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

54.

Minutes

To sign the minutes of the meeting held on 14 March and 11 April 2017.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meetings held on 14 March and 11 April 2017 were taken as read and signed by the Chair as correct.

 

55.

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.

 

56.

A Young People-Friendly City towards a Youth Strategy for Exeter pdf icon PDF 206 KB

To consider the report of the Programme Manager Communities.

 

People Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 1 June 2017 and its comments will be reported.

 

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Agreed

 

 

That it is recommended that Council notes and approves that:-

 

(1)        the Council commits to working together with young people and key agencies to make Exeter a young people-friendly city, where the views and aspirations of young people are heard and responded to, and where young people can access the best possible services wherever they live and whatever the wider economic, social and political context;

 

(2)        the ongoing development of the youth strategy and action planning process to help plan for and address some of the key concerns identified by young people be supported; 

 

(3)        consideration is given to the recommendations that emerge from the action planning process to ensure that council services recognise and value young people’s views and aspirations and, where feasible, embed these in future service planning and delivery; and

 

(4)        Devon County Council be asked to contribute funding towards ongoing work to address young people’s unmet in the city.  

 

Reason for Decision:

 

As set out in the report.

 

 

Minutes:

The Programme Manager Communities presented the report on an update on the Exeter Youth Strategy, which was initiated by Exeter Board, and information about the follow up action phase.

 

Following the closure of three out of four youth centres in Exeter work towards progressing a Youth Strategy for Exeter was being developed in partnership with Devon County Council and Exeter Community Forum using the feedback from a consultation exercise with young people from across the city.

 

The Exeter Board had contributed £5,000 and Devon County Council Youth Service made £2,500 available to support the development of the strategy although there was no further funding available at this stage and the optimisation and use of existing resources, alongside commitment from partners was key to the success of this initiative.

 

The main priorities identified by young people through the consultation process were:-

 

·                     protection from bullying and violence;

·                     a voice for young people in the City;

·                     things to do, places to go;

·                     support young people’s mental health;

·                     an environment with young people in mind; and

·                     a young people-friendly economy.

 

The next stage would be workshops with young people and partner agencies to develop action plans to address the main priorities identified.

 

The Portfolio Holder for City Development commented that the work towards the Strategy was a positive way forward although there was still a long way to go to meet the aspirations of the young people of the city.

 

Members welcomed and supported this work to improve young people’s lives and prospects in the city.

 

The Leader stated that Devon County Council, being the responsible authority should be approached for funding towards this work, this was supported by Members.

 

People Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 1 June 2017 and its comments were reported.

 

RECOMMENDED to Council that:-

 

(1)        the Council commits to working together with young people and key agencies to make Exeter a young people-friendly city, where the views and aspirations of young people are heard and responded to, and where young people can access the best possible services wherever they live and whatever the wider economic, social and political context;

 

(2)        the ongoing development of the youth strategy and action planning process to help plan for and address some of the key concerns identified by young people be supported;

 

(3)        consideration is given to the recommendations that emerge from the action planning process to ensure that council services recognise and value young people’s views and aspirations and, where feasible, embed these in future service planning and delivery; and

 

(4)        Devon County Council be asked to contribute funding towards ongoing work to address young people’s unmet in the city.  

 

57.

Bridge Replacement and Repair pdf icon PDF 186 KB

To consider the report of the Service Manager Community Safety & Enforcement.

 

Decision:

Agreed

 

 

That it is recommended that Council notes and approves a budget of £160,000 to fabricate and install a replacement of the Kings Arms Bridge.

 

Reason for Decision:

 

As set out in the report.

 

Minutes:

The Service Manager Community Safety & Enforcement presented the report which sought approval of, and funding for, the replacement of the Exeter City Council owned Kings Arms Bridge.

 

Members were advised that the Kings Arms Bridge showed extensive signs of decay and was irreparable. Some width restriction had been imposed to limit the flow of traffic on the bridge and a temporary pedestrian bridge had been deployed to assist crossing at this point. The fabrication of the new bridge was likely to take 10-12 months and the installation five days, in which time the temporary bridge would serve as the only crossing in this location.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Place supported the replacement of this vital bridge and welcomed that disruption would be kept to a minimum.

 

RECOMMENDED that Council approves a budget of £160,000 to fabricate and install a replacement of the Kings Arms Bridge.

 

58.

Committee Membership

Decision:

Noted

 

 

Councillor Keen would replace Councillor Gottschalk on the Audit and Governance Committee.

 

 

Minutes:

The Leader advised that, in accordance with the Constitution, Councillor Keen would replace Councillor Gottschalk on the Audit and Governance Committee.

 

59.

Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 - Exclusion of Press and Public

RESOLVED that, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of item 7 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I, Schedule 12A of the Act. 

 

Decision:

Agreed

 

 

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 item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Act. 

 

Minutes:

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 item on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Act. 

 

60.

Purchase and Conversion for a property for temporary accommodation

To consider the report of the Director.

 

People Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 1 June 2017 and its comments will be reported.

 

Decision:

Agreed

 

 

That:-

 

(1)        the purchase of the property be approved;

 

(2)        subject to any planning permission and building control consent that may be required, the property be converted from self-contained units into a hostel to house homeless families and single people; and

 

(3)        funding from the Affordable Housing Capital Programme, and from the capital receipt from the sale of 22 St David’s Hill be allocated for the purchase and conversion of the property.

 

Reason for Decision:

 

As set out in the report.

 

Minutes:

The Assessment and Accommodation Lead presented the report on the purchase of a property for the conversion into a hostel to house homeless households.

 

Members were advised that the Planning Solicitor confirmed that as there was no material change of use, planning permission would not be required.

 

People Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 1 June 2017 and its comments will be reported.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

(1)        the purchase of the property be approved;

 

(2)        subject to any planning permission and building control consent that may be required, the property be converted from self-contained units into a hostel to house homeless families and single people; and

 

(3)        funding from the Affordable Housing Capital Programme, and from the capital receipt from the sale of 22 St David’s Hill be allocated for the purchase and conversion of the property.