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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Exe Room, Phoenix House, Tiverton

Contact: Carole Oliphant  Member Services Officer

Link: audiorecording

Items
No. Item

144.

APOLOGIES AND SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS (00.00.48)

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

Minutes:

There were no apologies

145.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST UNDER THE CODE OF CONDUCT (00.01.00)

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

146.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME (00.01.28)

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.

Minutes:

There were no questions from members of the public present.

147.

MEMBER FORUM (00.01.37)

An opportunity for non-Cabinet Members to raise issues.

Minutes:

There were no issues raised under this item.

148.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING (00.01.46) pdf icon PDF 71 KB

Members to consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 18th February 2019.

 

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

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 18th February 2019 were approved as a correct record and SIGNED by the Chairman.

149.

DECISIONS OF THE CABINET (00.04.15)

To consider any decisions made by the Cabinet at its last meeting that have been called-in.

Minutes:

The Committee NOTED that none of the decisions made by the Cabinet on 7th March 2019 had been called in.

150.

CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS (00.04.21)

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

Minutes:

The Chairman had no announcements to make.

151.

CABINET MEMBER FOR PLANNING & ECONOMIC REGENERATION (00.04.33) pdf icon PDF 150 KB

The Committee to receive a position statement from the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration providing an update on the areas within his portfolio.

Minutes:

The Committee received and NOTED a *report from the Cabinet Member for Planning & Economic Regeneration

 

He outlined the contents of the report and stated that it reflected the wide area of the teams remit which was far greater than 10 years ago.

 

Discussion took place regarding;

 

·         Rural productivity and the effect of the issues with broadband provision across the district

·         Provision of wireless broadband in the rural areas

·         Congratulations to officers who ensured the Council entered the Local Government Chronicle awards

·         The successful occupation of business units as they became available

·         If there was a demand for new homes in the district and the conclusions of the Local Plan

·         The initial conclusions of the Inspector after the examination hearings for the Local Plan review

·         The success of the Building Control Partnership with North Devon Council

 

In response to Members questions he confirmed that he would send details of action taken by officers with regard to scaffolding in Cullompton High Street and he would seek to provide the figures for the Housing Delivery Test broken down into the 3 main towns.

 

Note: *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

152.

PERFORMANCE AND RISK (00.50.43) pdf icon PDF 71 KB

To provide Members with an update on performance against the corporate plan and local service targets for 2018/2019 as well as providing an update on the key business risks.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee had before it and NOTED a *report from the Group Manager for Performance Governance and Data Security providing an update on performance against the Corporate Plan and local service targets for 2018-2019 as well as providing an update on the key business risks.

 

She outlined the contents of the report highlighting the targets against the corporate plan aims and providing information from queries raised.

 

There was a general discussion on waste collections and Members were encouraged to get residents to report any issues to Street Scene so that they could be resolved.

 

Members discussed the formatting of the material provided.

 

Note: *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

 

153.

CREDITON TOWN CENTRE MASTERPLAN (01.12.33) pdf icon PDF 117 KB

To consider a report of the Head of Planning Economy and Regeneration, presented to Cabinet on 7th March 2019, defining the scope for the commissioning of consultants to assist in the preparation of a Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document and Delivery Plan (SPD) for Crediton Town Centre in the budget year 20/21.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a *report of the Head of Planning Economy and Regeneration, presented to Cabinet on 7th March 2019, defining the scope for the commissioning of consultants to assist in the preparation of a Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document and Delivery Plan (SPD) for Crediton Town Centre in the budget year 20/21.

 

Members discussed the scope of the delivery plan and were broadly in favour of the plan.

 

There was a general discussion on the transport strategy and the Group Manager for Growth, Economy and Delivery confirmed that the proposed train station was incorporated in the plan.

 

Note: *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

154.

SUPPORTING THE FORMATION OF SOUTH WEST MUTUAL (01.21.36) pdf icon PDF 25 KB

To consider a report of the Chief Executive on supporting the formation of South West Mutual previously presented to Cabinet on 7th March 2019.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a *report of the Chief Executive on supporting the formation of South West Mutual previously presented to Cabinet on 7th March 2019.

 

The Chief Executive outlined the content of the report and explained that the first stage of the process was to obtain a bankers licence. He explained that Cabinet had recommended to Council that the scheme be supported and that it was felt that it brought community benefit.

