Agenda, decisions and minutes
Venue: Conference Chamber, West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3YU
Contact: Claire Skoyles: Democratic Services Officer
Email: democratic.services@westsuffolk.gov.uk
Items
No. |
Item |
520. |
Apologies for absence
Minutes:
No apologies for absence were received.
|
521. |
Minutes PDF 168 KB
To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on
14 November 2023 (copy attached).
Minutes:
The minutes of the meeting held on 14 November
2023 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the
Chair.
|
522. |
Declarations of interest
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.
Minutes:
Members’ declarations of interest are
recorded under the item to which the declaration relates.
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523. |
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:
The following non-Cabinet members spoke under
this item:
1. Councillor
Nick Clarke (ward member for Clare, Hundon and Kedington ward and Leader of the
Conservative Group)
Councillor Nick
Clarke addressed the Cabinet and in response to the topics raised,
he was informed by the Leader of the Council that:
·
An exempt report would be presented to the next meeting of the
Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee on 25 January 2024, which
would cover the issues raised regarding the recent fraud-related
incident, where appropriate.
·
A written response would be provided to the question raised in
connection with the Barley Homes business plan regarding the
commercial operation of the company and its related accounting
procedures.
2. Councillor Ian
Houlder (ward member for Barrow)
Councillor Ian
Houlder addressed the Cabinet and in response to the topic raised,
he was informed by the Portfolio Holder for Resources that there
was a multitude of reasons why businesses and residents found
themselves in arrears in respect of the payment of business rates
and council tax. The Portfolio Holder for Resources was abreast of
the situation, adding that the Anglia Revenues and Benefits
Partnership had robust measures in place to closely monitor the
Council’s collection performance and would take action to
support businesses or residents that may be falling behind with
their payments, where appropriate.
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524. |
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:
The following member of the public spoke under
this agenda item:
1. Richard Gee, Director of
Sansovino Developments Limited, made a statement in connection
with agenda item 10. ‘West Suffolk Local Plan Publication
(Regulation 19) Consultation and Submission’.
Sansovino owned the 60
hectare Hatchfield Farm site in
Newmarket. Mr Gee expressed concern that a further phase of
mixed use development at Hatchfield Farm, as put forward in the Regulation
18 Draft Local Plan, had now been omitted. He considered the site
offered a sustainable pattern of land uses to support future growth
in Newmarket and West Suffolk.
Mr Gee urged Cabinet to re-introduce the
second phase allocation at Hatchfield
Farm into the Regulation 19 submission version of the Local
Plan.
In response, Councillor Cliff Waterman, Leader
of the Council stated that if approved by Council on 19 December
2023, the Regulation 19 submission version of the West Suffolk
Local Plan would go out to consultation in late January 2024 where
Mr Gee was encouraged to submit his representation.
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525. |
Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee: 9 November 2023 (Report number: CAB/WS/23/052) PDF 147 KB
Report number: CAB/WS/23/052
Chair of the Committee:
Councillor Sarah Broughton
Lead officer: Christine
Brain
Minutes:
The Cabinet received and noted this report,
which informed members of the following substantive items
considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 9 November
2023:
1. Review of West
Suffolk Council grounds maintenance operations
2. Abbeycroft Leisure Strategic Partnership Task and
Finish Group – findings and recommendations
3. Suffolk County
Council Police and Crime Panel: 6 October 2023
4. Suffolk County
Council Health Scrutiny Committee: 11 October 2023
5. Cabinet Decisions
Plan: 1 November 2023 to 31 May 2024
6. Work programme
update 2024
In the
absence of Councillor Sarah Broughton, Chair of the Overview and
Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Marion Rushbrook, Vice Chair of the
Committee, drew relevant issues to the attention of Cabinet,
including that a separate report was included on the Cabinet agenda
regarding item 2. above.
In response
to a question relating to paragraph 2.5.4 of the report, Councillor
Rushbrook stated that representatives of Havebury Housing Partnership and Flagship Housing
had been invited to attend a future meeting of the Overview and
Scrutiny Committee; however, this was yet to be
confirmed.
