Agenda and decisions

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2023 (copy attached).

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, other registerable or non-registrable 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/23/035

Chair of the Committee: Councillor Sarah Broughton

Lead officer: Christine Brain

Report number:     CAB/WS/23/036

Chair of the Committee: Councillor Peter Armitage

Portfolio holder: Councillor Diane Hind

Lead officer: Christine Brain

Report number: CAB/WS/23/037

Portfolio holder: Councillor Diane Hind

Chair of the Committee: Councillor Peter Armitage

Lead officer: Christine Brain

Recommended to Council: (26 September 2023)

That the Annual Treasury Management and Financial Resilience Report 2022 to 2023, as contained in Report number FRS/WS/23/003, be approved.

Report number: CAB/WS/23/038

Portfolio holder: Councillor Diane Hind

Chair of the Committee: Councillor Peter Armitage

Lead officer: Christine Brain

Recommended to Council: (26 September 2023)

That the Treasury Management Report (June 2023), as contained in Report number FRS/WS/23/004, be approved.

Report number: CAB/WS/23/039

Portfolio holder: Councillor Gerald Kelly

Lead officer: Jill Korwin

Resolved:

That:

1.           The Cabinet confirms its commitment to addressing the Climate and Environment Emergency and, in particular, to reaching net zero by 2030 in respect of Council operations.

2.           The review, and implementation, of the action plan as set out in Section 2 of Report number CAB/WS/23/039, with draft plan at Appendix A, be approved.

Report number: CAB/WS/23/040

Portfolio holders: Councillors Gerald Kelly and David Taylor

Lead officer: Alex Wilson

Recommended to Council: (26 September 2023)

That:

1.           A Decarbonisation Initiatives Fund of £1 million be created, funded by the Strategic Priorities and Medium-Term Financial Strategy Reserve.

2.           The first call on that fund be a grant scheme for the upgrade of streetlights owned by town and parish councils to light-emitting diode (LED) lanterns on the basis outlined within Report number CAB/WS/23/040.

3.           Cabinet be authorised, if applicable, to agree the use of any remaining balance in the Fund for additional decarbonisation initiatives. 

4.           The Council’s Section 151 Officer be authorised to make the necessary changes to the Council’s prudential indicators.

Report number: CAB/WS/23/041 (Report to follow)

Portfolio holders: Councillors Cliff Waterman, Victor Lukaniuk, Ian Shipp and Diane Hind

Lead officer: Alex Wilson

Recommended to Council: (26 September 2023)

That:

1.           The delivery of the Western Way project in Bury St Edmunds be revised as set out in Report number CAB/WS/23/041 and in accordance with the following resolutions.

2.           Officers be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Leisure and for Resources, to deliver a refurbishment of the existing Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre provided that the total cost of these works is fully met by the Council’s already available budgets for the centre and any new third-party funding that can be obtained, as set out in section 3 of Report number CAB/WS/23/041.

3.           A budget of £75,000, funded from the Strategic Priorities and Medium-Term Financial Strategy Reserve, be approved to develop an initial business case for alternative options for the Olding Road site.

4.           The existing allocation of up to £1 million from the original West Suffolk Operational Hub project towards remediation of the former council depot be retained on an invest-to-save basis in the Council’s Capital Programme to cover the cost of any immediate works to the existing Olding Road site which will add value to this asset and/or reduce holding costs irrespective of which future option for its use is adopted; any expenditure from this allocation to be approved by the Council’s section 151 Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources.

5.           A provision of up to £2.4 million from the Strategic Priorities and Medium-Term Financial Strategy Reserve be approved to fund any abortive costs arising from the new approach to the Western Way project.

6.           The current Section 73 planning application to allow phasing of the original planning consent for Western Way remain on hold until a new decision is reached by Council on the future of the Olding Road site.

7.           Officers be authorised to appoint a new external project team and contractor(s) to progress the new approach, within the new spending authorities set out above and in accordance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.

8.           The Council’s Section 151 Officer be authorised to make the necessary changes to the Council’s prudential indicators.

Report number: CAB/WS/23/042

Portfolio holders: Councillors Donna Higgins and Ian Shipp

Lead officers: Davina Howes and Mark Walsh

Resolved:

That:

1.           The continuation with the existing PSPOs, as detailed in Appendices A and B to Report number: CAB/WS/23/042, be agreed.

2.           Subject to the agreement of the owners, that the following three locations be added as facilities where dogs are to be excluded:

i.             Fornham St Martin play area.

ii.            Brandon Remembrance Playing Field – skate park area.

iii.           Brandon Remembrance Playing Field – main football pitch.

Report number: CAB/WS/23/043

Portfolio holder: Councillor Gerald Kelly

Lead officer: Jen Eves

Resolved:

That:

1.           The Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) for Bury St Edmunds be not renewed.

2.           The Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) for Newmarket be not renewed.

3.           West Suffolk Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy be updated to reflect substantive changes.

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

Report number: CAB/WS/23/044

Leader of the Council: Councillor Cliff Waterman

Lead officer: Ian Gallin

Report number: CAB/WS/23/045

Portfolio holder: Councillor Diane Hind

Lead officer: Rachael Mann

Resolved:

That the write-off of the amounts detailed in the Exempt Appendices to Report No: CAB/WS/23/045, be approved, as follows:

1.           Exempt Appendix 1: NNDR totalling £117,777.51.

2.           Exempt Appendix 2: Sundry Debt totalling £67,653.53

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.

Exempt Appendices 1 and 2 to Report number: CAB/WS/23/045

Portfolio holder: Councillor Diane Hind

Lead officer: Rachael Mann

(These exempt appendices are to be considered in private under paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as they contain information relating to an individual and information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual)

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