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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 MONDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2011
PRESENT: Mr D L Wood - Chairman
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Mrs J Antill
Mr C W Arthey
Dr M F M Bamford
Mr S R Barrett
Mr A C Bavington
Mr P K Beer
Mr P D Burgoyne
Mr D M Busby
Mr J R B Cave
Mr M J Deacon
Mrs K S Grandon
Mr D G Grutchfield
Mr A J Hinton
Mr B D Hurren
Ms J A Jenkins
Mr P Jones
Mr D H Keane
Mr R E Kemp |
Miss D L Kendall
Mr F R Lawrenson
Mr J A B Long
Mr N MacMaster
Mrs M O Munson
Mr M Newman
Mr J M Nunn
Mr A F D W Osborne
Mr J M Owen
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 R W Thake
Mrs S M Wigglesworth
Mr L H Young |
The following Members were unable to be present:
Mr N A Bennett, Mrs S Carpendale, Mr P J Holbrook, Mrs A M Norman, Mrs A K Pollard and Mr A J Ward
The proceedings were opened with a short prayer for those Members who had chosen to participate.
28 - Minutes
29 - Declaration of Interests
30 - Chairman's Announcements
31 - To Receive Notification of Petitions in Accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 13
32 - Recommendations and Reports from Committees
33 - Notice of Motion - Members' Allowances
34 - Questions from the Public
35 - Questions from Members
36 - Terms of Reference for the Joint Scrutiny Committee
37 - Appointment of Independent Member of Standards Committee
38 - Reciprocal Arrangements for Membership of Standards Committee
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on 27 June 2011 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
None declared.
Events attended
The Chairman referred to Paper L59 outlining recent events attended by him and the Vice-Chairman of the Council.
Chairman’s Reception
The Chairman requested those Members who had not responded to indicate whether they were to attend the Chairman’s reception at Wherstead Park on Friday 30 September 2011 to do so as soon as possible.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 13, it was noted that the following petition had been received.
B/11/00825/FUL – Construction of 35 two, three and four bedroom apartments, bungalows and houses with associated roads, paths, driveways, car parking, garages and landscaping, new access from Friends Field and Tawneys Ride, plus public open space (including an equipped play area), land south of Friends Field, Bures St Mary
Petition signed by approximately 27 residents of Babergh expressing concerns about traffic/access/parking at Friends Field/Cuckoo Hill, Bures St Mary.
The petition will be taken into account when the planning application is determined at a future meeting of the Development Committee.
(a) Review of Council Procedure Rule for Substitutes at Strategy and Overview and Scrutiny Committees (Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee Minute No. 16)
Mr D M Busby, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee presented Paper L46 relating to a review on whether the Council’s Constitution should be amended to allow Members of Strategy Committee to substitute for Members of Overview and Scrutiny Committees, and vice versa. In addition Article 7.02 of the Constitution states that all Group Leaders shall be Members of the Strategy Committee subject to political balance requirements and Deputy Group Leaders shall be named substitutes for Group Leaders unless a Deputy Group Leader is already a Member in his/her own right in which case the Group Leader may appoint another substitute.
The recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee on this matter were proposed and seconded. An amendment to recommendation (2) was then moved and seconded, the effect of which would be to remove the requirement for Deputy Group Leaders to be the named substitutes for Group Leaders on the Strategy Committee. Upon being put to the vote the amendment was carried and then moved as part of a substantive motion which was also carried.
RESOLVED
(1) That Council Procedure Rule No. 5.5 which prohibits Members of Strategy Committee substituting for Members of Overview and Scrutiny Committees or vice-versa be not changed.
(2) That Article 7.02 of the Constitution be amended by the deletion of all references to Deputy Group Leaders so that it reads as follows:
All Group Leaders shall be Members of the Strategy Committee subject to political balance requirements as set out in the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
(b) Babergh Development Framework – Submission Draft Core Strategy Document (2011-2031) (Strategy Committee Minute No.39)
Ms J A Jenkins, Chairman of Strategy Committee introduced Paper L55 asking Members to approve, for consultation purposes the Submission Draft Core Strategy new (local) plan document (Appendix (a) to Paper L55).
Members then asked a number of points of clarification and detail to the Head of Natural and Built Environment.
RESOLVED
(1) That the proposed Submission Draft Core Strategy document, attached as Appendix (a) to Paper L55, be approved for public consultation.
(2) That the Head of Natural and Built Environment be authorised to make any revisions to the Draft Core Strategy prior to consultation, subject to the revisions not altering the fundamental substance or intent of the Strategy.
(3) That the arrangements for public consultation in
Appendix (b) to Paper L55 be noted.
