3 January 2007

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE FROM USUAL TIME

Dear Sir/Madam

An Extraordinary Meeting of the Babergh District Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Corks Lane, Hadleigh on THURSDAY 11 JANUARY 2007 AT 9.00 A.M.

The proceedings will be opened with Prayer.

Yours faithfully

Andrew Hunkin

Head of Corporate Services

Members are asked to bring with them to the meeting Paper F139 which was circulated to all Members with the Agenda for the meeting on 19 December 2006 and made available on BEN.

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

ITEM

BUSINESS

PART I

	1	DECLARATION OF INTERESTS Members to declare any interests as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.
	2	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive apologies for absence.
	3	CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
	4	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 any petitions. There can be no debate or comment upon these matters at the Council meeting.
	5	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). Councillor D G Grutchfield has asked the following questions of the Chairman of the Council (the answers to be given by the Chairman are shown in italics):- “Can the Chairman update me on the following: · The number of people on Babergh Housing List? 1799 · What number of people have been rehoused this year? 367 (up to Mid December 2006) · How does Babergh finance Social Housing? - By the provision of free or discounted land when it is in our ownership. - We have £100,000 for new affordable housing in the Council’s annual capital spending programme. - Planning gain opportunities enabled by our affordable housing planning policies. - We support Housing Association bids for Government Grant. · Does Babergh have nomination rights with housing associations either by numbers or percentages of properties? Yes – up to 100% in most cases.”
Paper F155 Paper F139 previously circulated	6	THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHITE PAPER – DCLG PATHFINDER BID SUBMISSION WORKING DRAFT At its meeting on 19 December 2006, the Council considered Paper F139 submitted by the Chief Executive, relating to a proposal to submit a pathfinder bid under the Government’s proposals for strengthening community leadership and achieving further efficiencies. Members were aware that Ipswich Borough Council is applying for Unitary status, and the Chief Executive explained the timing for the submission and consideration of Unitary and Pathfinder bids. The Council agreed to support and participate in the development of proposals to pioneer, as a pathfinder, new models of working in Suffolk in accordance with the vision and general principles set out in Paper F139, and to support the submission of a pathfinder bid. The Council also authorised the Chief Executive to prepare joint discussion papers with other Suffolk Councils for use in internal and external consultation and discussions with Government. Members were aware that the bid for submission to Government was not yet finalised and agreed to hold an Extraordinary Council meeting to consider the document, the Working Draft of which is now attached as Paper F155. The Financial Table referred to in the Draft is not included but financial information will be available for the Council meeting and will be circulated at the earliest opportunity. Any further changes to the Working Draft will be notified to Members at the meeting. The Council also agreed to defer to the Extraordinary meeting recommendations 3. and 4. of Paper F139 which are reproduced below for consideration by Members, together with a recommendation to endorse the Working Draft. RECOMMENDED 1. That the DCLG Pathfinder Bid Submission Working Draft be endorsed for submission to Government. 2. That the Chairman of Strategy Committee and the Chief Executive be authorised to sign the Pathfinder Bid Submission on behalf of the Council. 3. That, should the Pathfinder Bid be approved, any detailed proposals be subject to internal and external consultation prior to ratification by full Council.

For further information on any of the Part 1 items listed above, please contact Linda Sheppard on 01473 826610 or via email at committeeservices@babergh.gov.uk