Agenda and minutes

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Council meetings held on 27 September 2017 and 18 October 2017 (copy attached).

The minutes of the meetings held on 27 September 2017 and 18 October 2017 were unanimously received as a correct record and were signed by the Chairman.

Report No: COU/FH/17/031

The Chairman advised the meeting that contrary to the list in Report No COU/FH/17/031 she did not attend the engagements listed against 10 December 2017 (Open House Event, RAF Mildenhall) or 18 December 2017 (Newmarket Town Council meeting) as both events were cancelled.

Councillors Carol Lynch and Simon Cole asked questions with regard to the postponed Newmarket Town Council meeting which were responded to by the Service Manager (Democratic Services).

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Andrew Appleby, Robin Millar and Reg Silvester.

Councillor Louise Marston was also unable to attend the meeting.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest not entered in the Authority's register or local non pecuniary interest which they have in any item of business on the agenda (subject to the exception for sensitive information) and to leave the meeting prior to discussion and voting on an item in which they have a disclosable pecuniary interest.

None were declared.

Report No: COU/FH/17/032

Council Procedure Rule 8.2 states that ‘the Leader of the Council will introduce the statement and members may ask the Leader questions on the content of both his/her introductory remarks and the written report. All questions will be answered immediately by the Leader or by the relevant Cabinet Member if the Leader refers any question to him or her, unless sufficient information to give an answer is not available. In these circumstances the member asking the question will receive a response in writing within five working days of the Council meeting at which the question was asked.’

8.3 - A total of 30 minutes will be allowed for questions and responses. There will be a limit of five minutes for each question to be asked and answered. The member asking the original question may put a supplementary question arising from the reply so long as the five minute limit is not exceeded.

The Leader presented his statement to the meeting, as set out in Report No COU/FH/17/032.

Further to the topics covered in his written report, the Leader advised that Karen Points, Assistant Director for Human Resources, Legal and Democratic Services, would be leaving the West Suffolk councils to take up a new role as Strategic Director of Abbeycroft Leisure in early 2018.  He thanked the Assistant Director for all her support and wished her well in her new role.

The Leader also invited the Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance to inform the meeting that Councils in Suffolk, including Forest Heath District Council and St Edmundsbury Borough Council, had been successful in bidding to become a ‘100% Business Rates’ pilot area.  The Cabinet Member advised Council of the benefits being involved in this scheme could bring about to the West Suffolk councils.

Lastly, the Leader concluded by thanking his fellow Members and Officers for all their valued input over the past year and wished all a very Merry Christmas.

The report was noted.

Council Procedure Rule 6 Members of the public who live or work in the District are invited to put one question of not more than five minutes duration.  A person who wishes to speak must register at least fifteen minutes before the time the meeting is scheduled to start.*

(Note: the maximum time to be set aside for this item is 30 minutes, but if all questions are dealt with sooner, or if there are no questions, the Council will proceed to the next business.)

Each person may ask one question only.  A total of five minutes will be allowed for the question to be put and answered.  One further question will be allowed arising directly from the reply provided that the original time limit of five minutes is not exceeded.

Written questions may be submitted by members of the public to the Service Manager (Democratic Services) no later than 10.00am Tuesday 19 December 2017.  The written notification should detail the full question to be asked at the meeting of the Council.*

*For further information, see the Public Information Sheet attached to this agenda.

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

Report No: COU/FH/17/033

(A)       Referrals from Cabinet: 24 October 2017

1.   West Suffolk Local Code of Corporate Governance

Cabinet Member: Councillor Stephen Edwards

2.   First Year Review of Performance of the Council’s Solar Farm and Future of its Wholly-Owned Company: Greenheath Energy Ltd

Cabinet Member: Councillor Stephen Edwards

(B)       Referrals from Cabinet: 12 December 2017

1.   West Suffolk Operational Hub

Cabinet Member: Councillor David Bowman

(For ease of reference, the full Cabinet report (Report No:         CAB/FH/17/057) is attached to this referral as Appendix 1.)

