Minutes:
In accordance with Standing Order No. 8, the following questions were put by Councillor Leadbetter to the Leader.
Question - Ref Lengthy Delays carrying out Property Searches
Cllr Edwards is aware of this problem - it is seriously affecting property sales and harming the City’s Property Market and therefore propriety! Some weeks ago he stated that the problem was sorted however the Chairman of the Exeter Estate Agents Association wrote to the City Council last week to say the matter was getting worse. I raised this with Cllr Edwards by way of an email on Thursday 9th October, to which I am still awaiting a reply!
Please would Cllr Edwards detail what he is doing to alleviate the problem, the timescale and how is he communicating this to the Business Community and Councillors?
The Leader stated that the Portfolio Holder for City Development would respond to this question.
The Portfolio Holder for City Development responded that the Council was aware of the situation and would like to apologise to anyone who has been inconvenienced by the delays, which are unacceptable. This matter had been raised by the local estate agents and a meeting had been arranged with local agents and solicitors to discuss their concerns. To put the issues into context the Council is carrying out more land searches now than in recent years, there were 1,990 in 2012/13 compared to 2,660 in 2013/14 and because of this, extra resources have been deployed to cope with the workload. This is a specialist area of work, and it takes time for those extra resources to acquire the necessary local knowledge and expertise. Council employees were working long hours and the Council has also seconded a member of staff from Teignbridge District Council to help deal with the workload.
The Council has received an unprecedented demand, for example on one day 52 requests were received compared to an average of 12 to 15 per day and the recent transfer of Princesshay to Henderson Estates generated a series of time-consuming searches. Progress was starting to be made and it was expected that turnaround times would come down, the overall turnaround was now 36 days down from 45 days at its peak. Local agents and solicitors were kept up-to-date with progress via a weekly e-mail and in response to your e-mail dated 9 October, the Leader has instructed officers to convene a meeting with the Chair of the Exeter Estate Agents Association to which you will be invited.
In response to a supplementary question the Portfolio Holder for City Development confirmed that the turnaround was 36 working days.
Question - In view of the recent changes to Youth Club provision in the City - what can Cllr Edwards and the City Council do in order to help to continue to provide services and/or alternate provision (especially bearing in mind two of the City's premises belong to the City Council)?
The Leader stated that the Portfolio Holder for Enabling Services would respond to this question.
The Portfolio Holder for Enabling Services responded that the Council is working with county colleagues, members and potential new providers of youth/community services via the Exeter Board to identify any sources of possible funding either from within the city, such as Exeter Board or external funding. Whilst the provision of youth services were not a City Council responsibility council officers are supporting potential new providers to look at networking opportunities within communities directly affected by Devon County Council youth club closures.
Two of the youth centres at Phoenix and Westside are city council buildings on long leases to Devon County Council and the Council would be happy to discuss the future of these facilities with Devon County Council or any other potential service providers. The City Council continues to support the nine community centres in the city that are leased to community groups to deliver community provision.
Question - I am sure Cllr Edwards would agree that, in the words of a famous wartime Leader, it is better to Jaw Jaw than War War?
What would he suggest he can do to foster better working relationships between the County and City Councils as after all we should all be working for the benefits of the residents of Exeter.
The Leader responded that he could not agree more that the County Council should work together with the City Council for the greater good of the city. The City Council have instigated meetings with opposition Leaders and the Leader of Devon County Council on issues such as its budget consultation exercise and proposed leisure complex. However, Devon County Council had initiated cuts within its services such as warden control housing, day care services for the elderly, youth facilities in the city and weed spraying which affected Exeter residents, without any previous discussions with the City Council. The City Council was still waiting to hear about signage for Topsham car parks.
As Leader I am happy to instigate another meeting should you wish to discuss the matters I have raised.
Councillor Leadbetter raised a supplementary comment that Devon County Council had provided the city with a new Library and excellent new secondary schools. He stated he would meet with the Leader and the Chief Executive to discuss the way forward for the city.