Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services Monitoring Officer Babergh District Council Corks Lane Hadleigh Ipswich IP7 6SJ DX NO: 85055 Exchange: Babergh Main Switchboard: 01473 822801 Website: www.babergh.gov.uk
TO: THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL	3 April 2006

Dear Sir/Madam

The Annual Meeting of the Babergh District Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Corks Lane, Hadleigh on TUESDAY, 11 APRIL 2006 AT 9.30 A.M.

The proceedings will be opened with Prayer.

Yours faithfully

Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services

Members are requested to bring with them to the meeting the following papers which have been previously circulated to relevant Committee Members and made available on BEN:-

Papers E286, E287, E299 and E314

Any Member wishing to be supplied with a hard copy of the above reports is asked to contact Committee Services prior to the day of the meeting.

PART I

	1	ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
	2	ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
	3	MINUTES To confirm and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2006 as a correct record.
	4	DECLARATION OF INTERESTS Members to declare any interests as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.
	5	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive apologies for absence.
	6	CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
	7	TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULE NO. 13 In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No.13, the Chief Executive will report the receipt of petitions as detailed below. There can be no debate or comment upon these matters at the Council meeting. Development of land east of Carsons Drive, Great Cornard Petition signed by approximately 1830 residents of the District. Change of use from A1 to A5 : 50 North Street, Sudbury Petition signed by approximately 104 residents of the District.
Papers E286 and E299 previously circulated	8	RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES (a)     CAST (Strategy Committee Minute No. 139(a)) Dr M R Miller as Chairman of the CAST Programme Board introduced Paper E286 providing an update on the progress of the Customer Access and Service Transformation (CAST). It was noted that four long-term strategic options for delivering customer access have been identified and a fifth positioning option has been developed for a shorter term plan. Until the position across Suffolk is clearer it is not feasible to determine a long-term strategic option therefore an Action Plan for the position option is recommended. This will enable real progress to be made until such time as a longer term strategic decision can be made. Two Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) pilot reviews have been undertaken in Revenues and Development Control. Officers indicated that these pilot reviews have generally confirmed the assumptions made in the original outline business case report last August except that reviews are taking a little longer to complete and that the savings will take longer to deliver. It is recommended that at least one further review should be undertaken to cover service requests in Environmental Services. Members of the Programme Board were split on whether or not any further review should be started prior to the Strategy Committee receiving a 6 monthly report on CAST. Some Members wished only to proceed with one further review at this stage until the proposals from the two pilots are implemented and a clear picture of actual savings can be assessed. Other Members wished to move straight from the agreed review in Environmental Services to further reviews to ensure continuity and momentum as well as retaining new skills and ensuring savings from these reviews are accrued more quickly. The Strategy Committee was requested to determine the recommendation to Council on this matter. During consideration of this matter it was proposed and seconded that the BPR reviews be continued. On being put to the vote this proposal was lost. The views of the Babergh branch of UNISON contained in Paper E299 were circulated at the meeting. RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL (1)     That the Proposed Customer Access Priority Requirement and Delivery Arrangements detailed at Appendix 1 to Paper E286 be approved. (2)     That the positioning Option for delivering customer access at Appendix 2 to Paper E286 be approved. (3)     That arrangements be made to undertake a further Business Process Re-engineering review, from May 2006, to cover service requests in Environmental Services. (4)     The further BPR Reviews be not undertaken, from August 2006 prior to receiving a progress report on CAST on 28 September 2006. (5)     That the high level Programme Plan for 2006/07, including major deliverables and milestones, resource requirements, spending plans and risks, set out at Appendix 5 to Paper E286 be approved. (6)     That the Chief Executive, in consultation with the CAST Programme Board, be authorised to make ongoing operational and tactical decisions to progress CAST, in accordance with the objectives, action plans, budget and spending plans determined by the Council. (7)     That update reports be submitted to the Council through the Strategy Committee meetings during 2006/07 as follows: 28 September 2006 Strategy, for 31 October 2006 Council 8 March 2007 Strategy, for 17 April 2007 Council
Paper E287  previously circulated		(b)     IEG 6 Statement (Strategy Committee Minute No. 139(b)) Mr D J Read, as Chairman of the E-Government Steering Group, presented Paper E287 advising that as part of the funding process the Council has to submit an implementing electronic Government Statement No.6 (IEG 6) by 10 April 2006 to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL That the IEG 6 Statement attached as Appendix A to Paper E287 be submitted to the ODPM, subject to the Head of Organisational Development in consultation with the E-Government Steering Group being authorised to make any necessary changes as work is completed that affects the Statement to ensure that the IEG 6 Statement correctly reflects the situation at 31 March 2006.
Paper E314 previously circulated   Paper 314 Revised Appendix B		(c)     Babergh Local Plan (Alteration No. 2) Proposed Post Inquiry Modifications – Proposed Responses (Strategy Committee Minute No. 155) The Acting Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development submitted a report (Paper E314) advising that the Council’s emerging Local Plan has been under preparation since 1998 and is now approaching the final stages towards its adoption. Paper E314 outlined the outcome of the recent public consultation exercise carried out on the current changes (Post Inquiry Modifications) proposed to the Council’s emerging Local Plan. In addition to recent publicity on the plan, meetings with Town and Parish Councils most affected by current changes had also been held. The Acting Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development introduced Paper E314 and referred to each of the main issues raised. The tables attached as Appendix A to Paper E314 outlined the numbers of representations received and the matters/sites that were subject to these representations. A full listing of