Agenda and minutes

Venue: Guildhall, High Street, Exeter

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

Items
No. Item

33.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 160 KB

To sign the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 19 April 2016 and the Annual Meeting held on 17 May 2016.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 19 April 2016 and the Annual Meeting held on 17 May 2016 were moved by the Leader and seconded by Councillor Sutton, taken as read and signed as correct.

 

34.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Baldwin, Branston, Foggin, Owen and Prowse.

 

35.

Official Communications

Minutes:

The Lord Mayor brought to Members’ attention the success of the Shrouds of the Somme which had taaken place in Northernhay Gardens between 1 and 7 July. It had attracted 60,000 visitors, generated over 100 million hits on social media and raised £40,000 for Exeter Foundation and Soldiers Sailors Air Force Association (SSAFA).

 

36.

Planning Committee - 23 May 2016 pdf icon PDF 175 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Planning Committee of 23 May 2016 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Sutton, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 23 May 2016 be received.

 

37.

Planning Committee - 27 June 2016 pdf icon PDF 129 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Planning Committee of 27 June 2016 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Sutton, and taken as read.

 

In respect of Minute (44) Planning Application No.16/0483/03 – 4 Garden Close, Exeter and in response to a Member, the Chair clarified that revised plans had been submitted for this site which had removed the existing conservatory. This meant that the amenity space for the existing and new dwellings met the requirements as set out in the Residential Design Guide and there were no grounds for refusal. The Chair noted the Member’s concerns regarding the notification of Ward Members of changes to planning applications and stated that this would be addressed.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 27 June 2016 be received.

 

38.

Licensing Committee - 31 May 2016 pdf icon PDF 15 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Licensing Committee of 31 May 2016 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Spackman, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 31 May 2016 be received.

 

39.

People Scrutiny Committee - 2 June 2016 pdf icon PDF 253 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the People Scrutiny Committee of 2 June 2016 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Wardle, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the People Scrutiny Committee held on 2 June 2016 be received.

 

40.

Place Scrutiny Committee - 9 June 2016 pdf icon PDF 128 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Place Scrutiny Committee of 9 June 2016 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Brimble, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Place Scrutiny Committee held on 9 June 2016 be received.

 

41.

Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee - 29 June 2016 pdf icon PDF 97 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee of 29 June 2016 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Sheldon, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee held on 29 June 2016 be received.

 

42.

Audit and Governance Committee - 22 June 2016 pdf icon PDF 174 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee of 22 June 2016 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Vizard, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee held on 22 June 2016 be received.

 

43.

Strata Joint Scrutiny Committee - 7 June 2016 pdf icon PDF 75 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Strata Joint Scrutiny Committee of 7 June 2016 were presented by Councillor Musgrave and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Strata Joint Scrutiny Committee held on 7 June 2016 be received.

 

44.

Strata Joint Executive Committee - 21 June 2016 pdf icon PDF 67 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Strata Joint Executive Committee of 21 June 2016 were presented by Councillor Edwards, and taken as read.

 

In respect of Minute (19) Strata Budget Monitoring Quarter 4; 2015/16, the Portfolio Holder for Supporting Services welcomed the refund of £230,000 which would be shared with the three Authorities. The Leader agreed that this refund showed that the partnership was working well whilst rolling out IT improvements.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Strata Joint Executive Committee held on 21 June 2016 be received and, where appropriate, any recommendations contained therein approved.

 

 

45.

Executive - 14 June 2016 pdf icon PDF 100 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Executive of 14 June 2016 were presented by the Leader, Councillor Edwards, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of Executive held on 14 June 2016 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

 

46.

Executive - 12 July 2016 pdf icon PDF 173 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Executive of 12 July 2016 were presented by the Leader, Councillor Edwards, and taken as read.

 

In respect of Minute (84) Exwick and Flowerpot Playing Fields, the Portfolio Holder for Sport, Health and Wellbeing welcomed the partnership working with the community and major stakeholders such as Exeter College to enhance the sporting assets in the City.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of Executive held on 12 July 2016 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

 

47.

Notice of Motion by Councillor Keen under Standing Order No. 6

Exeter’s City Council members wish to reaffirm our unequivocal condemnation of any form of behaviour that is racist, xenophobic, incites hatred, discriminates against or harms members of our community. We are honoured to represent the residents of such a diverse and tolerant city, and we intend to continue to do our utmost to ensure that it is a welcoming, safe place for all.

 

This Council recognises that our open and welcoming community is a key reason for this city’s prosperity and its significant cultural value in the South West. We also recognise that our city is home to people from many parts of the world, of many faiths and of none, and that we all continue to come out in force standing shoulder to shoulder with every resident – we are immensely proud to see that year on year events such as Exeter Pride and Exeter Respect Festival grow from strength to strength.

 

However, we also recognise that as a council we must not be complacent and continue to make sure acceptance and integration is a key aspect involved in the decisions we undertake. We will continue to ensure that local partnerships and programmes that combat xenophobia and contribute to integration have our full support.

 

We state in the strongest and sincerest terms that if any person is a victim of crime in Exeter they need to report it to our local police force. This not only means that the appropriate actions can be undertaken but more detailed records will enable a more effective response in the future – we will not allow hate crime to gain a foothold in our city.

