Decisions

Following the outcome of the cost certainty stage of the project, the Cabinet will be asked to consider a proposed investment in Brandon Leisure Centre to update and improve facilities.

The decisions intended to be taken by Cabinet in respect of this item was originally scheduled for 22 September 2020 and was published on the Decisions Plan giving the required notice accordingly. The Council had decided to postpone the making of these decisions due to the uncertainty Covid-19 was having on leisure operations and the item was subsequently removed from the Plan. However, another month of trading has given increased confidence to progress this matter and if the decisions to proceed are taken, take the opportunity to commence work as soon as practicable with the aim of ultimately reducing the management fee to Abbeycroft Leisure and promoting health and wellbeing through physical activity.

The required 28 days’ notice for reporting the intended Key Decision and the potential for the matter being considered in private session has not now been given. Under the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Council’s Constitution, paragraphs 16.1 and 17.2, which requires that where the normal procedure cannot be followed in respect of the consideration of Key Decisions and matters being taken in private, the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee is to be informed as to why the matter cannot be reasonably deferred.  This has been undertaken accordingly.

Resolved:

That:

1.       capital spending of £1,673,889 from the Leisure Strategic Investment Fund that was agreed in November 2016 (CAB/FH/16/049), be approved to deliver the improvements to Brandon Leisure Centre outlined in Report number: CAB/WS/20/063; and

2.       capital spending of £302,111 from the Investment in Growth Fund that was agreed in November 2018 (CAB/SE/17/020), be approved to develop rentable space within Brandon Leisure Centre, as detailed in section 5 of Report number: CAB/WS/20/063.

The Cabinet will be asked to review progress on the actions contained in the Rural Taskforce’s Action Plan, which was approved by Cabinet in January 2020.

Resolved:

That:

1.       following progress being reviewed against the West Suffolk Rural Taskforce action plan, as set out in Appendix A to Report number: CAB/WS/20/061, no changes to the proposed activities be made; and

2.       a one-year progress report in spring 2021 be received, at which point, it is anticipated that most of the actions will have been completed, except for those which relate to the West Suffolk Local Plan, which need to await the appropriate phase of local plan development.

On 6 August 2020, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) launched the Planning for the Future White Paper and consultation, which focused on substantial planning reforms. 

The White Paper consultation covered a package of proposals for reforms of the planning system, covering plan-making, development management, development contributions and other related policy proposals.  The introduction of new primary and secondary legislation to give effect to the changes is likely to come into effect in 2021.

The Government was, therefore, seeking comments on this consultation before 29 October 2020 and the Leader of the Council is being asked to endorse the response from the West Suffolk Council to the Government’s White Paper on Planning for the Future. 

Resolved:

That the Council response to the Government White Paper ‘Planning for the Future’ consultation be endorsed.