Agenda and minutes

Venue: Guildhall, High Street, Exeter

Contact: Sarah Selway, Democratic Services Manager (Committees)  Telephone 01392 265275 or email  sarah.selway@exeter.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

27.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Baldwin, Brock, Choules, Crew, Laws, and Newby.

 

28.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 60 KB

To sign the minutes of the Ordinary and Extraordinary meetings held on 21 April 2015.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the Ordinary and Extraordinary meetings held on 21 April 2015 were taken as read and signed as correct.

 

29.

Hazel Ball and Alderman Paul Smith

Minutes:

The Council observed a minutes’ silence as a mark of respect for Hazel Ball, former Director of the Council and Alderman Paul Smith, former Lord Mayor of the City, who had both sadly passed away this month.

 

The Leader paid tribute to Hazel Ball and referred to the many years of dedicated service she had given to the City in her working life and after her retirement and Alderman Paul Smith who had been a Leader of the Liberal Democrats, a Leader of the Council and who had faithfully served the Council for many years.

 

30.

Official Communications

Minutes:

The Lord Mayor referred to the recent successful visit of Dignitaries from Bad Homburg to Exeter which had further strengthened the relationship between the two cities. She also advised that Councillor Sheldon is raising money for the Lord Mayor’s charity by having one half of his beard shaved off.

 

31.

Planning Committee - 27 April 2015 pdf icon PDF 84 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Planning Committee of 27 April 2015 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Bialyk, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 27 April 2015 be received.

 

32.

Planning Committee - 1 June 2015 pdf icon PDF 81 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Planning Committee of 1 June 2015 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Bialyk, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 1 June 2015 be received.

 

33.

Planning Committee - 29 June 2015 pdf icon PDF 351 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Planning Committee of 29 June 2015 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Bialyk, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 29 June 2015 be received.

 

34.

Licensing Committee - 2 June 2015 pdf icon PDF 78 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Licensing Committee of 2 June 2015 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Sheldon, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Licensing Committee held 2 June 2015 be received.

 

35.

Scrutiny Committee - Community - 16 June 2015 pdf icon PDF 155 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Community of 16 June 2015 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Morse and, subject to noting the amendment to Minute 29(Portfolio Holder Statements) to read the “Portfolio Holder for Customer Access requested one Task and Finish Group be set up regarding the homelessness strategy and that the local welfare support funding was an area that the Council should monitor and report back to Scrutiny”, were taken as read.

 

In respect of Minute 26 (Questions from the Public under Standing Order 19) and in response to a Member, Councillor Morse clarified that future reports on transport would go to Scrutiny Economy Committee as it was in the remit of the Portfolio Holder for City Development who reported to that Scrutiny Committee.

 

In respect of Minute 27 (Transport Strategy for Exeter) and in response to a Member, the Portfolio Holder for City Development stated that whilst Devon County Council was the transport authority, the City Council was fully aware of the need for joined up working between the City and County Councils. The Transport Strategy Working Group would meet regularly holding an annual forum to engage with Members and local groups interested in Transport.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Community held on 16 June 2015, subject to the amendment, be received.

 

36.

Scrutiny Committee - Economy - 18 June 2015 pdf icon PDF 111 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Scrutiny Committee – Economy of 18 June 2015 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Brimble, and taken as read.

 

In respect of Minute 33 (Portfolio Holders’ Statement) and in response to a Member’s questions on council own build, the stopping up of Paris Street and recycling rates in the city:-

·         the Leader stated that it was anticipated that the council own build schemes would be nearing 100 new Council Houses in the next few years. The Council’s policy was for a 30% affordable housing contribution on housing developments and that this was used to provide new social and affordable housing throughout the city;

·         the Leader commented that the advice of the County Highways Officers were waited with regards to the stopping up of Paris Street;

·         the Portfolio Holder for Health and Place advised that officers were mapping data collected regarding recycling rates within the city and areas with a low recycling rate would be the subject of a targeted campaign.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Economy held on 18 June 2015 be received.

 

37.

Scrutiny Committee - Resources - 1 July 2015 pdf icon PDF 113 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Resources of 1 July 2015 were presented by the Chair Councillor Bull, and subject to including Portfolio Holder for Customer Access as in attendance, taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Resources held on 1 July 2015, subject to the amendment, be received.

 

38.

Audit and Governance Committee - 24 June 2015 pdf icon PDF 98 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee of 24 June 2015 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Vizard, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee held on 24 June 2015 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

 

39.

Strata Joint Executive Committee - 10 June 2015 pdf icon PDF 124 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Strata Joint Executive Committee of 10 June 2015 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Edwards, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Strata Joint Executive Committee held on 10 June 2015 be received.

 

40.

Strata Joint Scrutiny Committee - 28 May 2015 pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Strata Joint Scrutiny Committee of 28 May 2015 were presented by Councillor Bialyk and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Strata Joint Scrutiny Committee held on 28 May 2015 be received.

