Meeting documents

Cabinet (SBC)
Thursday 31 July 2008

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Agenda and Minutes

Cabinet
Thursday, 31st July, 2008 10.00 a.m.

Venue: Conference Room 1, Council Offices, Spennymoor

Contact: Gillian Garrigan, on Spennymoor 816166 Ext 4240 ggarrigan@sedgefield.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

20.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

To notify the Chairman of any items that appear in the agenda in which you may have an interest.

Minutes:

Members had no interests to declare.

21.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 76 K

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 3RD July 2008.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on the 3rd July 2008 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

22.

SEDGEFIELD BOROUGH EMPLOYMENT LAND REVIEW (KEY DECISION) pdf icon PDF 132 K

Joint report of Director of Neighbourhood Services and Assistant Chief Executive.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Lead Member for Planning and Development presented a report regarding the above. (For copy see file of Minutes)

 

It was explained that in October 2007, the Council in partnership with Chester-le-Street and Derwentside District Councils had commissioned Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners and Storeys:SSP to undertake a review of employment land, in accordance with the best practice guide ‘Employment Land Reviews’ issued by the Government in 2004. The purpose of a review was to help the authorities assess the suitability of sites for employment development, safeguard strategic sites in face of competition from higher valued uses such as housing and identify those sites that were no longer suitable for employment development. 

 

The review had now been completed and would form part of the evidence base for the preparation of the new Unitary Council’s Local Development Framework and the determination of planning applications by the Councils and in due course, the Unitary Council.

 

Members were given details of the review’s key findings.

 

RESOLVED :         That the key findings and recommendations be acknowledged and the Employment Land Review be published.

  

23.

EARLY INTEGRATION OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK ACTIVITY ACROSS COUNTY DURHAM AND CESSATION OF CURRENT LOCAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME (FOR COPY SEE FILE OF MINUTES) pdf icon PDF 139 K

Report of Director of Neighbourhood Services.

Minutes:

The Lead Member for Planning and Development presented a report seeking agreement to the early integration of all District and County Council work on the production of the Local Development Framework in anticipation of the forthcoming creation of a unitary authority for County Durham. (For copy see file of Minutes).

 

It was explained that at the vesting day in 2009 the new unitary council would assume its role as the single local planning authority for the County and would need to embark upon the production of a single Local Development Framework.  The existing programme of district based Local Development Framework production would not allow sufficient time for any Local Development Framework to have reached formal submission stage by the vesting day. 

 

It had therefore been agreed by the County Durham Districts Forum that an early start should be made on the production of a new county Local Development Framework, which in the medium term would be beneficial for establishing a ‘county-wide’ perspective for inclusion in the production of an Integrated Regional Strategy and assisting with the housing review of the Regional Spatial Strategy. 

 

It was pointed out that the Department of Communities and Local Government had published the draft regulations for consultation on 18th June 2008 which proposed that in areas affected by local government restructuring the Implementation Executive or Shadow Council leading the transition to unitary status became the Local Planning Authority except in relation to development control - i.e. decisions relating to planning applications would continue to be undertaken by existing districts.

 

Members noted that the report which was being referred to all eight councils in County Durham, also sought approval for the creation of an interim team across the County and the interim appointment of a Strategic Planning Manager.

 

RESOLVED :         That the following be agreed :

 

·    Cessation of existing Local Development Framework activity with the exception of Area Action Plan and Supplementary Planning Document work.

·    Early integration of the Local Development Framework function.

·    The creation of an Interim Team across the County

·    The interim appointment of a Strategic Planning Manager.

24.

SOUTH OF SPENNYMOOR MASTERPLAN (KEY DECISION) pdf icon PDF 79 K

Report of Director of Neighbourhood Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Lead Member for Planning and Development presented a report which sought approval to commission a Master Plan for the development sites to the south of Spennymoor, particularly in relation to the Merrington Lane area and including the Electrolux and Thorn Lighting sites and the area of the former Greyhound Stadium.  (For copy see file of Minutes)

 

The objectives for the Master Plan were to develop a new sustainable community, act as part of the evidence base for the determination of planning applications and the preparation of the Local Development Framework and focus on delivery and commercial reality.

 

It was envisaged that the Master Plan which was estimated to cost in the region of £75,000, would be fully financed through developer contributions. 

 

RESOLVED :         That the commissioning of a Master Plan for the development sites to the south of Spennymoor be approved.

