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, 6 DECEMBER 2011
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- 59 - Minutes,
- 60 - Declaration of Interests,
- 61 - Chairman's Announcements,
- 62 - Petitions,
- 63 - Recommendations and Reports from Committees,
- 64 - Questions from the Public,
- 65 - Questions from Members,
- 66 - Polling Districts and Places Review 2011,
- 67 - Timetables of Meetings 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15,
- 68 - Appointment of Representatives to Serve on Outside Bodies,
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
Mrs K S Grandon
Mr D G Grutchfield
Mr A J Hinton
Mr P J Holbrook
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
Mrs M O Munson
Mr M Newman
Mrs A M Norman
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 R C Smith
Mr R W Thake
Mr A J Ward
Mrs S M Wigglesworth
Mr L H Young |
The following Members were unable to be present:- Mr N A Bennett, Mrs S Carpendale, Mr M J Deacon, Mr B D Hurren, Mr N MacMaster, Mrs A K Pollard and Mr J R A Sayers.
The proceedings were opened with a short Prayer for those Members who had chosen to participate.
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 October 2011 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
Mr A C Bavington declared a personal interest in Minute No. 66 (Polling Districts and Places Review 2011) in his capacity as a Member of Great Cornard Parish Council, but indicated that he was able to speak and vote on the matter concerned.
Events attended
The Chairman referred to Paper L114 outlining recent events attended by him and the Vice-Chairman of the Council.
Councillor Kathy Pollard
The Chairman passed on Mrs Pollard’s thanks for Members’ good wishes.
Appointment of Joint Heads of Service
The following officers who were present at the meeting were asked by the Chairman to introduce themselves in their new roles.
Chris Fry – Environment
Katherine Steel – Corporate Resources
Peter Quirk – Corporate Organisation
Jonathan Free – Communities
Peter Burrows – Economy
Chris Foti – Programme Delivery (Interim)
Nick Gowrley – Interim Joint Strategic Director (People)
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 13, it was noted that the following petition had been received.
Application No. B/10/01237 – land at Benton End Farm, Benton End, Benton Street, Hadleigh – Planning Application in respect of Paintball Games
Petition containing 900 signatories, at least 20 of which are residents of Babergh, expressing support for the application.
The petition was taken into account when the planning application was determined at the meeting of the Development Committee held on 2 November 2011. The Chief Planning Control Officer was authorised to grant planning permission subject to appropriate conditions and following the completion of a Planning Obligation.
Mid Year Treasury Management Report (Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee Minute No 36)
Members had before them the report of the Interim Chief Finance Officer (Paper L101A) which reflected updated information which the Committee had before it when making its recommendation to Council to note the position on Treasury Management activity and performance. Mr D M Busby, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee introduced the recommendations.
RESOLVED
That the Treasury Management activity for the half-year as set out in Appendix A to Paper L101A be noted. Further, that it be noted that performance in the first half-year is in line with the Prudential Indicators set for 2011/12.
Creation of a Joint Standards Committee (Standards Committee Minute No 8)
Members had before them the report of the Joint Monitoring Officer (Paper L115) containing updated information following the enactment of the Localism Bill on 15 November 2011. A minor amendment to (d) – Chairing the Committee in Appendix 1 to the report, as agreed by the existing Standards Committee, was circulated to Members prior to the commencement of the meeting. The amended wording is shown in italics, below.
The Joint Standards Committee will nominate the Chairman of the Committee, who must be an Independent Member, at its first meeting in each municipal year. Unless there is unanimous agreement of those present and voting, the Chairmanship will alternate annually between appointees of each Council. The Committee will nominate a Vice-Chairman of the Committee who must be an Independent Member and, unless there is unanimous agreement of those present and voting, the Vice-Chairman will be an appointee of the other Council from that of the Chairman.
Members were aware that the Monitoring Officer’s original report on setting up a Joint Standards Committee had been considered by Babergh’s Standards Committee on 21 October. Paper L115 had therefore been prepared, subsequent to 15 November, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee, and included (in 2.1 to 2.6) the Committee’s recommendations, which were introduced by the Monitoring Officer.
RESOLVED
(1) That a Joint Standards Committee between Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils be established to come into operation with effect from 7 December 2011 in place of the existing Standards Committees and the Articles of each Council Constitution be amended accordingly as set out in Appendix 1 to Paper L115, with the inclusion of the additional wording referred to above.
(2) That the terms of reference for the Joint Standards Committee at Appendix 2 to Paper L115 be adopted.
(3) That the revised Monitoring Officer Protocol at Appendix 3 to Paper L115 be adopted and authority be given to the Joint Standards Committee to update the summary of Monitoring Officer functions following implementation of the Localism Act 2011.
(4) That the Council’s Scheme of Allowances for co-opted members of the Standards Committee be aligned with effect from the start of the 2012/13 municipal year following a review by the Independent Remuneration Panel.
(5) That the membership of the Joint Standards Committee to initially comprise all of the current members of each Standards Committee.
(6) That, pending a further report to Council on any changes necessitated following implementation of the Localism Act, with effect from the 2012/13 municipal year:-
(i) the Joint Standards Committee shall comprise a total of 12 members being 4 elected members, 4 parish/town council representatives and 4 independent members.
(ii) each Council will appoint 2 elected members to the Joint Standards Committee (not being either the Chairman or Leader of the Council / Chairman of Strategy Committee).
(iii) Full Council will appoint co-opted members to the Joint Standards Committee for a term of 4 years.
None received.
None received.
The Senior Democratic Services Manager presented Paper L116 relating to the proposed amendment of polling district and places following a recent review.
RESOLVED
(1) That the electors of Aldham and Boxted be consulted on the suggestion that the provision of separate polling facilities in those villages should be discontinued.
(2) That subject to the consideration of any objections that may be received and to a subsequent equality analysis relating to the proposals referred to above, the schedule of polling districts and places set out in Appendix 1 to Paper L116 be approved.
The Joint Strategic Director (Corporate) submitted Paper L117 setting out proposed timetables for the remainder of the current term of office.
RESOLVED
That Paper L117 be approved, subject to further consideration being given to the possibility of changing Friday Council meetings.
New Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) for Babergh and Mid Suffolk (Strategy Committee Minute No. 61 and Political Leaders Group (PLG) meeting 17 November 2011)
At its meeting on 3 November, the Strategy Committee agreed to ask Council to appoint a representative on the new LSP partnership proposed for the area of Babergh and Mid Suffolk. The establishment of the new body was confirmed on 22 November, and Members considered appointing Jenny Antill to this role, as put forward by PLG. Members were aware that the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee has been asked to monitor the effectiveness of the new partnership arrangements during 2012.
RESOLVED
That Mrs J Antill in her role as Vice-Chairman of the Strategy Committee be appointed to serve as the Babergh District Council representative on the new LSP partnership for Babergh and Mid Suffolk, for the remainder of her current term of office.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 10.50 a.m.
Chairman
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