Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor N Bradshaw.

To record any interests on agenda matters.

(All Members of the Council have been granted a dispensation to allow them to speak and vote in any debate on any matter that related to devolution or Local Government reorganisation in Devon)

The Leader reminded those present that all Members of the Council had been granted a dispensation to allow them to speak and vote in any debate on any matter that related to devolution or Local Government reorganisation in Devon.

The Director for Legal, People and Governance (Monitoring Officer) stated the following:

• Members were reminded that under the Localism Act 2011, councillors may express views or campaign on issues without automatically being deemed to have predetermined their position. However, it was essential that all Members approached this matter with an open mind and were ready to consider all relevant information and debate before voting.
• In relation to allowances received from another authority involved in the reorganisation, which could constitute a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI), there was a dispensation to allow participation. However, members were reminded that the dispensation did not override the legal requirement to avoid bias or predetermination.

The Leader of the Council may be minded to allow requests using his constitutional discretion as Chair at this meeting.

Members of the public are asked to submit questions and/or statements by 5pm 3 clear working days in advance of the meeting as usual. You may register to speak without submitting a question and this must be done by 4pm the day before the meeting. Questions and/or statements received in advance may be answered as part of the debate at the meeting, but no written responses to questions will be provided. However, as per the constitution, there is to be no other business conducted at extraordinary council meetings, so if questions and/or statements are not in relation to the specific agenda item of this meeting the Leader will not permit the question. Questioners will be directed to the next regularly scheduled meeting of Cabinet as appropriate

None received.

To consider the proposals on Local Government Reorganisation Submission.

The Leader MOVED that:

1.    That Cabinet approves the ‘Reimagining Devon – Believe in Better’ proposal for submission to government as its formal LGR response.

Upon a vote being taken the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.

The Leader MOVED that:

2.    That Cabinet notes its specific support for the expanded Plymouth boundary, preferably as described in the 451+ modification, but also to acknowledge the potential to amend this further should the Secretary of State consider such a modification necessary to implement the 451 proposal.

Upon a vote being taken the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.

The Leader MOVED that:

3.    That delegated authority is given to the Chief Executive in conjunction with the Leader, to submit the proposal on behalf of Mid Devon District Council and to continue discussions with Ministers and Officials to advocate for the successful implementation of this proposal.

Upon a vote being taken the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.

The Leader MOVED that:

4.    The leader of the councillors, to write to government, to press for a Devon wide referendum on the proposals, with a choice of ‘no change’ to let the residents of Devon decide separate to the submission.

Upon a vote being taken the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.

Note:

      i.        Cllr J Lock voted against

The Leader highlighted the following points raised at the Extraordinary Council meeting:

• There was a lot of reference to and discussion about potential distances needing to be travelled for meetings, which were addressed during the earlier meeting.
• No submission could provide a perfect solution for a unitary council in rural Devon without losing local representation.
•  He acknowledged and understood the loss of local representation.
• There was some confusion around discussions of the Strategic Mayoral Authority (SMA), although the Council was not voting on this.
• Most councils in Devon had appeared supportive of a Strategic Mayoral Authority because of potential financial benefits and the budget allocation for the Mayor’s office.
• The earlier meeting had included good levels of discussion and debate.
• He supported for the 4-5-1 proposal, considering it the best option for this Council.
• He thanked officers and personal from consultants (KPMG), for their significant contributions and collaboration.
• There had been extensive collaboration, discussion and debate over the past months.
• Regardless of the Government’s final decision, everyone would work together for the best outcome. The process had been challenging over the last 12 months but he hoped Devon could move forward positively.
• Many politicians had not been in favour but acknowledged the change was inevitable.

Discussion took place with regards to:

• That localism and proportional representation would be lost and that the decision would likely be politically driven, causing rural communities to suffer. The matter had been fully debated through Council, which had given its support and there had been no time left due to the Government’s timeline to make changes.
• Cabinet Members thanked the Leader for enabling discussion at full Council and allowing all Members to have their voices heard. There had been speculation during the Council meeting and that some issues would need to be resolved later. The decision faced was whether to submit the proposal before the deadline, knowing that the final decision would rest with central Government.
• Members reflected on a quotation from County Councillor Brazil, the Liberal Democrat Leader at Devon County Council: “At the end of this process, we all had to come together, our duties are to deliver the services residents deserved”.
• The proper funding needed for local government and the unfairness of Devon’s low funding for children compared to other areas and the frustration that councillors were not making the final decision. There had been a consensus that Government was forcing this process and the Minister would ultimately decide after consultation next spring.
• Shadow elections were expected in May 2027, and all public services would need to work together to deliver for residents.
• The submission was strong and well written and the Cabinet thanked those who had prepared it.
• Three issues were raised:

Ø  The challenge of online engagement and voting under the 4-5-1 model.

Ø  The importance of neighbourhood area committees, local community networks, and Parish and Town Councils in maintaining engagement and decision-making, particularly for ecosystem management such as the Exe Estuary, which would be split under the 4-5-1 model.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.