Agenda, decisions and minutes

To sign the minutes of the meetings held on 15 September and 6 October 2015.

The minutes of the meetings held on 15 September and 6 October 2015 were taken as read and signed by the Chair as correct.

The minutes of the meetings held on 15 September and 6 October 2015 were taken as read and signed by the Chair as correct.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest were made.

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Public Realm.

Scrutiny Committee – Economy considered the report at its meeting on 12 November 2015 and its comments will be reported.

The report of the Assistant Director Public Realm was submitted to consider two flood alleviation schemes in Topsham. One was for funding towards the cost of flood alleviation and protection measures for up to 120 properties in Ferry Road Topsham, north of St Margaret’s Church, at particular risk from tidal flooding. The second scheme was for funding to underwrite a scheme to provide flood resilience to around 50 further properties at the lower end of Ferry Road and The Strand.  

The Assistant Director Public Realm advised of the concerns raised by Scrutiny Committee – Economy with the proposals for Scheme One in relation to the ‘earth bund’ and that a more permanent structure should be created. The Committee had recommended that this scheme be deferred to allow further investigation work to establish the most appropriate solution.

Councillor Leadbetter supported Scrutiny Committee – Economy’s recommendation and proposed that the recommendations 1 – 3 of the circulated report be deferred to enable further work to be undertaken into the most appropriate and cost effective way forward for Scheme One. Councillor Sutton seconded that motion, which was carried.

Members agreed that the Environment Agency should be invited to Scrutiny Committee – Economy to brief Members on the proposals for scheme one.

Scrutiny Committee – Economy considered the report at its meeting on 12 November 2015 and its comments were reported.

RECOMMENDED that Council approve underwriting up to £15,000 of the cost of Scheme 2: Ferry Road South, described in paragraph 8.4 of the circulated report to enable the works to be commenced during the current financial year.  This amount to be conditional upon suitable guarantees from the Topsham Emergency Group being in place for the repayment of the money.

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Public Realm.

Scrutiny Committee – Economy considered the report at its meeting on 12 November 2015 and its comments will be reported.

The report of the Assistant Director Public Realm was submitted to advise Members of the outcome of the recent Maritime Coastguard Agency audit of the Port of Exeter. The Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC) supported the legislation governing the operation of the Port of Exeter. Compliance was not a statutory requirement, however failure to comply would be taken into consideration should the Council be found responsible for an incident loss, damage or personal injury sustained within the port.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at its meeting on 10 November 2015 and its comments were reported.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)        the outcome of the Audit, be noted; and

(2)        compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code, be supported.

To receive the minutes of the Leisure Complex Programme Board Minutes of 26 October 2015.

The minutes of the meeting of the Leisure Complex Programme Board Minutes held on 26 October were submitted.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Leisure Complex Programme Board Minutes held on 26 October 2015 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Environment.

The report of the Assistant Director Environment was submitted setting out the City Council’s proposed Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy. Local Authorities were required to develop and adopt a Gambling Policy in consultation with the trade and local community and to set out the authority’s general approach to gambling licence applications. It was necessary to review the policy every three years and the City Council was required to review its Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy by 31 January 2016.

Members were advised that the policy reflected areas of deprivation in the city. In response to Members’ questions he clarified that, when determining an application for a gambling premises, the Council would need to have regard to local area profiles which could include being in an area of deprivation.

Members welcomed the revised policy and that reference within the Local Area Profiles would now include areas of deprivation.

RECOMMENDED that Council adopts the revised Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing.

To consider the report of the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at its meeting on 10 November  2015 and its comments will be reported.

The report of the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager was submitted to advise Members of the renewal of the Air Quality Strategy and to recommend that the Strategy is adopted.

The Portfolio Holder for Health and Place stated that Scrutiny Committee – Committee had added an additional condition to ask Executive to consider the significant impact that air pollution had on public health and that greater weight was given to air quality within the planning process.

Members discussed the need to ensure that the planning process took into account the issue of the impact of air pollution.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at its meeting on 10 November 2015 and its comments were reported.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)          further consideration be given to the significant impact of air pollution on public health, and that greater weight is given to the matter of air quality and lower emissions when developing strategic and infrastructure planning policy and when carrying out development control; and

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(2)          adoptsthe Air Quality Strategy 2015-2020.

To consider the report of the Museums Manager & Cultural Lead.

Scrutiny Committee – Economy considered the report at its meeting on 12 November 2015 and its comments will be reported.

The report of the Museums Manager and Cultural Lead was submitted which advised of two new initiatives at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) designed to generate income to support the museum’s ‘core’ costs and service delivery.  These proposals were made in the context of the financial challenges faced by the local authority and the service review this had driven. The first initiative related to the trial of admission charges for some temporary exhibitions.  The second provided Members with information regarding a new donations campaign to encourage increased levels of individual giving.

Members supported this trial and noted that the finding would be brought back to Committee in order to see if a stepped approach to charging for some exhibitions may be developed. 

Scrutiny Committee – Economy considered the report at its meeting on 12 November 2015 and its comments were reported.

RESOLVED that:- 

(1)        introduction of a visitor admission charge in relation to a temporary exhibition at the RAMM with the first ticketed temporary exhibition of the International Garden Photographer of the Year which will take place 23 April – 28 August 2016, be approved; 

(2)        that a follow up report be produced for Members to present the results and findings around charging for International Garden Photographer of the Year.  Based on the findings of this first exercise, a stepped approach to charging for some exhibitions may be developed.  At this stage it was considered likely that charges would be attached to selected and not all temporary exhibitions as detailed in paragraph 8.2 of the circulated report;

(3)        that subject to the outcome of this trial and a further report to the Scrutiny Committee - Economy, delegated authority be given to the Museums Manager and Cultural Lead, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to decide when an admission charge should be applied to any of the temporary exhibitions at RAMM; and

(4)        the approach to be taken for the related donations campaign, which also invites visitor’s financial contribution, be noted.

RESOLVED that, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of items 11 and 12 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Part I, Schedule 12A of the Act. 

RESOLVED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Act. 

To consider the report of the Corporate Manager Property.

The report of the Corporate Manager Property was submitted providing a final business case which examined the outcomes of the service review conducted by the Corporate Property Assets Manager in relation to the Corporate Property Assets unit. Following the group consultation with Unions and affected officers the report set out the final restructure proposals for the unit to ensure the Corporate Property Maintenance Strategy could be delivered in the most effective and efficient method.

Members were updated on the consultation feedback and the outstanding issues.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)        the final business case for the Corporate Property Assets unit restructure as set out in this report be agreed; and

(2)       the Corporate Property Assets Manager be authorised  to proceed to the implementation stage, in accordance with the Council’s Organisational Change Policy.

Members are requested to note the minutes of the Exeter and Heart of Devon Growth Board meeting held on 8 September 2015.

The minutes of the meeting of the Exeter and Heart of Devon Growth Board on 8 September 2015 were submitted.

Scrutiny Committee – Economy considered the minutes at its meeting on 12 November 2015 and its comments were reported.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Exeter and Heart of Devon Growth Board on 8 September 2015, be noted.