Councillor
Ian Shipp, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, who was leading on the
grounds maintenance review, gave an update on this matter. A brief
discussion was held on Suffolk County Council’s Community
Self Help Scheme and Councillor Shipp reported that a final draft
of the Review Group’s report was expected to be completed by
the end of the week.
On behalf of
the Cabinet, the Leader thanked Councillor Rushbrook for the
presentation of the report and for the work of the
committee.
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526. |
Report of the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee: 23 November 2023 (Report number: CAB/WS/23/053) PDF 157 KB
Report number: CAB/WS/23/053
Chair of the Committee:
Councillor Peter Armitage
Portfolio holder: Councillor
Diane Hind
Lead officer: Christine
Brain
Minutes:
The Cabinet received and noted this report,
which informed members of the following substantive items
considered by the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee on 23
November 2023:
1. Delivering a
sustainable medium-term budget
2. 2023 to 2024
performance report (quarter two)
3. Internal audit
mid-year progress report (2023 to 2024)
4. Treasury management
report (September 2023)
5. Work programme
update
Councillor Peter Armitage,
Chair of the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee drew relevant
issues to the attention of Cabinet, including that a separate
report was included on the Cabinet agenda regarding item 4.
above.
A discussion was held on the
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the interactive monitoring of
their performance. The Committee was urged to refer issues that may
require specific attention back to Cabinet for support, where
considered appropriate.
On behalf of the Cabinet, the
Leader thanked Councillor Armitage for the work of his
committee.
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527. |
Recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee: 9 November 2023 - Abbeycroft Leisure Strategic Partnership (Report number: CAB/WS/23/054) PDF 152 KB
Report number: CAB/WS/23/054
Portfolio holder: Councillor
Ian Shipp
Chair of the Committee:
Councillor Sarah Broughton
Lead officer: Jill
Korwin
Decision:
Resolved:
That:
1. Officers be
instructed to update the Collaboration Agreement between
Abbeycroft Leisure and West Suffolk
Council noting no fundamental revisions are required on the
principles of the current agreement. However, some technical
changes may be required and the approach to health funding which is
currently dealt with through side letters should be clarified.
2. Cabinet requests
Abbeycroft and West Suffolk Council to
work collaboratively to promote the activities and programmes
delivered at the leisure centres, ensuring residents are aware of
what they deliver and provide (which can be reflected in further
revisions to the Collaboration Agreement).
3. Cabinet and officers
work with providers and partners to secure additional long-term and
sustainable external funding streams (particularly on health
improvement interventions).
4. Cabinet asks
officers to explore further capital investment in the leisure offer
and facility mix across the leisure centre sites through business
cases where appropriate to provide outcomes and financial benefits
through invest to save/earn initiatives with Abbeycroft.
5. Subject to the
outcome of the condition surveys of each Leisure Centre, Cabinet to
consider the extension of the Council’s Net Zero Fund as part
of the 2024 to 2025 budget development process to include a
programme of improvements (where appropriate and where they meet
the outcomes of the fund) to upgrade and improve the facilities to
maximise energy efficiency, support Net Zero and carbon reduction
targets, and extend the life span of the facilities.
6. As part of the 2024
to 2025 West Suffolk Council budget development, consideration be
given to whether the extraordinary utility support grant should be
continued and phased out in the short-term (linked to market
expectations around utility costs).
Minutes:
The Cabinet considered this report, which
sought approval for a number of
recommendations emanating from a scrutiny review undertaken on the
Council’s partnership with Abbeycroft Leisure.
Following the establishment of a task and
finish group that was asked to review the Council’s
partnership with Abbeycroft Leisure
between 2019 and 2023 against the current Collaboration Agreement
between the two organisations, together with reviewing the current
Collaboration Agreement outcomes, the Overview and Scrutiny
Committee put forward a number of
recommendations that emanated from the review for Cabinet to
consider.
Councillor Ian Shipp, Portfolio Holder for
Leisure, drew relevant issues to the attention of Cabinet. He
outlined the task and finish group’s approach to the review,
as summarised in section 2 of Report number: CAB/WS/23/054, and its
findings, as set out in Report number: OAS/WS/23/019.
