Agenda for Cabinet on Tuesday 11 April 2023, 6.00 pm

Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Conference Room, Mildenhall Hub, Sheldrick Way, Mildenhall, IP28 7JX

Contact: Sharon Turner: Democratic Services Officer  Email: democratic.services@westsuffolk.gov.uk

Note: This previously stated 'reserve' meeting date has been confirmed to consider items of substantive business. 

Items
No. Item

461.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

No apologies for absence were received.

 

462.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 147 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 2023 (copy attached).

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 2023 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

463.

Declarations of interest

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.

464.

Open forum

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.

Minutes:

No non-Cabinet members in attendance wished to speak under this item.

 

465.

Public participation

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 01284 757176 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.

Minutes:

There were no members of the public in attendance on this occasion.

466.

Report of the Anglia Revenues and Benefits Partnership Joint Committee: 7 March 2023 pdf icon PDF 175 KB

Report number:     CAB/WS/23/020

Portfolio holder: Councillor Sarah Broughton

Lead officer: Rachael Mann

Minutes:

(Report number CAB/WS/23/020)

 

The Cabinet received and noted this report, which informed members of the following substantive items discussed by the Anglia Revenues and Benefits Partnership Joint Committee at their meeting held on 7 March 2023:

 

1.   Performance report: December 2022

2.   ARP financial performance report

3.   Welfare reform update

4.   Forthcoming issues

 

Councillor Sarah Broughton, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Property, drew relevant issues to the attention of the Cabinet.

 

Councillor Broughton also placed her thanks on record for the sterling work of the Anglia Revenues and Benefits Partnership.

 

467.

Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee: 9 March 2023 pdf icon PDF 128 KB

Report number:     CAB/WS/23/021

Chair of the Committee: Councillor Ian Shipp

Lead officer: Christine Brain

Minutes:

(Report number CAB/WS/23/021)

 

The Cabinet received this report, which informed Members of the following substantive items discussed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting held on 9 March 2023:

 

1.   Mildenhall Hub post implementation review

2.   Suffolk County Council Health Scrutiny – 25 January 2023

3.   Work programme update 2023

 

Councillor Ian Shipp, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, drew relevant issues to the attention of the Cabinet and explained that a separate report was included later on the Cabinet agenda in relation to Agenda Item 1. above, under Report number CAB/WS/23/022.  Councillor Shipp also advised the Cabinet that, subsequent to the Committee’s meeting, Councillor Andy Neal had been approached by residents, as a local ward member, regarding a suggestion that given it was also a busy pedestrian crossing point for the Mildenhall Hub, a lower speed limit on Wamil Way might also be considered.  Councillor Shipp considered that this suggestion was consistent with the Committee’s findings.  Councillor Jo Rayner, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Community Hubs, indicated that she considered that it was appropriate that the Cabinet may wish to amend recommendation 7. of Report number CAB/WS/23/022 to include this proposal in the ongoing discussions with the Highway Authority.

 

Councillor Shipp also wished to thank Councillor Griffiths for his leadership and support over the past four years.  He also thanked Councillor Margaret Marks for the work which she had undertaken as the Council’s representative on the Suffolk County Council Health Scrutiny Committee.

 

Collectively, the Cabinet also thanked Councillor Shipp, along with the members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, for all of the work which they had undertaken within their scrutiny role.

 

468.

Recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee: 9 March 2023 - Mildenhall Hub post implementation review pdf icon PDF 150 KB

Report number:     CAB/WS/23/022

Portfolio holder: Councillor Joanna Rayner

Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Councillor Ian Shipp   

Lead officer: Alex Wilson

 

Decision:

Resolved:

 

That:

1.           Subject to the suggested actions below, the Cabinet endorsed the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s conclusion that the Mildenhall Hub has met the strategic and environmental objectives set for it by Forest Heath District Council in 2018 and is making good progress towards the break-even financial test by year five of its operation.

 

2.           Subject to joint-funding and planning consent, adaptations be made to the eastern plaza to:

 

-      Reduce the walking distance from disabled parking spaces to the eastern entrance;

-      Create a disabled drop-off;

-      Future-proof the future expansion of the Hub by providing more disabled parking spaces.

 

3.           When any works to the east plaza are complete, investigate, consult on and, if appropriate, introduce a Traffic Regulation Order to regulate the parking on site.

 

4.           The current and future capacity of on-site car parking should be taken into account as part of any proposals for expansion of education capacity at and adjacent to the Hub; and the Council, as Hub landlord, should make submissions to the Local Planning Authority, Highways Authority and/or education partners accordingly on behalf of the partnership.

 

5.           The final required highways audit of the Queensway / Sheldrick Way junction be commissioned in late 2023.

 

6.           The current and future capacity of the Queensway / Sheldrick Way junction should be taken into account as part of any highway appraisals for the delivery of the West Mildenhall masterplan and/or any proposals for expansion of primary and secondary education capacity at and adjacent to the Hub; and the Council, as Hub landlord, should make submissions to the Local Planning Authority, Highways Authority and/or education partners accordingly on behalf of the partnership.

