Agenda and minutes

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2019 and the reconvened meeting on 14 February 2019.

The minutes of the meetings held on 12 February 2019 and the reconvened meeting on 14 February 2019 were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as correct.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest were made.

To consider the report of the Chief Finance Officer.

The Chief Executive & Growth Director declared an interest as a Director for Exeter City Futures and left the meeting during consideration of the item.

The Chief Finance Officer presented the City Wide Transformation Programme report, which detailed the authorities continuing secondment arrangement that had been put in place for the Programme Director for Exeter City Futures (“ECF”).  Members were informed that the funding of the role, for the following two years, would be met from the Business Rates pilot fund, whose objectives were to be used to deliver economic benefits to the city.

In supporting the proposal, Members stated that ECF supported joint working with Exeter College, Exeter University, the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and Oxygen House to address congestion within the city and support small companies in delivering this.

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(1)        note what has been achieved to date working in partnership with ECF following the recruitment of the ECF Programme Director - City Transformation, in particular the expansion of the ECF Board to include directors from Devon County Council, Exeter College, the University of Exeter, and the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital; and £200,000 of One Public Estate Funding secured from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, Cabinet Office, and the Local Government Association for the Exeter City Development Fund;

(2)        approve the funding of the ECF Programme Director - City Transformation post for a further period of 2 years; and

(3)        approve the setting aside of the sum of £99,364 for each year from the business rate windfall to pay for the Program Director- City Transformation post for a further two year period commencing from April 2019.

To consider the report for the Director (JY)

The Active & Healthy People Programme Lead presented the report which set out a proposal to restructure the existing leases for the Exeter Eagles BMX Club and Exeter ACES Cycle Speedway Club. The request for a reduced rent for both Exeter Eagles BMX and Exeter Aces Cycle Speedway Club had arisen as a consequence of the Community and Arts Grant review. Members were advised that a long term solution was for the Council to work with the clubs to find alternative sites to which the organisations could relocate with lower value designation.

The Programme Manager - Communities advised of the proposal that the Council offer a non-commercial loan to Alphington Community Association to enable the rebuild of ‘The Shed’ Theatre Building. This would be at no cost to the Council, the association had already raised £97,000 with three pending applications of £57,000, the rebuild of the costs were estimated to be £208,150.

The Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, Communities and Sport welcomed the support for the Exeter Eagles BMX Club and Exeter ACES Cycle Speedway Club and Alphington Community Association which would help them secure their future.

The Leader commented that this showed that the Council would work with organisations to look for solutions to secure their future.  

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(1)       approve a non-commercial annuity loan of £50,000 to the Alphington Community Association as a contributing to the cost of the re build of The Shed at Alphington Village Hall; and

(2)     grant the Director (DB) delegated powers to negotiate the terms of the loan with the Alphington Community Association.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)     the City Surveyor in consultation with the Leader be authorised, to agree to the restructuring of the terms of the existing leases of the Exeter Eagles BMX Club and the Exeter ACES Cycle Speedway Club on the terms set out in this report; and

(2)       a disposal of land by way of lease for less than best consideration on the grounds set out in this report be approved.

To consider the report of the City Solicitor & Head of Human Resources.

The City Solicitor & Head of Human Resources presented the Gender Pay Gap Report, which was a requirement of the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties and Public Authorities) Regulations 2017, for local authorities who employed more than 250 or more employees. Members were informed that this data was at one given point in time, the average rate of pay for females was higher than males across the Council and this went against the national trend which was in favour of men.

RECOMMENDED to Council that:-

(1)          the report be reviewed annually to track the relationship between both female and male earnings; and

(2)          the Gender Pay Gap Report be published on the Exeter City Council website and on the centrally held database on gov.uk.

To nominate the Lord Mayor Elect and the Deputy Lord Mayor Elect for the 2019/20 Municipal Year.

The Leader proposed, and the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Culture seconded, that Councillor Holland be nominated as Lord Mayor Elect for the 2019/20 Municipal Council year, and Councillor Prowse, subject to re-election, be nominated as the Deputy Lord Mayor Elect for the 2019/20 Municipal Year.

RECOMMENDED to Council that Councillor Holland be nominated as Lord Mayor Elect for the 2019/20 Municipal Year and that Councillor Prowse be nominated, subject to re-election,  as the Deputy Lord Mayor Elect for the 2019/20 Municipal Year.