Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllr Mrs M E Squires.

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.

The following declarations of interest were received:

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.

Members to consider whether to approve as a correct record the minutes of  the special meeting held on 9 February 2018.

Subject to the inclusion of an additional bullet point to the bottom of page 75 (Minute 127 - Local Plan Review Update) stating that “The views of the local Ward Member with regard to the need to move the Local Plan Forward”, the minutes of the previous meeting were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Following consideration of a report of the Director of Operations outlining the findings of the Grass Cutting Working Group, the Environment Policy Development Group had made the following recommendations:

a)    That notification to Town and Parish Councils regarding grass cutting should confirm the number of cuts undertaken with dates; this notification should take place on a monthly basis or as applicable if no cuts occurred during a month.

b)   That the Grounds Maintenance team price all works on the basis that it should recover the full cost incurred by them carrying out that work.

c)    That Town and Parish Councils be informed that a full cost recovery pricing model for grass cutting would be implemented over 3 years starting in the 2018/19 financial year. However any increase in cost will be tapered to allow for them to make provision regarding other providers and/or any required increase to their budgets.

Following consideration of a * report of the Director of Operations outlining the findings of the Grass Cutting Working Group, the Environment Policy Development Group had made the following recommendations:

a)    That notification to Town and Parish Councils regarding grass cutting should confirm the number of cuts undertaken with dates; this notification should take place on a monthly basis or as applicable if no cuts occurred during a month.

b)   That the Grounds Maintenance team price all works on the basis that it should recover the full cost incurred by them carrying out that work.

c)    That Town and Parish Councils be informed that a full cost recovery pricing model for grass cutting would be implemented over 3 years starting in the 2018/19 financial year. However any increase in cost will be tapered to allow for them to make provision regarding other providers and/or any required increase to their budgets.

The Leader outlined the contents of the report stating that he fully supported the recommendations of the Policy Development Group and that the recommendations should offer an effective way to overcome the concerns  and clarify matters with the Town and Parish Councils.

Consideration was given to the difference between bereavement services and works with regard to the cemeteries.

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

(Proposed by the Chairman)

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

Following consideration of a report of the Group Manager for Public Health and Regulatory Services the Community Policy Development Group had made the following recommendation: that Cabinet approve the updated ASB Policy as attached in Annexe 1.

Following consideration of a *report of the Group Manager for Public Health and Regulatory Services, the Community Policy Development Group had made the following recommendation: that Cabinet approve the updated Anti-Social Behaviour Policy as attached in Annexe 1.

The Cabinet Member for Community Well-Being outlined the contents of the report stating that this was a 3 yearly review of the policy.  The document had been shared with partner agencies and internal services and had been updated where applicable.

Consideration was given to consultation with the Housing Service and other departments within the Council.

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

(Proposed by Cllr C R Slade and seconded by Cllr P H D Hare-Scott)

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

To receive a report of the Head of Planning, Economy and Regeneration requesting the Cabinet to consider the draft consultation document for Stage 1 public consultation in respect of the Tiverton Town Centre Regeneration Masterplan.

The Cabinet had before it a *report of the Head of Planning, Economy and Regeneration setting out for consideration the draft consultation document for Stage 1 public consultation in respect of the Tiverton Town Centre Regeneration Masterplan.

Jessica Richmond, the consultant from WYG outlined the contents of the report explaining that the masterplan was a key regeneration project that the Council had commissioned to enhance the economic prospects of the town and to provide a clear strategy to make sure that Tiverton built on its existing qualities and assets to meet its full potential as a thriving market town.  She outlined the consultation stages which would allow for comment to be received to produce a clear vision for the town.

She explained the number of key assets within the town, the vision for the town to allow for ease of movement throughout the town, a vibrant market, inviting gateways, an active waterfront, larger retail footprints, a residential component and public greenspaces.  The town required accessibility, an identity, a clean environment and quality shopping and recreational facilities.

She outlined the key projects identified within the masterplan throughout the town and the potential interventions which included the market, West Exe and the riverside, the western and southern gateways to the town and provided visualisations for the areas outlined.  She further explained the phasing and delivery of the priorities that were also proposed to form part of the consultation material.

Consideration was given to:

·         The expectations within the masterplan and the investment required

·         The method of delivery with possible cross funding from development of facilities

·         Timescales

·         The action plan and implementation programme

·         Programmes for the other main towns in Mid Devon

·         Whether parking spaces would be reduced in the market area

·         Whether the problems within the market would be addressed with regard to modernisation and a possible roof over the trading area

·         The first stage of the consultation process  to reflect on the consultants work and the ability for additional views to be submitted

·         The importance of knitting the Destination Management Strategy and the Residents Survey into the project.

RESOLVED that:

a)    Stage 1 public consultation commences in order to scope out the contents of the masterplan.

b)    The draft masterplan material, together with emerging work on the Pannier Market and its surroundings, be approved for stage 1 public consultation.

c)    Delegated authority be given to the Head of Planning, Economy and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration to finalise consultation material.

