Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Baldwin, Denham, Gottschalk, Mitchell and Newby.

To sign the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 19 December 2017 and of the Extraordinary Meetings held on 12 October and 19 December 2017.

The minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 19 December 2017 and the Extraordinary Meetings held on 12 October and 19 December 2017 were moved by the Leader and seconded by Councillor Sutton, taken as read and signed as correct.

The Lord Mayor announced that following a Panel selection from over 500 nominations, 9 of the 100 most influential women in Exeter were either Members or officers of the City Council.  That was an amazing statistic, and showed not only the influence the City Council had on the workings of the city, but also the respect in which those who work for it as either a Councillor or an officer were held.  As a finalist she also passed on her congratulations for achieving this recognition.

The Lord Mayor also congratulated the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, which had recently been successful in picking up Bronze awards from the South West Tourism Awards, in both the Access & Inclusivity, and Large Attraction categories.  This was excellent recognition of the hard work all the staff and volunteers at RAMM put in to make it such a high quality visitor experience. In addition, the Shop at RAMM had also recently been nominated for the retailer of the year in the Exeter Living Awards.  This was alongside the Exeter Corn Exchange who had been nominated in the Arts Category of those awards.  Finally, the City Council’s own Lost Weekend Festival had been nominated in the Event category. All of these awards, or nominations show how committed the City Council was in providing many different things to do and see in the city. 

The Lord Mayor was delighted that the Planning Inspectorate had upheld the Planning Committee’s decision to refuse a planning application on part of the Ludwell Valley Park area.  She thanked all those involved in achieving this excellent result in preserving this important part of green space within the city.  

It was noted that the minutes of the Planning Committee of 12 February 2018 were not yet available for circulation, and would be presented at the next Council on 24 April 2018.

The minutes of the Licensing Committee of 6 February 2018 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Owen, and taken as read.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 6 February 2018 be received.

The minutes of the People Scrutiny Committee of 4 January 2018 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Wardle, and taken as read.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the People Scrutiny Committee held on 4 January 2018 be received.

The minutes of the Place Scrutiny Committee of 11 January 2018 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Sills, and taken as read.

In respect of Minute 4 (Member Question to the Portfolio Holder – Exeter Car Boot Market) and in response to a Member, the Portfolio Holder Economy and Culture stated that the Market would reopen in the second or third week of March.  

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Place Scrutiny Committee held on 11 January 2018 be received.

The minutes of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee of 25 January 2018 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Sheldon, and taken as read.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee held on 25 January 2018 be received.

The minutes of the Strata Joint Executive Committee of 5 January 2018 were presented by Councillor Edwards, and taken as read.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Strata Joint Executive Committee held on 5 January 2018 be received.

The minutes of the Executive of 9 January 2018 were presented by the Leader, Councillor Edwards, and taken as read.

RESOLVED that with the exception of Minute no.5 (2018/19 Council Tax Base and NNDR1), which had been considered at the Extraordinary Council Meeting on 20 February 2018 preceding this meeting, the minutes of Executive held on 9 January 2018 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

The minutes of the Executive of 13 February 2018 were presented by the Leader, Councillor Edwards, and taken as read.

In respect of Minute 13 (Parking Tariffs) and in response to a Member, the Leader sought the advice of the City Solicitor and Head of HR, who confirmed that the progression of the required Parking Places Order to redesignate a number of pay and display parking sites was delegated to the Service Manager Community Safety & Enforcement.  Any objections to that Order would be brought back to Members for consideration. 

In respect of Minute 21 (Additional Budget for First Year Business Planning and Company Formation Activities) and in response to a Member’s comment on the administration’s approach in respect of future housing, the Leader stated that the Council’s policy was to build more housing and the City Council had started to work in partnership to create a development model on an individual basis.

RESOLVED that the minutes of Executive held on 13 February 2018 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

Members had been advised in a communication from the Leader of a number of changes to the size of the Cabinet, a split of responsibilities to the Portfolio Holders and also at Council that Members would be asked to appoint a new Chair of Planning Committee. It was noted that the Executive would be reduced to nine members – and include the Leader and seven other portfolio holders, together with the Leader of the Opposition.  The responsibilities of the Portfolio Holder of City Development (up to now held by Councillor Gottschalk) would be taken on by the Leader.  These changes would remain in place until the Annual Council on 15 May 2018.

The Leader, seconded by Councillor Morse, moved the following change to the membership of Planning Committee.

RESOLVED that the following be agreed:-

Planning Committee

Councillor Sutton to be appointed Chair, in place of Councillor Gottschalk, for the remainder of the current municipal year.