(1) Motion 495 (Councillor D F Pugsley – 4 September 2014)
The following motion had been referred to the Standards Committee for consideration and report:
This Council resolves to amend the Constitution by adding the following sentence at the end of Procedure Rule 16.1:
"If in any year the Leader fails to call a debate, it may be called by notice in writing to the Chief Executive signed by any 5 members of the Council."
In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.6(a) Councillor D F Pugsley has requested that the Motion be altered to read:
“that the Constitution be amended by adding the following sentence at the end of Procedure Rule 16.1:
If the Leader declines or fails to call a debate within nine months in any municipal year, it may be called by notice in writing to the Chief Executive signed by any 10 Members of the Council.
The Standards Committee at its meeting on 12 November 2014 considered this proposal and recommends that the Motion be supported.
(2) Motion 498 (Councillor Mrs N Woollatt – 15 October 2014)
The following motion had been referred to the Cabinet for consideration and report:
That this Council:
1. notes that, during the recent public consultation on the Cullompton North West Urban Extension Masterplan, it did not directly advise all residents in the immediate vicinity of the development area of the consultation.
2. recognises that there is a public expectation from residents that they should be informed directly about consultations relating to major development and master planning exercises in their immediate vicinity.
3. resolves to amend the adopted Statement of Community Involvement to ensure that in future communications advising of consultation exercises are targeted at all residents in the immediate vicinity who are likely to be affected when the council consults on major developments and master planning exercises.
In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.6(a) Councillor Mrs N Woollatt has requested that paragraph 3 of the Motion be altered to read:
3. resolves that in the case of site specific Supplementary Planning Documents and pre-application consultation on strategic scale developments to amend the adopted Statement of Community Involvement policies SCI/13, 14 and 15 to ensure that in future communications advising of consultation exercises include immediately adjoining residents who are likely to be affected.
The Cabinet had considered the proposal at its meeting on 27 November 2014 and recommended that it be rejected but further resolved that:
a) a review of the Statement of Community Involvement take place after the completion of the Local Plan Review; and
b) consultation take place with adjoining residents on the next consultation stage for the Cullompton NW Urban Extension Master Plan and for the Tiverton Eastern Urban Extension Master Plan for Area B.
(3) Motion 505 (Councillors: Mrs J Roach, Mrs N Woollatt, K D Wilson, D F Pugsley, T W Snow, N Way and R Wright – 19 November 2014)
The Council had before it a MOTION submitted for the first time:
There is no doubt that the Campaign for Democracy will achieve more than the required number of signatures to trigger a referendum on this council’s system of governance, it is just a matter of time.
Therefore this Council resolves to hold a referendum, on whether the council should be run in a different way by one or more committees made up of elected councillors*, at the same time as the elections in May 2015 in order to save the council tax payer what would otherwise be the additional cost of a stand-alone poll (estimated by the Chief Executive to cost £90k more than a poll held at the same time as another.)
* NB Wording for referendum is as required by the Localism Act 2011
In accordance with Procedure Rule 13.4 the Chairman of the Council has decided to allow this Motion (if Moved and Seconded) to be dealt with at this meeting.
(4) Motion 508 (Councillor M D Binks – 8 December 2014)
The Council had before it a MOTION submitted for the first time:
"Mid Devon District Council supports proposals for a secondary railway link from Exeter to Plymouth via Crediton, Okehampton and Tavistock. In addition to providing a much needed increase in resilience to the rail network in the south west peninsular, it will also provide important economic and social benefits to people in mid Devon, north Devon, west Devon, Torridge and north Cornwall, bringing the rail network much closer to communities across these areas. Much of the route is already in place and this Council urges HM Government, Network Rail and other authorities to commit to this route and take prompt action to bring about its early implementation"
In accordance with Procedure Rule 13.4 the Chairman of the Council has decided to allow this Motion (if Moved and Seconded) to be dealt with at this meeting.
Minutes:
Notices of Motion
(1) Motion 495 (Councillor D F Pugsley – 4 September 2014)
The following motion had been referred to the Standards Committee for consideration and report:
This Council resolves to amend the Constitution by adding the following sentence at the end of Procedure Rule 16.1:
"If in any year the Leader fails to call a debate, it may be called by notice in writing to the Chief Executive signed by any 5 members of the Council."
In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.6(a) Councillor D F Pugsley requested that the Motion be altered to read:
“that the Constitution be amended by adding the following sentence at the end of Procedure Rule 16.1:
If the Leader declines or fails to call a debate within nine months in any municipal year, it may be called by notice in writing to the Chief Executive signed by any 10 Members of the Council.
The Standards Committee at its meeting on 12 November 2014 considered this proposal and recommended that it be supported.
Following discussion, it was AGREED that the Motion be referred back to the Standards Committee as Members requested further clarification with regard to who requests the subject of the debate.
