|
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 6 SEPTEMBER 2005
PRESENT: Mrs S M Wigglesworth -Chairman
|
Mr C W Arthey
Mrs E F Bates
Mr M P Booth
Mr J C Brand
Mr D M Busby
Mr D G Grutchfield
Mr A J Hinton
Mr P J Holbrook
Mr C J Hunt
Mr B D Hurren
Ms J A Jenkins
Mr P Jones
Mr D H Keane
Mr R E Kemp |
Mr B L Lazenby
Mr J M Owen
Mr A E Pearce
Mr J J Quinlan
Mr N A Ridley
Mr J W Roberts
Mr D C Rose
Mrs W J Sadler
Mr J R A Sayers
Mr H N Todd
Mr G S White
Mr D L Wood
Mr L H Young
|
The following Members were unable to be present:-
Mr A C Bavington, Mr P K Beer, Mr N A Bennett, Mrs S Carpendale, Miss J J Chapman, Mrs S P Clarke, Mr K Grimsey, Mr N H J Irwin, Mr C D Kerr, Mr J A B Long, Mr N McMaster, Dr M R Miller, Mr D J Read, Mr C M Spence and Mr R W Thake.
The proceedings were opened with prayer.
42 MINUTES
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 July 2005 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
43 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
The following Members all declared personal interests in the item referred to in Minute No. 46(a) below as holders of concessionary bus and/or railcards:-
Mr C J Hunt, Mr P Jones and Mr G S White.
44 CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Events Attended
The Chairman informed the meeting of events she had attended on behalf of the Council.
45 TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULE NO. 13
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 13, it was noted that the following petition had been received:-
Horse and Groom, East Street, Sudbury – Variation to existing licence
Petition signed by approximately 72 residents of Babergh which related to a Licensing Sub-Committee hearing on 5 August 2005. The petition could not be considered as it arrived after the deadline for receipt of representations.
46 RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES
(a) Corporate Plan and Financial Strategy (Strategy Committee Minute No. 41)
Mr N Ridley, Chairman of the Strategy Committee, introduced the Committee’s recommendations on the Corporate Plan and Financial Strategy (Paper E79) which were going through a consultation process as part of the Council’s State of the District Debate. He referred to the challenge facing the Council in delivering on its priorities in the light of the anticipated low level of Government settlement for 2006/07. In response to a question on the affordability or otherwise of Hadleigh Pool, he sought to reassure Members that the public’s views would be listened to as part of the process leading to the Council’s budget decisions in February 2006.
Members highlighted various matters connected to issues covered by the Corporate Plan including partnership working, the relationship between higher educational attainment and the school system, potential for encouraging apprenticeships and exception sites for affordable housing. Officers responded to specific questions on the crime and disorder and recycling statistics, and Members noted that a link will be created to update on an annual basis the effect on the Council’s employment targets of changes in the percentage of residents from ethnic groups within the district. Members referred to training needs in relation to crime and disorder and noted that Work Shops on Community Sentencing initiatives should be available to Members before the end of the calendar year. Members were aware that the Corporate Plan was intended to cover key priorities and issues and was supported by other Plans and Strategies as approved from time to time by the Council.
During the course of the discussion, an amendment was proposed by Mr Arthey to include an appropriate reference to protecting the built environment of Sudbury. After some discussion on the appropriate form of wording which might be used in this connection, Mr Arthey’s amendment was withdrawn in favour of one proposed by Mr Booth and seconded by Mr Owen which would be incorporated into Priority 3 of the Corporate Plan – “Maintain a safe, clean and sustainable environment” – as an additional paragraph under “The challenge”.
RESOLVED
That the Corporate Plan for 2005/07 attached to Paper E79 be approved subject to appropriate amendments to cover the following:-
Page 12 The Babergh District – The Area
Include additional information on the number of parishes having a population of less than 1,000.
Page 17 – Health and Leisure
Delete fourth bullet point – “[we will] carry out a feasibility study on Hadleigh Pool”.
Page 25 – Maintain a safe, clean and sustainable environment
(a) Include more detailed information to enable specific areas of higher crime to be identified and targeted.
(b) Include a final paragraph under “The challenge” to read as follows:-
“In view of the Government refusal of the Sudbury Western By Pass, Babergh District Council will work with Suffolk County Council in monitoring the impact of new traffic reduction schemes and pollution on the built environment of Sudbury and will continue to encourage Suffolk County Council to work towards a Western By Pass as soon as possible.”
Page 39 – Priority 5
Paragraph 5 – include reference to effect of 30-40 age group returning to the area.
(b) Delegation to Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development and Head of Technical Services (Strategy Committee Minute No. 47)
RESOLVED
That the responsibility for transport (other than planning policy and concessionary fares) be delegated to the Head of Technical Services and that the Council’s Scheme of Delegation be amended accordingly.
47 QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
None received.
48 QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS
None received.
49 EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC (WHICH TERM INCLUDES THE PRESS)
RESOLVED
That pursuant to Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the business specified below, on the grounds that if the public were present during this item, it is likely that there would be the disclosure to them of exempt information as indicated against the item.
50 LICENSING ACT 2003 – STATEMENT OF LICENSING POLICY (Licensing and Appeals Committee – 1 September 2005) (Exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 12 of Part 1)
Members had before them a copy of Paper E121 which was circulated to the Licensing and Appeals Committee for its meeting on 1 September 2005, together with the recommendation from that meeting. The Committee’s recommended wording for the Addendum had been circulated prior to the Council meeting as Paper E123.
RESOLVED
That an Addendum in the form agreed by the Licensing and Appeals Committee (Paper E123) be approved and annexed to the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 10.55 a.m.
|