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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Exe Room, Phoenix House, Tiverton

Contact: Sarah Lees  Member Services Officer

Link: audio recording

Items
No. Item

14.

Apologies and Substitute Members

To receive any apologies for absence and notice of appointment of substitutes.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor A J Bush.

15.

Declaration of Interests under the Code of Conduct

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 of interest given.

16.

Public Question Time

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

Minutes:

There were no members of the public present.

17.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 83 KB

Members to consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 17 May 2018.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 May 2018 were confirmed as a true and accurate record and SIGNED by the Chairman.

18.

Chairman's Announcements

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

Minutes:

The Chairman had the following announcements to make:

 

·         She reminded the Group that the London based consultants who had been appointed by TCAT (Tiverton Community Arts Theatre) to progress their plans for the arts facility at the college were making a presentation following the meeting of this Group. All PDG Members were invited to attend as were a number of other interested stakeholders.

·         There would be another informal workshop on Thursday 26th July at 5.30pm to which all members of the Group were encouraged to attend.

 

 

 

 

19.

Revenue and Capital Outturn 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 328 KB

To receive a report from the Director of Finance, Assets & Resources presenting the revenue and capital outturn figures for the financial year 2017/18.

Minutes:

The Group had before it, and NOTED, a report * from the Director of Finance, Assets & Resources presenting the revenue and capital outturn figures for the financial year 2017/18.

 

The Group Manager for Financial Services outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to:

 

·         The overall underspend on the General Fund which was £159k aided to some degree by the receipt of additional funds in relation to the Garden Village and the benefits of ‘pooling’ Business rates.

·         There was a net surplus on the Housing Revenue Account of £255k

·         The net income for the year in relation to the Market Walk and Fore Street shops in Tiverton was £62k.

 

The Group Manager confirmed that detailed discussions took place with budget holders throughout the year with regard to individual budgets and the treatment of any under or over spends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

20.

Economic Development projects update pdf icon PDF 83 KB

To receive a report from the Chief Executive and Director for Growth updating Members on progress with key Economic Development Service priorities.

Minutes:

The Group had before it, and NOTED, a report * from the Chief Executive and Director for Growth updating Members on progress with key Economic Development Service priorities.

 

Consideration was given to the following areas:

 

Devon Hydro and Smart Grid Project (‘Mills Project’)

 

It was reported that the team had received reports back from the master’s students from Exeter University looking at smarter technologies. The reports were positive and included findings in relation to ecological impacts.  It was hoped that a summary of the findings could be sent to members of this Group.

 

A report had also been received from the Hydromatch company although these were still being analysed. This would set out a clear path to progress the Tiverton Weir Project. Discussions would need to be had with the Environment Agency but the whole project was beginning to gather momentum again.

 

The Economic Development Officer and representatives from the University of Exeter and Hydromatch had pulled together a bid to the Heritage Enterprise Fund for £5m.

 

The team were working with South West Water at an officer level, it was hoped a discussion at a more senior level would be advantageous going forwards and current work was seen as moving in a positive direction.

 

Note: Cllr Mrs N Woollatt declared a personal interest as a mill owner.

 

Enquiries & Investments

 

It was explained that there was great demand for employment sites within the district at the current time. However, the GED team were continuing to be proactive by having discussions with every land owner who had an employment land allocation in the Local Plan to assist in bringing them forward.

 

Cullompton Heritage Project

 

At the end of May the team heard that the Council’s bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Townscape Heritage Programme was once again unsuccessful. This was extremely disappointing as a great deal of hard work had taken place over three years with various partners. However, since then positive discussions had taken place with Historic England about how to proceed with a formal partnership under their ‘Partnership Scheme in Conservation Areas’. It might be possible to submit a bid having worked up a delivery plan with Historic England.

 

Connecting the Culm Project

 

The team had been working with partners to develop a bid to seek European Funding. The focus would be on flood mitigation. The benefits of this project were that the whole of the Culm was being looked at, as well as seeking to improve water quality and engaging with communities to understand the river and its needs. The bid had now reached the second round of the application process, with a full bid to be submitted in August. If successful, this project would be able to supplement schemes to mitigate flooding, green infrastructure and the development of a country park for the Culm Garden Village.

 

A brief discussion took place regarding the need for more to be done in terms addressing possible periods of droughts.

 

Work in this area was complementary to that being  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

Car Parking Working Group

At its meeting on 11 January 2018 the Economy PDG resolved that an item be brought back to the meeting in July 2018 to consider the establishment of a car parking working group.

Minutes:

At its meeting on 11 January 2018 the Economy PDG resolved that an item be brought back to this meeting to consider the establishment of a car parking working group.

 

It was AGREED that a car parking working group be established and that it comprise of Councillors Mrs A R Berry, Mrs B M Hull and Mrs N Woollatt. Appointments to attend the first meeting would be sent out in due course. It was expected that any discussions from this group would feed into the budget setting process for 2019/20.

 

 

 

22.

Identification of items for the next meeting

Members are asked to note that the following items are already identified in the work programme for the next meeting:

 

·         Performance & Risk

·         Financial Monitoring

·         Economic Development update

·         Market Rights Policy (to be confirmed)

 

Note: This item is limited to 10 minutes. There should be no discussion on the items raised.

Minutes:

The following was requested to be on an agenda for the next meeting:

 

·         Feedback from the Tiverton Town Centre Masterplan consultation

·         Grimsey Review briefing

·         Exe Valley AONB (for information only as the recommendation would be made by the Environment PDG)

·         Funding stream opportunities

·         Chart showing the teams EHOD/GESP activities ant their interconnection