Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors: J Cairney, Mrs E Lloyd, D F Pugsley, Mrs M E Squires, A White, Mrs N Woollatt and A Wyer.

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

There were no questions from members of public attending the meeting.

To record any interests on agenda matters.

Members were reminded of the need to declare any interests when appropriate.

Members to consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the Annual meeting held on 11 May 2022.

Members to consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the Extraordinary meeting held on 11 May 2022.

The Council is reminded that only those Members present at the previous meetings should vote and, in doing so, should be influenced only by seeking to ensure that the minutes are an accurate record.

The minutes of the annual meeting held on 11 May 2022 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The minutes of the extraordinary meeting held on 11 May 2022 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

The Chairman had the following announcements to make:

·         He had met with Honorary Alderman Mrs Eileen Andrews and presented her with the Honorary Alderman Scroll. She had been delighted to receive the honour.

·         The Vice Chairman had attended two jubilee events on his behalf, representing the Council at Exeter Cathedral and at Taunton Minster.

·         He had attended the High Sheriff’s garden party on Sunday 26 June to support his various charities.

·         He would be attending the Lammas Fair in Exeter the following day.

To receive any petitions from members of the public.

There were no petitions presented.

No Notices of Motions have been received.

No Notices of Motion had been received.

To receive and consider the reports, minutes and recommendations of the recent meetings as follows:

1             Cabinet

-            17 May 2022

-            28 June 2022 (to follow)

2          Scrutiny Committee

 -         30 May 2022

3          Audit Committee

-           7 June 2022

4          Environment Policy Development Group

-           24 May 2022

5          Homes Policy Development Group

-           31 May 2022

6          Economy Policy Development Group

-           26 May 2022

7          Community Policy Development Group

-           7 June 2022

8          Planning Committee

-           18 May 2022

-           29 June 2022 (to follow)    

The Leader presented the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 17 May 2022.

The Leader presented the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 28 June 2022.

1.    Annual Treasury Management Report (Minute 18)

The Leader MOVED seconded by Councillor B A Moore:

THAT the recommendations of the Cabinet as set out in Minute 18 be ADOPTED.

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

Reason for the Decision – there is a need for the Annual Treasury Management Report to be approved by Council in line with CIPFA guidance.

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee presented the report of the meeting of the Committee held on 30 May 2022.

The Chairman of the Audit Committee presented the report of the meeting of the Committee held on 7 June 2022.

The Chairman of the Environment Policy Development Group presented the report of the meeting of the Group held on 24 May 2022.

The Chairman of the Homes Policy Development Group presented the report of the meeting of the Group held on 31 May 2022.

The Chairman of the Economy Policy Development Group presented the report of the meeting of the Group held on 26 May 2022.

The Vice Chairman of the Community Policy Development Group presented the report of the meeting of the Group held on 7 June 2022.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee presented the report of the meeting of the Committee held on 18 May 2022.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee presented the report of the meeting of the Committee held on 29 June 2022.

To consider a report of the Returning Officer (Director of Business Improvement and Operations) in respect of the recommended proposals for consideration for the second consultation stage and seeking approval of a modified Terms of Reference for the Committee.

The Council had before it a *report of the Returning Officer (Director of Business Improvement and Operations) in respect of the recommended proposals for consideration for the second consultation stage and seeking approval of a modified Terms of Reference for the Committee.

The officer outlined the contents of the report explaining the process of the review to date, the outcome of the initial consultation, the recommendations that had been proposed by the Electoral Review Committee and the request to amend the Terms of Reference of the Committee to allow it to consider the possibility of merging some parish councils which had been highlighted during the first consultation.

The Chairman of the Electoral Review Committee emphasised that the recommendations within the report would form part of the second public consultation process.

Councillor L D Taylor MOVED, seconded by Councillor C R Slade that:

A second public consultation take place on the review of parish boundaries as proposed in appendices 1a and 1b of the report subject to:

a)            The detail of submission 33 Mid Devon District Council CGR First Stage Consultation submitted by Hittisleigh Parish Council be agreed.

b)            The following options for Halberton, Willand and Uffculme form part of the stage 2 public consultation:

Option 1 – Lucombe Park move from Halberton to Uffculme and the Mid Devon Business Park move from Halberton to Willand.

Option 2 – Option 1 (as set out above) together with the area north east of Bridwell Avenue be moved from Halberton to Uffculme.

