Agenda and minutes
Venue: Conference Chamber, West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3YU
Contact: Claire Skoyles: Democratic Services Officer
Email: claire.skoyles@westsuffolk.gov.uk
Items
No. |
Item |
40. |
Remembrance
Minutes:
Before commencing business, all Members were
asked to stand in order to observe a minute’s silence in
remembrance of former Mayor of St Edmundsbury, Terry Buckle, and
Barbara Hill, Alderman and first female Mayor of St Edmundsbury,
both of whom had sadly died recently.
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41. |
Minutes PDF 265 KB
To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on
19 September 2019 (copy attached).
Minutes:
The minutes of the meeting held on 19
September 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the
Chair.
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42. |
Chair's Announcements PDF 277 KB
To receive announcements (if any) from the
Chair.
A list of civic events/engagements attended by
the Chair and Vice-Chair since the last ordinary meeting of Council
held on 19 September 2019 are attached.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Chair reported on the civic engagements
and charity activities which he and the Vice-Chair had attended
since the last ordinary meeting of Council on 19 September
2019.
The Chair particularly drew attention to
thanking those Members who had laid wreaths on Remembrance Sunday
in the principal towns of West Suffolk; reminding Members to
observe the Council’s guidance on the use of social media;
and encouraged Members to attend the Civic Dinner arranged for 27
March 2020 and the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the
Haverhill Silver Band on 5 May 2020.
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43. |
Apologies for Absence
To receive announcements (if any) from the
officer advising the Chair (including apologies for absence).
Minutes:
Apologies for absence were received from
Councillors Ian Houlder, Aaron Luccarini, Elaine McManus, Robert
Nobbs and Phil Wittam.
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44. |
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.
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45. |
Leader's Statement (Paper No: COU/WS/19/013) PDF 202 KB
Paper No: COU/WS/19/013 TO
FOLLOW
(Council Procedure Rules 8.1
– 8.3) The Leader will submit
a report (the Leader’s Statement) summarising important
developments and activities since the preceding meeting of the
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
Council, presented his Leader’s Statement as outlined in
Paper No: COU/WS/19/013.
Councillor Griffiths made reference to the
following in his introductory remarks:
(a) He firstly congratulated former
Councillor Robin Millar on his recent election as Member of
Parliament for the constituency of Aberconwy in Wales.
Councillor Millar had now resigned from both West Suffolk Council
and Suffolk County Council. Councillor Griffiths paid tribute to
the work of Councillor Millar on West Suffolk Council and the
former Forest Heath District Council, which included recognising
his most recent role as Chair of the West Suffolk Environment and
Climate Change Taskforce.
(b) Councillor Griffiths then
welcomed Councillors David Nettleton and Frank Warby to the
Conservative Group, and also to Councillor David Roach to the
Cabinet. Councillor Griffiths had recently appointed Councillor
Roach as Portfolio Holder for Local Plan Development and
Delivery.
(c) That whilst the pre-election
period had applied in the run up to the General Election on 12
December 2019, projects and events had continued to be developed or
held, whilst ensuring the delivery of services to West Suffolk
residents, including over the Christmas period.
(d) Councillor Griffiths conveyed
his thanks to the work of the West Suffolk Rural Taskforce, the
West Suffolk Environment and Climate Change Taskforce and the Grant
Working Party. The Cabinet would be considering reports from all
three groups on 14 January 2020. The
work of the Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) Committee’s Car
Parking Review Group was also thanked, the recommendations of which
would be presented from the O&S Committee to Cabinet in the new
year.
The Leader responded to a range of questions
relating to:
(a) Whether there was potential for
the construction of a railway halt and improved cycleways to
provide additional infrastructure to support access to the new STEM
facility and Abbeygate Sixth Form College, and the proposed new
Western Way development. In response,
Councillor Griffiths stated that West Suffolk Council worked
closely with Suffolk County Council (SCC), as the responsible
authority for facilitating infrastructure improvements, to try and
achieve practicable solutions. Through engagement with SCC,
opportunities would be explored where possible, which may include
having discussions with Network Rail regarding the possibility of
constructing a railway halt; however, it was important to note that
some opportunities came with significant challenges that would need
to be overcome.
(b) The adverse impact on the
day-to-day lives of persons with special needs when buses were not
punctual. In response, Councillor Griffiths agreed that where there
was a lack of punctuality from certain bus services in the rural
and urban areas, this was a concern for persons of a variety of
ages and needs. This was an issue under the remit of Suffolk County
Council and West Suffolk Council worked closely with the County
Council to try and make improvements, where possible.
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46. |
Public Participation
Council Procedure Rules Section
6) Members of the public who live or work in the District may
put questions about the work of the Council or make statements on
items on the agenda to members of the Cabinet or any Committee.
