Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors: Mrs E M Andrews, Mrs C P Daw, C J Eginton, B Holdman, A Wilce and J Wright.

To receive any questions relating to items on the agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.

All the public questions raised were in relation to item 5 on the agenda, ‘Devon Climate Declaration’:

Gill Gale stated that she very much welcomed the Council calling this Extraordinary Council Meeting and continued…. I trust that Mid Devon will follow Devon County Council’s recommendation and declare a Climate Emergency tonight.  Which leads me onto: how quickly should we cut our emissions to net zero? Should it be 2050, as both Devon County Council and the UK national Government has signed up to but can we listen to Maria Garces from the General Assembly of the IPCC who stated that “We are the last generation that can prevent irreparable damage to our planet, we must address this global emergency with ambition and urgency, 11 years are all that remain to avert catastrophe. So setting a target of zero carbon by 2050 is a death sentence for humanity. It's a target that means we'll sail past 450ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere within a decade, the point at which catastrophic change will occur. We'll sail past 2° warming by 2030, which means we'll be witnessing 100's of millions of climate related deaths as the southern hemisphere becomes uninhabitable. We'll be staring extinction itself in the face by 2050 if we don't change course rapidly."

With this in mind my question is: what is your justification for the 2050 target? I urge you councillors to please find the courage and ambition to join your colleagues in Teignbridge District Council by instead declaring a target of 2025. 

The Leader of the Council replied by saying that clearly, given that 49% of Carbon emissions in Mid Devon are transport-related, it would be a nonsense to progress work separate to that of the highways and transport authority, Devon County Council, recognising the targets adopted by DCC and very recently the amended-intent of the UK Government. However, recognising this council’s ambition to seek reductions as quickly as possible, an amendment has been proposed to provide for members to make a decision on bringing that date forward if they so wish.

Teresa Pointing addressed the Council by saying that I am speaking on behalf of Sustainable Tiverton, whose hundreds of members and supporters are spread throughout this town and surrounding villages, volunteering in projects such as repair cafes, education about energy saving and healthy soils, the redistribution of surplus household objects, and tackling food waste through community cafes and the new community fridge.

We welcome the Climate Emergency Declaration, but while incremental change in public policy is how government usually works, you will now have to plan a journey to become net carbon neutral for which ‘business as usual’ just won’t get the job done fast enough. So my question to the council is this:

You have many resources available to you to make rapid change possible, if you use partnership with local expertise, green businesses, innovators in housing, transport and energy, re-generative agriculture and forestry, and community engagement through citizen champions like our members. How  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

Councillors are reminded of the requirement to declare any interest, including the type of interest, and the reason for that interest, either at this stage of the meeting or as soon as they become aware of that interest.

Members were reminded to make any declarations of interest.

To receive any announcements which the Chairman of the Council may wish to make.

The Chairman had no announcements to make.

To receive a report of the Chief Executive requesting Members to consider the declaration of a climate change emergency.

The Council had before it a *report of the Chief Executive requesting Members to consider the declaration of a climate change emergency.

He outlined the contents of the report stating that Devon County Council had declared a climate emergency. They had committed to facilitating the reduction of Devon’s carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050 at the latest and had formed the Devon Climate Emergency Response Group to enable strategic partners to collaborate on producing a Devon-wide Carbon Plan.

The Chairman MOVED that:

a)    The council adopts the statement at Appendix A outlining the Devon Climate Change Declaration.

b)    The council agrees to work to the Devon-wide target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

c)    The council continues to work, through the DCERG and other mechanisms as appropriate, to collaborate on producing a Devon-wide Carbon Plan.

d)    The council directs the Environment Policy Development Group (PDG) to act as the initial owner of this policy activity within the council; with future PDG meetings considering how best to determine the council’s own policy response(s) such as may then be subsequently recommended to cabinet and council in the normal way.

Councillor L D Taylor MOVED AN AMENDMENT (on behalf of Councillor J Wright), seconded by Councillor Miss E Wainwright

This council is significantly concerned that the environmental crises must be a priority. We will aim for Mid Devon to be carbon neutral by 2030 and all decisions made by the council will be considered in light of the climate crisis.

This council will lobby central government for the finances and powers to act effectively to undertake the necessary measures to ensure the climate crises can be limited to 1.5 degrees and be carbon neutral by 2030.

 It is recommended that:

The council adopts the statement at Appendix A outlining the Devon Climate Change Declaration.

The council agrees to work to the Devon-wide target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 but will aim for Mid Devon to be carbon neutral by 2030 and all decisions made by the council will be considered in light of the climate crisis

The council continues to work, through the DCERG and other mechanisms as appropriate, to collaborate on producing a Devon-wide Carbon Plan.

This council will lobby central government for the finances and powers to act effectively to undertake the necessary measures to ensure the climate crises can be limited to 1.5 degrees and be carbon neutral by 2030

The council directs the Environment Policy Development Group (PDG) to act as the initial owner of this policy activity within the council; with future PDG meetings considering how best to determine the council’s own policy response(s) such as may then be subsequently recommended to cabinet and council in the normal way.

A debate then took place with the following issues arising:

·         The need to act now to protect children and grandchildren

·         2050 was too far away and that the amendment suggesting that Mid

Devon aim to be carbon neutral by 2030 should be supported

·         The growing support for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

To consider the cross-party Working Group’s submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England which will be considering the number of Councillors required for Mid Devon District Council from 2023.

The Council had before it a *report of the Chief Executive requesting Members to consider the cross-party Working Group’s submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England which will be considering the number of Councillors required for Mid Devon District Council from 2023.

The Chairman MOVED that: the submission outlined in Appendix A of the report be agreed.

The Leader MOVED AN AMENDMENT seconded by Councillor B A Moore:

That the Council agrees the revised appendix A as its formal submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, incorporating electorate projections to 2025 as per LGBCE requirements.

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

Councillor B G J Warren MOVED THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS seconded by Councillor C R Slade:

a)     Question 1.17 Second Paragraph, Second Sentence.  Amend to read “In the 2019 district elections all but one of the wards were contested........................” therefore the paragraph should read

In the 2019 district elections all wards but one were contested and there have been no instances where the Council has been unable to discharge its duties due to lack of councillors.

b)     Question 4.2 the ‘eg’ in the second line be amended to read “eg. Public conveniences, public open spaces, play areas and grass cutting.....................” therefore the paragraph should read

The Council has implemented a programme of devolving local facilities to some town and parish councils, eg public conveniences, public open spaces, play areas and grass cutting, where there has been a desire to take these on.

Upon a vote being taken, the AMENDMENTS were declared to have been CARRIED.

Councillor F W Letch MOVED THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS seconded by Councillor B G J Warren:

Question 1.10 - To remove “most of the Committees meet monthly” and add the following wording: “The Cabinet, Scrutiny Committee and the Planning Committee meet monthly and the Policy Development Groups and the Audit Committee meet every 2 months…..”

To remove “Chairmen of the Scrutiny Committee”” and replace with “Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee”.

Therefore the  following paragraphs should read

The Cabinet, Scrutiny Committee and the Planning Committee meet monthly and the Policy Development Groups and the Audit Committee meet every 2 months unless there is insufficient business to discuss or determine, with the exception of the Standards and the Regulation Committees which tend to meet on an ad-hoc basis.

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee is appointed at the annual Council meeting in May; chairs of other committees are appointed by each committee at the first meeting of the annual cycle.

Upon a vote being taken, the AMENDMENTS were declared to have been CARRIED.

The Chairman MOVED that the submission AS AMENDED be approved

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

Note:  * Report previously circulated copy attached to minutes.