Option 3 – Options 1 and 2 (as set out above) together with Hitchcocks and Langlands Business Parks moving from Halberton to Uffculme.

c)            The number of Parish Councillors remain as set out in appendix 2 subject to the following amendments which would form part of the stage 2 public consultation:

i)                Bradninch (Rural Ward) be reduced to 1 from 2

ii)               Bradninch (Town Ward) be increased from 10 to 11

iii)              Burlescombe be reduced from 9 to 7

iv)              Cheriton Fitzpaine be reduced from 9 to 8

v)               Colebrooke be reduced from 9 to 7

vi)              Copplestone be increased from 7 to 9

vii)             Crediton Hamlets (Yeoford Ward) be increased from 5 to 7

viii)           Silverton (North Ward) be reduced from 2 to 1

ix)              Silverton (Village Ward) be increased from 9 to 10

x)               Willand be increased from 11 to 12

d)            The modified Terms of Reference be approved relating for the purpose of consideration of any submissions received arising from the second consultation period as set out in appendix 3.

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

Reason for the decision – Council approval is required for the second round of public consultation and any amendment to the Terms of Reference of the Electoral Review Committee.

Note: * Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes

To deal with any questions raised pursuant to Procedure Rule 13 not already dealt with during the relevant Committee reports.

There were no questions submitted under Procedure Rule 13.2.

To note any decisions taken under Rule 16 (of the Constitution) Special Urgency – no decisions of this kind have been made since the last meeting.

With regard to any decisions taken under Rule 16 (of the Constitution) Special Urgency taken since the last meeting. The Chairman informed the meeting that no such decisions had been taken in that period.

To consider appointing 2 members to the Tiverton Town Centre CCTV System Working Group.

The Council were requested to consider appointing 2 members to the Tiverton Town Centre CCTV System Working Group.

The Leader MOVED, seconded by Councillor C R Slade that Councillor D J Knowles be nominated for the role.

Councillor D J Knowles MOVED, seconded by Councillor W Burke that Councillor Mrs C P Daw be nominated for the role.

Councillor L D Taylor MOVED, seconded by Councillor J M Downes that Councillor L J Cruwys be nominated for the role.

Upon a vote being taken, it was:

RESOLVED that Councillors: Mrs C P Daw and D J Knowles be appointed to the Tiverton Town Centre CCTV System Working Group.

To receive answers from the Cabinet Members to questions on their portfolios from other Members.

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Councillor J M Downes addressing the Leader asked how and when the Member Services Manager would be replaced.

The Leader responded stating that other team members would continue the work in the short term and that a replacement appointment would be made.

Councillor F W Letch addressing the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property Services referred to an empty council property in Crediton which had been vacated in November and was still empty.  He had spoken to officers who had explained the current staff shortage and the number of voids that required attention.

The Cabinet Member responded that an email had been sent to Members that morning outlining a proposed review of the process around voids, he would add this property to his list along with other information received from Members and that this would form the basis for the review.

Councillor F W Letch then addressed the Cabinet Member for the Environment and Climate Change stating that the bottle bank at Tesco in Crediton had been removed and that the one at Morrisons was becoming over full and asked who was responsible for the recycling at Morrisons.

The Cabinet Member stated that he was aware that Tesco had discontinued its bottle bank, the Council was responsible for the recycling banks at Morrisions and the situation was being monitored, additional receptacles had now been added to the site.

Councillor Letch followed this up with another question to the Cabinet Member with regard to weeds on pavements in Crediton and asked who was responsible and what services did the Council’s street-scene service provide?

The Cabinet Member stated that the street-scene service dealt with litter, fly tipping and public open space. Pavements (and weeds) were the responsibility of the Highway Authority.

Cllr B G J Warren addressing the Leader asked - Are you aware that Transparency International UK wrote a report entitled ‘Corruption in UK Local Government – The Mounting Risks.

On Page 43 of the report is a paragraph which reads: Council leaders have considerable patronage power, which can facilitate corruption.  They are able to appoint the members of their Cabinet and award chairmanships – all roles which bring financial gain for the recipients in the form of ‘special responsibility allowances’.  This may lead to situations where councillors are unwilling to challenge a leader because they fear losing one of these roles, or where they feel obliged to provide informal favours, such as offering information or turning a blind eye to misconduct.

Since the 2019 election two additional Cabinet posts have been created, seven Cabinet members have been removed from their portfolios and replaced by other members and two changes of Chairman of Scrutiny Committee have been instigated.

What assurance can the Leader give to the residents who are administered by Mid Devon District Council that there is no risk of potential corruption as identified in the report.

The Leader responded stating that this did not apply to Mid Devon District Council, the selection of Cabinet Members had been based on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

To receive any statements made and notice of future questions by Members.

Note:  the time allowed for this item is limited to 15 minutes.

The Leader paid tribute to the Member Services Manager who would be leaving the authority at the end of the week.