 

41.

Executive - 23 June 2015 pdf icon PDF 151 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Executive of 23 June 2015 were presented by the Deputy Leader, Councillor Sutton, and taken as read.

 

In relation to Minute 65 (Appointment to Outside Bodies):-

 

RESOLVED that the following appointments be agreed:

 

Age Concern - Mrs M Clark

Exeter Citizen Advice Bureau – Councillor Bull

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Executive held on 23 June 2015 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

 

42.

Executive - 14 July 2015 pdf icon PDF 112 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Executive of 14 July 2015 were presented by the Leader, Councillor Edwards, and taken as read.

 

In respect of Minute 77 (Electoral Review of Exeter), the Leader advised of the following proposed amendments which had been sent to the Corporate Manager Democratic and Civic Support prior to the meeting and circulated to Members:-

·         Two Councillors supported the draft recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE);

·         Two Councillors supported the Council’s previous view that the St James and Duryard wards should continue to be separate wards (rather than combined into a single three member ward) being represented by two and one members respectively;

·         One Councillor proposed that the current Priory and Topsham ward boundaries should remain unchanged;

·         One Councillor proposed amendments to the St Thomas and Exwick Ward boundaries.

 

The Leader proposed that the following response be submitted to the LGBCE

·         Support the Council’s previous submission that the St James and Duryard wards should continue to be separate wards (rather than combined into a single three member ward) being represented by two and one members respectively; and

·         the current Priory and Topsham ward boundaries should remain unchanged.

 

This was seconded by Councillor Sutton.

 

Members discussed the proposed amendments including the impact that Individual Electoral Registration (IER) had on the number of registered voters in areas of the city such as Duryard and St James that had a high percentage of students.

 

A Member stated his party did not support the Council’s submission and would be submitting their Party’s proposals to the LGBCE.

 

Whilst the majority of Members supported the proposed response, other Members stated that they would be submitting their own response to the Boundary Commission.

 

RESOLVED that the Council’s official submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England response to its current consultation on the electoral review of Exeter is:-

·         the St James and Duryard wards should continue to be separate wards (rather than combined into a single three member ward) being represented by two and one members respectively; and

·         the current Priory and Topsham ward boundaries should remain unchanged.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Executive held on 14 July 2015 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

 

 

 

43.

Committee Membership

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the following appointments be agreed:-

 

Audit and Governance Committee

Deputy Chair – Councillor Laws

Councillor Raybould to replace Councillor Robson

 

Scrutiny Committee – Community

Councillor Wardle to replace Councillor Robson

 

Scrutiny Committee – Resources

Councillor Packham to replace Councillor Robson

 

Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC)

Councillor Buswell

 

44.

Questions from Members of the Council Under Standing Order No 8

Councillor Prowse has submitted the following question to the Leader of the Council:-

 

“This City is able to boast having the oldest Municipal Park in the entire Country. Last year, it proudly won the best park in the Southwest when it entered after a ten year absence, the South West Britain in Bloom contest. Sadly, the bandstand has been neglected and is no longer serviceable. Would the Leader comment on any future plans and is it possible that any funds could be secured to put this feature back into community use? (CIL, 106 or even the new homes bonus are suggested sources).”

Minutes:

In accordance with Standing Order No. 8, the following questions were put to the Leader.

 

Question from Councillor Prowse to the Leader.

 

Question –This City is able to boast having the oldest Municipal Park in the entire Country. Last year, it proudly won the best park in the Southwest when it entered after a ten year absence, the South West Britain in Bloom contest. Sadly, the bandstand has been neglected and is no longer serviceable. Would the Leader comment on any future plans and is it possible that any funds could be secured to put this feature back into community use? (CIL, Section 106 or even the new homes bonus are suggested sources).”

 

The Leader responded that the replacement of the bandstand would cost approximately £100k and that in light of the current financial pressures on the Council there was no budget for this replacement.

 

Councillor Prowse asked a supplementary question as to whether the bandstand was on the Listed Buildings at risk register as the Park was a Registered Grade II Historic Park and Garden.

 

The Leaders stated that he would investigate the matter and respond to Councillor Prowse.

 

Question from Councillor Shiel to the Leader.

 

Question – Mindful that our award winning R.A.M.M. is very much a "Rolls Royce" institution and that the maxim about "the quality remains long after the price is forgotten" applies to it as it does to the classic cars, would the leader nevertheless give members an update on the current situation over the resolution of the budgetary problems relating to its redevelopment, and some indication of when we may finally have closure on this issue?

 

The Leader assured Members that this issue had not been forgotten, and that the Council continued to actively pursue it. The last time the Council discussed this matter it did so as a part II item because of the sensitivities of the matter.  As a result, and in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 8(3)(b) a written response to all Councillors would follow shortly.