Issue - meetings

To receive an update from the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration

The Committee had before it, and NOTED, a *report of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration outlining the key area’s within his portfolio.

He explained that the report was long but this was necessary due to the variety of work that his portfolio covered.

Committee Members asked a variety of questions and gave consideration to:

·         The increase in unemployment claims from 820 to 2055 between March and September 2020

·         Members were hugely impressed with the department’s ability to get on top of new priorities due to the pandemic

·         The 1700 business grants that had been issued totalling in excess of £20m

·         The business case for the Hydro Mills project was underway

·         Advice from the Environment Agency had informed the Tiverton hydro proposal

·         The purpose of the Hydro Mills project

·         The Tiverton Town Centre Masterplan was due to be brought to Cabinet in March after further consultations with the Town Council, businesses and Ward Members

·         What happened to the budget for a Town Centre Manager (the Deputy Chief Executive S151 would provide an update to Members)

·         The Cullompton relief road was due to be completed within the next 2-3 years

·         A number of large developments which had been granted permission that had not yet been started would be investigated by the Development Delivery Advisory Group (DDAG) to try to understand the reasons for delay

·         The introduction of the Self Build Policy should increase interest in the scheme

·         The Cabinet Member had investigated the lack of admin support for the Planning Enforcement team and was looking to review the processes used. Members would need to decide if they wanted to an allocated a budget for Planning Enforcement admin support during the budget setting process

·         The Council would publish its S106 records of funds received and spent for 2019/2020 by 31^st December 2020

·         The planning performance targets were set by Government and were reported to the Planning Committee on a quarterly basis

Notes:

    i.)        Cllr W Burke left the meeting at 16.01pm

   ii.)        Cllr G Barnell left the meeting at 16.09pm

 iii.)        *report previously circulated and attached to the minutes