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BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL STRATEGY COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE STRATEGY COMMITTEE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, COUNCIL OFFICES, CORKS LANE, HADLEIGH ON THURSDAY, 17 AUGUST 2006
PRESENT: Mr N A Ridley – Chairman
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Mrs E F Bates
Mr N A Bennett
Mr M P Booth
Dr M R Miller |
Mr C M Spence
Mr H N Todd
Mrs S M Wigglesworth
Mr L H Young |
Mr J J Quinlan and Mr D J Read were unable to be present.
Mr C J Hunt attended in order to present the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee referred to in Minute Nos. 31 (a) and (b) below.
25 SUBSTITUTES
It was noted that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 5, a substitute was in attendance as follows:
Mrs E F Bates (substituting for Mr D J Read)
26 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
Mr C M Spence declared personal interests in respect of the Items referred to in Minute No. 31(a) by virtue of being a Member of Suffolk County Council and Minute No. 31(b) by virtue of a close relative residing in one of the schemes referred to.
Mr N A Bennett declared a prejudicial interest in respect of the Item referred to in Minute No. 31(a) below by virtue of being a school teacher and was not present during the consideration of this Item.
Mr H N Todd declared a prejudicial interest in respect of the Item referred to in Minute No. 31(a) below by virtue of being a School Governor for Great Cornard Middle School and was not present during consideration of this Item.
27 MINUTES
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2006 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
28 PETITIONS
None received.
29 QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS
None received.
30 ISSUES ARISING FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEES
None received.
31 RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES
(a) Review into the way schools in Suffolk are organised (Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee Minute No.15)
Mr C J Hunt, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee, presented the recommendations of that Committee.
Further to consideration of the matter by the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee a draft response to Suffolk County Council had been circulated as Paper F66.
Also circulated at the meeting was an updated Appendix B to Paper F57, which had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee. This provided a list of schools in the Babergh District. It was noted that added to that list should be Glemsford Primary School and that the Royal Hospital School and Woolverstone Schools should be removed as they are private schools.
RESOLVED
That subject to Helen Style (Corporate Director) in consultation with Mike Hammond (Corporate Director) being authorised to include comments in the response to Suffolk County Council relating to integrated travel plans and lack of consultation on higher education a submission be made as contained in the letter referred to as Paper F66.
NOTES: (1) A copy of the amended response referred to above is attached to these Minutes as Appendix A.
(2) Mr C M Spence abstained from voting in this matter and requested that this be recorded in the Minutes.
(b) The Housing Panel’s 2006 Housing Review (Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee Minute No. 17)
Mr C J Hunt, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee presented the recommendations of that Committee.
RESOLVED
(1) That the updated Affordable Housing Programme, as detailed in Appendix 1 to Paper F59 be approved.
(2) That the Housing Panel undertakes a feasibility study into all available options for the future use of the Council’s Homelessness Reception Centre at Stour House in Sudbury when it is decommissioned as a hostel later in 2006, in consultation with Sudbury and Great Cornard Members, and reports back to Strategy Committee with its conclusions.
(3) That the Head of Community Development, in consultation with the Chief Executive and the Human Resources Manager, be authorised to make all appropriate changes to the sheltered housing structure and the terms and conditions of sheltered housing staff, which become necessary as a result of the 2006 Sheltered Housing Review, as detailed in Para. 11 in Paper F59, the Supporting People Review and the need to meet the requirements of the Single Status Agreement.
(4) That the Housing Panel submit a report to Strategy Committee in 2007 with proposals for Babergh’s response to the Gypsy and Travellers Needs Assessment, which is currently underway.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
(1) That delegated authority be given to the Head of Contract and Asset Management in consultation with the Head of Community Development to sell the land adjoining No. 2 The Street, Monks Eleigh and for the proceeds of sale to be used, in the first instance, for the delivery of affordable housing in Monks Eleigh, then, failing that, for affordable housing elsewhere in the Babergh District.
(2) That delegated authority be given to the Head of Contract and Asset Management in consultation with the Head of Community Development to transfer the land adjoining No. 5 Bury Road, Alpheton to a Registered Social Landlord partner at a discount of up to 100% for the delivery of affordable housing.
(3) That delegated authority be given to the Head of Contract and Asset Management in consultation with the Head of Community Development to transfer Nos. 25 and 26 Harpers Estate Nayland to Flagship Housing Group at a discount of up to 100% for the delivery of higher density new affordable housing to meet local housing needs.
(4) That, when submitting ‘Growth’ theme bids for Social Housing Grant, the Head of Community Development be authorised to offer a proportion of any subsequent properties funded through this route to out-of-area nominations; the percentage of such nominations to be agreed with the Housing Corporation.
