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To consider the options for the town centre
CCTV
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 06/07/2021 - Cabinet
Decision published: 09/07/2021
Effective from: 14/07/2021
Decision:
The Cabinet had before it a *report of the Corporate Manager for Property, Leisure and Climate Change providing Members with the options on completing essential maintenance on the Tiverton Town Centre CCTV system.
The Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing outlined the contents of the report stating that the reason for the report was to consider funding and options to upgrade the CCTV system in Tiverton. All the legal implications had been considered. The PSS CCTV was a discretionary service to which the Council had a limited budget to maintain the system. The monitoring of the CCTV system was on a voluntary basis and that the Council paid the volunteer for 7 hours per week. There was a need to upgrade the system to protect against cyber security issues.
Consideration was given to:
· The value of the CCTV system and how it was appreciated by local residents
· The grants from the OPCC and Tiverton Town Centre Partnership would be well received
· Crediton and Cullompton had been offered the opportunity to apply for funding from the OPCC – Cullompton Town Council had not responded to the approach
· The need to approach Tiverton Town Council for a further financial contribution and that this be included in the resolution.
RESOLVED that
1) Delegated authority be given to the Cabinet Member for Community and Wellbeing and the Deputy Chief Executive (151), in consultation with Property Services to seek the remainder of external funding required for the delivery of Option 2 as a minimum, but to aim to achieve Option 3 and complete the works within the current calendar year.
2) The grant of £25k from the OPCC be accepted, subject to the terms and conditions on Annex C.
3) The fund of £3,161 from the OPCC be accepted, subject to the terms and conditions on Annex D and as detailed in section 11.
4) £5k from the Tiverton Town Centre Partnership be accepted, as detailed on paragraph 9.1.
5) The Council approach Tiverton Town Council for a further financial contribution and hold discussions with regard to the future ownership of the system.
(Proposed by Cllr D J Knowles and seconded by Cllr C R Slade)
Reason for decision – There is a need to consider the offer of funding for this project.
Notes:
i) Cllr C R Slade decalred a personal interest as a member of Tiverton Town Council and as the Devon County Council representative on the Town Centre Partnership;
ii) Cllr D J Knowles delcared a personal interest as a member of Tiverton Town Council;
iii) Cllr Mrs C P Daw declared a personal interest as a member of Tiverton Town Council and as a member of the Town Centre Partnership;
iv) *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.
Lead officer: Andrew Busby
To receive the outturn for the financial year
2020/21
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 06/07/2021 - Cabinet
Decision published: 09/07/2021
Effective from: 14/07/2021
Decision:
The Cabinet had before it a * report of the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) presenting the Revenue and Capital Outturn figures for the financial year 2020/21.
The Cabinet Member for Finance outlined the contents of the report stating that the financial year 2020/21 had been a huge challenge due to the impact of the pandemic, however the final overspend had been £65k. He highlighted the work of the Revenues and Benefits Team who had worked hard to maintain the income stream and continued to pay grant funding to local businesses and the community. With regard to the Capital Programme, he outlined the monies that would be carried forward into the current year due to the inability to progress projects during the pandemic. The outturn provided a statement of facts and the external auditors would consider this with regard to value for money.
Consideration was given to:
· The overspend of £65k was an achievement in the current circumstances
· The budget gap in the current financial year and that the membership of the Council had been promised a strategic discussion with the Cabinet with regard to closing that gap – the Cabinet Member for Finance reminded the meeting that the outturn was for the financial year 20/21 a balanced budget had been set for 2021/22 and options were being considered, member involvement would come when options were available.
· With regard to the loans to 3 Rivers Development Limited, how much of this was for projects and operational costs and what monies had been repaid – the Leader stated that a written response would be provided.
· The reports that were being considered by the External Auditor.
RESOLVED that:
1. The General Fund Outturn achieved in 2020/21 which shows an overall overspend of £65k be noted. This deficit is proposed to be taken from General Fund reserve which will still leave the balance at £2,186k; above the minimum recommended level of £2,000k.
2. The Net Transfers to Earmarked Reserves of £6,559k detailed in the General Fund Service Budget Variance Reports shown in Appendix 1 and summarised in Appendix 3 be approved. Note, this includes £3,411k of Section 31 Grant to smooth the Collection Fund deficits over the next three years, as defined by the Government as separately identified on Appendix 1.
3. The positive position achieved on the Housing Revenue Account which shows a saving of £94k be noted and the transfer to HRA Earmarked Reserves of the extra £94k shown in paragraph 5.2, as well as the utilisation of reserves totalling £404k identified in Appendices 2 and 3 be approved.
