Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

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Items
No. Item

78.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 460 KB

To approve and sign the minutes of the meetings held on 6 July 2021 and 8 July 2021.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meetings held on 6 July 2021 and 8 July 2021, were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

 

79.

Rick Lawrence

Minutes:

The Leader passed on his condolences, and those of Members, to the family and friends of Rick Lawrence, who worked as a Digital Media Officer for the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, who had recently passed away. Members’ thoughts were with his family at this difficult time.

 

80.

COVID 19

Minutes:

The Leader commented on the Covid Pandemic, highlighting that a friend of his, had recently passed away, having contracted Covid, and urged people to continue to be careful and be mindful that Covid was still an issue.

 

81.

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.

 

82.

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. For this meeting any questions must be submitted by 10.00am on Thursday 2 September 2021.

 

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.

 

83.

Urgent Matter - Response to Teignbridge Local Plan consultation pdf icon PDF 280 KB

To note the Urgent matter of the response from Exeter City Council to the Teignbridge Local Plan Site Options Consultation, run by Teignbridge District Council between late June and early August 2021. This is the third consultation which has been held on the Teignbridge Local Plan and considers the various development site options which could be taken forward into the draft plan at a later date. Due to the timings of the consultation and Exeter City Council’s meeting dates it was not possible for the Executive to consider a draft response in advance of its submission. The response to the consultation has been treated as an urgent matter.

 

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, it has been discussed with the Leader, the Portfolio Holder for City Development and the Chair of the Strategic Scrutiny Committee, and the Executive is now invited to note the response which has been submitted and dealt with under emergency provisions. The key issues identified relate to the need for cross-boundary discussions over strategic matters including employment and infrastructure strategy, together with a discussion of the impact on the city of a series of potential residential and employment development site options on the edge of Exeter. Particular issues are raised regarding the Atwell’s Farm site option. Further discussions will be required on a range of matters as the Exeter and Teignbridge Local Plans progress.

 

A copy of the response letter is appended to the agenda for noting the urgent matter.

 

Decision:

Agreed:

 

RESOLVED that the urgent matter be noted.

 

Reason for Decision: As outlined by the Deputy Chief Executive.

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Executive noted the urgent matter of the response from Exeter City Council to the Teignbridge Local Plan Site Options Consultation, run by Teignbridge District Council between late June and early August 2021. In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, it had been discussed with the Council Leader, the Portfolio Holder for City Development and the Chair of the Strategic Scrutiny Committee.

 

Members were advised that, due to the timings of the consultation and Exeter City Council’s meeting dates it was not possible for the Executive to consider a draft response in advance of its submission and that the response to the consultation had been treated as an urgent matter.

 

The key issues identified related to the need for cross-boundary discussions over strategic matters including employment and infrastructure strategy and a discussion of the city impact for a series of potential residential and employment development site options on the edge of Exeter. Particular issues were raised regarding the Atwell’s Farm site option and that there would be further discussions on a range of matters, as the Exeter and Teignbridge Local Plans progress.

 

The Portfolio Holder for City Development expressed her thanks to good work put in by officers and that the letter reflected the views of Member’s opinions. Particular reference was given to the provisions for employments, transport, education, sports and to the specific attention of the development sites on the edge of Exeter.

 

RESOLVED that the urgent matter be noted.

 

84.

Urgent Decision - Delegated Decision

To note the urgent Delegated Decision taken under the Council’s Finance Regulations, to create a budget for expenditure to be incurred as part of the Government’s and Council’s work to address rough sleeping, in particular, as a response to the greater risk to people experiencing homelessness as a result of the pandemic. The Council has bid for Homes England Capital funds of £1.7M with a proportionate capital contribution of £1.532M from un-ring-fenced S106 funds for affordable housing. The Council has also bid for a complimentary revenue grant bid from central government. The expenditure budget is from uncommitted S106 funds with no impact on the council’s General Fund Balance.

 

This decision was made by the Deputy Chief Executive under the Council's Scheme of Delegation to make urgent decisions and in in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for City Development. In accordance with Standing Orders 13, 16 and 17, the Chair of Strategic Scrutiny Committee, the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Council Housing Development and the Portfolio Holder for Supporting People and Deputy Chair of Planning agreed that this was an urgent decision.

