15 January 2009 - Agenda

To All Members of the Strategy Committee

Mr N A Bennett
Mr M P Booth
Mrs S Carpendale
Mr A J Hinton
Ms J A Jenkins

Mr R E Kemp
Dr M R Miller
Mr N A Ridley
Mr C M Spence
Mrs S M Wigglesworth

ITEM

BUSINESS

1

SUBSTITUTES AND APOLOGIES

Any Member attending as an approved substitute to report giving his/her name and the name of the Member being substituted

To receive apologies for absence.

2

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

Members to declare any interests as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.

3

MINUTES

To confirm and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2008 as a correct record.

4

PETITIONS

The Director of Corporate Services to report, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No.13, the receipt of any petitions submitted to the Chief Executive.

5

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS

The Chairman 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 the Committee of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No.15.4 (a) and (b).

6

ISSUES ARISING FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEES

None received.

Paper
H150

Papers H156 and H159

7

RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES 

(a)       Review of Street Trading in Babergh (Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee Minute No.47)

John Rainer, Food and Safety Regulation Manager, presented the report of the Head of Natural and Built Environment (Paper H150) outlining an informal review of street trading controls in Babergh and suggesting that changes be made to the current arrangements. Members were also asked to recommend the adoption of a Street Trading Enforcement Policy (Appendix B).

…………………………………………………………………..

RECOMMENDED TO STRATEGY COMMITTEE

That the Street Trading Enforcement Policy attached as Appendix B to Paper H150 as endorsed by the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee be adopted.

(b)       Financial Strategy and 2009/10 Budget (Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee Minute No. 5)

Mr N A Ridley, Chairman of the Strategic and Financial Planning (SFP) Task Group presented a report (Paper H156) setting out draft proposals for the Council’s 2009/10 Budget.  He particularly requested that the Committee give their views on the potential Medium-Term Plan priorities detailed in Appendix 2 and 2a to Paper H156 and the Council Tax increase for next year. In this regard it was noted that the Revenue figure in respect of Bid No. 16 has reduced to £28,000 and that the position on other bids would be reviewed further by the Task Group at their next meeting.

The Director of Finance made a PowerPoint presentation (subsequently numbered Paper H159 and circulated at the meeting) setting out the key issues in relation to the 2009/10 Budget and Financial Strategy.  Together with Mr N A Ridley, the Director of Corporate Services and the Head of Natural and Built Environment he then answered Members’ questions.

In the ensuing discussion the Committee requested that the following priority categories as detailed in Appendix 2 and 2a of Paper H156 be further reviewed by the SFP Task Group:-

·    Bid No. 12 – Substance Misuse Officer

·    Bid No. 4 – Nightstop – additional places for the homeless

·    Bid No. 13 – Sanctuary Scheme – domestic violence

·    Bid No. 20 – Teenage conceptions

·    Bid No. 29 – Equality standard – level 3

·    Bid No. 8 – Targeting fly tipping hotspots

Paper
H162

RECOMMENDED TO STRATEGY COMMITTEE

(1)    That the Budget commitments and cost pressures detailed in Appendix 1 to Paper H156 be noted.

(2)    That, subject to the SFP Task Group reviewing the Bids listed above, the potential Medium-Term Plan priorities detailed in Appendix 2/2a to Paper H156 be noted.

(3)    That the proposed efficiencies, savings and additional income for 2009/10 as detailed in Appendix 3 to Paper H156 be noted.

(4)    That the potential General Fund draft Capital Programme detailed in Appendix 4 to Paper H156 be noted.

(5)    That the key financial assumptions underpinning the draft Budget proposals, including the proposed use of reserves as set out in sections 5.12 to 5.14 of Paper H156, be noted.

Following the discussion of the draft budget and financial strategy by the joint Overview and Scrutiny meeting, as a result of further information becoming available, the Director of Finance has undertaken additional work and the Committee will be requested to consider the recommendation contained in Paper H162 attached.

Paper
H163

8

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM TASK GROUPS AND PANELS

Future of Calais Street Recreation Ground, Hadleigh

Report by the Housing Panel attached.

Paper
H164

9

WORK PLAN

Report by the Director of Corporate Services attached.

 
Paper
H165

10

DISPOSAL OF LAND AT HADLEIGH FOR THE PROPOSED HADLEIGH COMMUNITY FACILITY

Report by the Head of Contract and Asset Management attached.

Paper
H166

11

CONSULTATION ON WASTE CORE STRATEGY ISSUES

Report by the Head of Natural and Built Environment attached.

Mr Graham Gunby, Minerals and Waste Policy Manager from Suffolk County Council will be in attendance at the meeting to made a short presentation.

Paper
H167

12

COUNCIL HOUSING BUDGET

Report by the Director of Finance attached.

Paper
H168

13

SUDBURY CONSERVATION AREA

Report by the Head of Natural and Built Environment attached. 

 
Paper
H169

14

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RATING ACT 1997 – RATE RELIEF – RURAL SETTLEMENTS

The Head of Customer Services to report that the Council is required to conduct an annual review of the rural settlement list it uses for the purposes of awarding mandatory and discretionary rate relief, under Sections 42A(1), 43 and 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, to confirm that the list remains appropriate for the coming financial year.

The criteria for inclusion on the list is effectively self regulating, as it requires a population of less than 3,000 and specific designation as a “rural area” (Housing – Right to Acquire etc. Order 1997) to potentially qualify as a “rural settlement”.  The Council can, however, sub-divide and amalgamate rural areas, when determining “rural settlements”.

Sudbury and Pinewood are not designated as rural areas and cannot be included in our rural settlement list.

Glemsford, Great Cornard, Hadleigh and Long Melford are rural areas but have populations over 3,000.  There is no obvious logic for breaking these areas down into smaller units, so these parishes also cannot be included.  The existing rural settlement list is therefore derived from the remaining 70 parishes in the district.

The rural settlements defined in that list still have populations of less than 3,000 and the topography of those areas remains unchanged.  There is no prospect of this situation changing prior to 31 March 2008.

It is therefore recommended that the existing rural settlement list as shown in Paper H169 remain in force for the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010.