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/statements are dealt with sooner, or if there are no
questions/statements, the Council will proceed to the next
business.)
Each person may ask one question or make one statement only.
A total of five minutes will be allowed for the question to be put and
answered or the statement made. If a question is raised, one
supplementary question will be allowed provided that it arises directly from the reply and the overall time limit of
five minutes is not exceeded.
If a
statement is made, then the Chair may allow the Leader of the
Council, or other Member to whom they refer the matter, a right of
reply.
Written
questions may be submitted by members of the
public to the Monitoring Officer no later than 10.00 am
on Monday 16 December 2019. The
written notification should detail the full
question to be asked at the meeting of the Council.
Minutes:
The following member of the public spoke under
this agenda item:
1. David Chambers of Mildenhall, made a statement in connection with an issue
affecting a number of residents in the
West Suffolk Council district who were UK citizens employed by
United States Airforce at UK airbases in this region. Mr Chambers
expressed concern that UK (and EU) citizens employed by Local
National Direct Hires for the United States Visiting Forces were
not eligible to the same employment rights as other UK (and EU)
citizens. As RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath were based in West
Suffolk, he wished to bring the matter to the Council’s
attention and to seek support to change this situation.
In response, Councillor John Griffiths, Leader
of the Council, duly acknowledged Mr Chambers’ statement and
expressed his sympathy to those that had been directly affected as
a result of this issue. He added however, that whilst it had an
excellent relationship with them, the Council had limited
jurisdiction and influence over the US airbases and how they
operated in this area. This matter
appeared to be a matter of challenging employment and human rights
law which would involve following a number
of processes.
Councillor Griffiths provided suggestions in
respect of ways in which Mr Chambers could take this matter forward
including contacting ACAS and Matt Hancock MP; and offered his
support on behalf of the Council in his endeavours.
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47. |
Referrals Report of Recommendations from Cabinet (Report No: COU/WS/19/014) PDF 354 KB
Report No: COU/WS/19/014
(A)
Referrals from Cabinet: 8 October 2019
1. West Suffolk Asset
Management Strategy and Plan
Portfolio
Holders: Cllrs Susan Glossop and Peter
Stevens
(B)
Referrals from Cabinet: 26 November 2019
1. Draft
West
Suffolk Strategic Framework 2020-2024
Portfolio
Holder: Cllr John Griffiths
The
above item was deferred by Cabinet for further consideration in
early 2020 and is therefore not included as a referral on this
Council agenda.
2. Investing in Housing
and Development Sites and Approval of the Barley Homes Business
Plan 2019
Portfolio
Holder: Cllr Sara
Mildmay-White
3. Local Council Tax
Reduction Scheme (LCTRS) for 2020-2021
Portfolio
Holder: Cllr Sarah Broughton
4. Council Tax Technical
Changes – Including Empty Property Reliefs and Premiums
Charges
Portfolio
Holder: Cllr Sarah Broughton
5. Council Tax Base for
Tax Setting Purposes 2020/2021
Portfolio
Holder: Cllr Sarah Broughton
6. West Suffolk Medium
Term Financial Strategy 2020-2024
Portfolio
Holder: Cllr Sarah Broughton
7. Exempt:Investing in our
Commercial Asset Portfolio (para 3)
Portfolio
Holder: Cllr Susan Glossop
The
above item was not considered by Cabinet due to the initial
proposal contained within Exempt Cabinet Report No: CAB/WS/19/048
being no longer available for consideration and is therefore not
included as a referral on this Council agenda.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Council considered the Referrals Report of
Recommendations from Cabinet, as contained within Report No:
COU/WS/19/014.
(A) Referrals from Cabinet: 8 October 2019
1. West Suffolk Asset
Management Strategy and Plan
Approval was sought for the
adoption of a new West Suffolk Asset Management Strategy and Plan
(AMSaP), together with proposed delegations associated with
property and asset transactions.
The overall strategic approach
to investing in, managing and disposing of land and property
assets, which was attached as Appendix A to the Cabinet report was
proposed to satisfactorily integrate with the Council’s wider
policy framework, which comprised key policies such as the West
Suffolk Strategic Framework and Medium Term Financial Strategy
(MTFS).
The accompanying Asset
Management Plan, attached as Appendix B, has been produced to
satisfactorily address how the strategic approach would be applied
through the Plan’s division into nine categories.
Appropriate delegations had
also been proposed to be put in place for property and asset
transactions made from the Investing in Growth Fund, which would
align with those previously approved for other investments made
utilising the Investing in Growth Fund.
