Agenda item

The minutes of the Executive of 4 October 2022 were presented by the Leader, Councillor Bialyk, and taken as read.

In respect of Minute No. 98 (Corporate Plan 2022-2026), and during the discussion the following points were made:-

·         welcomed the opportunity given by the Leader to provide feedback on the Corporate Plan;

·         welcomed the on-going commitment of increasing the energy efficiency of the Council’s housing stock and the Council moving towards making its assets Net Zero;

·         welcomed the commitment to build 500 houses in the next 10 years to Passivhaus standards which would help reduce the cost of living;

·         there was a wish to see a more extensive retrofit programme as well as a commitment to providing additional affordable homes by means other than through those set out in the Plan in order to combat the high cost of renting and buying in the city;

·         the Plan did not sufficiently acknowledge the Council’s commitment to its two emergency motions in respect of nature - the Climate Emergency and the Ecological Emergency;

·         Climate Change was recognised as a huge challenge and the Carbon Reduction Plan and the Net Zero 2030 goal were welcome;

·         assurance was sought on whether Liveable Exeter housing developments would be carbon neutral in construction; and

·         welcomed the rollout of food waste collection across the city and asked when the rollout would be completed?

The Leader, in response, made the following points:-

·         the Corporate Plan was a vision of how the Council wished to see the city moving forward;

·         it had not been possible to hold the intended Members’ briefing on the Corporate Plan because of the passing of Her Majesty the Queen, but other briefings would be arranged, as appropriate;

·         the Council remained committed to undertake whatever was possible in order to meet its stated goal of Net Zero 2030, but Members needed to appreciate that this was against the background of the original savings of £2.3 million identified for 2023/24 but as a result of additional costs, including the impact of energy increases, a further £2 million in savings was required; and

·         detailed responses in respect of affordable housing and the retrofitting programme would be provided under Min. No. 57 below.

The Leader moved and Councillor Morse seconded the recommendations.

In respect of Minute No. 99 (Catering Provision at Edwards Court), and during the discussion the following points were made:-

·         given the rising food and staffing costs which were impacting on the ability of firms to tender for contracts, it was vital for the City Council to provide the catering; and

·         the service would contribute to residents’ wellbeing and ensure they benefitted from hot meals.

Members were invited to visit Edwards Court.

The Leader moved and Councillor Morse seconded the recommendations and following a vote, the recommendations were carried unanimously. 

In respect of Minute No. 101 (Amendments to the Scheme of Delegation)

the Leader moved and Councillor Morse seconded the recommendation and following a vote, the recommendation was carried unanimously. 

In respect of Minute No. 102 (Minor Amendment of Parliamentary Polling Districts and Polling Places for Exeter and East Devon Constituencies)

a Member expressed his opposition to the proposal to combine two polling districts into a single polling district in the St Thomas Ward, with the intention being to no longer use the West Exe Children’s Centre but to utilise the St Thomas Church Community Centre instead. He referred to long queues out to the car park that occurred at the former during peak periods and that this situation would be exacerbated when the Community Centre catered for the increased numbers. He also referred to access difficulties at the polling station located in the Bowhill Primary School.

The Corporate Manager Democratic & Civic Support, in his role as Returning Officer, advised that the Council was being asked to combine the two polling districts being served by the West Exe Children’s Centre and the St Thomas Church Community Centre into one building. Providing two stations at the Church Community Centre would be consistent with double stations provided in other polling districts in the city. Alternative methods of catering for elections were always being considered and, in respect of access to polling stations in school grounds, it was for the schools themselves to determine access and egress arrangements and whether the school should remain open.

The Leader moved and Councillor Morse seconded the recommendation and following a vote, the recommendation was carried.

In respect of Minute No.103 (Overview of General Fund Revenue Budget 2022/23 – Quarter 1), the Leader moved and Councillor Morseseconded the recommendations and following a vote, the recommendations were carried.

In respect of Minute No. 104 (2022/23 General Fund Capital Monitoring Statement – Quarter 1) the Leader moved and Councillor Morse seconded the recommendations and following a vote, the recommendations were carried.

In respect of Minute No. 105 (HRA Budget Monitoring Report – Quarter 1), the Leader moved and Councillor Morse seconded the recommendations and following a vote, the recommendations were carried.

In respect of Minute No. 106 (A Public Arts Strategy for Exeter), the Leader, in response to a Member’s question, advised that the responsible Portfolio Holder for the Strategy would be the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Arts and Culture and Corporate Services and confirmed that the Strategy would be added to the Council website.

The Leader moved and Councillor Morse seconded the recommendation and following a vote, the recommendation was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Executive held on 4 October 2022 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

The meeting adjourned at 7.25 pm and re-convened at 7.35 pm.