Agenda item

Report No: COU/WS/19/006

(A)    Referral from Cabinet: 23 July 2019

1.       Proposal to Establish a West Suffolk Environment and Climate Change Taskforce - Proposed Declaration of a Climate Emergency

Portfolio Holder: Cllr John Griffiths

(B)    Referrals from Cabinet: 10 September 2019

1.       Annual Treasury Management Report 2018/2019 (FHDC)

            Portfolio Holder: Cllr Sarah Broughton

2.       Annual Treasury Management Report 2018/2019 (SEBC)

            Portfolio Holder: Cllr Sarah Broughton

3.       Treasury Management Report – June 2019

            Portfolio Holder: Cllr Sarah Broughton

4.       Single Issue Review (SIR) of Core Strategy Policy CS7: Planning Inspector’s Report and Adoption

Portfolio Holder: Cllr John Griffiths

This item will be considered separately as part of Agenda Item 8 below (Report No: COU/WS/19/007).

5.       Site Allocations Local Plan (SALP): Planning Inspector’s Report and Adoption

Portfolio Holder: Cllr John Griffiths

This item will be considered separately under Agenda Item 9 below (Report No: COU/WS/19/008).

6.       Western Way Development: Final Business Case

            Portfolio Holder: Cllr Joanna Rayner

This item will be considered separately under Agenda Item 10 below (Report No: COU/WS/19/009).

7.       Exempt: Investing in our Commercial Asset Portfolio (para 3)

            Portfolio Holder: Cllr Susan Glossop

As this referral is exempt, it will be considered separately in private session under Agenda Item 17 below (Exempt Report No: COU/WS/19/012)

Council considered the Referrals Report of Recommendations from Cabinet, as contained within Report No: COU/WS/19/006.

(A)    Referrals from Cabinet: 23 July 2019

1.       Proposal to Establish a West Suffolk Environment and Climate Change Taskforce – Proposed Declaration of a Climate Emergency

At the Annual Meeting of Council held on 22 May 2019, Councillor John Griffiths, Leader of the Council announced that he would be proposing to set up two taskforces, one of which would be requested to look at ways in which the Council could improve on its current and previous actions taken to mitigate the effects of adverse environmental factors and climate change.

On 23 July 2019, the Cabinet agreed to establish an Environment and Climate Change Taskforce.  Report No: CAB/WS/19/016 contained proposals for the terms of reference for the Environment and Climate Change Taskforce that had been announced at the Annual Meeting. In summary, the Taskforce aimed to ensure that the Council used the opportunity to review and assess its existing activities and future opportunities in response to increased societal awareness of environmental issues. The Taskforce would explore how the Council could enhance its environmental stewardship, recognising the need for balance with other urgent social and economic priorities.

It was anticipated that initial findings and feedback would be presented to Cabinet in autumn 2019, with final recommendations coming forward in 2020.

In addition to the recommendations contained in the report and in recognition of a Climate Emergency being called for the whole of Suffolk, the Cabinet agreed to recommend to West Suffolk Council that it declared a Climate Emergency. Acknowledgement was given at the Cabinet meeting to how West Suffolk would specifically play its part, including what exactly calling a Climate Emergency in West Suffolk would actually mean, and more importantly, the action needed to be taken to make a significant difference.

Councillor John Griffiths drew relevant issues to the attention of Council, including the current work and performance of the Council in this area and how it was within the remit of the Taskforce to make recommendations to Cabinet in respect of how the Council should report, set targets and measure progress on mitigating the effects of climate change and the impact on the environment and biodiversity.

Emphasis was placed on ensuring actions were implemented that emanated from the Council’s aspirations. Examples were given where the Council could make a difference. 

On the motion of Councillor Griffiths, seconded by Councillor Margaret Marks, it was put to the vote and with the vote being 49 for the motion, none against and one abstention, it was

RESOLVED:

That a Climate Emergency be declared.

(B)    Referrals from Cabinet: 10 September 2019

1.       Annual Treasury Management Report: 2018/2019 (FHDC)

Councillor Sarah Broughton, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Performance, drew relevant issues to the attention of Council, including that the report provided the Annual Treasury Management Report for the former Forest Heath District Council for the complete 2018/2019 financial year. Recognition was given to the Financial Resilience Sub-Committee and the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee for their work in bringing the recommendation forward for approval.

On the motion of Councillor Broughton, seconded by Councillor John Griffiths, it was put to the vote and with the vote being unanimous, it was

RESOLVED:

That the Annual Treasury Management Report for 2018-2019 for the former Forest Heath District Council, being Report No: FRS/WS/19/001, be approved.

2.       Annual Treasury Management Report: 2018/2019 (SEBC)

Councillor Sarah Broughton, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Performance, drew relevant issues to the attention of Council, including that the report provided the Annual Treasury Management Report for the former St Edmundsbury Borough Council for the complete 2018/2019 financial year. Recognition was given to the Financial Resilience Sub-Committee and the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee for their work in bringing the recommendation forward for approval.

On the motion of Councillor Broughton, seconded by Councillor John Burns, it was put to the vote and with the vote being unanimous, it was

RESOLVED:

That the Annual Treasury Management Report for 2018-2019 for the former St Edmundsbury Borough Council, being Report No: FRS/WS/19/002, be approved.

3.       Treasury Management Report: June 2019

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

In response to a question, Council was informed that whilst there was a budgetary surplus of £61,190 of interest actually earned during the first quarter of the financial year, this would even out as the year progressed and therefore the surplus would not be lost.

On the motion of Councillor Broughton, seconded by Councillor Joanna Rayner, it was put to the vote and with the vote being unanimous, it was

RESOLVED:

That the Treasury Management Report for 2018-2019, being Report No: FRS/WS/19/003, be approved.

Council noted that the remaining referrals from Cabinet, as listed below, were contained elsewhere on the agenda as separate items.

4.       Single Issue Review (SIR) of Core Strategy Policy CS7: Planning Inspector’s Report and Adoption

5.       Site Allocations Local Plan (SALP): Planning Inspector’s Report and Adoption

6.       Western Way Development: Final Business Case

7.       Exempt: Investing in our Commercial Asset Portfolio