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No. Item

49.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS BY COUNCILLORS

Minutes:

Councillor Richardson declared an Other Registrable Interest due to being a Director of Mid Suffolk Growth Limited for which he had received dispensation and was therefore able to debate and vote on the item.

 

50.

MCa/22/24 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 3 OCTOBER 2022 pdf icon PDF 97 KB

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED: -

 

That with the following amendments the minutes of the meeting held on the 3 October 2022 be confirmed and signed as a correct record of the meeting:

 

Paragraph 46.3 amend to ….. Councillor Gould Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments …..

 

Paragraph 48.3 amend to ... Councillor Richardson Cabinet Member for Economic Growth…..

Recorded Vote
TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
To vote on the confirmation of the minutes of the meeting held on the 3 October 2022 Ad-Hoc

It was RESOLVED: -

 

That with the following amendments the minutes of the meeting held on the 3 October 2022 be confirmed and signed as a correct record of the meeting:

 

Paragraph 46.3 amend to ….. Councillor Gould Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments …..

 

Paragraph 48.3 amend to ... Councillor Richardson Cabinet Member for Economic Growth…..

 

Carried
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  • 51.

    TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COUNCIL'S PETITION SCHEME

    Minutes:

    None received.

    52.

    QUESTIONS BY COUNCILLORS

    Minutes:

    None received.

    53.

    MATTERS REFERRED BY THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY OR JOINT AUDIT AND STANDARDS COMMITTEES

    Minutes:

    There were no matters referred from the Overview and Scrutiny or the Joint Audit and Standards Committees.

    54.

    FORTHCOMING DECISIONS LIST

    Please note the most up to date version can be found via the website:

     

    Forthcoming Decisions List » Mid Suffolk

    Minutes:

    There were no comments made for the Forthcoming Decisions List.

    55.

    MCa/22/25 TENANT ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY pdf icon PDF 162 KB

    Cabinet Member for Housing

    Additional documents:

    Decision:

    It was RESOLVED: -

     

    That Cabinet approved Option 1 -The strategy in its current form and acknowledged the changing landscape of social housing regulation in terms of the significance of good tenant engagement.

     

    REASON FOR DECISION

    The strategy has been co-designed with tenants through a consultation exercise with the Tenant Board, the wider tenant population, portfolio holding members and some key staff.

    It is important for the councils to have a Tenant Engagement Strategy to set out how we, as a landlord, ensure that tenants are given a wide range of opportunities to influence and be involved in the formation of their landlord’s housing-related strategic priorities.  This includes decision making about how services are delivered, performance scrutiny and the management of their homes as required in the Regulator’s Tenancy Involvement and Empowerment consumer standard.

    Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

    1.1           Option 2 – To do nothing,

    Any Declarations of Interests Declared: None

    Any Dispensation Granted: None

     

    Minutes:

    55.1          The Chair, Councillor Morley, invited the Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Hadingham to introduce the report.

     

    55.2          Councillor Hadingham introduced the report and moved the recommendations as detailed, which was seconded by Councillor Flatman.

     

    55.3          In response to other members attending the meeting regarding tenant engagement Councillor Hadingham responded that tenants often contacted their local councillors, who could assist them. The Housing Transformation Manager advised that a task force which included a tenant representation and that the strategy included a role for complaint champions, which would enable to capture otherwise silent voices. Additionally, it was currently being looked at how sheltered housing residents could be better engaged with.

     

    55.4          Councillor Morley added that the Customer Access Point in Stowmarket was also available to all residents.

     

    55.5          In response to other members attending the meeting, regarding the response rate of Housing Transformation Manager responded that the response rate was good for a survey of this type, additionally silent voices were captured by resident data.

     

    It was RESOLVED: -

     

    That Cabinet approved Option 1 -The strategy in its current form and acknowledged the changing landscape of social housing regulation in terms of the significance of good tenant engagement.

     

    REASON FOR DECISION

    The strategy has been co-designed with tenants through a consultation exercise with the Tenant Board, the wider tenant population, portfolio holding members and some key staff.

    It is important for the councils to have a Tenant Engagement Strategy to set out how we, as a landlord, ensure that tenants are given a wide range of opportunities to influence and be involved in the formation of their landlord’s housing-related strategic priorities.  This includes decision making about how services are delivered, performance scrutiny and the management of their homes as required in the Regulator’s Tenancy Involvement and Empowerment consumer standard.

