Venue: Exe Room, Phoenix House, Tiverton
Contact: Carole Oliphant Member Services Officer
No. | Item |
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Election of Chairman (The Vice Chairman of the Council in the Chair) (00.00.24) To elect a Chairman for the 2019/2020 municipal year. Minutes: Cllr B G J Warren was duly elected Chairman for the municipal year 2019-2020.
(Proposed by Cllr E J Berry and seconded by Cllr B Holdman) |
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Election of Vice Chairman (00.03.59) To elect a Vice Chairman for the 2019/2020 municipal year. Minutes: Cllr J Wright was duly elected Vice Chairman for the municipal year 2019-2020.
(Proposed by Cllr B Holdman and seconded by Cllr Ms E J Wainwright) |
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Apologies and substitute Members (00.05.37) To receive any apologies for absence and notices of appointment of substitute Members (if any). Minutes: There were no apologies |
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Declarations of Interest under the Code of Conduct (00.05.53) 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. Minutes: There were no declarations made. |
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Public Question Time (00.06.19) To receive any questions relating to items on the Agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.
Note: A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.
Minutes: Mr Way urged members to support Motion 556 which called for the District Council to ban developers from using netting on hedgerows to stop nesting birds.
Alderman Lucas again referring to Motion 556 stated that this should be part of planning policy and that he was concerned with the perceived ease with which developers circumvented conditions set by the Council.
Mr Richardson, speaking on item 9 on the agenda, brought the issues of fly tipping and littering within Tiverton to the attention of the Group and stated that he had already brought forward suggestions to Full Council that camera’s be installed in high risk areas. He asked how many fines for littering had been issued and questioned how and where this was being enforced. He asked if there was a dedicated phone number for people to call if they spotted littering and fly tipping.
The Chairman explained that the questions would be addressed at the appropriate agenda item
Note:
· Cllr R L Stanley declared a personal interest as he was a director of 3 Rivers Developments Ltd |
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Minutes of the Previous Meeting (00.17.10) PDF 73 KB Members to consider whether to approve the minutes of the last meeting of the Group held on 5th March 2019 as a correct record.
The Group is reminded that only those members of the Group present at the previous meeting should vote and, in doing so, should be influenced only by seeking to ensure that the minutes are an accurate record Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 5th March 2019 were agreed as a true record and duly signed by the Chairman |
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Chairman's Announcements (00.18.25) To receive any announcements that the Chairman may wish to make. Minutes: The Chairman had no announcements to make |
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Motion 556 (Councillor N A Way - 8 April 2019) (00.18.34) To consider the motion passed to the PDG from the Council (originally proposed by Cllr N A Way and seconded by Cllr J M Downes):
Mid Devon District Council has a record of environmental protection and protecting wildlife.
Council is greatly concerned by the growing trend across the country of developers using netting over hedgerows and trees at development sites to stop birds nesting and other wildlife using the hedges and trees.
This is wrong and runs against the best interests of supporting and enhancing local wildlife.
We call on all developers not to use netting in Mid Devon. Additionally, we call on Government to ban the use of netting at all sites with planning consent, those sites identified in the Local Plan and the emerging Greater Exeter Strategic Plan.
Please note: Having considered the above Motion the Policy Development Group are asked to consider whether this Motion should either be supported or rejected. This decision will be referred back to Council on 24th July 2019.
Minutes: The Group had before it Motion 556 (Councillor N A Way - 8 April 2019)
Mid Devon District Council has a record of environmental protection and protecting wildlife.
Council is greatly concerned by the growing trend across the country of developers using netting over hedgerows and trees at development sites to stop birds nesting and other wildlife using the hedges and trees.
This is wrong and runs against the best interests of supporting and enhancing local wildlife.
We call on all developers not to use netting in Mid Devon. Additionally, we call on Government to ban the use of netting at all sites with planning consent, those sites identified in the Local Plan and the emerging Greater Exeter Strategic Plan.
The Head of Planning, Economy and Regeneration explained that the practice was not unlawful and there had been no instances of developers using netting in the district to date. She explained that from a planning perspective netting would not need planning permission in its own right and that the Council would need to investigate if the planning service had any control over such netting and what it could enforce.
Members advised the Head of Planning, Economy and Regeneration that the RSPB had issued guidelines for developers which could be utilised in any planning policy amendments.
RECOMMENDED to Council that Motion 556 be supported
(Proposed by Cllr R L Stanley and seconded by Cllr Ms E J Wainwright)
Note: Cllr Ms E J Wainwright declared a personal interest as she was a member of RSPB |
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Performance and Risk (00.24.48) PDF 61 KB To provide Members with an update on the out turn performance against the corporate plan and local service targets for 2018-2019. That the Group reviews the Performance Indicators and Risks that are outlined in the report and feeds back any areas of concern to the Cabinet.
Additional documents:
Minutes: The Group received and NOTED the *Performance and Risk report from the Group Manager for Performance Governance and Data Security who explained this was the final out turn report for 2018-2019 and that it showed the highlights for the whole of the year. She highlighted key achievements including:
· Reduced costs · Fixed penalty notices for the year · Waste transfer station · Reduction of carbon footprint · Increased electric car charging points
In response to a question asked by members with regard to LED lighting she explained that this referred to changes to lighting in Council owned properties. The Director of Operations explained that the floodlights at the leisure centres were turned off when clubs had finished their activities but these did sometimes go on later in the evenings.
The Group Manager for Street Scene and Open Spaces explained that the measure for the amount of residual waste sent to landfill was determined during the last administration and that the Council no longer sent any waste to landfill and that the performance indicator description would be adjusted to reflect this.