(Proposed by Cllr R J Chesterton and seconded by Cllr C R Slade)

Notes:

i)             Cllr C J Eginton declared a personal interest as he owned a business in the town;

ii)            Cllr C R Slade declared a personal interest as a Member of Tiverton Town Council;

iii)           *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

To receive a report of the Head of Planning, Economy and Regeneration requesting the Cabinet to consider the establishment of a Gypsy and Traveller forum, together with Member representation.

The Cabinet had before it a *report of the Head of Planning, Economy and Regeneration requesting consideration of the establishment of a Gypsy and Traveller Forum, together with Member representation.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration outlined the contents of the report stating that Gypsies and Travellers form part of Mid Devon’s community and although only accounting for a small proportion of the population, the community were often hard to reach and there was a need to encourage good relations and advance efforts to eliminate discrimination. The creation of a forum would establish better communication with the various communities, improve health wellbeing and educational needs, allow the Council to fulfil its equality duties and further the aims of the Corporate Plan.  The forum would be based on the Teignbridge model which seemed to be working well, would meet twice a year and would involve Gypsy and Travellers, Elected Members, officers and various stakeholders, but would have no decision making powers.

Consideration was given to:

·         The need for the forum to be open and transparent and for discussions to be held in a “safe place”

·         The forum would be about partnership working

·         The forum would be open to any members of the gypsy and traveller community within Mid Devon

·         The venue for the forum

RESOLVED that:

a)     The establishment of a Gypsy and Traveller Forum in Mid Devon be approved;

b)    The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration and the Cabinet Member for Housing take up membership of the forum in the first instance and that one further position be nominated at the annual meeting of the Council in May.

(Proposed by Cllr R J Chesterton and seconded by Cllr C R Slade)

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

To receive a report of the Director of Finance, Assets and Resources requesting that the Cabinet recommend to Council that the proposed Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy for 2018/19 be approved.

The Cabinet had before it a *report of Director of Finance, Assets & Resources requesting  that Council approve the proposed Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy for 2018/19.

The Cabinet Member for Finance outlined the contents of the report stating that the Council had set a balanced budget at its meeting in February at the same meeting the Capital Programme had also been considered.  He explained the new reporting procedures required by CIPFA outlined within the report and the details of the Capital Strategy, the capital expenditure plans and the Council’s borrowing needs.

Consideration was given to:

·         Scrutiny of treasury management would be by the Cabinet and Full Council

·         The prudential indicators

·         The need for a thorough business planning exercise to take place prior to any capital expenditure.

(Proposed by Cllr P H D Hare-Scott and seconded by Cllr C R Slade)

Notes: 

i)          Cllr C J Eginton declared a personal interest as he received a pension from Lloyds banking Group;

ii)         *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

To receive a verbal report of the Director of Finance, Assets and Resources presenting a financial update in respect of the income and expenditure so far in the year.

The Cabinet Member for Finance updated the meeting on the financial monitoring to date.  It had been suggested previously that the budget gap for 2017-18 would be £180k; this amount had been reduced to £150k with an increase in planning fees and a good January for the leisure services.  Most of the services had met their budgets which should be commended.

To note the contents of the Forward Plan.

The Cabinet had before it, and NOTED, its rolling plan * for March/April 2018 containing future key decisions.

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

During discussion of the following item(s) it may be necessary to pass the following resolution to exclude the press and public having reflected on Article 12 12.02(d) (a presumption in favour of openness) of the Constitution. This decision may be required because consideration of this matter in public may disclose information falling within one of the descriptions of exempt information in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The Cabinet will need to decide whether, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption, outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. 

To consider passing the following resolution so that financial information may be discussed.

Recommended that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the next item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, namely information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Prior to considering the following items on the agenda, discussion took place as to whether it was necessary to pass the following resolution to exclude the press and public having reflected on Article 15 15.02(d) (a presumption in favour of openness) of the Constitution. The Cabinet decided that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

It was therefore:

RESOLVED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the next item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, namely information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

(Proposed by the Chairman)

To consider a report of the Director of Finance, Assets & Resources and the  3 Rivers Development Limited Acting Managing Director requesting approval of the draft 5 year business plan for 3 Rivers Developments Limited.

The Cabinet had before it a * report of the Director of Finance, Assets & Resources and the 3 Rivers Developments Limited Acting Managing Director requesting approval of the draft 5 year business plan for 3 Rivers Developments Limited.

The Cabinet Member for Housing outlined the contents of the report.

Returning to open session the Cabinet:

RESOLVED that the draft 5 year business plan for 3 Rivers Developments Limited be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr   R L Stanley and seconded by Cllr P H D Hare-Scott)

Notes:

i)             Cllr R L Stanley declared a personal interest as a Director of 3 Rivers Developments Limited;

ii)             *Report previously circulated.