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 2 SEPTEMBER 2008

Quick Links

• 32 - Minutes
• 33 - Declaration of Interests
• 34 - To receive notification of petitions in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 13
• 35 - Recommendations and Reports from Committees
• 36 - Questions from public
• 37 - Questions from Members
• 38 - Mr J C Brand
• 39 - Action out of meeting
• 40 - Dryport Partnership

PRESENT:  Ms J A Jenkins – Chairman 

The following Members were unable to be present:-  Mr D H Keane, Dr M R Miller, Mr R W Thake and Mr H N Todd. 

The proceedings were opened with a short prayer for those Members who had chosen to participate. 

The Chairman, on behalf of the Council, welcomed John Brand to the meeting following his recent absence through ill-health.

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32        MINUTES 

RESOLVED 

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 June 2008 be confirmed and signed as a correct record. 

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33        DECLARATION OF INTERESTS 

The following Members all declared personal interests in the item referred to in Minute No. 35(b) below by virtue of being Members of Suffolk County Council:- 

Mr C M Spence
Mr P K Beer
Mr R E Kemp
Mr D G Grutchfield
Mr D L Wood

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34        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:- 

Application No. B/08/00995 – Land East of Churchill Close, Lawshall 

Petition objecting to the retention of lighting standards, signed by approximately 65 residents of the District.  The petition will be reported to the Development Committee at its meeting on 17 September 2008 and taken into account when the planning application is determined. 

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35        RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES 

(a)       Confidential Information Protocol (Standards Committee Minute No. 14) 

The Monitoring Officer outlined the background to the Standards Committee’s recommendations in relation to a suggested Protocol which had been prepared by the Suffolk Monitoring Officers.  Members noted that the Council’s Monitoring Officer will work with SALC in connection with the Committee’s recommendation that Parish Councils be invited to consider adopting their own version of the Protocol. 

RESOLVED 

(1)       That the Confidential Information Protocol at Appendix 1 to Paper H65 be adopted for inclusion within Part 5 of the Council’s Constitution and the Director of Corporate Services be authorised to make any ancillary amendments that may be required to the Constitution in connection therewith. 

(2)       That a copy of the Protocol be circulated to Parish Councils with an invitation to them to consider adopting an appropriately amended document for their own use(s). 

(b)        Local Government Review (Strategy Committee – 14 August 2008) 

Nick Ridley, Chairman of the Strategy Committee, referred to that Committee’s recent consideration of Papers H74 and H89.  He introduced its recommendations which were intended to assist in preparing a draft initial response to the Boundary Committee’s proposals for Unitary Local Government in Suffolk.  He explained that Strategy Committee on 18 September would consider further responses which have been sought from Town and Parish Councils and other stakeholders, prior to all relevant responses, together with financial information, being available for the Council at the Extraordinary Meeting on 23 September.  He outlined the background to the discussions and input to date which had led to the recommendation that the Boundary Committee be asked to consider redrawing the boundary of the proposed North Haven Unitary.  The recommendations were proposed and seconded and after an initial question had been answered, Recommendation (1) was approved.

The debate then opened on Recommendation (2) with an initial comment by a Member, following which an amendment to delete the words “Hadleigh and” was proposed and seconded.  The amendment was the subject of a lengthy discussion and a recorded vote was requested in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 22.5.  The result of the recorded vote was as follows:- 

The amendment was declared lost by 27 votes to 12. 

In answer to a question during the debate on the amendment, the Chief Executive had suggested a minor re-wording to Recommendation (2) to reflect the position on the work in progress to frame the Council’s response in relation to the boundary of the proposed North Haven Unitary.  At this point, the Chief Executive put forward a wording which was subsequently proposed and seconded as a formal amendment to Recommendation (2).  The wording was generally considered to be helpful, and was approved.  Members then debated Recommendation (2) (as amended) in some depth before the vote was taken, and the substantive motion was approved.  Recommendation (3) was approved and Recommendation (4) was agreed subject to a minor wording change to reflect the fact that the Committee’s recommendations had already been notified to relevant parties.

RESOLVED 

(1)       That the Boundary Committee's draft proposal for unitary Local Government in Suffolk be supported. 

(2)       That in accordance with the invitation at paragraph 6.38 of the Boundary Committee's Draft Proposal to comment on the indicative boundaries for the proposed unitary authorities, consideration be given to requesting the Boundary Committee to redraw the boundary of the proposed North Haven Unitary to include Hadleigh and the parishes of Aldham, Burstall, Chattisham, Elmsett, Higham, Hintlesham, Holton St Mary, Layham, Raydon, Wenham Magna, Wenham Parva and Whatfield. 

(3)       That the Chief Executive prepares a draft response to the Boundary Committee to reflect these views and the supporting arguments, including comments on the Boundary Committee's draft proposal for Lowestoft, for consideration by Strategy Committee on 18 September, it being noted that the business case assessments for possible unitary authorities will have been completed by that date. 

(4)       That it be noted that the above recommendations have been notified to all Town and Parish Councils in the District and to other Babergh stakeholders with an invitation to make comments on these before Babergh's response to the Boundary Committee is finalised at an Extraordinary Meeting of Council on 23 September 2008.

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36        QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC 

None received. 

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37        QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS 

None received. 

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38        MR J C BRAND 

Members noted that this item and recommendation had been withdrawn from consideration. 

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39        ACTION OUT OF MEETING 

Planning Appeal relating to the land at Edgworth Road, Sudbury 

RESOLVED 

That the action taken out of meeting as referred to in Paper H96 be noted. 

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40        DRYPORT PARTNERSHIP 

The Director of Corporate Services reported that the District Council had been invited to nominate a representative to serve on a Steering Group to develop the Haven Gateway Dryport proposals.   

The Political Leaders’ Group had asked for Mr A J Hinton (with Mr D L Wood as a reserve) to be appointed to the Group on an interim basis. 

Members were asked to nominate one Member representative to serve in this capacity, together with a reserve. 

RESOLVED 

(1)    That Mr A J Hinton be appointed to serve on the Haven Gateway Dryport Partnership Steering Group for the remainder of the current term of office. 

(2)    That Mr D L Wood be appointed as the reserve Member on the Group for the remainder of the current term of office. 

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The business of the meeting was concluded at 11.30 a.m. 

Chairman