     

    Recorded Vote
    TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
    To vote on recommendation 3.1 as detailed in the report. Resolution

    It was RESOLVED: -

     

    That Cabinet approved Option 1 -The strategy in its current form and acknowledged the changing landscape of social housing regulation in terms of the significance of good tenant engagement.

     

    Carried
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  • 56.

    MCa/22/26 COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY (CIL) - CIL EXPENDITURE PROGRAMME NOVEMBER 2022 pdf icon PDF 163 KB

    Cabinet Member for Planning

    Additional documents:

    Decision:

    It was RESOLVED: -

     

    1.1         That the CIL Expenditure Programme (November 2022) and accompanying technical assessment of the CIL Bids – M21-09, M22-06, M22-12, M22-15, M22-05 and M22-09 (forming Appendices, A and B) and which include decisions on these CIL Bid for Cabinet to make and approve and to note (delegated decision only) be approved: -

    Decisions for Cabinet to make: Ringfenced Infrastructure Fund (Walsham-le-Willows, Badwell Ash, Thurston, Elmswell, Woolpit, Tostock and Rattlesden) and Strategic Infrastructure Fund

    CIL Bid, Location and Infrastructure Proposed

    Amount of CIL Bid and total cost of the Infrastructure

    Cabinet Decision

    M21-09

    THURSTON

    Expansion of Thurston Community College

     

     

    Amount of CIL Bid

    £1,781,462.00

    Total costs of the project

    £2,018,011

    Other funding sources are

    Section 106 £184,595

    Basic Need funding £33,943

    Suffolk County Council borrowing £18,011

    Recommendation to Cabinet to approve CIL Bid M21-09 for £1,214,468.96 from the Ringfenced Fund (Walsham-le-Willows, Badwell Ash, Thurston, Elmswell, Woolpit, Tostock and Rattlesden) and £566,993.04 from Strategic Infrastructure Fund

     

    Decisions for Cabinet to make: Local Infrastructure Fund

    CIL Bid, Location and Infrastructure Proposed

    Amount of CIL Bid and total cost of the Infrastructure

    Cabinet Decision

    M22-06

    EYE

    Play Facilities

     

    Amount of CIL Bid

    £100,000.00

    Total costs of the project

    £150,000.00

    Other funding sources are

    MSDC Capital Grant £25,000.00

    Eye Town Council £5,000.00

    Community Development Fund MSDC £20,000.00 (unsecured)

    Recommendation to Cabinet to approve CIL Bid M22-06 for £100,000.00 from the Local Infrastructure Fund

    (CIL Funding is subject to other funding being secured)

    M22-12

    OLD NEWTON

    Village Hall Extension

     

    Amount of CIL Bid

    £67,914.00

    Total costs of the project

    £90,552.00

    Other funding sources are

    S106 funding £861.57

    Capital Grants MSDC £21,776.43

    Recommendation to Cabinet to approve CIL Bid M22-12 for £67,914.00 from the Local Infrastructure Fund

    M22-15

    WETHERDEN

    Play Area

    Amount of CIL Bid

    £18,375.63

    Total costs of the project

    £33,375.63

    Other funding sources are

    Wetherden Parish Council £15,000.00

    Recommendation to Cabinet to approve CIL Bid M22-15 for £18,375.63 from the Local Infrastructure Fund

     

    Decisions for Cabinet to note: Local Infrastructure Fund

    CIL Bid, Location and Infrastructure Proposed

    Amount of CIL Bid and total cost of the Infrastructure

    Cabinet Decision

    M22-05

    EYE

    Moors Woodland Footpath

     

     

    Amount of CIL Bid

    £5,000.00

    Total costs of the project

    £13,000.00

    Other funding sources are

    Suffolk County Council and Eye Town Council £2,000.00

    CLA Charitable Trust £6,000.00

    Recommendation for Cabinet to note the delegated decision for CIL Bid M22-05 for £5,000.00 from the Local Infrastructure Fund

    M22-09

    METFIELD

    Play Area

    Amount of CIL Bid

    £8,788.97

    Total costs of the project

    £11,718.63

    Other funding sources are

    MSDC Locality fund £2,000

    Metfield Parish Council £125.67

    S106 funding £803.99

    Recommendation for Cabinet to note the delegated decision for CIL Bid M22-09 for £8,788.97 from the Local Infrastructure Fund

     

     

    1.2     Cabinet also noted and endorsed this CIL Expenditure Programme which includes the position in respect of approved CIL Bids from Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 (September 2022) - (Appendix A Section B) together with details of emerging infrastructure /CIL Bids (Appendix A Section C).

