Question from Councillor Mrs Thompson
Has the City Council considered providing a new access to the Ski Slope together with a suitable parking area, which could enable this facility to be retained along with the allotments and some public open space, even if the rest of the site is to be redeveloped?
Questions from Councillor Mrs Thompson
(a) Could the Leader please confirm if monies spent from City Council funds for The Pinhoe Hub are merely a grant to an outside body and if so what checks and balances do the City Council follow to ascertain that any contracts are progressed with accountability and with the correct procedures and do such procedures follow the City Council's own procurement regulations?; and
(b) Could the Leader please explain why invoices relating to The Pinhoe Hub held by officers within the City Council require the Authority of the Legal Services before disclosure can be made to elected City Councillors?
Minutes:
In accordance with Standing Order No.8, Councillor Thompson put the following questions to the Leader.
Question - Has the City Council considered providing a new access to the Ski Slope together with a suitable parking area, which could enable this facility to be retained along with the allotments and some public open space, even if the rest of the site is to be redeveloped?
The Leader responded that the valuation report advised on the indicative values for all parts of the site separately and concluded that a combined disposal generated the best value in financial terms.
Question - Could the Leader please confirm if monies spent from City Council funds for The Pinhoe Hub are merely a grant to an outside body and if so what checks and balances do the City Council follow to ascertain that any contracts are progressed with accountability and with the correct procedures and do such procedures follow the City Council's own procurement regulations?
The Leader responded that the Council had provided a grant of £100,000 to the Pinhoe Community Hub, which was approved by Council on 18 October 2016. The Council had provided an initial sum of £10,000 to enable payments to be made. A drawdown claim was then completed by the Hub to reclaim payments made and sent to the Council along with copies of the invoices paid. The Council would then reimburse the expenditure incurred.
Question 3 – Could the Leader please explain why invoices relating to The Pinhoe Hub held by officers within the City Council require the Authority of the Legal Services before disclosure can be made to Elected City Councillors?
The Leader responded that the Section 151 Officer was seeking a Legal opinion on whether he could legally supply the information requested. The invoices were a contract between the Hub and the third party providing services to the Hub and that they did not involve the City Council. If the Head of Legal advised there was no issue, then the Section 151 Officer would immediately share the information requested.
Question - Following a resolution by Council for funding to be made available from the sale of the Clifton Hill Sports Centre site, it was agreed at Audit and Governance Committee an entry would be considered for inclusion on the Corporate Risk Register, noting there are no guarantees the repairs and improvements for The Riverside and other leisure facilities will be met from the sale should the sale be delayed or fail to proceed; so has the Leader made alternative financial provision to ensure funding is made available for The Riverside and other leisure facilities repairs and improvements?
The Leader responded that the Council had sufficient space within its Capital Financing Requirement to cover this eventuality. A prudent sum had been added to the budget for repayment of debt to finance any shortfall. Clearly when the funds were realised, this amount would be removed from the budget as a contribution towards the £2.4 million reductions required.
In accordance with Standing Order No.8, Councillor Leadbetter put the following questions to the Leader.
Question - The Budget book shows that next year repayments on corporate debt will increase to over 20% of income. Please would the Leader tell me - what the current repayment figure is for this financial year in monetary terms (i.e. Actual amount paid) and what this will increase to for the year 2020/21?
The Leader stated that a written response will be provided to all Members as quickly as possible following the Council Meeting.
Question - And for the same years what the actual debt is?
A written response will be provided to all Members as quickly as possible following the Council Meeting.
In accordance with Standing Order No.8, Councillor Prowse put the following questions to the Leader.
Question - Is the Leader able to state the breakdown of the funding sources for the bus station site?
· How much is CIL funded?
· How much borrowed?
· How much is from the New Homes Bonus?
· Any other sources?
The Leader responded that the financing for the Leisure Complex and Bus Station was set aside as follows:
· CIL - £ 8 million
· NHB - £ 18 million
· Capital Receipts - £ 6.25 million
· S106 - £1.4 million
· Borrowing - £18.15 million
TOTAL - £51.8 million
Question - What positive steps are we currently taking to encourage and promote the existing street markets and any other sites that could be ear marked as potential locations?
The Leader responded that the Exeter Farmer’s Market was a firm favourite with both those that sell their local supplies and their loyal customers. The Council would continue to help promote things that were important to the city, including the market.
With regards to any new markets or expansions, officers and the Deputy Leader of the Council had met with representatives from Food Exeter last week to hear their vision for additional markets in the city. He recalled St Georges Hall Market and it was important that the city had a good market.
Councillor Prowse requested that the comment by the Leader be recorded in the minutes. The Lord Mayor agreed that this matter could be included in the future Committee work plan.
Question - What single memorable event or occasion will the Leader cherish during his loyal service to this Council and the Citizens of this great City?
The Leader responded that there had been many events and occasions and so it had been difficult for him to recall just one particular occasion. He did comment on the devastation of the fire at the Royal Clarence Hotel, and recalled an interview at the time and that the introduction of the Exeter Living Wage had been notable events.
He did feel that the Councillors came in for a degree of criticism and he thanked Members for their support and considered that at times whilst their role could be very challenging it was an honour to serve the population of Exeter. In his time as a Councillor and as Leader, he certainly would not have given up one moment of it.