Decisions

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(1)   note the content of the petition and the concerns raised regarding the potential impacts of Houses in Multiple Occupation on the local community; and

(2)   recognise the continued commitment to preparing the Local Plan to the agreed timescales whilst identifying additional resources to support a review of the Article 4 Direction.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report and amended at the meeting.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED thatCouncil:-

(1)   approve the secondment of the Chief Executive & Growth Director for two days per week to head up the work of Exeter City Futures CIC in support of the Net Zero Exeter 2030 Plan, commencing on 2 January 2022;

(2)   approve the secondment of the Director of Transformation for up to three days per week to Exeter City Futures CIC, to design and lead the programme of change in support of the Net Zero Exeter 2030 goal, commencing on 2 January 2022;

(3)   agree to the review of the secondment arrangements in 12 months;

(4)   approve the commission of additional work to establish a carbon budget for the City of Exeter to show the baseline position for the city, the various city sectors who contribute to carbon emissions, the targets to achieve Net Zero and the carbon emission implications in pursuing the proposals, as set out in the Net Zero Plan;

(5)   note the changes to the Strategic Management Board reporting lines; and

(6)   request that Strata Service Solutions Ltd consider amending its constitution to allow for the officer representation on its Joint Executive Committee to be the Chief Executive or his nominee of the three constituent authorities (rather than the Chief Executive).

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council approve:-

(1)   the revised Procurement and Contract Procedures in Appendix A of the report;

(2)   the revised Procedural Note – Exemptions in Appendix B of the report; and

(3)   the authorisation for the Director Finance in conjunction with the relevant Portfolio Holder to make minor changes to the Contract Procedure Rules as defined below and that any changes be reported to Members as part of the wider update on progress:

·        Changes in statutory framework, such as references to new or updated legislation;

·        Changes in titles, names or terminology; and

·        Changes consequential to other constitutional changes already made.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED to Council that:-

(1)   the basic structure and principles of the current Members’ Allowances scheme be retained for 2022/23;

(2)   the principle that any Member qualifying for more than one Special Responsibility Allowance is paid the higher allowance only, be retained;

(3)   the Councillors’ Basic and Special Responsibility Allowances, including the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor’s Expenses Allowances, should be linked and updated in line with the Local Government Employers (LGE) staff pay award for the previous year (a 2.5% increase in the annual Local Staff Pay Award was awarded by the Employers side for staff which was effective for staff from April 2021), and be uplifted by this amount with effect from 1 April 2022;

(4)   the principle that Special Responsibility Allowances be paid to no more than 50% of the overall number of Councillors be kept under review and adhered to where possible;

(5)   the current Dependants’ Carers’ Allowance scheme be maintained, with the continuation of the level of allowance matching the hourly Living Wage as applicable from April of each year (together with the retention of the uplift of the standard rate of income tax). In the case of members who need specialist care for a child or adult dependant, a higher rate, of up to £25 per hour or part thereof, can be agreed by negotiation in advance with the Corporate Manager, Democratic and Civic Support;

(6)   the sum of £50 be paid to the Independent Persons affiliated to the Audit and Governance Committee for up to four hours work, and £100 for four hours and over, payable to each of the two Independent Persons (up to a maximum of £500 per person in any one year) be retained; and

(7)   the Travel and Subsistence allowances available for staff continue to apply to Exeter City Councillors, where appropriate.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council approves (where applicable) :-

(1)   the HRA forecast financial position for 2021/22 financial year; and

(2)   the revision of the HRA Capital Programme to reflect the reported variations detailed in Appendix 4 of the report.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council notes and approves (where applicable):-

(1)   the General Fund forecast financial position for the 2021 financial year;

(2)   the supplementary budgets as detailed in paragraph 8.11 of the report;

(3)   the outstanding Sundry Debt position as at September 2021; and

(4)   the creditors payments performance.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council note the Treasury Management report for the first six months of the 2021/22 financial year.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council approve:-

(1)   the revision of the annual Capital Programme to reflect the reported variations detailed in 8.1 and Appendix 1 of the report; and

(2)   the additional budget detailed in 8.6 of the report.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.