     

    REASON  ...  view the full decision text for item 56.

    Minutes:

    56.1          The Chair invited the Cabinet Member for Planning, Councillor Burn to introduce the report.

     

    56.2          Councillor Burn provided an overview of two CIL bids to Members and proposed the recommendations as detailed in the report, which was seconded by Councillor Flatman.

     

    56.3          Councillor Whitehead queried what work was done to establish how much a parish council can afford to contribute to a CIL project. The Professional Lead for Key Sites and Infrastructure responded that for all CIL bids due diligence was carried out. Additionally, two eligibility tests were in place for applications to encourage collaborative projects.

     

    56.4          Councillor Whitehead inquired whether the disparity between parish council contributions was due to individual parish efforts. The Professional Lead for Key Sites and Infrastructure   agreed that there was a divergence but that some of this was due to the individual parish’s financial situation.

     

    56.5          In response to other members attending the meeting, The Professional Lead for Key Sites and Infrastructure advised cabinet that a contribution had been made by West Suffolk from Section 106 funds, and that additional funds had been divided proportionately from the ringfence funding from five Mid Suffolk Parishes.

     

    56.6          The Head of Schools Infrastructure from Suffolk County Council added that Section 106 contributions had been made by developments from catchment areas within West Suffolk.

     

    56.7          Councillor Whitehead requested for a separation of CIL funds and parish precepts in future reports for clarity. The Professional Lead for Key Sites and Infrastructure agreed for this to be included going forward.

     

    It was RESOLVED: -

     

    1.1         That the CIL Expenditure Programme (November 2022) and accompanying technical assessment of the CIL Bids – M21-09, M22-06, M22-12, M22-15, M22-05 and M22-09 (forming Appendices, A and B) and which include decisions on these CIL Bid for Cabinet to make be approved and noted (delegated decision only) as follows: --

    Decisions for Cabinet to make: Ringfenced Infrastructure Fund (Walsham-le-Willows, Badwell Ash, Thurston, Elmswell, Woolpit, Tostock and Rattlesden) and Strategic Infrastructure Fund

    CIL Bid, Location and Infrastructure Proposed

    Amount of CIL Bid and total cost of the Infrastructure

    Cabinet Decision

    M21-09

    THURSTON

    Expansion of Thurston Community College

     

     

    Amount of CIL Bid

    £1,781,462.00

    Total costs of the project

    £2,018,011

    Other funding sources are

    Section 106 £184,595

    Basic Need funding £33,943

    Suffolk County Council borrowing £18,011

    Recommendation to Cabinet to approve CIL Bid M21-09 for £1,214,468.96 from the Ringfenced Fund (Walsham-le-Willows, Badwell Ash, Thurston, Elmswell, Woolpit, Tostock and Rattlesden) and £566,993.04 from Strategic Infrastructure Fund

     

    Decisions for Cabinet to make: Local Infrastructure Fund

    CIL Bid, Location and Infrastructure Proposed

    Amount of CIL Bid and total cost of the Infrastructure

    Cabinet Decision

    M22-06

    EYE

    Play Facilities

     

    Amount of CIL Bid

    £100,000.00

    Total costs of the project

    £150,000.00

    Other funding sources are

    MSDC Capital Grant £25,000.00

    Eye Town Council £5,000.00

    Community Development Fund MSDC £20,000.00 (unsecured)

    Recommendation to Cabinet to approve CIL Bid M22-06 for £100,000.00 from the Local Infrastructure Fund

    (CIL Funding is subject to other funding being secured)

    M22-12

    OLD NEWTON

    Village Hall Extension

     

    Amount  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56.

    Recorded Vote
    TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
    To vote on recommendations 3.1 and 3.2 as detailed in the report. Resolution

    It was RESOLVED: -

     

    1.1         That the CIL Expenditure Programme (November 2022) and accompanying technical assessment of the CIL Bids – M21-09, M22-06, M22-12, M22-15, M22-05 and M22-09 (forming Appendices, A and B) and which include decisions on these CIL Bid for Cabinet to make be approved and noted (delegated decision only) as follows: --

    Decisions for Cabinet to make: Ringfenced Infrastructure Fund (Walsham-le-Willows, Badwell Ash, Thurston, Elmswell, Woolpit, Tostock and Rattlesden) and Strategic Infrastructure Fund

