Agenda and decisions

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 26 April 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/22/026

Chair of the Committee: Councillor Ian Houlder

Portfolio holder: Councillor Sarah Broughton

Lead officer: Christine Brain

Report number:     CAB/WS/22/027

Portfolio holder: Councillor Carol Bull

Lead officers: Alex Wilson and Jack Eddy

Resolved:

That:

1.           The draft vision, scope and guiding principles for the proposed 2023-2024 review of West Suffolk Council’s relationship with Town and Parish Councils as set out in section 2.1 of Report number CAB/WS/22/027, be approved.

2.           Pending a more detailed audit, the initial analysis of the disposition of street lighting in West Suffolk contained in section 2.2 of Report number CAB/WS/22/027 be noted.

3.           The next steps for working with Suffolk County Council and Town and Parish Councils on a review of street lighting in West Suffolk as set out in section 2.3 of Report number CAB/WS/22/027, be approved.

Report number:     CAB/WS/22/028

Portfolio holder: Councillor Sarah Broughton

Lead officers: Rachael Mann and Gregory Stevenson

Resolved:

That:

1.           The new West Suffolk Council Procurement Policy, attached at Appendix A to Report number CAB/WS/22/028, be approved.

Recommended to Council (27 September 2022):

That:

2.           The constitutional changes, as set out in the revised West Suffolk Council Contract Procedure Rules, at Appendix B to Report number CAB/WS/22/028, be approved.

Report number:     CAB/WS/22/029

Portfolio holder: Councillor Carol Bull

Lead officer: Jennifer Eves

Resolved:

That the West Suffolk Workforce Strategy 2022 to 2028, as set out in Appendix A to Report number CAB/WS/22/029 be endorsed and its implementation be supported across the organisation.

Report number:     CAB/WS/22/030

Portfolio holder: Councillor John Griffiths

Lead officers: Jennifer Eves and Teresa Halliday

Resolved:

1.           That the Leader of the Council re-appoints:

a.            Councillor Sarah Broughton, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Resources and Property, as the full member representing West Suffolk Council on the Anglia Revenues and Benefits Partnership Joint Committee in 2022 to 2023.

b.            Councillor Sara Mildmay-White, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Strategic Health, as a substitute member representing West Suffolk Council on the Anglia Revenues and Benefits Partnership Joint Committee in 2022 to 2023.

c.            It be noted that on the nomination of the Leader of the Council, the Monitoring Officer may exercise their delegated authority to appoint appropriate Cabinet membership (full and substitute members) to the above joint committee during 2022 to 2023, as necessary.

2.           That:

a.            The Cabinet continues to operate the Staff Consultative Panel in 2022 to 2023 in accordance with the Terms of Reference (ToR) contained in Appendix A to Report number: CAB/WS/22/030.

b.            Periodical meetings of the above Panel be scheduled as and when required, but with regard to the discussion outlined in Section 2.2.2 of Report number: CAB/WS/22/030.

3.           The Cabinet continues to operate the West Suffolk Grant Working Party in 2022 to 2023 in accordance with the ToR contained in Appendix B to Report number: CAB/WS/22/030.

4.           The Cabinet continues to operate the West Suffolk Local Plan Working Group in 2022 to 2023 in accordance with the ToR contained in Appendix C to Report number: CAB/WS/22/030.

5.           It be noted that should it become necessary and on the nominations of Group Leaders, the Monitoring Officer may exercise their delegated authority to appoint appropriate membership (full and substitute members) to the above Panel, Working Party and Working Group during 2022 to 2023 in accordance with their Terms of Reference.

6.           Provided that resources are available to support them, informal task-and-finish working groups or taskforces be established to consider specific issues as required throughout 2022 to 2023.

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

Report number:     CAB/WS/22/031

Portfolio holder: Councillor John Griffiths

Lead officer: Ian Gallin

Report number:     CAB/WS/22/032

Portfolio holder: Councillor Sarah Broughton

Lead officer: Rachael Mann

Resolved:

That the write-off of the amounts detailed in the Exempt Appendix 1 to Report number CAB/WS/22/032 be approved, as follows:

1.           Exempt Appendix 1: Business Rates totalling £163,686.01.

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 Appendix 1 to Report number CAB/WS/22/032

Portfolio holder: Councillor Sarah Broughton

Lead officer: Rachael Mann

(This exempt Appendix is to be considered in private under paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as it contains 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.)