Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter

Contact: John Street, Corporate Manager Democratic & Civic Support  Telephone 01392 265106 or email  john.street@exeter.gov.uk

Note: This meeting is open to the public and those addressing the Committee under the public speaking provisions in agenda item 3, but because of current social distancing restrictions brought about by the Corona Virus outbreak, any members of the public wishing to attend the meeting should contact the Democratic Services Team committee.services@exeter.gov.uk in advance, as there is limited capacity for public attendance. Priority will be given to those addressing the Committee under the public speaking provisions.  

Items
No. Item

72.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Atkinson, Buswell, Martin, Pearson, Quance, Vizard, Warwick and Williams.

 

 

73.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 497 KB

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 18 October 2021.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 18 October 2021 were moved by the Leader, Councillor Bialyk and seconded by the Deputy Leader, Councillor Wright taken as read, approved and signed as correct.

 

 

74.

Official Communications

Minutes:

The Lord Mayor passed on her condolences, and those of Council Members, to the family and friends of Alderman Joan Richardson, a former Mayor, Councillor and Alderman of this city who had recently passed away.

 

The Lord Mayor also passed on her condolences, and those of Council Members, to the family, friends and colleagues of Peter Jones who had died unexpectedly. Peter, with his colleague Penny, ran a marketing company called Smith & Jones, working across Exeter with the Council’s key partners, residents and staff as one of the co-founders of Exeter Live Better - positioning the city as The Brilliant Alternative. Peter wanted to put people’s wellbeing and quality of life at the heart of everything and recognised the outstanding qualities the city had to offer. He would often say that ‘Exeter hides its light under a bushel - and then hides the bushel’.

 

The Lord Mayor received a petition from the residents of Albert Street which would be responded to in accordance with the petition scheme.

 

The Lord Mayor also reported the following:-

 

·         the return home of HMS Defender, the City’sAffiliated Ship, which had been at sea for more than seven months. The Lord Mayor had recently spoken to Commander Vince Owen, the Commanding Officer via a zoom call;

·         the appointment of the Right Reverend Robert Atwell to the House of Lords who would now sit on the benches of the Lords Spiritual, amongst 26 other Bishops who sit in Parliament’s Upper House, leading the House in prayer each morning, playing an active role in the life and work of the House. With that honour, he had become the Right Reverend Prelate the Lord Bishop of Exeter;

·         the attendance of the past Lord Mayor, Councillor Peter Holland, at the annual flag raising ceremony in honour of the Polish Squadron 307 who had played a part in defending the city during World War II; and

·         the wreath laying by the Leader on behalf of the city at St. James’ Park.

 

The Lord Mayor advised that she had attended the following:-

 

·         the wreath laying ceremony at the Remembrance Service at the War memorial in Northernhay Gardens on 14 November 2021;

·         the Weavers, Fullers and Shearmen’s annual dinner at Tuckers Hall on 19 November 2021;

·         the biennial Achievement Awards of the Rifles at London’s Guildhall on 24 November 2021;

·         the Freedomship of the City ceremony at the Guildhall in honour of Richard Jacobs on 30 November 2021;

·         the ceremony welcoming former Councillor Olwen Foggin as an Honorary Alderman on 3 December 2021;

·         Exeter’s Hanukkah celebrations in Bedford Square on 5 December 2021; 

·         the city’s Mosque on 10 December 2021;

·         the Winter Graduation ceremony at the University Great Hall on 10 December 2021; and

·         a number of concerts and fairs as well asthe Lord Mayor’s Christmas Charity morning at which £400 had been raised towards funds for Inclusive Exeter, herchosen charity to support project work across the city.

 

The Lord Mayor thanked Councillors for taking lateral flow tests prior  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.

75.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

Councillor Morse declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Minute 76 below regarding Minute No. 57 of those minutes.

 

 

 

76.

Public Questions

Details of questions should be notified to the Corporate Manager Democratic and Civic Support at least three working days prior to the meeting - by 10am on Thursday 9 December 2021. Further information and a copy of the procedure are available from Democratic Services (Committees) (Tel: 01392 265115) with details about speaking at Council to be found here: Public Speaking at Meetings.