(5) That the current annual ‘mini’ Housing Stock Option Appraisal be discontinued and instead, a full Housing Stock Option Appraisal be commissioned in 2009/10 or earlier if the Annual Review of the HRA Business Plan indicates this is necessary.
(6) That the Council’s Choice Based Lettings Scheme (CBL) be based on Colchester Borough Council’s scheme and a report be prepared for Strategy Committee in 2007 detailing an implementation plan for Babergh’s CBL Scheme.
32 RECOMMENDATIONS FROM TASK GROUPS/PANELS
Poplar Road Regeneration Scheme
Mrs S M Wigglesworth, as Chairman of the Housing Panel, introduced Paper F67 advising that the Panel had undertaken a review of the following strategies and policy documents:-
It was noted that approval had been given in 2003 for the redevelopment of Poplar Road, Great Cornard.
The scheme is now well developed with the majority of funding in place and planning permission secured for 41 dwellings, 6 shops and a community facility.
All necessary approvals were in place subject to the disposal (at nil cost) of a further piece of land and an increase in the financial contribution to be provided by the Council.
RESOLVED
(1) That the Head of Contract and Asset Management in consultation with the Head of Community Development be authorised to dispose of the area of land at Poplar Road Great Cornard (marked as area B on the Appendix to Paper F67) at nil cost to Flagship Housing on condition that the land is used to deliver a development including a community facility to be provided to the Council on a 99 year lease at a peppercorn rent on terms to be agreed by the Head of Contract and Asset Management.
(2) That the Head of Contract and Asset Management in consultation with the Head of Finance be authorised to discount the housing land at Poplar Road (marked as area C on the Appendix to Paper F67) at 100% of its current or future value, as a financial contribution towards the scheme cost for the Poplar Road development.
33 WORKPLAN
The Head of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper F68) on items identified for future meetings of the Strategy Committee.
RESOLVED
That the Workplan set out in Paper F68 be noted.
34 PROVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES – “DOING BUSINESS BETTER” PROJECT
The Solicitor to the Council submitted a report (Paper F69) advising that since 2002 the Council’s Legal Services Division has been working with the other Suffolk Local Authority Legal Departments towards improving performance and achieving savings through a partnership approach to a service delivery. Efficiencies had so far been achieved through sharing of information, collective procurement, training workshops and undertaking work for each other.
The Suffolk Authorities now wish to build upon their achievements through what is known as the “Doing Business Better Project” by committing to a Partnering Agreement to establish one virtual legal team for Suffolk.
RESOLVED
(1) That the form of Partnering Agreement attached at Appendix ‘A’ to Paper F69 be approved for signature by the Chairman of the Strategy Committee and the Chief Executive.
(2) That Contract Procedure Rules in respect of competitive tendering shall not apply for the procurement of legal services from another participating Authority to the Partnering Agreement by virtue of special reasons, namely the commitment to a ‘virtual legal partnership’ for Suffolk
35 ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT PLAN
The Head of Contract and Asset Management submitted a report (Paper F70) which identified the requirements for the management of asbestos in the Council’s corporate buildings, seeks approval for a management plan and a policy statement, and informs on the current position regarding the proposed management arrangements.
RESOLVED
(1) That the Asbestos Management Plan, as shown in Appendix ‘A’ of Paper F70, for the Council’s corporate buildings be approved.
(2) That the High Level Policy Statement, as shown in Appendix ‘B’ of Paper F70, for the Council’s corporate buildings be approved.
(3) That progress to date in implementing the Asbestos Management Plan be noted.
36 2006/07 CAPITAL PROGRAMME – NON COMMITTED SCHEMES
The Head of Contract and Asset Management submitted a report (Paper F71) requesting approval to implement schemes within the Council’s Capital Programme that are ready to proceed.
It was noted that the heading in the first column under paragraph 4.1 should read “Budget 2006/07” and not “05/06”.
RESOLVED
(1) That expenditure from the Council’s Housing Revenue Account be approved to carry out the proposed works detailed in paragraph 3 of Paper F71.
(2) That £15,000 be transferred from the Paths/Walls capital budget to the Fences/Gates capital budget.
37 REPORTS FROM MEMBERS
Members had before them Paper F72 on the following:-
(a) Report on the Sparse meeting 13 June 2006 by Mr R E Kemp.
(b) Report on the East of England Regional Assembly by Mr P Jones.
RESOLVED
That the report be noted.
NOTE: The meeting adjourned between 10.45 a.m. and 11.05 a.m. for refreshments.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 12.25 p.m.
Chairman
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