In addition to any announcements made at the meeting, please see Paper BC/17/28 attached, detailing events attended by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
Minutes:
25.1 The Leader updated Council with the latest information on the Boundary Review. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England was due to publish its final recommendations for the Babergh and Mid Suffolk boundary reviews on 6 February 2018, however the Council had been advised by the Boundary Commission that it had delayed publication of its final recommendations as they were examining the electorate data and forecast that underpin all of the recommendations and were also considering the suggested amendments that had arisen from the consultation. However the Leader went on to say that it was expected that a further announcement would be made imminently regarding an additional 8- week consultation stage, this information would be circulated to all Councillors as soon as it was received.
25.2 The Leader informed Council that following the full Council meeting on 21 November 2017 where Councillor Jenkins had responded as Leader advising the Council that the Monitoring Officer would be preparing a layman’s guide to the Constitution, the Monitoring Officer and Councillor McCraw have since been working on such a document. However, as the Leader had asked the Monitoring Officer to conduct a whole sale review of the Constitution this document will be produced alongside the revised Constitution. It was expected that the Monitoring Officer would be bringing a report to the Full Council meeting in April regarding the approach to the review.
25.3 Finally the Leader was pleased to report that the Council had been shortlisted in the top three for the Public Sector Transformation Awards and as a result of this due to the high calibre of the Council’s nomination for the “Working Together” category the Council has also been nominated for the “Council of the Year Award”. He went on to thank everyone at Babergh and Mid Suffolk for helping the Council get recognised for this and was hoping that the Council would win one of the awards.
25.4 Councillor Bavington made a short announcement and thanked Councillor Arthey and Linda Sheppard for attending Neil McMaster’s funeral. He then went on to congratulate Councillor Cresswell who had recently become a father of daughter Tallulah Nye Cresswell.
25.5 The Chairman updated Council with his latest visits this included a visit to William Wood House to present them property that had actually belonged to them in the first place. This was a picture of Lady Diana Princess of Wales who had originally opened the building in July 1993. The Chairman then went on to inform Council that the Shotley Heritage Group had completed the purchase of Shotley Pier. He also drew attention to the fact that East Bergholt had made it through to the semi-final of the Village of the Year award.
25.6 Councillor Arthey asked the Chairman if he had an update on the flag pole outside the Council offices in Hadleigh?
25.7 In response the Chairman stated that it had been purchased by several Members of the Council and he was sure that in the fullness of time Council would be briefed on their proposals for the flag pole.
Supporting documents: