Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllr N Bradshaw.

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

None received.

To record any interests on agenda matters.

Cllr S Clist referred to item 6, the Blackdown Hills National Landscape Management Plan, and declared that he resided in the area.

Cllr L Taylor referred to item 11 and confirmed that he had a membership for Mid Devon Leisure Centre.

Members were reminded of the need to make declarations of interest where appropriate.

To consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 17^th September 2024.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 17^th September 2024 were APPROVED as a correct record and SIGNED by the Leader.

To receive a report from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151 Officer) on the 2025/2026-2028/2029 Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) General Funds.

The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) presenting the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP).

The Cabinet Member for Governance, Finance and Risk outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to the following:

• The Policy Development Groups (PDGs) had been presented with the budget options for the first round.
• The report sought approval of the green and amber budget options within appendices 1 and 2.
• The Cabinet Member for Governance, Finance and Risk proposed that the red cost pressures in Appendix 1 and agreed red saving options 23, 24, 26, 35, 37, 44, 54 in Appendix 2 be progressed within the 2025/26 Budget.

Discussion took place regarding:

• The disappointment in the uptake of the ‘Let’s Talk Mid Devon’
• The impact and the potential strains with regards to appendix 2, savings options 35 and 37.

RESOLVED that:

1. The Green and Amber pressures within Appendix 1 be approved.

2. The Green and Amber savings options within Appendix 2, with the exception of number 8, (Let’s Talk Mid Devon) that would be held at this time as requested by the Community, People and Equalities PDG be approved.

3.  The red cost pressures in Appendix 1 be agreed and red saving options 23, 24, 26, 35, 37, 44, 54 in Appendix 2 be progressed within the 2025/26 Budget.

4. That officers take forward options 55-64 on appendix 2 for further work and consideration to identify possible future benefits and report back to Cabinet with some tangible numbers, and that Cabinet request that the Policy Development Groups identify further savings options and recommend back to Cabinet for approval.

5.  That officers hold an ‘all Member’ budget briefing, followed by an open discussion where Members are encouraged to come forward with ideas.

(Proposed by Cllr J Buczkowski and seconded by Cllr S Clist)

Note: * Report previously circulated.

To receive a report from the Director of Place and Economy on the Blackdown Hills National Landscape Management Plan.

The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Director of Place and Economy on the Blackdown Hills Landscape Management Plan.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration introduced Lisa Turner the Planning Officer from the Blackdown Hills Landscape (DCC) before he outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to the following:

• The wards affected within the report were incorrect and would be corrected to Upper Culm and Lower Culm wards.
• The Blackdown Hills National Landscape Management Plan, part of Mid Devon District, was situated within the area covered by the Blackdown Hills National Landscape, formerly known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
• Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) requires the Council together with other relevant local authorities to produce a management plan.
• The Blackdown Hills National Landscape Partnership had performed the duty on behalf of the Council and the other relevant local authorities, which included Somerset Council and East Devon District Council.

Discussion took place regarding:

• How to promote consultation and engagement with the public.
• The communication team to include the upcoming consultation in press releases.
• The length of time as suggested in the report and the possible extension beyond the 6 weeks to ensure parishes had the opportunity to engage.
• The Blackdown Hills National Landscape website was out of date.
• Would like to see more openness about how the project was funded.
• The carbon capture and if the Council could contribute further.

RESOLVED that:

The Blackdown Hills National Landscape Partnership undertakes a public consultation on the reviewed Blackdown Hills National Landscape Management Plan for 2025 – 2030 (Appendix 2 to this report).

(Proposed by Cllr S Keable and seconded by Cllr S Clist)

Note: * Report previously circulated.

To receive a report from the Head of Housing & Health on the review of the Mid Devon Housing Asbestos Management Plan.

The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Head of Housing and Health on the Mid Devon Housing review of the Asbestos Management Plan.

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Assets and Property and the Deputy Leader outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to the following:

• Mid Devon Housing (MDH) had a legal requirement to maintain health and safety and had an up to date Asbestos Management Plan.
• The recent changes to statutory consumer regulation standards produced by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH), imposed reporting and other changes which required the plan to be updated.

RESOLVED that:

That the updated Mid Devon Housing (MDH) Asbestos Management Plan be ADOPTED as recommended by Homes Policy Development Group (PDG).

(Proposed by Cllr S Clist and seconded by Cllr J Buczkowski)

Note: * Report previously circulated.

To receive a report from the Head of Housing & Health on the review of the Mid Devon Housing Hoarding Policy.

The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Head of Housing and Health on the Mid Devon Housing review of the Hoarding Policy.

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Assets and Property Services and the Deputy Leader outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to the following:

• A hoarding disorder was where someone acquired an excessive number of items and stored them in a chaotic manner, usually resulting in unmanageable amounts of clutter.
• The Care Act 2014 required local authorities to protect individuals from self-neglect, it also required housing providers to ensure the health and safety of tenants, their neighbours and staff.
• The additional requirements set out in several statutory consumer standards published by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) to address hoarding/tenant wellbeing, alongside ensuring safe and well-maintained houses, those requirements must be met.

Discussion took place regarding:

• Reference to Children’s Social Care to be added to 6.8 of the Policy.

RESOLVED that:

The updated Mid Devon Housing Hoarding Policy and Equality Impact Assessment contained in Annexes A and B respectively as recommended by the Homes PDG, with the addition of the amendment to paragraph 6.8 to include Children’s Social Care be ADOPTED.

(Proposed by Cllr S Clist and seconded by Cllr J Lock)

Note: * Report previously circulated.

To receive a report from the Head of Housing & Health on Mid Devon Housing Repairs and Maintenance Policy.

The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Head of Housing and Health on the Mid Devon Housing review of the Repairs and Maintenance Policy.

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Assets and Property Services and Deputy Leader outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to the following:

• The Regulator of Social Housing’s (RSH) statutory Safety and Quality Standard required that providers must provide an effective, efficient and timely repairs, maintenance and planned improvement service for the homes and communal areas for which they were responsible.
• Registered providers were expected to have in place and comply with, effective policies, procedures and processes in relation to repairs, maintenance and planned improvements that would take into account tenants’ views and diverse needs.

RESOLVED that:

The Mid Devon Housing Repairs and Maintenance Policy and Equality Impact Assessment as recommended by the Home Policy Development Group (PDG) be ADOPTED.

(Proposed by Cllr S Clist and seconded by Cllr J Lock)

Note: * Report previously circulated.

Discussion with regard to item the next item, will require Cabinet 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 will 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 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.

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.

The Leader stated that discussion with regard to the next two items, required Cabinet 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 was required because consideration of this matter in public would disclose information falling within one of the descriptions of exempt information in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The Cabinet decided, in all circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption, outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED: That, in accordance with Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the next item, for the reason set out below:

Information under paragraph 3 (contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person including the authority holding that information).

(Proposed by the Leader).

To receive a report from the Head of Revenues, Benefits & Leisure presenting proposals to change the Leisure fees and charges from January 2025.

The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Head of Revenues, Benefits and Leisure on the change to the Leisure Pricing Strategy 2025.

The Cabinet Member for Service Delivery and Continuous Improvement outlined the contents of the report. Following discussion and having returned to open session, the Cabinet:

RESOLVED that:

The charges proposed in section 1.22 of the report as recommended by the Service Delivery and Continuous Improvements Policy Development Group (PDG) be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr J Wright and seconded by Cllr J Buczkowski)

Note: * Report previously circulated.

To receive a report from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151 Officer), Head of Finance, Property and Climate Change and Head of People, Performance and Waste on the Additional Lease.

The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151 Officer), Head of Finance, Property and Climate Resilience and Head of People, Performance and Waste on the additional lease.

The Cabinet Member for Service Delivery and Continuous Improvement outlined the contents of the report. Following discussion and having returned to open session, the Cabinet:

RESOLVED that:

The lease of an additional unit at Hitchcocks Business Park, Willand, for the expansion of the Street Scene depot for a period of 15 years as outlined in the report be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr J Wright and seconded by Cllr S Clist)

Note: * Report previously circulated.

To note the contents of the Forward Plan.

The Cabinet had before it, and NOTED, the Notification of Key Decisions *.

The Clerk identified the changes that had been made to the list since it was published with the agenda. This included the following:

• The 2024/2025 Quarter 2 Treasury Management Report and 2024/2025 Quarter 2 Budget Monitoring Report had been added to 12 November 2024 meeting.
• The Tax Base Calculation had been added to 12 November 2024 meeting.
• The updating of Election Fees had been added to 10 December 2024 meeting.
• The update on Future EPR (Extending Producer Responsibility for packaging) would be added to 10 December 2024 meeting.
• The Information Security Policy and Information Security Incident Management Policies had been added to 7 January 2025 meeting.
• The Business Rates Tax Base had been added to 4 February 2025 meeting.
• The 2024/2025 Quarter 3 Budget Monitoring Report had been added to 4 March 2025 meeting.

Note: * Key Decisions report previously circulated.

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