Venue: King Edmund Chamber, Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich. View directions
No. | Item | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE / SUBSTITUTIONS Minutes: 76.1 Apologies were received from Councillor Melanie Barrett and Councillor James Caston.
76.2 Councillor Simon Barrett substituted for Councillor Melanie Barrett.
|
|||||||||
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS Minutes: 77.1 None declared.
|
|||||||||
JOS/22/42 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE JOINT MEETING HELD ON 23 JANUARY 2023 PDF 88 KB Minutes: 78.1 It was resolved that the minutes of the Joint Committee held on 23 January 2023 were confirmed and signed as a true record.
|
|||||||||
JOS/22/43 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE BABERGH MEETING HELD ON 23 JANUARY 2023 PDF 67 KB Minutes: 79.1 It was resolved that the minutes of the Babergh Committee held on 23 January 2023 were confirmed and signed as a true record.
|
|||||||||
JOS/22/44 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MID SUFFOLK MEETING HELD ON 23 JANUARY 2023 PDF 128 KB Minutes: 80.1 It was resolved that the minutes of the Mid Suffolk Committee held on 23 January 2023 were confirmed and signed as a true record.
|
|||||||||
TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COUNCIL'S PETITION SCHEME Minutes: 81.1 None received.
|
|||||||||
QUESTIONS BY THE PUBLIC To consider questions from and provide answers to members of the public on any matter in relation to which the Committee has powers or duties and of which due notice has been given in accordance with the Committee and Sub-Committee Procedures Rules. Minutes: 82.1 None received. |
|||||||||
QUESTIONS BY COUNCILLORS To consider questions from and provide answers to Councillors on any matter in relation to which the Committee has powers or duties and of which due notice has been given in accordance with the Committee and Sub-Committee Procedure Rules. Minutes: 83.1 None received. |
|||||||||
JOS/22/45 ARE PLANNING PRE-APPLICATION ADVICE CUSTOMERS GETTING A VALUABLE SERVICE? PDF 327 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: 84.1 The Chief Planning Officer presented the report to the Committee outlining before Members the creation of an annual pre-application advice service survey in 2018, the results of previous surveys, the results of a new pre-application advice service officer survey, a summary of the survey information and questions, and introduced 3 witnesses in attendance who were available to answer questions from Members regarding their experiences with the pre-application advice service.
84.2 Councillor Barrett questioned whether 45% of survey respondents rating the quality of advice received between 8 and 10 out of 10 was a satisfactory amount. The Chief Planning Officer responded that 45% was not acceptable and that he would like to see future survey results above 50%.
84.3 Councillor Barrett further questioned the process behind an overturn of officer recommendation between the pre-application advice phase and the decision phase. The Chief Planning Officer responded that pre-application advice is given based on strict information provided to officers and that the recommendation may change due to new information coming to light.
84.4 The Witnesses responded that a change in decision on an application between the pre-application stage and the decision stage is often due to different officers handling each stage alongside the introduction of new consultation responses and information.
84.5 Councillor Ekpenyong questioned if significant changes in officer advice during the pre-application stage were passed to senior officers for checking and verification. The Chief Planning Officer responded that all pre-application advice was checked off by senior officers before it was dispatched to applicants.
84.6 Councillor Dawson questioned if the recommendations proposed focussed more on officers than customers and whether this was an effective route to take in improving the service. The Chief Planning Officer responded that the recommendations intended to change the customer survey to an “open” rather than annual survey which would allow more feedback to be captured and encourage fast, real-time changes to the service.
84.7 The Witnesses responded that a change to an “open” survey would allow applicants to submit feedback on a case-by-case basis which could lead to more accurate results regarding the service.
84.8 Councillor Scarff questioned how much dialogue takes place between applicants and planning officers during the pre-application advice stage and how much information was sent by the applicants to planning officers. The Witnesses responded that the costs of the service meant that smaller companies often submit minimal information as part of the pre-application advice stage and only submit more once they receive an indication as to whether the application will be accepted due to the investment needed.
84.9 Councillor Grandon queried how Babergh and Mid Suffolk’s planning authority compares to other planning authorities and what could be done to improve the pre-application service. The Witnesses responded that Babergh and Mid Suffolk compared well to other authorities, particularly due to the ability to engage with consultees at the pre-application stage, but that communication between planning officers and applicants was not as good as it could be.
84.10 Councillor Lindsay questioned about the time taken ... view the full minutes text for item 84.
|
|||||||||
JOS/22/46 PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING ENFORCEMENT & CIVIL PENALTIES POLICY PDF 98 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: 85.1 A short break was taken between 11:36am and 11:47am.
85.2 Councillor Jan Osborne – Babergh’s Cabinet Member for Housing - introduced the report to the Committee outlining before Members the need to maintain and improve housing standards in the private rented sector, the current work of the housing standards team, the purpose of the enforcement policy, the guidelines for both landlords and officers regarding enforcement and improvements, the proposal for an introduction of a charge for officer and administration time to recover costs when formal action must be taken, the introduction of civil penalties for landlords, and the collaboration between other Suffolk Councils in the development of the policy.
