Venue: King Edmund Chamber, Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich. View directions
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Minutes: None received. |
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DECLARATION OF INTERESTS BY COUNCILLORS Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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MCa/19/20 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 28 AUGUST 2019 PDF 242 KB Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 28 August 2019 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: There were no questions received from Councillors. |
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MATTERS REFERRED BY THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY OR JOINT AUDIT AND STANDARDS COMMITTEES Minutes: There were no matters referred. |
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FORTHCOMING DECISIONS LIST Please note the most up to date version can be found via the website:
https://www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/the-council/forthcoming-decisions-list/
Paper copies will be available at the meeting. Minutes: The Forthcoming Decisions List was noted. |
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MCa/19/21 CORPORATE PLAN (2019 - 2027) PDF 310 KB Leader of the Council Decision: It was RESOLVED:-
That Cabinet recommended the draft corporate plan (2019 – 2027) to Council (as visually represented in paragraph 4.5 of the report) to replace the Refreshed Joint Strategic Plan (2016 – 2020).
Reason for Decision: To ensure that Babergh and Mid Suffolk have an appropriate corporate plan in place, designed to address the challenges and seize the opportunities facing the districts, and their organisations, for the foreseeable future.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected: The Councils’ existing “Refreshed Joint Strategic Plan” is due to expire in 2020 and therefore needs replacing. The options that informed the development of the draft corporate plan are contained within Appendix A of the report.
Any Declaration of Interest declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes: The Leader of the Council presented the Joint Corporate Plan for recommendation to full Council. Councillor Morley advised that there would be a more detailed presentation from the Chief Executive at the Full Council Meeting on 24th October 2019.
The recommendations contained in the report were moved by Councillor Morley and seconded by Councillor Brewster.
Councillor Welham queried the consultations referred to in paragraph 8.1 and 8.2 of the report and asked with whom the consultations took place, and whether there had been any indirect consultation with the public. Councillor Morley confirmed that the public had not been consulted and that the Cabinet Members for both Mid Suffolk and Babergh District Councils had been consulted with and contributed to the plan.
In response to a further query from Councillor Welham regarding paragraph 10.1 of the report, Councillor Morley confirmed that until the Environment Strategy and Task Force were in a position to provide their recommendations it would not be possible to monitor the environmental implications of the plan.
Councillor Eburne enquired why only Members of the Cabinet had been involved in the development of the plan, and what consultation would take place with Members aside from the report being presented at full Council. Councillor Morley responded that the report would be presented and discussed at full Council.
Councillor Morley advised that paragraph 12 of the report would be amended to include the IT Strategy and the Joint Local Plan.
The layout of the report was discussed, with particular reference to the position within the report of the Environmental Implications section. Councillor Eburne suggested that this could appear earlier in the report, alongside the Financial and Legal Implications sections. Councillor Morley confirmed this would be discussed with Democratic Services. A discussion took place regarding the context and purpose of the paragraph. Councillor Burn advised that it had been previously agreed that all reports should include Environmental Implications and a guidance note had been produced.
By a unanimous vote
It was RESOLVED:-
That Cabinet recommend the draft corporate plan (2019-2027) to Council (as visually represented in paragraph 4.5 of the report) to replace the Refreshed Joint Strategic Plan (2016-2020).
Reason for Decision: To ensure that Babergh and Mid Suffolk have an appropriate corporate plan in place, designed to address the challenges and seize the opportunities facing the districts, and their organisations, for the foreseeable future. |
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MCa/19/22 BOTESDALE AND RICKINGHALL NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANS PDF 234 KB Cabinet Member for Planning Decision: It was RESOLVED:-
1.1 That Botesdale & Rickinghall Parish Councils be requested to make the necessary modifications to their Neighbourhood Plan in accordance with the Examiner’s recommendations. 1.2 That, subject to the satisfactory completion of the above (to be agreed by the Corporate Manager for Strategic Planning); the Neighbourhood Plan be advanced to a local referendum covering the parishes of Botesdale, Rickinghall Inferior and Rickinghall Superior. Reason for Decision: To enable the Council to meets its statutory obligations under Section 17A of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) and to allow the Botesdale & Rickinghall Neighbourhood Plan to proceed to a local referendum. Alternative Options Considered and Rejected: 1.1 The local planning authority may propose to make a decision on a recommendation that differs from that set out by the Examiner in their report. 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. 1.2 The recommended option as set out in the report is that the local planning authority agree that this Neighbourhood Plan proceed to a local referendum. Any Declaration of Interest Declared: None Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes: The Cabinet Member for Planning introduced the report which updated Members on the progress of the Botesdale and Rickinghall Neighbourhood Plan. Councillor Burn reported that officers were working with the Parish Council to modify the plan in accordance with the examiners report. The recommendations were moved by Councillor Burn and seconded by Councillor Fleming.
In response to a question from Councillor Whitehead it was confirmed that although the referendum would cover two separate parishes, the votes would be counted together and an overall result would be declared.
