It was RESOLVED: -

That the minutes of the meeting held on the 4 March 2024 be confirmed and signed as correct record.

It was RESOLVED: -

3.1          Tariff Option A Table 6.7 for short and long stay, hourly and daily parking charges, is implemented as soon as is practically possible.

3.2          Parking Permit (season ticket) changes in 6.24 - 6.27 are implemented as soon as is practically possible, the charges as already agreed under the annual fees and charges report.

3.3          Changes from Short Stay to Long Stay designations in 2 car parks as indicated in table 6.22 are implemented as soon as is practically possible.

3.4          Blue Badge Holders will continue to be allowed to park for free for up to 3 hours in any bay of all public car parks.

3.5          The current hours, days of the week and bank holidays where off-street restrictions apply are amended as per 6.15 as soon as is practically possible.

3.6          The Director of Operations and Parking Services Manager are delegated authority to put in place suitable refund arrangements with Abbeycroft Leisure for users of the Councils’ Leisure Centres (Sudbury and Hadleigh) and agree arrangements with Roys Sudbury store to co-inside with new tariff introduction.

3.7          The Director of Operations and Parking Services Manager continue to engage with health, mobile health screening and village community centres which are accessed via or occasionally sited on council car parks, as to the feasibility and appropriateness of utilising the councils’ virtual permits and enforcement in managing parking for their patients and visitors.

3.8          That delegated authority be given to the Director of Operations in consultation with the Portfolio Holder to make changes to the councils’ off-street parking orders and put in place suitable resources to implement the recommendations, including any minor amendments resulting from any subsequent dialogue and agreements with Lavenham Council, in this report in compliance with all statutory obligations and law.

3.9          The Director of Operations and Parking Services Manager continue to engage with the councils where council car parks are located and any groups making representation, and carry out more detailed local survey work to bring forward proposals to continue to improve parking as set out in the council’s car parking strategy, which may include residents parking zones.

3.10       The Director for Operations and Parking Services Manager continues to consider how to enhance the councils offer for contactless, longer term parking permits, using intelligent parking control processes that benefit and offer value to residents.

The motion was lost.

It was RESOLVED: -

That Cabinet approves the appointment of Totalmobile Limited to supply and implement its comprehensive job management system, to help BMSDC implement its transformation / strategic objectives within Building Services.  The decision is sought subject to satisfactory agreement of terms with Totalmobile.

It was RESOLVED: -

That the minutes of the meeting held on the 9 January 2024 be confirmed and signed as correct record.

It was RESOLVED: -

1.1          That the General Fund Budget proposals for 2024/25 and four-year outlook set out in the report for both the revenue and capital budgets and the level of reserves be endorsed for recommendation to Council on 20 February 2024.

1.2          That the General Fund Budget for 2024/25 presented in this report assumes an increase in the Band D Council Tax of 2.99% for endorsement for recommendation to Council.

1.3          That three budget items were updated in the tabled papers for financing costs (see paragraph 5.10 of the report), costs arising from likely regulatory changes in accounting for loan impairments (paragraph 5.13 of the report) and final grant income figures from central government (paragraph 5.18 of the report) and endorsed to Council.

1.4          That the Cabinet considered options for balancing the budget for endorsement and recommendation to Council as set out in the tabled papers.

1.5          That the new income bands and contribution rates for the 100% Local Council Tax Reduction (Working Age) Scheme, as set out in 5.27 of the report, are endorsed for recommendation to Council.

1.6          That Cabinet endorses for recommendation to Council:

a.    The options for balancing the budget as detailed in Table 3 of the tabled papers.

b.     The creation of Expected Credit Loss Reserve of £937,850 as explained in paragraphs 3.4 to 3.12 in the tabled papers. 

c.    The creation of a Financial Sustainability Reserve of £1,341,640 as proposed in paragraph 4.3 in the tabled papers.

It was RESOLVED: -

1.1That the HRA Budget proposals for 2024/25 set out in this report, be endorsed for recommendation to Council on 20 February 2024.

1.2  That a CPI + 1% increase of 7.7% for social rents, equivalent to an average rent increase of £7.92 and a RPI + 0.5% (9.4%) increase for affordable rent of £11.13, a week be implemented.

1.3  That the RPI increase of 8.9% in garage rents, equivalent to an average rent increase of £3.83 or £4.71 (private rental), a month be implemented.