 

Minutes:

The Lord Mayor reported that no questions had been received from the public.

 

 

 

77.

Planning Committee - 11 October 2021 pdf icon PDF 440 KB

Minutes:

As the Chair of the Committee had declared an interest in one of the items on the agenda, and in the absence of the Deputy Chair of the Committee from the meeting, the minutes of the Planning Committee of 11 October 2021 were presented by Councillor Sutton, a Member of the Committee, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 11 October 2021 be received.

 

 

78.

Planning Committee - 15 November 2021 pdf icon PDF 528 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Planning Committee of 15 November 2021 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Morse, and taken as read.

 

In respect of Minute No. 64 (Planning Application No. 21/1104/FUL – The Harlequin Centre, Paul Street, Exeter), the Chair, in response to a query from a Member referring to the absence of national guidance on the definition of co-living and suggesting that the Planning Member Working Group could be asked to develop a suitable policy on this issue for the city, advised that it was not the role of the Planning Member Working Group to formulate policy. This issue however was under consideration as part of bringing forward the new Local Plan.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 15 November 2021 be received.

 

 

 

79.

Licensing Committee - 26 October 2021 pdf icon PDF 10 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Licensing Committee of 26 October 2021 were presented by the Deputy Chair, Councillor Branston, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 26 October 2021 be received.

 

 

80.

Strategic Scrutiny Committee - 18 November 2021 pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Strategic Scrutiny Committee of 18 November 2021 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Denning and taken as read.

 

In respect of Minute No. 28 (Questions from Members of the Council Under Standing Order 20), the Portfolio Holder for Transformation and Environment, in response to a query from a Member, confirmed that he would liaise with the Portfolio Holder for City Management with a view to convening the first meeting of the Transport Working Group in the New Year.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Strategic Scrutiny Committee held on 18 November 2021 be received.

 

 

81.

Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee - 7 October 2021 pdf icon PDF 390 KB

Minutes:

In the absence of the Chair of the Committee, the minutes of the Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee of 7 October 2021 were presented by the Deputy Chair, Councillor M. Mitchell and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee held on 7 October 2021 be received.

 

 

82.

Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee - 2 December 2021 pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

In the absence of the Chair of the Committee, the minutes of the Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee of 2 December 2021 were presented by the Deputy Chair, Councillor M. Mitchell and taken as read.

 

In respect of Minute No. 31  (Car Parks and Environmental Considerations), the Portfolio Holder for City Management, in response to a query from a Member, confirmed that a report on work place parking levies would be submitted to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

 

Also in response to a query from a Member, the Portfolio Holder for City Management, referred to the useful and informed discussion at the Committee on the future of the Council’s car park service. The ideas discussed would be considered further, including the importance of setting the right charging structure to combat traffic congestion in the city. He also stated that the City Council would work with the County Council in respect of appropriate pricing regimes for on-street parking.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee held on 2 December 2021 be received.

 

 

83.

Combined Strategic Scrutiny and Customer Focus Scrutiny Committees - 20 October 2021 pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

In the absence of the Chair of the meeting of the combined scrutiny committees, the minutes of the Combined Strategic Scrutiny Committee and Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee of 20 October 2021 were presented by Councillor Denning, the Chair of the Strategic Scrutiny Committee and a Member of the Joint Committee, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Combined Strategic Scrutiny and Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee held on 20 October 2021 be received.

 

 

 

84.

Audit and Governance Committee - 10 November 2021 pdf icon PDF 230 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee of 10 November 2021 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Wardle, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee held on 10 November 2021 be received.

 

 

 

85.

Audit and Governance Committee - 1 December 2021 pdf icon PDF 172 KB

Minutes:

As the Chair of the Committee had not attended the meeting, and in the absence of the Deputy Chair, the minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee of 1 December 2021 were presented by Councillor Hannaford, a Member of the Committee, and taken as read.

 

In respect of Minute No. 74 (Decision to Opt into the National External Audit Tender), Councillor Hannaford moved and Councillor M. Mitchell seconded the recommendation and following a vote, it was carried unanimously.

 

In respect of Minute No. 75 (Extension of the Appointment of the Council’s Two Independent Persons), Councillor Hannaford moved and Councillor M. Mitchell seconded the recommendation and following a vote, it was carried unanimously.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee held on 1 December 2021 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

 

 

 

86.

