Venue: Teams Meeting
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Minutes: There were no apologies for absence. |
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DECLARATION OF INTERESTS BY COUNCILLORS Minutes: There were no declarations of interest declared. |
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MCa/20/25 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 04 JANUARY 2021 PDF 159 KB Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 04 January 2021 were confirmed as a correct record. The minutes would be signed at the next practicable opportunity.
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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: There were no questions from Councillors. |
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MATTERS REFERRED BY THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY OR JOINT AUDIT AND STANDARDS COMMITTEES PDF 46 KB Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Additional documents:
Minutes: 58.1 The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Keith Welham advised Members that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the Draft General Fund Budget 2021/22 and Four-Year Outlook, and the Housing Revenue Account Budget 2021/22 and Four-Year Outlook at the meeting held on 14 January 2021.
58.2 Councillor Welham outlined the recommendations put forward by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in respect of both reports. |
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FORTHCOMING DECISIONS LIST Please note that the most up to date version can be found via the website:
https://www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/the-council/forthcoming-decisions-list/ Minutes: The Forthcoming Decisions List was noted. |
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Monitoring Officer Additional documents: Minutes: 60.1 The Leader of the Council introduced the report which outlined the Special Urgent Decisions Taken by Officers during the Covid-19 Pandemic Period.
60.2 The report was noted. |
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MCa/20/29 GENERAL FUND BUDGET 2021/22 AND FOUR-YEAR OUTLOOK PDF 888 KB Cabinet Member for Finance Additional documents:
Decision: It was RESOLVED:
1.1 That the General Fund Budget proposals for 2021/22 and four-year outlook set out in the report be endorsed for recommendation to Council on 18 February 2021.
1.2 That the General Fund Budget for 2021/22 is based on an increase to Council Tax of 1.66% which equates to £2.80 per annum (23p per month) for a Band D property.
1.3 The Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy at Appendix E of the report be endorsed for recommendation to Council on 18 February 2021.
1.4 Subject to approval by Council, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) be notified of the adoption of the Strategy.
Reason for Decision: To bring together all the relevant information to enable Cabinet Members to review, consider and comment upon the Councils General Fund budget for endorsement and recommendations to Council.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected: Setting a balanced budget is a statutory requirement, therefore no other options are appropriate in respect of this.
Any Declarations of Interest Declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes: 61.1 The Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Whitehead, introduced the report and the addendum paper and provided Members with an overview of the contents.
61.2 Councillor Whitehead moved the recommendations in the report, and the additional recommendations in the addendum paper.
61.3 Councillor Gould seconded the recommendations.
61.4 In response to a query from Councillor Fleming, Councillor Whitehead confirmed that the additional funds allocated to the work of the Climate Change Task Force included biodiversity and ecological work.
61.5 Councillor Whitehead and the Assistant Director for Corporate Resources responded to questions from Councillor Field on issues including business rates, and car parking income.
61.6 Following questions from Councillor Eburne, Councillor Whitehead provided clarification regarding the budgeted surplus, and service charges in respect of Endeavour House.
61.6 Councillor Eburne asked a further question regarding the plans for housing, economy, communities and wellbeing. Councillor Whitehead confirmed that these plans would come forward in late spring or early summer.
61.7 Councillor Welham requested reassurance that the grants to Citizens Advice Mid Suffolk were index linked. The Assistant Director for Corporate Resources confirmed that a rolling three-year funding agreement was in place in respect of these grants, and that clarification regarding the index linking would be provided outside of the meeting.
By a unanimous vote
It was RESOLVED:
1.1 That the General Fund Budget proposals for 2021/22 and four-year outlook set out in the report be endorsed for recommendation to Council on 18 February 2021.
1.2 That the General Fund Budget for 2021/22 is based on an increase to Council Tax of 1.66% which equates to £2.80 per annum (23p per month) for a Band D property.
1.3 The Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy at Appendix E of the report be endorsed for recommendation to Council on 18 February 2021.
1.4 Subject to approval by Council, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) be notified of the adoption of the Strategy.
Reason for Decision: To bring together all the relevant information to enable Cabinet Members to review, consider and comment upon the Councils General Fund budget for endorsement and recommendations to Council
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MCa/20/30 HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT (HRA) BUDGET 2021/22 AND FOUR-YEAR OUTLOOK PDF 294 KB Cabinet Member for Finance Decision: It was RESOLVED:
1.1 That the HRA Budget proposals for 2021/22 and four-year outlook set out in the report be endorsed for recommendation to Council on 18 February 2021.
