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, 18 SEPTEMBER 2007

Quick Links 

• 40    Minutes 
• 41    Declaration of Interest
• 42    To receive notification of petitions in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No.  3
• 43     Recommendations and Reports from Committees
• 44     Questions from the Public
• 45     Questions from Members
• 46     Appointment of Independent Members to Standards Committee
• 47     Appointment of Representatives on Outside Bodies
• 48     Attendance at Suffolk Local Government Association (SLGA) Meetings and Local Government Association (LGA) Annual Conference
  

PRESENT: Mr R W Thake – Chairman

The following Members were unable to be present:-  Mrs J Antill, Mr N A Bennett, Mr D G Grutchfield, Mr P Jones, Mr R E Kemp, Mr B L Lazenby, Mr A F D W Osborne, Mr G S White and Mr D L Wood.

The proceedings were opened with Prayer.

40    MINUTES

RESOLVED

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 31 July 2007 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

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41    DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

Mr J A B Long declared a personal interest in the item referred to in Minute No.47 - Appointment of Representatives on Outside Bodies (Suffolk School Organisation Review – Local Stakeholder Forums) by virtue of his wife’s employment as a teacher by Suffolk County Council, but indicated that his interest was such that he was able to speak and vote on the matter concerned.

Mr B Riley declared a personal interest in the item referred to in Minute No.43 - Hadleigh Swimming Pool by virtue of his membership of the Hadleigh Swimming Pool Steering Group, but indicated that his interest was such that he was able to speak and vote on the matter concerned.

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 42    TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULE NO. 13

None received.

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43    RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES

Hadleigh Swimming Pool (Strategy Committee Minute No.45)

Mr N A Ridley, Chairman of the Strategy Committee, presented that Committee’s recommendation to Council. Members noted the decisions of the Strategy Committee to progress various matters relating to the variation of Options 2 and 3 contained in paragraph 5.5 of Paper G73 and received an update from the Head of Contract and Asset Management on those matters, including the tender exercise for the structural assessment of the existing pool.

During the course of the debate the view was expressed by some Members that if the Council were minded to accept the recommendation not to proceed with the construction of a new pool in Hadleigh, it would be helpful to include a proviso that this might change if funding were to become available at some point in the future.  An amendment to this effect was moved and further refined in the course of the ensuing debate.  An agreed finalised wording of the amendment was carried on being put to the vote. 

A recorded vote was requested on the substantive motion and the voting was as follows:- 

The substantive motion as set out below was carried.

RESOLVED

That the Council does not proceed with the construction of a new 25m x 6-lane swimming pool in Hadleigh, unless additional funding becomes available.

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44    QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC

None received.

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45    QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS

None received.

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46    APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT MEMBER TO STANDARDS COMMITTEE

The Head of Corporate Services reported that interviews had been conducted for the independent member vacancy on the Standards Committee and that the interviewing panel, comprising the Chairman of Standards Committee, Monitoring Officer and Deputy Monitoring Officer, recommended the appointment of Mr John (“Don”) Watson to serve on the Committee for a two year term of office.  Members were aware that a majority of all Councillors needed to vote for the appointment, and noted that any proposals to alter the standard term of office for such Members would be the subject of a report to a future meeting if required.

RESOLVED

That subject to the receipt of satisfactory references,  Mr J Watson be appointed to the Standards Committee as an independent member for a term of two years commencing on 1 October 2007.

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47    APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES

Mike Hammond, Corporate Director, presented a note by the Head of Corporate Services (Paper G98) setting out details of requests for the District Council to be represented on various new bodies.  Nominations were made as detailed below:-

Suffolk School Organisation Review (SOR) – Local Stakeholder Forums

Mr R W Thake and Mr J R B Cave

Ipswich Policy Area Board

Mr A J Hinton and Mr P Jones

Building Control Partnership Board

Mr D C Rose and Mr G S White

Suffolk Member Shared Services Group (Pathfinder)

Mr H N Todd (‘largest Group’ representative) and Dr M R Miller (representing one of the ‘other Groups)  Ms J A Jenkins (substitute).

Voting for all appointments was by show of hands.  Following a tied vote for the Building Control Partnership Board place, Mr D C Rose was elected by the Chairman exercising his casting vote through the drawing of lots.

RESOLVED

(1)    That Mr R W Thake be appointed as the Council’s representative, and Mr J R B Cave as his substitute, to serve on the Suffolk School Organisation Review (SOR) - Local Stakeholder Forum for the remainder of the current term of office or for the life of the Forum, whichever is the shorter.

 (2)    That Mr A J Hinton be appointed as the Council’s representative and Mr P Jones as his substitute to serve on the Ipswich Policy Area Board for the remainder of the current term of office or for the life of the Board, whichever is the shorter.

 (3)    That Mr D C Rose be appointed as the Council’s representative and Mr G S White as his substitute to serve on the Building Control Partnership Board for the remainder of the current term of office.

 (4)    That the Council’s representation on the Suffolk Members Shared Services Group (Pathfinder) comprise one Member from its largest Group and one Member from another Group.

 (5)    That Mr H N Todd (from the largest Group) and Dr M R Miller (from a Group other than the largest) together with Ms J A Jenkins as a substitute member be appointed to serve on the Suffolk Members Shared Services Group (Pathfinder) for the remainder of the current term of office or for the life of the Group, whichever is the shorter. 

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48    ATTENDANCE AT SUFFOLK LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION (SLGA) MEETINGS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION (LGA) ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The Chief Executive reported on the discussions held at the Political Leaders Group at its meeting on 25 July 2007 in relation to future attendance at SLGA meetings and the LGA Conference.  Members were aware that the existing arrangements had been affected by the change to three Groups following the May 2007 elections. 

RESOLVED

 (1)    That it be accepted that all three Groups on the Council (Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Independent) be represented at SLGA meetings.

 (2)    That for the remainder of the current term of office, attendees at SLGA meetings be the Chairman of the Strategy Committee together with the Leaders of the two other groups not holding that Chairmanship.

 (3)    That for the current term of office attendees at the LGA conference be the Chairman of Strategy Committee and the leaders of all three political Groups on the Council.

 (4)    That substitutes for SLGA meetings and the LGA Annual Conference be the Vice-Chairman of Strategy Committee and Deputy Group Leaders as appropriate.

The business of the meeting was concluded at 11.00 a.m.

                                
Chairman

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