Meeting Details

There were no declarations of interest received. 

Councillor Gallant, Leader of  the Council, welcomed all to the first East Suffolk Council Cabinet Meeting. 

Councillor Gallant announced that, since the Annual Council Meeting on 22 May 2019, he had appointed two Assistant Cabinet Members;  Councillor Jepson, Assistant Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Health, and Councillor Cackett, Assistant Cabinet Member with responsibility for Transport. 

Cabinet received report ES/0020 by the Leader of the Council  who, in introducing his  report, advised that Street Naming and Numbering was a statutory function of East Suffolk Council (ESC), usually undertaken under delegated powers by an officer who maintained a single land and property gazetteer for the whole district, feeding all systems locally and nationally with accurate addressing data.

As the Street Naming and Numbering authority, East Suffolk Council undertook these duties by consulting with those parties interested in the naming of a particular street, this included the Town or Parish Council and any developer.  ESC would also consult with any living relatives if the street was proposed to be named after a person.

A name was put forward by the former Waveney District Council for the proposed access road to the Riverside business area in Lowestoft, as part of the work needed for the third river crossing, shown on the map included within the report.  This was to name the road after the late Councillor Colin Law.

Lowestoft Town Council had objected to this proposal and put forward a different name for consideration. The proposal from the Town Council was to name the road after the World War II veteran Dorothy Dallimer.

As the parties involved in the proposals included ESC the naming authority, or at least the former Waveney District Council, and an agreement could not be reached in consultation with Lowestoft Town Council, Cabinet was asked to make a decision on the naming of this proposed road.

Both names complied with the Street Naming and Numbering protocol outlined in the report, the connection to the immediate vicinity being stronger for naming the road after Colin Law due to his connections with both Waveney District Council and Suffolk County Council.

The Leader, in conclusion, stated that it was his view  that  Dorothy Dallimer’s work could  be recognised in the  naming of another road.

During debate Cabinet  stated that it was very appropriate that this road was named after the late Councillor Law; it was further stated that Councillor Law was Leader of Waveney District Council when the project came about to build Riverside and so, for this reason, it was closely associated with Councillor Law and was entirely appropriate.  The Leader, in conclusion, stated that it was a fitting tribute to a great Councillor. 

RESOLVED

 That the proposed access road to the Riverside business area (as a result of the proposed third river crossing) be named after Colin Law.    

Cabinet received report ES/0023 by the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Health who reported that  the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and  Policing Act 2014 introduced the provision for District Councils to make Public Space Protection Orders (also known as PSPOs), which were intended to deal with a specific nuisance or behaviour area that  was detrimental to the local community's quality of life.    

A three year PSPO for  the Latitude site was agreed in 2016 but this would expire just before the next festival in  July.  Suffolk Police had asked the Council to consider  extending the PSPO for a  further three years, and to undertake the consultation necessary to do so.  The PSPO would prohibit the distribution, possession,  consumption,  sale, offering or exposing  for sale of psychoactive substances, also known as legal highs.  The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 introduced powers to  deal  with the production, importation and supply of psychoactive substances,  but did not make possession a criminal offence.  The proposed PSPO would continue to address  the gap.  Formal consultation must be undertaken with  the Police, Town  / Parish Council and residents  before  an order could  be made.  There were two conditions that must be satisfied before  a PSPO could be made, ie that activities carried on in a public place within  the authority's area had had or  were likely to  have a detrimental  effect on the quality of life of those in the locality; that the effect  or likely effect of those activities was or was likely to be of a persistent and continuing nature, was or was likely to be unreasonable and justified the restrictions to be imposed.   Both the Police and Council Anti Social Behaviour staff believed that there was sufficient evidence to justify the restrictions imposed by the proposed order.    The  enforcement  of  the PSPO was a matter for the Council in partnership with the Police.  Both the Police and Festival Republic, the organiser of  the festival, fully supported the continuation of the PSPO for  the duration of the festival.

Councillor Rudd reported that Latitude was a family festival and those who  chose to use such drugs caused concerns in relation to their own vulnerability to being a victim of  crime, their impact on others due to unpredictable behaviour and their  potential medical needs.  Overall, Latitude was a very safe festival with fewer than 50 offences per event.  Based on the impact of the previous PSPOs it was  believed that a  further three year PSPO would play a part in ensuring that this continued.

During debate Cabinet recognised the value of what it saw as a really great family event and was of the view that it should be wholeheartedly supported by the Council.  Cabinet was of  the view that this was a good initiative and the Council should support the Police where it could.  It was, Cabinet stressed, important to promote the event where possible; the economic benefit to East Suffolk being huge.   

