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

17.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Choules, Crew and Mottram.

 

18.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 73 KB

To sign the minutes of the two Extraordinary Meetings and the Ordinary Meeting held on 23 February 2016.

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the two Extraordinary Meetings and of the Ordinary Meeting held on 23 February 2016 were moved by the Leader and seconded by Councillor Sutton, taken as read and signed as correct.

 

19.

Appointment of Recorder

To formally install His Honour Judge Geoffrey Michael Mercer as Recorder of the City in accordance with the resolution of the Council of 17 April 2007.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that His Honour Judge Geoffrey Mercer QC be formally installed as Recorder of the City.

 

Judge Mercer welcomed his appointment and returned thanks.

 

 

20.

Official Communications

Minutes:

The Lord Mayor referred to the lighting of a beacon on the Quay on Thursday to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday and that she would be joining others from across Devon, at Evensong in the Cathedral on Thursday, and hoped that Councillors would also attend the service.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Housing Revenue Account acknowledged the years of dedicated service to the nation by the Queen since her coronation. This was supported by the Council.

 

A Member paid thanks to Robin Eaton (Business & Commercial Ops Technical) who had helped out with improvements to Belmont Park.

 

The Lord Mayor congratulated the Energy Management Team for being awarded the Local Government Chronicle’s Environment award and Emma Osmundsen the Housing Development Manager who had received the UK Women in Construction Green Leadership Award. She also referred to the City Council winning the Event award at the Exeter Living Awards, as well as the Platinum Award for the strongest category winner in respect of acting as a host for the Rugby World Cup. She thanked all the officers involved in these achievements which had helped to raise the profile of the City.

 

On behalf of the Council, the Lord Mayor recorded her appreciation for the invaluable contribution of Councillors Buswell, Choules, Crew, George, Laws, Morris and Williams who were standing down and retiring at the May elections. She paid special thanks to Councillor Choules who, due to on-going ill health, could not attend this evening and passed on the Council’s best wishes for a speedy recovery. 

 

The Leader presented a petition to Council from the business owners in Smythen Street, Exeter regarding the significant loss of trade and financial income due to the presence of Gabriel House in Smythen Street and the high levels of anti-social behaviour associated with it.

 

Members noted that the petition would be consider by the People Scrutiny Committee in due course.

 

21.

Planning Committee - 14 March 2016 pdf icon PDF 272 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Planning Committee of 14 March 2016 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Bialyk, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 14 March 2016 be received.

 

22.

Planning Committee - 11 April 2016 pdf icon PDF 168 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Planning Committee of 11 April 2016 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Bialyk, and taken as read.

 

In respect of Minute 27 (Planning Application No.16/0081/03 – Land to rear of Five Acres, Exeter Road, Topsham, Exeter) and in response to a Member, the Leader stated that it was essential for the city to maintain its green spaces which included Exeter Golf Course.

 

The Chair agreed with the Leader and commented that it was important that the city had a good range of sporting activities and that there was a need for a balance between housing developments and recreational facilities. 

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 11 April 2016 be received.

 

23.

Licensing Committee - 22 March 2016 pdf icon PDF 16 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Licensing Committee of 22 March 2016 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Sheldon, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 22 March 2016 be received.

 

24.

Scrutiny Committee - Community - 1 March 2016 pdf icon PDF 174 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Community of 1 March 2016 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Wardle, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Community held on 1 March 2016 be received.

 

 

25.

Scrutiny Committee - Economy - 3 March 2016 pdf icon PDF 192 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Economy of 3 March 2016 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Brimble, and taken as read.

 

In respect of Minute 23 (Radio 1 Big Weekend Update) and in response to a Member, the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Culture clarified that the Council was aware that there was a booking fee for the tickets and that feedback would be given to the BBC regarding communication relating to costs associated with any such future event.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee – Economy held on 3 March 2016 be received.

 

26.

Scrutiny Committee - Resources - 16 March 2016 pdf icon PDF 102 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Resources of 16 March 2016 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Bull, andtaken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Resources held 16 March 2016 be received.

