Agenda and minutes

Venue: Rennes Room, Civic Centre, Paris Street, Exeter. View directions

Contact: Sharon Sissons, Democratic Services Officer  Tel: 01392 265115 or email  sharon.sissons@exeter.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

33.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 548 KB

To approve and sign the minutes of the Strategic Scrutiny Committee held on 17 November 2022, and the Special Strategic Scrutiny Committee held on 12 December 2022.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 November 2022 and the Special meeting held on 12 December 2022 were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as correct.

34.

St Sidwell's Point

Minutes:

The Chair responded to an enquiry raised by a Member that the anticipated report on St. Sidwell’s Point was not on the agenda this evening as referenced in the last Scrutiny Work Plan. The Democratic Services Officer undertook to keep Members updated on items coming forward. The Chair confirmed that the Director of Culture, Leisure and Tourism had advised that there have been a number of operational issues to deal with, as well as officer time had been focussed on the work for  the Council budget and One Exeter Programme, limiting officer capacity to produce a report to meet the deadlines for this meeting.  The anticipated report relating to a Scrutiny request covering the contractual and oversight arrangements regarding the St. Sidwell’s Point project would presented at the next meeting on 16 March 2023. Councillor Parkhouse, as Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Physical Activities would also be in attendance to provide an update report to the meeting.

 

Every effort would be made to ensure that in the future, there was a balanced programme of business for the meeting.

 

35.

Declaration 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 interest were made by Members.

 

36.

Question from Members of the Public Under Standing Order No.19

Details of questions should be notified to the Corporate Manager Democratic and Civic Support via the committee.services@exeter.gov.uk email by 10.00am at least three working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting any questions must be submitted by 10.00am on Monday 16 January 2023.

 

For details about how to speak at Committee, please click the following link -  https://exeter.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/councillors-and-meetings/public-speaking-at-meetings/overview/

 

Minutes:

No questions from Members of the public were received.

 

37.

Questions from Members of the Council Under Standing Order No.20

To receive questions from Members of the Council to the relevant Portfolio Holders for this Scrutiny Committee. The Portfolio Holders reporting to this Scrutiny Committee are:-

 

Councillor Bialyk -       Leader

Councillor Morse -      Portfolio Holder City Development and Planning

Councillor Parkhouse Portfolio Holder Leisure & Physical Activity

Councillor Wood -       Portfolio Holder Climate Change

Councillor Wright -      Portfolio Holder Arts, Culture, and Corporate Services

 

Advance questions from Members relating to the Portfolio Holders above should be notified to the Corporate Manager Democratic and Civic Support.

 

 

Minutes:

No questions from Members were received.

 

38.

Portfolio Holder Report for Planning and City Development pdf icon PDF 219 KB

Councillor Emma Morse (City Development & Planning) to present a report on her portfolio.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Morse reported on the Planning and City Development areas of her Portfolio and detailed the issues relating to achieving the Council’s published priorities, major ongoing programmes of work, issues impacting delivery, financial performance, budget requirements and potential changes being considered.

 

The Portfolio Holder responded as below to a number of questions submitted in advance of the meeting from Councillor Read during her presentation, with the questions and responses set out in italics.  A separate enquiry was also made in relation to the Exeter Design Quality Partnership (EDQP), where it was noted that the web site had been updated to reflect confirmation as in the Portfolio Holder report that the EDQP had been set up.

 

The Portfolio Holder reported on the following areas:-

 

·      2022 had been a challenging period in respect of the number of appeals made to the Planning Inspectorate allowed, and a number of consultations were currently taking place.

·      the Exeter Design Quality Partnership has been set up to raise the quality of design, with Design Review Panels offering the opportunity to discuss a range of aspects including design of a prospective application. The Service Lead City Development added that this would offer a unique opportunity to draw together a range of experts to have an informal discussion on larger schemes for the city. The Panels could be used to channel comments through the application process, involving Ward Members, but not include Members of the Planning Committee. It was hoped that some future training could be offered to both Members and officers.

·      the detail of payments in relation to Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)/Section 106 monies was linked to the individual development, with 15% of the CIL levy going to the community. The Service Lead City Development stated that the Section 106 contribution was directly related to a development and not a wish list for the wider area or the city as a whole.

·      consultation on the Outline Draft Exeter Plan was nearly complete andshe had attended three of the many events held, and the Assistant Service Lead Local Plan and his team had welcomed the opportunity to respond to the public who attended. The results of the consultation will be presented to the Strategic Scrutiny Committee.

·      a report on the Article 4 Direction was considered by the Planning Member Working Group and offered an unbiased report on the range of options.

·      a joint strategy for planning was being discussed by the Leaders and officers from the five Councils for planning in the Greater Exeter region. The Greater Exeter Strategic Plan (GESP) had not fully progressed, but there was still a duty to cooperate. The City Council had made strong representations to both East Devon and Teignbridge District Councils who had consulted on their Local Plan.

·      making better use of brownfield land was important. Living Exeter was part of the Leader’s Portfolio, but the Exeter Living team do consult other City Council teams, including Planning.

·      if enacted in 2025, the White Paper on planning reform may have an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

39.

Forward Plan of Business and Forward Scrutiny Work Plan pdf icon PDF 202 KB

Please see for noting a link to the schedule of future business proposed for the Council which can be viewed on the Council's web site -

https://exeter.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/councillors-and-meetings/forward-plan-of-executive-decisions/

 

Should Members wish to raise issues in respect of future business please notify Sharon Sissons in advance of the meeting.

 

 

Minutes:

The Chair advised that the Scrutiny Programme Board would be considering the work plan of future business for Scrutiny.

 

Members noted the Forward Plan and draft Scrutiny Work Plan.