 

Decision:

Agreed:

 

RESOLVED that the urgent decision be noted.

 

Reason for Decision: As outlined by the Deputy Chief Executive.

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Executive noted the urgent Delegated Decision taken under the Council’s Finance Regulations by the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for City Development, under the Council's Scheme of Delegation, to create a budget for expenditure to be incurred as part of the Government’s and Council’s work to address rough sleeping, in particular, as a response to the greater risk to people experiencing homelessness as a result of the pandemic.

 

The Council had bid Homes England Capital for funds of £1.7 Million with a proportionate capital contribution of £1.532 Million from un-ring-fenced S106 funds for affordable housing. The Council had also bid for a complimentary revenue grant bid from Central Government and it was confirmed that the expenditure budget would be from uncommitted Section 106 funds, with no impact on the Council’s General Fund Balance.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Supporting People congratulated the team and the Deputy Chief Executive for the successful bid.

 

RESOLVED that the urgent decision be noted.

 

85.

Air Quality Annual Status Report pdf icon PDF 252 KB

To consider the report of the Director Net Zero Exeter & City Management.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Agreed:

 

RECOMMENDED that Council note the statutory annual status report.

 

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Executive received the report on the statutory Air Quality Annual Status which contained the 2020 monitoring data and a summary of the actions taken in 2020 to improve local air quality. The Council had a statutory duty to monitor and report on air quality and had submitted the report to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), but no response had been received to date.

 

Particular reference was made to the reported 2020 figures, which showed that during the Pandemic, there had been a behaviour change which had improved the air quality data, particularly to the nitrogen dioxide levels.

 

The Chair commented on the actions detailed in the report presented at the meeting, which highlighted the work being undertaken to improve air quality and confirmed that the Council would continue to work with its partners to improve the air quality in Exeter.

 

During the discussion the following points were made: -

 

·        The Council had achieved the required standard of air quality figures for 2020, which reflected the changes to behaviour during the Pandemic;

·        Exeter City Council was working closely with the Devon County Council Highways Authority to address the transport related actions listed in the report;

·        30% of the City Council vehicles were now fully electric and there was additional work being undertaken at the Water Lane solar farm, to support improvements to air quality;

·        Diesel recycling vehicles would be replaced with electric vehicles;

·        Devon County Council would be introducing outside charging points to encourage residents to invest in electric vehicles; and

·        Exeter City Council would continue to work with other organisations to progress the improvement of the city’s air quality.

 

RECOMMENDED that Council note the statutory annual Air Quality Status report.

 

86.

Review of the Council's Contaminated Land Strategy pdf icon PDF 248 KB

To consider the report of the Director Net Zero Exeter & City Management.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Agreed:

 

RESOLVED that the Executive note the draft revised Contaminated Land Strategy and approve the consultation commencing on 08 September 2021 until 03 November 2021.

 

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Executive received the report which provided an update on the review of the Council’s Contaminated Land Strategy, which the Council was legally required to review. The report was requesting approval to undertake a consultation with the relevant statutory consultees to cover the 2022 to 2027 period. A report would be brought back to the Executive Committee and Council later in the year.

 

RESOLVED that the Executive note the draft revised Contaminated Land Strategy and approve the consultation commencing on 08 September 2021 until 03 November 2021.

 

87.

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

RESOLVED that, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of item 10 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I, Schedule 12A of the Act. 

 

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 that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Act. 

 

88.

Belle Isle Depot

To consider the report of the City Surveyor.

 

Decision:

Agreed:

 

RESOLVED that the disposal of the Belle Isle depot site to Exeter City Living Limited be approved and that the final terms be agreed by the City Surveyor in consultation with the Council Leader.

 

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Executive received the report which sought approval for the disposal of the Belle Isle depot site to Exeter City Living (ECL) and provided an outline of the provisionally agreed terms for that disposal. The City Surveyor explained that the disposal would enable the land to be transformed from a brownfield site, into a quality residential scheme in conjunction with ECL.

 

RESOLVED that the disposal of the Belle Isle depot site to Exeter City Living Limited be approved and that the final terms be agreed by the City Surveyor in consultation with the Council Leader.