Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Rennes Room, Civic Centre, Paris Street, Exeter

Contact: Sarah Selway, Democratic Services Manager (Committees)  Telephone 01392 265275 or email  sarah.selway@exeter.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

34.

Chair

Minutes:

In the absence of the Leader, the Deputy Leader, Councillor Sutton, took the Chair.

 

35.

Minutes

To sign the minutes of the meetings held on 10 January, 17 January, and 14 February 2017.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meetings held on 10 January, 17 January, and 14 February 2017 were taken as read and signed by the Chair as correct.

 

36.

Declarations of Interest

Councillors are reminded of the need to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests that relate to business on the agenda and which have not already been included in the register of interests, before any discussion takes place on the item. Unless the interest is sensitive, you must also disclose the nature of the interest. In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, you must then leave the room and must not participate in any further discussion of the item.  Councillors requiring clarification should seek the advice of the Monitoring Officer prior to the day of the meeting.

 

 

Minutes:

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest were made.

 

37.

Devolution - Joint Committee pdf icon PDF 216 KB

To consider the report of the Corporate Manager Policy, Communications and Community Engagement.

 

Decision:

Agreed

 

 

That it is recommended to Council to:-

 

(1)          note the content of the ‘Heart of the South West Devolution Update’ report and progress on the preparation of, and consultation on, a HoTSW Productivity Plan;

 

(2)          endorse the Leader’s current approach to devolution and agree in principle to the establishment of a HoTSW Joint Committee;

 

(3)          agree that this in principle decision is subject to the proposed functions of the Joint Committee being limited to:

 

                 i.       Developing, owning and implementing the HotSW Productivity Plan in collaboration with the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

                ii.       Developing and making recommendations to the constituent authorities/partner agencies for actions emerging from the work of the Brexit Opportunities and Resilience Task Group

               iii.       Continuing discussions/negotiations with the Government/relevant agencies to secure delivery of the Government’s strategic infrastructure commitments, eg, strategic road and rail transport improvements

              iv.       Working with the LEP to identify and deliver improvements to the LEP’s democratic accountability and to assist the organisation to comply with the revised (November 2016) LEP Assurance Framework. This includes formally endorsing the LEP’s assurance framework on behalf of the constituent authorities as and when required and before it is formally approved by the LEP’s Administering Authority.

               v.       Ensuring that adequate resources (including staff and funding) are allocated by HotSW partners to support the Joint Committee’s agreed programme of work; and

 

(4)          notes that this in principle agreement does not commit the Council to becoming a member of a HoTSW Joint Committee and that a further report will be submitted to Executive after the County Council elections in May 2017.

 

Reason for Decision:

 

As set out in the report.

 

Minutes:

The report of the Corporate Manager Policy, Communications and Community Engagement updating Members on progress with devolution, including preparation of a Productivity Plan was submitted. The report also sought an in principle agreement to the creation of a Heart of the South West (HotsW) Joint Committee.  

 

Members were advised that this Council had reservations with regards to the proposals for identifying and developing proposals in response to policy opportunities and for rationalising/improving existing public sector governance and this was reflected in the recommendations to Council.

 

In response to a Member’s question, the Chief Executive & Growth Director clarified that the City Council had already agreed its approach to devolution.

 

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

 

(1)          note the content of the ‘Heart of the South West Devolution Update’ report and progress on the preparation of, and consultation on, a HoTSW Productivity Plan;

 

(2)          endorse the Leader’s current approach to devolution and agree in principle to the establishment of a HoTSW Joint Committee;

 

(3)          agree that this in principle decision is subject to the proposed functions of the Joint Committee being limited to:

 

                 i.       Developing, owning and implementing the HotSW Productivity Plan in collaboration with the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

                ii.       Developing and making recommendations to the constituent authorities/partner agencies for actions emerging from the work of the Brexit Opportunities and Resilience Task Group

               iii.       Continuing discussions/negotiations with the Government/relevant agencies to secure delivery of the Government’s strategic infrastructure commitments, eg, strategic road and rail transport improvements

              iv.       Working with the LEP to identify and deliver improvements to the LEP’s democratic accountability and to assist the organisation to comply with the revised (November 2016) LEP Assurance Framework. This includes formally endorsing the LEP’s assurance framework on behalf of the constituent authorities as and when required and before it is formally approved by the LEP’s Administering Authority.

