Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bowkett, Leadbetter and Mitchell.

To sign the minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2012.

Subject to the amendment of Min. No. 44 by the deletion in the first line of the words “following item” and the insertion of the words “matter referred to under item 62”, the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 16 October 2012 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Lord Mayor announced with sadness the death of former Councillor Dudley Rogers.

The minutes of the Planning Committee of 29 October 2012 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Bialyk and taken as read.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 29 October 2012 be received.

The minutes of the Planning Committee of 3 December 2012 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Bialyk and taken as read.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 3 December 2012 be received.

The minutes of the Licensing Committee of 27 November 2012 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Owen and taken as read.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 27 November 2012 be received.

The minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Community of 6 November 2012 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Shiel and taken as read.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Community held on 6 November 2012 be received.

The minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Economy of 8 November 2012 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Crow and taken as read.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Economy held on 8 November 2012 be received.

The minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Resources of 21 November 2012 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Baldwin and taken as read.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Resources held on 21 November 2012 be received.

The minutes of the Standards Committee of 28 November 2012 were presented by Councillor Brock, the Deputy Chair of the Committee, in the absence of Councillor DJ Henson, who had been appointed Chair for the meeting on 28 November.

The minutes of the Standards Committee held on 28 November 2012 were taken as read.

Council agreed the appointment of Councillor DJ Henson as Chair and Councillor Brock as Deputy Chair of the Committee for the remainder of the current Municipal Year.

Council approved the adoption of a revised Members’ Code of Conduct and the amended procedure for dealing with complaints relating to Members.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Standards Committee held on 28 November 2012 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

The minutes of the Executive of 20 November 2012 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Edwards and taken as read.

Members considered the proposed car parking tariff structure, a key rationale behind the changes being the need to maintain the economic vibrancy of the City. With regard to the programme of additional promotional activity for the Christmas period, it was hoped that a successful Business Improvement District (BID) ballot would enable funding by the business sector of enhancements such as Christmas lights in future years.

Members also discussed the far-reaching welfare reforms and the serious impact on the individuals and families who would be adversely affected by the changes as well as the potential implications for the Council. Although it was noted that some aspects of welfare reform were essential and that certain elements of the changes might remove disincentives to work, Members feared that the changes would impact on the most vulnerable in society as well as expressing particular concern about the disproportionate effect on low paid workers, the impact of the Housing Benefit cap and the anticipated increase in debt, hardship and homelessness. Some Members commented that the proposals appeared to be disjointed and hoped that new Ministerial Guidance would address some of the issues.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)     Executive recognises that it is Central Government through its programme of cuts and changes to the welfare benefits system, that is forcing this Council to urgently implement measures to help mitigate the effects that the reforms would have on both the local economy and the residents of Exeter; and

(2)     the report and the implications of the Government’s welfare reform programme on the Council’s services and benefits claimants be noted and the proposed interventions be approved; and

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Executive held on 20 November 2012 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

The minutes of the Executive of 4 December 2012 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Edwards and taken as read.

In light of the Government’s announcement of financial support for flood prevention measures, Members welcomed the Council’s commitment of £3 million to help with the cost of the works which was now of particular relevance given the increasing number of severe weather conditions experienced in recent years.

The Council would be preparing a City Deal prospectus in anticipation of a third wave of the Government’s City Deals programme and Members would be informed of the cost of engaging consultants to produce the prospectus. It was considered that this work was likely to prove of long term benefit to the Council as was the consultants’ work in respect of Business Transformation, therefore justifying the supplementary budgets sought and agreed in both cases. In respect of the Systems Thinking work, it was anticipated that, ultimately, there would be a greatly reduced reliance on external support.

Members discussed the budget strategy for 2013/14 which assumed a 2% increase in Council Tax. Whilst some Members felt that the Council Tax should be frozen, others felt that additional resources could be prudently used for the economic benefit of the City. The implications of the Welfare Reform measures were also discussed.

The following Councillors declared interests:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Executive held on 4 December 2012 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.