Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllrs: N V Davey and Mrs B M Hull

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

There were no members of the public present.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of 5 February 2015.

The minutes of the meeting of 5 February 2015 were approved as a correct record and SIGNED by the Chairman.

Arising from a report of the Head of Communities and Governance and a recommendation from the Community Well-Being Policy Development Group, the PDG had recommended that the Single Equality Scheme, together with the Equality Objective for 2015-16 be approved.

Arising from a report of the Head of Communities and Governance and a recommendation from the Community Well-Being Policy Development Group seeking approval for the revised scheme and equality objective, the PDG had recommended that  that both documents be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Community Well-Being outlined the contents of the report.

RESOLVED that the recommendation be approved.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

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

Following discussions at the meeting of the Scrutiny Committee on 16 February 2015 regarding a powerful and effective system for holding decision makers to public account, the Committee had recommended that “ in the new Council, Members be offered the opportunity to shadow Cabinet Members”.

Following discussions at the meeting of the Scrutiny Committee on 16 February 2015 regarding a powerful and effective system for holding decision makers to public account, the Committee had recommended that “in the new Council, Members be offered the opportunity to shadow Cabinet Members”.

Discussion took place regarding:

·         The number of parties making up the opposition, therefore a direct Shadow Member would be difficult to identify

·         Meetings between officers and Cabinet Members could at times be adhoc and therefore it would be difficult to keep the Shadow Member involved.

·         Following the  submission of a detailed report, few questions had been asked of the Cabinet Member for Housing when he attended the recent Scrutiny Committee.

·         The Housing Improvement Board was open to all Members but attendance was poor.

·         There was no objection to working with a Member who was interested in a specific portfolio.

·         It was felt that there was little need for a formal agreement.

·         Following the election a new Cabinet may have different views.

It was therefore:

RESOLVED to continue the present open approach with regard to decision making and the questioning of Cabinet Members by the Scrutiny Committee.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

To receive a report of the Head of HR and Development complying with the legislative requirements of the Localism Act 2011 relating to senior pay in particular the role of the Chief Executive and senior staff.  

The Cabinet had before it a report* of the Head of HR and Development complying with the legislative requirements of the Localism Act 2011 relating to senior pay in particular the role of the Chief Executive and senior staff.  

Consideration was given to recruitment issues at the present time and the need to pay the right price for the right person for the job. The Chief Executive explained how levels of pay were calculated and the Job Evaluation Scheme established in 2005 which created a framework for pay levels which was clear and transparent.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

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

Report of the Head of Finance presenting a financial update in respect of the income and expenditure so far in the year.

The Cabinet had before it and NOTED a report * of the Head of Finance presenting a financial update in respect of the income and expenditure so far in the year. 

The Cabinet Member for Finance reported that there was a slight improvement and that the General Fund was showing a deficit of £203k which included the redundancy costs of £174k, it was hoped that a balanced budget could be reached by the end of the financial year.  He highlighted the significant movements detailed in the report.

Note:   * Report previously circulated; copy attached to the Minutes.

To receive a report from the Head of Communities and Governance providing Members with an update on Economic Development projects.

The Cabinet had before it and NOTED a report * of the Head of Communities and Governance providing Members with an update on Economic Development projects.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration stated that since the publication of the report, the authority had received confirmation of the amount of money received following its successful bid for EU funding under the LEADER Programme, this amounted to €1.788M. The funding would be available to support small businesses or projects in the Mid Devon area through a grants programme. The priorities for the programme have been set by DEFRA as:

·         Support for increasing farm productivity

·         Support for micro and small enterprises and farm diversification

·         Support rural tourism

·         Provision of rural services

·         Support for cultural and heritage activity

·         Support for increasing forestry productivity,

 A shadow LAG (Local Action Group) had been formed made up of representatives from the business sector, community and voluntary sector and local authorities. This group would make decisions on how the funding would be spent. The Community and Regeneration Team would continue to play a role in respect of the LEADER project fulfilling the role of project development officers.  This meant that the team would work with small businesses to help them put together funding bids and businesses cases.

He outlined the work of the Economic Development Officer since his engagement in September 2014 and the work of the Town Teams in the 3 main towns and informed members that the recruitment of a Town Centre Manager was at the recruitment stage.

The Head of Communities and Governance updated the meeting on the economic development spend to date, at the Cabinet meeting in May 2012 it was agreed that £150k from reserves be allocated to Economic Development along with the total of £100k per annum for the next 4 financial years had been allocated to economic development from the New Homes Bonus within the Medium Term Financial Plan.  She identified the projects that had been supported by the funding and the monies unspent which would be carried forward into the next financial year.

Discussion took place regarding the administration of the LEADER project.

Note:   * Report previously circulated; copy attached to the Minutes.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Committee dated 3 February 2015.

The Cabinet had before it and NOTED a report * of a meeting of the above Trust Committee held on 3 February 2015.

Note: *Minutes previously circulated; copy attached to the signed Minutes.

To note the rolling plan containing key decisions.

The Cabinet had before it, and NOTED, its rolling plan * for March 2015 containing future key decisions.

It was NOTED that there would be some slippage with regard to some of the housing reports.

Note: * Plan previously circulated; copy attached to the signed Minutes