 

7.           Cabinet makes representation to Suffolk County Council regarding a light-controlled crossing being installed at the zebra crossing in the High Street leading to Church Walk, Mildenhall and the introduction of a 20mph speed limit on Wamil Way, Mildenhall.

 

8.           To review progress against the year five financial test, a final report on the Mildenhall Hub Post Implementation Review be included in the Committee’s work programme for 2026, subject to the completion of a scoping / key lines of enquiry exercise being carried out with the Strategic Director.

Minutes:

(Report number CAB/WS/23/022)

 

At its meeting on 9 March 2023, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had received Report number OAS/WS/3/003 which had carried out a post implementation scrutiny review of the Council’s involvement in the Mildenhall Hub, which had opened to the public in May 2021 and represented a combined public sector investment of over £40 million into facilities for Mildenhall and the surrounding area. 

 

As a broad structure to the review, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee examined the following issues, to make recommendations to Cabinet/Council accordingly:

 

1.           Had the capital project achieved the objectives last set for it by the Council?

2.           How had the Mildenhall Hub performed in its first 20 months against its business plan and funding model?

3.           What remaining actions were there to deliver the Council’s original objectives.

 

The review had also included information on the baseline position; delivery of strategic objectives (non-financial); impact of new leisure facilities; wider hub concept and other partners’ facilities; environmental performance; external recognition; delivery of financial objectives and further actions to implement project objectives.

 

After considering the content of the review, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had submitted eight recommendations for endorsement by the Cabinet, as set out in Report number CAB/WS/23/022.  

 

Councillor Ian Shipp, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, also drew relevant issues to the attention of the Cabinet.

 

As had been raised under the previous item (minute number 467. above), the Cabinet also discussed the proposed amendment to Recommendation 7. with regards to a lower speed limit being introduced on Wamil Way, Mildenhall.  The Cabinet duly supported this amendment.

 

Resolved:

 

That:

1.           Subject to the suggested actions below, the Cabinet endorsed the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s conclusion that the Mildenhall Hub has met the strategic and environmental objectives set for it by Forest Heath District Council in 2018 and is making good progress towards the break-even financial test by year five of its operation.

 

2.           Subject to joint-funding and planning consent, adaptations be made to the eastern plaza to:

 

-      Reduce the walking distance from disabled parking spaces to the eastern entrance;

-      Create a disabled drop-off;

-      Future-proof the future expansion of the Hub by providing more disabled parking spaces.

 

3.           When any works to the east plaza are complete, investigate, consult on and, if appropriate, introduce a Traffic Regulation Order to regulate the parking on site.

 

4.           The current and future capacity of on-site car parking should be taken into account as part of any proposals for expansion of education capacity at and adjacent to the Hub; and the Council, as Hub landlord, should make submissions to the Local Planning Authority, Highways Authority and/or education partners accordingly on behalf of the partnership.

 

5.           The final required highways audit of the Queensway / Sheldrick Way junction be commissioned in late 2023.

 

6.           The current and future capacity of the Queensway / Sheldrick Way junction should be taken into account as part of any highway appraisals for the delivery of the West Mildenhall masterplan and/or  ...  view the full minutes text for item 468.

469.

Decisions Plan: 1 April 2023 to 31 May 2024 pdf icon PDF 237 KB

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

 

Report number:     CAB/WS/23/023

Portfolio holder: Councillor John Griffiths

Lead officer: Ian Gallin

Minutes:

(Report number CAB/WS/23/023)

 

The Cabinet considered this report which was the Cabinet Decisions Plan covering the period 1 April 2023 to 31 May 2024.

 

Members took the opportunity to review the intended forthcoming decisions of the Cabinet; however, no further information or amendments were requested on this occasion.

470.

Vote of Thanks to the Leader of the Council

Minutes:

Prior to the conclusion of the meeting, Councillor Jo Rayner, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Community Hubs, made the following ‘Vote of Thanks’ to Councillor John Griffiths, Leader of the Council, on behalf of the Cabinet:

 

“With the news last week of Councillor Griffiths deciding not to stand for leader after May, I would like to take a moment, on behalf of Cabinet, to share our thanks to John.

 

John, you have been an exceptional leader over the two decades in which you have led St Edmundsbury Borough Council and West Suffolk Council. You have created a long lasting legacy of investment in the wellbeing and prosperity of West Suffolk’s communities, businesses and environment and have been a stalwart champion of the area locally, regionally and nationally.

 

The achievements we have seen in West Suffolk is testament to your ability to work across boundaries and parties to get the best outcomes and services for the people of West Suffolk, even during the most challenging times. John you will certainly be a hard act to follow. From your Cabinet colleagues, we would like to thank you for your long dedication to public service as Leader.”

 

Councillor Griffiths responded by thanking Councillor Rayner and the Cabinet for their kind words and also acknowledged that the achievements had been a collective effort of the Cabinet.

 

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