Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Place.

Agreed:

RESOLVED that the Leader of the Council, Cllr Philip Bialyk, be appointed to represent Exeter City Council on the Devon and Torbay Housing Advisory Group.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

The Executive received the report seeking agreement to nominate the Leader of the Council to represent Exeter City Council on the Devon and Torbay Housing Advisory Group (DTHAG).

Particular reference was made to:-

·    the DTHAG would replace the existing informal housing task force represented by all Devon Councils with a formal constituted group as part of the Combined County Authority (CCA) structure;

·    the group would have its own Terms of Reference and would be operating as an advisory group only; and

·    each of the Devon Councils were required to nominate an elected member before the end of the year so a meeting may be convened early in 2025.

During the discussion, Executive Members raised the following points and questions:-

·         was there any indication from the terms of reference for a deputy to attend in the unlikely event that the Leader was unable to attend? and

·         having a representative on the group was important to ensure the Council had a voice on the emerging CCA and housing targets

Councillors Mitchell and Moore spoke on the item as opposition group leaders and raised the following points and questions:-

·         supported the suggestion that a substitute should be available if the Leader was unable to attend and should be a part of the Terms of Reference;

·         clarity was sought on the remit for providing more affordable and social housing and was the focus of the group going to be on meeting the housing target? and

·         to what extent would the group be focused on addressing the housing crisis?

The Leader advised that 8.5 of the report provided the detailed strategic and operational role of the DTHAG and that a deputy would be considered.

The Leader moved the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Wright, voted upon, and CARRIED unanimously.

RESOLVED that the Leader of the Council, Cllr Philip Bialyk, be appointed to represent Exeter City Council on the Devon and Torbay Housing Advisory Group.