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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 WEDNESDAY 30 JUNE 2010
PRESENT: Mr D L Wood – Chairman
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Mrs J Antill
Mr C W Arthey
Mr P K Beer
Mr N A Bennett
Mr M P Booth
Mr J C Brand
Mr D M Busby
Mr J R B Cave
Mr P G Gibson
Mr A J Hinton
Mr P J Holbrook
Mr B D Hurren
Ms J A Jenkins
Mr L S Johnson
Mr P Jones |
Mr D H Keane
Mr B L Lazenby
Mr J A B Long
Mrs M O Munson
Mr M Newman
Mr A F D W Osborne
Mr N A Ridley
Mr B Riley
Mr D C Rose
Mr R C Smith
Mr R W Thake
Mr H N Todd
Mr A J Ward
Mr R Whiting
Mrs S M Wigglesworth |
The following Members were unable to be present:-
Mrs S Carpendale, Mrs S P Clarke, Mr D G Grutchfield, Mr R E Kemp, Dr M R Miller, Mr C A Roberts, Mr J R A Sayers, Mr C M Spence, Mr D M Walton, Mr G S White and Mr L H Young.
The proceedings were opened with a short prayer for those Members who had chosen to participate.
30 - Minutes
31 - Annual Council Minute No. 7(d) and Strategy Committee Minute No. 116(a) - Report of the Babergh District Council and Mid Suffolk District Council Joint Member Integration and Merger Review Board
32 - Declaration of Interests
33 - Chairman's Announcements
34 - Petitions
35 - Recommendations and Reports from Committees
36 - Improvements at Pin Mill
37 - Petitions
38 - Appointment of Substitutes - Council Procedure Rule No. 5
39 - Questions from the Public
40 - Questions from Members
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 1 June 2010 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
The Director of Corporate Services reported that a numbering error in the Strategy Committee recommendations of 8 April, as approved by Council on 20 April 2010, came to light after the minutes of both the Committee and the Council had been confirmed at subsequent meetings.
Strategy Committee Recommendation 11, relating to ‘the need for both internal and external consultation’ to be ‘identified and acted upon as part of planning the various work streams for this review’, incorrectly referred to ‘….the planning and management of any public consultation arising from recommendations (8) and (9) above…..’ However, the reference should have been to recommendations (9) and (10) which relate to:-
(9) the constitutional review being undertaken by each of the two Councils (Members will be aware of Babergh’s current consultation – ‘Have your say about the future of your Council’ which runs to the beginning of August) and
(10) the concept of a constitutional merger to create a new single Council being ‘fully explored………….if this is ultimately agreed as the best way forward’
RESOLVED
That the Council endorse the correction of the error in Resolution 11 of Council Minute No. 7(d) (20 April 2010) to read as set out below, together with the corresponding correction to Recommendation (11) of Strategy Committee Minute No 116(a) (8 April 2010):-
(11) That the need for both internal and external consultation be identified and acted upon as part of planning the various work streams for this review and, in particular, that careful consideration be given to the planning and management of any public consultation arising from recommendations (9) and (10) above to avoid public confusion and to secure as broad an understanding as possible of what the two Councils are seeking to achieve through any proposed changes.
Mr P K Beer, Mr P J Holbrook, Mr L S Johnson, Mr B L Lazenby, Mr R W Thake and Mr M Newman all declared personal interests in respect of the item referred to in Minute No. 35 (b) below by virtue of being Members of the Local Government Pension Scheme, but indicated that their interests were such that they were able to speak and vote on the matter.
The Chairman referred to Paper K47 outlining events attended since the last meeting.
None received.
(a) Comprehensive Area Assessments (CAA) and Organisational Assessment (Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee)
Mr D M Busby, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee introduced this item relating to the Council’s Organisational Assessment by the Audit Commission for 2008/09 and Comprehensive Area Assessments.
Mr Ian Davidson, Senior Manager, from the Audit Commission was present at the meeting and referred to Paper K54, which had been circulated prior to the meeting, but which had been provided on embargo until the day of the meeting, providing the Audit Commission’s updated summary of the Review of Babergh’s Organisational Assessment.
