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BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, COUNCIL OFFICES, CORKS LANE, HADLEIGH ON TUESDAY 26 JUNE 2007
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21 Mr J J Quinlan
22 Minutes
23 Declaration Of Interests
24 Chairman's Announcements
25 To Receive Notification Of Petitions In Accordance With Council Procedure Rule No.13
26 Questions From The Public
27 Questions From Members
28 Statement Of Accounts 2006/07
PRESENT: Mr R W Thake – Chairman
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Mrs J Antill
Mr C W Arthey
Mr P K Beer
Mr N A Bennett
Mr J C Brand
Mr D M Busby
Mrs S Carpendale
Mrs S P Clarke
Mr P G Gibson
Mr D G Grutchfield
Mr A J Hinton
Mr B D Hurren
Mr L S Johnson
Mr P Jones
Mr D H Keane
Mr R E Kemp
Mr B L Lazenby
Mr J A B Long |
Mrs M O Munson
Mr M Newman
Mr A F D W Osborne
Mr N A Ridley
Mr B Riley
Mr C A Roberts
Mr D C Rose
Mr J R A Sayers
Mr R C Smith
Mr C M Spence
Mr D M Walton
Mr A J Ward
Mr D B Warner
Mr G S White
Mrs S M Wigglesworth
Mr D L Wood
Mr L H Young |
The following Members were unable to be present:- Mr M P Booth, Mr J R B Cave, Mr P J Holbrook, Dr M R Miller, Mrs C A Todd and Mr H N Todd.
The proceedings were opened with Prayer.
Members stood in silence in memory of Jim Quinlan, Babergh District Councillor from 1995 to 1999 and 2003 to 2007.
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RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on 17 May 2007 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
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Mr D G Grutchfield declared a personal interest in the item relating to Statement of Accounts by virtue of being a Member of Suffolk County Council, but indicated that his interest was such that he was able to speak and vote on the matter concerned.
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Funeral Arrangements for Mr J J Quinlan
The Chairman informed Members that Jim’s funeral would be held on Friday, 29 June at 2.00 p.m. at St Mary’s Church, Hadleigh.
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None received.
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None received.
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The Chairman of the Council referred to a question asked by Councillor Riley which was circulated at the Council Meeting, together with the answer. The question and answer are reproduced below, together with a supplementary question and response which were given at the meeting.
Question
I observed that at the meeting of 17 May, the minutes of the previous meeting were seconded for approval by a Member who was not present at that earlier meeting. I have been given to understand that this procedure is acceptable.
Would the Chairman of the Council also advise (for the new Councillors) whether it is also acceptable for Councillors to vote to accept Minutes which relate to meetings for which they were absent?
Response
As the confirmation of the minutes is to accept the minutes as a true record of the meeting, it is naturally preferable that Councillors who propose, second or vote on the item were present at the meeting although Councillors who were not present are not debarred from so doing.
Supplementary Question
Presumably the advice given above also applies to the Minutes of Committees and Sub-Committees?
Response
Yes, that is correct.
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The Head of Finance introduced Paper G31 which provided an overview and details of Babergh’s spending in 2006/07 compared to the approved budget, together with other key financial information. Members noted corrections to the numbering of Appendices referred to in paragraphs 2.5, 5.6, 5.7 and 5.8.
During the course of the debate, Members asked questions on matters covered by Paper G31, the Statement of Accounts (Appendix 1) and Appendices 2 to 5. From points raised and responses received, Members noted various matters including the following:-
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Pension Fund – changes to the scheme will take place in the next two years. The deficit has decreased in recent years but future contributions will depend on the full actuarial valuation due later this year, which will allow for factors such as increased life expectancy. The new Pension Scheme will result in higher contributions by employees.
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Section 106 Planning Obligation monies – the Development Committee, as part of its Annual Report process, has asked the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee to carry out further scrutiny on related issues raised by Members.
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Clarification on the overall variance for the year in terms of some of this relating to additional income and planned carry forwards, not budget underspends. Confirmation that the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee would look at ways of strengthening and improving both the revenue and capital budget management.
RESOLVED
(1) That the Statement of Accounts for 2006/07, subject to audit, as set out in Appendix 1 to Paper G31, be approved.
(2) That the Head of Finance be authorised to make amendments to the Accounts to improve the presentation and format where this is appropriate and to reflect any further external audit requirements.
(3) That Treasury Management performance for 2006/07, as set out in Appendix 5 to Paper G31, be noted.
(4) That the budget carry-forwards requiring Member approval under financial regulations, as set out in Appendix 3 to Paper G31, be approved.
(5) That in addition the Strategy Committee consider the potential use of up to £303,000 of the 2006/07 General Fund underspend for the purposes detailed in Appendix 3 of Paper G31.
(6) That the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee scrutinises this report and the expenditure variations, ensuring that the impact of the 2006/07 financial results on current and future budgets, specifically in relation to potential ongoing savings, is fully considered during the forthcoming Service and Financial Planning process.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 10.50 a.m.
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Chairman
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