               v.       Ensuring that adequate resources (including staff and funding) are allocated by HotSW partners to support the Joint Committee’s agreed programme of work; and

 

(4)          notes that this in principle agreement does not commit the Council to       becoming a member of a HoTSW Joint Committee and that a further report will be submitted to Executive after the County Council elections in May 2017.

 

38.

Dementia Friendly Council Task and Finish Group Report pdf icon PDF 150 KB

To consider the report of the Task and Finish Group.

 

People Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 2 March 2017 and its comments will be reported.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Agreed

 

 

That:-

(1)        organisations such as the Alzhimer’s Society, memory cafes and Age Concern be encouraged to apply for allotments for use by those with dementia;

(2)        the work of this Task and Finish Group in a press and social media release be outlined, highlighting that the Council can offer appointments later in the day, upon request;

 

(3)        what information sharing there is already between Council departments in respect of vulnerable individuals, such as those with dementia and investigate the process for recording and sharing new information be established;

 

(4)        support for dementia friendly staff training across the Council, encouraging staff to become Dementia Champions be continued;

 

(5)        to look into providing different modules of more in depth training for officers who work directly with members of the public;

 

(6)        dementia training as a compulsory requirement before a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s licence is granted be explored;

 

(7)        dementia friendly engagement is reflected and considered in the social inclusivity dimension of evaluating procurements;

 

(8)        trained front line staff be required to wear dementia friendly badges and a forge-me-not sign to be placed in a prominent place in the Customer Service Centre;

(9)        the viability of providing a second toilet and/or carry out improvements to the existing toilet (including access) in the Customer Service Centre, subject to costings and available resources be investigated;

(10)      clear signposting for the toilet in the Customer Service Centre, subject to costings and available resources be provided;

(11)      a higher level of dementia awareness training for security        staff be provided;

(12)      the potential for dementia friendly red coat tours be investigated;

(13)      information concerning dementia friendly activities is available at the tourist information centre;

 

 

(14)      such organisations as the Devon Wildlife Trust, Active Exeter, Exeter BID and Exeter Cultural Partnership be encouraged to adopt a dementia friendly approach in the provision of activities; and

(15)      whether a similar review of other front line services within the Council should be undertaken at this stage and, if so, to prioritise the order for review: and

(16)      this report be shared with the Exeter Health & Wellbeing Board.

Reason for Decision:

 

As set out in the report.

 

 

Minutes:

The Chair of the Task and Finish Group, Councillor Robson, presented the report of the Task and Finish Group, which had met on four occasions, setting out its findings and recommendations to the People Scrutiny Committee and Executive.

 

The Group had included representatives from Exeter Dementia Action Alliance, the Alzheimer’s Society and the Community Participation Officer from John Lewis. A valuable insight had been provided by members of the Torbay Dementia Leadership Group who had visited the Customer Service Centre to observe the front line service and facilities from the point of view of a person with dementia. The Torbay Dementia Leadership Group would share this report and details of the recommendations with the Local Clinical Commissioning Group, the emerging Dementia Action Alliance in Teignbridge and Newton Abbot and, at a national level, with the Alzheimer’s Society Central Office.

 

Councillor Robson advised that, should an additional budget be required in respect of the recommendations to investigate a second toilet/improvements to the existing toilet including clearer signage in the Customer Service Centre, then a further report would be brought back to Members.

 

Members welcomed the work of the Task and Finish Group and supported dementia friendly staff training being rolled out to all customer facing staff including housing and cleansing. They noted that the measures being put in place would assist others with disabilities and asked that this report be taken to the Exeter Health & Wellbeing Board.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Economy proposed that Exeter BID and Exeter Cultural Partnership should be also encouraged to adopt a dementia friendly approach and they should be added to recommendation 14. This was agreed by Members.

