Meeting Details

Members are invited to a Meeting of the Full Council

to be held in the Conference Room, Riverside, Lowestoft

on Wednesday, 19 March 2025 at 6.30pm

This meeting will be broadcast to the public via the East Suffolk YouTube Channel at https://youtube.com/live/DMBl0r_5mSg?feature=share

To receive apologies for absence, if any.

Members and Officers are invited to make any declarations of interests, and the nature of that interest, that they may have in relation to items on the Agenda and are also reminded to make any declarations at any stage during the Meeting if it becomes apparent that this may be required when a particular item or issue is considered.

To receive any announcements from the Chair, the Leader of the Council, members of the Cabinet, or the Chief Executive, in accordance with paragraph 28.2 of the Council Procedure Rules.

No questions have been submitted by the electorate as provided by paragraph 29.1 of the Council Procedure Rules.

No questions from Members have been received as provided by paragraph 29.4 of the Council Procedure Rules.

Report from the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Economic Development and Transport and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Resources and Value for Money in relation to the petition that has been received in pursuance of paragraph 30.1 of the Council Procedure Rules:

STOP East Suffolk council from parking charges increase

"East Suffolk District Council’s decision to raise parking charges over 100% has led to a number of residents and businesses, particularly those reliant on the visitor economy, worrying about the impact on their viability.

A two-hour stay near the beach will rise from £1.50 to £4.00, a four-hour stay will go from £3.00 to £6.00, and an all-day stay will increase from £4.00 to £8.00.

I recognise the huge financial pressures faced by the District Council, but it’s frustrating that there was no consultation with local businesses and residents to understand how to mitigate the impact of these changes.

I have started this petition to show the council what impact it has on businesses and residents and reconsider."

The following motion has been received from East Suffolk Youth Council in pursuance of paragraph 31.2 of the Council procedure rules:

Motion on the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

This Council notes that:

•  The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) has funded many projects across East Suffolk, such as the Framlingham Surgery Extension, Bungay Community Centre and Lowestoft Royal Green Play Area.
•  Nationally, the CIL has raised an estimated £1 billion per year for projects such as these.
•  The current Levy for East Suffolk varies by specific area, but it is set at £100/sqm for middle value zones and £300/sqm for higher value zones.
•  Charitable organisations and social housing providers do not pay the CIL.
•  When setting local rates, all councils ‘must aim to strike what appears to the charging authority to be an appropriate balance’ between the desirability of funding infrastructure from the levy and ‘the potential effects (taken as a whole) of the imposition of CIL on the economic viability of development across its area’.
•  Due to recent events such as the increase in inflation, local flooding, and the proposed increase in housebuilding by the incumbent national government, the need for local infrastructure has increased across East Suffolk.
•  At the same time, the top UK housebuilders have made a combined £2.9 billion in profits in 2021 alone, showing that housing projects are economically viable.
•  Moreover, the recent large increase in house prices has led to increased profits for housebuilders and decreased affordability for existing residents.
•  Decreased affordability is cited as a key reason why young adults are leaving East Suffolk, contributing to a lack of investment in opportunities, as well as fewer services, for younger people.
•  Most housing developments are opposed by local residents, with the key reasons being a lack of community cohesion and strains on local services.
•  Land can be designated as used for 'Nature conservation', 'Landscape conservation' and 'Natural Heritage conservation', and these designations can be made by Councils and other relevant organisations (e.g. Natural England) so as to flow through to the planning process and inform planning decisions.

 This Council resolves to call upon East Suffolk Council to:

•  Re-evaluate the Community Infrastructure Levy, with a predisposition to increase it for the reasons above, with an awareness to the impact on house purchasers. 
•  Re-evaluate planning policies, with a predisposition to adjust the mix of land uses in order to redesignate more housing development land for commercial use (e.g. retail and industry facilities), community service use (e.g. schools, medical surgeries and entertainment facilities), and the conservation of heritage, landscape and nature.
•  Consult East Suffolk Youth Council on annual spending priorities for local projects funded by the CIL, to ensure that:

1.  The needs of young people in our communities are incorporated into the development of annual spending priorities
2.  Maximum benefit to young people is achieved through CIL spending at the local and District level.

•  Establish a process whereby East Suffolk Youth Council can be properly engaged in the production of the Local Plan, to ensure that:

1.  Youth voices are influential in the production of the Local Plan
2.  Youth help to shape land-use allocations and planning policies, including (but not limited to) policies regarding affordable housing, environmental considerations, and the mix of land uses
3.  Youth help to inform the community-infrastructure priorities set out in the Local Plan
4.  Youth priorities and needs are incorporated into the Local Plan.

No Notices of Motion have been made as provided by paragraph 31.1 of the Council Procedure Rules.

It is recommended that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.     

• Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

• Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).