Agenda for Forest Heath Council on Wednesday 19 December 2018, 6.00 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, District Offices, College Heath Road, Mildenhall, Suffolk IP28 7EY

Contact: Helen Hardinge  Email: helen.hardinge@westsuffolk.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

335.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 165 KB

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Council meeting held on 26 September 2018 (copy attached).

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2018 were unanimously received as an accurate record and were signed by the Chairman. 

336.

Chairman's Announcements (Report No: COU/FH/18/020) pdf icon PDF 121 KB

Report No: COU/FH/18/020

Minutes:

The Chairman gave thanks to the Vice-Chairman for ably covering civic duties during the period in which he was recovering from an operation.

 

The Chairman also drew attention to the Christmas Post Office visits he had undertaken and explained how interesting he had found them.

 

The report was noted.

337.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Simon Cole, Andy Drummond, Christine Mason and Robin Millar.

 

Councillors Louise Marston and Reg Silvester were also unable to attend the meeting. 

338.

Declarations of Interest

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest not entered in the Authority's register or local non pecuniary interest which they have in any item of business on the agenda (subject to the exception for sensitive information) and to leave the meeting prior to discussion and voting on an item in which they have a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Minutes:

Members’ declarations of interest are recorded under the item to which the declaration relates. 

339.

The Leader's Report (Report No COU/FH/18/021) pdf icon PDF 110 KB

Report No: COU/FH/18/021

 

Council Procedure Rule 8.2 states that ‘the Leader of the Council will introduce the statement and members may ask the Leader questions on the content of both his/her introductory remarks and the written report. All questions will be answered immediately by the Leader or by the relevant Cabinet Member if the Leader refers any question to him or her, unless sufficient information to give an answer is not available. In these circumstances the member asking the question will receive a response in writing within five working days of the Council meeting at which the question was asked.’

 

8.3 - 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. The member asking the original question may put a supplementary question arising from the reply so long as the five minute limit is not exceeded.

Minutes:

The Leader presented his statement to the meeting as set out in Report No COU/FH/18/021 and gave thanks to all Members and Officers for their work over the past year.

 

Councillor Victor Lukaniuk posed a question with regard to the ‘Social Prescribing Initiative’ as made reference to in the statement.

 

In the absence of the relevant Cabinet Member, the Assistant Director (Families & Communities) responded and provided further detail on what the scheme entailed.  Councillor Lukaniuk was advised that it was yet to have commenced in Brandon or Mildenhall and further information would be circulated to Members prior to it launching.

 

Councillor Peter Ridgwell asked a question with regard to the Cambridge metro link as written in the Leader’s opening paragraph.

 

In response, the Leader explained that it was currently an aspiration of the Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority and he would update Council as and when he was provided with further information.

 

Councillor Lukaniuk also asked that his thanks be recorded to Councillor David Bowman, Cabinet Member for Operations, for the resurfacing of Brandon Country Park’s car park.

340.

Public Participation

Council Procedure Rule 6 Members of the public who live or work in the District are invited to put one question of not more than five minutes duration.  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 are dealt with sooner, or if there are no questions, the Council will proceed to the next business.)

 

Each person may ask one question only.  A total of five minutes will be allowed for the question to be put and answered.  One further question will be allowed arising directly from the reply provided that the original time limit of five minutes is not exceeded.

Written questions may be submitted by members of the public to the Service Manager (Democratic Services) no later than 10.00am Tuesday 18 December 2018.  The written notification should detail the full question to be asked at the meeting of the Council.*

 

*For further information, see the Public Information Sheet attached to this agenda.

Minutes:

There were no questions or statements from members of the public. 

341.