Members of the Council then questioned Mr Davidson and Officers of the Council.
RESOLVED
That the Council welcomes the outcome of the Audit Commission’s Review of Babergh’s Organisational Assessment for 2008/09 and the revised score from Level 2 to Level 3, which recognises that we are a Council that is “performing well”.
(b) 2009/10 Financial Outturn and Statement of Accounts (Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee)
Mr D M Busby, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee introduced Paper K48 providing an overview of the Financial Outturn for 2009/10 compared to the approved budget and other key information. He also referred to Paper K48A outlining the Council’s Treasury Management Performance and activities for the financial year 2009/10 as required by CIPFA Code of Practice.
The Director of Finance informed the meeting of some potential final adjustments to the accounts in relation to Council Tax and NNDR and that changes to creditor and debtor balances on the balance sheet of the Statement of accounts including related disclosure notes were likely to be required.
It was noted that the figures on page 35 of Appendix B of Paper K48 relating to the Head of Contract and Asset Management needed to be amended.
RESOLVED
(1) That the Statement of Accounts attached as Appendix B to Paper K48 be approved.
(2) That the Budget carry forward requests of £225,000 as outlined in Appendix A of Paper K48 be approved, subject to further review by Officers before these are incorporated into this year’s spending plans.
(3) That a report on the Pension Fund Valuation as at the 31 March 2010 be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee when this is available.
(4) That the Review of Treasury Management for the year ending 31 March 2010 attached as Appendix C to Paper K48A be noted.
Mr B D Hurren, Chairman of the Pin Mill Task Group, introduced Paper K49 requesting approval for the Council to enter into a lease with Ipswich Borough Council for the Hard at Pin Mill, Chelmondiston. This would allow the implementation of the project to carry out improvement works to the Hard designed to restore a historic maritime working environment at Pin Mill with the added bonus of improving tourism viability.
The following replacement paragraph 5.1 of Paper K49 was circulated at the meeting:
“The proposals in this report have a positive impact on community relations. At the commencement of the Pin Mill Project there were long term tensions and unresolved concerns between the divergent community and business interest groups.
The work of the Pin Mill Task Group has ensured that the needs and concerns of the various groups – houseboat owners, Sailing Club, Chelmondiston Parish Council, local boat yards, National Trust, have been addressed.
It is to the credit of all these groups that they have actively participated in, and contributed to the development of the proposals in this report, with a number expressing interest in and commitment to the ‘Not for Profit’ company that it is proposed will manage the new facility.”
RESOLVED
That the Head of Contract and Asset Management be authorised to enter into a Lease with Ipswich Borough Council in accordance with the Heads of Terms attached as Appendix A to Paper K49 (subject to any minor amendments deemed necessary by the Head of Contract and Asset Management in consultation with the Chairman of Strategy Committee).
The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper K50) outlining the Council’s requirements to accept and respond to petitions in accordance with the new provisions contained in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.
It was noted that the proposed scheme outlined in Appendix 1 to Paper K50 would need to be clarified and amended, particularly when the provisions relating to e-petitions become a requirement prior to 15 December 2010.
RESOLVED
(1) That the proposed scheme for dealing with petitions at Appendix 1 to Paper K50 be adopted with immediate effect, subject to the Director of Corporate Services being authorised to make minor amendments and additions thereto, including further amendments to comply with the statutory requirements to be implemented on 15 December 2010 for the submission of electronic petitions.
(2) That the Director of Corporate Services be delegated authority to:
(a) decide whether petitions are vexatious, abusive or otherwise inappropriate, and whether they relate to Excluded Matters.
(b) make any necessary changes to the Council’s Constitution consequent upon the adoption of a petitions scheme.
(c) procure an on-line petition facility.
(3) That a report be submitted to Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee after 12 months of operation to determine how the petition scheme is working.
The Director of Corporate Services reported that following the appointment of substitutes on various Committees at the Council meeting on 20 April 2010, the Liberal Democrat Group have indicated that they wish to amend one of their substitutes on Development Committee.
RESOLVED
That the substitute for Mr R Whiting on the Development Committee be amended to Mr B D Hurren.
None received.
None received.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 10.50 a.m.
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Chairman
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