Decisions

Agreed

RECOMMENDED that Council approve, a loan to Exeter City Living of £15,643,478 to enable Exeter City Living to progress with the purchase of Clifton Hill and development of 44 new homes in the city.

Reason for Decision:

As set out in the report.

Agreed

RESOLVED: that Members:-

(1)  note that there was a ‘low likelihood’ of externally funding a £61.91million multipurpose venue;

(2)  support the premise and the ambition for the redevelopment of the Corn Exchange and request the matter be put before scrutiny to explore funding sources; and

(3)  note the progress made for a privately funded commercial theatre for the city, and that any future positive developments would be brought back to Council.

Reason for Decision:

As set out in the report.

Agreed

RECOMMENDED that Council approve:-

(1)  the contribution of £100,000 towards the £970,000 Northbrook Flood Scheme currently being delivered by Devon County Council;

(2)  the contribution of £80,000, towards the estimated £800,000 budget to deliver the Topsham Ferry Road & Strand Flood protection scheme, from the Exeter City Council capital spend, the remainder comprising of contributions from other parties (primarily Environment Agency and Devon County Council); and

(3)  the estimated £500,000 budget for the embankment repairs to Bowling Green Marsh, with recoverable costs made from the Environment Agency throughout the project.

Reason for Decision:

As set out in the report.

Agreed

RECOMMENDED that Council approve:-

(1)  an additional budget of £150,000 to span the financial years for 2020-21 and 2021-22 to allow for the completion of the programme of Principal Inspections for all Exeter City Council owned bridges; and

(2)  an additional ongoing annual budget of £40,000, commencing in 2022-23, to fund a rolling programme of regular bridge inspections to be in line with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, which would involve inspections on a principal (six-yearly) and General (two-yearly) interval basis.

Reason for Decision:

As set out in the report.

Agreed

RESOLVED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Act. 

Reason for Decision:

As set out in the report.

Agreed

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Leisure Complex and Bus Station Programme Board meeting held on 4 September 2019 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

Reason for Decision:

As set out in the report.

Agreed

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(1)  note the contents of the report; and

(2)  approve the proposals to establish a balanced revenue budget and capital programme.

Reason for Decision:

As set out in the report.

Agreed

RESOLVED that:-

(1)  in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by Exeter City Council as its tax base for the year 2020/21 shall be 37,348; and

(2)  responsibility to approve the Council’s NNDR1 return by 31 January 2020 be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer).

Reason for Decision:

As set out in the report.

Agreed

RECOMMENDED that Council approve:-

(1)  the increase of Council dwelling rent by 2.7% from 1 April 2020;

(2)  the increase of garage rent by 2.7% from 1 April 2020; and

(3)  service charges remaining at their existing levels with the exception of charges specified below from 1 April 2020:-

(a)    5.9% increase in emergency light testing in line with routine testing costs and additional installations;

(b)    2% decrease in respect of the Older Persons’ property service charge due to vacant posts;

(c)       0% increase in water charges in respect of Magdalen Gardens in line with contract prices;

(d)    5% decrease in respect of door entry systems in line with system maintenance costs; and

(e)    5% increase in fire alarm charges to reflect the contract for weekly fire alarm testing.

Reason for Decision:

As set out in the report.

Agreed

RECOMMENDED that Council approve:-

(1)  the adoption of the Commercial Strategy; and

(2)  Strategic Management Board (SMB) being authorised to approve whether a commercial project continues.

Reason for Decision:

As set out in the report.

Agreed

RECOMMENDED that Council approve:-

(1)  the recruitment of an additional Civil Enforcement Officer (Response) post (1 x FTE) at Grade F; and

(2)  the inclusion of environmental enforcement work alongside the duties of the existing Civil Enforcement Officer (Response) team (3 x FTEs).

Reason for Decision:

As set out in the report.