To receive and consider the reports, minutes and recommendations of the recent meetings as follows:
Minutes:
The Leader presented the reports of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 12 November 2024.
1. The Grand Western Canal Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan ( Minute 85)
The Leader outlined the following:
· He was generally pleased on the public participation from start to the position now, from the Grand Western Canal Joint Advisory Committee, those that attended the consultation events. The residents who had attended the public Council meetings and those who signed the petition.
· To be clear not one Member present in the room including himself want to see the end of the Canal, he valued the Canal and the Council was not here to close the canal.
· Members it had been decades since a review of the conservation area within Mid Devon had taken place. This action to review was not to allow building on the canal but to further protect it.
· Outdated conservation area may not be considered as robust and may face challenges from developers or the Courts. This conservation area was now more robust and only serves to further protect this vital asset of Mid Devon.
· Much discussion had taken place in regard to snake’s wood but there were still protection for this woodland area however does not fall under the conservation area.
· The Leader does not want to see any houses built on snake’s wood and for it to remain the same.
Consideration was given to:
· The consultation had elicited an outcry which was not represented by the petition about the removal of Snakes wood.
· The purpose of the removal of snake’s wood, the results of the public consultation had not been taken into account.
· The value of the canal and the concerns of the loss of protection to the canal environment.
· What would be the protection for Snakes wood if it lost its conservation area and how long would this take to implement?
· Regret that members and members of the public had not taken the statement of snake’s wood was well protected but if it was included in the boundary it would weaken the legislative aspect of defining conservation areas.
· Council were required to review conservation area across, in over 30 years it had been ignored till now.
· Changes were made under the National policy Framework that had changed the interruption of the conservation area.
· ‘Conservation’ could be interrupted as Trees and environment maybe renaming ‘Conservation’ to ‘Heritage’ areas to save any confusion in the future.
· The Council needs to strengthen the Canal and had put the Council in a stronger position to protect the canal.
· If it was called the ‘Grand Western Heritage area’ this would have included snakes woods and building. Heritage spaces always include green areas and building where as conservation do not.
· Any of the area a designated of a special scientific interest that would affect planning in the future.
The Leader MOVED seconded by Cllr S Keable:
That the recommendations of the Cabinet as set out in minute 85 be APPROVED.
Upon a vote being taken the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
Those AGAINST from voting Councillors: M Binks, Les Cruwys, A Cuddy, M Jenkins, H Tuffin and G Westcott.
Those ABSTAINING from voting Councillors: N Bradshaw, S Chenore, Beckett Fish and N Letch.
2. 2024/25 Quarter 2 Treasury Management Report ( Minute 87)
The Leader MOVED seconded by Cllr J Buczkowski:
That the recommendations of the Cabinet as set out in minute 87 be APPROVED.
Upon a vote being taken the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
3. Tax Base Calculations ( Minute 88)
The Leader MOVED seconded by Cllr J Buczkowski:
That the recommendations of the Cabinet as set out in minute 88 be APPROVED.
Upon a vote being taken the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
10 December 2024
The Clerk advised Members of the Council that the Cabinet minutes of the meeting on the 10 December 2024 were not available at publication and would be presented to the next meeting of Council.