Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllr R B Evans.

To note the protocol for hybrid meetings.

The protocol for remote meetings was noted.

As the member of the public was having connection issues attending the meeting remotely, the Public Question Time item was moved until that member of the public was available to ask her question.

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.

Members were reminded to make any declarations of interest when necessary.

Members to consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 31 August 2021.

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Following a report of the Operations Manager for Street Scene, the Environment Policy Development Group have made the following recommendations:

a)    That the proposed amendment to reduce the waste prevention target to 400kg/head/year by 2030 be approved and;

b)    The final Strategy be approved

Following a report of the Operations Manager for Street Scene, the Environment Policy Development Group had made the following recommendations:

a)    That the proposed amendment to reduce the waste prevention target to 400kg/head/year by 2030 be approved and;

b)    The final Strategy be approved

The Cabinet Member for the Environment and Climate Change outlined the contents of the report stating that the draft Resource and Waste Strategy for Devon and Torbay was published for consultation in March 2021, 214 responses had been received.  The Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee had resolved that the strategy be endorsed and recommended for final approval to the partner authorities.  He made reference to Government proposals and how any legislation might impact on the strategy; once the Government had confirmed its position, the strategy could be reviewed to see if any changes were required.

Consideration was given to:

·         The Deposit Return Scheme and the position highlighted within the strategy with regard to concerns about the implications on collection authorities and whether the cost of the proposed scheme was justified as the initiative could reduce the Devon recycling rate by 0.7% and whether this approach was justified when the scheme could actually increase recycling and reduce littering

·         The use of Smart Bins

·         Whether there was an omission from the strategy in that the authority should be working with the planning department with regard to new developments

·         Whether the recycling of textiles in collection bins were being exported

RESOLVED that the recommendation of the Policy Development Group be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr C R Slade and seconded by Cllr D J Knowles)

Reason for the decision - the Authority has a duty to arrange collection for household waste

Note: *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

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

Liz Pole referring to Item 7 (Playing Pitch Strategy) on the agenda  stated that I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed their work and expertise towards delivering this Play Pitch Strategy report for the district.

I am particularly concerned about the lack of urgency for upgrading infrastructure at Tiverton High School. Residents will be aware that we have been waiting for a planned upgrade to the Tiverton High School site since 2010 – due to political decisions by this government that seem to do down the South West – but may be less aware that we have been waiting for the play pitch recommendations in a 2010 strategy report for the same period. The current Play Pitch Strategy report fails to capture the urgency for remedial provision of facilities at Tiverton High School – for instance in tennis where there is a large, evidenced demand unsupported by the five Tiverton High School tennis courts which have been condemned on health and safety grounds.

The report also fails to capture the THS Head of PE’s broad vision for a shared and multi-use regional sports hub at the THS site. I have a concern about the commitment in the document to provision of several multi-use sports pitches in the Eastern Urban Extension, compared to the lack of similar commitment to the THS and the existing community in Tiverton. It is notable that the report mentions Blundells 31 times, but Tiverton High School only 18 times, and Amory Park only 9 times, and I hope that doesn’t foretell a political presumption in the siting of a future 3G pitch.

As I mentioned at last month’s Cabinet meeting, I am concerned about the lack of urgency in the document and so ask Cabinet to please give some firm undertakings on delivery, particularly of a 3G multi-sports pitch for convenient use by Tiverton High School students, for all residents of Tiverton and for our well supported sports clubs.

The Chairman indicated that answers would be provided under the next agenda item.

To reconsider a report of the Forward Planning Team Leader (deferred from the previous meeting) requesting Cabinet to consider the strategy for further public consultation.

The Cabinet had before it a *report of the Forward Planning Team Leader (deferred from the previous meeting) requesting Cabinet to consider the strategy for further public consultation.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration outlined the contents of the report stating that a new Playing Pitch Strategy was needed for Mid Devon to meet the national planning policy framework requirement, where relevant planning policies should be based on robust and up to date assessments of the need for sport and recreation facilities.

This included quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses, and opportunities for new provision. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what sport and recreational provision was needed, which plans should then seek to accommodate.

The Playing Pitch Strategy would also need to be consistent with Sport England’s guidance (2013) for preparing playing pitch strategies. This guidance included 5 key stages for the preparation of a Playing Pitch Strategy and indicated that the work be taken forward by a project Steering Group. A project Steering Group had been set up to oversee the production of the Mid Devon Playing Pitch Strategy and for approval at the key stages. This had included an elected Member and relevant officers from the Council, Devon County Council, representatives in the South West from national-governing bodies for the main pitch sports, and Sport England. The Council had used an external consultant, Bennett Leisure and Planning to undertake the technical assessment.

The Mid Devon Playing Pitch Strategy had now been completed. Its findings had been informed through engagement with pitch sports clubs, sports National-Governing Bodies and providers of playing pitch facilities in Mid Devon. This had included contacting town and parish councils and had involved meetings with the main schools and community colleges at Tiverton, Cullompton and Crediton.

The Playing Pitch Strategy included a vision, 6 key objectives and a section for each main pitch sport. Its findings for the district were also split into sub-areas for Tiverton, Cullompton and Crediton, which included actions plans with options and recommendations.

The Playing Pitch Strategy included two appendices which set out recommendations for actions in relation to the masterplanning of strategic planned development at East Cullompton / Culm Garden Village, and at the Tiverton Eastern Urban Extension.

