Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Legislation has been passed that allows Council's to conduct Committee meetings remotely.

Contact: Mark Devin, Democratic Services Officer  Telephone 01392 265477 or email  mark.devin@exeter.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

29.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 192 KB

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2021.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2021, were taken as read, approved as correct, for signing by the Chair at the earliest possible convenience.

 

 

30.

Declarations 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 disclosable pecuniary interests were made.

 

 

 

31.

Questions from the Public Under Standing order No. 19

To receive questions relating to items on the Agenda from members of the public and responses thereto.

 

Details of questions should be notified to the Corporate Manager Democratic and Civic Support by 10.00am at least three working days prior to the meeting. Further information about speaking at a committee can be found here: Speaking at a Committee

 

Minutes:

No questions from members of the public were received.

 

 

32.

Council Housing and Development Resident Involvement Strategy 2021 - 2025 pdf icon PDF 360 KB

To consider the report of the Director for City Development, Housing and Supporting People.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Agreed:

 

RESOLVED that Executive support the Council Housing and Resident Involvement Strategy 2021-2025; and

 

RECOMMENDED that Council approves the Council Housing and Resident Involvement Strategy 2021-2025 and the increase in staff resources required to deliver the Action Plan.

 

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Executive received the report on the Council Housing and Development Resident Involvement Strategy 2021 - 2025 requesting an increase in resources necessary to deliver the Strategy’s Action Plan.

 

The Director for City Development, Housing and Supporting People made particular reference to the following:-

 

·         the main objectives of the Strategy, particularly the involvement of the Council’s tenants in developing the delivery and monitoring of the service;

·         amendments made to the draft strategy following consultation with the Council Housing and Development Advisory Board;

·         whilst incorporating best practice, regard would be had to the specific needs and aspirations of the Council’s tenants with the Action Plan to be reviewed every two years; and

·         the proposed increase in the establishment of 0.4 of a post costing £16,482 to be met from the HRA budget.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Council Housing Development and Services welcomed the report and referred in particular to its importance in helping the delivery of the Council’s ambitions for its housing development and retrofit programme.

 

RESOLVED that Executive support the Council Housing and Resident Involvement Strategy 2021-2025; and

 

RECOMMENDED that Council approves the Council Housing and Resident Involvement Strategy 2021-2025 and the increase in staff resources required to deliver the Action Plan.

 

 

33.

Skills Strategy Framework pdf icon PDF 262 KB

To receive the report of the Director Net Zero & City Management.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Agreed:

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

(1)        research be commissioned using existing financial resources to refresh the Skills Strategy evidence base, with a particular focus on the impact of the pandemic on the skills base and labour market in Exeter; and

 

(2)        the Exeter Skills Action Plan for January 2021 - March 2022, Appendix 1 be approved to address the immediate known impacts of the Pandemic on businesses and residents and demonstrating that all proposed actions link clearly to an area of the Building Exeter Back Better Recovery Plan and also contribute to the Clean Growth agenda.

 

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Executive received the report updating progress on the delivery of the Skills Strategy since its approval in April 2020 and setting out the action plan for the period January 2021 - March 2022.

 

The Skills and Business Manager made particular reference to the following:-

 

·       the need to refresh the evidence base and data of the Strategy in light of the impact of the Pandemic and national restrictions on business, the work force and the labour market in Exeter;

·       the launch of Exeter Works, both as an on-line resource as well as a physical hub in the city centre, to provide support and guidance to people through the redundancy process and helping provide training and to develop skills;

·       helping businesses access the Government’s Kick Start Scheme to support young people (16-24) in to six month work placements, including the placements on offer in Exeter City Council departments; and

·       a joint bid with Devon County Council to the Department of Work and Pensions to specifically support young people who had been particularly affected by the Pandemic to offer training and education and to help find jobs. This would form part of the offer in the Exeter Works Hub.

 

Members welcomed and supported the report, especially the initiatives to help young people. Reference was also made to the support from partner organisations particularly the Chamber of Commerce, Devon County Council, the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Exeter City Community Trust.

