Minutes:
The Leader presented the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 4 February 2021
(1) Tax Base Calculation (Minute 308)
The Leader MOVED seconded by Councillor B A Moore:
THAT the recommendations of the Cabinet as set out in Minute 308 be ADOPTED (subject to a correction to the number of properties to read 28,594,38).
Upon a vote being taken the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
Reason for the Decision – Mid Devon District Council is a Statutory Billing Authority and must set its Council Tax each year
(2) National Non-Domestic Rates (Minute 309)
The Leader MOVED seconded by Councillor B A Moore:
THAT the recommendations of the Cabinet as set out in Minute 309 be ADOPTED.
Upon a vote being taken the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
Reason for the Decision – This is a statutory function and is a legal requirement. The Council must set its budget annually on the tax base and the NNDR1 projected values.
(3) Budget (Minute 311)
(a) The Leader MOVED seconded by Councillor B A Moore:
THAT the recommendations of the Cabinet as set out in Minute 311 (1, 3, 5, 6 and 7) be ADOPTED.
The Council had before it questions* referring to Minute 311 submitted by Councillor a Wilce in accordance with Procedure Rule 13.2, together with a response the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration.
Councillor Wilce in accordance with Procedure Rule 13.7 asked a supplementary question: he had received a response from the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration but would like a response from the Cabinet Member for Finance. The Cabinet Member for Finance stated that he would provide a written response.
Consideration was given to:
· How the budget had been considered previously by the Policy Development Groups, the Cabinet and the Scrutiny Committee
· Concern with regard to the budget gap in the future and the need for a strategic discussion to take place which involved the taxpayer
· The use of the temporary transfer from the New Homes Bonus earmarked reserve
· Concerns with regard to the cutting of grants
· The use of reserves and the impact of the pandemic on financial matters
The Chairman MOVED in accordance with Procedure Rule 19.7:
“THAT the vote in respect of the MOTION shall be by Roll Call”
A roll call of Members present at the meeting was then taken.
Those voting FOR the MOTION: Councillors: G Barnell, E J Berry, W Burke, J Cairney, R J Chesterton, Mrs C A Collis, Mrs F J Colthorpe, D R Coren, N V Davey, Mrs C P Daw, R M Deed, R J Dolley, J M Downes, C J Eginton, R Evans, Mrs S Griggs, T G Hughes, D J Knowles, F W Letch, B A Moore, D F Pugsley, R F Radford, C Slade, Mrs M E Squires, L D Taylor, Miss E Wainwright, B G J Warren, A Wilce and Mrs N Woollatt.
Those voting AGAINST the MOTION: Councillors: S J Clist and A White.
Those ABSTAINING from voting: Councillors: B Holdman and Miss J Norton.
The MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
(b) The Leader MOVED seconded by Councillor B A Moore:
THAT the recommendations of the Cabinet as set out in Minute 311 (2 and 4) be ADOPTED.
The Chairman MOVED in accordance with Procedure Rule 19.7:
“THAT the vote in respect of the MOTION shall be by Roll Call”
A roll call of Members present at the meeting was then taken.
Those voting FOR the MOTION: Councillors: E J Berry, W Burke, R J Chesterton, Mrs C A Collis, Mrs F J Colthorpe, D R Coren, N V Davey, Mrs C P Daw, R M Deed, R J Dolley, C J Eginton, R Evans, Mrs S Griggs, T G Hughes, D J Knowles, B A Moore, D F Pugsley, R F Radford, C R Slade, Mrs M E Squires, B G J Warren, A Wilce and Mrs N Woollatt.
Those voting AGAINST the MOTION: Councillors: G Barnell, J Cairney, S J Clist, L D Taylor and A White.
Those ABSTAINING from voting: Councillors: J M Downes, B Holdman, F W Letch, Miss J Norton and Miss E Wainwright
The MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
Reason for Decision – There is a need for the Council to set a balanced budget.
