BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (COMMUNITY SERVICES) COMMITTEE AND OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (STEWARDSHIP) COMMITTEE 

MINUTES OF A JOINT MEETING OF THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (COMMUNITY SERVICES) COMMITTEE AND THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (STEWARDSHIP) COMMITTEE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, COUNCIL OFFICES, CORKS LANE, HADLEIGH ON TUESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2010

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1 - Election of Chairman
2 - Declaration of Interests
3 - Petitions
4 - Questions from Members
5 - Financial Strategy and 2009/10 Budget 

PRESENT:                         Mr D M Busby – Chairman                                       

 The following Members were unable to be present: 

Mr M Newman, Mr J R A Sayers, Mrs C A Todd, Mr H N Todd and Mr D M Walton. 

1          ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN 

RESOLVED 

That Mr D M Busby be elected to chair the meeting.

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2          DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

Mrs J Antill declared a personal interest in the item referred to in Minute No. 5 below by virtue of the fact that she is a Trustee of the Citizens Advice Bureau and a Governor of the Gainsborough’s House Society but indicated that she 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. 5 below by virtue of the fact that he is the Council’s representative on the Hadleigh High School – Dual Use Sports Centre Management Committee but indicated that he was able to speak and vote on the matter concerned. 

Mr D G Grutchfield declared a personal interest in the item referred to in Minute No. 5 below by virtue of the fact that he is a Suffolk County Councillor and appointed to the Gainsborough’s House Society but indicated that he was able to speak and vote on the matter concerned. 

Mr D L Wood declared a personal interest in the item referred to in Minute No. 5 below by virtue of the fact that he is a Suffolk County Councillor and a member of the Suffolk Police Authority but indicated that he was able to speak and vote on the matter concerned. 

Mr A F D W Osborne declared a personal interest in the item referred to in Minute No. 5 below by virtue of the fact that he is a Sudbury Town Councillor but indicated that he was able to speak and vote on the matter concerned. 

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3          PETITIONS

None received. 

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4          QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS 

None received. 

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5          FINANCIAL STRATEGY AND 2009/10 BUDGET 

Members were aware that at its meeting on 7 January, the Licensing and Appeals Committee recommended the increase in charges referred to in Appendix B to Paper J151, with minor variations. 

Prior to consideration of Paper J151, the Committee scrutinised Paper J150 in respect of Discretionary Rate Relief. Mr A Wilcock, Senior Revenues Manager was present at the meeting for this item and answered questions from Members, who were advised that the Strategy Committee on 14 January 2010 had accepted the recommendations set out in paragraph 2 of Paper J150. 

Mr N A Ridley, Chairman of the Strategic and Financial Planning (SFP) Task Group introduced the Group’s report (Paper J151) and together with the Director of Finance updated the Committee on the outcome of Strategy Committee’s overall consideration of the report on 14 January 2010. 

Members then scrutinised the contents of Paper J151 and associated appendices.  During a wide ranging debate, the following were among various items which were highlighted or were the subject of more detailed discussion:- 

· Staff related savings
· Use of reserves
· Operation and effect of car parking charges
· Overheads relating to licensing fees
· Resilience of services 

Members acknowledged the considerable efforts which the SFP Task Group had made to identify the savings, efficiencies and additional income generation as set out in Paper J151, together with the Group’s on-going work to produce further proposals to meet the remaining shortfall.  As a result of its scrutiny, the Joint Meeting voted in favour of accepting the recommendations in Paper J151. 

RESOLVED   

That no changes be made to the recommendations contained in Papers J150 and J151 prior to submission to Council on 23 February 2010.

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The business of the meeting was concluded at 11.25 a.m.  
                                                                                                                        Chairman