 

27.

Audit and Governance - 9 March 2016 pdf icon PDF 139 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee of 9 March 2016 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Vizard, and taken as read.

 

In response to a query from a Member, it was noted that the appropriate place to raise issues as to the accuracy of the minutes was at the next meeting of the Committee rather than at full council.    

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee held on 9 March 2016 be received.

 

28.

Strata Joint Scrutiny Committee - 17 March 2016 pdf icon PDF 223 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Strata Joint Scrutiny Committee of 17 March 2016 were presented by Councillor Raybould and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Strata Joint Scrutiny Committee held on 17 March 2016 be received.

 

29.

Strata Joint Executive Committee - 30 March 2016 pdf icon PDF 96 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Strata Joint Executive Committee of 30 March 2016 were presented by Councillor Edwards, and taken as read.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Strata Joint Executive Committee held on 30 March 2016 be received and, where appropriate, any recommendations contained therein approved.

 

30.

Executive - 15 March 2016 pdf icon PDF 105 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Executive of 15 March 2016 were presented by the Leader, Councillor Edwards, and taken as read.

 

In respect of Minute 43 (South Street/Corn Exchange Regeneration Proposals) and in response to a Member, the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Culture clarified that the extent of the area under consideration had not yet been defined and that all local businesses and residents, stakeholders and the wider community would be consulted on any proposals in due course.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of Executive held on 15 March 2016 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

 

31.

Executive - 12 April 2016 pdf icon PDF 78 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the Executive of 12 April 2016 were presented by the Leader, Councillor Edwards, and taken as read.

 

In respect of Minute 50 (Capital Monitoring Statement to December 2015) and in response to a Member’s question regarding the broken bollards on Cathedral Green, the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Culture clarified that the ongoing maintenance of the bollards was the responsibility of Devon County Council. The City Council had lobbied Devon County Council regarding their maintenance although, currently, the County Council had put a traffic order in place which had been partly successful. The Business Improvement District had not been prepared to pay for any repairs claiming that such work was outside of its remit.

 

The Leader stated that he would take this matter up with Devon County Council to see if an arrangement on the maintenance of the bollards could be agreed.

 

In respect of Minute 54 (Amendments to the Scheme of Delegation) the revised amendments as circulated were moved by the Leader and seconded by Councillor Sutton. This motion was carried.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of Executive held on 12 April 2016 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

 

32.

Questions from a Member of the Council under Standing Order 8

Minutes:

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

 

Question - What is the current position on the IKEA planning application which was approved some time ago?

 

The Leader stated that the Portfolio Holder for City Development would respond to this question.

 

The Portfolio Holder for City Development stated that the outline planning consent for an IKEA store had been approved in November 2014. Since then representatives of IKEA have been in regular contact with officers in City Development regarding their proposals to open a store in Exeter.  A meeting had taken place within the last few days regarding their timescale for submitting the reserved matters section of their planning consent. It was not unusual for a significant period to elapse between planning approval being granted and work to commence on site, particularly in respect of large commercial schemes. This allowed contractual and legal issues to be finalised and other relevant consents to be secured.

 

Question - Is the Leader of the Council able to answer the following question?  Just when do Crown Estates intend to advertise the proposal to STOP UP, upper Paris Street?

 

The Leader stated that the application to the Secretary of State could not be made until the planning consent had been issued, which in turn was dependent on the completion of the Section 106 Agreement. Once the road closure application was registered by the Secretary of State, the applicant would be able to advertise it and the consultation period could start.

 

Question - Why are there no units of housing included in the bus station site?

 

The Leader replied that the planning application had been considered by Council on 20 January 2016 and that this question should have been raised at that time. He stated that the Exeter Local Plan First alteration Policy KP3 identified the site as suitable for non-family housing, but did not make this a requirement of any development proposal. The site was not considered suitable for family housing given the proximity of the bus station which generated high noise levels from early in the morning until late at night. Housing, mainly in the form of purpose built student accommodation but also flats was being delivered on other sites within the regeneration area.