The Planning Policy Advisory Group had met on the 4^th August 2021. The group noted the contents of the Playing Pitch Strategy and had expressed a wish that it be subject to public consultation before it was finalised and that this forms part of the recommendation to Cabinet. The Forward Planning Team Leader had subsequently received clarification from Sport England that a wider community consultation was needed on the Playing Pitch Strategy.

It was therefore recommended that in light of Sport England’s clarification the Playing Pitch Strategy be published on the Council’s website and a minimum 6 week period provided in which public comments could be made on its content. The Playing Pitch Strategy would be amended where necessary before a sign-off was sought  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

To consider a report of the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing putting forward a proposal to increase the maximum table of fares that may be charged to users of Hackney Carriages in Mid Devon.

The Cabinet had before it a * report of the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing putting forward a proposal to increase the maximum table of fares that may be charged to users of Hackney Carriages in Mid Devon.

The Cabinet Member for Community Well-Being outlined the contents of the report stating that: under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, district councils were able to set the fares that Hackney Carriage vehicles could charge the public for journeys in their area. The Council did not set the fares for Private Hire Vehicles. In setting the fares for taxis, what the Council was trying to do was to strike a balance between the public interest and the interests of the drivers.

He informed the meeting that most issues relating to the licensing of the hackney carriage and private hire trade were matters for the Regulatory Committee to consider. However, in this particular case, the adoption of a Hackney Carriage Tariff was a Cabinet function.

He stated that as set out in the report, Mid Devon previously reviewed the taxi fares in 2010 and the current tariff was attached to the report as Annex 1. Section 3 of the report compared the current Mid Devon tariff with neighbouring authorities and that this was specifically based on a 2 mile journey at tariff 1. This highlighted that Mid Devon was now the lowest charge regionally. Additionally, Table 1 also showed that the current tariff placed the authority 242nd nationally, out of 362 authorities. Section 4 of the report gave details of the discussions that the Licensing Team had with the trade and the proposals put forward. He then set out the detail of the consultation that had taken place with the trade as highlighted within the report

He asked that the Cabinet agree a tariff for adoption and direct the Licensing Team to carry out all required work to adopt it. As part of the process, the Council needed to advertise the proposed tariff and at that point, any party could make objections against it. If there were any objections, then the matter would be referred back to Cabinet to consider.

He then made the following recommendations for consideration:

·         That Proposal A be adopted

·         That Tariff 2 starts at 19:00 hours

·         That the luggage charge stay as it is (at £0.20)

·         That the fouling charge be increased to £100

Consideration was given to:

·         Proposal A and the need to consider the times within tariff 2 and 3.  It was felt that the daytime tariff was used by the public for necessary daytime trips whereas the later tariff would be used mostly for leisure activities

·         Whether 11pm was a suitable time for the tariffs to start or whether 9pm was more suitable

·         How the consultation process would be advertised

·         The length of time between reviews and that 10 years was rather a long time and whether a five year review would be more appropriate

RESOLVED that:

a)    Proposal A be adopted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

To receive a briefing paper from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) presenting a financial update in respect of the income and expenditure so far in the year.

The Cabinet had before it and NOTED a *briefing paper from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) presenting a financial update in respect of the income and expenditure so far in the year.

The Deputy Chief Executive outlined the contents of the report stating that Council Tax, Business Rates and rent income were above budget.  Most of the other budgets were static however leisure and car parking were showing a reduction of income.  He had been notified that there would be a 3 year funding settlement but that this would not include Business Rates or the New Homes Bonus.  The outcome of the Levelling Up Fund (possibly December) and the Community Renewal Fund bids were still awaited.

Consideration was given to:

·         Cabinet would receive the Medium Term Financial Plan in October and that the budget rounds would begin in November

·         The impact of the delay on the outcome of the Levelling Up Fund bid on the delivery dates of the Housing Infrastructure Fund for the Cullompton Relief Road

Note:  *Briefing paper previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

To consider a report of the Operations Manager for Performance, Governance and Health and Safety providing Members with an update on the performance against the Corporate Plan and local service targets.

The Cabinet had before it and NOTED a * report of the Operations Manager for Performance, Governance and Health and Safety providing Members with an update on the performance against the Corporate Plan and local service targets.

Consideration was given to:

·         Missed refuse collections and new drivers being provided with a route map

·         The fuel crisis and whether this had been considered as a risk – the meeting was informed that any fuel crisis was acknowledged within the Business Continuity Plans

·         The percentage rates of missed collections and whether the actual numbers were available – the meeting was informed that percentage rates were used as part of industry standards and also it allowed benchmarking against other authorities.

·         The lack of data for the South West Mutual Bank – this work had been delayed but quarterly updates would be available

·         Missed waste collections and if reported the issue would be addressed on the same day if possible

·         Replacement recycling boxes and how such replacements could be requested

Note:  *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

To receive a verbal update from the Cabinet Member on the progress in driving improvement in services across the Council.

The Cabinet Member for Continuous Improvement informed the meeting that:

30 cases were being worked on, 6 of which had now been closed and 18 had been actioned and were being monitored, the remaining cases were with the directors for further action.

She added that overall 40 cases had now been closed, those cases had included planning applications, enforcement cases, waste issues, parking, environmental health issues and empty properties.

To note the contents of the Forward Plan.

The Cabinet had before it and NOTED it’s *rolling plan for October/November 2021 containing future key decisions.

Note:  *Plan previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.