He explained that enforcement for fly tipping was difficult as officers were reliant on intelligence from members of the public or evidence left. In some instances residents had paid a contractor to take rubbish away and this had subsequently been fly tipped by the contractor but that the household was still responsible for the correct disposal of their waste. A campaign had been run in 2018 to encourage people to use only registered waste carriers who supply paperwork of the end destination.
In response to a direct question he confirmed that he would provide the Group with a breakdown of the 17 fixed penalty notices issued in 2018-2019.
The Group Manager for Street Scene and Open Spaces then addressed the specific questions raised by the public and stated that there was a 2 man litter busting team introduced in 2018/2019 which responded to fly tipping and littering reports within 5 working days. With regard to enforcement he explained that 3.8 officers were employed by the Council to carry out enforcement and car parking enforcement and that the Environment PDG decided how much time was spent on each activity via the District Officer Discretionary Time report brought to the Group annually. He stated that littering enforcement was taking place in the towns but officers were in uniform and that enforcement activity was not covert. He explained to members that the Council could do whatever the Group wanted in relation to enforcement but they would need to be mindful of the cost of providing an increased service. With regard to the request for a dedicated telephone number for public to report littering he explained that the Council policy was to provide a single number for the public to contact the call was dealt with by the customer contact team (all calls are then logged. There was a dedicated email address streetscene@middevon.gov.uk where the public could report instances of littering and fly tipping.
There was a discussion ... view the full minutes text for item 9. |
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Outturn 2018-2019 (01.04.49) PDF 127 KB To receive and NOTE the Outturn report for 2018-2019 from the Group Manager for Finance and the proposed recommendations to Cabinet. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Group received and NOTED the *Outturn report for 2018-2019 from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) who explained that the Environment PDG controlled a significant amount of the Council’s overall budget.
Consideration was given to the following:
· Service budget variances · Non service income and expenditure · Executive summary · Earmarked funds · Sinking fund for waste vehicles · General Fund reserve · Financial forecasting · Retail portfolios · Increased trade waste customers · HRA · Council tax collection rates
Note: * Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes |
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Update on Car Charging Points in New Developments (01.26.26) PDF 297 KB To receive and NOTE an update on the recommendation by the Group that the Council considers that developers be required to install electric car charging points in all new build properties constructed in the district. Minutes: The Forward Planning Team Leader gave the Group an update on the proposal by the Group that the Council consider the introduction of home electric vehicle charging points in all new build properties across the district.
He outlined the contents of the report and explained that the Government’s target was to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2040. He informed the Group that current national planning policy does not prescribe the standards for the provision of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new development This is a matter for Council’s to set out in their local plans and needs evidentially based. The Forward Planning Team Leader referred to current standards (e.g. 1 charging point per 10 dwellings) in the adopted Local Plan and which will be rolled forward in the Local Plan Review that is currently being examined by a Planning Inspector.
He explained the options available through future plan making to introduce a new requirement for developers to install electric charging points in all new build properties constructed in the district:
· New Local Plan – this was timetabled for a review to be started 2020 and it would be unlikely that the review would be completed before 2023 · Greater Exeter Strategic Plan (GESP) – an ‘options consultation’ was due to take place in June 2019 and it is expected this plan would be adopted by April 2020 · Neighbourhood Planning – could be completed by a Town or Parish Council in a shorter timeframe and once adopted would carry full weight in planning decisions
The Group discussed the options and felt that the timeframes of all three presented were too long and that Mid Devon District Council should be leading the way and should be speeding up the installation of electric vehicle charging points.
There was further discussion on how the Group could speed up the process of changing policy to ensure that electric vehicle charging points would be installed in new builds in the future and consideration was given to:
· The need for up to date evidence that can be used to influence future plan making · The length of time that it would take for new policy requirements through the preparation of the GESP or a New Local Plan, a that a quicker process was needed · Changing technologies – current technologies may soon become out of date · Increased usage of existing car charging points
The Forward Planning Team Leader explained that the quickest option was for the Council to seek a requirement for electric vehicle charging points in all new build properties through the preparation of the GESP.
The Group NOTED the report and agreed that the wishes of the Group should be included within the GESP consultation document.
(Proposed by the Chairman)
Note: * Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes |
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National Assistance Burial Procedure (01.55.53) PDF 70 KB To receive the 3 yearly review of the National Assistance Burial Procedure from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) presented by the Group Manager for Corporate Policy and Commercial Assets.
Recommendation: That the Cabinet adopts the revised National Assistance Burial Policy that is attached as Annex A. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Group received the 3 yearly review of the *National Assistance Burial Procedure from the Group Manager for Corporate Property and Commercial Assets presented by the Group Manager for Public Health and Regulatory Services.
He gave an overview of the policy and explained that there were instances when people passed away and there were no next of kin, family or friends who were able to organise the funeral. In these instances the Authority had a statutory duty to act and arrange for the burial of these individuals.
He explained that MDDC only ran cemeteries and therefore when the Council had to act they arranged a burial in one of the Council run cemeteries.
The Group agreed that the policy was required and therefore:
RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that the revised National Assistance Burial Policy be adopted.
(Proposed by Cllr R F Radford and seconded by Cllr D R Coren.
Note: * Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes |
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Start Time of Meetings (02.16.11) To consider the start times of meetings for the municipal year 2019-2020 Minutes:
Following discussion the Group AGREED to hold its meetings at 5.30pm for the remainder of the 2019/20 municipal year.
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Identification of Items for Future Meetings (02.33.05) Members are asked to note the following items have been identified for the next meeting:
Connecting the Culm Project Play Area Safety Inspection Policy
Note: This item is limited to 10 minutes. There should be no discussion on the items raised. Minutes: There were no items identified for a future meeting. |