Agenda for Shadow Council on Tuesday 17 July 2018, 6.30 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Conference Chamber, West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3YU

Contact: Helen Hardinge (Democratic Services Officer)  Email: helen.hardinge@westsuffolk.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

20.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 139 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 30 May 2018 and 12 June 2018 (copies attached).

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meetings held on 30 May 2018 and 12 June 2018 were received as an accurate record, with 54 voting for the motion and with 3 abstentions, and were signed by the Chair. 

21.

Chairman's Announcements

Minutes:

The Chair drew attention to the work that was ongoing in respect of the civic leadership for the West Suffolk Council.  She encouraged all Members to take part in the debate and to similarly encourage their constituents to do the same. 

22.

Apologies for Absence

To receive announcements (if any) from the officer advising the Chairman (including apologies for absence)

 

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Sarah Broughton, Rona Burt, Louis Busuttil, Jason Crooks, Wayne Hailstone, Jane Midwood, Peter Ridgwell, Nigel Roman, Lance Stanbury, James Waters and Anthony Williams.

 

Councillors Andrew Appleby, Louise Marston and Andrew Speed were also unable to attend the meeting. 

23.

Declarations of Interests

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary or local non pecuniary interest which they have in any item of business on the agenda no later than when that item is reached and, when appropriate, to leave the meeting prior to discussion and voting on the item.

 

Minutes:

Members declarations of interest are recorded under the item to which the declaration relates.

24.

Leader's Statement (Report No: COU/SA/18/006) pdf icon PDF 62 KB

Paper No: COU/SA/18/006

 

(Shadow Council Procedure Rules 8.1 – 8.3)  The Leader will provide a written statement summarising important developments and activities since the preceding meeting of the Shadow Council where these have arisen.  These developments and activities will solely relate to the development of the Shadow Council, and matters related to the future West Suffolk Council.

 

Members may ask the Leader questions on the content of both his introductory remarks and the written statement itself.

 

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. A supplementary question arising from the reply may be asked so long as the five minute limit is not exceeded.

Minutes:

Councillor John Griffiths, Leader of the Shadow Council, presented his Leader’s Statement as contained in Paper No: COU/SA/18/006.

25.

Public Participation

(Shadow Council Procedure Rules Section 6) Members of the public who live or work in the West Suffolk area are invited to put one question  of not more than five minutes duration about the work of the Shadow Council to members of the Shadow Executive.  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 Shadow 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 Interim Monitoring Officer no later than 10.00 am on Monday 16 July 2018.. The written notification should detail the full question to be asked at the meeting of the Council.)*

 

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

 

Minutes:

The following question was put and answered during Public Question Time:

 

Robert Houlton-Hart, Secretary of Moreton Hall Residents’ Association, addressed the meeting with regard to the draft recommendations proposed for the West Suffolk Council Electoral Arrangements, with particular reference to the draft warding proposals for Moreton Hall, as set out in Report No: COU/SA/18/008, to be considered later at agenda item 8.

 

Mr Houlton-Hart welcomed the proposal put forward for Moreton Hall which the Residents’ Association considered to accurately reflect the distinct community of the area and the future growth.

 

In response, Councillor John Griffiths, Leader of the Shadow Council, thanked Mr Houlton-Hart for his comments and also gave thanks to the Moreton Hall Residents’ Association for their valued engagement with the ward review process.

 

Councillor Griffiths reminded all present that the West Suffolk Shadow Council carried no greater weight in their response than any other organisation/individual.  As such, he was encouraging all interested parties to respond to the consultation.

26.

Referrals report of recommendations from the Shadow Executive (Cabinet) (Report No: COU/SA/18/007) pdf icon PDF 106 KB

Report No: COU/SA/18/007

 

(A)    Referrals from Shadow Executive (Cabinet):

          10 July 2018

 

(The following referrals have been compiled before the meeting of the Shadow Executive (Cabinet) on 10 July 2018 and are based on the recommendations contained within the reports. Any amendments made by the Shadow Executive to the recommendations will be notified prior to the Shadow Council meeting)

 

1.

West Suffolk Council – Setting the Strategic Context for the Development of the 2019/2020 Budget and Medium Term Financial Plans

 

Shadow Executive (Cabinet) Members:

Cllrs Stephen Edwards and Ian Houlder

 

 

2.

West Suffolk – Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2019/2020

 

Shadow Executive (Cabinet) Members:

Cllrs Stephen Edwards and Ian Houlder

 

 

3.

West Suffolk Council Tax Technical Changes – Including Empty Property Reliefs and Premiums Changes

 

Shadow Executive (Cabinet) Members:

Cllrs Stephen Edwards and Ian Houlder

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillors Patrick Chung, John Griffiths, Beccy Hopfensperger, Victor Lukaniuk, Carol Lynch, Margaret Marks, Robin Pilley and Clive Pollington  declared non-pecuniary interests in referral item 3 (West Suffolk Council Tax Technical Changes), as they were private sector landlords, they indicated that they would remain in the meeting during the item but would abstain from voting.