    CIL Bid, Location and Infrastructure Proposed

    Amount of CIL Bid and total cost of the Infrastructure

    Cabinet Decision

    M21-09

    THURSTON

    Expansion of Thurston Community College

     

     

    Amount of CIL Bid

    £1,781,462.00

    Total costs of the project

    £2,018,011

    Other funding sources are

    Section 106 £184,595

    Basic Need funding £33,943

    Suffolk County Council borrowing £18,011

    Recommendation to Cabinet to approve CIL Bid M21-09 for £1,214,468.96 from the Ringfenced Fund (Walsham-le-Willows, Badwell Ash, Thurston, Elmswell, Woolpit, Tostock and Rattlesden) and £566,993.04 from Strategic Infrastructure Fund

     

    Decisions for Cabinet to make: Local Infrastructure Fund

    CIL Bid, Location and Infrastructure Proposed

    Amount of CIL Bid and total cost of the Infrastructure

    Cabinet Decision

    M22-06

    EYE

    Play Facilities

     

    Amount of CIL Bid

    £100,000.00

    Total costs of the project

    £150,000.00

    Other funding sources are

    MSDC Capital Grant £25,000.00

    Eye Town Council £5,000.00

    Community Development Fund MSDC £20,000.00 (unsecured)

    Recommendation to Cabinet to approve CIL Bid M22-06 for £100,000.00 from the Local Infrastructure Fund

    (CIL Funding is subject to other funding being secured)

    M22-12

    OLD NEWTON

    Village Hall Extension

     

    Amount of CIL Bid

    £67,914.00

    Total costs of the project

    £90,552.00

    Other funding sources are

    S106 funding £861.57

    Capital Grants MSDC £21,776.43

    Recommendation to Cabinet to approve CIL Bid M22-12 for £67,914.00 from the Local Infrastructure Fund

    M22-15

    WETHERDEN

    Play Area

    Amount of CIL Bid

    £18,375.63

    Total costs of the project

    £33,375.63

    Other funding sources are

    Wetherden Parish Council £15,000.00

    Recommendation to Cabinet to approve CIL Bid M22-15 for £18,375.63 from the Local Infrastructure Fund

     

     

    Decisions for Cabinet to note: Local Infrastructure Fund

    CIL Bid, Location and Infrastructure Proposed

    Amount of CIL Bid and total cost of the Infrastructure

    Cabinet Decision

    M22-05

    EYE

    Moors Woodland Footpath

     

     

    Amount of CIL Bid

    £5,000.00

    Total costs of the project

    £13,000.00

    Other funding sources are

    Suffolk County Council and Eye Town Council £2,000.00

    CLA Charitable Trust £6,000.00

    Recommendation for Cabinet to note the delegated decision for CIL Bid M22-05 for £5,000.00 from the Local Infrastructure Fund

    M22-09

    METFIELD

    Play Area

    Amount of CIL Bid

    £8,788.97

    Total costs of the project

    £11,718.63

    Other funding sources are

    MSDC Locality fund £2,000

    Metfield Parish Council £125.67

    S106 funding £803.99

    Recommendation for Cabinet to note the delegated decision for CIL Bid M22-09 for £8,788.97 from the Local Infrastructure Fund

     

    Cabinet also noted and endorsed this CIL Expenditure Programme which includes the position in respect of approved CIL Bids from Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 (September 2022) - (Appendix A Section B) together with details of emerging infrastructure /CIL Bids (Appendix A Section C).

    Carried
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  • 57.

    MCa/22/27 ELMSWELL EXEMPLAR HOUSING SCHEME pdf icon PDF 918 KB

    Cabinet Member for Housing

    Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments

     

    Decision:

    It was RESOLVED: -

     

    That Cabinet: -

    1.1          Approved option 1 namely to appoint Mid Suffolk Growth Limited      (MSGL) to deliver the scheme on behalf of the Council for the       market and affordable units

    1.2          Delegated the negotiation and conclusion of the Development         and Funding Agreements to the Deputy CEO, the Section 151       Officer, and Portfolio Holder for Asset and Investment

    1.3          Approved delivery of the affordable housing on site in       accordance with    the Affordable Housing Strategy and in            consultation with the Housing           Portfolio

    1.4          Approved the use of the capital funding within the MTFS for the delivery of the market homes.

     

    REASON FOR DECISION

    To enable and support the delivery of housing within the district and support the Councils aspiration to deliver low carbon homes to meet the targets set out in the Carbon Reduction Management Plan

    Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

    1.1             Option 1 – Appoint Mid Suffolk Growth Limited (MSGL) to deliver a market and affordable housing scheme.

    Initial design and feasibility work has been undertaken by the design team within MSGL to establish whether an exemplar low carbon scheme could be delivered on the site at Church Road in Elmswell. MSGL were provided with a brief from Housing seeking an updated view on a previous masterplan for the site, to bring the design in line with the Council’s aspirations for exemplar low carbon homes and sustainable place making through the Council’s own developments.

