Decisions

As part of the West Suffolk Local Plan development process, the Cabinet will be asked to consider, and recommend to Council, approval of the draft Preferred Issues and Options document for consultation. Consultation will commence at the end of May 2022.

Recommended to Council: (17 May 2022)

That:

1.       The West Suffolk Local Plan Preferred Options (Regulation 18) document, as contained in Appendix A to Report number: CAB/WS/22/019, together with supporting documents, be approved for the purposes of public consultation.

2.       Delegated authority be given to the Director (Planning and Growth), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning to make minor non-material consequential changes to the documents, as necessary.

In accordance with the attached Officer Decision Record, the Director (Resources and Property), in consultation with the partners of the Anglia Revenues Partnership and the Anglia Revenues and Benefits Partnership Joint Committee, has made a decision to enter into a legal Section 113 agreement with Norwich City Council for the provision of fraud services.

To enter into a legal Section 113 agreement with Norwich City Council for the provision of fraud services.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning will be asked to make a decision to go out to public consultation on the Red Lodge North Masterplan.

Report number CAB/WS/22/021 attached to this Notice provides further information on the background and purpose of the decision required.

Resolved:

That the Red Lodge North Masterplan be approved for public consultation (as set out in Appendix 1 to Report number CAB/WS/22/021).

In accordance with the attached Officer Decision Record, the Director (Resources and Property), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources and Property, has made a decision to implement in full the Council Tax Energy Rebate scheme and discretionary fund (see attached).

This power is being exercised through this decision in order to develop a Council Tax Energy Rebate scheme in West Suffolk through which grants will be paid to residents liable for Council Tax.

Specific details of the decision taken are:

To use the following approach to allocate the £150 payments to households under the “main scheme” (see attached):

1.       To replicate the Government eligibility criteria for the scheme, as set out in the Government guidance.

2.       For the scheme to be administered by Anglia Revenues Partnership.

3.       To make payments to Council Tax payers who have direct debits in place straight into the relevant bank account as soon as at least one successful direct debit payment has been made (so long as the name on the account matches the liable party for Council Tax). These recipients will be asked through social media messaging and other communications to check their eligibility against the criteria on the Council website.

4.       To contact householders with no direct debit in place (or no matching names – see above) by letter, asking them to complete an online form to provide bank details so that payments can be made to them. If no response is received within 28 days, the £150 will be applied to the Council Tax account relating to the property, and a new bill issued. If, following payment of the rebate, the Council Tax account shows a credit balance, a follow-up process will then be initiated whereby the liable person is contacted by post and phone to help them claim a refund (a range of methods will be offered). No time limit has been set by Government for this process.