1.2 That the CPI + 1% increase of 1.5% in Council House rents, equivalent to an average rent increase of £1.25 a week be implemented.
1.3 That garage rents are kept at the same level as 2020/21.
1.4 That at Sheltered Housing Service charges be increased by £1 per week to ensure recovery of the actual cost of service.
1.5 That Sheltered Housing charges are kept at the same level as 2020/21.
1.6 That the budgeted surplus of £102k be transferred to the Strategic Priorities reserve in 2021/22.
1.7 That in principle, Right to Buy (RTB) receipts should be retained to enable continued development and acquisition of new council dwellings.
Reason for Decision: To bring together all the relevant information to enable Cabinet Members to review, consider and comment upon the Councils Housing Revenue Account budget for endorsement and recommendations to Council.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected: The Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2021/22 and four-year outlook is an essential element in achieving a balanced budget and sustainable medium-term position, therefore no other options are appropriate in respect of this.
Any Declarations of Interest Declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes:
62.2 Councillor Whitehead thanked the Senior Finance Business Partner, Sharon Bayliss, for her hard work with the finance team and wished her will in her new role within the Council.
62.3 The recommendations in the report were proposed by Councillor Whitehead and seconded by Councillor Hadingham.
62.4 In response to a query from Councillor Eburne regarding the increase in Sheltered Housing Service charges, Councillor Whitehead advised that this figure equated to an increase of approximately 3.2%.
62.5 The Assistant Director for Housing responded to questions from Councillor Field and advised that a review of Sheltered Housing Service Charges was being planned.
By a unanimous vote
It was RESOLVED:
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MCa/20/31 COUNCIL TAX HARDSHIP FUND PDF 103 KB Cabinet Member for Finance Decision: It was RESOLVED:
1.1 That the award from the Hardship Fund is increased from ‘up to £150’ to an amount that exhausts the fund and is made to all working age Local Council Tax Reduction Support cases with a liability for 2020/21.
1.2 That any residual balance, after applying the additional award, is used to fund Discretionary Financial Assistance for residents in exceptional circumstances.
Reason for Decision: To ensure that the Hardship Fund is fully spent by 31st March 2021 thereby aiding those working age LCTRS taxpayers most in need of support.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
1.1 Option 1 – Designate additional funds to Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP).
This option is not recommended as there is no need to put additional money into thisfund now because there is still an unspent balance of £57k or 41% of the allocation from the Government for 2020/21.
1.2 Option 2 - Designate additional sums to Discretionary Financial Assistance (DFA) and use these awards to clear council tax arrears.
Making awards of DFA for customers who have arrears would improve the position of the Collection Fund but would penalise those who have made arrangements to bring their debt under control and would set an expectation in relation to future arrears. For this reason, it is not the preferred option.
1.3 Options 3 - Increase the award from the Hardship Fund from ‘up to £150’ to an amount that exhausts the fund.
This is the preferred option because it would apply additional funds to any working age LCTRS customer who had a liability in the year 2020/21 and a balance to pay after LCTRS and any discounts/reliefs had been applied.
Residents have different amounts to pay depending on their entitlement to LCTRS, their property banding and who else lives with them. Allowing a higher allocation from the Hardship Fund would mean more residents had less council tax to pay for the year 2020/21.
Any Declarations of Interests Declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes: 63.1 The Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Whitehead, introduced report MCa/20/31, Council Tax Hardship Fund, which detailed recommendations of how the remaining balance of the fund could be allocated to those most in need of support.
63.2 Councillor Whitehead moved the recommendations in the report. Councillor Flatman seconded the recommendations.
63.3 Following a question from Councillor Field regarding council tax payment arrears, the Shared Revenue Partnerships Officer confirmed that the fund would not be used to clear arrears, but would be used to clear residual balances for the year 2020/21, and set out the plans in place for collection of arrears.
63.4 In response to a further question regarding recommendation 3.2 of the report, the Shared Revenue Partnerships Officer advised that any residual balance referred to would only be a minimal amount.
By a unanimous vote
It was RESOLVED:
1.1 That the award from the Hardship Fund is increased from ‘up to £150’ to an amount that exhausts the fund and is made to all working age Local Council Tax Reduction Support cases with a liability for 2020/21.
