Agenda and minutes

To elect a Vice-Chair of the Scrutiny Committee

The Chairman of the Committee invited nominations for the election of a Vice-Chairman for the municipal year 2024/25.

RESOLVED that Cllr G Westcott be elected Vice Chair of the Scrutiny Committee for the municipal year 2024/2025.

(Proposed by Cllr L Knight and Seconded by Cllr B Holdman).

To discuss and confirm the start times of meetings of the Scrutiny Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year

Cllr L Kennedy proposed and seconded by Cllr A Cuddy that the Committee meet at 5.00pm for the remainder of the 2024/25 municipal year.

The Committee AGREED to meet at 5.00pm for the remainder of the 2024/25 municipal year.

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

There were no apologies.

To record any interests on agenda matters.

No interests were declared under this item.

To receive any questions from members of the public and replies thereto.

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

The public questions that were raised were judged to be inadmissible under the terms of the Constitution of the Council, due to the fact that they were not related to any item remaining on the agenda.

To consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 15 April 2024

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 April 2024 were approved as a correct record and SIGNED by the Chairman.

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

The Chairman commented that he was grateful to be chairing this Committee.

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 4^th June 2024 had been called in.

To receive a report from the Town and Parish Liaison Officer relating to the Town and Parish Charter, the consultation process and State of the District Debate.

A supplemental Agenda will be provided for this item as the report was not ready at the time of publication.

The Committee had before it, and NOTED, a report * from the Democratic Services Officer and Town and Parish Liaison Officer.

The Town and Parish Charter was a partnership between Mid Devon District Council and the Towns and Parishes within its district.

The Community Policy Development Group (PDG) had considered the Charter and the process for renewing it, at its meeting in January 2024 and had approved a decision to send the charter to the Towns and Parishes for consultation. Subsequently, the draft Town and Parish Charter and its annexe regarding planning, had been sent to the Town and Parish Councils in the district and their views on the charter sought. The Towns and Parishes had been given three months in which to respond in order that it would fit into their meeting cycle.

The District Council had received 24 responses out of 50 Towns and Parishes, some councils had made comments, the majority had accepted the proposed changes and only one had not accepted the document. Many of the suggestions that the Town and Parishes had made, had been incorporated into the revised Charter documents.

Discussion took place with regard to:

·         Why the Town and Parish Charter was coming to the Scrutiny Committee before it went to the Community, People and Equalities PDG. This was at the request of the Scrutiny Committee when they added items to their work plan.

·         That this was the final document, subject to any comments that District Councillors wished to make.

·         The role of the District Council Chairman in relation to the Town and Parish Councils. The local District Councillors and the Cabinet Member for Parish and Community Engagement were there to answer queries and liaise with Town and Parish Councils but the District Council Chairman was ultimately responsible.

·         Regarding major planning applications A3 notices would be displayed prominently adjacent to the proposed site.

·         That all feedback from the Town and Parish Councils had been included within the committees’ papers. Approximately half of councils had not responded and so that had been taken as acceptance.

The Chairman commented that this was an important document, partnerships with Towns and Parishes was the way forward and he wished the Cabinet Member for Parish and Community Engagement and the Town and Parish Liaison Officer all the best with the progress.

Note: * Report previously circulated.

To receive a presentation from the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property Services relation to his Portfolio.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ITEM HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN FROM THE AGENDA

This item was withdrawn prior to the meeting.

To review the existing Work Plan and consider items for the committee’s future consideration, taking account of:

a)    Any items within the Forward Plan for discussion at the next meeting;

b)    Suggestions of other work for the committee in 2024/25.

The Committee had before it and NOTED the *Forward Plan and the *Scrutiny Committee Work Programme.

The Clerk took the Committee through the Work Programme and highlighted the following:

·         He was awaiting confirmation from the Cabinet Member for Housing, Assets and Property as to when would be convenient for him to give his Portfolio Presentation and that may mean that other Portfolio presentations were moved to accommodate it.

·         The Community Safety Partnership briefing would not be ready for the July meeting and so would move to the 9September meeting.

·         For the moment nothing would be scheduled for the 12 August meeting so that if no items were called in from Cabinet, that meeting could be cancelled to reflect that a number of Members and officers may be away.

·         A report would need to be prepared on Solar Panel and Anaerobic Digesters so that would come to the 30September meeting.

Discussion took place with regard to:

·         Inviting South West Water to address the Committee following completion of the Water Cycle study. The work for the Water Cycle had been out to tender and a consultant had been or was about to be selected so this work was slightly behind schedule. An interim update was to be scheduled in the Work Plan in the autumn.

·         The Cullompton Infrastructure update report to come to the 9 September meeting. The Council were in discussions with Homes England but had been told that they would not hear anything until after the General Election. A request was made that the report include both private and public sector involvement.

·         The Cabinet Member for Finance had mentioned a land sale that was imminent and would unlock 70 affordable homes, the Committee requested an update be provided at their next meeting on 15 July.

·         An update was requested on the Council being a “Trauma Informed Council”.

·         Whether it would be appropriate at the Committee meeting on 15^th July to look at the impact of the structure of the new Government on Mid Devon District Council’s priorities and specifically the next Plan Mid Devon.

·         Could both the “Void Properties” and “Air Management Control” items be brought forward on the Work Plan?

Note: - * Forward Plan and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme previously circulated.