    The initial design work has concluded that an exemplar scheme of circa 50 homes is achievable and would deliver new affordable and market housing that showcases the Councils new design guide and specification, providing high quality sustainable new homes for residents. There is need for affordable homes within Elmswell, this is a large site, so it is appropriate to have a balance of tenures, using affordable rented, affordable home ownership properties and market homes to deliver a sustainable scheme and community.

    By entering into a Development Agreement with MSGL to deliver the scheme the Council will have access to the technical and professional design team required to progress the scheme through design, planning and ultimately to delivery.

    The scheme will be funded partly through the General Fund (GF) and partly though the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

    There is £7m within the GF MTFS capital programme for the market housing element of the scheme, and £7m within the HRA capital programme for the affordable homes.

    The market homes will be profit generating which will enable those funds to be reinvested across the district, it is anticipated the market homes will deliver circa 5% profit overall.

    The affordable homes will be delivered in line with the updated Affordable Housing Strategy.

    MSGL was set up to enable the Council to deliver more new housing in line with the aspirations of the Council on the type of new homes they wish to deliver, in this case an exemplar low carbons scheme. Other partners may not wish to develop this scheme to this high standard, favouring a  ...  view the full decision text for item 57.

    Minutes:

    57.1          The Chair, Councillor Morley, invited the Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Hadingham to introduce the report.

     

    57.2          Councillor Hadingham introduced the report and moved the recommendations as detailed, which was seconded by Councillor Flatman.

     

    57.3          Councillor Whitehead queried Option 2 under Options Considered and asked for clarification on the disposal options. The Director for Assets and Investments responded that the land was designated HRA land and that any disposal of this land would need to be approved by the Secretary of State, whether this was for non-housing purposes, or housing by a third party.

     

    57.4          In response to questions from other members attending the meeting the Director for Assets and Investments responded that the figure was for the build cost of the development and not for the land value.

     

    57.5          The Chair invited Councillor Mansel to speak on the item, as Ward Member for Elmswell.

     

    57.6          Councillor Richardson highlighted that the site was a prime opportunity to provide affordable housing in excess of what a private development would provide. Additionally, the site would hold social and environmental benefits to the community.

     

    57.7          Councillor Morley added that the HRA was the best way for the Council to provide affordable housing.

     

    57.8          Councillor Whitehead raised concerns that nationally base rates have doubled from one and a half percent to three percent.

     

    It was RESOLVED: -

     

    That Cabinet: -

    1.1          Approved option 1 namely to appoint Mid Suffolk Growth Limited (MSGL) to deliver the scheme on behalf of the Council for the market and affordable units

    1.1          Delegated the negotiation and conclusion of the Development         and Funding Agreements to the Deputy CEO, the Section   151 Officer, and Portfolio Holder for Asset and Investment

    1.2          Approved delivery of the affordable housing on site in accordance        with   the Affordable Housing Strategy and in consultation with the Housing Portfolio

    1.3          Approved the use of the capital funding within the MTFS for the delivery of the market homes.

     

    REASON FOR DECISION

    To enable and support the delivery of housing within the district and support the Councils aspiration to deliver low carbon homes to meet the targets set out in the Carbon Reduction Management Plan

     

    Recorded Vote
    TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
    To vote on recommendations 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 as detailed in the report. Resolution

    It was RESOLVED: -

     

    That Cabinet: -

    1.1          Approved option 1 namely to appoint Mid Suffolk Growth Limited (MSGL) to deliver the scheme on behalf of the Council for the market and affordable units

    1.1          Delegated the negotiation and conclusion of the Development         and Funding          Agreements to the Deputy CEO, the Section           151 Officer, and Portfolio Holder for Asset and Investment

    1.2          Approved delivery of the affordable housing on site in       accordance with the        Affordable Housing Strategy and in      consultation with   the Housing Portfolio

    1.3          Approved the use of the capital funding within the MTFS for the delivery of the     market homes.

     

    Carried
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