2.   Mid-Year Treasury Management Report 2017/2018 and Investment Activity: 1 April to 30 September 2017

Cabinet Member: Councillor Stephen Edwards

3.   Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2018/2019

Cabinet Member: Councillor Stephen Edwards

4.   Council Tax Base for Tax Setting Purposes 2018/2019

Cabinet Member: Councillor Stephen Edwards

5.   Draft West Suffolk Strategic Framework 2018-2020

Cabinet Member: Councillor James Waters

(For ease of reference, the full Cabinet report (Report No:         CAB/FH/17/064) is attached to this referral as Appendix 2.)

The Council considered the referrals report of recommendations from Cabinet as set out in Report No COU/FH/17/033:

1.           West Suffolk Local Code of Corporate Governance

(Cabinet: 24 October 2017)

Councillor Stephen Edwards, Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance, presented this referral item.

On the motion of the Cabinet Member, seconded by Councillor Andy Drummond and with the vote being unanimous, it was

RESOLVED:

That the West Suffolk Local Code of Corporate Governance, attached as Appendix A to Report No PAS/FH/17/025, be approved.

2.           First Year Review of Performance of the Council’s Solar Farm and Future of its Wholly Owned Company Greenheath Energy Ltd

(Cabinet: 24 October 2017)

Councillor Stephen Edwards, Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance, presented this referral item and responded to questions, alongside the Assistant Director (Resources and Performance), where posed by Members.

The Cabinet Member also took this opportunity to provide Council with a short briefing on the performance of the District Council’s entire investment portfolio.

Councillor Nigel Roman posed a question as to whether the return from current District Council investments would be ring-fenced to District Council residents when the West Suffolk Council came into being.  The Assistant Director (Resources and Performance) explained that there was no statutory requirement to segregate in this way.  The Cabinet Member also reminded the meeting that St Edmundsbury Borough Council similarly had a significant investment portfolio.

Councillor Victor Lukaniuk raised specific questions with regard to The Flowerpot premises in Brandon and occupancy levels of the industrial units on the Brandon Industrial Estate.

Councillor David Bowman, Cabinet Member for Operations, advised that three new businesses had recently taken up occupancy on Brandon Industrial Estate.  However, in light of the questions requiring detailed responses it was agreed, through the Chairman, for a written reply to be provided to Councillor Lukaniuk.

On the motion of the Cabinet Member, seconded by Councillor Simon Cole and with the vote being unanimous, it was

RESOLVED:

          That:-

1.   Forest Heath District Council, as the shareholder of Greenheath Energy Ltd, agree to the small company audit exemption being applied and the Council to give financial guarantee over Greenheath Energy Ltd; and

2.   Forest Heath District Council, as the shareholder of Greenheath Energy Ltd, support the Directors in applying to strike off Greenheath Energy Ltd on their behalf.

3.       West Suffolk Operational Hub

(Cabinet: 12 December 2017)

Councillor David Bowman, Cabinet Member for Operations, presented this referral item.

  The Cabinet Member was pleased to inform Council that the Secretary of State had formally decided not to call in the West Suffolk Operational Hub application for his determination, hence planning permission had now been formally granted by St Edmundsbury Borough Council.

On the motion of the Cabinet Member, seconded by Councillor Nigel Roman and with the vote being unanimous, it was

RESOLVED:

          That:-

1.   Report No CAB/FH/17/057 and its appendices be noted;

2.   The allocation of an additional £589,000 to the Council’s Capital Programme, funded in line with Paragraphs 5.14 – 5.17 of Report No CAB/FH/17/057, be approved;

3.   Subject  ...  view the full minutes text for item 282.

Development Control Committee                  4 October 2017

                                                                   1 November 2017

                                                                   6 December 2017

Licensing and Regulatory Committee           30 October 2017

Overview and Scrutiny Committee               9 November 2017

Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee 29 November 2017

West Suffolk Joint Standards Committee      11 December 2017

There were no questions to Chairmen of other Committees.

The Council will consider any urgent questions on notice that were notified to the Service Manager (Democratic Services) by 11.00am on the day of the meeting. 

There were no urgent questions on notice.

On conclusion of the meeting the Chairman wished all Members and Officers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.