Exeter Strategic Board - 11 November 2021 pdf icon PDF 136 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Exeter Strategic Board of 11 November 2021 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Bialyk, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Exeter Strategic Board held on 11 November 2021 be received.

 

 

87.

Executive - 2 November 2021 pdf icon PDF 137 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Executive of 2 November 2021 were presented by the Leader, Councillor Bialyk, and taken as read.

 

In respect of Minute No. 106 (Requests for Information), the Leader moved and Councillor Wrightseconded the recommendation and following a vote, the recommendation was carried unanimously.

 

In respect of Minute No. 108 (Draft Statement of Gambling Policy 2021-2023), the Leader moved and Councillor Wrightseconded the recommendation and following a vote, the recommendation was carried unanimously.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Executive held on 2 November 2021 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

 

 

88.

Executive - 30 November 2021 pdf icon PDF 202 KB

Proposed amendment to Min. No. 116 of the Executive minutes of 30 November 2021.

 

From: The Conservative Group

 

Proposed by Andrew Leadbetter

 

Seconded by Anne Jobson; Yolonda Henson; Peter Holland and Keith Sparkes

 

Amendments to recommendation from the Executive to the Full Council on

14th December 2021 with respect to:

 

The proposed changes to the role of the Chief Executive & Growth Director and Strategic Management Board.

 

That Executive recommends and Council approves:

 

(i)            That to ensure transparency and accountability Exeter City Council take over the work of Exeter City Futures CIC with respect to the Net Zero Exeter 2030 Plan and that strategic partners are invited to support and work with the Chief Executive Officer and ECC on the delivery of that plan.

 

(ii)           That recommendation (1) and (2) are therefore deleted

 

(iii)          That recommendation (3) is amended to read:

That the arrangements are reviewed by regular reporting to Scrutiny which shall include an update on each of the 12 key targets.

 

(iv)          That recommendation (4) be deferred until the first review of the arrangements.

 

(v)           That recommendation (5) be deleted

 

(vi)          That a new recommendation (5) is added that reads:

The Net Zero 2030 plan be added to the corporate risk register

 

(vii)        That recommendation (6) stands

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the Executive of 30 November 2021 were presented by the Leader, Councillor Bialyk, and taken as read.

 

In respect of Minute No. 115 (Members’ Allowances 2022/23), the Leader moved and Councillor Wrightseconded the recommendations and following a vote, the recommendations were carried unanimously.

 

In respect of the following Minute, the Chief Executive & Growth Director declared an interest and left the meeting during the consideration of this matter.

 

In respect of Minute No. 116 (Changes to the role of the Chief Executive & Growth Director and the Strategic Management Board), the Leader moved and Councillor Wright seconded the recommendations.

 

Councillor Leadbetter, as leader of an opposition group, moved and Councillor Jobson seconded the following amendments:-

 

“That Executive recommends and Council approves that:-

 

(i)         to ensure transparency and accountability Exeter City Council take over the work of Exeter City Futures CIC (ECF) with respect to the Net Zero Exeter 2030 Plan and that strategic partners are invited to support and work with the Chief Executive Officer and Exeter City Council on the delivery of that Plan;

 

(ii)        recommendation (1) and (2) are therefore deleted;

 

(iii)       recommendation (3) is amended to read That the arrangements are reviewed by regular reporting to Scrutiny which shall include an update on each of the 12 key targets”;

 

(iv)       recommendation (4) be deferred until the first review of the arrangements;

 

(v)        recommendation (5) is deleted;

 

(vi)       a new recommendation (5) is added to read “The Net Zero 2030 Plan be added to the corporate risk register”; and

 

(vii)      recommendation (6) to stand.

 

Councillor Leadbetter, in presenting the amendments, stated that, whilst all stakeholders were signed up to the goal of achieving Net Zero Exeter 2030, this could be better achieved within the City Council by its senior officers rather than by a stand-alone body as this would enable proper scrutiny by Members. He asked for an explanation why it was considered that Net Zero could not be achieved in-house but should be put out to a third party organisation.