Referrals Report of Recommendations from Joint Executive (Cabinet) Committee (Report No: COU/FH/18/022) pdf icon PDF 215 KB

Report No: COU/FH/18/022

 

Referral from Joint Executive (Cabinet) Committee: 2 October 2018

 

1.   West Suffolk Gambling Act 2005: Statement of Policy 2019 to 2022

Cabinet Member: Councillor Lance Stanbury

 

Referral from Joint Executive (Cabinet) Committee: 6 November 2018

 

2.   Forest Heath Statement of Licensing Policy 2019 to 2022 and Newmarket Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) Area

Cabinet Member: Councillor Lance Stanbury

 

Referrals from Joint Executive (Cabinet) Committee: 11 December 2018

 

3.   Recommendations of the St Edmundsbury and Forest Heath Overview and Scrutiny Committees: 7 and 8 November 2018 – West Suffolk Housing Strategy 2018-2023

Cabinet Members: Councillor Lance Stanbury and Councillor Sara Mildmay-White (West Suffolk Lead for Housing)

 

4.   Recommendations of the Forest Heath Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee: 28 November 2018 – Mid- Year Treasury Management Report and Investment Activity (1 April – 30 September 2018)

Cabinet Member: Councillor Stephen Edwards

 

5.   West Suffolk Local Development Scheme (LDS) December 2018: Adoption

Portfolio Holder: Councillor Lance Stanbury

 

6.   West Suffolk Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) December 2018: Adoption

Portfolio Holder: Councillor Lance Stanbury

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council considered the referrals report of recommendations from the Joint Executive (Cabinet) Committee as set out in Report No COU/FH/18/022 in respect of:

 

1.   West Suffolk Gambling Act 2005: Statement of Policy 2019 to 2022

(Joint Executive (Cabinet) Committee: 2 October 2018)

 

Councillor Lance Stanbury, Cabinet Member for Planning and Growth, presented this referral item.

 

On the motion of the Cabinet Member, seconded by Councillor Michael Anderson and with the vote being unanimous, it was

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the revised West Suffolk Gambling Act 2005: Statement of Policy for the period 2019 to 2022, as contained in Appendices 1 and 3 to Report No: COU/FH/18/022, be adopted.

 

2.   Forest Heath Statement of Licensing Policy 2019 to 2022 and Newmarket Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) Area

(Joint Executive (Cabinet) Committee: 6 November 2018)

 

Councillor Lance Stanbury, Cabinet Member for Planning and Growth, presented this referral item.

 

On the motion of the Cabinet Member, seconded by Councillor Michael Anderson and with the vote being unanimous, it was

 

RESOLVED:

 

That:-

 

1.   The draft overarching Statement of Licensing Policy for Forest Heath 2019-2022, as set out in Appendix 1 to Report No: CAB/JT/18/041, be adopted; and

 

2.   The existing Newmarket Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) Area (as incorporated within Appendix 1 to Report No: CAB/JT/18/041) be:

(a)renewed; and

(b)reviewed again within approximately 18 months.

 

3.   Recommendations of the St Edmundsbury and Forest Heath Overview and Scrutiny Committees: 7 and 8 November 2018 – West Suffolk Housing Strategy 2018-2023

(Joint Executive (Cabinet) Committee: 11 December 2018)

 

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Sara Mildmay-White to the meeting, who was in attendance in her capacity as the West Suffolk Lead for Housing.

 

Councillor Mildmay-White presented this referral item which sought adoption of the West Suffolk Housing Strategy 2018-2022.  Attention was drawn to the supplementary paper circulated after the agenda had been published, which set out a correction to the report before Council.

 

Councillor Mildmay-White outlined the consultation which had been undertaken as part of the strategy’s development and gave thanks to Officers, consultees and the Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

 

Councillor Victor Lukaniuk questioned why Brandon’s allocation of new homes was so low in comparison to other areas of West Suffolk.  In response Councillor Lance Stanbury, Cabinet Member for Planning and Growth, explained that development for Brandon was severely constrained in the North of the town due to the USAF Air Base noise contours and Stone Curlew habitats.

 

Councillor Colin Noble spoke on the importance of the strategy and remarked on the need in future versions to expand on the aging population element of the document.

 

On the motion of the Councillor Lance Stanbury, seconded by Councillor David Bowman and with the vote being unanimous, it was

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the West Suffolk Housing Strategy 2018-2022, attached as Appendix 1 to Report No CAB/JT/18/051 be adopted.

