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 30 JULY 2009
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24 Substitutes,
25 Declaration Of Interests,
26 Minutes,
27 Petitions,
28 Questions From Members,
29 Issues Arising From Overview And Scrutiny Committees,
30 Recommendations From Task Groups And Panels,
31 Work Plan,
32 Building Control Partnership,
33 Ipswich Hospital Foundation Trust,
34 Consultation On Proposed Response To New National Planning Policy On Economic Development,
35 Capital Programme - Non-Committed Schemes,
PRESENT: Mr N A Ridley – Chairman
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Mr N A Bennett
Mr M P Booth
Mr A J Hinton
Ms J A Jenkins |
Mr R E Kemp
Mr B L Lazenby
Mr C M Spence
Mrs S M Wigglesworth |
Mrs S Carpendale and Dr M R Miller were unable to be present.
It was noted that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 5 a substitute was in attendance as follows:-
Mr B L Lazenby (substituting for Dr M R Miller).
Mr C M Spence declared a personal interest in the item referred to in Minute No. 30 (a) below, by virtue of being a Member of Suffolk County Council, but indicated that his interest was such that he was able to speak and vote on the matter concerned.
He also declared a personal interest in the item referred to in Minute No. 33 below, by virtue of being a Member of Suffolk County Council and also serving on its Health Scrutiny Committee, but indicated that his interests were such that he was able to speak and vote on the matter concerned.
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 June 2009 be confirmed and signed as a correct record, subject to it being noted that Mr N A Bennett declared a personal interest in the item referred to in Minute No. 18 and not Minute No. 19.
None received.
Question from Dr M R Miller
Can the Chairman please explain who authorised the Officer decision to irrevocably remove, without any prior Member consultation, a number of important Local Plan Policies, among them “CN05 – Demolition of Listed Buildings”, from Babergh’s planning rules with no apparent alternative Policies providing protection equivalent to any of the deleted items?
Response
The Council's current Local Plan was adopted in 2006. Work is underway to prepare the successor to the Local Plan, through the Local Development Framework process. Because of the change in process, Babergh's Plan had only an initial life of 3 years (transitional arrangements), subject to application to the Secretary of State (SoS) for it to remain in force, which was made this summer.
As part of securing the SoS's approval the submission had to demonstrate compliance with the latest CLG guidance and the strict criteria laid down. It is now not deemed appropriate to purely repeat national and regional planning policies, and Local Plan policies have to conform to updated national and regional policies (national and regional policies that have been updated since the Local Plan was adopted). To comply with the SoS's criteria, Officers undertook a lengthy and detailed scrutiny of all the policies and, in response to the prescriptive rules, identified those policies to be saved and those which could be safely 'lost'. Failure to comply with the requirements could have placed the Council in an extremely vulnerable position with no saved Local Plan Policies.
The Head of Natural and Built Environment monitored the process and ultimately approved the submission to the SoS, confident that it would both gain approval, and in no circumstances leave the Council vulnerable or with any less robust a Local Plan than existed previously.
On receipt of the SoS's approval, a presentation was provided to Development Committee Members following a recent meeting. Further information has been prepared for all Members indicating those policies saved, not saved and appropriate guidance which covers/ replaces our own policies.
With specific reference to Policy CN 05 - Demolition of Listed Buildings - this is now covered by PPG 15 paras 3.16 to 3.19 to which our original policy referred.
None received.
(a) Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs in Babergh
Mrs S M Wigglesworth, Chairman of the Housing Panel, introduced Paper J65 informing the Committee of the latest details on the requirements for Gypsy and Traveller pitches in the Babergh District, to establish a Member-led Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Group, to agree the terms of reference for the Group and to seek the appointment of two Members of Strategy Committee to serve on the Group.
During the course of discussion of this item it was noted that Paper J65 was an initial report to identify the criteria for identifying suitable and sustainable sites, but that the process of identifying sites, including how Ward Members are kept informed, would be considered in due course.
RESOLVED
(1) That a Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Working Group be established, and that the terms of reference of the Group be as set out in paragraph 8.3 of Paper J65 (PDF - 46kb).
(2) That the two Member representatives to serve on the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Working Group be Mr A J Hinton and Mrs S M Wigglesworth.
(b) Addition to the Affordable Housing Programme – 45 – 51 Wattisham Road Bildeston
Mrs S M Wigglesworth, Chairman of the Housing Panel, introduced Paper J66 requesting approval to include the affordable housing scheme at 45 – 51 Wattisham Road, Bildeston in the Council’s Affordable Housing Programme.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
That the affordable housing scheme at 45 – 51 Wattisham Road, Bildeston as outlined in Paper J66 be included in the Council’s Affordable Housing Programme.
