Agenda and minutes
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DECLARATION OF INTERESTS BY COUNCILLORS To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests, other registrable or non-registrable interests by Members. Minutes: 28.1 There were no declarations of interests by Councillors.
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MC/22/11 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 23 JUNE 2022 PDF 358 KB Minutes: It was RESOLVED:-
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2022 be confirmed and signed as a true record.
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MC/22/12 CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS PDF 53 KB Minutes: 30.1 The Chair referred Members to paper MC/22/12. |
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LEADER'S ANNOUNCEMENTS Minutes: 31.1 It has been a relatively short period of time since our last Full Council meeting and so I have focused my announcements this month on our recent successes.
However, I do also want to start by praising our Emergency Services, and in particular the Suffolk fire service who have been under such pressure and been so fantastic during this recent spell of extreme heat.
It has been a busy few weeks of significant milestones for our companies and Council projects, with the Range being confirmed as the first occupier at Gateway 14, and completion of the first phase of 32 new homes and a new Co-op store at Chambers Green in Needham Market. A further 60 homes will follow as part of phase two which is expected to start later in the year.
Cabinet have also agreed to fund the development of detailed designs, and public engagement, of a potential new wellbeing and leisure hub for Mid Suffolk. The project will provide new and improved facilities for a wide range of sports, leisure and health organisations, all brought together across a single site in Stowmarket.
The hot weather has also coincided with the start of school summer holidays and I am really proud that we are able to provide, alongside our partners, an array of activities. Explore Outdoor will again be getting children out and about in nature, while Kinetic Science will be encouraging children to learn through fun with some hands-on experiments. There will also be a variety of cooking lessons provided by The Food Museum, Explore Outdoor and Debenham Sports and Leisure – all supporting our ambition to combat holiday hunger.
There will also be sessions for swimming, football, arts and crafts, dodgeball, and filmmaking workshops. Free places are available for all of the activities for those most in need.
We are also continuing to tackle issues in relation to housing and homelessness. Through our newly adopted Empty Homes Policy we will be reducing the number of long-term empty properties in Mid Suffolk. This includes our Empty Homes Renovation Loan. This is an interest free loan of up to £20,000 to help owners to renovate properties that have been empty for more than six months.
I am also really pleased that alongside Councillor Hicks and Councillor Passmore as part of the Suffolk Public Sector Leaders Group, we have been able to create a new climate change fund. The £150,000 Suffolk Climate Action Community Match Fund is available for all not-for-profit organisations looking to deliver community-based carbon reduction projects. These could include improving the energy efficiency of buildings, promoting walking and cycling, using sustainable/recycled materials and raising awareness of climate change through events.
Looking ahead to later in the year, our second Innovation Awards has been launched. The awards are a celebration of all types of innovation across businesses in all sectors. It showcases how our businesses are using innovative approaches to deliver their products and services, ranging from customer services to new technologies.
There are 10 categories ... view the full minutes text for item 31. |
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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: 32.1 None received. |
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QUESTIONS BY THE PUBLIC IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES The Chairman of the Council 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: 33.1 None 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 13. Minutes: 34.1 None received |
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Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments Additional documents:
Minutes: 35.1 Councillor Gould announced that this report had been withdrawn from the agenda following the cancellation of the Babergh District Council meeting and it would be rescheduled to be considered by both Councils in September. |
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MC/22/14 GATEWAY 14 LIMITED- EXTENSION TO PEAK LOAN FACILITY PDF 699 KB Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments Minutes: 36.1 The Chair invited Councillor Gould to present report MC/22/14.
36.2 Councillor Stringer questioned the number of jobs to be created as there was a discrepancy between the numbers quoted from various sources.
36.3 The Director for Assets and Investments confirmed that 1650 jobs would be created at Gateway 14.
36.4 Councillor Eburne asked for clarification of any agreements that were in place and if these affected the increase in peak debt facility.