The Cabinet noted that the findings had
ascertained that Abbeycroft was
strongly compliant with the existing Collaboration Agreement and
had demonstrated optimisation of service delivery, outcomes,
efficiency and financial performance in
challenging conditions. A strength of
partnership between the Council and Abbeycroft was found to exist and the way in which
the two organisations had worked together to address challenges,
particularly through Covid and in response to the energy crisis,
the Cabinet very much supported the acceptance of the
recommendations.
Recognition was given to the Chair of the task
and finish group, Councillor Marion Rushbrook; the Chair of the
Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) Committee, Councillor Sarah
Broughton; and to all members of the task and finish group and the
O&S Committee for the work undertaken on this
review. Specific recognition and thanks
were given to Warren Smyth, Chief Executive of Abbeycroft Leisure who was sitting in the public
gallery.
Resolved:
That:
1. Officers be
instructed to update the Collaboration Agreement between
Abbeycroft Leisure and West Suffolk
Council noting no fundamental revisions are required on the
principles of the current agreement. However, some technical
changes may be required and the approach to health funding which is
currently dealt with through side letters should be clarified.
2. Cabinet requests
Abbeycroft and West Suffolk Council to
work collaboratively to promote the activities and programmes
delivered at the leisure centres, ensuring residents are aware of
what they deliver and provide (which can be reflected in further
revisions to the Collaboration Agreement).
3. Cabinet and officers
work with providers and partners to secure additional long-term and
sustainable external funding streams (particularly on health
improvement interventions).
4. Cabinet asks
officers to explore further capital investment in the leisure offer
and facility mix across the leisure centre sites through business
cases where appropriate to provide outcomes and financial benefits
through invest to save/earn initiatives with Abbeycroft.
5. Subject to the
outcome of the condition surveys of each Leisure Centre, Cabinet to
consider the extension of the Council’s Net Zero Fund as part
of the 2024 to 2025 budget development process to include a
programme of improvements (where appropriate and where they meet
the outcomes of the fund) to upgrade and improve the
...
view the full minutes text for item 527.
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528. |
Recommendations from the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee: 23 November 2023 - Treasury Management Report (September 2023) (Report number: CAB/WS/23/055) PDF 124 KB
Report number: CAB/WS/23/055
Portfolio holder: Councillor
Diane Hind
Chair of the Committee:
Councillor Peter Armitage
Lead officer: Rachael
Mann
Decision:
Recommended to Council:
(19 December 2023)
That the Treasury Management Report (September
2023), as contained in Report number: FRS/WS/23/005, be
approved.
Minutes:
The Cabinet considered this report, which was
recommending to Council, the approval of the Treasury Management
Report (September 2023).
The report was part of the Council’s
management and governance arrangements for Treasury Management
activities under the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury
Management. It provided a comprehensive
assessment of activities from 1 April 2023 to 30 September
2023.
The Cabinet was required to consider this
Treasury Management Report, prior to seeking its approval by
Council.
Councillor Diane Hind, Portfolio Holder for
Resources, drew relevant issues to the attention of Cabinet.
Recommended to Council:
(19 December 2023)
That the Treasury
Management Report (September 2023), as contained in Report number:
FRS/WS/23/005, be approved.
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529. |
West Suffolk Local Plan Publication (Regulation 19) Consultation and Submission (Report number: CAB/WS/23/056) PDF 173 KB
Report number: CAB/WS/23/056
Portfolio holder: Councillor
Jim Thorndyke
Lead officers: Julie Baird and
Marie Smith
(See separate
supplement pack for Appendix A which contains the proposed West
Suffolk Local Plan Submission 2024 document itself –
available to view electronically on the Council’s website
here. Paper copies available upon request.)
Additional documents:
Decision:
Recommended to Council:
(19 December 2023)
That:
1. The West Suffolk
Local Plan Proposed Submission (Regulation 19) document (Appendix A
to Report number: CAB/WS/23/056), together with supporting
documents be approved for public consultation and its subsequent
submission to the Secretary of State for the purposes of
independent examination.
2. Delegated authority
be given to the Director (Planning and Growth), in consultation
with the Portfolio Holder for Planning to make any presentational
improvements or minor non-material consequential changes to the
document as necessary prior to the consultation commencing.
