Apologies were received from Councillor Clive Arthey and Councillor Michael Holt.

There were no declarations of interest declared.

None received.

None received.

Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The Joint Chair of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Keith Welham, advised Members that report BCa/19/64 had been reviewed by the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 04 September 2020. Councillor Welham outlined the recommendations made to Cabinet by the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Cabinet Member for the Environment

The Cabinet Member for Environment introduced the report and outlined the options for future delivery of public realm services to Members. Councillor Malvisi thanked the Assistant Director for Environment and Commercial Partnerships, the Public Realm team for their work.

The recommendations in the report were proposed by Councillor Malvisi and seconded by Councillor Ward.

In response to a query, the Assistant Director for Environment and Commercial Partnerships confirmed that Council’s would be able to offer their in-house services to Parish Councils without the need for LATCo.

The Assistant Director for Environment and Commercial Partnerships responded to Councillor’s questions on issues including: how much money the Council had saved through the involvement of volunteers, and any plans to market the in-house services more widely  plans to market the service more widely.

In response to a question, the Assistant Director for Environment and Commercial Partnerships provided members with details of the role of the Environment Programme Board. The Chief Executive provided confirmation that the Programme Boards would provide feedback to Cabinet Members.

The Assistant Director for Environment and Commercial Partnerships introduced Colin Taylor from CGT Consulting Ltd and Mark Emms from Mark Emms Consulting, who assisted with the options appraisals and business case.

Councillor Busby commented on the possibility of being in competition with other Local Authorities services.

Following a question from Councillor Busby, the Assistant Director for Environment and Commercial Partnerships and Colin Taylor provided reassurance on the estimated costings of the proposed service.

Members discussed the report in further detail during the closed session of the meeting. Members then resolved to return to open session in order to vote on the recommendations in the report.

It was RESOLVED:-

1.1          That the Public Realm services be brought together in a single in-house operation.

1.2          That Option 4 of the report (LATCO) be retained as an option for future consideration.

Reason for Decision: The current contract with IdVerde for public realm services in Babergh District expires in October 2021, with no further options for extension. Therefore, a decision must be made on what the Council’s wish to do in respect of the delivery of the public realm services

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, it is likely that there would be the disclosure to them of exempt information as indicated against the item.

The author of the report 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.

It was RESOLVED:-

That pursuant to Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the business specified in the report on the grounds that if the public were present during the item, it is likely that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

Cabinet Member for the Environment

Members discussed the report in further detail during the closed session of the meeting. Members then resolved to return to open session in order to vote on the recommendations in the report.

          Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committtee

Members considered the confidential minute of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in discussion of the Future Delivery Model for Public Realm.