Agenda item

Details of questions should be notified to Democratic Services at least three working days prior to the meeting - by 10am on Thursday 10 October 2024.

Details about speaking at Council to be found here: Public Speaking at Meetings.

The Lord Mayor reported the receipt of four questions from members of the public.

1. Question from Mr P

Has the City Council considered releasing any part of the vacant bus station site to temporarily house people who currently are sleeping on the streets? It is noted that such schemes are being used by other Councils.

The Leader gave the following response:

The Council is currently exploring options for meanwhile uses for the bus station site.  Any potential options for the site will be presented to Council for consideration before being implemented.

2. Question from Mrs S

As the answers to questions asked by the public are often technical, could it be possible to provide the answer in writing before the meeting so that a meaningful subsequent question can be asked?

The Lord Mayor and Leader responded:

Council officers have a short period of time in which to prepare answers to questions. Members of the public do not receive answers to their questions in advance of council meetings because the purpose is to ensure that questions and answers are addressed in public, with a follow-up question in order to allow further exploration of the subject matter of the question and that all things will be considered.

3. Question from Mr H

I would like the reason why work on Flowerpot Fields new changing pavilion, together with the construction of an all-weather pitch, has been allowed to continue despite Exeter College's revised plans now include classrooms but no changing facilities open for the general public and have yet to been formally approved.

The Leader gave the following response:

The works currently taking place at Flowerpot Fields are in connection with Exeter College’s original planning consent, which remains extant. While the College has submitted revised plans that include classrooms instead of the previously proposed public changing facilities, they can still proceed under the terms of their original consent until a decision is made on the new application.

We are actively monitoring the situation and communicating with the College to ensure compliance with the planning conditions.

In a supplementary question Mr H stated that this would be a betrayal of the original plans and would the community receive the promised facilities?  The Leader explained that new plans must come before Planning Committee.

The meeting was adjourned at 6.22pm and reconvened at 6.32pm.

4. Question from Ms F

Given that the Harbour Board's vision statement includes the intention to “maintain the biodiversity and ecological health” of Exeter’s waterways, is the Council willing to consider additional measures to ensure biodiversity concerns are represented on the Board, such as are taken on by forward-thinking companies such as Faith in Nature?

The Portfolio Holder for City Management gave the following response:

Exeter Harbour Board welcomes applications for external membership of the Board from suitably qualified and experienced persons; the vacancy advert explicitly includes mention of Environmental Management, ecology and conservation. Two vacancies arise annually usually in April, and these are advertised on the ECC website as well as circulation to local waterways stakeholder groups.

In a supplementary question Ms F asked if the Council would invite members from relevant businesses to inform work with a specific remit for biodiversity? The Portfolio Holder responded stating that details of external Members of the Harbour Board could be found on the Council website and that Members take responsibility for a range of matters relating to harbour and waterways.

5. Question from Mrs T

With validated objections to Exeter City Council 2021/2022 Accounts still under review and a Statement of Reasons from the External Auditor to the objectors still pending, could the Section 151 Officer confirm if these objections will be resolved before the December 2024 backstop please?

The Leader gave the following response:

The External Auditors are still working to sign off the Accounts for each outstanding year in advance of the respective backstop dates.  It is outside the control of the Council however as to whether this is successful.

In a supplementary question Mrs T asked if it was possible to explain the backstop and consequences should it not be met? The Leader responded stating that he would speak to the s151 officer and provide a response outside the meeting.