The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper J67 (PDF - 23kb)) on items identified for the Strategy Committee.
RESOLVED
That the Work Plan set out in Paper J67 be noted.
The Head of Natural and Built Environment submitted a report (Paper J68 (PDF - 78kb)) outlining the report of the Building Control Partnership Board regarding the Board’s consideration of a business case regarding the future delivery of Building Control Services.
The Board provides the governance for the current service, of which Babergh is a partner alongside Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk Coastal District Council. The Board comprises Officers and Members from each of the partners.
A copy of the report considered by the Building Control Partnership Board was attached as Appendix 1 to Paper J68. The business case had been developed by consultants Tribal Helm.
RESOLVED
(1) That the current partnering agreement remains in place up to the end of March 2011, and be subject to 3 months notice from any party.
(2) That a stand-alone service be discounted at the present time, on the following grounds:
(i) Estimated implementation costs are high in relation to the current economic situation faced by all partners,
(ii) Although payback is estimated after 4 years, this is dependant on a 5% growth in income, against a current declining trend.
(3) That further investigation of partnership working in Building Control towards a more fully integrated service operating across the three authorities be supported and recommended to the partner Councils, by:
(i) further detailed consideration of a lead authority and/or Joint Committee arrangement in accordance with S101 of the Local Government Act 1972, which addresses the concerns expressed in 2(i) and (ii) above
(ii) continuing development, in the meantime, of improved partnership opportunities within the existing service framework of three or more constituent authorities.
The Head of Natural and Built Environment reported that Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust is seeking foundation trust status. This involves new governance arrangements for the Trust, including a Council of Governors and a Board of Directors.
The Trust is consulting local Councils, along with other professional and community groups on these proposals, and also on its plans for the Trust for the next five years. The consultation does not appear to be about whether the application for foundation trust status should proceed or not.
A copy of the Board’s consultation document “Our Passion, Your Care Be Part of Our Future” was submitted as Paper J69 (PDF - 1.14Mb). The Chairman also referred to Paper J69A, which had been circulated prior to the meeting, which contained additional information provided by the Head of Natural and Built Environment on the trust status application.
During consideration of this matter, it was noted that representatives of the Trust had been invited to the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee to present their report and Overview and Scrutiny Members would be given an opportunity to question the representatives.
Members debated the matter and identified the following issues for consideration in Babergh’s response:-
- Delivery of strategic goals – how to measure, what are the clinical goals?
- The strategic goals given appear to be too general in nature.
- How will Foundation Trust status improve health services for our community?
- Apparent imbalance of governor representation.
- How will member numbers be maximised to avoid undue influence of pressure or minority groups?
- How have community needs been ascertained in terms of the reasons for applying for Foundation Trust status and the setting of strategic objectives.
- What are the powers of the Council of Governors?
- What are the principal reasons for applying for Foundation Trust status when those given do not appear to provide an overwhelming case?
- The consultation does not give or elaborate on any negative outcomes to the application.
- If Foundation Trust status aids competition for service provision, in which there are both winners and losers, how will it prevent the adverse effects of losing when an existing community-based service provider loses out to a competitor?
- What will be the impact on the residents of West Suffolk?
RESOLVED
That the Head of Natural and Built Environment, in consultation with the Chairman of the Strategy Committee and the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee be authorised to respond to the consultation taking into account the deliberation of the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee.
The Head of Natural and Built Environment submitted a report (Paper J63 - (PDF - 82kb)) outlining a proposed response to the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) consultation paper on a new combined national planning policy document dealing with economic development.
It was noted that this matter had been considered by Development Committee at its meeting on 29 July 2009, which had agreed with the proposed response set out in the Appendix.
During consideration of this item further comments on the response were identified, the boxes to Questions 3, 5 and 7 should be ticked yes and reference should be made under the comment in Question 8 to economic and jobs growth areas.
RESOLVED
That the Head of Natural and Built Environment be authorised to update the response to CLG set out in Appendix A to Paper J63 taking into account the discussions at Committee.
The Head of Contract and Asset Management submitted a report (Paper J70 (PDF - 23kb)) seeking approval to implement a scheme within the Council’s Housing Revenue Account.
RESOLVED
That expenditure from the Council’s Housing Revenue Account be approved to carry out the proposed schemes detailed in paragraph 5.2 of Paper J70.
Note: The meeting adjourned between 10.50 a.m. and 11.10 a.m. for refreshments.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 11.50 a.m.
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