Agenda and minutes

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

There were no apologies.

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.

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.

There were no issues raised under this item.

Members to consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 2^nd December.

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 last meeting held on 2^nd December 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 Chairman informed the Committee that a decision made by the Cabinet at its meeting on 19 December 2019 (with regard to the Tiverton Town Centre Regeneration Project – Tender Outcome) had been called in for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee by Councillors R B Evans, R J Chesterton and B A Moore for the following reasons:

1.    The decision that was not unanimously supported by Cabinet fails to understand its significant negative impact when considering the stated council wide ambitions within the current and proposed strategy for regeneration of town centres made within the corporate plan and is contrary to the stated strategic aims of Mid Devon Council as a whole.

2.    The decision has been set against a wish to seek views from a number of sections of society, however is clearly driven by the wishes of a small number of Tiverton Town Council planning committee members in particular as stated by individual members of Cabinet on several occasions.

3.    Cabinet have failed to acknowledge documented evidence of previous wide ranging consultations that satisfied all consultation requirements.

4.    Cabinet have failed to offer a plan that can realistically off set the evident clash of priorities when full-council are asked to consider the future corporate plan at its meeting on 26th February 2020 with no measurable time line set for future decisions against this vital project, yet its delay is contrary to stated aims within the economic strategy of the MDDC plan.

5.    Cabinet have failed to recognise the reputational damage that can affect the council given their failure to show a clear economic commitment towards the town, this may possibly also manifest itself in reduced investment from other investors who may see MDDC’s Cabinets continued dither and delay as systematic across a range of future investment opportunities.

6.    Cabinet have failed to offer a viable alternative except a delay in any works towards the town’s regeneration ambitions.

7.    Cabinet have failed to consider the financial loss that is already known and continues to grow as each days delay adds to the cost of non-action set against a known budgetary challenge over the coming months and years. These losses should be clearly and openly publicised too aid a decision that is enshrined in openness and transparency to aid informed debate.

The Chairman invited Cllr R Evans who had led the ‘call in’ to address the Committee. Cllr R Evans explained that he felt that the decision made by the Cabinet on 19^th December to postpone the contract award for the Tiverton Town Centre Regeneration project should be reconsidered.

He explained that that project had been fully considered by the previous administration and that it was aligned to the Corporate Plan. He informed the Committee of the previous public consultation, the planning application in which Tiverton Town Council had commented and the full member review which had taken place. He explained that the market entrance project was part of the wider Tiverton Town Centre Masterplan. He explained that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 101.

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

The Chairman gave his apologies for the next meeting on 27^th January 2020.

Following the Climate Change Declaration in June 2019, to receive information discussed at the Cabinet meeting on 19^th December outlining decisions and plans to reduce carbon emissions.

The Committee had before it and NOTED a *report of the Group Manager for Corporate Property and Commercial Assets updating it on the Carbon Footprint Baseline.

Members discussed carbon offsetting and the definition of this.

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

To receive a report from the Member Services Manager on Member Development.

The Committee had before it and NOTED a *report of the Member Services Manager with regard to Member Development. The officer outlined the contents of the report which included the work of the shared service, member development opportunities and suggestions for future member development.

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

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 providing an update on performance against the Corporate Plan and local service targets for 2019-2020 presented by the Group Manager for Performance, Governance and Data Security.

Consideration was given to:

·         Planning performance

·         Empty shops in the Town centres

·         The need to consider revising or amending performance indicators to align with the new Corporate Plan in due course

Note: *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

The Scrutiny Officer informed the Committee that she had attended the Centre for Public Scrutiny conference in London and outlined the content of the conference to Members.

She explained that Menopause and Procurement would be added to the work programme once the Customer Experience working group had been completed.

Members were reminded to complete a Scrutiny proposal form if there were any subjects that they would like investigated by the Committee.

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 had before it and NOTED the *Forward Plan.

Note: *Forward Plan 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:

·         Cabinet Member for Community Well Being

·         Draft Budget

·         Whistle Blowing 6 Month Update

·         Performance and Risk

·         5G Information

·         Anaerobic Digesters in Mid Devon Update

·         Scrutiny Officer Update

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

No additional items were identified.