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

4.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Foggin, D Henson, Morse, Musgrave, Newby and Pearson. 

 

 

5.

The Built Sport and Leisure Facilities pdf icon PDF 365 KB

To consider the report of the Director (JY).

 

Minute of Executive 12 June 2018 – to follow.

 

Minutes:

Minute 56 (The Built Sport and Leisure Facilities) of the meeting of Executive held on 12 June 2018 were taken as read.

 

The Leader stated that the decision before Members was for the closure of Clifton Hill Sports Centre and for the investment in the future of the other existing sports facilities in the city. The vote would be taken in two parts, one for the closure and the second for the future investment in the Council’s sports facilities.

 

The Leader of the Council moved and the Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, Communities and Sport seconded the recommendation from Executive 12 June 2018 in respect of the Built Sport and Leisure Facilities.

 

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

 

Question How has this not been considered a key decision bearing in mind the levels of financial expenditure which appear to exceed £1m?

 

The Leader responded that, in accordance with the Council’s procedure rules, Council had to consider any requests for approval of funding which was not included in the budget - this was the case here.  As such, Executive did not take a decision on this matter but made a series of recommendations to the Council. This meant that this was not a key decision, as the Council would be taking the decision not the Executive. 


Question - How does the Council propose to mitigate the loss of these community facilities i.e. golf range, ski slope, rifle club etc.?

 

The Leader responded that should the Council, as landlord decide to terminate these lease agreements, officers would assist the tenants where it was possible to do so to find alternative premises where possible.

 

Councillor Thompson asked a supplementary question to explain the consequences of where the tenants would go?

 

The Leader clarified that officers would investigate suitable alternative premises for any displaced tenants.

 

Question - What are the business rates which will be avoided as a reason to demolish the building with a given budget to demolish of £150,000?

 

The Leader responded that they were £30,000 per annum.

 

Question - How will the Compensation payment be calculated?

 

The Leader responded that the compensation payment would be calculated in line with the contract terms.

 

Councillor Thompson asked a supplementary question with regards to the final compensation amount.

 

The Leader clarified that this would be negotiated with the contractor within the terms of the contract.


Question - Has an estimate of a capital receipt been assessed taking into account the facility is built on a former landfill site, which could affect the ease/cost of building residential development - has the Risk Register evidenced gas landfill emissions?

 

The Leader replied that no formal assessment of land value/capital receipt had yet taken place.  Officers would only do this once the authority to do so had been delegated to them. The golf driving range was the site of an old Victorian rubbish tip and could therefore not be built on for many years.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Transformational Budget - First Tranche of proposed projects pdf icon PDF 161 KB

To consider the report of the Strategic Management Board.

 

Minute of Executive 12 June 2018 – to follow.

 

Minutes:

Minute 59 (Transformational Budget - First tranche of Proposed Projects) of the meeting of Executive held on 12 June 2018 were taken as read.

 

The Leader stated that the proposal was the way forward to help address the impact of the Central Government Grants cuts that the Council would need to address in the coming years.

 

The Leader moved, and the Portfolio Holder for Portfolio Holder for City Transformation, Energy and Transport seconded the recommendation from Executive 12 June 2018 in respect of the Transformational Budget - First tranche of Proposed Projects.

 

In response to a question, the Leader clarified that a notification mechanism to advice Members of potential decisions to be taken would be put in place.

 

In seconding the recommendation the Portfolio Holder for City Transformation, Energy and Transport stated that it was important that the Council was in a position to act quickly should investment opportunities arise.

 

RESOLVED that Minute 59 of the Executive held on 12 June (as below) be received and adopted:-

 

(1)     that the allocation of funding from the Transformation Reserve be approved;

 

(2)     that delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive & Growth Director, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and Leader of the Council, to allocate resources up to £1.5 million funded by an Earmarked Reserve, to support transformation and other projects that will support the Council in delivering £2.75 million in savings over the next two years;

 

(3)     that a Capital Budget of up to £10 million be approved to enable commercial opportunities to be progressed; and

 

(4)     that delegated authority to given to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the appropriate Director, the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Place and Commercialisation to award funds against the Commercialisation Capital budget of £10 million.