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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, 29 JUNE 2006
PRESENT: Mr N A Ridley – Chairman
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Mr N A Bennett
Mr M P Booth
Mr A J Hinton
Dr M R Miller
Mr D J Read |
Mr C M Spence
Mr H N Todd
Mrs S M Wigglesworth
Mr L H Young |
Mr J J Quinlan was unable to be present.
14 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
None declared.
15 MINUTES
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2006 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
16 PETITIONS
None received.
17 QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS
None received.
18 ISSUES ARISING FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEES
None received.
19 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)
Mrs J A Jenkins, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee, presented the recommendations of that Committee in relation to fees for audit and inspection work in 2006/07, including the additional fee to be agreed for the South Suffolk Leisure Trust work. She referred to Members’ previously expressed concerns about fee levels. Members were aware that the Council’s options for the appointment of auditors after 2007 will be the subject of further consideration and a report at the appropriate time.
In response to questions, it was noted that the additional fee referred to in Recommendation (2) related to Babergh’s actions in setting up the South Suffolk Leisure Trust, and did not cover the audit of the Trust’s accounts which would be carried out by Auditors appointed by the Trust itself.
RESOLVED
(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 Chairman of the Strategy Committee introduced the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee and referred to an e-mail from Chris Hunt, Chairman of that Committee, confirming that the Youth Strategy was considered to be on course and the Action Plan challenging but achievable.
RESOLVED
That the Youth Strategy Action Plan for 2006/07 as set out in Appendix B to Paper F28 be approved.
20 WORK PLAN
The Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services submitted a report (Paper F41) on items identified for future meetings of the Strategy Committee.
RESOLVED
That the Work Plan set out in Paper F41 be noted.
21 CORPORATE PLAN 2007 ONWARDS
The Corporate Support Manager submitted a report (Paper F42) proposing the establishment of a Member working group for the Corporate Plan.
RESOLVED
That a Member working group be set up to oversee the development of the Corporate Plan comprising the following Members:-
Chairman of Strategy Committee (Nick Ridley)
Vice-Chairman of Strategy Committee (Duncan Read)
Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee (Jennie Jenkins)
Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee (Chris Hunt)
A Member of the Independent Group (to be notified)
A Member of the Labour Group (to be notified)
[Note – any appointment of a non-Strategy Committee Member onto the working group is a co-option under Article 7.04 of the Constitution].
22 HADLEIGH SWIMMING POOL
The Chairman of the Committee introduced the report from the Political Leaders Group (Paper F43) asking the Committee to authorise arrangements for undertaking a feasibility study.
During the course of the discussion, reference was made to the figure of £3.25M in Appendix 1, and it was suggested that an amended wording to include reference to a likely maximum budget of £3.25m would help clarify understanding of what this figure represents. It was also generally agreed that representation on the Steering Group from each of the Political Groups would be beneficial together with the appointment of substitute Members.
RESOLVED
(1) That the Council proceeds with a feasibility study for a new swimming pool in Hadleigh at an estimated cost of £30,000.
(2) That the roles of the Hadleigh Swimming Pool Steering Group and the Hadleigh Swimming Pool Working Group and the methodology and timetable for the feasibility study as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 to Paper F43 be approved.
(3) That a Steering Group and Working Group be established as detailed in Appendix 1 to Paper F43.
(4) That the following Members be appointed to serve on the Steering Group as the four Babergh District Council representatives:-
Chairman of the Strategy Committee and Conservative Member - Nick Ridley
(Substitute - Humphrey Todd)
Liberal Democrat Member – Michael Miller
(Substitute -Nigel Bennett)
Independent Member - Sue Wigglesworth
(Substitute - Len Young)
A Labour Member and substitute - to be notified.
[Note – any appointment of a non-Strategy Committee Member onto the Steering Group is a co-option under Article 7.04 of the Constitution].
23 ADOPTION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 2006/07 – 2008/09
The Acting Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development submitted a report (Paper F45) asking the Committee to adopt the draft programme with minor amendments arising from the results of the consultation.
RESOLVED
That the proposed amendments to the Economic Development Programme set out in Appendix 1 to Paper F45 be approved and that the Programme as amended be adopted.
24 BAA STANSTED AIRPORT – PLANNING APPLICATION TO INTENSIFY USE OF THE EXISTING RUNWAY (G1)
Mike Hammond, Corporate Director submitted a report by the Acting Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development (Paper F46) asking Members to approve an appropriate response to Uttlesford District Council in relation to a planning application to grow Stansted Airport on the existing runway. The Committee was also asked to consider a streamlined procedure for responding to subsequent BAA Stansted consultations.
During the course of the discussion on the proposed response which was attached as Appendix A to Paper F46, Members expressed the view that the points of concern raised by the Council previously had not been addressed to their satisfaction. They considered that their concerns should therefore be re-stated in the form of an objection and the proposed response amended accordingly.
RESOLVED
(1) That the suggested response attached as Appendix A to Paper F46 be reworded in the form of an objection based on the concerns previously expressed by the Council and that the amended response be submitted to Uttlesford District Council.
(2) That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director (Mike Hammond) in consultation with the Chairman of Strategy Committee to respond, in line with Resolution (1) above, to subsequent consultations in relation to this application and other BAA Stansted related matters.
Note A copy of the amended response referred to in (1) above is attached to these Minutes as Appendix A.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 11.20 a.m.
Chairman
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