3. Delegated authority
be given to the Director (Planning and Growth), in consultation
with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, to agree and consult upon a
set of proposed modifications during the examination process.
Minutes:
The Cabinet considered this report, which was
recommending to Council, approval of the West Suffolk Local Plan
Proposed Submission (Regulation 19) document, together with
supporting documents, for consultation.
Approval of the Proposed Submission Local Plan
and Policies Map would allow the Local Plan to be subject to its
final round of consultation (scheduled for 30 January 2024 to 5
March 2024); and if approved and following consultation, the Local
Plan would be submitted to the Secretary of State for the purpose
of independent examination.
The final West Suffolk Local Plan Regulation
19 consultation would be focused on the whether the plan was a
‘legally compliant’ and ‘sound’ document.
This was a technical consultation which would ask the public and
stakeholders specific questions required by the Planning
Inspectorate and required that representations consider whether the
tests of soundness had been met.
Councillor Jim Thorndyke, Portfolio Holder for
Planning, drew relevant issues to the attention of Cabinet,
including paying tribute to the Local Plan Working Group for their
contributions towards shaping the Plan. Upon moving the
recommendations, Councillor Thorndyke made an amendment to
Recommendation (3) so that it read, as indicated with
strikethrough:
‘Delegated authority be
given to the Director (Planning and Growth), in consultation with
the Portfolio Holder the ability to agree and consult upon a
set of proposed modifications during the examination process
(most likely at the very end of the examination process), if
asked by the Inspector to do so.’
This amendment would remove a
potential time constraint. The recommendations, as amended, were
duly seconded by Councillor Richard O’Driscoll.
The debate ensued with positive
comments particularly made on the key policies set out in paragraph
2.7 of the report. Members specifically commended the new
health and wellbeing policy, which proposed that linking the design
and delivery of homes to health and wellbeing set out the
Council’s intention to deliver growth for the benefit of
people; and the policy which proposed an increase of the current
requirement of 30 percent affordable homes to 40 percent affordable
housing on greenfield sites to deliver much needed homes for West
Suffolk’s communities.
Councillor Cliff Waterman, Leader of the
Council, also thanked the Local Plan Working Group, which comprised
members from across the Council’s political spectrum, for
their thorough input and detailed discussion on the various
elements of the Plan. Recognition was then given to the public and
stakeholders who had made representations as part of previous
consultations; and to officers for their sterling work in
supporting the process in order to reach
this point.
Councillor Victor Lukaniuk, Deputy Leader of
the Council and one of the ward members for Brandon, was pleased
that despite the environmental constraints which limited growth in
the town, provision had been made in the Plan whereby the Council
would use its best endeavours to achieve a solution to successfully
deliver sustainable growth in Brandon whilst working within the
current constraints.
The Cabinet considered that the West Suffolk Local Plan Proposed Submission (Regulation 19)
document was both final ...
view the full minutes text for item 529.
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530. |
West Suffolk Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS) 2024 to 2025 (Report number: CAB/WS/23/057) PDF 424 KB
Report number: CAB/WS/23/057
Portfolio holder: Councillor
Diane Hind
Lead officer: Rachael
Mann
(See separate
supplement pack for Appendix C – available to view
electronically on the Council’s website
here.)
Additional documents:
Decision:
Recommended to Council:
(19 December 2023)
That:
1. The Local Council
Tax Reduction (LCTRS) Scheme for 2023 to 2024 as outlined in Report
number: CAB/WS/23/057, be reviewed.
2. It be recommended to
Council to make the changes to the Scheme outlined in section 2 of
Report number: CAB/WS/23/057 and that the maximum discount change
only relates to 2024 to 2025, in line with the recent
consultation.
Minutes:
The Cabinet considered this report, which was
recommending to Council, the approval of the West Suffolk Local
Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2024 to 2025.
Each year the Council was required to review
its Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS). The report provided
an annual review of the 2023 to 2024 scheme and proposed to make
changes to the scheme for 2024 to 2025.
Councillor Diane Hind, Portfolio Holder for
Resources, drew relevant issues to the attention of Cabinet,
including that it was being proposed to extend the
maximum reduction on council tax paid of 100 percent for a further
12 months. This would take effect from 1 April 2024 (and
last for one year only). This would be a
means tested scheme and was designed to support low-income working
age residents, in light of the current
pressures on the cost of living. This proposal is set out further
in paragraph 2.2 of the report.
