Agenda and minutes

Prior to commencing the business on the agenda the Chairman invited the Verse Area Manager to come forward and gave sincere thanks to him, on behalf of the whole Council, for all his help and assistance during the nine years he had worked for the Authority.  A farewell gift was awarded and all Members wished him well in his future endeavours.

The Chairman also took this opportunity to highlight that the BBC television programme DIY SOS was coming to Mildenhall in November 2017 to help a local family in renovating their home, in order to meet their needs as a result of a devastating incident. 

Members were informed that a ‘trades day’ seeking tradespeople and suppliers to assist with the build was being held on Thursday 26 October 2017.  The Chairman also advised that due to the proximity of the build to the District Offices the Council was working with the BBC to assist them wherever possible.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Andrew Appleby, Chris Barker, Louise Marston and Colin Noble.

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.

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 17 October 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 or statements from members of the public. 

Report No: COU/FH/17/028

Referrals from Cabinet: 12 September 2017

Annual Treasury Management Report 2016/2017 and Investment Activity: 1 April to 30 June 2017

Cabinet Member: Councillor Stephen Edwards

The Council considered the referrals report of recommendations from Cabinet as set out in Report No COU/FH/17/028:

1.   Annual Treasury Management Report: 2016/2017

(Cabinet: 12 September 2017)

Councillor Stephen Edwards, Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance, presented this referral item and responded to questions as raised by Members.

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

RESOLVED:

That the Annual Treasury Management Report 2016-2017, attached as Attachment 1 to Report No PAS/FH/17/023, be approved.

Report No: COU/FH/17/029

The Leader explained that following the decision made by St Edmundsbury and Forest Heath Councils in September to submit a business case to the Secretary of State to become a single council for West Suffolk, it was now necessary to consider a number of technical matters that would be required to be included in any subsequent Order to become a single Council.

The Leader gave thanks to those Members who sat on the Future Governance Steering Group for all their efforts and input, and moved that the recommendations set out in Report No COU/FH/17/029 be approved, and this was duly seconded by Councillor David Bowman.

Councillor Lance Stanbury spoke at length in support of the report.  He highlighted what an historical decision the two West Suffolk Councils were being asked to make, one which would shape local communities for generations to come. 

Councillor Victor Lukaniuk made reference to Appendix 1 attached to the report.  He was disappointed that Brandon, as one of Forest Heath’s largest towns, was not mentioned by name in the entire document despite Omar Homes (which was located in the town) being referenced.  Officers noted this comment and agreed to take it on board.

Upon being put to the vote, and with the vote being unanimous, it was

RESOLVED:

That:-

1.   Should the Secretary of State be minded to create a single council for West Suffolk, the following matters should be recommended for inclusion within the Order to create the new Council on 1 April 2019:

                                i.        Forest Heath District and St Edmundsbury Borough Councils should transition via the means of a Shadow Authority, which will comprise  all 72 councillors from both councils;

                               ii.        The Shadow Authority should be required to form an implementation executive, to include both the leaders and at least three further councillors from each of  Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury councils;

                             iii.        The name of the new Council should be West Suffolk District Council until such time as the Council, or Shadow Council, may resolve otherwise;

                             iv.        The Shadow Authority should have equivalent powers granted to authorities by virtue of s.245(4) to apply for Borough Status;

                              v.        The proposed Council Size for West Suffolk District Council of 64 members, and the route for determining the final Council Size case, as set out in paragraph 7.4 and 7.5 should be endorsed

2.   Forest Heath District Council recognises that both itself, and St Edmundsbury Borough, will have a duty to co-operate with the Shadow Authority;  and

3.   It be noted  that, during the Secretary of State’s consultation, the Leader of the Council will respond to confirm the Council’s firm commitment to supporting the creation of a new single council for West Suffolk.

Report No: COU/FH/17/030

Councillor Stephen Edwards, Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance, presented this report and sought the agreement of Council to a small number of minor constitutional and other administrative matters.

Councillor Edwards drew attention to recommendation 3 of Report No COU/FH/17/030 and nominated Councillor David Bowman (as Cabinet Member for Operations) to sit on the Shareholder Advisory Group for Verse Facilities Management Ltd.

With there being no other nominations and on the motion of the Cabinet Member, seconded by Councillor Nigel Roman and with the vote being unanimous, it was

RESOLVED:

That:-

1.   Those matters addressed within Paragraph 1.3 of Report No COU/FH/17/030, be added to the scheme of delegation for the Assistant Director (Planning and Regulatory) and the Service Manager, Housing Standards;

2.   The delegated limit for the Service Manager, Shared Legal, to negotiate and settle miscellaneous disputes be increased to £50,000; and

3.   Councillor David Bowman (Cabinet Member for Operations) be nominated to sit on the Shareholder Advisory Group for Verse Facilities Management Ltd.