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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 13 MAY 2010
PRESENT: Mr N A Ridley – Chairman
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Mr N A Bennett
Mr M P Booth
Mrs S Carpendale
Mr A J Hinton
Ms J A Jenkins |
Mr R E Kemp
Dr M R Miller
Mr C M Spence
Mrs S M Wigglesworth |
Mrs J Antill was unable to be present.
1 - Substitutes
2 - Election of Vice-Chairman
3 - Declaration of Interests
4 - Minutes
5 - Petitions
6 - Questions from Members
7 - Issues Arising from Overview and Scrutiny Committees
8 - Recommendations and Reports from Task Groups/Panels Etc
9 - Work Plan 2010/11
10 - Strategic and Financial Planning (SFP)
11 - Babergh Development Framework: Draft Core Strategy (Preferred Options and Issues and Options Consultation)
12 - Car Parking Issues
13 - Carbon Mangement Plan
14 - Exclusion of Public (which term includes the press)
15 - Lease of Land on Calais Street Recreation Ground, Hadleigh to Suffolk County Council (Exempt information by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1)
It was noted that, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 5, a substitute was in attendance as follows:-
Mr C M Spence (substituting for Mrs J Antill).
RESOLVED
That Ms J A Jenkins be elected Vice-Chairman of the Strategy Committee for the ensuing year.
Mr C M Spence subsequently declared a personal interest in Minute No. 15 (Lease of Land on Calais Street Recreation Ground to Suffolk County Council) by virtue of being a Member of Suffolk County Council.
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 April 2010 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
None received.
None received.
None received.
Report of the Joint Member Integration and Merger Review Board held on 13 April 2010 and on Possible Integration of Legal Services Teams
Mr N Ridley, one of the Babergh Representatives on the Review Board, introduced Paper K13 updating Members on a recent meeting of the Board and on possible integration of the two Council’s legal teams. Mr Ridley and the Chief Executive responded to questions from Members.
RESOLVED
(1) That the recommendations of the Joint Board
(a) to accelerate the development and examination of the business case for constitutional merger (i.e. the dissolution of the two current Councils and the creation of a new single Council), and
(b) to convene a joint work shop for all Members of both Councils at the earliest possible opportunity
be endorsed.
(2) That, subject to the views of the Joint Board on a possible integration of Legal teams and Monitoring Officer functions, the intention
(a) to commence formal consultation with affected staff and Unions representing staff of both Councils, and
(b) to formally report any proposals to a future meeting of this Committee
be noted.
The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper K14) on items identified for the Strategy Committee.
RESOLVED
That the Work Plan set out in Paper K14 be noted.
The Director of Finance introduced Paper K15 (Joint Report with the Deputy Chief Executive) asking Members to approve an approach which would include the early involvement of Members in the process for identifying savings, efficiencies and additional income for the 2011/12 Budget.
RESOLVED
(1) That the proposed approach and timetable for identifying and agreeing the necessary savings for the 2011/12 Budget set out in Paper K15 and its appendices be approved.
(2) That the SFP Task Group report back on progress on this and the other key SFP issues, referred to in Paper K15, to this Committee and the Council during the year as necessary.
The Head of Natural and Built Environment submitted a report (Paper K16) asking Members to approve a public consultation exercise based on the Draft Core Strategy Document appended to the report.
Members were aware that the tracked changes shown on the Draft Document now reflected to a large extent the points raised through Members’ earlier consideration at the Strategy Committee meeting on 8 April 2010. They noted that Appendix B listed the response to other issues raised on which no change was considered necessary, together with reasons, whilst Appendix C listed the consultation questions which were considered to address comments made by Members.
The Head of Natural and Built Environment explained the evidence based approach to the process which included account being taken of consultation responses. He explained that comments should be supported by reasons expressed in a similar way to representations made through the development control process. Members were also informed that additional evidence based information had been included to back up the Draft Document where appropriate.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
(1) That the Draft Core Strategy (Preferred Options and ‘Issues and Options’ elements) Document at Appendix A to Paper K16 be approved for public consultation.