36.5 The Director for Assets and Investments confirmed that there was no interdependency regarding the recommendations in the report and that conditional contracts had been exchanged with The Range.
36.6 In response to a question from Councillor Field, the Director for Assets and Investments stated that an indicative budget was set in 2020 and since then a much more detailed due diligence had been undertaken which has led to some increases and decreases in costs.
36.7 Councillor Warboys asked if the contract with The Range was fully compliant with the Council’s set of environmental standards.
36.8 The Director for Assets and Investments stated that The Range shared the Council’s aspirations with regard to delivering a highly sustainable building and through working together it was hoped to exceed the requirement set out.
36.9 Councillors debated issues within the report including the positive impact to the local community, the need to be an exemplar site for environmental aspirations and the need to move forward with the works in a timely manner.
36.10 The recommendations in the report were PROPOSED by Councillor Gould and SECONDED by Councillor Brewster.
It was RESOLVED: -
1.1 That £5m be added to the Capital Programme and that the peak debt threshold for Gateway 14 Limited be extended to £42.9m.
1.2 That authority be delegated to the S151 Officer to approve and document loan authorisation.
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EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC (WHICH TERM INCLUDES THE PRESS) To consider whether, pursuant to Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public should be excluded from the meeting for the business specified below on the grounds that if the public were present during this/these item(s), it is likely that there would be the disclosure to them of exempt information as indicated against the/each item.
The author(s) of the report(s) proposed to be considered in Part 2 of the Agenda is/are satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
Minutes: The meeting did not move into closed session.
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RESTRICTED APPENDIX - CIFCO CAPITAL LTD BUSINESS PLAN (Exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1) Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments Minutes: The meeting did not move into closed session.
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RESTRICTED APPENDIX - GATEWAY 14 LIMITED (Exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1) Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments
Minutes: The meeting did not move into closed session.
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RE-ADMITTANCE OF THE PUBLIC (WHICH TERM INCLUDES THE PRESS) Minutes: The meeting did not move into closed session.
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MC/22/15 COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY (CIL) - EXPENDITURE FRAMEWORK FOURTH REVIEW PDF 279 KB Cabinet Member for Planning Additional documents:
Minutes: 41.1 The Chair invited Councillor Burn to introduce paper MC/22/15.
41.2 Councillor Welham asked if invitations to briefings to parish councils could be extended to village hall committees and community groups.
41.3 Councillor Burn stated that it would have to be agreed with Babergh District Council but it seemed a sensible idea, the Professional Lead – Key Sites and Infrastructure Manager commented that the scope had been widened to include other organisations.
41.4 In reply to several questions from Councillor Otton, the Professional Lead – Key Sites and Infrastructure stated that table 2 of the CIL expenditure framework set out the parameters for spend outside the Councils geographical boundaries and repairs and maintenance had been ruled out of the CIL expenditure framework because a key principle of CIL was to use it for infrastructure to service new growth.
41.5 In reply to questions from Councillor Mansel, the Professional Lead – Key Sites and Infrastructure stated that works had begun to update the infrastructure delivery plan and the infrastructure list and as these were evidence based documents looking at growth and trying to understand what capacity there was in the system to support the infrastructure, Councillors would be unlikely to be able to influence what was on the infrastructure list. Also, the Joint Member Panel were very keen to put forward a measure which would allow some costed schemes to be brought forward in relation to the local cycling and walking infrastructure plan and collaborative works with the Sustainable Travel Officer were taking place.
41.6 Councillor Eburne asked if it was realistic to expect a quote to be valid for up to four months as stated in the report and could it be communicated what the £18.8 million currently in the strategic CIL fund was proposed to be spend on in the future.
41.7 The Professional Lead – Key Sites and Infrastructure agreed that holding quotes for any length of time was unrealistic therefore it has been agreed to update quotes as assessments of projects were progressed. In relation to the moneys held in the strategic CIL fund, a 5-year work plan was being worked on which would allow a budget and forecast to be formulated.
