Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D W Bowman, W Hirst and R J Millar.

Members of the public are invited to put questions/statements of not more than 3 minutes duration relating to items to be discussed in Part 1 of the agenda only.

There were no questions/statements from members of the public.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 17 February 2015 (attached).

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 17 February 2015 were unanimously accepted as an accurate record and signed by the Leader.

To receive and consider the recommendations arising from the proceedings of the following (herewith):

The minutes of the following Joint Panels and Working Group were received:

(a)     West Suffolk Joint Staff Consultative Panel – 26 January 2015

(b)     Local Plan Working Group – 28 January 2015

(c)     West Suffolk Joint Emergency Planning Panel – 12 February 2015

(d)     West Suffolk Joint Health and Safety Panel – 16 February 2015

Items the subject of formal report or proposition were as follows:-

There were no items the subject of formal report/proposition.

Revised Local Development Scheme Programme Chart – January 2015 (Report No LOP/FH/15/002)

Determined by Cabinet on 17 February 2015 under Report No CAB/FH/15/012.

Minute Number 6 - Revised Local Development Scheme Programme Chart – January 2015 (Report No LOP/FH/15/002)

The recommendations listed under this minute had been previously determined by Cabinet on 17 February 2015  (Report No CAB/FH/15/012 refers).

There were no items the subject of formal report/proposition.

There were no items the subject of formal report/proposition.

It was moved, duly seconded and unanimously

          RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the respective Joint Panels and Working Group, be approved and that authority is hereby given for such action to be taken, as necessary, to give effect thereto.

Report No: CAB/FH/15/017

Cabinet Member: Stephen Edwards           Lead Officer: Rachael Mann

RESOLVED:

That the write-off of the amounts detailed in the exempt Appendix to Report No CAB/FH/15/017, be approved as follows:

1.   Exempt Appendix 1: Business Rates totalling £69,855.80.

(Report No CAB/FH/15/017)

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Governance and Performance presented this report, which sought approval for the write-off of uncollectable amounts in respect of Business Rates.  The specific reasons for recommending these write-offs, was included within the exempt Appendix 1 to Report No CAB/FH/15/017.

The Cabinet Member also reported on the collection rates for Business Rates and Council Tax, as set out in paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3 of the report.

With the vote being unanimous, it was

RESOLVED:

That the write-off of the amounts detailed in the exempt Appendix to Report No CAB/FH/15/017, be approved as follows:

1.   Exempt Appendix 1: Business Rates totalling £69,855.80.

Report No: CAB/FH/15/018

Cabinet Member: Stephen Edwards          Lead Officer: Richard Hartley

RESOLVED:

That the Sponsorship and Advertising Policy for West Suffolk, as contained in Appendix 1 to Report No CAB/FH/15/018, be approved.

(Report No CAB/FH/15/018)

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Governance and Performance presented this report which explained that this draft Policy set out the definitions, general principles and procedures for entering into agreements for sponsorship and advertising, so as to maintain propriety and transparency within the Council. 

The draft Policy, was attached at Appendix 1 to Report No CAB/FH/15/018.

With the vote being unanimous, it was

RESOLVED:

That the Sponsorship and Advertising Policy for West Suffolk, as contained in Appendix 1 to Report No CAB/FH/15/018, be approved.

Report No: CAB/FH/15/019

Cabinet Member: Robin Millar                   Lead Officer: Simon Phelan

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

That, the revised Safeguarding Policy and Guidelines for working with Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults, as set out in Appendix A to Report No CAB/FH/15/019, be adopted.

(Report No CAB/FH/15/019)

The Head of Housing presented this report (on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Families and Communities) which set out an updated and revised Safeguarding Policy and Guidelines for working with children, young people and vulnerable adults, to ensure compliance with the new duties placed upon the Council by the Care Act 2014.

The revised Policy was attached as Appendix A to Report No CAB/FH/15/019).

With the vote being unanimous, it was

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

That, the revised Safeguarding Policy and Guidelines for working with Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults, as set out in Appendix A to Report No CAB/FH/15/019, be adopted.

Report No: CAB/FH/15/020

Cabinet Member: Stephen Edwards           Lead Officer: Rachael Mann

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

The Policy for Granting Loans to External Organisations, as set out in Appendix 1 to Report No CAB/FH/15/020, be adopted.

(Report No CAB/FH/15/020)

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Governance and Performance presented this report, which explained that the Council had provided loans to external organisations for a number of reasons, including promotion of economic development and enhancement of sports, leisure or community facilities within the district.  At present, there was no set criteria or policy for the granting of these loans, as each proposed, was judged on its own merits.

The proposed Policy (as set out at Appendix 1) was based on a similar policy adopted by St Edmundsbury Borough Council (SEBC), following extensive research of policies operated by other local authorities, advice from an expert in the field and scrutiny by SEBC’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The adoption of this Policy would support the Council in the adoption of suitable risk-based policy, to which Councillors could refer when considering any future loan application.

With the vote being unanimous, it was

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

That the Policy for Granting Loans to External Organisations, as set out in Appendix 1 to Report No CAB/FH/15/020, be adopted.

Such other business, which in the opinion of the Leader and as set out Paragraphs 15 and 16 of Part 4E of the Access to Information Rules, should be considered as a matter of urgency to be specified in the minutes.

There were no items of Urgent Business raised.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded during the consideration of the following items because it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during the items, there would be disclosure to them of exempt categories of information as prescribed in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and indicated against each item and, in all circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Refer to Minute Number 62. Below.

Appendix 1 to Report No: CAB/FH/15/017

Cabinet Member: Stephen Edwards           Lead Officer: Rachael Mann

(This item is to be considered under paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as it contains information relation to an individual(s) and information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual)

(No representations have been received from members of the public regarding this item being held in private)

The Cabinet considered Exempt Appendix 1 to Report No CAB/FH/15/017, however, as no reference was made to specific detail, this item was not held in private session.