representations including a précis of the points made together with Officers’ proposed responses was also attached as Appendix C. Appendix B referred to a Schedule of all (non-substantive) changes now proposed in response. During consideration of the item an amendment was proposed and seconded that the site east of Carsons Drive, Great Cornard be deleted. Upon being put to the vote, the amendment was lost. Note: During consideration of this item the Committee adjourned for lunch at 1.00 p.m. and resumed at 1.30 p.m. when the following Members were present:- Mr N A Ridley – Chairman Mr M P Booth Mrs S P Clarke Mr J J Quinlan Mr C M Spence Mr R W Thake Mr H N Todd Mrs S M Wigglesworth Mr L H Young RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL (1)     That the responses to the recent public consultation exercise be noted. (2)     That the proposed detailed responses on each issue and to each representation, set out in Appendix C, and the proposed non-substantive changes at Appendix B, be agreed subject to the inclusion of additional wording to address the highway matters at Carsons Drive, Great Cornard and additional wording for the site at Glemsford regarding drainage issues and the need for comprehensive development proposals. Further that the Acting Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development be authorised to produce the additional wording. (3)     That the Acting Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development be granted authority to make any necessary minor changes, revisions and edits to correct any remaining errors, effect any updates, ensure consistency and aid comprehension of the Plan. (4)     That a further Public Local Inquiry into the objections raised in response should not be held. (5)     That the adoption of the Local Plan be pursued as soon as possible following adherence to the requisite formal adoption procedures. The proposed date of adoption will form a recommendation to Council (on 11 April). NOTE: The Acting Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development will circulate, prior to the meeting, additional information following the decision referred to above.
Paper F1	9	EFFICIENCIES Report by the Head of Finance attached.
Paper F2	10	ANNUAL REPORT OF THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (STEWARDSHIP) COMMITTEE Report by the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee attached.
Paper F3	11	ANNUAL REPORT OF THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (COMMUNITY SERVICES) COMMITTEE Report by the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee attached.
Paper F4	12	ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE Report by the Standards Committee attached.
	13	QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC The Chairmen of Committees to answer any questions from the public of which notice has been given no later than midday two working days before the day of the meeting in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 14.
	14	QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS The Chairman of the Council and the Chairmen of Committees and Sub-Committees to answer any questions on any matters in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affect the District and which fall within the terms of reference of that Committee or Sub-Committee of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 15.4(a) and (b).
Paper F5	15	POLITICAL BALANCE AND COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEES Report by the Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services attached.
Paper F6	16	APPOINTMENT OF SUBSTITUTES – COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULE NO. 5 Report by the Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services attached.
	17	ELECTION OF CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES To elect a Chairman for each of the following Committees:- Strategy Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Development Licensing and Appeals Hadleigh and District Swimming Pool Trust Note: Standards Committee appoints its own Chairman.
Paper F7	18	TASK GROUPS AND PANELS (a) APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS (b) ANNUAL REPORTS Report by the Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services attached.
Paper F8	19	REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES Report by the Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services attached.
	20	APPOINTMENT OF MEMBER CHAMPION – EQUALITIES The Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services to report that at its meeting on 23 February 2006, Members accepted the following recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee regarding Member Champions:- (5)     That a Member Champion be elected by Council for each of the Council Priorities if Council considers such to be beneficial in the particular case and where Council feels this to be necessary. Members were aware in making this decision that the intention of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee was that a report be submitted to Council setting out proposals for the appointment of Member Champions linked to the Council’s priorities, and it is anticipated that this report will be on the agenda for the June Council meeting. However, Members considered that Clive Arthey, the Council’s appointee on the Countywide Waste Management Group, should represent the Council as a Member Champion and agreed to appoint him in that capacity ahead of consideration of the report referred to above. The Council is asked to make a further appointment, of an Equalities Member Champion, ahead of consideration of the report in June. Details are set out below for prospective nominees. In line with the Racial Equality Scheme, approved by the Council on 16 July 2002 and updated 23 June 2005, and as part of the level two Local Government Equality Standard, the Council must demonstrate political commitment to the cross cutting equalities and diversity agenda. This encompasses race, disability, age, gender, religion and belief, sexuality, and poverty and social exclusion issues. The appointment of an Equalities Champion would relate to all five of the Council’s priorities as set out in the Corporate Plan (approved on 23 February 2006) and in particular to improved access to quality public services. The Equalities Champion would be required to: provide a political support and steer on equalities issues within the Council and District encourage the mainstreaming of equalities and diversity issues within the Council help raise awareness, and promote equalities and diversity issues within the district and council represent the Council and be its spokesperson on any equalities matters that may arise, where appropriate. In this work, the Member Champion will be supported by the officer Equality Steering Group. It is difficult to quantify the time commitment at this stage but it is anticipated that the Champion would be asked to attend meetings at the Council Offices on up to six occasions per year.
		A buffet lunch will be provided in the Courtyard Restaurant.
For further information on any of the Part 1 items listed above, please contact Steve Ellwood on Ipswich (01473) 825876 or via email at committeeservices@babergh.gov.uk

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