4. The carry forward of £26,041k from the 2020/21 Capital Programme (see paragraph 7.3) be approved as all of the schemes will be delivered in 2021/22 or later years. Also the transfer to Earmarked Reserves of the unspent £734k identified in Appendix 4 be approved.
(Proposed by Cllr B A Moore and seconded by Cllr C R Slade)
Reason for decision – The Outturn report indicates how the Council’s resources have been used to support the delivery of budgetary decisions.
Note: *Report previously circulated copy attached to minutes.
Lead officer: Andrew Jarrett
To agree the outcome of the tender
process
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 06/07/2021 - Cabinet
Decision published: 09/07/2021
Effective from: 14/07/2021
Decision:
The Cabinet had before it a report of the Corporate Manager for Property, Leisure and Climate Change seeking approval to deliver a grant-aided project(s) to reduce the carbon emissions of our leisure facilities.
The Cabinet Member for the Environment and Climate Change outlined the contents of the report stating that the receipt of the grant funding was excellent news which would allow decarbonisation works to take place at the three leisure facilities. He outlined the timescales for the project and the tender process that had taken place which had been based on quality rather than on price. The project would support the work taking place with regard to climate change.
RESOLVED that:
(1) That the Cabinet accepts the grant from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and agrees to implement the works to reduce the Council’s carbon emissions.
(2) That the Cabinet agrees to approve and award the contract for the supply and installation of low energy efficient LED lighting to Contractor 1.
(3) That the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) and the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Property Services are given delegated authority to take all necessary actions to deliver the Salix funded projects as detailed in para 1.3, for any contract variations and approval of any necessary significant design changes.
(Proposed by Cllr C R Slade and seconded by Cllr B A Moore)
Reason for the decision – there is a need to deliver the three grant aided projects to reduce the carbon emissions of our facilities.
Note: *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.
Lead officer: Andrew Busby
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 06/07/2021 - Cabinet
Decision published: 09/07/2021
Effective from: 14/07/2021
Decision:
The Cabinet had before it a * report of the Operations Manager for Performance, Governance and Health & Safety providing Members with an update on the performance against the Corporate Plan and local service targets for 2020/21.
The Leader outlined the contents of the report stating that there had been some impact on performance due to the pandemic and he then looked forward to a period of normality in the near future. He highlighted the following:
· Recycling and residual waste – he would like to see an increase in recycling rates.
· The green approach – he referred to the receipt of grant funding for decarbonisation.
· Homes – achievements had been low, but that the authority were working with Community Land Trusts and other agencies to improve the number of new homes and social rented housing in the current year.
· Economy – he highlighted the challenges caused by the pandemic and how the Government had supported people and that there was a need for the authority to provide assistance for regeneration and community and economic confidence in Mid Devon, outlining the South West Mutual Bank as an example.
· Digital connectivity – there were major issues in Mid Devon that needed to be addressed
· Corporate – the council industrial units were fully occupied
· The work of the Revenues and Benefits Team
· The work taking place with the Devon and Somerset Metro Bid
Consideration was given to:
· Digital connectivity and the need for achievements to be made in this area
· The work taking place installing fibre optic in the area
· Statistical errors with regard to the number of houses converted and those ‘Right to Buy’ properties brought back.
· The need to look forward to the regeneration of the town centres, there were an abundance of plans in place with some grant funding, however there was a need for additional funding (via the Capital Programme) for match funding and partnership working.
· The need for a strategy for town centre regeneration and renewal.
RESOLVED that:
a) The report be NOTED
b) The 4 year KPI targets against the Corporate Plan be approved.
(Proposed by Cllr R J Chesterton and seconded by Cllr C R Slade)
Reason for the decision – there is a need to monitor performance against the Corporate Plan.
Note: *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 01/07/2021 - Council
Decision published: 05/07/2021
Effective from: 01/07/2021
Decision:
The Leader presented the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 8 June 2021.
1. Joint Strategy for Strategic Planning (Minute 21)
The Leader MOVED, seconded by Councillor R J Chesterton:
THAT the recommendations of the Cabinet as set out in Minute 21 be ADOPTED
Following discussion and upon a vote being taken the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
Reason for the Decision – There is a need for neighbouring authorities to work together on strategic planning matters as established by the 2011 Localism Act and the NPPF as part of the duty to cooperate with other local authorities to seek to address strategic planning matters.
2. Cullompton Neighbourhood Plan Adoption (Minute 22)
The Leader MOVED, seconded by Councillor R J Chesterton:
THAT the recommendations of the Cabinet as set out in Minute 22 be ADOPTED
Upon a vote being taken the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
Reason for the Decision – The Cullompton Neighbourhood plans requires adoption by Council following the positive result of the referendum.
