Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notices of appointment of substitute Members (if any).

Apologies were received from Cllrs E J Berry and R L Stanley

Cllr D R Coren and Miss J Norton attended via ZOOM.

To record any interests on agenda matters.

Members were reminded of the need to make declarations where appropriate

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.

There were no members of the public present

To consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on

The minutes of the meeting held on 8^th November 2022 were agreed as a true record and duly SIGNED by the Chairman

To receive any announcements that the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman had no announcements to make

To receive an update on the Climate Change Action Plan

The Group had before it, and NOTED, a *report from the Climate and Sustainability Specialist providing an update on the Climate Change Action Plan.

The Corporate Manager for Property, Leisure and Climate Change explained that the plan aligned with the Council’s climate emergency declarations.

Consideration was given to:

·         Energy prices had increased dramatically but the installation of Air Source Heat pumps at the leisure centres would help

·         There was a live bid in place to obtain funding to install Air Source Heat Pumps at Cullompton sports centre

·         There was a detailed program in place to install modular housing

·         Location of tree planting should be better considered and Parish Council’s consulted

·         A planning application for the Hydro scheme had been submitted and objections were being worked through

·         Funding opportunities for the installation of solar panels on commercial buildings not owned by the council would be provided on the Council’s sustainable website

Note: *report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

The Local Government Finance Act 1992 places a legal requirement on the Council to approve a balanced budget. The first draft of the General Fund budget for 2023/24 indicated a deficit of £960k. This report updates that deficit to the current position of £905k and proposes options to consider to achieve the statutorily required neutrality.

The Group had before it a *report from the Deputy Chief Executive providing the Medium Term Financial Plan.

The Corporate Manager for Finance explained the current position by way of a presentation and advised Members that he was looking for a steer on higher and lower priorities.

Consideration was given to:

·         Members were asked to consider any savings were district wide and not confined to individual parishes

·         The figures for fuel costs were based on real time values

·         Some savings would be found in Vacancy Management but that the Council were not expecting to make any redundancies

·         Some Members found it difficult to make decisions on priorities when they were unsure of what each cost centre covered

·         The suggestions put forward by officers on where and how savings could be achieved

·         Members felt the letter sent to the Parishes asking for funding for some services was not clear on what was being requested

·         The residents survey results

·         Some Members would support a review into the number of grass cuts a year

It was therefore RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that:

1.    The Weed Team should not be reinstated

(Proposed by Cllr B G J Warren and seconded by Cllr R F Radford)

2.    Waste Collection/Recycling/Open Spaces should be protected from budget and service provision reductions

(Proposed by Cllr R F Radford and seconded by Cllr W Burke)

3.    Property Service Staff Unit and Administration Buildings could be considered for budget and service provision reductions

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Reason for the decisions: As per the report

Note: *report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

To receive the current work plan for the Environment PDG.

The Group had before it, and NOTED, the *Environment PDG Work Plan for 2022-2023.

Note: *Work Plan previously circulated and attached to the minutes