Meeting Details

Members are invited to a Meeting of the Full Council

to be held in the Deben Conference Room, East Suffolk House, Melton,

on Wednesday, 27 March 2024 at 6.30pm.

 

This meeting will be broadcast to the public via the East Suffolk YouTube Channel at https://youtube.com/live/T2hk02YzI6o?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 confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21 February 2024.

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.

The following questions have been submitted by the public in pursuance of paragraph 29.1 of the Council Procedure Rules:

 

a) Question from Michael Warren to Councillor Tom Daly, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Energy and Climate Change

 

A Council meeting was held on Wednesday 24th July 2019 during which a climate emergency was declared. Since that time nearly five years have passed, but from my observations of our environment in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire, little or nothing has changed. What, in our surroundings, would we have to observe to conclude that there was/is no emergency, and that the declaration can be withdrawn? 

 

b) Question from Kate Stott (Member of Use Your Voice Lowestoft) to Councillor Caroline Topping, Leader of the Council

 

In light of the recent decision by East Suffolk Council to halt work on the Lowestoft tidal barrier, could the Council provide an update on how it sees this project being completed and by when?

 

In the meantime, how will ESC now respond to planning applications for new developments in areas at risk of flooding due to the lack of the barrier? In particular, given that potential purchasers are likely to be able to secure neither insurance nor mortgages for new properties in these areas.

 

Given the threat to future jobs and businesses in Lowestoft, what cost-benefit analysis has been done as regards not investing in a tidal barrier?

The following question from Members has been submitted in pursuance of paragraph 29.4 of the Council Procedure Rules:

 

Question from Councillor Amanda Folley to Councillor Toby Hammond, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Economic Development and Transport

 

As you will be aware, a parking  review has recently been completed for Felixstowe. As we all appreciate, tourism is an important source of income for the town, and we want to encourage as many visitors to come here as possible. Is it now the intention of this Council to introduce parking charges along the length of Sea Road, and if that is so, what provision will we make for long-term parking around the town as we need to support the local economy?

No petitions have been received as provided by paragraph 30.1 of the Council Procedure Rules.

The following Motion has been submitted in pursuance of paragraph 31.1 Council Procedure Rules:

Motion from Councillor Peter Byatt, to be seconded by Councillor Mike Deacon

This Council notes that:

1. It declared a Climate Emergency in July 2019 and a Biodiversity and Ecological Emergency in February 2024;

2. The Strategic Plan, Our Direction, includes the Environment as one of only four themes, promising several active programmes that should deliver positive climate, nature and environmental impact;

3. The budget confirmed vast sums of taxpayer money will be allocated to meet our aims, including the bulk of a new Reserve, The Strategic Plan Reserve, at £6 million and

4. A number of other Councils at town, District and County level in the UK that have also declared a Climate Emergency and Biodiversity Emergency have created new Committees to give this topic the weight and importance it deserves.

This Council resolves to:

1. Consider the establishment of a new Committee of Full Council, the Environment Committee, that would replace the Environmental Task Group. This Committee would advise Cabinet and Full Council on the policies, actions and resources required to deliver on our climate change and environmental ambitions and to provide progress on achieving agreed targets and outcomes that will include;

- Continuing our commitment to net zero by 2030;
- Supporting sustainable transport;
- Restoring ecosystems and biodiversity;
- Supporting, promoting and implementing green tech;
- Working in partnership to manage coastal adaptation and resilience;
- Focusing on reduction, re-use and recycling of materials;
- Encouraging food self-sufficiency and
- Preserving and maintaining the District’s beauty and heritage.

2. Request that the Constitution Review Working Group works out the detail of the Environment Committee, to be agreed by Full Council, such as its terms of reference, membership, how often it meets etc.

Report of the Chair of the Council.

Report of the Leader of the Council.