 

Councillor Jobson, in seconding the motion, stated that there was a greater likelihood of the Net Zero Exeter 2030 goal being achieved by ensuring that it remained in-house rather than being led by Exeter City Futures CIC (ECF). She was particularly concerned that ECF was not operating in a sufficiently transparent manner, citing as evidence the lack of clarity in respect of the use of various Government grants and the latest set of ECF minutes being 24 November 2020, which only recorded decisions taken and not the background information. Further, the accounts for the year ending 31 December 2019 were not filed with Companies House until December 2020. She also asked why Devon County Council was not currently represented on the ECF Board.

 

Councillor Jobson also stated that it was vital for the City Council to be democratically accountable to the citizens of Exeter in combating Climate Change and delivering Net Zero and this could best be achieved through  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.

89.

Notice of Motion by Councillor K. Mitchell under Standing Order No. 6

Exeter City Council opposes the harm caused to our LGBT+ community in the past through the denial of rights and equal treatment and further recognises that discrimination does still occur today.

This Council recognises and opposes the ongoing harm the practice of so-called conversion therapy brings to LGBT+ people.

This Council calls on the Government to follow through on the promises made, not just in this year's Queen's Speech, but for the past three years, to outlaw the practise of so-called conversion therapy.

This Council notes the Government consultation on this matter which concluded on the 10th of December 2021 and calls on the Government to introduce an effective ban on conversion therapy within England, supported by a programme of work to help tackle these practices in all their forms.

 

Furthermore this Council will highlight and promote the continued support, counselling and advocacy our local groups provide to members of the LGBT+ Community.

This Council recognises the excellent work done by local people and organisations to support the LGBT+ community here in Exeter, and extends it's thanks and support to them.

 

Minutes:

Councillor K. Mitchell, seconded by Councillor J Moore, moved a Notice of Motion in the following terms (he set out an amendment to the Motion in bold, in view of the extension by the Government of the consultation period, which had been announced after he had submitted the original Motion):-

 

“Exeter City Council opposes the harm caused to our LGBT+ community in the past through the denial of rights and equal treatment and further recognises that discrimination does still occur today.

This Council recognises and opposes the ongoing harm the practice of so-called conversion therapy brings to LGBT+ people.

This Council calls on the Government to follow through on the promises made, not just in this year's Queen's Speech, but for the past three years, to outlaw the practise of so-called conversion therapy.

This Council notes the ongoing Government consultation on this matter and calls on the Government to introduce an effective ban on conversion therapy within England, supported by a programme of work to help tackle these practices in all their forms.

 

Furthermore this Council will highlight and promote the continued support, counselling and advocacy our local groups provide to members of the LGBT+ Community.

This Council recognises the excellent work done by local people and organisations to support the LGBT+ community here in Exeter, and extends its thanks and support to them.”

In presenting his Motion, Councillor K. Mitchell, as a co-leader of an opposition group, hoped that the Motion would have cross party support. He highlighted that he had been fortunate to have had strong support from his family in respect of his sexuality, but he was aware that many were not so fortunate. He referred to a national LGBT+ survey, where one in 20 respondents had been pressurised into undertaking conversion therapy. This figure was higher in the 18 to 24 year old age group, and in respect of the Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) community and disabled individuals. One in five Trans people had also been pressurised. He stated that being a member of the LGBT+ community was not an illness and did not need a cure and that this harmful practice should cease. Exeter was a tolerant city, which welcomed diversity and embraced individuality.

 

Councillor Hannaford, in supporting the Motion, welcomed the opportunity to lobby for this much needed change. He stated that many LGBT+ people felt lonely, isolated and pressurised to change and that supporting the Motion would show solidarity. He chaired Devon County Council’s Children’s Scrutiny Committee and it had become evident that during lockdown many LGBT+ people had felt isolated, particularly if they did not have a supportive family. He referred to the historical mistreatment of this group which was akin to torture and had included practices of electric shock treatment and poisoning. Most people’s gender identify was in place very early on in their lives, and a binary choice was not the only way that people could live their lives. It was important to foster and develop a culture and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89.

90.

Questions from Members of the Council under Standing Order No. 8

Minutes:

The Lord Mayor reported that no questions had been received from Members.