A consultation on the proposals was held from
2 October to 30 October 2023. Major preceptors and stakeholders had
responded and the responses received and
the key points raised were covered in section 4 of the report. It
was noted that 90.2 percent of the respondents agreed or strongly
agreed with the proposal to extend the maximum discount on council
tax.
The Cabinet supported the recommendations and
duly recommended their acceptance to Council accordingly.
Recommended to Council:
(19 December 2023)
That:
1. The Local Council
Tax Reduction (LCTRS) Scheme for 2023 to 2024 as outlined in Report
number: CAB/WS/23/057, be reviewed.
2. The changes to the
Scheme outlined in section 2 of Report number: CAB/WS/23/057 and
that the maximum discount change only relates to 2024 to 2025, in
line with the recent consultation, be agreed.
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531. |
Council tax base for tax setting purposes 2024 to 2025 (Report number: CAB/WS/23/058) PDF 151 KB
Report number: CAB/WS/23/058
Portfolio holder: Councillor
Diane Hind
Lead officer: Rachael
Mann
Additional documents:
Decision:
Recommended to Council:
(19 December 2023)
That:
1. The tax base for
2024 to 2025, for the whole of West Suffolk be 58,684.97 equivalent
band D dwellings, as detailed in paragraph 2.3 of Report number:
CAB/WS/23/058.
2. The tax base for
2024 to 2025 for the different parts of its area, as defined by
parish or special expense area boundaries, be as shown in Appendix
3 to Report number: CAB/WS/23/058.
Minutes:
The Cabinet received this report which
explained that the Council Tax base was the total taxable value at
a point in time of all the domestic properties in the
Council’s area. It was a yearly calculation and represented
the estimated number of chargeable dwellings after allowing for
exemptions and discounts, projected changes in the property base
and after applying an estimated collection rate.
The calculation of the tax base for Council
Tax setting purposes consisted of three stages:
1. Calculation of the
tax base for central government purposes as at 2 October 2023
(DLUHC return – CTB).
2. Calculation of the
tax base for council tax setting purposes by adjusting the band D
equivalents to reflect changes in the tax base as a result of Local
Council Tax Support scheme changes (CAB/WS/23/057), projected
changes in the property base and predicted collection rates.
3. Analysis of band D
equivalents over each of the parish areas in order to determine
individual parish council tax bases.
Councillor Diane Hind, Portfolio Holder for
Resources, drew relevant issues to the attention of Cabinet, and
referred to paragraph 2.5 of Report number CAB/WS/23/058 which
explained that the resulting tax base figure for council tax
collection purposes, expressed in terms of the number of band D
equivalent properties, was 58,684.97 for 2024 to 2025. This was an
increase of 697.96 on the tax base for the current year of
57,987.01.
The tax base figure for West Suffolk, as
outlined in paragraph 2.6 of the report was analysed further across
the individual town and parish councils to form their tax base
figures for the purpose of budget setting and determining the
parish band D tax levels in each of those areas. The town and parish tax base figures were set out
in Appendix 3 of the report.
Recommended to Council:
(19 December 2023)
That:
1. The tax base for
2024 to 2025, for the whole of West Suffolk be 58,684.97 equivalent
band D dwellings, as detailed in paragraph 2.3 of Report number:
CAB/WS/23/058.
2. The tax base for
2024 to 2025 for the different parts of its area, as defined by
parish or special expense area boundaries, be as shown in Appendix
3 to Report number: CAB/WS/23/058.
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532. |
Barley Homes Business Plan 2023 (Report number: CAB/WS/23/059) PDF 327 KB
Report number: CAB/WS/23/059
Portfolio holder: Councillor
Richard O’Driscoll
Lead officer: Julie
Baird
Additional documents:
Decision:
Resolved:
1. The progress update
for Barley Homes and steps outlined in Report number: CAB/WS/23/059
to secure its medium-term pipeline of sites, be noted.
2. The Barley Homes
Business Plan 2023, covering 2024 to 2028, attached at Appendix A
to Report number: CAB/WS/23/059, be approved.