The following motion was moved by Mr A C Bavington and seconded by Mr J M Owen, the requisite notice thereof having been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 16:-
“Given the unprecedented scale of the cuts to Babergh’s central government grant coming over the next three years, that:
1. The budget for Members’ allowances and expenses be cut by 10% per annum in each of the financial years 2012-2013, 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 (this approximates to the 28% average cut to central government grant to local authorities over the four years from 2011-2012);
2. Special Responsibility Allowances bear a greater proportion of the cut than the Basic Allowance; and
3. The money saved be added to the budget for supporting local voluntary sector organisations.
In this way, elected Members can make a direct contribution to the continued vitality and wellbeing of our local communities”.
The notice of motion was then debated, a vote taken, but the Motion was defeated.
RESOLVED
That no action be taken on the Notice of Motion referred to above.
Question from Mr Michael Evans to the Chairman of the Strategy Committee
Report L55 states that the new Draft Core Strategy is now apparently ‘jobs led’, rather than housing being the main focus as in previous strategies. Current economic growth is very weak and there is a significant risk of a ‘double dip’ recession. The jobs outlook in the Sudbury area remains uncertain. The Ipswich area is the most important employment area, with the best jobs prospects in the District. Why commit the majority of new development to the west of the district when sustainable development should be near work opportunities, and therefore in the East?
Reply from the Chairman of the Strategy Committee
The majority of new development is not planned for the west of the district. 34% of new housing in Babergh is planned for Sudbury/Great Cornard, the largest town/urban area in the district with by far the highest number of jobs.
High housing growth is already planned and being delivered within Ipswich Borough and the scope for housing growth in the Babergh Ipswich fringe is limited.
The Plan is also long term, with a 20 year time horizon, during which time the economic outlook can be expected to improve considerably overall, for all areas in/near Babergh.
Supplementary Question from Mr Evans
The Alternatives Section of Report L55 mentions two submissions which could provide over 15,000 new jobs and be of major importance. Officers have dismissed these proposals because the necessary options and evidence are absent and there is no overriding case to justify delaying the new Babergh Plan.
In view of the major potential significance of these proposals I think there is justification.
Why cannot there be a slight delay in order to explore and consult on these alternatives, an approach which would be supported by the majority of residents?
Reply from the Chairman of the Strategy Committee
The response given on the day to the Supplementary Question was that a full written answer would be provided after the meeting. This is now provided below.
The answer to this question is provided in paragraphs 8.22 to 8.24 of Paper L55, a copy of which you have had access to.
Members and the public have already had a chance to consider this type of approach to meeting future development needs in Babergh and the approach was not supported. However, the draft Core Strategy has been approved by Council for public consultation purposes and in the course of this forthcoming public consultation exercise, it is open for respondents to express support or otherwise for such an approach, preferably with the reasons stated clearly for their position
None received.
The meeting considered a report (Paper L60) by the Joint Member Integration Board advising that at the Annual Council meetings in May, Babergh District Council and Mid Suffolk District Council approved terms of reference for the Joint Scrutiny Committee, but Mid Suffolk had asked that a further report be presented to its next Council meeting adding to and refining the terms of reference.
Paper L60 seeks agreement to the proposed additions and refinements, which have now been adopted by Mid Suffolk District Council.
RESOLVED
That the additions and refinements to the terms of reference in Appendix A to Paper L60 be approved.
The Solicitor to the Council reported that the 4 year term of office of Mr J G Watson as an independent co-opted Member of the Standards Committee expires on 30 September 2011. Mr Watson is the current independent Chairman of the Committee. Ordinarily, the Council would need to advertise a vacancy and make an appointment for a further 4 year term. However, in view of possible changes to Standards Committees upon enactment of the Localism Bill and pending consideration of a Joint Standards Committee with Mid Suffolk, it is recommended instead that the term of office for Mr J G Watson be extended until the end of this municipal year. Mr Watson is in agreement with this proposal.
RESOLVED
That the term of office of Mr J G Watson as an independent co-opted Member of the Standards Committee be extended until the expiry of the current municipal year, subject to any relevant changes to the establishment of the Standards Committee in the interim.
The Solicitor to the Council reported that pending the consideration of a Joint Standards Committee between Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils, it is recommended that reciprocal arrangements be put in place between the two Councils to enable co-opted Members of each Committee to serve on the other Committee on a case by case basis if the need arises. It is envisaged that this would most likely occur for Babergh where a co-opted member has a conflict of interest preventing the consideration of a complaint.
RESOLVED
That a co-opted member of Mid Suffolk District Council Standards Committee be deemed appointed to the Babergh Standards Committee for the purposes of undertaking a particular function of the Committee as may from time to time be agreed with the individual co-opted member.
Note: The meeting was adjourned between 10.50 a.m. and 11.10 a.m. for refreshments.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 11.55 a.m.
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Chairman
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