16th August 2007 - 9.30 a.m. - Agenda

To All Members of the Strategy Committee

Mrs J Antill
Mr N A Bennett
Mr M P Booth
Mrs S Carpendale
Mr R E Kemp

Dr M R Miller
Mr N A Ridley
Mr C M Spence
Mr H N Todd
Mrs S M Wigglesworth     
       

ITEM

BUSINESS

1

SUBSTITUTES AND APOLOGIES

Any Member attending as an approved substitute to report giving his/her name and the name of the Member being substituted.

To receive apologies for absence.

2

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

Members to declare any interests as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.

3

MINUTES

To confirm and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 June 2007 as a correct record.

4

PETITIONS

The Head of Corporate Services to report in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 13, that a petition has been submitted to the Chief Executive relating to:-

Proposed affordable housing development on Babergh-owned land to rear of Downlands and Winding Road, Elmsett

Petition signed by approximately 45 residents objecting to the proposed development.

There can be no debate or comment upon this matter at the meeting. 

The petition will be taken into account in conjunction with the appropriate report on the Council’s Affordable Housing Programme, which will be considered by the Strategy Committee on 27 September 2007.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rules, the Chief Executive reported receipt of the petition to the Council Meeting on 31 July 2007.

5

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS

The Chairman 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 the Committee of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No.15.4 (a) and (b).

6

ISSUES ARISING FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEES

None received.

Paper G47 attached

7

RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES

(a)        Managing Capital and Revenue Budgets (Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee Minute No. 19)

The Head of Finance submitted a report (Paper G47) concerning possible ways of improving the Council’s management of Capital and Revenue Budgets, and of increasing Member awareness and understanding of the issues involved.  Homira Javadi, Corporate Finance Manager presented the report and answered Members questions on it.

It was agreed that the early warning system referred to in paragraph 5.7(a) should include clear strategies for dealing with variances before the end of each financial year and, that the wording of paragraph 5.7(a) should be amended accordingly. 

Members noted that it was envisaged that larger capital projects would be closely monitored by the appropriate Task Group or Panel, but that the overall position and the progress on net revenue expenditure would be monitored by the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee.

It was also noted that a further report on Revenue and Capital Budget Management would be considered at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee scheduled for 29 August 2007. 

RECOMMENDED TO STRATEGY COMMITTEE

(1)          That Members consider the issues set out in paragraph 5.5 of Paper G47.

(2)          That the suggested approach and framework for improving the management of capital and revenue budgets as set out in Section 5.7 of Paper G47 be approved, subject to the following amendment:-

The last sentence of paragraph 5.7(a) to be amended to read “Clear strategies for dealing with variances before the year end.”

 
Paper G44 attached

(b)        The Planning White Paper: Proposed Response by Babergh (Development Committee Minute No. 22)

The Head of Natural and Built Environment submitted a report (Paper G44) advising Members of the current consultation on its Planning White Paper, which proposes a broad range of further potential changes to the planning system.  The report also outlined the implications of key aspects of these changes for Babergh and detailed a proposed response. 

RECOMMENDED TO STRATEGY COMMITTEE

(1)          That the scope of potential changes to the Planning system proposed under the Government’s current Planning White Paper: “Planning for a Sustainable Future” be noted.

(2)          That the proposed response outlined in Paper G44 be approved subject to the following amendments:-

Paragraph 5.4 of Paper G44 and in the second bullet point, Members agreed that insufficient detail was produced on how requirements for adequate public consultation would be ensured and subsequently adhered to for nationally significant infrastructure projects.

Paragraph 5.4 of Paper G44 – in the third line of the proposed response replace the word “unlikelihood” with the word “likelihood”.

Paragraph 5.4 of Paper G44 – in the fourth line of the proposed response delete the words “are unlikely to” and replace with the words “could still”. 

Paper G70

8

WORK PLAN

Report by the Head of Corporate Services attached.

Paper G72

9

BABERGH PLAY POLICY

Report by the Project and Programme Executive attached.

Paper G73

10

HADLEIGH SWIMMING POOL

Joint report by the Project and Programme Executive, Head of Contract and Asset Management and Head of Finance attached.

Paper G74

11

DELIVERY OF BUILDING CONTROL SERVICES IN PARTNERSHIP

Report by the Head of Natural and Built Environment attached.

Paper G75

12

CAPITAL PROGRAMME – NON-COMMITTED SCHEMES

Report by the Head of Contract and Asset Management attached.

13

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC (WHICH TERM INCLUDES THE PRESS)

To consider whether, pursuant to Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 the public should be excluded from the meeting for the business specified below on the grounds that if the public were present during this item it is likely that there would be the disclosure to them of exempt information as indicated against the item.

The authors of the report proposed to be considered in Part II of the Agenda are satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

PART II

Paper G76

14

OPEN SPACES CONTRACT (Exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1)

Joint report by the Head of Contract and Asset Management and the Head of Finance attached.