Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notices of appointment of substitute Members (if any).

Apologies were received from Cllr Mrs I Hill who was substituted by Cllr L Cruwys.

Councillors are reminded of the requirement to declare any interest, including the type of interest, and reason for that interest, either at this stage of the meeting or as soon as they become aware of that interest.

There were no declarations made.

The Chairman informed the Committee (with their agreement) that he would move item 7, Chairman’s announcements, to the next item on the agenda

To receive any announcements that the Chairman of Scrutiny Committee may wish to make.

The Chairman informed the Committee that Matt Barrow from DCC was unable to attend the meeting and therefore the Broadband update would be rescheduled for a later meeting.

To receive any questions relating to items on the Agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.

Note:   A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

There were no members of the public present.

An opportunity for non-Cabinet Members to raise issues.

Members discussed a recent planning appeal which the applicant had won and that costs had been awarded against the Council. Members wanted to express a view that the planning policy DM22 was reviewed to include tighter criteria.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration explained that changes to planning policies could only be achieved by modifications to the Local Plan. He informed the Committee that the main modifications to the Local Plan were being reviewed by the Planning Policy Advisory Group in the next few weeks.

Members requested that the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration seek advice from Planning Officers on reviewing the planning policy DM22.

(Proposed by the Chairman).

Members to consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 30^th September 2019.

The Committee is reminded that only those members of the Committee present at the previous meeting should vote and, in doing so, should be influenced only by seeking to ensure that the minutes are an accurate record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 30^th September 2019 were approved as a correct record and SIGNED by the Chairman.

To consider any decisions made by the Cabinet at its last meeting that have been called-in.

The Committee NOTED that none of the decisions made by the Cabinet on 17^th October 2019 had been called in.

To receive an update on broadband provision in the District from Matt Barrow, Economy, Enterprise and Skills Devon County Council.

Matt Barrow gave apologies and therefore this item was deferred to a future meeting of the Committee.

To provide Members with an update on performance against the corporate plan and local service targets for 2019-2020 as well as providing an update on the key business risks.

The Committee had before it, and NOTED, the Performance and Risk *report from the Group Manager for Performance, Governance and Data Security who stated that this was the second report detailing the 2019/2020 performance.

She informed the Committee that the reports had been presented to all the Policy Development Groups, Audit Committee and the Cabinet.

Members asked if the Cabinet had decided how many council houses were going to be built as part of the Corporate Plan.

In response, the Chief Executive explained that the Corporate Plan was being taken to all the Policy Development Groups (PDG’s) and at that point Members could take a view of what should be included in the plan but no decisions had been made on the content yet. He explained that once the proposed Corporate Plan had been through the PDG’s and the Cabinet it was due to be signed off by Council by the end of February.

In response to questions about the Corporate Plan Aim to ‘reduce our carbon footprint’ the Chief Executive explained that the Climate Change Declaration stated that the Council would produce its baseline footprint by the end of December.

Members discussed the GED team working to bring forward strategic developments.

Members discussed the definition of ‘council houses’ and the issues that right to buy had on the Council’s housing stock.

Members discussed the Cabinet’s recent decision to defer the Tiverton Town Centre regeneration tender and to seek the opinion of the Planning Committee of Tiverton Town Council on the overall plan.

Consideration was given to:

·         Recent press reports

·         Opinions of Market Traders in Tiverton

·         Views of District Councillors who also sat on Tiverton Town Council

·         Previous Cabinet Members views on the regeneration project

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration explained that the procurement process had not been cancelled it had been paused in order for the Cabinet to seek the views of the Town Council and to decide if the project in its current form offered the best solution for the people of Tiverton.

In response to a question asked about S106 Agreements the Group Manager for Performance, Governance and Data Security explained that progress was currently reported in the Annual Governance Statement Action Plan on a regular basis but software was being developed to monitor this better.

Notes:

·         *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes.

·         Cllr R L Stanley declared a personal interest as he was involved with the Tiverton Town Centre Regeneration Tender procurement process.

To receive a report from the Head of Planning, Economy and Regeneration presenting Members with steps to introduce cost recovery into the Growth, Economy and Delivery Service and to look at issues relating to further commercialisation within the service, previously presented to Economy PDG and Cabinet.

The Committee had before it and NOTED a *report from the Head of Planning, Economy and Regeneration on cost recovery and commercialisation in Growth, Economy and Delivery.

The Economic Development Team Leader outlined the contents of the report and explained that it detailed proposed income generation by the team. He explained that opportunities had been looked at through commercial activity studies in other local authorities which had shown different ranges of services offered and management of work space. He informed the Committee that the Council was seeking a small LGA grant to help explore the options for commercialisation and the appropriate vehicle to take it forward.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regenerations explained that the Council were considering a more strategic role and that the LGA grant, along with the Economy PDG, would allow the Council to scope out some options and take a more active role in Mid Devon regeneration.

Note: *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

Members are asked to consider any items within the Forward Plan that they may wish to bring forward for discussion at the next meeting.

The Committee NOTED the *Forward Plan

Note: *Forward Plan previously circulated and attached to the minutes

To receive a presentation from the Scrutiny Officer on work planning.

The Scrutiny Officer introduced Work Programme Planning by way of a *presentation.

She explained that she had visited the DCC Scrutiny team and introduced Members to work programme planning by thinking about the value that Scrutiny could bring and the prioritisation of issues.

She explained to Members how to give the public a stake in the work programme by having conversations with parishioners on the issues which most concerned them about the Council and bringing those issues back to the Committee to investigate.

Members discussed the following:

·         Adding Value – does not need to be financial

·         Spotlight reviews

·         Raising the profile of the Scrutiny Committee

·         Engaging the public

Members commented that the Scrutiny Committee in its current form received numerous reports for ‘noting’ and that it should be scrutinising and debating real issues which affected the local population like the Tiverton Town Centre Regeneration project.

Members requested that the Scrutiny Officer give an overview of the work and the remit of all of the PDG’s to the next meeting of the Committee.

Members AGREED to have an informal meeting in November to discuss and agree a Work Programme.

Note: *Presentation previously circulated and attached to the minutes.

Members are asked to note that the following items are already identified in the work programme for the next meeting:

S106 Governance

Statement of Community Involvement Review

Cabinet Member for Finance

Business Rates Discretionary Rates Relief

Council Tax Empty Levy Charge

Note: - this item is limited to 10 minutes. There should be no discussion on items raised.

No items were identified.