Ad-Hoc status:Carried
Resolution status:Carried
1.1. That the Director for Operations and Climate Change takes on board the comments made by the Babergh Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
1.2. That Officers provide more detailed clarification on the amendments made to the information and proposals set out in the Cabinet report as a result of the consultation process.
1.3. That Officers be requested to set out in the report to Cabinet a proposed range of tariffs that include a free parking period of 1 hour and its associated costs.
1.4. That Officers further explore with Suffolk County Council the possibility of introducing on-street resident parking permits across the District, that more information on this type of scheme be included in the report to Cabinet, and investigate implementing an appropriate policy.
1.5. That Officers review whether a rebate system could be implemented in Hadleigh, Sudbury, and Lavenham in car parks serving doctors surgeries and medical centres.
1.6. That the Director for Operations and Climate Change continues to consider and create shared value for residents by enhancing the councils offer for non-contact, long term parking permits using intelligent parking control processes such that residents are recognised as community stakeholders.
1.7. That Officers include more information and context about the rural setting of the districts, the current reliance on car use to travel, and the accessible parking provisions needed to adequately meet this need.
1.8. That the Monitoring Officer be asked to investigate allegations of pre-determination raised by the Overview and Scrutiny committee in regard to members of the Cabinet.
1.9. That Officers give further consideration to the issues raised concerning school pick-ups and drop-off as well as carers and medical staff visiting patients.
1.10. That Officers are encouraged to retain the cash and card system for paying parking permits to avoid moving to a cashless system.
1.11. That Cabinet are made aware of the committee’s concerns regarding the process followed during the handling of the parking petition considered by Full Council on 20th February.
1.1. That the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee notes the report and commends the Officers for the work undertaken in delivering the Strategy.
1.2. That Officers take on board the comments made by the Committee, particularly regarding accessibility, marketing, and public consultation, and incorporate these into the future delivery of the Strategy.
1.3. That the Cultural Working Group, in conjunction with the Community Grants Review, are requested to explore expanding the scope of locality grants to incorporate funding support for young people looking to engage with culture and the arts.
1.4. That Officers explore various methods of further communicating the Strategy and its aims to a wider audience.
1.5. That the Cabinet Member for Planning be asked to note the committee’s concerns towards the potential for overdevelopment of the districts and that the SPD for Historic and Natural Environment be examined to better protect the tourism and culture offer that is currently available.
· That the draft revenue budgets set out in the report for the 2024/25 General Fund and Housing Revenue Account budgets be noted.
· That engagement with the public, specifically through media releases and Town and Parish Liaison meetings, be encouraged to help outline and provide clarity to the public regarding the budget pressures on the Council.
· That the district authority actively considers the deployment of certain services to Town & Parish councils who have an appetite to accept functions currently carried out by Babergh District Council.
Ad-Hoc status:Rejected
1.1 That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee commends the housing department for the work they are conducting to help reduce homelessness in the Districts and requests that officers take on board the comments made at the meeting.
1.2 That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee supports the vision and priorities of the draft Homelessness Reduction and Rough Sleeping Strategy and ensures that the Delivery Plan is reflective of the current challenges facing the Districts.
1.3 That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee strongly supports the work being undertaken to meet the domestic abuse housing alliance accreditation.
1.4 That Cabinet makes further plans to provide financial support for the services provided under the homelessness reduction and rough sleeping strategy beyond the end of the Rough Sleeper Initiative Funding in 2025.
1.5 That Cabinet explores further means of providing assistance to those under 25 with becoming adequately housed in order to avoid an influx of young people becoming homeless.
1.6 That Cabinet explores providing more resources to the housing department to assist with communicating about the services available from the Councils and Central Suffolk Lettings to those who are, or are at risk of becoming, homeless.
1.1. That the draft budget assumptions as set out in the report for the 2024/25 General Fund budget be noted.
1.2. That the Director for Corporate Resources further assesses how the Council manages its income to further decrease the general fund deficit.
1.1. That Overview and Scrutiny Committee support the strategic aims of the Homes and Housing Strategy ensuring the delivery plan is reflective of the current challenges facing the housing sector, whilst continuing to deliver the aims set out in the Homes and Housing Strategy.
1.2. That Cabinet considers reducing the proposed timescales for the stock conditions audit of the Councils’ properties.
1.3. That Cabinet reconsiders the use of inhouse occupational therapists.
1.4. That Cabinet identify what housing is affordable in the private market to various demographics in the Districts to determine the most appropriate tenures to secure and deliver.
1.5. That officers incorporate a RAG status into future reports taken before Joint Overview and Scrutiny and provide more detailed focus on the associated risks of delivery of the Strategy.
1.6. That the Cabinet undertake a clear refocus on housing and ensure that there is enough support for officers to achieve the housing needs of our residents
1.7. That officers are requested to involve all Members in any open sessions carried out by the department.
1.8. That the Chief Planning Officer provides the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with an update on the number of dwellings with outstanding planning permission that have not yet begun construction.
1.9. That officers identify residents who are most vulnerable so that services can be proactively designed around their needs.
1.10. That Cabinet and officers explore methods of communicating to residents the option to downsize their properties.
1.11. That officers scrutinise and investigate private landlords before working collaboratively with them.
1.12. That Cabinet reconsiders the means in which data is collected in support of community led housing.
Motion status:Carried
1.1 That the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee thanks Anglian Water, the Environment Agency, Natural England, and the River Stour Trust for their attendance and for the answers provided.
1.2 That the Chairs of Overview and Scrutiny provide a report and verbal update on the contents and outcomes of the Committee meeting at the next Full Council meetings in October.
1.3 That the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee requests for more information from the external representatives, specifically including the phosphate reducing programme, and asks that this be fed back to the Committee via an Information Bulletin.
1.4 That the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee requests for a wider publicity campaign for residents, staff, and Councillors regarding materials that cannot be put into the sewage system.
1.5 That the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee requests for Cabinet to investigate the possibility of running a campaign regarding the provision of water butts for residents.
1.6 That the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee requests for Council to consider supporting “citizen science” projects.
1.7 That Mid Suffolk District Council receives an update on their concerns over water quality in the District from OFWAT.