 

4.   Recommendations of the Forest Heath Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee: 28 November 2018 – Mid- Year Treasury Management Report and Investment Activity (1 April – 30 September 2018)

(Joint Executive (Cabinet)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 341.

342.

West Row: Reorganisation Order (Report No: COU/FH/18/023) pdf icon PDF 152 KB

Report No: COU/FH/18/023

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Councillor Ruth Bowman declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item as she was the current Chairman of Mildenhall Parish Council.  She indicated that she would remain in the meeting and would speak on the item, but would abstain from the voting thereon.)

 

The Leader presented this report which sought to bring into effect the decision of Council in July 2017 to create a new Parish for West Row.

 

Councillor Ruth Bowman spoke in her capacity as Chairman of Mildenhall Parish Council and advised Members that the Parish Council wished West Row every success. 

 

On the motion of the Leader, seconded by Councillor David Bowman and with 20 voting for the motion and with 1 abstention, it was

 

RESOLVED:

 

That:-

 

1.   The Forest Heath District Council (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2019 (“the Order”) be approved; and

 

2.   The Service Manager (Democratic Services) make the Order as soon as practicable after the West Suffolk (Electoral Changes) Order 2019 is made.

343.

LATE URGENT ITEM - Forest Heath Single Issue Review and Site Allocations Local Plan (Report No: COU/FH/18/024) pdf icon PDF 229 KB

Report No: COU/FH/18/024

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Councillor Robert Nobbs declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item in that he had made comments in the past in relation to this matter. He indicated that he would remain in the meeting but would abstain from voting on the report.)

 

The Chairman agreed that this item could be considered by Council as a matter of urgency, in accordance with S100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, in order that this matter could be resolved within the necessary timescale.

 

Councillor Lance Stanbury, Cabinet Member for Planning and Growth, presented this item which set out the submission from Newmarket Horseman’s Group to the Inspectors who carried out the Examination into the Forest Heath Single Issue Review (SIR) and Site Allocations Local Plan (SALP) and sought endorsement of the Council’s response and approach to this.

 

Councillor Rona Burt spoke in her capacity as Chairman of the FHDC Local Plan Working Group and voiced disappointment and frustration at the delay that the submission would cause, which was shared by the Cabinet Member.

 

Councillor Andrew Appleby inquired as to whether this matter would delay the Hatchfield Farm Planning Inquiry, scheduled for Spring 2019, but was advised that it would not.

 

On the motion of the Cabinet Member, seconded by Councillor Rona Burt and with 20 voting for the motion and with 1 abstention, it was

 

RESOLVED:

 

That:-

 

1.   The Newmarket Horseman’s Group submission to the Inspectors dealing with the Forest Heath Single Issue Review (SIR) and Site Allocations Local Plan (SALP) on matters relating to Habitat Regulations Assessment be noted; and

 

2.   The Council’s response and approach to the HRA matters raised be endorsed in that:

i.     In light of the recent European judgements, the Council is now required to review and update the Habitat Regulations Assessment.  This update may result in modifications to the SIR and SALP; and

ii.    The Council expects that the updated HRA and any suggested modifications will be complete and submitted to the Inspectors March 2019.   

344.

Questions to Chairmen of other Committees

Questions to Chairmen on the business transacted by their Committees since the last ordinary meeting of Council:

 

Performance & Audit Scrutiny Committee      27 September 2018

                                                                   28 November 2018

Development Control Committee                   3 October 2018

                                                                   7 November 2018 

                                                                   5 December 2018

Overview & Scrutiny Committee                    8 November 2018

Licensing & Regulatory Committee                4 December 2018

West Suffolk Joint Standards Committee       10 December 2018

Minutes:

There were no questions to Chairmen of other Committees.

345.

Urgent Questions on Notice

The Council will consider any urgent questions on notice that were notified to the Service Manager (Democratic Services) by 11am on the day of the meeting.

Minutes:

There were no urgent questions on notice.

 

 

The Chairman concluded the meeting by reminding Council that their meeting in January had been cancelled, although the West Suffolk Shadow Council meeting was still taking place that month, and wished all present a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

 

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