Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Grant, Councillor Maguire, Councillor Powell and Councillor Vickery.

It was RESOLVED:

that the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2017 be signed as a true record.

It was RESOLVED:

that the Order of Business be confirmed as printed on the Agenda.

Councillor Cenci, being affected by the proposed transitional state pension arrangements, declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 10 (Motion: State Pension Arrangements) and left the room during the consideration of this item.

Councillor Ellesmere, whose partner was affected by the proposed transitional state pension arrangements, declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 10 (Motion: State Pension Arrangements) and left the room during the consideration of this item.

Councillor Jones, being affected by the proposed transitional state pension arrangements, declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 10 (Motion: State Pension Arrangements) and left the room during the consideration of this item.

Councillor P Smart, whose spouse was affected by the proposed transitional state pension arrangements, declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 10 (Motion: State Pension Arrangements) and left the room during the consideration of this item.

Councillor Studd, whose partner was affected by the proposed transitional state pension arrangements, declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 10 (Motion: State Pension Arrangements) and left the room during the consideration of this item.

Councillor Lockington, being affected by the proposed transitional state pension arrangements, declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 10 (Motion: State Pension Arrangements) and left the room during the consideration of this item.

Councillor Holmes, whose spouse was affected by the proposed transitional state pension arrangements, declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 10 (Motion: State Pension Arrangements) and left the room during the consideration of this item.

Councillor Whittall, whose spouse was affected by the proposed transitional state pension arrangements, declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 10 (Motion: State Pension Arrangements) and left the room during the consideration of this item.

Councillor Debman, whose spouse was affected by the proposed transitional state pension arrangements, declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 10 (Motion: State Pension Arrangements) and left the room during the consideration of this item.

The Mayor and her Consort have had a busy month, meeting many new people and catching up with many more.

They were delighted with the turn-out at the Remembrance Sunday service in Christchurch Park. It was good to see so many members of the public there – it was important that this event was for everyone. It was moving to see that the Friday ceremony was also well attended by so many school children. The Mayor thanked The Royal British Legion and the other organisers for making these events such a success.

The Mayor’s cycling efforts down on the Waterfront, along with many businesses and individuals, were rewarded with a cheque for £2,000 donated by ABP Ipswich towards her charities. Keeping fit and raising money made it very worthwhile.

The Mayor was pleased to be invited to the launch of a campaign to promote children’s dental health. This was something that she was very passionate about and was given the opportunity to spread the word on BBC Radio Suffolk.

Talking of which, the Mayor was recently a ‘sofa guest’ on Lesley Dolphin’s show on Radio Suffolk and hoped that she didn’t make too many hesitations, deviations or repetitions!

As everyone will have seen coming into the Town Hall tonight, Ipswich was basking in the glow of the festive lights. It was the Mayor’s pleasure to take along her young nephew, Olen, to meet 91 year-old abseiler John Morley to switch on the lights. We have a lot of trees this year and the bauble tree was now bringing a splash of colour to the Waterfront.

As a working Mayor, it was important to have a dedicated Deputy and the Mayor thanked Councillor Roger Fern and Ellie Griss for their continuing support and hard work.

Finally, as this was the last Council meeting of the year, the Mayor wished everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year. The Mayor was looking forward to participating in the Christmas Day dip at Felixstowe in support of the St. Elizabeth Hospice, this event was always good fun.

** In the absence of Councillor Vickery, a written response would be provided.

After question 11, on the proposal of Councillor Phillips and seconded by Councillor Pope, a proposal to extend the total period allowed for questions and answers was PUT to the meeting and was AGREED.

It was RESOLVED:

that the Treasury Management Operations for the period 1 April 2017 to 30 September 2017 be noted.

It was RESOLVED:

(i)           that the Strategic Overview & Scrutiny Committee Annual Report 2016-2017, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be noted.

(ii)          that the Strategic Overview & Scrutiny Committee’s Work Programme for 2017/18, attached at Appendix 2 to the report, be noted.

This Council agrees that working together with other agencies and local authorities to find a solution to the gang-related problems, and the exploitation of vulnerable people, currently taking place on the streets of our Town will be a high priority for Ipswich Borough Council.

It was MOVED by Councillor Fisher and SECONDED by Councillor Ellesmere:

“That this Council agrees that working together with other agencies and local authorities to find a solution to the gang-related problems, and the exploitation of vulnerable people, currently taking place on the streets of our Town will be a high priority for Ipswich Borough Council.”

This was PUT to the meeting and was AGREED.

It was RESOLVED:

That this Council agrees that working together with other agencies and local authorities to find a solution to the gang-related problems, and the exploitation of vulnerable people, currently taking place on the streets of our Town will be a high priority for Ipswich Borough Council.

This Council believes the Government should make fair transitional state pension arrangements for the more than four thousand Ipswich women born in the 1950s, who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the State Pension Age with lack of appropriate notification.

Council requests the Chief Executive write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions calling on the Government to reconsider transitional arrangements for women born in the 1950s affected by the changes to the State Pension Age.

It was MOVED by Councillor Darwin and SECONDED by Councillor C Smart:

“That this Council believes the Government should make fair transitional state pension arrangements for the more than four thousand Ipswich women born in the 1950s, who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the State Pension Age with lack of appropriate notification.

That Council requests the Chief Executive write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions calling on the Government to reconsider transitional arrangements for women born in the 1950s affected by the changes to the State Pension Age.”

This was PUT to the meeting and was AGREED.

It was RESOLVED:

That this Council believes the Government should make fair transitional state pension arrangements for the more than four thousand Ipswich women born in the 1950s, who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the State Pension Age with lack of appropriate notification.

That Council requests the Chief Executive write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions calling on the Government to reconsider transitional arrangements for women born in the 1950s affected by the changes to the State Pension Age.

It was RESOLVED:

that the Programme of Meetings for 2018/19, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

It was RESOLVED:

that Councillor Jones and Councillor Pope be appointed as Councillor Champions on the Charter for Trees (Woodland Trust).