1.2 That any residual balance, after applying the additional award, is used to fund Discretionary Financial Assistance for residents in exceptional circumstances.
Reason for Decision: To ensure that the Hardship Fund is fully spent by 31st March 2021 thereby aiding those working age LCTRS taxpayers most in need of support.
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MCa/20/32 LAXFIELD NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN PDF 141 KB Cabinet Member for Planning Decision: It was RESOLVED:-
1.1 That Laxfield Parish Council be requested to make the necessary modifications to their Neighbourhood Plan in accordance with the Examiner’s recommendations.
1.2 That, subject to satisfactory completion of the above (to be agreed by the Corporate Manager for Strategic Planning), this Neighbourhood Plan be advanced to a local referendum covering the parish of Laxfield.
Reason for Decision: To enable the Council to meet its statutory obligations under Section 17A of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) and to allow the Laxfield Neighbourhood Plan to proceed to a local referendum.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
1.1 A Local Planning Authority may propose to make a decision on a recommendation that differs from that set out by the Examiner. If so, it must give its reason why and undertake further consultation before issuing a final decision. As appropriate, this may require the matter to be re-examined. For the reasons set out in section 4 of the report this option has been discarded.
Any Declarations of Interest Declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes: 64.1 The Cabinet Member for Planning, Councillor Burn, introduced the report which provided an update on the Laxfield Neighbourhood Plan, and provided an outline of the details of the plan.
64.2 Councillor Burn moved the recommendations in the report.
64.3 Councillor Flatman seconded the recommendations and thanked the Neighbourhood Planning Officer and the team for their hard work.
By a unanimous vote
It was RESOLVED:-
1.1 That Laxfield Parish Council be requested to make the necessary modifications to their Neighbourhood Plan in accordance with the Examiner’s recommendations.
1.2 That, subject to satisfactory completion of the above (to be agreed by the Corporate Manager for Strategic Planning), this Neighbourhood Plan be advanced to a local referendum covering the parish of Laxfield.
Reason for Decision: To enable the Council to meet its statutory obligations under Section 17A of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) and to allow the Laxfield Neighbourhood Plan to proceed to a local referendum.
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MCa/20/33 WILBY NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN PDF 140 KB Cabinet Member for Planning Decision: It was RESOLVED:
1.1 That Wilby Parish Council be requested to make the necessary modifications to their Neighbourhood Plan in accordance with the Examiner’s recommendations.
1.2 That, subject to satisfactory completion of the above (to be agreed by the Corporate Manager for Strategic Planning), this Neighbourhood Plan be advanced to a local referendum covering the parish of Wilby.
Reason for Decision: To enable the Council to meet its statutory obligations under Section 17A of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) and to allow the Wilby Neighbourhood Plan to proceed to a local referendum.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
1.1 A Local Planning Authority may propose to make a decision on a recommendation that differs from that set out by the Examiner. If so, it must give its reason why and undertake further consultation before issuing a final decision. As appropriate, this may require the matter to be re-examined. For the reasons set out in section 4 of the report this option has been discarded.
Any Declarations of Interest Declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes: 65.1 The report was introduced by the Cabinet Member for Planning, Councillor Burn.
65.2 Councillor Burn advised Members that the requirements of recommendation 3.1 of the report had been met as the Parish Council had carried out the modifications necessary.
65.3 The recommendations in the report were moved by Councillor Burn and seconded by Councillor Flatman.
By a unanimous decision
It was RESOLVED:
1.1 That Wilby Parish Council be requested to make the necessary modifications to their Neighbourhood Plan in accordance with the Examiner’s recommendations.
1.2 That, subject to satisfactory completion of the above (to be agreed by the Corporate Manager for Strategic Planning), this Neighbourhood Plan be advanced to a local referendum covering the parish of Wilby.
Reason for Decision: To enable the Council to meet its statutory obligations under Section 17A of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) and to allow the Wilby Neighbourhood Plan to proceed to a local referendum.
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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 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 satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
Minutes: Members agreed not to exclude the public. |
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MCa/20/33 TO CONFIRM THE CONFIDENTIAL MINUTE OF THE MEETING HELD ON 04 JANUARY 2021 Minutes: The confidential minutes of the meeting held on 04 January 2021 were confirmed as a correct record. The minutes would be signed at the next practicable opportunity.
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