Agenda and decisions

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2022 (copy attached).

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.

At each Cabinet meeting, up to 15 minutes shall be allocated for questions or statements from and discussion with, non-Cabinet members. Members wishing to speak during this session are encouraged to give notice in advance. Who speaks and for how long will be at the complete discretion of the person presiding.

Members of the public who live or work in the district are invited to put one question or statement of not more than three minutes duration relating to items to be discussed in Part 1 of the agenda only. If a question is asked and answered within three minutes, the person who asked the question may ask a supplementary question that arises from the reply.

A person who wishes to speak must register at least 15 minutes before the time the meeting is scheduled to start. This can be done online by sending the request to democratic.services@westsuffolk.gov.uk or telephoning 01638 719237 or in person by telling the Committee Administrator present at the meeting. We would urge anyone who wishes to register to speak to notify Democratic Services by 9am on the day of the meeting so that advice can be given on the arrangements in place. 

There is an overall time limit of 15 minutes for public speaking, which may be extended at the Chair’s discretion.

Report number:     CAB/WS/22/063

Chair of the Committee: Councillor Ian Shipp

Lead officer: Christine Brain

Report number:     CAB/WS/22/064

Portfolio holder: Councillor Sarah Broughton

Chair of the Committee: Councillor Ian Houlder

Lead officer: Christine Brain

Report number:     CAB/WS/22/065

Portfolio holders: Councillors Andy Drummond and Peter Stevens

Lead officer: Mark Walsh

Resolved:

That, the following Options be endorsed:

1.           Option 2: That Civil Enforcement Officers continue to provide informal advice and guidance to drivers as part of their day-to-day activities.

2.           Option 3: That the Council continues to undertake general air quality improvement work, focusing on vehicle idling where proportionate, including education not just in schools but also includes the general public; signs; leaflets and social media.

Report number:     CAB/WS/22/066

Portfolio holder: Councillor Sarah Broughton

Chair of the Committee: Councillor Ian Houlder

Lead officer: Rachael Mann

Recommended to Council:

(13 December 2022)

That the proposals as detailed in Section 2 and Table 1 at Paragraph 3.2 of report number PAS/WS/22/021, be included in the medium-term financial plans to 2027.

Noted:

The Cabinet noted the concerns raised by some members of the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee of the absence of specific funding for street lighting in the former Forest Heath area.

Report number:     CAB/WS/22/067

Portfolio holder: Councillor Sarah Broughton

Chair of the Committee: Councillor Ian Houlder

Lead officer: Rachael Mann

Recommended to Council:

(13 December 2022)

That the Treasury Management Report (September 2022), as contained in Report number FRS/WS/22/005, be approved.

Report number:     CAB/WS/22/068

Portfolio holder: Councillor Joanna Rayner

Lead officer: Alex Wilson

Recommended to Council:

(13 December 2022)

That:

1.           This review and update of the business case for the Western Way (WW) project, Bury St Edmunds and, as part of that wider scheme, the replacement of the Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre, be approved so that Cabinet and officers can continue to deliver phase 1 of the project and any interim works to the rest of the site on the revised basis set out in this review and in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

2.           The existing authorities, financial provisions, safeguards and financial tests for delivery of the project be updated as follows:

(a)         The remainder of the due diligence for the second stage of tendering be carried out in accordance with the two new gateways defined in Section E of this review.

(b)         For either facility to be included in the phase 1 construction contract, Suffolk County Council must have entered into a formal pre-let agreement for an archive facility and/or pre-school which meets the One Public Estate principles of full cost recovery.

(c)         The previous spending caps and financial tests for the hub and leisure centre be replaced by a new combined and reduced net capital expenditure limit of £65 million for the total phase 1 scheme defined in this report i.e. project costs, market analysis, enabling works, construction of the initial community hub, installation of renewables.

(d)         In addition to this cap on expenditure, at the time the main construction contract is signed, the phase 1 scheme must not increase the Council’s existing MTFS provision of £724,000 for Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre and, in relation to other ancillary elements of the new hub, be capable of achieving at least a break-even position over the whole life of the borrowing.

(e)         In addition to the phase 1 scheme defined in the review, a further capital allocation of up to £10 million be made in the Council’s capital programme for interim works to the remainder of the Western Way site as defined in Appendix 3 of this report and also on the basis of at least a break-even income position over the life of the borrowing.

(f)          Subject to consultation with the relevant portfolio holders, approval be given for interim or enabling works ahead of the main contract for phase 1, to be financed from within the new combined WW capital budget of £75m. But only where these works will increase the commercial value of the site irrespective of whether the WW project proceeds or not.

(g)         The cash flow risk being managed.

(h)         The most beneficial and economic funding method for the project is identified, including entering into agreements with third-party investors if required; and

(i)           Any phase 2 scheme for a permanent use of the remainder of the WW site be subject to a new and separate business case to councillors before the conclusion of the phase 1 construction programme.

Report number:     CAB/WS/22/069

Portfolio holder: Councillor Sarah Broughton

Lead officers: Rachael Mann and Adrian Mills

Recommended to Council:

(13 December 2022)

That:

1.           The Local Council Tax Reduction (LCTRS) Scheme for 2023 to 2024 as outlined in Report number CAB/WS/22/069, be reviewed.

2.           The changes to the Scheme outlined in section 2 of Report number CAB/WS/22/069 and that the maximum discount change only relates to 2023 to 2024, be agreed.

Report number:     CAB/WS/22/070

Portfolio holder: Councillor Sarah Broughton

Lead officer: Rachael Mann

Recommended to Council:

(13 December 2022)

That:

1.           The tax base for 2023 to 2024, for the whole of West Suffolk be 57,987.01 equivalent band D dwellings, as detailed in paragraph 2.3 of Report number CAB/WS/22/070.

2.           The tax base for 2023 to 2024 for the different parts of its area, as defined by parish or special expense area boundaries, be as shown in Appendix 3 of Report number CAB/WS/22/070.

To consider the most recently published version of the Cabinet’s Decisions Plan

Report number:     CAB/WS/22/071

Portfolio holder: Councillor John Griffiths

Lead officer: Ian Gallin

Report number:     CAB/WS/22/072

Portfolio holder: Councillor Sara Mildmay-White

Lead officer: Julie Baird

Resolved:

That:

1.           The progress update for Barley Homes and steps outlined Report number Cab/WS/22/072, to secure its medium-term pipeline of sites, be noted.

2.           The Barley Homes Business Plan 2022, covering 2023 to 2024 and the medium term, attached at Exempt Appendix A to Report number CAB/WS/22/072, be approved.

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.

Report number:     CAB/WS/22/073

Portfolio holder: Councillor Sarah Broughton

Lead officer: Rachael Mann

(This report is to be considered in private under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information))

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

Resolved:

The recommendations have been approved, as set out in Exempt Report number CAB/WS/22/073.

Exempt Appendix A to Report number: CAB/WS/22/072

Portfolio holder: Councillor Sara Mildmay-White

Lead officer: Julie Baird

(This exempt Appendix is to be considered in private under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as it contains information relation to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information))

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