Venue: Endeavour House, Russell Road, Ipswich
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Apologies for absence Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Roy Barker, Julie Flatman, Diana Kearsley and Penny Otton.
The Chairman welcomed Jonathan Stephenson as the new Strategic Director. |
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To receive any declarations of pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest by Councillors Minutes: None declared. |
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MCa/17/14 Confirmation of the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 August 2017 PDF 181 KB Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 7 August 2017 were confirmed as a correct record. |
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To receive notification of petitions in accordance with the Council's Petition Scheme Minutes: None received. |
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Questions by Councillors Minutes: It was noted a question had been received from Councillor Wendy Marchant. It was agreed to take this during the relevant agenda item. |
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Minutes: Councillor Eburne, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee introduced report MCa/17/15 and explained there was concern in respect of performance monitoring. Both an impact and a change in the targets for void times were urgently required.
It was agreed performance would continue to be monitored and if not as expected to report back.
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Chief Executive Additional documents:
Decision: Decisions Made by Cabinet:
1.1 To provisionally endorse the approach of formally dissolving the two district Council’s and creating a new larger District Council.
1.2 To utilise Transformation Funding to jointly conduct stakeholder, public and staff engagement during Autumn 2017.
1.2a Subject to the outcome of the public engagement a draft (DCLG compliant) business case for the dissolution of BMSDCs and creation of a new single district council for the area could be considered by each Council.
Reason for decisions: In order to ensure that the two districts were in the best possible position to respond to, and take advantage of, the emerging opportunities and challenges within Local Government and Suffolk.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected: Other options considered as per the report.
Any Declarations of Interest declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes: The Chief Executive gave an introduction to report MCa/17/17 which gave a balance of positive and negative reasons for merging into one Council. In order to ensure the two districts were in the best possible position to respond to, and take advantage of, the emerging opportunities and challenges within Local Government and Suffolk both Council Leaders had requested the Chief Executive to investigate the various options available to further evolve the Councils partnership working.
It was stressed no formal decision would be made but the recommendation was to endorse the approach of creating one new, larger District Council and to conduct stakeholder, public and staff engagement.
The Chairman, Councillor Gowrley, took Councillor Merchant’s question which was:
“The recommendation on page 14 is described as an ‘endorsement’. Endorsement means confirmation of a decision already made. But isn’t this Cabinet making the decision? Because it is described as an endorsement, and not a decision, it cannot be called into Scrutiny, nor will it go to Full Council. Isn’t there a democratic deficiency here? Some people might say the two councils merging together has come along by stealth?”
In response Councillor Gowrley stated:
“At my request, and that of Councillor Jenkins, the Chief Executive has reviewed our existing partnership arrangements between Mid Suffolk and Babergh.
The Chief Executive is recommending that the existing two Councils are dissolved and a new single council is created for our area in order to ensure that we remain ‘fit for purpose’ for the future.
Clearly this is not a final decision that either Cabinet can make without comprehensive public engagement and a detailed Business Case. Such work is not something that either council would do however unless the Cabinets first believe that there is some merit in the Chief Executive’s recommendation.
That is therefore what we are doing – simply ‘provisionally endorsing’ the concept in order to enable that further work to be carried out.
We are not today deciding to become one council. After such public engagement and having seen a detailed a Business Case, if both Cabinets still believe that the approach has merit, then I anticipate that this would first be considered by both Scrutiny Committees and Councils.
Councillor Gowrley then moved the recommendation which was seconded by Councillor Horn.
Councillor Stringer brought up a point of order as to why the recommendations were being proposed and seconded before debate. The Monitoring Officer, Emily Yule, responded by explaining this was standard process.
Councillor Stringer questioned as to why the Chief Executive stated we were living in a “post devolution world” even though devolution had not happened. In response the Chief Executive explained he meant it was a post devolution discussion.
Concern was expressed as to why a business case had not been submitted as well as the amount of public consultations already taking place. In response Councillor Gowrley explained the Chief Executive had outlined reasons but was happy to amend the recommendation so it included as 2.1b:
“Subject to the outcome of ... view the full minutes text for item 34. |
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MCa/17/18 Financial Monitoring 2017/18 - Quarter 1 PDF 263 KB Decision: Decisions Made by Cabinet: 1.1 That the potential or likely variations in relation to the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Programme compared to the Budget be noted. 1.2 That, subject to any further budget variations that arise during the rest of the financial year, the following net transfers of £696k be noted: a) The balance of the General Fund surplus of £257k referred to in section 11.8 of the report be transferred to the Transformation Fund; b) Transfer of £102k, being the favourable variance for the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) to a new earmarked Waste reserve, referred to in section 11.8 of the report; c) Transfer of £337k, being the 2016/17 surplus on the Business Rates Collection Fund to the Business Rates Equalisation reserve, referred to in section 11.8 of the report. 1.3 That the revised 2017/18 Capital Programme referred to in Appendix B and section 11.15 of the report be approved.
Reason for Decisions: To note the financial performance of the Council and expenditure budget variances during the first quarter of the financial year. To approve the revised 2017/18 Capital Programme.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected: None
Any Declarations of Interest declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes: Councillor Whitehead, the Cabinet Member for Finance introduced report MCa/17/18 and moved the recommendations which were seconded by Councillor Brewster.
