Agenda item

The minutes of the meeting will follow and will be tabled at the meeting.

The minutes of the Executive of 9 July 2024 – which had been published as a late supplement and made available in print version at the meeting – were presented by the Leader, Councillor Bialyk.

In respect of Minute No. 72 (Review of the Corporate Risk Register), Councillor Bennett asked which areas of the Risk Register had been identified by the Executive as requiring urgent attention. The Leader invited Councillor Bennett to email him on this matter and promised to reply to her after consulting with the Executive. Councillor Moore asked the Leader what involvement Portfolio Holders had in determining the various degrees of risk and testing the evidence in each risk calculation. Councillor Bialyk reminded Councillor Moore of the context of the risk register going to Executive, explaining that, ultimately, Portfolio Holders were responsible for their portfolio area and that they were fully aware of the need to prioritise certain risks and issues.

In respect of Minute No. 73 (Overview of General Fund Revenue Budget 2023/24 - Quarter 4), Councillor Banyard asked if any progress had been made on offsetting the loss made on Exeter City Living. The Leader replied that the loss in question was not as sizeable as had been claimed by some; he advised that he would circulate the exact figures to all Councillors. Councillor Moore asked how the Leader would ensure that the expectations in the Budget around car parks income would be met. Councillor Bialyk explained that the original report on car parking charges had been withdrawn; a revised version would be brought back to Members, possibly through a special meeting of the Council. Replying to a question from Councillor Patrick, the Leader welcomed the new Government’s recent announcement on the promotion of green energy.

The Leader moved and Councillor Wright seconded the recommendations and,

following a vote, the recommendations were carried.

In respect of Minute No. 74 (General Fund Capital Monitoring 2023/24 and Revised Capital Programme for 2024/25 and Future Years), Councillor M Mitchell asked when the Leader anticipated that repair works on the Northernhay Gardens section city wall would be carried out. Councillor Bialyk replied that he would be expecting an announcement to be made soon, and would be speaking to the Comms team about this.

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

In respect of Minute No. 75 (2023/24 HRA Budget Monitoring Report - Outturn), the Leader moved and Councillor Wright seconded the recommendations and, following a vote, the recommendations were carried unanimously.

In respect of Minute No. 76 (Treasury Management 2023/24), the Leader moved and Councillor Wright seconded the recommendation and, following a vote, the recommendation was carried.

In respect of Minute No. 78 (InExeter Business Improvement District Business Plan 2025 - 2030), Councillor Wright declared a non-pecuniary interest and left the meeting during consideration of this matter. Councillor Moore expressed support for the recommendations and encouraged the Council to consider extending the relationship to businesses by the quay. Councillor Bialyk replied that he had no objection to this but clarified that this would be a matter for the BID and only if it terms of reference allowed it.

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

In respect of Minute No. 79 (Liveable Water Lane: Development Framework and Design Code Supplementary Planning Document), Councillor Moore generally welcomed the document and stressed its importance. She made the following further comments:-

·         she had no issue with the increased density;

·         she had written to NHS Devon about the need for a primary care facility;

·         this document was about more than planning; and

·         she urged the Leader to proactively push for a new surgery, a new GP contract and a new facility to be set up.

Replying to a query from Councillor Banyard on assurances about an environmental assessment, the Portfolio Holder for City Development, Councillor Allcock, advised that she would reply to him in writing. Similarly, she undertook to reply in writing to Councillor Ketchin who, noting that this would constitute the largest build in Exeter in recent history, had raised concerns about contamination risks and called for due diligence to be carried out on the matter. She also clarified that the recommendation was specifically about the adoption of the Water Lane Supplementary Planning Document.

Councillor Harding praised the idea mentioned in the document of a ‘high-line’ active travel corridor along the disused railway line, running from Alphington to the quay, reasoning that it would constitute an asset to West Exeter; he asked if Councillors could do anything to help make this aspirational concept materialise.

Councillor M Mitchell thanked all officers involved in the drafting of the document. He expressed concern about the mix of housing suggested, reminding Members of the importance of affordable housing.

The Leader addressed Councillors’ comments as follows:-

·         if Councillor Ketchin could email his notes with his concerns about contamination risks, the Leader would make sure that the Portfolio Holder for City Development and the Strategic Director for Place were sighted on these and could respond accordingly;

·         while it was essential that all relevant surveys took place once the developers started work on the site, the Council would not be doing the developers’ work for them;

·         the ‘high-line’ active travel corridor along the disused railway line should be part of the strategy if the facility was there, but it would require liaising with Devon County Council; and

·         there needed to be a strategic approach with the NHS about on-site GP provision.

He further made further specific reference to:-

·         the new planning reforms taking place;

·         the need for infrastructure;

·         the need to influence the decision-makers nationwide; and

·         his forthcoming meetings with the MPs concerned.

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

In respect of Minute No. 80 (Productivity Plan), Councillor Moore raised the issue of the rise of inequality in the city as well as the increase in the cost of living. In his reply, Councillor Bialyk made the following comments:-

·         the idea of a Productivity Plan had been devised by the previous Government and it was currently unclear what the new Government’s intentions on the matter were;

·         it was important not to make any sweeping generalisations; and

·         Councillors were invited to bring any pressing matter to his attention and he would do his best to deal with it.

In respect of Minute No. 81 (King George V Playing Fields), Councillor Foale told Members of his own experience of playing walking football all over Devon, but never in Exeter, remarking that the city did not have adequate facilities. He made further specific reference to the changing, diverse nature of modern football and called on the negotiations of detailed terms to take place as soon as possible. The Leader highlighted the importance of:-

·         working in partnership with the Exeter Community Trust;

·         providing a decent home for the Exeter City FC women and girls teams;

·         securing funding; and

·         respecting due process.

RESOLVED that minutes 68 to 82 of the Executive held on 9 July 2024 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.