41.8 Following questions from Councillor Mellen and Councillor Whitehead, the Deputy Monitoring Officer confirmed that although Babergh District Council would not be voting on this report until September it would not prevent Mid Suffolk Council from approving the amendments to the CIL expenditure framework in relation to Mid Suffolk bids.
41.9 Councillor Warboys asked if clarification could be given to parish councils regarding how parish infrastructure plans related to CIL bids.
41.10 Councillor Burn confirmed that if an item was not on a parish infrastructure plan it did not mean a CIL bid could not be submitted.
41.11 Councillors debated issues in the report including improving communications with parish councils in relation to CIL, approving a joint framework when the Babergh report had been deferred to September, the CIL charging framework and future all member ... view the full minutes text for item 41.
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Cabinet Member for Environment Minutes: 42.1 The Chair invited Councillor Fleming to introduce report MC/22/16.
42.2 Councillor Eburne asked if any CIL monies were being allocated to the LCWIP project.
42.3 Councillor Fleming replied that CIL funds were not being allocated but would be available on a case by case basis.
42.4 In reply to a request from Councillor Welham, the Sustainable Travel Officer confirmed that the Babergh.gov link to the sustainable travel webpage used in the report would be replaced by a Mid Suffolk.gov link when contacting Mid Suffolk Parish Councils.
42.5 Councillors thanked the officers involved in the project, debated issues in the report including ensuring the enthusiasm shown by communities were acted upon and the project was moved forward and using the LCWIP to influence planning decisions.
42.6 The report was noted.
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MOTIONS ON NOTICE |
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TO CONSIDER THE MOTION ON NOTICE RECEIVED FROM COUNCILLOR MELLEN As set out in the recently approved HRA business plan, retrofitting insulation and other energy-saving measures to the council’s housing stock is expensive, and progress is limited by the constraints of HRA funding. A group of seven councils in Sussex have set up a project, known as the Lewes Model, pooling resources, adopting a consistent approach and gaining economies of scale in order to facilitate the retrofitting of up to 40,000 social homes.
This council agrees to research this model and to start dialogue with other local authorities and external stakeholders, to investigate if a similar project could be initiated in Suffolk to improve the pace of retrofitting.
Proposer: Cllr Andrew Mellen Seconder: Cllr Rachel Eburne
Minutes: 44.1 Councillor Mellen PROPOSED the motion which asked the council to research the Lewes model of retrofitting social housing which was SECONDED by Councillor Eburne.
44.2 Councillor Morley PROPOSED the following amendment to the second paragraph of the motion –
This Council agrees to ask the housing task group which is a sub-group of the Suffolk Public Sector Leaders group, to start dialogue with other local authorities and external stakeholders, to investigate if a similar project could be initiated in Suffolk to improve the pace of retrofitting.
This was SECONDED by Councillor Richardson.
The amendment was accepted by Councillors Mellen and Eburne with the condition that updates were brought back to full Council.
44.3 Councillors debated the motion, discussing the possibility of using funds from the general fund for external environmental improvements, updates being brought back to council in a forum that allows questions and debate and working collaboratively with wider partners.
It was RESOLVED:
As set out in the recently approved HRA business plan, retrofitting insulation and other energy-saving measures to the council’s housing stock is expensive, and progress is limited by the constraints of HRA funding. A group of seven councils in Sussex have set up a project, known as the Lewes Model, pooling resources, adopting a consistent approach and gaining economies of scale in order to facilitate the retrofitting of up to 40,000 social homes.
This Council agrees to ask the Housing Task Group which is a sub-group of the Suffolk Public Sector Leaders group, to start dialogue with other local authorities and external stakeholders, to investigate if a similar project could be initiated in Suffolk to improve the pace of retrofitting.
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COUNCILLOR APPOINTMENTS Minutes: 45.1 There were no councillor appointments. |