Councillor Stringer questioned favourable variance and whether income was being lost. In response Councillor Whitehead, with the help from Officers, explained the report showed in year monitoring which were not in relation to the performance in service.
The Chairman allowed Councillor Eburne to ask a question in relation to the variances shown for staff and her concern regarding some departments being extremely short staffed. The Chief Executive recognised there were some areas i.e. in planning where there were staff concerns.
RESOLUTION 1
That the potential or likely variations in relation to the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Programme compared to the Budget be noted.
RESOLUTION 2
That, subject to any further budget variations that arise during the rest of the financial year, the transfer of £1.459m to the Transformation Fund, referred to in Section 11.8 of the report, be noted.
RESOLUTION 3
That the revised 2017/18 Capital Programme referred to in Appendix B and section 11.14 be approved. |
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MCa/17/19 New Anglia Economic Strategy (2017 to 2036) PDF 115 KB Cabinet Member for Economy Additional documents:
Decision: Decisions Made by Cabinet: 1.1 -That the New Anglia Economic Strategy, attached as Appendix A, be endorsed by Babergh/Mid Suffolk District Council.
1.2 That the information regarding the forthcoming strategies for Economy, Housing and Infrastructure, in support of the Suffolk Framework for Growth, be noted.
Reason for Decisions: To ensure that BMSDC economic interests are furthered by endorsement of regional strategy, which will also influence local strategic work and actions.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected: None
Any Declarations of Interest declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes: Councillor Brewster, the Cabinet Member for Economy, introduced report MCa/17/19 and moved the recommendation which was seconded by Councillor Horn.
Councillor Stringer flagged up the document stated both Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds were well connected by rail which he did not believe to be correct.
The Chairman allowed Councillor Eburne to ask a question who flagged up the omission of the Gender Pay gap issue. Councillor Gowrley agreed this would be included in the local strategy.
Although Cabinet Members felt it was an excellent and detailed plan, they were disappointed over the lack of acknowledgement of international businesses operating within the district and the lack of aspiration in the Executive Summary and hoped the housing target would meet need in a realistic and sensible way. In this regard it was also hoped transport links and demand would be sustainable.
By a unanimous vote
RESOLUTION 1
That the New Anglia Economic Strategy, attached as Appendix A, be endorsed by Mid Suffolk District Council.
RESOLUTION 2
That the information within this report regarding the forthcoming strategies for Economy, Housing and Infrastructure, in support of the Suffolk Framework for Growth, be noted. |
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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 these items, it is likely that there would be the disclosure to them of exempt information as indicated against each item.
The authors of the reports proposed to be considered in Part II of the Agenda are satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
Minutes: By 8 votes to 0 with 1 abstention
RESOLUTION
That under section 100(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act in the paragraphs registered against the item.
Item Schedule 12A Reason MCa/17/20 3 MCa/17/21 3 MCa/17/22 3 |
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MCa/17/20 Investment and Commercial Delivery - A New Delivery Model Decision: Decisions Made by Cabinet: The recommendation as set out in the report MCa/17/20 be approved subject to a minor amendment.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected: Other options considered as per the report.
Any Declarations of Interest declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes: The minute relating to the above mentioned item was excluded from the public record. A summary of the Minute made by the Proper Officer in accordance with sub-section 2 of Section 100(c) of the Local Government Act 1972 was set out below:
The Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments, Councillor Gowrley, introduced report MCa/17/20 and moved the recommendation, seconded by Councillor Horn.
Cabinet accepted the recommendations contained in the report together with a minor amendment proposed by the Chairman and seconded by Councillor Horn.
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MCa/17/21 Land Acquisition - Business Case
Cabinet Member for Assets and Investment. Decision: Decisions Made by Cabinet: The recommendation as set out in the report MCa/17/21 be approved subject to a minor amendment.
Reason for Decisions: To ensure that the appropriate structure and model is in place to support the safe and effective acquisition and delivery.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected: Other options considered as per the report.
Any Declarations of Interest declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes: The minute relating to the above mentioned item was excluded from the public record. A summary of the Minute made by the Proper Officer in accordance with sub-section 2 of Section 100(c) of the Local Government Act 1972 was set out below:
The Chairman, Councillor Gowrley, introduced report MCa/17/21 and moved the recommendation, seconded by Councillor Whitehead.
Cabinet accepted the recommendations contained in the report.
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MCa/17/22 Mutual Land Transaction Cabinet Member for Assets and Investment. Decision: Decisions Made by Cabinet: The recommendation as set out in the report MCa/17/22 be approved subject to a minor amendment.
Reason for Decisions: To enable the delivery of much needed housing in the District whilst protecting the future value of the Council’s land.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected: None
Any Declarations of Interest declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None Minutes: The minute relating to the above mentioned item was excluded from the public record. A summary of the Minute made by the Proper Officer in accordance with sub-section 2 of Section 100(c) of the Local Government Act 1972 was set out below:
The Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments, Councillor Gowrley, introduced report MCa/17/22 and moved the recommendation, seconded by Councillor Brewster.
Cabinet accepted the recommendations contained in the report together with a minor amendment proposed by the Chairman and seconded by Councillor Brewster.
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MCa/17/16 Forthcoming Decisions List PDF 224 KB Minutes: The report was noted.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 12:56pm |