(2) That the Head of Natural and Built Environment be authorised to make any revisions to the Draft Core Strategy prior to consultation, subject to the revisions not altering the substance or intent of the Strategy.
(3) That the arrangements for public consultation in paragraph 5.13 of Paper K16 be noted.
The Head of Contract and Asset Management presented a report (Paper K17) advising the outcome of investigations into a possible discount scheme for public parking. Members were asked whether they wished to recommend the Council to adopt a discount scheme for long term car parks and if so the type of scheme to be recommended. They were also asked to consider whether car park charges should be introduced for parking at the Council’s Corks Lane car parks.
Members were aware that the Council on 23 February 2010 asked for consideration to be given to the possibility of some form of discount for workers in the town centres of Hadleigh and Sudbury parking in long stay car parking spaces.
After some discussion Members accepted the officer view set out in paragraph 5.3 of Paper K17 that it would not be practicable to introduce such a scheme. However the conclusion was that a discount scheme similar to those operated by neighbouring Councils, but for a limited number of spaces, would be appropriate and feasible.
The Head of Contract and Asset Management confirmed that the wording of the relevant bullet points under 5.7 of the report related to season tickets being available on an annual, quarterly or monthly basis. The Solicitor to the Council clarified the legal position on the car park adjacent to the play ground, as a result of which the final bullet point under paragraph 5.15 was to be deleted from the report. Members noted however that any charge made for parking on that area of land (owned by the Town Council) could result in an increase in the rent charged to Babergh District Council under rent review provisions of the lease.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL
(1) That a Season Ticket discount scheme be implemented in the Council’s car parks based on the terms and conditions set out in paragraph 5.7 of Paper K17 and that the types of season tickets be annual, quarterly or monthly as set out in the table under the final bullet point.
(2) That no charging for car parking at the Council’s Corks Lane car parks be introduced in 2010/11.
The Head of Contract and Asset Management submitted a report (Paper K18) asking the Committee to adopt the Plan (attached to the report) which had been prepared by the Building Services Manager in conjunction with the Carbon Trust.
RESOLVED
(1) That the 5-year Carbon Management Plan appended to Paper K18 be adopted as the guidance document for setting out the Council’s actions in relation to climate change and the reduction of its carbon emissions.
(2) That the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee be requested to monitor the effectiveness of the Plan on an annual basis in addition to the monitoring of the plan as required by the Carbon Trust.
RESOLVED
That pursuant to Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the business specified below on the grounds that if the public were present during this item there would be the disclosure to them of exempt information as indicated against the item. The Committee was satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.
The Head of Contract and Asset Management submitted a report (Paper K19) seeking approval to final terms and conditions of a lease to be granted to Suffolk County Council for land to be used by the Hadleigh Community Playgroup.
RESOLVED
(1) That, notwithstanding the decision of the Strategy Committee on 18 June 2009 (Minute No. 23 – Resolutions (2) and (3)) authorising the Head of Contract and Asset Management to enter into an agreement with the Trustees of the Hadleigh Community Playgroup on the ‘Original Terms Approved’ as shown under paragraph 6 of Paper K19
(a) the Head of Contract and Asset Management be authorised to enter into an agreement with Suffolk County Council to lease the area of Council owned land shown coloured red on the plan attached as Appendix 1 to Paper K19 within the Calais Street Recreation Ground in Hadleigh in accordance with the revised terms and conditions set out in paragraph 6 of the report and otherwise as agreed by him, including provision for the rent payable by the Playgroup not exceeding the rent payable by Suffolk County Council to Babergh District Council.
(b) the exercise of the authority set out in (a) above be subject to Ministerial Consent to the disposal being obtained in accordance with Resolution (2) below.
(2) That the Solicitor to the Council seeks Ministerial Consent to the disposal of the Council’s interest at a rent which is less than the market value.
Notes: 1. The meeting adjourned between 11.15 a.m. and 11.35 a.m. for refreshments.
2. Mr R E Kemp left the meeting prior to consideration of the items referred to in Minute Nos. 14 and 15 above.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 12.40 p.m.
………………………………………… Chairman
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