Agenda item

Executive - 8 October 2019

Minutes:

The minutes of the Executive of 8 October 2019 were presented by the Leader, Councillor Bialyk, and taken as read.

 

In respect of Minute No. 92 (Council House Building Programme), a number of Members spoke in favour of the recommendations. One summarised the history of council house building over the last 100 years and how authorities under differing political control had, for much of this period, been committed to providing social housing. However, he believed that the last 30 years, which had witnessed a commitment to private sector housing rather than council housing, allied to a lack of rental control, had been a retrograde step leading to many social ills. He also criticised the inability of Councils to reinvest receipts from Right to Buy sales in the housing system. Other Members supported these views.

 

In respect of the interest rate rise in the public works loan board loans and in response to a Member, the Leader stated that the rate remained at an historic low and that borrowing was only one strand of potential funding for building council houses. He also referred to Exeter having submitted the biggest bid outside London for this programme and the encouragement the Council gave to other social provider partners.

 

The Leader moved and the Deputy Leader seconded the recommendations and they were carried unanimously.

 

In respect of Minute No. 93 (Options for investment in Exeter Kerb Side Recycling Scheme) the Chair of the former Place Scrutiny Committee welcomed the proposed investment in the Materials Reclamations Facility. He and other Members, praised the commitment and passion of the staff working there and it was hoped that the Council would witness a rise in the recycling rate.

 

The Leader moved and the Deputy Leader seconded the recommendations and they were carried unanimously.

 

In respect of Minute No. 94 (Carbon 2030 Roadmap), a Member welcomed the engagement activities proposed, suggesting that these could go further to achieve greater participation in the democratic process and urged meaningful consultation, for example, through a citizens assembly. She also stated that issues around the Energy Recovery Facility, carbon emissions and the District Heating hub should also be covered within the consultation process.

 

Another Member believed that the Road Map was the appropriate way forward to achieve carbon neutrality and that the Council was fully engaged with other stakeholders including Exeter City Futures Community Interest Company, University, Exeter College, the Royal Devon and Exeter Trust and Oxygen House.

 

The Leader referred to the Council’s commitment within the Roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and explained some of the ambitious measures the Council would be taking to address the severe challenges being faced.

 

The Leader moved and the Deputy Leader seconded the recommendation which was carried unanimously.

 

In respect of Minute No. 96 (Overview of the General Fund Revenue Budget), the Leader moved and the Deputy Leader seconded the recommendations and they were carried unanimously.

 

In respect of Minute No. 97 (General Fund Capital Monitoring), the Leader moved and the Deputy Leader seconded the recommendations and they were carried.

 

In respect of Minute No. 98 (HRA Budget Monitoring Report), The Leader moved and the Deputy Leader seconded the recommendations and they were carried unanimously.

 

In respect of Minute No. 99 (Statutory Review of Polling Districts and Places), the Leader, in response to a Member referring to the recent inclusion in the Queen’s speech of a proposal to introduce a requirement under electoral reform to show ID photos to vote, gave an assurance that, should proposals come forward on electoral reform, the Council would make representations to make voting easier not harder.

 

The Leader moved and the Deputy Leader seconded the recommendations and they were carried unanimously.

 

In respect of Minute No. 100 (Update on the review of the Governance Arrangements), the Leader, together with Councillor Hannaford as Chair of the Governance Review Working Party, presented the recommendations.  The latter highlighted the change in culture the proposals would bring aimed at making the Council more accountable and transparent. Responding to the concerns of some Members that the opposition parties had not been offered the Chairs of the two Scrutiny Committees, he stated that a proactive approach was expected of both the Chairs and Deputies and that it was anticipated that Task and Finish Groups and Spotlight Reviews would be brought forward by them and the Scrutiny Members. He also welcomed the new opportunity for the public to submit questions to both the Executive and Council which would allow greater participation in the Council's decision making process. The Leader also referred to the removal of the practice of pre-scrutinising reports destined for the Executive.

 

Other Members also supported the proposals, stating that the Scrutiny process would be more flexible and focussed with specific roles that could be developed by Deputy Chairs.

 

Another Member felt that the new arrangements reduced the opportunity for Councillors to bring Executive to account with a limited lead in time after agenda publication. She also called for a review of the Council relationship with the various types of outside bodies including officer roles. Responding to these comments, another Member stated that the Scrutiny Committees would have the role of informing and helping direct Council policy.

 

The Leader recommended the proposals as appropriate for an ambitious Council looking to enhance the democratic process in the city to meet growing public expectations. He also stated that he would discuss the query raised in respect of outside bodies.

 

The Leader moved and the Deputy Leader seconded the recommendations 1 to 18 and they were carried.

 

The Leader also presented proposals for the membership of the Executive; changes to the number of Portfolio Holders and Member Champions; and membership and Chair and Deputy Chair appointments of the Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee, the Strategic Scrutiny Committee and the Scrutiny Programme Board. The Leader moved and the Deputy Leader seconded the proposals as set out in the Appendix to these minutes and they were carried.

 

In respect of Minute No. 102 (Treasury Management Strategy Amendments), the Leader moved and the Deputy Leader seconded the recommendation which was carried unanimously.

 

In respect of Minute No. 104 (RAMM Lift – Part II), the Leader moved and the Deputy Leader seconded the recommendation which was carried unanimously.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of Executive held on 8 October 2019 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

 

 

 

The Council adjourned for a ten minute comfort break.

 

 

 

 

 

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