22 February 2008 - Agenda

TO:   THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF          BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE FROM USUAL DAY

Dear Sir/Madam

A Meeting of the Babergh District Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Corks Lane, Hadleigh on FRIDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2008 AT 9.30 A.M.

The proceedings will be opened with Prayer.

Yours faithfully

Andrew Hunkin
Head of Corporate Services

ITEM

BUSINESS

                                                                        PART I 

	1	MINUTES To confirm and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 December 2007 as a correct record.
	2	DECLARATION OF INTERESTS Members to declare any interests as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.
	3	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive apologies for absence.
	4	CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
	5	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.
Paper G180	6	RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES (a)      Standards Committee Minute No. 31 – Local Government and Public Involvement in           Health Act 2007 The Monitoring Officer presented a report (Paper G180) appraising Members of the changes to the role of Standards Committees and Monitoring Officers to be implemented under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, and seeking delegated authority for those additional functions, where necessary. It was noted that the provisions concerning a new ethical framework where contained in part 10 of the Act, which was scheduled for implementation on 1 April 2008. Attention was drawn to the provision in the Act which states that the Standards Committee must be chaired by a person who is neither a Councillor nor an officer of the relevant authority. RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL (1)    That the terms of reference for the Standards Committee be extended to include the functions set out in part 10 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 and regulations thereunder, and that the Head of Corporate Services be authorised to make any ancillary amendments to the Constitution as necessitated thereby. (2)    That the General Delegation Schedule contained in part 3 of the Constitution be amended so that the Monitoring Officer is authorised in Member Code of Conduct related matters.
Paper G201		(b)      Strategy Committee Minute No.114 –  Policy for Determination of Requests for           Waiver of Repayment of Discount in respect of Properties sold under the Right to Buy Members had before them a report by the Head of Corporate Services (Paper G201) together with a revised Appendix 1 which was circulated prior to the meeting.           RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL (1)     That a policy for determination of requests for the waiver of repayment of discount in respect of properties which have been sold under the ‘Right to Buy’ Scheme be adopted in the form of the draft Policy contained in the revised Appendix 1 to Paper G201. (2)     That the Head of Corporate Services be delegated authority to determine requests   for waiver of discount in respect of properties which have been sold under the ‘Right to Buy’ Scheme. (3)     That the Licensing and Appeals Committee be delegated authority to determine non-statutory appeals in relation to matters arising under the ‘Right to Buy’ legislation. (4)     That the maximum discount repayable is the amount of the original discount, reduced by one third for each full year which has elapsed since the date of the Right to Buy disposal and the date of the subsequent disposal.
Paper G204, Policy and Budget Framework 2008/09	7	BUDGET 2008/09 AND FINANCIAL STRATEGY FOR FUTURE YEARS Report by the Head of Finance attached (Paper G204), together with the Budget document. The Council is asked to pass the necessary resolutions in relation to the Budget and for the making and collection of Council Tax as set out in Paper G204 and the relevant Appendices to that report. Note:   Attention is drawn to paragraph 5.15 of Paper G204 and the Police Authority Precept.  It should be emphasised that the possible increase in Council Tax for the Police Authority of 4.98% is merely an indication of what may finally be approved by them on the 22 February, which is the same day as the Council meeting.  There is no certainty as to what may actually be approved. A similar situation arises with the Suffolk County Council precept although the actual precept will be known by the 22 February. Members are being asked specifically to note the position on the Police Authority Precept.  The Head of Finance is seeking approval to determine the final levels of Council Tax for 2008/09 based on the actual Police Authority Precept that is notified (Recommendation (8) – appendix 2 to Paper G204 refers).
	8	QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC The Chairmen of Committees to answer any questions from the public of which notice has been given prior to the meeting in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 14.
	9	QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS The Chairman of the Council and the Chairmen of Committees and Sub-Committee 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).
	10	APPOINTMENT OF SUBSTITUTES The Head of Corporate Services to report that following the Council’s decision on 18 December 2007 to appoint  Mr G S White as the replacement Member for Mrs C A Todd on the Development Committee, the Conservative Group has advised that Mr N A Ridley is to replace Mr White as the nominated substitute for Mr A J Hinton on the Development Committee.  Mr Ridley is also nominated by the Group as the substitute for Mr G S White on that Committee. RECOMMENDED That Mr N A Ridley be appointed as the approved substitute on the Development Committee for Mr A J Hinton (in place of Mr G S White), and for Mr G S White.
	11	APPOINTMENT OF MEMBER TO SERVE ON THE COUNTY CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAUX (CAB) REVIEW GROUP Mike Hammond, Corporate Director, to report that there is a vacancy for a Babergh Councillor on a Member and Officer Working Group reviewing the possibility of joint working between CABs across the County.  The review will encompass the feasibility of shared back office and frontline services, legal issues of closer working (i.e. formal or informal partnership structures) and the resources required to effect any change of current working practices.  Suffolk County Council is the lead authority for the review.
		Babergh is currently represented on the Group by an officer, Neil Henry, (and previously by Tim Mutum).  The Group has evolved to a position where other Districts have been represented at recent meetings by both an officer and a Member, who is generally a Portfolio Holder.  Meetings are held quarterly, during daytime.  (There is also an officer group, on which Babergh is represented). The Council is recommended to appoint a Member to represent Babergh on the Group. The Political Group Leaders have been asked to consider nominating a Member from their respective groups.  Names of nominees will be reported to the meeting.

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