 

People Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 2 March 2017 and its comments were reported.

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

(1)        organisations such as the Alzhimer’s Society, memory cafes and Age Concern be encouraged to apply for allotments for use by those with dementia;

(2)        the work of this Task and Finish Group in a press and social media release be outlined, highlighting that the Council can offer appointments later in the day, upon request;

 

(3)        what information sharing there is already between Council departments in respect of vulnerable individuals, such as those with dementia and investigate the process for recording and sharing new information be established;

 

(4)        support for dementia friendly staff training across the Council, encouraging staff to become Dementia Champions be continued;

 

(5)        to look into providing different modules of more in depth training for officers who work directly with members of the public;

 

(6)        dementia training as a compulsory requirement before a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s licence is granted be explored;

 

(7)        dementia friendly engagement is reflected and considered in the social inclusivity dimension of evaluating procurements;

 

(8)        trained front line staff be required to wear dementia friendly badges and a forge-me-not sign to be placed in a prominent place in the Customer Service Centre;

(9)        the viability of providing a second toilet and/or carry out improvements to the existing toilet (including access) in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

39.

Development of a new brand - Visit Exeter pdf icon PDF 204 KB

To consider the report of the Tourism & Sports Manager.

 

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 9 March 2017 and its comments will be reported.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Agreed

 

 

That it is recommended to Council that all projected additional income via Visit Exeter membership sales (estimated £82,500) was ring-fenced for tourism marketing spend.

 

Reason for Decision:

 

As set out in the report.

 

Minutes:

The Economy & Enterprise Manager presented the report on work undertaken to establish a new brand for Exeter - Visit Exeter - to increase the number of people who visit the city for a day visit, overnight leisure break, a business trip and a group visit. The report also provided an update on the development of marketing activity under the newly developed brand Visit Exeter.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Economy welcomed the proposal. This new contemporary brand had been aligned with the Exeter BID brand and the branding would help to raise the profile of the city within the UK and overseas as a modern visitor destination. 

 

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 9 March 2017 and its comments were reported.

 

RECOMMENDED to Council that all projected additional income via Visit Exeter membership sales (estimated £82,500) was ring-fenced for tourism marketing spend.

 

40.

Charter for Sustainable British Steel pdf icon PDF 86 KB

To consider the Charter for Sustainable British Steel.

 

Decision:

Agreed

 

 

that the signing of the Charter be deferred to enable consideration to be given to the implications of signing the Charter on the Council’s procurement policy and procedures.

 

Reason for Decision:

 

As advised at the meeting.

 

Minutes:

The Deputy Leader advised that the Leader had received a letter from North Lincolnshire Council asking for Councils to pledge their support for thesteel industry and its wider supply chain by joining North Lincolnshire Council and a host of public and private sector organisations in becoming a signatory to the Charter for Sustainable British Steel.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Support Services commented that this Council was currently reviewing its procurement policy and practices and therefore, whilst it would be an aspiration to use British Steel the implications on the Council’s procurement process of signing this Charter would need to be considered. He proposed that this item be deferred to enable an appropriate way forward to be considered. This was agreed by Members.

 

RESOLVED that the signing of the Charter be deferred to enable consideration to be given to the implications of signing the Charter on the Council’s procurement policy and procedures.

 

41.

Lord Mayoralty

To nominate the Lord Mayor Elect and the Deputy Lord Mayor Elect for the 2017/18

 Municipal Year.  

Decision:

Agreed

 

 

That it is recommended to Council that Councillor Robson be nominated as Lord Mayor Elect and Councillor Hannan as Deputy Lord Mayor Elect for the 2017/18 Municipal Year.

 

 

Minutes:

Councillor Robson was nominated as Lord Mayor Elect and Councillor Hannan as Deputy Lord Mayor Elect for the 2017/18 Municipal Year.

 

RECOMMENDED to Council that Councillor Robson be nominated as Lord Mayor Elect and Councillor Hannan as Deputy Lord Mayor Elect for the 2017/18 Municipal Year.