 

Councillor Paul Hopfensperger declared a pecuniary interest in referral items 2 and 3 (Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme and West Suffolk Council Tax Technical Changes) he indicated that he would withdraw from the meeting during consideration of these items.

 

The Shadow Council considered the Referrals Report of Recommendations from the Shadow Executive (Cabinet) contained within Report No: COU/SA/18/007.

 

Referrals from Shadow Executive (Cabinet): 10 July 2018

 

1.     West Suffolk Council – Setting the Strategic Context for the Development of the 2019/2020 Budget and Medium Term Financial Plans

 

This report set out the strategic context (proposed principles, approach and timescales) for the development of the 2019/2020 budget and Medium Term Financial Plans for the new West Suffolk Council from 1 April 2019.

 

Councillors Stephen Edwards and Ian Houlder, FHDC and SEBC Portfolio Holders for Resources and Performance respectively, drew relevant aspects of the report to the attention of the Shadow Council. 

 

The Portfolio Holders encouraged all Members to attend the programme of briefings being delivered by Finance Officers on the budget work.

 

On the motion of Councillor Stephen Edwards, seconded by Councillor Ian Houlder, and with the vote being unanimous it was

 

RESOLVED:

 

That:-

 

1.   The West Suffolk Strategic Framework (subject to rebranding; wording changes from “councils” to “council” and other consequential amendments, which will be completed by Officers) as its Strategic Framework from 1 April 2019, be adopted.

 

2.   Both the West Suffolk Medium Term Financial Strategy, contained at Appendix A and West Suffolk Capital Strategy contained at Appendix B to Report No: EXC/SA/18/002 as its strategic financial framework from 1 April 2019, be adopted.

 

3.   The key principles and approach for the development of the 2019-2020 budget and medium term financial plans for West Suffolk Council as set out in Section 3 of Report No: EXC/SA/18/002, be supported, including the consideration of a further report (setting out the proposed approach to achieve these principles) to the Joint Informal Performance, Audit and Scrutiny Committee on 25 July 2018.

 

2.     West Suffolk – Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2019/2020

 

This report set out the proposed West Suffolk Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS) to take effect from 1 April 2019.

 

Councillors Stephen Edwards and Ian Houlder, FHDC and SEBC Portfolio Holders for Resources and Performance respectively, drew relevant aspects of the report to the attention of the Shadow Council. 

 

On the motion of Councillor Ian Houlder, seconded by Councillor Stephen Edwards, and with the vote being unanimous it was

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the West Suffolk Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for West Suffolk be approved, to take effect from 1 April 2019 as attached at Appendix A and as detailed in Section 5 of Report No: EXC/SA/18/003.

 

3.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

27.

Local Government Boundary Commission for England's (LGBCE) Draft Recommendations for new Electoral Arrangements for West Suffolk Council (Report No: COU/SA/18/008) pdf icon PDF 132 KB

Report No: COU/SA/18/008

Additional documents:

Minutes:

This report set out the draft recommendations for the new electoral arrangements for the West Suffolk Council as issued by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) and invited consultation responses by the deadline of 27 August 2018.

 

Councillors Ruth Bowman and Carol Bull, FHDC and SEBC Portfolio Holders for Future Governance respectively, gave thanks to the LGBCE and all parties who had contributed towards the process to date.

 

Members were advised that the Future Governance Steering Group was next due to meet on 27 July 2018 and all Councillors were invited to attend.

 

The Chair reminded the meeting that should Members wish to inform the Council’s response to the LGBCE’s consultation they would need to submit comments to Officers by 9am on Friday 20 July 2018.

 

All Councillors were also encouraged to submit their own direct responses to the LGBCE by the deadline of 27 August 2018.

 

On the motion of Councillor Carol Bull, seconded by Councillor Ruth Bowman and with the vote being unanimous, it was

 

RESOLVED:

 

That:-

 

1.   The Head of Paid Service be authorised to prepare and submit the Shadow Authority’s observations and any new local evidence  in respect of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England’s draft recommendations for electoral arrangements for West Suffolk Council before the deadline on 27 August 2018; taking account the views of the Future Governance Steering Group and any additional representations received from Councillors; and

 

2.   All interested parties, including individual Councillors, are encouraged to make their own direct consultation responses to the LGBCE.

 

(Councillor Mary Evans joined the meeting at 7.11pm during the

preliminary discussion of this item.)

28.

Urgent Questions on Notice

The Shadow Council will consider any urgent questions on notice that were notified to the Interim Monitoring Officer by 11am on the day of the meeting.

 

Minutes:

No urgent questions on notice had been received. 

 

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