Councillor Brewster requested that details of voter turnout could be included within the referendum results. It was confirmed that these details are already provided on the declaration of results.
By a unanimous vote
It was RESOLVED:-
1.1 That Botesdale and Rickinghall Parish Councils be requested to make the necessary modifications to their Neighbourhood Plan in accordance with the Examiner’s recommendations.
1.2 That, subject to the satisfactory completion of the above (to be agreed by the Corporate Manager for Strategic Planning); the Neighbourhood Plan be advanced to a local referendum covering the parishes of Botesdale, Rickinghall Inferior and Rickinghall Superior.
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 Botesdale & Rickinghall Neighbourhood Plan to proceed to a local referendum. |
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MCa/19/23 DEVELOPMENT OF BUILDING SERVICES BUSINESS PLAN PDF 579 KB Cabinet Member for Housing Additional documents: Decision: It was RESOLVED:-
1.1 That a business case is developed jointly by officers of Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils and Flagship Group which explores the opportunities a joint venture would create to deliver Building Services. 1.2 That A business case, with a preferred option for the delivery of Building Services is presented to Cabinet, by early 2020, for a decision.
Reason for Decision: The delivery of an efficient and effective, value for money building service continues to present a range of challenges. To ensure we provide the highest level of service to our tenants whilst managing costs, the development of this business case would explore the opportunities and benefits to deliver services within an alternative business model in the future.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
1.1 A range of options have been considered before submitting this report. 1.2 The first option is the ‘Status Quo’ in which officers would continue to manage and develop the Building Service in accordance to the current Business Plan. 1.3 The second option is to consider alternatives to the current business model, which could include outsourcing the service or finding an alternative partner to enter into a joint venture with. However, these have been discounted because there are no immediate opportunities to develop these options. Any Declaration of Interest Declared: None Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes: The Cabinet Member for Housing introduced report MCa/19/23 and moved the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Whitehead.
Councillor Fleming queried the wording of paragraph 2.3 of the report and felt that this conflicted with the wording of recommendation 3.1. The Assistant Director for Housing confirmed that Flagship Group was the only partner being considered for a joint venture.
Councillor Fleming then asked for clarification regarding the reference to RFT Services in paragraphs 4.22 and 4.23 of the report. It was explained that RFT Services referred to Right First Time Services which were the repairs and maintenance division of Flagship Group. Councillor Fleming requested that the report be amended to reflect this.
Members discussed the costs to both Mid Suffolk District Council and Flagship Group involved in developing a business case for the joint venture. It was confirmed that the business case would be developed jointly.
Following a discussion it was agreed that recommendation 3.1 be amended to read: ‘That a business case is developed jointly by officers of Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils and Flagship Group which explores the opportunities a joint venture would create to deliver Building Services’.
Councillor Eburne queried if a cap should be imposed on the costs of the development of a business case. Confirmation was provided that there was a cap of £10,000 already in place in total for the two districts.
Councillor Eburne went on to raise concerns over the protection of existing members of staff within BMBS Buildings Services. Gavin Fisk provided details of the staff event which had recently taken place.
By a unanimous vote
It was RESOLVED:-
1.1 That a business case is developed jointly by officers of Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils and Flagship Group which explores the opportunities a joint venture would create to deliver Building Services. 1.2 That a business case, with a preferred option for the delivery of Building Services is presented to Cabinet, by early 2020, for a decision.
Reason for Decision: The delivery of an efficient and effective, value for money building service continues to present a range of challenges. To ensure we provide the highest level of service to our tenants whilst managing costs, the development of this business case would explore the opportunities and benefits to deliver services within an alternative business model in the future. |
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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 report 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: Resolution to Exclude the Public
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 report proposed to be considered in Part II of the Agenda were satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
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. |
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MCa/19/24 IMPROVING ACCESS TO THE PRIVATE RENTED SECTOR Cabinet Member for Housing Decision: Resolution to Exclude the Public
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 there would be the disclosure to them of exempt information as indicated against each item. The authors of the report proposed to be considered in Part II of the Agenda were satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.
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.
MCa/19/24 – Improving Access to the Private Rented Sector
It was RESOLVED:-
That the recommendations set out in report MCa/19/24 be approved.
Reason for Decision: To agree to fund innovative new solutions to preventing homelessness, using homelessness grant and reserves funding.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
1.1 The number of households in temporary accommodation is rising. We need to consider innovative ways of improving access to the private rented sector to minimise stays in Bed and Breakfast and Temporary Accommodation. Therefore, we are proposing to develop a two-year pilot guaranteed rent scheme. 1.2 We have considered taking no action, but this would fail to address the issue and we are likely to continue to see a rise in the number of households being accommodated under Homelessness Legislation. Any Declarations of Interest declared: None Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes: By a unanimous vote
It was RESOLVED:-
The recommendation as set out in report MCa/19/24 be approved.
Reason for Decision: To agree to fund innovative new solutions to preventing homelessness, using homelessness grant and reserves funding. |