85.3 The Senior Environmental Health Officer presented the report to the Committee outlining before Members the work undertaken to improve and regulate housing standards, the link between the Private Housing Enforcement Policy and corporate policy, how and when action will be taken under the new policy, collaboration with Police and Fire services, civil penalties as an alternative to prosecution, the guidance and regulations for determining a fine value, and examples of when civil penalties will be actioned.
85.4 Councillor Scarff questioned if the starting points for fines were determined by the Housing team. The Senior Environmental Health Officer responded that the b starting points were determined by Housing using strict criteria but that these could move up or down within the band range dependent on the severity of the situation that is being addressed.
85.5 Councillor Scarff further questioned if civil penalties notices could be used in a similar way to press releases after the conviction of a landlord. The Senior Environmental Health Officer responded that civil penalty notices were able to be publicly put on the national register of offences.
85.6 Councillor Muller queried how many prosecutions had been actioned within the last 18 months. The Housing Needs and Standards Manager responded that there had been 0 prosecutions in the last 18 months.
85.7 Councillor Carter questioned if enforcement action could be taken by the Councils towards landlords linked to criminal activity to prevent them from owning and renting out property. The Senior Environmental Health Officer responded that there were powers to ban individuals to rent out properties but that it was a measure only used in extreme circumstances.
85.8 Councillor Carter further questioned whether enforcement would be taken against the landlord or the tenant in cases where hoarding is present. The Babergh Cabinet Member for Housing responded that this did not fall under the new enforcement policy but that it was the responsibility of the Housing Solutions team.
85.9 Councillor Ekpenyong questioned if there was a programme for regular inspection of private rented properties, how many improvement notices had been issued in the last 18 months, and how the national register of offences can be accessed. The Housing Needs and Standards Manager responded that inspections were a reactive service, that only a small number of improvement notices had been issued, and that the national register is published by ... view the full minutes text for item 85.
|
|||||||||
JOS/22/47 INFORMATION BULLETIN PDF 144 KB The Information Bulletin is a document that is made available to the public with the published agenda papers. It can include update information requested by the Committee as well as information that a service considers should be made known to the Committee.
This Information Bulletin contains updates on the following subjects:
Education, Skills, and Employment – What more can the Councils do to raise opportunities and attainment?
Minutes: 86.1 A short break was taken between 12:42pm and 12:45pm.
86.2 Councillor Simon Barrett and Councillor Dave Muller left the meeting at 12:45pm.
86.3 The Corporate Manager for Business and Economy and the Economic Development Officer presented the Information Bulletin to the Committee outlining before Members the 2022 Recovery Plan for businesses post the Covid pandemic, details of the Recover and Re-Grow stages of the Recovery Plan, the role of Babergh and Mid Suffolk in supporting skills and education development, the external skills picture, local skill development schemes, and future plans for supporting young people’s skill development.
86.4 Councillor Carter questioned what support was available to SEN students for their welfare and development in schools and the transition between education and employment. The Economic Development Officer responded that collaboration with Suffolk County Council was taking place to develop schemes intended to support SEN students specifically.
86.5 Councillor Ekpenyong queried what support was in place to develop technical and complex skills to enable people to pursue a career in high-skilled industries. The Director for Economic Growth and Climate Change responded that one of Gateway 14 Skills and Innovation Centre’s main purposes was to develop young people’s skills in these areas as well as attract high-growth and technical organisations into the Districts for young people to be able to pursue careers in this sector locally.
86.6 Councillor Lindsay left the meeting at 13:05pm.
86.7 Councillor Hinton questioned what support there was for apprenticeships and developing the skills required to access careers in emerging industries such as renewable energies and robotics. The Director for Economic Growth and Climate Change responded these skills would be included as part of the Gateway 14 Skills and Innovation Centre and that the number of apprenticeships currently undertaken in both Districts is higher than it was pre-Covid.
86.8 Councillor Grandon left the meeting at 13:15pm.
86.9 The Information Bulletin was noted. |
|||||||||
JOS/22/48 FORTHCOMING DECISIONS LIST To review the Council’s Forthcoming Decisions List and identify any items to be brought before the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Please note the most up to date version can be found via the Website:
Minutes: 87.1 No comments. |
|||||||||
JOS/22/49 OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY ACTION TRACKER PDF 165 KB Minutes: 88.1 No comments. |
|||||||||
JOS/22/49 BABERGH OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY WORK PLAN PDF 85 KB To agree the Work Plan Minutes: 89.1 No comments.
|
|||||||||
JOS/22/50 MID SUFFOLK OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY WORK PLAN PDF 85 KB To agree the Work Plan Minutes: 90.1 No comments.
|