Agenda and decisions

To receive any apologies for absence.

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

To record any interests on agenda matters.

To consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 2 December 2025.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 2 December 2025 were APPROVED as a correct record and SIGNED by the Deputy Leader.

To receive an update from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) Officer on the Budget update 2026/27.

The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) on providing a further update on the progress towards balancing the budget for 2026/27 and future years.

RESOLVED that:

1. The updated General Fund budgetary position included within Section 2 was NOTED.
2. The headline update from the recently announced Local Government Finance Settlement within Section 3, and that work continues to understand the implications for the Council be NOTED.
3. The updated Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budgetary position included within Section 5 was NOTED, and the specific savings proposals contained within paragraph 5.4 were AGREED.

Note: *Report previously circulated

To receive a report from the Head of Finance, Property and Climate Resilience on the Phoenix Lane Solar and Battery Energy Storage System project.  

The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) to consider the Phoenix Lane Solar and Battery Energy Storage System.

RESOLVED that:

1. The Phoenix Lane Solar and Battery Energy Storage System project as outlined within Option 3 be APPROVED.
2. That delegated authority be granted to the Cabinet Member for Governance, Finance and Risk - in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive s151 and the Head of Finance, Property and Climate Resilience - to deliver the Phoenix Lane Solar and Battery Energy Storage System project.

Note: *Report previously circulated

To receive a report from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) Officer on the Crediton GP Surgery additional Loan.

The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) to consider an additional long-term loan to the Redlands Primary Care in Crediton. 

RESOLVED that:

1. Delegated authority be granted to the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) to top-up c£70k of the original loan taking the outstanding balance back to the original £2.175m.
2. An additional loan to the GP Practice of £150k be APPROVED.
3. Both loans are repaid by June 2048 on an annuity basis at a commercially fixed interest rate, subject to the completion of legal due diligence and documentation be APPROVED.

Note: *Report previously circulated

To receive a report from the Head of Finance, Property and Climate Resilience and the Climate and Sustainability Specialist on the Green Enterprise Grants help Mid Devon businesses to invest towards making their operations more sustainable through energy and resource efficiency.

The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Head of Finance, Property and Climate Resilience and Climate and Sustainability Specialist proposing to continue and improve the current scheme, to build on the success whilst learning from experience thus far.

RESOLVED that:

1.     The Green Enterprise Grant scheme to continue to run for a new phase April 2026 to December 2028 inclusive be APPROVED.

2.     That delegated authority be granted to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, in consultation with the Head of Finance, Property and Climate Resilience, to deliver the Green Enterprise Grant scheme.

3.     An interim performance review report after the 2026- 2027 financial year and a final review report when the scheme ends be presented to Cabinet.

Note: *Report previously circulated

To receive a report from the Strategic Manager of Growth, Economy and Delivery on the Northen Devon Railway Development Alliances.

The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Strategic Manager Growth, Economy and Delivery introducing the work of the Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance (NDRDA) to develop a strategic outline business case for significant capital investment in the North Devon Line between Exeter and Barnstaple.

RESOLVED that:

1.     That Mid Devon District Council supports the Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance (NDRDA) by officially joining the alliance to achieve delivery of a modernisation programme for the North Devon (Tarka) Line passenger rail services between Exeter and Barnstaple, to achieve the associated economic, social and environmental benefits for our local communities and businesses.

2.     A financial contribution of £1,000 to support the third annual convention of the NDRDA scheduled for March 2026 at a location in Mid Devon be APPROVED.

Note: *Report previously circulated

To receive a report from the Director of Legal, People and Governance (Monitoring Officer) providing an update to Cabinet Members on the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).

The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Director of Legal, People and Governance (Monitoring Offer) providing an update to Cabinet Members on the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).

RESOLVED that:

a)    The Council’s policy for ensuring compliance with Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) was appropriate and shall remain as currently drafted;

b)    That the Council had not used its powers under RIPA since March 2014 be NOTED.

As recommended by the Community, People and Equality PDG.

Note: * Report previously circulated.

To receive a report from the Head of Revenues, Benefits & Leisure presenting proposals to change the Leisure fees and charges from 1^st April 2026.

The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) presenting the proposal on the Leisure Pricing Strategy.

RESOLVED that:

a)    A freeze on membership prices for the forthcoming year to support affordability and encourage sustained participation, while increasing pay as you go tariffs in line with inflation and market rates be APPROVED. The charges proposed were in section 3.10 of this report.

This report had previously been NOTED by the Service Delivery and Continuous Improvement PDG

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.

It was RESOLVED that the meeting remain in Part 1.

To receive a report from the Leisure Services Manager on the proposal to convert existing tennis courts at Active Tiverton and Active Crediton into padel and pickleball facilities, working in partnership with a third-party operator under a lease.

The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) on the Padel Business Case.

RESOLVED that Cabinet APPROVED:

1. All three tennis courts at Active Tiverton be converted to Padel courts.
2. One tennis court at Active Crediton be converted to one Padel court and one Pickleball court.
3. The relocation of the tennis courts to Amory Park.
4. To finalise any due diligence/obtaining of references deemed necessary before the legal agreement was finalised.
5. That Delegated Authority be granted to the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) officer and Director of Legal, People and Governance (Monitoring Officer) to sign and approve the legal agreement.

Note: *Report previously circulated

To note the contents of the Forward Plan.

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

Note: * Key Decisions Report previously circulated.