Ad-Hoc status:Carried
Resolution status:Carried
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.
Ad-Hoc status:Rejected
· That the draft revenue budgets set out in the report for the 2024/25 General Fund and Housing Revenue Account budgets be noted and that the new approach to budget setting is welcomed by the Overview and Scrutiny committee.
· That further information on interest receivable and capital expenditure be included in future Overview and Scrutiny reports to provide a breakdown of interest for all projects and debt.
· That tables detailing the breakdown of information on aspects such as the increase in dwelling rents and service charging be included in future Overview and Scrutiny reports.
· That the lobbying of central government on the 1 year funding settlement being increased be continued.
· That information on relevant projects be placed together and presented in a collective summary in future reports for accessibility purposes.
· That officers explore incorporating accessibility improvements into the reports, including bridge charting, graphics, and a glossary, to provide Members with further clarity on the information provided.
1.1 That the draft budget assumptions as set out in the report for the 2024/25 General Fund budget be noted.
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 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.
It was RESOLVED: -
That Councillor Rowland Warboys be elected as Chair of the Council for the municipal year 2023/24.
That Councillor Daniel Pratt be elected as Vice Chair of the Council for the municipal year 2023/24.
That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2023 be confirmed and signed as a true record.
That Councillor Andrew Mellen be appointed Leader of the Council for the current Term of Office.
That the following Committees and Joint Committees be appointed:
· Overview and Scrutiny Committee
· Planning Committee
· Licensing and Regulatory Committee
· Joint Audit and Standards Committee
· Joint Appointments Committee
1.1 That the Committees' size and numerical allocation of seats be approved as detailed in Appendix A to this report.
1.2 That Committee members and named substitutes be appointed as set out in Appendix B to this report.
1.3 That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make consequential changes to the Constitution following any changes made to the appointments and political composition of committees.
That Councillor James Caston be elected as Chair of the Mid Suffolk Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the Municipal year 2023/24.
It was RESOLVED:-
That Councillor Keith Scarff be elected as Vice Chair of the Mid Suffolk Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the Municipal year 2023/24.
That Councillor Sarah Mansel be elected Chair of the Planning Committee for the Municipal year 2023/24.
That Councillor Lavinia Hadingham be elected Vice Chair of the Planning Committee for the Municipal year 2023/24.
That Councillor Oliver Walters be elected Chair of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee for the Municipal year 2023/24.
That Councillor Nicky Willshere be elected Vice Chair of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee for the Municipal year 2023/24.
That Councillor Matthissen be elected Co-Chair of the Joint Audit and Standards Committee for the Municipal year 2023/24.
That Councillor Mellen be elected Co-Chair of the Joint Appointments Committee for the Municipal year 2023/24.
That Councillors be appointed to the Outside Bodies detailed in Appendix A, with the additional appointment of Councillor Terence Carter to the West Suffolk Community Safety Partnership.
That the Council approve the appointment of Councillor Austin Davies, Councillor John Matthissen, Councillor Colin Lay, and Councillor Richard Winch as Directors of MSDC (Suffolk Holdings) Ltd.
That Councillors Rachel Eburne and Richard Winch be appointed as members of the Shared Revenues Partnership Joint Committee and that Councillors Teresa Davis and Tim Weller be appointed as substitute members for the municipal year 2023/24.
That Councillor Lucy Elkin be appointed as a member of the Suffolk Joint Standards Board for the municipal year 2023/24.
That Councillors David Penny and Miles Row be appointed to the Joint Gypsy and Traveller Steering Group for the municipal year 2023/24.
1.1That Councillors Janet Pearson, Rowland Warboys, Anders Linder and Adrienne Marriott be appointed to the Community Governance Review Working Group.
1.2That Councillors Rachel Eburne, John Matthissen, John Whitehead and Keith Scarff be appointed to the Constitution Working Group.
1.3That Councillors Janet Pearson, Ross Piper, Gilly Morgan and Nicky Willshere be appointed to the Member Learning and Development Working Group.
1.4That Councillors Sarah Mansel, Andrew Stringer, James Caston and Terry Lawrence be appointed to the Local Plan Working Group.