Minutes:
The Cabinet considered this report which
sought approval for the Barley Homes Business Plan 2023.
The Barley Homes Business Plan 2023
to 2028 contained a review of the previous year; an overview of the
operating conditions for the company; a summary of the planned
development programme, including aspirations around current and
medium-term delivery rates; and an overview of the financial
underpinnings to the future development strategy, all to
demonstrate prudent resource planning.
The total investment facility
already available to support Barley Homes Ltd was a £14.25
million revolving facility (available for loans to, equity in and
land purchases to support, our wholly owned housing company) funded
through a mixture of capital receipts (which supported the equity
element) and the Investing in our Growth Agenda fund. The annual
business planning process had not highlighted a need to revise the
total investment fund, considering known cash flow forecasts across
the medium term.
The business plan
outlined the progress with the committed sites and associated
financial implications. Section 2 of the report expanded on
progress and forthcoming proposals contained within the business
plan.
Councillor Richard
O’Driscoll, Portfolio Holder for Housing, drew relevant
issues to the attention of Cabinet, including that the business
plan forecasted lower returns over the next two financial years
than was assumed in the Council’s budget. However, dividend
returns from Barley Homes in the 2023 to 2024 financial year were
£300,000 higher than budgeted.
The Cabinet supported
progress made and the future direction of Barley Homes, as set out
in the business plan.
Resolved:
That:
1. The progress update
for Barley Homes and steps outlined in Report number: CAB/WS/23/059
to secure its medium-term pipeline of sites, be noted.
2. The Barley Homes
Business Plan 2023, covering 2024 to 2028, attached at Appendix A
to Report number: CAB/WS/23/059, be approved.
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533. |
Revenues collection performance and write offs (Report number: CAB/WS/23/060) PDF 134 KB
Report number: CAB/WS/23/060
Portfolio holder: Councillor
Diane Hind
Lead officer: Rachael
Mann
Decision:
Resolved:
That:
The write-off of the amounts detailed in the
exempt appendices to Report number: CAB/WS/23/060, be approved, as
follows:
1. Exempt Appendix 1:
NNDR totalling £68,414.51
2. Exempt Appendix 2:
Sundry debt totalling £6,962.44
Minutes:
The Cabinet considered this
report, which provided the collection data in respect of Council
Tax, National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) and sundry debt and sought
approval for the write-off of the amounts contained in the exempt
appendices attached to the report.
Councillor Diane Hind,
Portfolio Holder for Resources, drew relevant issues to the
attention of the Cabinet.
Resolved:
That the write-off
of the amounts detailed in the exempt appendices to Report number:
CAB/WS/23/060, be approved, as follows:
1. Exempt Appendix 1:
NNDR totalling £68,414.51
2. Exempt Appendix 2:
Sundry debt totalling £6,962.44
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534. |
Decisions Plan: 1 December 2023 to 31 May 2024 (Report number: CAB/WS/23/061) PDF 237 KB
To consider the most recently published
version of the Cabinet’s Decisions Plan
Report number: CAB/WS/23/061
Leader of the Council:
Councillor Cliff Waterman
Lead officer: Ian
Gallin
Minutes:
The Cabinet considered this report which was
the Cabinet Decisions Plan covering the period 1 December 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.
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535. |
Investing in our asset portfolio - Provincial House (Report number: CAB/WS/23/062) PDF 147 KB
Report number: CAB/WS/23/062
Portfolio holder: Councillor
Diane Hind
Lead officer: Rachael
Mann
Decision:
Resolved:
That:
1. The project
objectives as set in the strategic case for Provincial House,
Haverhill, be endorsed.
2. Up to £2
million of capital budget, funded by the Investing in Growth Fund,
in line with this business case to progress the remodelling and
refurbishment of Provincial House to enable both public sector and
commercial lettings, be approved.
3. The revenue risks be
noted, including any project expenditure that is unable to be
capitalised, will be covered by the Capital Financing Reserve.
4. It be acknowledged
that in line with recommendations (2), (3) and (4) above, officers
will proceed in line with the Council’s agreed Scheme of
Delegation.
5. It be agreed for the
Council’s Section 151 Officer to make the necessary changes
to the Council’s prudential indicators as
a result of recommendation (3).
