Cabinet Members will answer questions from Members on their Portfolios.
Minutes:
1. Councillor Mrs N Woollatt asked the Leader for assurances that when serious issues (such as the Harlequin Valet) arose that action was taken in a timely manner.
The Leader stated that he shared the frustrations and he would do whatever he could whilst he was Leader.
2. Councillor Mrs L J Holloway stated that in order to provide an efficient as possible organisation our Council needs to use all its resources and talent to the best of its ability, would the Leader consider Members other than from the majority party serving as Members of the Cabinet.
The Leader stated that it would depend on the political composition of the Council, 4 years ago there was no majority and the Cabinet was mixed, that was the will of the electorate.
3. Councillor P F Williams directed a question to the Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration, stating that 2/3 years ago a working group of the Planning Committee was formed to look at how Planning Committees procedures worked in other authorities with a view to considering best practice. A report was put before the Committee and then it went out to public consultation. He would very much like to see a final report on procedure before it was out of date and before the end of the current Council.
The Cabinet Member stated that he would look into the matter and report back to the Member.
4. Councillor F J Rosamond directed a question to the Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration, stating that there seemed a rush towards digital transformation however there were still issues with broadband in rural areas and asked if Members could be updated on the progress of scheme to improve broadband facilities in the rural areas.
The Cabinet Member stated that he was looking to meet with Devon County Council in the near future and he assured that Members would be fully informed of the outcome.
5. Councillor R M Deed directed a question to the Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration, stating that the Secretary of State had changed the approach to the development of agricultural buildings, it seemed that in Mid Devon these developments were given the nod however not all Councils were taking the same approach?
The Cabinet Member stated that the Local Planning Authority was not passing everything, there was criteria to be met and that some cases were being turned down. He suggested that he meet with the Member and officers to discuss this further; other interested Members were also welcome to attend.
6. Councillor Mrs L J Holloway asked the Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration and the Cabinet Member for Environment who were both part of the Members Digital Transformation Working Group of their view on how realistic was the view that the new Council would work with tablets?
The Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration stated that it was realistic to think that a proportion of Members would use tablets. He found that the new Modern.Gov app was working well and he hoped that a high proportion would choose to try it, but had some reservations that it would be used by all Councillors
The Cabinet Member for the Environment stated that he was also successfully using the Modern.Gov app. He felt that there might be an issue with maps highlighting the plans associated with the Local Plan.