(2) Motion 498 (Councillor Mrs N Woollatt – 15 October 2014)
The following motion had been referred to the Cabinet for consideration and report:
That this Council:
1. notes that, during the recent public consultation on the Cullompton North West Urban Extension Masterplan, it did not directly advise all residents in the immediate vicinity of the development area of the consultation.
2. recognises that there is a public expectation from residents that they should be informed directly about consultations relating to major development and master planning exercises in their immediate vicinity.
3. resolves to amend the adopted Statement of Community Involvement to ensure that in future communications advising of consultation exercises are targeted at all residents in the immediate vicinity who are likely to be affected when the council consults on major developments and master planning exercises.
In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.6(a) Councillor Mrs N Woollatt has requested that paragraph 3 of the Motion be altered to read:
3. resolves that in the case of site specific Supplementary Planning Documents and pre-application consultation on strategic scale developments to amend the adopted Statement of Community Involvement policies SCI/13, 14 and 15 to ensure that in future communications advising of consultationexercises include immediately adjoining residents who are likely to be affected.
The Cabinet had considered the proposal at its meeting on 27 November 2014 and recommended that it be rejected but further resolved that:
a) a review of the Statement of Community Involvement take place after the completion of the Local Plan Review; and
b) consultation take place with adjoining residents on the next consultation stage for the Cullompton NW Urban Extension Master Plan and for the Tiverton Eastern Urban Extension Master Plan for Area B.
Following discussion and upon a vote being taken, the resolution of the Cabinet was CARRIED and Motion 498 was not moved.
(3) Motion 505 (Councillors: Mrs J Roach, Mrs N Woollatt, K D Wilson, D F Pugsley, T W Snow, N Way and R Wright – 19 November 2014)
The Council had before it a MOTION submitted for the first time:
There is no doubt that the Campaign for Democracy will achieve more than the required number of signatures to trigger a referendum on this council’s system of governance, it is just a matter of time.
Therefore this Council resolves to hold a referendum, on whether the council should be run in a different way by one or more committees made up of elected councillors*, at the same time as the elections in May 2015 in order to save the council tax payer what would otherwise be the additional cost of a stand-alone poll (estimated by the Chief Executive to cost £90k more than a poll held at the same time as another.)
* NB Wording for referendum is as required by the Localism Act 2011
The MOTION was MOVED by Councillor Mrs N Woollatt and seconded by Councillor Mrs J Roach. In accordance with Procedure Rule 13.4 the Chairman of the Council ruled that the MOTION should be debated at the meeting.
Following debate, Councillor Mrs L J Holloway MOVED in accordance with Procedure Rule 18.4:
“THAT the vote in respect of this MOTION shall be by Roll Call”
There being more than ten Members in favour of the PROCEDURAL MOTION that was AGREED by the Council.
A Roll Call of Members present at the meeting was then taken.
Those voting FOR the MOTION, Councillors; J M Downes, Mrs L J Holloway, D J Knowles, E G Luxton, D F Pugsley, Mrs J Roach, T W Snow, Mrs M E Turner, N A Way, P F Williams, K D Wilson, Mrs N Woollatt and R Wright.
Those voting AGAINST the MOTION, Councillors: Mrs H Bainbridge, M D Binks, E J Berry, Mrs D L Brandon, R J Chesterton, Mrs F J Colthorpe, D R Coren, N V Davey, W J Daw, R M Deed, C J Eginton, R Evans, A V G Griffiths, Mrs S Griggs, P H D Hare-Scott, P J Heal, T G Hughes, Mrs B M Hull, M A Lucas, R F Radford, Mrs J R Rendle, F J Rosamond, C R Slade, J D Squire, Mrs M R Squires and R L Stanley.
The MOTION was declared to have FAILED.
Note: Cllrs Mrs J Roach and Mrs N Woollatt declared personal interests in this matter as they were campaign organisers and signatories.
(4) Motion 508 (Councillor M D Binks – 8 December 2014)
The Council had before it a MOTION submitted for the first time:
"Mid Devon District Council supports proposals for a secondary railway link from Exeter to Plymouth via Crediton, Okehampton and Tavistock. In addition to providing a much needed increase in resilience to the rail network in the south west peninsular, it will also provide important economic and social benefits to people in mid Devon, north Devon, west Devon, Torridge and north Cornwall, bringing the rail network much closer to communities across these areas. Much of the route is already in place and this Council urges HM Government, Network Rail and other authorities to commit to this route and take prompt action to bring about its early implementation".
The MOTION was MOVED by Councillor M D Binks and seconded by Councillor P J Heal. In accordance with Procedure Rule 13.4 the Chairman of the Council ruled that the MOTION should be debated at the meeting.
Following debate, and upon a vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
Note: Cllr T W Snow requested that his abstention from voting be recorded.