STOWMARKET TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting of STOWMARKET TOWN COUNCIL held in the John Milton Room, Milton House, Milton Road South, Stowmarket on Wednesday, 1st November, 2017 at 7.00pm.
Present: Councillor D J Muller, Town Mayor
Councillors: Ms L Baxter, Deputy Town Mayor J W C Curle N G K Gowrley B Humphreys MBE B J Salmon Mrs H Salmon K E Scarff
In attendance: Mr D G Blackburn, Town Clerk
Present: M J Marriott (Operations & Estates Manager) Ms S L Goonan (Corporate Services Manager) M A Allcock (Accounting & Finance Officer)
184. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors G M Brewster, Ms S L Britton, G Betts-Davies, P Ekpenyong, G M Green, D J MacPherson and Mrs L M Mayes.
185. DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY OR NON PECUNIARY INTERESTS
There were none.
186. DISPENSATIONS IN RESPECT OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS
There were none.
187. TOWN MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Town Mayor presented the Town Mayor’s announcements for the period Sunday, 7th October, 2017 to Sunday, 29th October, 2017 and referred to his forthcoming diary of engagements including Remembrance and Christmas.
188. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 4th October, 2017 be approved and signed as a correct record.
82 189. MINUTES OF THE OPERATIONS AND STRATEGY COMMITTEE
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Operations & Strategy Committee meeting held on 18h October, 2017 be approved and adopted.
190. MINUTES OF THE ELECTORAL REVIEW OF MID SUFFOLK WORKING GROUP
In addition to the points made in the minutes, the Town Clerk reported upon a request that had been made of the Local Government Boundary Commission to include within its final report, a commitment to undertake a supplementary review should the town’s boundaries change as a result of a further Community Governance Review
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Electoral Review of Mid Suffolk Working Group meeting held on 24th October, 2017 be received and the submission made on behalf of the Town Council be endorsed.
191. MOTIONS SUBMITTED ON NOTICE AND QUESTIONS PURSUANT TO STANDING ORDERS
There were none.
192. AUTHORISED ABSENCE
Members of the Town Council considered the circumstances of the non-attendance of Councillor Betts-Davies of Council meetings. This had arisen because of serious injuries he had sustained as a result of an accident.
The Town Clerk referred to Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 which required that a Members must attend at least one meeting of that authority within a consecutive period of six months in order to avoid disqualification. The period could be extended if the failure to attend was for a reason approved by the Council prior to the expiration of the six month period.
The Town Clerk reported upon an update provided by Councillor Betts-Davies of his recovery.
RESOLVED:
a. That, in accordance with the provisions of Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, the absence of Councillor Betts-Davies be approved for a further period of up to six months because of his physical incapacity; and b. That Councillor Betts-Davies be wished a full recovery by all Members of the Council.
193. PLACE SHAPING PROJECTS
The Deputy Mayor, Councillors Ms L Baxter, reported upon the successful re- opening of the Recreation Ground Play Area following its refurbishment. The Town
83 Mayor added his own personal thanks to the Deputy Mayor for leading the project on behalf of Members and for the work of officers.
The Town Mayor reported upon the installation of the new town entrance signs. A photoshoot had been undertaken that he had attended along with Annette Ellis, the Mid Suffolk Tourist Information Centre Manager and Shelli Moyes of the Stowmarket & District Chamber of Commerce, which he hoped would receive positive coverage in the local press.
The Town Clerk spoke of steps being taken to conclude works on site at the Recreation Ground Play Area and thanked Members for their support of the Play Area and Town Entrance signs projects.
194. RESPONDING TO CONSULTATION PROCESSES
The Town Clerk reported upon the Town Council’s capacity to respond to both government and local consultation processes (copy of report C21/17/18 on file). The Town Council always sought to respond to consultations that had resource or community implications such as the Local Government Boundary Review of Mid- Suffolk, Review of Local Referendum Principles in respect of Town and Parish Council precepts and the preparation of the Joint Local Plan. However, there was no formal mechanism in place for prioritising consultations, or determining how they should be prepared. An example of a response by the Suffolk Association of Local Councils on “Planning for the Right Homes in the Right Place: Consultation Proposals was submitted which the Town Council might rely on with this particular government consultation.
RESOLVED: That the Town Clerk be granted delegated authority to determine, in consultation with the Chair of the Audit & Governance Committee, which consultations the Town Council will prioritise and respond to, and whether the Town Council’s response will be determined through:
a. Full Council or a Standing Committee of the Council; b. Place Shaping Board; c. A Working Group (constituted for this purpose); or d. The Town Clerk, in consultation with Members,
Or, the Town Council will rely upon, or support, the representations made by another body (such as the Suffolk Association of Local Councils).
195. MID YEAR FINANCIAL REVIEW
The Council received the report of the Town Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer on the Mid-Year Financial Review (copy of report C/22/17/18 on file), which provided assurance in respect of the Revenue Budget 2017/18, Capital Programme 2017/18, Reserves Position 2017/18 and control of known medium term risks. Steps were being taken to implement the direction given by Members during the budget-setting round, to use any revenue surplus to fund capital in order to maintain reserves at a similar level at the end of 2017/18, to that at the end of 2016/17.
RESOLVED:
84 a. That the actions taken to manage the Town Council’s finances up to mid-year, be endorsed; and b. That the contents of the income and expenditure report up to the end of month 6 be received and noted.
196. SCHEDULES OF ACCOUNTS
The Corporate Services Manager reported upon the schedules of accounts and indicated that supporting information was available on file at the meeting for Members’ inspection.
RESOLVED: That the schedules of account for the period of 1st August 2017 to 30th September 2017 be approved.
197. ITEMS OF REPORT AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE
Councillor Mx Row had publicity leaflets on forthcoming events at the John Peel Centre for Members who wished to take a copy.
The Town Mayor referred to various forthcoming engagements including a fundraising event at the Chinese Chequers on Tuesday, 14th November, 2017 which was open to everyone.
The meeting ended at 7.35pm.
CHAIRMAN
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