Cabinet Members will answer questions from Members on their Portfolios.
Minutes:
1. Councillor L Taylor addressing the Cabinet Member for Community Well-Being stated that his daughter was a member of the swimming club at Exe Valley Leisure Centre and that following the refurbishment of the centre a new policy had been put in place with regard to footwear within the wet side area of the centre. Users were requested to either go barefoot or wear shoe covers. It was noted that the centre had 15,000 users and that was without parents, that was a lot of shoe covers per year. The bin seemed to be overflowing and the dispensers empty. He had been informed that the used covers were binned and not recycled, what plans were there for a better solution?
The Cabinet Member stated that the same policy was in place at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre. The policy had been put in place to keep the floors clean and that this had proved very successful. Recycling of the used items had been considered but had been found to be contaminated, however, we were trying to reduce the number of shoe covers being used by encouraging users to go bare foot or to purchase flip flops available in the centre. There had been an increase in the number of users wearing their own indoor footwear and an advertising programme was being put in place with a view to reducing the amount of shoe covers used by 30% by September. He would address the issue with regard to the bins.
2. Councillor R M Deed addressing the Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration and referring to the development on the Eastern Urban Extension in Tiverton stated that there had been increased press interest in the development and that continued plans to develop the area was putting an enormous strain on local residents. He outlined the history of the site and his original concerns at the masterplanning stage. The original proposals were for 35% affordable houses on the site, how many housing units had been approved, how many affordable homes and how many market homes had been completed?
The Cabinet Member stated that 330 dwellings had been approved on the Waddeton Park site which included 70 affordable homes. The Chettiscombe application required discussions which were ongoing with regard to the S106 agreement. He would find out the number of affordable homes proposed on the site and inform the Member. No houses had been completed on the site.
Councillor Deed stated that 70 out of 330 dwellings was not 35%.
The Cabinet Member advised that the policy set out that 35% of affordable housing should be considered, the average on most applications was between 23% and 24% as viability issues had to be considered.
Councillor Deed referred to the primary school on the site and the fact that Devon County Council had at the time of the masterplan stated that there was adequate room in local schools and therefore a new primary school on the site was not urgent. Was there now a date for the completion of the school and would school numbers equate to the number of houses proposed?
The Cabinet Member stated that the application had yet to be progressed as discussions were taking place with regard to the S106, there was a need to have the planning permission secured on the southern site for the school to be progressed.
Councillor Deed asked further questions with regard to the layout of the site and the number of houses proposed in each area.
Councillor Deed referring to the new junction on the A361 asked about the cost of the junction and the funding streams that had originally been put in place and the current situation. Devon County Council had always defended the need for a junction rather than a roundabout, could a roundabout be considered due to funding restrictions?
The Cabinet Member stated that he had met with Mr Black at Devon County Council who had reiterated that Devon County Council would not support a roundabout in this area.
The current cost of the junction was referred to and the Chief Executive directed the Member to the report considered by the Planning Committee on 29 March.
Councillor Deed questioned the funding for the junction and the decision making process that had taken place. He was informed that funding from the Local Authority had beenapproved by Full Council as part of the budget at the previous meeting.
3. Councillor F J Rosamond asked the Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration about issues with rural broadband and whether any further information was available.
The Cabinet Member stated that broadband in rural areas continued to be a problem and that the Economy Team were looking into potential providers. He felt that a Member Briefing might be required so that further information could be provided.
4. Councillor N V Davey addressing the Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration referred to development on the Eastern Urban Extension and that the funding issues that were apparent would only increase as time went on. He felt that it was likely that the junction would not be completed because of lack of funding. A roundabout would be affordable, with traffic lights in place to control the flow of traffic with little or no impact on the local residents. He hoped that the Cabinet Member shared his concerns and that he would raise them with Devon County Council.
The Cabinet Member stated that he would raise the issue again.
5. Councillor N V Davey addressing the Cabinet Member for Housing referred to the empty units in Market Walk and asked whether some of the empty units could be tidied up to encourage businesses to take them on. He wondered if rent levels could be reduced to encourage take up.
The Cabinet Member stated that he would write to the Member with regard to rent issues. He agreed that the shop front of unit 10 required updating and a planning application was proposed. Unit 17 was being marketed.
6. Councillor T W Snow referring to page 410 of the papers asked the Chief Executive about the contents of the Equality Monitoring Form.
The Chief Executive stated that he would discuss the form with officers.
7. Councillor Mrs J B Binks addressing the Cabinet Member for Housing asked about the empty garages that were available and whether they could be put to better use, maybe even storage units?
The Cabinet Member stated that discussions were taking place with regard to certain blocks which may be demolished as the garages were too small for modern cars and replaced with affordable homes.
8. Councillor Mrs Binks addressing the Cabinet Member for the Environment stated that she had written to the recycling officer with regard to the recycling of stretchy plastic. She would be attending a meeting in Uffculme tomorrow regarding this matter. But was it something the Cabinet Member could look into?
The Cabinet Member stated that changes were taking place within the waste departments, stretchy plastic was not at the present time recycled but would go to the transfer unit to be recycled into energy.
9. Councillor F W Letch addressing the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration stated that he was weary of discussions regarding the Eastern Urban Extension , the Tiverton Pannier Marker and the LILO what about the other towns in the district?
The Cabinet Member stated that he appreciated the Member's concern, he was working with parties with regard to infrastructure in Cullompton but there was more that could be done to the west of the district.
10. Councillor Mrs J Roach addressing the Cabinet Member for the Environment asked what was going to happen to all the brown bins that had been returned?
The Director for Finance, Assets and Resources stated that additional land had been found at Carlu Close to store the brown bins; they were in a good state of repair and would be used as spares for the garden waste scheme.
Councillor Mrs Roach asked whether consideration had been given to using the brown bins for black bag waste and green bins could be provided for garden waste?
The Director felt that this would be an added cost but he would look into it.
11. Councillor B A Moore addressing the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration and referring to the new junction on the A361 asked whether there was a specific business case that justified the doubling in cost of the junction instead of a roundabout?
The Cabinet Member stated that he would ask the question when he met with Devon County Council officers, however maybe the current Devon County Council Members would also take this up with officers.