 

We reassure all people living in Exeter that we will continue to strive every day to welcome, value and protect them. Working together, this city will remain welcoming, safe and inclusive for one and all.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Keen, seconded by Councillor Morse, moved a Notice of Motion in the following terms:-

 

“Exeter’s City Council members wish to reaffirm our unequivocal condemnation of any form of behaviour that is racist, xenophobic, incites hatred, discriminates against or harms members of our community. We are honoured to represent the residents of such a diverse and tolerant city, and we intend to continue to do our utmost to ensure that it is a welcoming, safe place for all.

 

This Council recognises that our open and welcoming community is a key reason for this city’s prosperity and its significant cultural value in the South West. We also recognise that our city is home to people from many parts of the world, of many faiths and of none, and that we all continue to come out in force standing shoulder to shoulder with every resident – we are immensely proud to see that year on year events such as Exeter Pride and Exeter Respect Festival grow from strength to strength.

 

However, we also recognise that as a council we must not be complacent and continue to make sure acceptance and integration is a key aspect involved in the decisions we undertake. We will continue to ensure that local partnerships and programmes that combat xenophobia and contribute to integration have our full support.

 

We state in the strongest and sincerest terms that if any person is a victim of crime in Exeter they need to report it to our local police force. This not only means that the appropriate actions can be undertaken but more detailed records will enable a more effective response in the future – we will not allow hate crime to gain a foothold in our city.

 

We reassure all people living in Exeter that we will continue to strive every day to welcome, value and protect them. Working together, this city will remain welcoming, safe and inclusive for one and all.”

 

In presenting the Notice of Motion, Councillor Keen highlighted that it was important to raise awareness that any form of behaviour that discriminates against or harms individuals as being unacceptable and to assure residents that the City Council condemns any such behaviour.

 

Councillor Morse, in seconding the motion, stated that it was concerning that there had been a rise in hate crime and that the City Council would not tolerate such conduct. It was important that Exeter remained a safe place to live and visit.

 

All Members fully supported this motion.

 

The Notice of Motion was put to the vote and carried unanimously.

 

48.

Notice of Motion by Councillor Baldwin under Standing Order No 6.

The Council calls upon the Government to make fair transitional state pension arrangements for all women born on or after 6th April 1951, who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the State Pension Age (SPA) with lack of appropriate notification. Hundreds of thousands of women had significant pension changes imposed on them by the Pensions Acts of 1995 and 2011 with little or no personal notification of the changes. Some women had only two years notice of a six-year increase to their state pension age. 

 

Many women born in the 1950's are living in hardship. Retirement plans have been shattered with devastating consequences. Many of these women are already out of the labour market, caring for elderly relatives, providing childcare for grandchildren, or suffer discrimination in the workplace so struggle to find employment. Women born in this decade are suffering financially. These women have worked hard, raised families and paid their tax and national insurance with the expectation that they would be financially secure when reaching 60. It is not the pension age itself that is in dispute - it is widely accepted that women and men should retire at the same time. The issue is that the rise in the women's state pension age has been too rapid and has happened without sufficient notice being given to the women affected, leaving women with no time to make alternative arrangements. 

 

The Council calls upon the Government to reconsider transitional arrangements for women born on or after 6th April 1951, so that women do not live in hardship due to pension changes they were not told about until it was too late to make alternative arrangements.” 

 

Minutes:

Councillor Mrs Henson, seconded by Councillor Newby moved a Notice of Motion, proposed by Councillor Baldwin, in the following terms:-

 

“The Council calls upon the Government to make fair transitional state pension arrangements for all women born on or after 6th April 1951, who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the State Pension Age (SPA) with lack of appropriate notification. Hundreds of thousands of women had significant pension changes imposed on them by the Pensions Acts of 1995 and 2011 with little or no personal notification of the changes. Some women had only two years notice of a six-year increase to their state pension age. 

 

Many women born in the 1950's are living in hardship. Retirement plans have been shattered with devastating consequences. Many of these women are already out of the labour market, caring for elderly relatives, providing childcare for grandchildren, or suffer discrimination in the workplace so struggle to find employment. Women born in this decade are suffering financially. These women have worked hard, raised families and paid their tax and national insurance with the expectation that they would be financially secure when reaching 60. It is not the pension age itself that is in dispute - it is widely accepted that women and men should retire at the same time. The issue is that the rise in the women's state pension age has been too rapid and has happened without sufficient notice being given to the women affected, leaving women with no time to make alternative arrangements. 

 

The Council calls upon the Government to reconsider transitional arrangements for women born on or after 6th April 1951, so that women do not live in hardship due to pension changes they were not told about until it was too late to make alternative arrangements.” 

 

In presenting the Notice of Motion, Councillor Mrs Henson highlighted that, already, many woman, born in the 1950’s, were living in hardship, a lot of whom had looked after their children and elderly relatives and they were not being treated as equal. There was a lack of notice and not enough time to plan for these changes as many of the affected women were not notified of the rise in the pension age for nearly 14 years after the law was passed in 1995. For many of these women, there was no other source of income. Councillor Mrs Henson asked Members to support the motion.

 

During discussion the following points were raised:-

·         the changes in the pension affected many women who had given up their career to look after their children and were now caring for their grandchildren and elderly parents

·         this was an inequality that was having a real impact on some women

·         there was a lack of notification of this change; some women having as little as one year’s notice

·         these changed were unfair and disproportionate.

 

The Leader supported this motion and stated that the Council would send this motion to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.