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 01/07/2021 - Council
Decision published: 05/07/2021
Effective from: 01/07/2021
Decision:
The Council had before it a * report of the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) seeking approval from council to facilitate the expenditure of grant monies that have been secured as part of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. The report sought approval to increase planned budget expenditure by the amount secured in grant funds.
Councillor B A Moore MOVED, seconded by Councillor C R Slade that:
The changes to the annual budget in 2021/22 be agreed in order to reflect the additional expenditure of £349k now required to implement the PSDS scheme.
Upon a vote being taken, the motion was declared to have been CARRIED.
Note: *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 01/07/2021 - Council
Decision published: 05/07/2021
Effective from: 01/07/2021
Decision:
The Council had before it a *report of the Chief Executive with regard to the interim appointment of an interim Monitoring Officer from 30 June 2021 and a permanent appointment to commence later in 2021.
The Chairman MOVED that:
1 Maria de Leiburne be appointed as an interim Monitoring Officer from 1 July 2021 until the new permanent Monitoring Officer commences employment later in the year; and
2 Karen Trickey be appointed as the Monitoring Officer on a permanent basis from the commencement of her employment in 2021.
Upon a vote being taken, the motion was declared to have been CARRIED.
Note: * Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 01/07/2021 - Council
Decision published: 05/07/2021
Effective from: 01/07/2021
Decision:
(1) MOTION 573 – (COUNCILLORS MISS E WAINWRIGHT and C R SLADE– 11 MAY 2021)
The Council had before it a MOTION submitted for the first time
Motion to Support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill
Preamble
The impacts of climate change are being felt in the UK and around the world. Global temperatures have increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm) and continue to rise. This far exceeds the 350 ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity.
Without more significant and sustained action, the world is set to exceed the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit between 2030 and 2040. The current UK target of net zero by 2050 is therefore not satisfactory. We are not set to meet our future targets and the targets themselves do not properly account for our consumption emissions.
The increase in harm caused by a rise of 2°C rather than 1.5°C is significant. This is described by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C published in October 2018. According to the IPCC, limiting heating to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector and local communities. The costs of failing to address this crisis will far outstrip the investments required to prevent it. Investing now will bring many benefits in the form of good jobs, breathable cities and thriving communities.And in the year that the UK co-hosts COP26, our responsibility to show bold global leadership on climate and nature could not be greater.
Council notes that
1. This council has signed up to the Devon Climate Declaration.
2. There is a Bill before Parliament -- the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (published as the “Climate and Ecology Bill”) -- according to which the Government must develop an emergency strategy that:
a. requires that the UK plays its fair and proper role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with limiting global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures;
b. ensures that all the UK’s consumption emissions are accounted for;
c. includes emissions from aviation and shipping;
d. protects and restores biodiverse habitats along overseas supply chains;
e. restores and regenerates the UK’s depleted soils, wildlife habitats and species populations to healthy and robust states, maximising their capacity to absorb CO2 and their resistance to climate heating;
f. sets up an independent Citizens’ Assembly, representative of the UK’s population, to engage with Parliament and Government and help develop the emergency strategy.
This Council therefore resolves to:
1. Support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill
2. Inform the local media of this decision;
3. Write to local MPs, asking them to support or thanking them for supporting the Bill; and
4. Write to the CEE Bill Alliance, the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, expressing its support.
The MOTION was MOVED by Councillor Miss J Norton and seconded by Councillor C R Slade and they both requested that the motion be discussed at this meeting – this was supported.
Consideration was given to:
· The timing of Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill through Parliament and the need to encourage MP’s to support the Bill at the second reading
· The contents of the Bill which related to the Devon Climate Plan and provided tools and levers to act further locally
· The fact that contents of the Bill had already been supported by neighbouring local authorities
Upon a vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
(2) MOTION 574 – (COUNCILLOR B A MOORE – 8 JUNE 2021)
The Council had before it a MOTION submitted for the first time
That this Council resolves to ask the Standards Committee to convene a working group to review the procedural rules relating to Scrutiny, Audit and the Policy Development Groups (Part 4 Section 5 of the Constitution). The purpose of the review is to make recommendations on those procedural rules, with particular regard to ensuring that items included on meeting agendas, notably at short notice, including duplication, are democratically determined by Members of that committee.
In accordance with Procedure Rule 14.4, the Chairman of the Council has decided that this Motion (if moved and seconded) be dealt with at this meeting.
The MOTION was NOT MOVED.