RESOLVED

1.     That a consultation upon the proposed order be authorised. 

2.     That the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Health be given  delegated authority to  authorise the making of a Public Space Protection Order as set out within report ES/0023 subject to and following  the consultation process.    

Cabinet received report ES/0024 by the Leader of the Council who reported that in accordance with Part 2 (Section D) of the Council's Constitution, the Cabinet was asked to appoint Councillor representatives to Outside Bodies where  the role related to an Executive function.   The appointment of Councillors to Outside Bodies was important  as it provided support to the organisation concerned, enabled Councillors to fulfil their community leadership roles and enabled the appropriate monitoring of performance/budgets, in line with best practice. 

The Leader drew Cabinet's attention to page 32 of the agenda pack, "Leiston Together" and stated that Councillor TJ Haworth-Culf would be joining Councillor Tony Cooper, they would both represent the Council.    

The Leader stated that he wished to add an additional Outside Body, and that was the Lowestoft Flood Risk Management Scheme Board; he proposed three Members - Councillor Ritchie as Chairman, Councillor Rudd, and  himself. 

The Leader stated that he wished to add another Outside Body, Haven Gateway Partnership, and he proposed one Member - Councillor Rivett.

Finally, the Leader referred to one final change that he wished to make to  the proposals; this  was in respect of the Places for People Partnership Board; he wished to replace Councillor Smith with Councillor Burroughes.   

RESOLVED

1. That Councillors be appointed to those Outside Bodies outlined in Appendix A, subject to the above changes, for  the 2019/20 Municipal Year.  

2. That, unless otherwise stated, the Leader of the Council be authorised to fill any outstanding vacancies left unfilled by Cabinet and that arise throughout the 2019/20 Municipal Year.     

Cabinet received report ES/0018 by the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Economic Development  who reported that Slaughden Sailing Club had  approached East Suffolk Council to purchase a strip of land extending to 262 square metres at Slaughden, Aldeburgh.  The  site was situated adjacent to  its dinghy park and was owned freehold by the Council.  The intended use of the land was for car parking.  The Asset Management Team had negotiated with the Slaughden Sailing Club on a "without prejudice" and "subject to contract" and "Cabinet approval" basis to agree the sale of the site, restricted to car parking and boat storage.  The purpose of the report was to recommend the sale of the site for £2,000.  

RESOLVED

That the sale of the site to Slaughden Sailing Club for a sum of £2,000 be approved.  

Cabinet received report ES/0019 by the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Customer Services and Operational Partnerships who reported that in 2018 Suffolk County Council (SCC) commissioned City Fibre and  MLL to  deliver the Suffolk Cloud full fibre project.  This project connected all public sector buildings in 10 towns across Suffolk to  an ultrafast broadband network.  In East Suffolk these towns were Lowestoft, Woodbridge  and Felixstowe.  The Council's Economic Development Team had been  working with both SCC and the  delivery companies to extend this network in Lowestoft for  the benefit of potential commercial and residential customers.  As a result of the East Suffolk Council's proposed extra investment of £1.9m City Fibre had offered to invest up to a further £20m so that all businesses and residential premises in Lowestoft would  have  access to ultrafast broadband by autumn 2021.  This would, Councillor Burroughes stated, represent a step  change in digital connectivity in  the town, address Lowestoft's issues such as geographical remoteness, poor transport infrastructure and provide  a huge boost to the ESC's ambitious regeneration and development plans for  the town.

Councillor Burroughes advised that a further report would come to Cabinet in  July 2019,  setting out the  details of the contract and requesting approval to invest £1.9m of East Suffolk Council funding.     

Cabinet very much  welcomed the Full Fibre Project, stating  that it was one of many big projects underway and coming forward in Lowestoft.     

Following a question by Councillor Byatt, who asked if consideration was being given to free wi-fi in  in the town centre, the Head of Economic Development and Regeneration referred to the High Street funding bid that had been  submitted and said that free wi-fi would be a fundamental element of this; it was,  he stated, very much an aspiration.  The Leader emphasised that  this  was the first stage of digital transformation; it was,  he said, very important to meet the public's expectations.    

RESOLVED

1. That support be expressed for  the Lowestoft Full Fibre Project and  that  the Strategic Director and Head of Economic Development and Regeneration be requested to carry on discussions with Suffolk County Council and the other parties involved, in order to assess the financial and governance implications for  the East Suffolk Council in more  detail.  

2. That Cabinet considers the financial and governance implications, and any other relevant matters, in a further report to Cabinet.  

RESOLVED

That, under Section 100(a)(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 it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.