1.4  That an increase of for sheltered housing service charges, equivalent to £49.12 a month, be implemented.

1.5  That an increase for sheltered housing utility charges, equivalent to £28.95 a month, be implemented, following no utility increase for 3 years (from 2019/20).

1.6  That in principle, Right to Buy (RTB) receipts should be retained within the Housing Revenue Account, to enable continued development and acquisition of new council dwellings.

1.7  That it is recommended that the £6m PWLB loan due to be repaid in 2024/25l is repaid rather than refinancing at a higher interest rate.

1.8  That the Revenue Contribution to Capital be increased £4.48m to £5.572m

It was RESOLVED: -

That the minutes of the meeting held on the 4 December 2023 be confirmed and signed as correct record.

It was RESOLVED: -

1.1 To carry out engagement and consultation with town and parish councils within Babergh, and with Babergh Councillors and with any other recognised groups making representation over the engagement period.

1.2 That a proposal for varying car parking charges and road traffic orders across Babergh Council car parks will be presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for their examination and advice to Cabinet.

1.3 That Proposals will be brought to Babergh Cabinet (after presenting to O&S) for varying car parking charges and off-street road traffic orders across Babergh Council car parks.

It was RESOLVED: -

To consider the feedback from engagement and endorse the final plan setting out the vision and strategic priorities for Babergh District Council for 2023-2031, as set out in Appendix A.

It was RESOLVED: -

1.1That Cabinet approve the empty homes and second homes premiums policy for 2024-25 attached in appendix A

1.2  That Cabinet delegate authority to the Director of Housing in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing to make technical amendments to the policy to ensure it meets the criteria set by Government and the Council

It was RESOLVED: -

1.1That the contents of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report 2022-23 at Appendix A to the report be noted. 

It was RESOLVED: -

That the amended confidential minutes of the meeting held on 4 December 2023 be confirmed and signed as a true record.

It was RESOLVED: -

That the minutes of the meeting held on the 3 October 2023 be signed and confirmed as a correct record.

It was RESOLVED: -

That Babergh Cabinet agreed to the release of £943k from reserves to expedite the completion of outstanding repairs and enable delivery of the next phase of the Building Services Transformation and Improvement Programmes.

It was RESOLVED: -

That Cabinet approved to commence a seven-week period of consultation, commencing 10^th November 2023 and ending 29^th December 2023, on the proposed scope and conditions of a Local Listed Building Consent Order.

It was RESOLVED: -

To note the report and the Healthy Behaviours Partnership Agreement.

ThatCabinet authorisedthe Directorof CorporateResources inconsultation withthe Cabinet Memberfor Financeto enterinto theDeed ofVariation atAppendix Ato the report.

Toendorse engagementon theemerging visionand strategicpriorities asset outin Appendix A.

To note phase 3 of the Cost of Living Action Plan and endorse the commitment to develop a longer term approach to preventing poverty which seeks to understand the underlying drivers of poverty across both districts at a hyper local level through continued work with internal and external stakeholders and to include wider engagement with Town and Parish Councils.

1.1       Cabinet approved that Option 1 was taken forward and the joint councils’ draft EV Infrastructure Implementation Plan.

1.2       Thatthe completion of the finaldocumentation was delegatedto theDirector for Economic Growth and Climate Change in consultation with portfolio holders for Environment, Culture & Wellbeing in Babergh and Thriving Towns and Rural Communities in Mid Suffolk.

To note and support the implementation of the Councils first Employer Supported Volunteering Policy

1.1          That Cabinet agreedOption 1and approvethe revisedSafeguarding Policyfor Children,Young People and Adults at Risk.

1.2          To agree for the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder to have delegated authority to make minor amendments to the Safeguarding Policy in linewith outcomesderived fromthe AnnualSection 11Audit orfuture InternalAudit Reviews.

That the confidential minute of the meeting held on the 5 September 2023 be confirmed and signed as a true record of the meeting.

It was RESOLVED:-

That the minutes of the meeting held on the 10 July 2023 be signed and confirmed as a correct record.

