Agenda for Council on Wednesday 12th February 2025, 6.00 pm

Council - Wednesday 12th February 2025 6.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber, Ipswich Town Hall

Contact: Ainsley Gilbert 01473 432510

Items
No.	Item
	Audio Recording - Council - 12 February 2025 MP3 50 MB
54.	Apologies for Absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Cook, Gardiner, Lankester, Trenchard and Wilson.
55.	To Confirm the Minutes from the Previous Council Meeting. PDF 125 KB Minutes: It was RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 January 2025 be signed as a true record.
56.	To Confirm or Vary the Order of Business on the Agenda. Minutes: It was RESOLVED: that the Order of Business be as printed on the Agenda.
57.	To Receive any Declarations of Interest. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest.
58.	Mayor's Communications. PDF 181 KB Minutes: The Mayor noted that his communications had been circulated.
59.	Councillors to answer questions asked in accordance with Procedure Rule 9. Minutes: There were no Council questions.
60.	To Consider a Motion from Councillor MacDonald Original Motion This Council believes that Ipswich, as Suffolk's county town, must have a prominent place in any new local government arrangements. Amended Motion This Council believes that Ipswich, as Suffolk's county town, must have a prominent place in any new local government arrangements. We believe that a single unitary Suffolk Council would be too remote from residents and would not be in the best interests of Ipswich people and businesses. We believe that a pattern of local government that best reflects the communities of Suffolk would be three unitary councils representing Greater Ipswich, East Suffolk and West Suffolk. This Council therefore resolves to work with the Government, our local MPs and other local authorities in Suffolk to achieve this. Minutes: It was RESOLVED on a motion MOVED by Councillor MacDonald and SECONDED by Councillor Fisher that: This Council believes that Ipswich, as Suffolk's county town, must have a prominent place in any new local government arrangements. We believe that a single unitary Suffolk Council would be too remote from residents and would not be in the best interests of Ipswich people and businesses. We believe that a pattern of local government that best reflects the communities of Suffolk would be three unitary councils representing Greater Ipswich, East Suffolk and West Suffolk. This Council therefore resolves to work with the Government, our local MPs and other local authorities in Suffolk to achieve this. The vote on this motion was unanimous.
61.	C/24/19 To Consider a Report from the Leader of the Council on Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation. PDF 292 KB Minutes: It was RESOLVED on a motion MOVED by Councillor MacDonald and SECONDED by Councillor Rudkin: a) that a Working Group be established, to be known as the Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation Reference Group, with the terms of reference as set out in paragraph 2.4 of the report; b) that the political balance of the Panel be in accordance with the details set out in paragraph 2.3 (i.e. Labour (6), Conservative (2) and Lib Dem (1)); c) that Councillors Ellesmere, Fisher, Holmes, Kreidewolf, Lankester, Murray, Mortimer, Rudkin and Shaw to be appointed to the Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation Working Group and that Councillors Frost, T Lockington, MacDonald and Phillips to be appointed as Substitutes for the Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation Working Group; and d) that the Monitoring Officer be authorised to update the Council’s Constitution to include the forming of the Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation Reference Group and its terms of reference.
62.	To Consider nominations/changes of Councillors to serve on Committees, Panels, Working Groups and Outside Bodies. PDF 5 KB Minutes: It was RESOLVED: that the nominations to the Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation Working Group be noted.