Venue: Lecture Theatre, Mid Suffolk District Council Offices, High Street, Needham Market
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Apologies for absence/substitutions Minutes: There were no apologies for absence. |
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To receive any declarations of pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest by Councillors Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 8 May 2017 were confirmed as a correct record subject to the following amendments:
· Councillor Nick Gowrley being added to the attendance list
· Minute Number EX35: Add ‘By a unanimous vote’ before the Resolution
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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 the Public The Chairman to answer any questions from the public of which notice has been given no later than three clear working days before the day of the meeting in accordance with Committee and Sub-Committee Procedure Rules. Minutes: None received. |
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Questions by Councillors The Chairman to answer any questions on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affect the District and which falls within the terms of reference of the Committee, of which due notice has been given no later than three clear working days before the day of the meeting in accordance with Committee and Sub-Committee Procedure Rules. Minutes: None received. |
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MCa/17/2 - Half-Yearly Performance Outcome Reporting (October 2016 to March 2017) PDF 337 KB Additional documents:
Decision: The following decision has been taken by the Cabinet and will come into effect on 14 June 2017 unless the call in procedure is activated:
Decision Made by Cabinet: The performance report and the performance outcome information tabled at Appendices A to G be agreed as a reflection of Mid Suffolk District Council’s current performance and progress towards the Joint Strategic Plan outcomes
Reason for Decision: To provide Members with a report on current performance in delivering the key outcomes in the Joint Strategic Plan
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected: None
Any Declarations of Interest declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes: Councillor Horn introduced the report which presented the Council’s current performance and progress towards the Joint Strategic Plan (JSP). The appendices built upon the approach tabled to Members in December 2016 and the feedback received. Five of the appendices now contained a number of key tracking and influencing indicators for each theme with associated data for the year, snapshot comparative trends and complementary information as to progress against the agreed JSP outcomes. A summary also recorded the main achievements and impacts upon communities. The remaining two appendices displayed information on projects and activities that were at the scoping stage showing work in progress and an indication of future performance measures.
Overall the report evidenced good progress being made across most areas in delivering the programme and provided highlights and identified risks, giving an insight into the Council’s performance and allowing progress to be monitored.
Councillor Horn proposed the recommendation with an amendment to read ‘… Appendices A to G be agreed as a reflection of Mid Suffolk District Council’s performance …’, which was seconded by Councillor Brewster.
Members made the following comments:
· Paragraph 11.3.1, bullet point 5 – how is self-build being encouraged and are the houses added to the affordable housing list · Paragraph 11.3.1, bullet point 6 – replace ‘does’ with ‘continues’ · Paragraph 11.3.1, final bullet point – what is the reason for the · rise in the number of households placed in bed and breakfast accommodation (Councillor Gowrley suggested this was a topic that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee could investigate) · Paragraph 11.3.2 – include the type of jobs created · Paragraph 11.3.3 – Further information should be included
· Appendix A, Housing Delivery Theme
o Tracking Indicator 1 – include target o Tracking Indicator 11 – reconsider inclusion of target o Tracking Indicator 13 – use ‘tenants’ instead of ‘customers’ if appropriate o Tracking Indicator 14 – graph to be corrected o JSP, Influencing Indicator 1 – reconsider inclusion of target
· Appendix C, Performance, Business Growth and Increased Productivity
o Are secondary schools that are now Acadamies still involved in the Schools Project
· Appendix D, Community Capacity Building and Engagement Theme
o Tracking Indicator 2 – MSDC could be involved in Suffolk County Council campaigns o Influencing Indicator 1 – Are there any Fit Villages in the Mid Suffolk District
· Appendix G, Environment Waste and Leisure
o Tracking Indicator 3 to be moved to correct area
It was noted that more work would be undertaken with Lead Officers and relevant Cabinet Members to refine the indicators and performance information. The report would become more user friendly and more information included.
By 9 votes to 0 with 1 abstention
RESOLUTION
That the performance report and the performance outcome information tabled at Appendices A to G be agreed as a reflection of Mid Suffolk District Council’s current performance and progress towards the Joint Strategic Plan outcomes
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MCa/17/3 - Pre-Application Services PDF 222 KB Additional documents: Decision: The following decision has been taken by the Cabinet and will come into effect on 14 June 2017 unless the call in procedure is activated:
Report Title/Ref No: Pre-Application Services / MCa/17/3
Decision Made by Cabinet: That the new format of Pre-Application Advice Service and the proposed fee charges for such services with introduction with effect from 1 July 2017 be approved
Reason for Decision: To introduce Pre-Application Advice Service fee charges in relation to planning applications with effect from 1 July 2017
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected: None
Any Declarations of Interest declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes: Councillor Whybrow introduced the report. He said a positive and business like pre-application service was recognised by the Local Government Association and Planning Advisory Service as a model to encourage prospective applicants to discuss proposals at the earliest stages thereby achieving potential benefits for all. The report detailed the preferred business model for the tiered delivery of charged pre-application services proportionate to the size and complexity of the proposal. It included a proposed set of charges based on the average expected time for dealing with the scale of each enquiry and a benchmarked hourly rate.
Councillor Whybrow proposed the recommendation which was seconded by Councillor Whitehead.
Concern was expressed that charging for pre-application advice was counter-productive and could lead to a presumption of approval. It was suggested that the quality of responses should be monitored and that they should be attached to the application file so that any Officer dealing with a case were aware of the advice. It was noted that it was expected all responses would initially be checked by Senior Officers to safeguard consistency of advice.
It was requested that consideration be given to Ward Members being advised when pre-application advice was requested.
Some concern was expressed regarding the level of charges for householder applications and whether these were weighted against the individual as opposed to the big developer. Further concern was expressed that householders would not request pre-application advice to avoid paying the fee leading to an increase in enforcement cases.
By 8 votes to 2
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Resolution to Exclude the Public Recommended Motion
That under section 100(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for item 13 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act in the paragraph registered against the item:
Note:Information is exempt only if: It falls within one of the 7 categories of exempt information in the Act and; In all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information
Minutes: By a unanimous vote
RESOLUTION
That under section 100(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act in the paragraphs registered against the item:
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MCa/17/4 - Suggested Redress for the Complainant
Decision: The Minute relating to the above mentioned item is 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 is set out below.
The Project and Research Officer submitted report MCa/17/4.
The Committee accepted the recommendations contained in the report together with an additional recommendation proposed by the Leader of Council.
Minutes: The Minute relating to the above mentioned item is 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 is set out below.
The Project and Research Officer submitted report MCa/17/4.
The Committee accepted the recommendations contained in the report together with an additional recommendation proposed by the Leader of Council.
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