To all Members of the Strategy Committee

Mr N A Bennett
Mr M P Booth
Dr M R Miller
Mr J J Quinlan
Mr D J Read

Mr N A Ridley
Mr C M Spence
Mr H N Todd
Mrs S M Wigglesworth
Mr L H Young

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 5 June 2006 as a correct record.

4

PETITIONS

The Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services to report, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 13, the receipt of any petitions submitted to the Chief Executive.

5

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS

The Chairman to answer any questions on 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 F19
previously circulated

7

RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES

(a) Annual Audit and Inspection Letter 2004/05 and Work Plan for 2006/07 (Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee Minute No.7)

The Head of Finance presented a report (Paper F19) concerning the Audit Commission’s Audit and Inspection Letter for 2004/05 and Plan for 2006/07, which were attached as Appendices A and B to the report.

He explained that Officers had had rigorous discussions with the Audit Commission on the 2006/07 fee, and that the initially proposed fee had been reduced by £6,000. The proposed fee for audit and inspection work in 2006/07 was now £132,250, excluding work relating to the South Suffolk Leisure Trust, which had yet to be quantified. This figure exceeded the budget by £3,000, because of additional requirements in relation to grant claims and Whole of Government Accounts. He believed that there was very little, if any, scope to reduce the fee further.

Members’ attention was drawn to the fact that the District Audit had been the appointed Auditor for the Council since 1974, and that the current appointment period had been extended to the end of 2006/07. The Audit Commission would consult the Council about their proposals for an appointment beyond that date.

Representatives of the Audit Commission and the District Audit were in attendance at the meeting as follows:-

Ms Edwina Child, Relationship Manager
Mr Robert Davies, District Auditor; and
Mr Kevin Sharman, Audit Manager

Ms Child presented the Audit and Inspection Annual Letter for 2004/05 (Appendix A to Paper F19) and Mr Davies presented the Audit and Inspection Plan (Appendix B to Paper F19).

Members asked a number of questions relating to the Letter and Plan, and the following were among the points noted:-

• In response to comments made by Members in 2005, District Audit was proposing an arrangement whereby 50% of the 2006/07 fee (plus V.A.T.) would be charged to the Council in 2006 and 50% in 2007.

• Members commented that Appendix B was long and in places difficult to understand. Mr Davies suggested that in future Members might find it helpful to receive a summary as well as the standard detailed plan. This suggestion was welcomed by the Committee.

The Committee noted the contents of the Audit and Inspection Letter for 2004/05 and Plan for 2006/07 as contained in the Appendices to Paper F19.

Paper F28
previously circulated

RECOMMENDED TO STRATEGY COMMITTEE

1. That the 2006/07 budget be increased by £3,000 to cover the proposed fee for audit and inspection work in 2006/07 of £132,250, excluding work relating to the South Suffolk Leisure Trust yet to be quantified.
   
2. That the Head of Finance be authorised to agree the additional fee for the South Suffolk Leisure Trust work.

(b) Youth Strategy (Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee Minute No. 6)

The Head of Leisure and Community Services submitted a report (Paper F28), setting out a summary of actions achieved in 2005/06 in relation to the Youth Strategy, and recommending the adoption of an Action Plan for 2006/07.

Kirsty Farthing and Naomi Webb, pupils at Hadleigh High School, spoke about their contribution to the Theatre Critic Project, and how they felt they had benefited from it. They answered a number of questions from Members.

Jill Barton, Corporate Support Officer, and Susie Tyrell, Arts and Community Development Officer, made a presentation highlighting what had been achieved in 2005/06 in relation to the Youth Strategy, and what was planned for the forthcoming year.

Members asked a number of questions and highlighted the benefits of good publicity, the importance of keeping Members informed of initiatives in their Wards, and the need to ensure that young people in the more rural areas of the District were able to take advantage of the opportunities on offer.

The Committee noted the information contained in Appendix A to Paper F28 and requested that work be carried out by officers to improve awareness of Youth Strategy Matters.

RECOMMENDED TO STRATEGY COMMITTEE

That the Youth Strategy Action Plan for 2006/07 as set out in Appendix B to Paper F28 be approved.

Paper F41

8

WORKPLAN

Report by the Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services attached.

Paper F42

9

CORPORATE PLAN 2007 ONWARDS

Report by the Corporate Support Manager attached.

Paper F43

10

HADLEIGH SWIMMING POOL

Report from the Political Leaders Group attached.

Paper F45

11

ADOPTION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 2006/07 – 2008/09

Report by the Acting Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development attached.

Paper F46

12

BAA STANSTED AIRPORT, PLANNING APPLICATION TO INTENSIFY USE OF THE EXISTING RUNWAY (G1)

Report by the Acting Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development attached.