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

(1)        research be commissioned using existing financial resources to refresh the Skills Strategy evidence base, with a particular focus on the impact of the pandemic on the skills base and labour market in Exeter; and

 

(2)        the Exeter Skills Action Plan for January 2021 - March 2022, Appendix 1 be approved to address the immediate known impacts of the Pandemic on businesses and residents and demonstrating that all proposed actions link clearly to an area of the Building Exeter Back Better Recovery Plan and also contribute to the Clean Growth agenda.

 

 

34.

Amendment to Section 3d of the Council Constitution relating to delegation to the Service Lead - Environmental Health and Community Safety pdf icon PDF 249 KB

To receive the report of the Director Net Zero & City Management.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Agreed:

 

RECOMMENDED that Executive notes and that Council adopts the proposed amendment to Section 3d of the Council Constitution relating to delegation to the Service Lead - Environmental Health and Community Safety by the addition of the following:-

 

·        The Redress Schemes for Lettings Agency Work and Property Management Work (Requirement to Belong to a Scheme etc.) (England) Order 2014.

 

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Executive received the report seeking approval for an amendment to Section 3d of the Council’s Constitution relating to delegation to the Service Lead - Environmental Health and Community Safety.

 

Members noted that the purpose of the delegation was to allow the Council to meet its obligations under the relevant regulations and to foster the better management of private rented properties in the city.

 

RECOMMENDED that Executive notes and that Council adopts the proposed amendment to Section 3d of the Council Constitution relating to delegation to the Service Lead - Environmental Health and Community Safety by the addition of the following:-

 

·         The Redress Schemes for Lettings Agency Work and Property Management Work (Requirement to Belong to a Scheme etc.) (England) Order 2014.

 

 

35.

Glenthorne Road - Detonation of World War 2 Bomb

Minutes:

The Leader thanked all those agencies for their prompt response and hard work following the discovery and detonation of a World War 2 bomb in the Glenthorne Road area of the city. He referred in particular to the Police, the Fire and Rescue Services, the Army, the University of Exeter and LiveWest and to all Council staff who had helped ensure the safety of residents. Thankfully, there had been no fatalities and the City Council, with other agencies and the University, were continuing the work to ensure that those affected would be able to return to normality as quickly as possible.

 

 

 

36.

Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 - Exclusion of Press and Public

Decision:

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 item on the grounds that it 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.

 

 

Minutes:

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 item on the grounds it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Act. 

 

 

 

37.

Report on Members' Training

To consider the report of the Corporate Manager Democratic and Civic Support.

 

Decision:

Agreed:

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

(1)        the Members’ Training report be noted;

 

(2)        the re-constitution of the Councillor Development Steering Group be supported and that a detailed review of the Councillor Induction Programme and on-going Member training be undertaken for a report to be brought back to the Executive in the Autumn 2021; and

 

(3)        regular reports be presented to the Executive, identifying the attendance for each of the training sessions provided.

 

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

 

 

Minutes:

The Executive received the report on the induction programme provided for Members following their election into office, together with their on-going training and briefings on matters of interest during their term of office. Members were asked to review the appropriateness of this training programme. The report also includes the Members’ attendance for the training sessions provided for their benefit. 

 

The Corporate Manager, Democratic and Civic Support made particular reference to the following:-

 

·         the importance of on-going training to help Members in their roles, not solely after their election to the Council, but throughout their term of office; and

·         the particular relevance of training in respect of quasi-judicial decision making, most notably Planning and Licensing matters.

 

Members welcomed the report with reference made to the value of on-line training for increasing accessibility for all Members and to the importance of continuing development.

 

Councillor K. Mitchell, as Leader of the Progressive Group, welcomed the report.

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

(1)        the Members’ Training report be noted;

 

(2)        the re-constitution of the Councillor Development Steering Group be supported and that a detailed review of the Councillor Induction Programme and on-going Member training be undertaken for a report to be brought back to the Executive in the Autumn 2021; and

 

(3)        regular reports be presented to the Executive, identifying the attendance for each of the training sessions provided.