Minutes:
The Cabinet considered this report, which
sought approval for further investment in Provincial House,
Haverhill.
West Suffolk acquired Provincial House in
Haverhill High Street in 2019 using £3.7 million of the
Investing in Growth Agenda Fund with the aspiration to re-purpose
vacant space creatively, create jobs, deliver wider public
benefits, and drive footfall into the town centre.
Through the One Public Estate Programme, the
Council was partnering with West Suffolk College to explore the
potential relocation of the Adult Learning Centre (currently being
rebranded as Personal and Professional Learning Centre) back into
the heart of the town and centre of the community.
The confidential business case attached at
Exempt Appendix A to Report number: CAB/WS/23/062 set out the
proposal for Cabinet to agree to invest up to a further £2
million into Provincial House, from the Investing in our Growth
Agenda fund (supported by external borrowing). This was to
facilitate the investment in the remaining vacant floors including
the works required to relocate the college offer into the town
centre. The income generated by the project was currently estimated
to create a net surplus after borrowing in line with the Investing
in our Growth Agenda fund that would go towards the delivery of
Council services.
Councillor Indy Wijenayaka, Portfolio Holder
for Growth, drew relevant issues to the attention of Cabinet,
including that the project would ensure adult learning provision
remained in Haverhill and in the easily accessible town centre. It
was considered to be an excellent opportunity for growth which
would also provide further commercial space at Provincial House
more suited to the local market and therefore attract more people
into the town centre to use these and surrounding facilities and
businesses. At the same time the project would bring a return to
the Council which could be put back into funding services vital for
West Suffolk communities.
The Cabinet supported the proposal and
recognised the benefits of the investment in terms of supporting
the service that was intended to be provided by West Suffolk
College; providing an opportunity to attract commercial interest;
and the associated income generated for the Council.
Resolved:
That:
1. The project
objectives as set in the strategic case for Provincial House,
Haverhill, be endorsed.
2. Up to £2
million of capital budget, funded by the Investing in Growth Fund,
in line with this business case to progress the remodelling and
refurbishment of Provincial House to enable both public sector and
commercial lettings, be approved.
3. The revenue risks be
noted, including any project expenditure that is unable to be
capitalised, will be covered by the Capital Financing Reserve.
4. It be acknowledged
that in line with recommendations (2), (3) and (4) above, officers
will proceed in line with the Council’s agreed Scheme of
Delegation.
5. It be agreed for the
Council’s Section 151 Officer to make the necessary changes
to the Council’s prudential indicators as a result of
recommendation (3).
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536. |
Exclusion of press and public
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.
Minutes:
See minute numbers 537. 538. and 539.
below.
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537. |
Exempt Appendices: Investing in our asset portfolio - Provincial House (paragraph 3) (Report number: CAB/WS/23/062)
Exempt Appendices A, B and C to
Report number: CAB/WS/23/062
Portfolio holder: Councillor
Diane Hind
Lead officer: Rachael
Mann
(These appendices are to be
considered in private under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the
Local Government Act 1972, as they contain 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.)
Minutes:
The Cabinet considered the exempt appendices
to this report. However, no reference
was made to specific detail and, therefore, this item was not held
in private session.
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538. |
Exempt Appendices: Revenues collection performance and write-offs (paragraphs 1 and 2) (Report number: CAB/WS/23/060)
Exempt Appendices 1 and 2 to Report number:
CAB/WS/23/060
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.)
Minutes:
The Cabinet considered the exempt appendices
to this report. However, no reference
was made to specific detail and, therefore, this item was not held
in private session.
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539. |
Exempt Appendix: Recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee: 9 November 2023 - Abbeycroft Leisure Strategic Partnership (paragraph 3) (Report number: CAB/WS/23/054)
Exempt Appendix A to Report number: CAB/WS/23/054
Portfolio holder: Councillor
Ian Shipp
Chair of the Committee:
Councillor Sarah Broughton
Lead officer: Jill
Korwin
(This appendix 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.)
Minutes:
The Cabinet considered the exempt appendices
to this report. However, no reference
was made to specific detail and, therefore, this item was not held
in private session.
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In this section
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