Agenda

To receive any apologies for absence.

To receive any questions and or statements relating to any items of the Council powers/ duties or which otherwise affects the District and items on the agenda from members of the public.

To record any interests on agenda matters.

To consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on the 4^th September 2024.

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

To receive any petitions from members of the public.

1.            Motion 606 (Cllr S Robinson)

The Council had before it a MOTION submitted for the first time.

Motion: Women against State Pension Inequality (WASPI)

Council is asked to note that:

·         In the 1995 Pensions Act, the Government increased State Pension age for women from 60 to 65, with a further increase to 66 in the 2011 Pensions Act. 

• The change was not properly communicated to 3.8m women born in the 1950s until 2012, giving some only one year’s notice of a six year increase in their anticipated retirement age. 14,350 of the affected women live in our own authority area.
• The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has found the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to have committed maladministration through its failure to adequately communicate State Pension age increases to women born in the 1950s. 
• The PHSO has concluded the DWP should apologise to women affected and pay compensation as a result.
• The DWP has refused to accept the findings of the PHSO, which has now led the independent watchdog to lay its findings before Parliament, encouraging MPs to intervene to deliver a remedy to affected women.
• The All Party Parliamentary Group on State Pension Inequality for Women has concluded that “the impact of DWP maladministration on 1950s-born women has been as devastating as it is widespread.  The APPG believes that the case for category 6 injustice (£10,000) is overwhelming and clear. Women have had their emotional, physical, and mental circumstances totally obliterated by a lack of reasonable notice.”
• As of April 2024, more than 275,000 have died waiting for justice since the WASPI campaign began in 2015.

Council is asked to consider that this injustice has not only had a profound effect on the individuals involved, but on the wider community in Mid Devon and on local government, not least because:

·         Women who would have looked after older relatives or partners are unable to afford to do so, with a knock-on impact on local social care.

·         Women who would have retired and engaged in caring responsibilities for grandchildren are having to continue working, increasing the childcare burden on the state locally.

·         Women who have been left in poverty are struggling to meet their housing costs, with a knock-on impact on local housing stock.

·         There is a broader impact on voluntary services of all kinds locally, which are missing out on able, active volunteers who would otherwise have been able to retire from full-time work as planned.

·         Our local economy is negatively affected by the reduced spending power and disposable income that the uncommunicated State Pension Age changes have brought about among women born in the 1950s.

·         Local tourism has suffered as a result, with affected women unable to travel to the area for holidays.

Council is asked to support:

·         A swift resolution to this ongoing injustice before more and more women die waiting for compensation.

·         The conclusion of the All Party Parliamentary Group on State Pension Inequality that women born in the 1950s have suffered a  ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

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

1.    Cabinet

17^th September 2024

15^th October 2024

(Recommendation to Full Council)

Cabinet RECOMMENDS TO FULL COUNCIL

That the MDH Repairs and Maintenance Policy and Equality Impact Assessment be adopted as recommended by the Home PDG.

2.    Scrutiny Committee

9th September 2024

3.    Community, People and Equalities Policy Development Group

24th September 2024

4.    Economy and Assets Policy Development Group

19th September 2024

5.    Homes Policy Development Group

10th September 2024

6.    Planning Environment and Sustainability Policy Development Group

3^rd September 2024

7.    Service Delivery and Continuous Improvements Policy Development Group

23^rd September 2024

8.    Planning Committee

28^th August 2024

11^th September 2024

9^th October 2024

9.    Licensing Committee

2nd October 2024 

(Recommendation to Full Council)

The Licensing Committee RECOMMENDS TO FULL COUNCIL

That the Gambling Act Statement of Principles as attached in Annex A be approved.

The Licensing Committee RECOMMENDS TO FULL COUNCIL

That the Statement of Licensing Policy as attached in Annexe B be recommended to Full Council for approval.

10.Regulatory Committee

2nd October 2024

(Recommendation to Full Council)

The Regulatory Committee RECOMMENDS TO FULL COUNCIL

·         The new proposed timeline for implementation of the Policy at section 2 of the report, and that the existing Policy (implemented 1 st January 2019) continues to have effect until such time as the new Policy is fully implemented.

·         The changes proposed and detailed within section 3 and Annex A of this report.

·         To delegate authority to make minor amendments to the Policy to the Head of Housing and Health.

To consider the appointment to the outside bodies:

To seek one representative to the position available for the Police and Crime Panel Devon and Cornwall.

To appoint the Cabinet Member for Housing, Assets and Property to the Devon and Torbay Housing Advisory Group.

To deal with any questions raised pursuant to Procedure Rule 11 not already dealt with during the relevant Committee reports.

To note any decisions taken under Rule 16 (of the Constitution) Special Urgency.

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

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

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