

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

12.

MC/19/10 NOMINATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS TO THE BOARD OF MSDC (SUFFOLK HOLDINGS) LTD pdf icon PDF 220 KB

Chair MSDC (Suffolk Holdings) Ltd

Minutes:

12.1          Councillor Brewster, Chair of MSDC (Suffolk Holdings) Ltd introduced Paper MC/19/10 and MOVED the recommendation 3.1, which was SECONDED by Councillor Guthrie.

 

12.2          Councillor Eburne queried if the vacant positions had been advertised and whether the positions were politically balance.

 

12.3          Councillor Brewster responded that the positions were elected by the Board of MSDC (Suffolk Holdings) Ltd. and were not required to be politically balanced.

 

12.4          Councillor Hicks commented that the proposed Councillors had the skills and dedication required for the positions.

 

12.5          Councillor Field felt he had little knowledge of the skill set of the proposed Councillors.

 

12.6          The recommendations were PUT to Members and the vote was CARRIED.

 

It was RESOLVED: -

 

That Council approve the appointment of Councillor Peter Gould, Councillor Rick Meyer and Councillor Paul Ekpenyong as Directors of MSDC (Suffolk Holdings) Ltd.

 

13.

APPOINTMENT OF COUNCILLORS TO THE SHARED REVENUES PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE

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:

13.1          The Monitoring Officer introduced the report and advised that, in accordance with the joint arrangements established with Babergh District Council and Ipswich Borough Council, Council was asked to appoint two Cabinet Members and two substitutes to serve on the Committee for the current municipal year and that the political balance rule did not apply to Mid Suffolk’s appointees.

 

13.2          Councillor Hadingham, Chair of the Council, MOVED that Councillors Suzie Morley and John Whitehead be appointed to the Shared Revenues Partnership, which was SECONDED by Councillor Fleming.

 

13.3          The vote was PUT to Members and the vote was CARRIED.

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

That Councillor Suzie Morley and Councillor John Whitehead be appointed to the Shared Revenues Partnership Committee.

14.

COUNCILLOR APPOINTMENTS

Suffolk Police and Crime Panel

In accordance with the allocation of seats across the County, Council is asked to appoint a Green Member as the Mid Suffolk representative on the Suffolk Police and Crime Panel.

 

 

To note the following appointments:

 

Development Control Committee A

 

Richard Meyer (replacing Harry Richardson)

 

Development Control Committee B

 

Harry Richardson (replacing Richard Meyer)

 

Minutes:

14.1          Members were asked to note the following appointments:

 

Development Control Committee A:

 

Richard Meyer (replacing Harry Richardson)

 

Development Control B:

 

Harry Richardson (replacing Richard Meyer)

 

14.2          The Chair then referred to the tabled paper, Appointments to the Suffolk Joint Standards Board and Appointment of Representatives on Outside Bodies/Partnerships 2019/20 and asked for a proposer.

 

14.3          Councillor Otton MOVED the appointments, which were SECONDED by Councillor Humphreys.

 

It was RESOLVED: -

 

1.          That Councillors Paul Ekpenyong, John Matthissen and Mike Norris be appointed to the Suffolk Joint Standards Board.

 

2.          That the following Councillors be appointed as Representatives on Outside bodies/Partnerships for 2019/20:

 

NAME OF BODY OR PANEL

NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES TO BE APPOINTED

NAME OF MEMBER NOMINATED

EAST SUFFOLK INTERNAL DRAINAGE BOARD 

 

3

James Caston

John Field

Keith Welham

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION ASSEMBLY

 

Observer: Rachel Eburne

MID SUFFOLK DOMESTIC ABUSE FORUM

1

Stephen Phillips

SUFFOLK FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT SCRUTINY SUB COMMITTEE

 

2 x per annum various locations

1 (+ 1 substitute)

James Caston

(TBC)

SUFFOLK JOINT EMERGENCY PLANNING POLICY PANEL 

 

2x per annum, Endeavour House   

1 (+ 1 substitute)

Penny Otton

(Andrew Mellen)

SUFFOLK POLICE AND CRIME PANEL

1

Places are allocated by SCC County-wide on a political basis.  MSDC currently has to appoint a Green.

Keith Welham

(Substitute: Terence Carter)

SUFFOLK VOILENCE AND ABUSE PARTNERSHIP

1

Stephen Phillips

WESTERN SUFFOLK COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP (WSCSP)

 

4 x per annum a.m. various locations on a rotational basis

2    Voting rights

Harry Richardson

Sarah Mansel