 

There was a general discussion on the disappearance of high street banks in the district and that the Post Office had recognised a need for rural banking by opening up previously closed branches.

 

The Deputy Chief Executive (S151) explained that across the country there were a number of mutuals exploring the potential of opening local branches. He explained that at this stage it was too early to predict where the branches would be situated, but if the mutual bank were to be successful clearly the council would be seeking to highlight those communities where access to banking facilities was now severely limited in order to try and influence branch location

 

Note: *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

155.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORKING GROUP UPDATE (01.40.13)

To receive a verbal report from the Group Manager for Business Transformation and Customer Engagement giving an update on the customer service projects recommended by the work of the Scrutiny Community Engagement Working Group.

Minutes:

The Committee received a verbal report from the Group Manager for Business Transformation and Customer Engagement providing an update on the customer service projects recommended by the work of the Scrutiny Committee Community Engagement Working Group.

 

She explained that a Town and Parish Council Survey was completed in 2018 and the results had been fed back to the Town and Parish Councils in September.

 

She further explained that officers had looked into the effectiveness of the Citizens Panel and had found that it was not an effective way of communicating with the public. A decision had been made not to pursue another panel but to look into a more targeted approach.

 

One of the recommendations from the Working Group was to introduce mobile units which would travel around the district but she explained that the costs were found to be prohibitive for the introduction of this service.

156.

SCRUTINY OFFICER UPDATE (01.45.02) pdf icon PDF 50 KB

To receive a report from the Scrutiny Officer on items he has been asked to look into.

Minutes:

The Committee received and NOTED a *report from the Scrutiny Officer.

 

He explained that he had circulated a Connecting Devon and Somerset briefing paper to Members which outlined the issues with progress of broadband roll out across the district.

 

He explained that Keri Denton, Head of Enterprise and Skills had not been able to attend the meeting and this would be re-arranged for a later date. Members felt that this should be delayed for some months until additional information on the roll out of broadband was more forthcoming.

 

He confirmed that the Trim Trail had been completed in Amory Park and encouraged Members to go and try it out. He confirmed that talks were taking place with Cullompton and Crediton Town Councils regarding provision of Trim Trails in the towns.

 

Note: *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

157.

FORWARD PLAN (01.51.48) pdf icon PDF 83 KB

Members are asked to consider any items within the Forward Plan that they may wish to bring forward for discussion at the next meeting.

Minutes:

The Group had before it and NOTED the Cabinet Forward Plan *.

 

 Note: - *Forward Plan previously circulated and attached to the minutes

158.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION - EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC (01.52.38)

During discussion of the following item(s) it may be necessary to pass the following resolution to exclude the press and public having reflected on Article 12 12.02(d) (a presumption in favour of openness) of the Constitution. This decision may be required because consideration of this matter in public may disclose information falling within one of the descriptions of exempt information in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The Cabinet will need to decide whether, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption, outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. 

 

To consider passing the following resolution so that financial information may be discussed.

 

Recommended that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the next item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, namely information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Minutes:

Prior to considering the following item on the agenda, discussion took place as to whether it was necessary to pass the following resolution to exclude the press and public having reflected on Article 15 15.02(d) (a presumption in favour of openness) of the Constitution. The Committee decided that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

 

It was therefore:

 

RESOLVED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the next item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, namely information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

 

(Proposed by the Chairman)

159.

3 RIVERS DEVELOPMENT LTD BUSINESS PLAN

To consider a report of the Director of Finance, Assets & Resources presented to the Cabinet on 7th March 2019 and the 3 Rivers Development Limited Acting Managing Director requesting approval of the draft 5 year (21 February 2019) business plan for 3 Rivers Developments Limited.

Minutes:

The Committee had before it and discussed a *report of the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) presented to the Cabinet on 7th March 2019 and the 3 Rivers Development Limited Acting Managing Director requesting approval of the draft 5 year (21 February 2019) business plan for 3 Rivers Developments Limited.

 

Following the discussion the meeting returned into open session.

 

Note: *Report previously circulated

160.

IDENTIFICATION OF ITEMS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS (01.53.39)

Members are asked to note that the following items are already identified in the work programme for future meetings.

 

Cabinet member for Working Environment and Support Services

 

Broadband Provision – Representative from DCC

 

Chairman’s Draft Annual Report

 

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

Minutes:

There were no items identified