It was RESOLVED: -

1.1 That, subject to any further budget variations that arise during the rest of the financial year, the projected overspend on the General Fund of £703,000 referred to in section 4.2 and Appendix A of the report be noted;

1.2 That, subject to any further budget variations that arise during the rest of the financial year, the projected overspend on the Housing Revenue Account of £305,000 referred to in section 4.3 and Appendix B of the report be noted;

1.3 That, the Council’s compliance with the Prudential Indicators during quarter one referred to in section 4.4 and Appendix C of the report be noted.

It was RESOLVED: -

1.1          That the CIL Expenditure Programme (September 2023) and accompanying Technical Assessments of the following  CIL Bids (forming Appendices, A and B) be approved (including decisions on these CIL Bids for Cabinet to make/or note) as follows: -

Decisions for Cabinet to approve:  - Ringfenced Infrastructure Funds (Acton)

Decisions for Cabinet to approve:  Local Infrastructure Fund

Delegated decisions for Cabinet to note:  - Ringfenced Infrastructure Fund

1.2          Cabinet are also asked to note and endorse this CIL Expenditure Programme which includes the position in respect of approved CIL Bids from Rounds 1 to 10 inclusive  (Appendix A Section B) together with details of emerging infrastructure /CIL Bids (Appendix A Section C).

It was RESOLVED: -

1.1 That Cabinet reiterated the commitment made by Full Council on 18th July 2023 to join UK100 and noted the content of Appendix A & B.

It was RESOLVED: -

1.1 The councils are recommended to agree to support the RSPCA campaign and thereby resolve:

1.2 That an outright ban on the giving of live animals as prizes, in any form, on Babergh & Mid Suffolk Council owned land is implemented

1.3 That the Councils write to UK Government requesting an outright ban on live animals as prizes on both public and private land

1.4 That the Councils carry out a review of the current policies and the terms and conditions of the contract agreements relating to the hire of council owned land and premises to ensure that they reflect the councils’ positions as regards giving of live animals as prizes.

It was RESOLVED: -

1.1 That Cabinet review and note the progress made in scoping and designing a suitable modular build café and toilet block facility for Belle Vue park, including the estimated breakdown of costs attached as Confidential Appendix B (which includes an estimate of borrowing costs).

1.2 That Cabinet approve the recommendation to proceed with delivery of a new café and toilets as a modular build which includes provision of a changing place facility.

1.3 That Cabinet approve the funding of the works from the Changing Places Grant, the capital receipt from the sale of Belle Vue House and the existing capital budget (borrowing) for works at Belle Vue. The capital programme currently includes a budget of £1.9m for works at Belle Vue and it is anticipated that this scheme will require £105,000 of that budget, or in the worst case £150,000 if it is not possible to complete the scheme in the timescale required to be able to utilise the £45,000 Changing Place grant.

1.4 That Cabinet note the intention to directly award a supplier for the modular unit design and delivery from a suitably approved contract framework under officer delegation to the Director for Economic Growth and Climate Change. This is for expediency due to the funding deadline set for accessing Changing Place grant.

It was RESOLVED: -

1.1          That the 2022/23 General Fund financial outturn of £199k overspend compared to budget as set out in this report be noted.

1.2             That the revenue carry-forward requests totalling £73k be    noted.

1.3             That the following transfers be approved:

a)          £698k be transferred to the Strategic Priorities Reserve

b)        (£500k) be transferred from the Inflationary Pressure        Reserve to absorb   pressures experienced in the year

c)          (£108k) to be transferred from the Council Tax & Business          Rates Reserve

d)          £164k to be transferred to the Waste Reserve

1.4       That the capital carry-forward requests totalling £10.820m be          approved. 

It was RESOLVED:-

1.1          That the 2022/23 HRA financial outturn as set out in this report be noted.

1.2          That the transfer of £1.004m, being the HRA revenue deficit for the year (£1.515m worse than originally budgeted) from the Strategic Priorities Reserve be approved.

1.3          That the HRA capital carry-forward requests totalling£8.444m be approved.

It was RESOLVED: -

1.1      To confirm that affordable housing Commuted Sums form part of the operational housing budget and so delegated to the Director for Housing the authority to make the associated spending decisions, in line with adopted policy and in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing.

1.2      To adopt the appended Commuted Sums Spending Policy as a means of guiding decision making on Commuted Sums spend.

1.3      That the Director for Housing to be authorised to make future amendments to the Commuted Sums Spending Policy, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, for example if required to stay up to date with legislation, national or other Council policies.