Notes:
i) Councillor R L Stanley had declared a disclosable pecuniary interest as he was a remunerated Director of 3 Rivers Development Limited and left the meeting for the debate and the vote thereon.
ii) Councillor T G Hughes left the meeting at the end of this item.
(4) Capital Programme (Minute 312)
The Leader MOVED seconded by Councillor B A Moore:
THAT recommendation (1) of the Cabinet as set out in Minute 312 be ADOPTED.
Consideration was given to:
· The lending amounts within the Capital Programme to 3 Rivers Developments Limited
· Whether the Capital Programme should have addressed issues such as Covid recovery, climate change and the regeneration of the town centres
· Whether the New Homes Bonus should be spend on social rented housing
The Chairman MOVED in accordance with Procedure Rule 19.7:
“THAT the vote in respect of this MOTION shall be by Roll Call”
A roll call of Members present at the meeting was then taken.
Those voting FOR the MOTION: Councillors: E J Berry, R J Chesterton, Mrs C A Collis, Mrs F J Colthorpe, D R Coren, N V Davey, Mrs C P Daw, R M Deed, C J Eginton, R Evans, Mrs S Griggs, D J Knowles, B A Moore, D F Pugsley, R F Radford, C R Slade, Mrs M E Squires and Mrs N Woollatt.
Those voting AGAINST the MOTION: G Barnell, J Cairney, S J Clist, J M Downes, B Holdman, L D Taylor and A White.
Those ABSTAINING from voting: Councillors: W Burke, R J Dolley, F W Letch, Miss J Norton, Miss E Wainwright, B G J Warren and A Wilce.
The MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
The Leader MOVED seconded by Councillor B A Moore:
THAT recommendation (2) of the Cabinet as set out in Minute 312 be ADOPTED.
The Chairman MOVED in accordance with Procedure Rule 19.7:
“THAT the vote in respect of this MOTION shall be by Roll Call”
A roll call of Members present at the meeting was then taken.
Those voting FOR the MOTION: Councillors: E J Berry, R J Chesterton, Mrs C A Collis, Mrs F J Colthorpe, D R Coren, N V Davey, Mrs C P Daw, R M Deed, C J Eginton, R Evans, Mrs S Griggs, D J Knowles, B A Moore, D F Pugsley, R F Radford, C R Slade, Mrs M E Squires and Mrs N Woollatt.
Those voting AGAINST the MOTION: G Barnell, J Cairney, S J Clist, J M Downes, L D Taylor and A White.
Those ABSTAINING from voting: Councillors: W Burke, R J Dolley B Holdman, F W Letch, Miss J Norton, Miss E Wainwright, B G J Warren and A Wilce.
The MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
Reason for Decision – There is a need for the Council to set the Capital Programme.
Note: Councillor R L Stanley had declared a disclosable pecuniary interest as he was a remunerated Director of 3 Rivers Development Limited and remained out of the meeting for the debate and the vote thereon.
(5) Tax Strategy and Policy (Minute 313)
The Leader MOVED, seconded by Councillor B A Moore:
THAT the recommendation of the Cabinet as set out in Minute 313 be ADOPTED.
Upon a vote being taken the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
Reason for Decision – this is a new policy and therefore needs approval of the Council to be added to the Policy Framework.
(6) Policy Framework (Minute 314)
The Leader MOVED, seconded by Councillor R B Evans:
THAT the recommendation of the Cabinet as set out in Minute 314 be ADOPTED.
Upon a vote being taken the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
Reason for Decision – the Constitution states that the Policy Framework must be approved annually by Council.
(7) Pay Policy (Minute 315)
The Leader MOVED, seconded by Councillor Mrs N Woollatt:
THAT the recommendation of the Cabinet as set out in Minute 315 be ADOPTED.
Upon a vote being taken the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
(8) Establishment (Minute 316)
The Leader MOVED, seconded by Councillor C R Slade:
THAT the recommendation of the Cabinet as set out in Minute 316 be ADOPTED.
Upon a vote being taken the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.