 

25.

LOCAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME - NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPORTS CLUB (KEY DECISION) pdf icon PDF 103 K

Report of Assistant Chief Executive.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report regarding a Local Improvement Programme application to provide at Newton Aycliffe Sports Club a senior football pitch to a standard specified by the Northern League (Division 2), with floodlights, spectator and perimeter fencing and new self-contained changing rooms for two teams, plus officials.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

 

The project met the Department for Communities and Local Government eligible ‘Regeneration’ definition and demonstrated links to the key LIP criteria of meeting elements of the Community Strategy.  It had also been supported by Area 5 Forum.

 

Members noted that the applicant had requested £299,770 of LIP funding, which was 92% of the total capital costs of £342,770 excluding VAT.

 

RESOLVED :         That the application for LIP funds be approved.

 

26.

LOCAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME - JUBILEE FIELDS COMMUNITY CENTRE pdf icon PDF 84 K

Report of Assistant Chief Executive.

Minutes:

Consideration was give to a report regarding a Local Improvement Programme application to upgrade the sports hall and lounge/dining rooms at Jubilee Fields Community Centre to enable the centre to become a more viable enterprise, through better utilisation of existing space (For copy see file of Minutes).

 

The project met the Department for the Communities and Local Government eligible Regeneration definition and also demonstrated links to the LIP criteria of meeting elements of the Community Strategy and community consultation. It had also been supported by Area 4 Forum.

 

Members noted that the applicant had requested £75,000, which was 100% of the total capital project cost, however, Sedgefield Borough Council Enterprise Facilitator was working with the applicant on producing a business plan and identifying future possible funding.  The Community Association would manage and maintain the facility.  The revenue costs would be funded by income from room hire charges funding streams and local fundraising.

 

RESOLVED :            That the application for LIP funds be approved.

  

27.

PUBLIC SECTOR EFFICIENCY pdf icon PDF 170 K

Report of Director of Resources.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report detailing the progress being made in respect of the Gershon Efficiency agenda and the achievement of efficiency targets set by the Department of Communities and Local Government  (For copy see file of Minutes).

 

It was noted that the Council’s overall target set by the Department of Communities and Local Government for efficiency savings to be achieved by the end of 2007/08 was £1.209m, which was based on a baseline outturn expenditure of £16.104m in 2004/05.

 

Members’ attention was drawn to the table set out in Paragraph 3.13 of the report which showed the total savings achieved in each year from 2004 -05 to 2007- 08.  It was noted that the total of efficiency gains for the period was £4.223m.  Full details of the savings were set out in Appendix C attached to the report.

 

RESOLVED :               That the progress made by the Council in relation to the efficiency agenda and achievement and monitoring of efficiency savings be noted.

      

28.

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEES pdf icon PDF 88 K

To consider the Minutes of the following meetings:

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to minutes of the following meetings:

 

Healthy Borough with Strong Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee

-

24th June 2008

Healthy Borough with Strong Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee

-

1st July 2008

Prosperous and Attractive Borough Overview and Scrutiny Committee

-

8th July 2008

 

(For copies see file of Minutes)

 

With regard to the meeting of the Healthy Borough With Strong Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 1st July 2008, Members supported the views and concerns set out in the Minutes on the consultations exercises ‘A Big Conversation’ and ‘Seizing the Future’ and agreed that an appropriate response be forwarded to County Durham PCT and County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust and a copy sent to Durham County Council’s Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee.  

 

RESOLVED :            That the Committees’ recommendations be noted

                                    and appropriate action be taken.

 

29.

AREA FORUMS pdf icon PDF 85 K

To consider the minutes of the following meetings:

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to minutes of the following meetings:

 

Area 1 Forum

-

16th June 2008

Area 2 Forum

-

24th June 2008

Area 3 Forum

-

2nd July 2008

Area 4 Forum

-

8th July 2008

 

(For copies see file of Minutes)

 

 

RESOLVED :            That the Minutes be received.

 

30.

EMPLOYMENT ISSUES PANEL pdf icon PDF 77 K

Minutes of the meeting held on 21st July 2008.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the Minutes of the meeting held on 21st June 2008. (For copy see file of Minutes)

 

RESOLVED :            That the Minutes be received.

 

Published on 1st August 2008

 

Any key decisions contained in these Minutes will be implemented on Monday 11th August, 2008 unless they are called in by three Members of the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the call in procedure rules.