Councillor Susan Glossop,
Portfolio Holder for Growth, drew relevant issues to the attention
of Council including that the Cabinet had recognised the benefits
of the adopting the AMSaP, which supported the Council’s
behaving more commercially approach contained in the MTFS and
considered it would also provide the framework to enable the
Council to maximise the value of its existing assets.
On the motion of Councillor Glossop, seconded
by Councillor Peter Stevens, it was put to the vote and with the
vote being 57 for the motion, 0 against and 1 abstention, it
was
RESOLVED:
That:
(1) The West
Suffolk Asset Management Strategy attached at Appendix A to Report
No: CAB/WS/19/037, be approved; and
(2) the
delegations for property acquisitions as outlined in the Asset
Management Plan attached at Appendix B, be approved and funded
through the Investing in Growth Fund to be brought in line with
those for non-property transactions from the same fund, as set out
in Section 2.4 of Report No: CAB/WS/19/037.
(B) Referrals from Cabinet: 26 November 2019
1. Draft West Suffolk
Strategic Framework 2020-2024
Council noted that this item had been deferred
by Cabinet to allow for further consideration of amendments
proposed during the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on
14 November 2019. The item was now due to be presented to Cabinet
on 14 January 2020.
2. Investing in Housing
and Development Sites and Approval of the Barley Homes Business
Plan 2019
Approval was sought for the
current development proposals being put forward for Barley Homes;
the longer-term approach to developing a pipeline of developments
for Barley Homes and endorsement was sought for the funding
necessary to deliver these proposals.
Barley Homes (Group) Limited
was established in February 2016 as a company limited by
shares. Following the Interim Business
Plan agreed by councils in 2018, and the creation of West Suffolk
Council on 1 April 2019, it was now 100% owned by West Suffolk
Council. ...
view the full minutes text for item 47.
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48. |
Review of the Political Balance and Appointment to Politically Balanced Bodies (Report No: COU/WS/19/015) PDF 146 KB
Report No:
COU/WS/19/015 TO FOLLOW
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Council considered this report, which sought
approval for the political balance and allocation of seats to
politically balanced bodies.
Since the last meeting of
Council on 19 September 2019, the Monitoring Officer had received
notification that Councillors Frank Warby and David Nettleton had
joined the Conservative Group. The
Monitoring Officer had also received notification that the
remaining Members of the Spectrum Group had joined the Independent
Group. This meant that the Spectrum
Group ceased to exist and therefore a review of the allocation of
seats on committees was required.
In addition, the Council had a
vacant seat as a result of the resignation of Councillor Robin
Millar following his success in the recent general election (see
minute 45. above).
Appendix A set out proposals
for the allocation of seats on politically balanced committees,
with the proposed allocation of substitute member seats provided in
Appendix B. Should approval be given, appointments to the
committees would be made by the Monitoring Officer following the
meeting, on the nominations of Group Leaders.
Councillor John Griffiths,
Leader of the Council, drew relevant issues to the attention of
Council.
On the motion of Councillor Griffiths,
seconded by Councillor Ian Shipp, it was put to the vote and with
the vote being unanimous, it was
RESOLVED:
That:
(1) the political
balance and allocation of seats on committees as set out in
Appendix A of Report No: COU/WS/19/015, be agreed;
(2) the political
balance and allocation of substitutes on Committees as per Appendix
B of Report No: COU/WS/19/015, be agreed; and
(3) based on the
agreed allocations, it be noted that Group Leaders have up to 14
days in which to notify the Monitoring Officer of their nominations
to committee places, on which the Monitoring Officer will appoint
Members to Committees.
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49. |
Any Other Urgent Business
To consider any business, which
by reason of special circumstances, should in the opinion of the
Chair be considered at the meeting as a matter of
urgency.
Minutes:
There were no matters of urgent
business considered on this occasion.
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50. |
Exclusion of Press and Public
To consider whether the press and public
should be excluded during the consideration of the following item
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 the item and, in all circumstances of the case, the public
interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest
in disclosing the information.
Minutes:
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51. |
Exempt Appendix: Referrals Report of Recommendations from Cabinet (para 3)
(B)
Referrals from Cabinet: 26 November 2019
2. Exempt Appendix
A to Report
No: COU/WS/19/014: Investing in Housing and Development Sites
and Approval of the Barley Homes Business Plan 2019
Portfolio
Holder: Cllr Sara
Mildmay-White
Minutes:
(B) Referrals from Cabinet: 26 November 2019
2. Exempt Appendix A:
Investing in Housing and Development Sites and Approval of the
Barley Homes Business Plan 2019
Exempt Appendix A to the above referral was
the Barley Homes Business Plan 2019; however, this had been
considered earlier in the agenda in private session (minute 47.
above refers).
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In this section
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