Agenda and minutes

to approve as a correct record and authorise the Chairman to sign the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 30 July 2020;

E.10/20

The minutes of the Executive meeting held on 30 July 2020 were confirmed as a true and correct record.

Members are invited to declare any personal or disclosable pecuniary interests, including the nature and extent of such interests they may have in any items to be considered at this meeting;

E.11/20

Members and officers were invited to declare any interests in the items of business to be considered during the course of this meeting but none were made. 

a period of up to 15 minutes is available to deal with questions submitted to the Council in accordance with the Executive Procedure Rules;

E.12/20           

No questions were received.

E.13/20          

Members were presented with the Executive Forward Plan setting out items on the agenda for Executive meetings for the next four months and noted its content.

E.14/20          

i)     Overview and Scrutiny Panel – 16^th July 2020

O&S.4/20 – Homelessness Strategy Action Plan 2020/21

RESOLVED

That, with effect from 1 April 2020, the Executive adopt the Homelessness Strategy Action Plan 2020/21 (as attached at Appendix 3 of the presented report to the Panel).

ii)    Joint Development Management Committee and O&S Panel – 3^rd September 2020

The Leader informed that Minutes OSDM.10/20 (Draft Amended Budget 2019/20) and OSDM.11/20 (Recovery Plan to the COVID-19 Crisis) were to be read in conjunction with agenda items 7 and 8 below (Minutes E.15/20 and E.16/20 below refer).

E.15/20           

The Leader introduced the report and drew attention to the fact that this was the first time that the Executive had had the opportunity to review the draft Plan, and, as outlined in the report presented to the Joint Meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny (O&S) Panel and Development Management Committee, work would continue to be led by Members of the Executive under the themes set out in the current strategic framework. 

Therefore, the Leader requested that the Chairmen of the O&S Panel and Development Management (DM) Committee consider withdrawing recommendation 6 from the Recommendations to Council as the establishment of a Working Group was not considered appropriate.  Regarding recommendation 7, the Leader also clarified that it would not be possible to request that a member of Team Devon provide a Member Briefing, as Team Devon was a concept and not a specific group. The Leader confirmed that Team Devon had long existed but had strengthened during the pandemic and included other Local Authorities and stakeholders from across Devon, excepting Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council.  The Leader asked officers to provide an enhanced explanation of this in the internal Members’ Bulletin publication this week.  It was hoped that this explanation would result in the recommendation to Full Council on 24^th September 2020 being withdrawn at that meeting.  The Executive thanked the O&S Panel and DM Committee Members for their input to reach this point. 

Under Paragraph 13 of the presented agenda report, the Executive then laid out their priorities:

The Leader commented that improving the Council’s reputation was key to the Recovery Plan as was ensuring that the Council worked at all times for the well-being of residents and businesses in the District.

The Deputy Leader then stated his belief that the priorities for the Business and Economy Theme were to understand and represent key business sectors in South Hams to facilitate better business for all to create business to business links to further best practice, to provide a channel to lobby and influence, and to improve access to Central Government and other support where the District Council was best placed to help.  The Council should also wish to align its commercial strategy and land assets to deliver projects with multiple objectives, such as regeneration, revenue, housing and employment.  In addition, the Council should take an active role in promoting tourism, working with partners and stakeholders across Devon.  Work with partners to support the evolution of the ‘High Street’ creating place, fostering change and putting the community first.  This priority was added as a response to how village shops had supported their communities through the Covid pandemic.  The Deputy Leader concluded that his final objective was to work with partners to support green recovery and the principle of building back better.

Theme 2 Place and Environment Lead Member, the Leader, stated her view that the objectives under this theme should be to protect and enhance the beauty and character of the built and natural environment  ...  view the full minutes text for item E.15/20

E.16/20          

The Leader presented the amended draft budget report for 2020/21.  One Member stated that he would have liked to move an amendment but had ascertained that there was no seconder, therefore he would be voting against the proposals.  The Leader confirmed that a briefing note would be circulated  by the S151 Officer  that sought to clarify the purpose of unearmarked reserves.  Although CiPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountability) no longer recommended a minimum level for unearmarked reserves, the amount suggested by the Section 151 Officer was in line with the previous recommendations.

It was then RESOLVED that the Executive RECOMMENDED to Council:-

E.17/20           

The Leader introduced the Coastal Concordat paper which needed to be signed by all Coastal Councils.  The Coastal Concordat provided a framework with which the separate processes for the consenting of coastal developments in England could be better coordinated.  The benefits of working under the Concordat included upfront signposting to the right agencies for the applicant, reduced duplication of evidence requirements, streamlined regulatory processes with one body taking the lead for any required assessments, transparency and consistency of advice, time and cost savings for regulators and applicants, and met the commitments outlined in the 25 year environment plan.  It was confirmed that there were no cost implications for the Council.

It was then RESOLVED that, with immediate effect, the Coastal Concordat be signed up to.

E.18/20           

The Lead Member for Enterprise introduced the Ivybridge Regeneration update.  Some Members noted their dismay with the lack of involvement and monies from both Ivybridge Town Council and the owners of the Glanville Mills Shopping Centre on the issue of renovating the bridges linking the town to the Centre. 

Carparking plans were outlined and discussed with confirmation that the issue would be brought back to Members in December for a final decision.  Following a question from a Member, officers clarified that the current proposal of the Council undertaking the construction and then leasing the building aligned well with the adopted commercial strategy (enhancing public assets, regeneration, long term revenue), whilst recognising that it did carry risks around construction. Disposing of the land (sell or long lease) was an alternative that the market would have interest in, but it would not deliver all of those benefits. 

It was then RESOLVED that the Executive RECOMMENDED to Council that:

Further to the update provided by this report, the Council continue to support the project as it moves forward to planning and tender stage, with a decision on progressing the project further then being made at a subsequent meeting of the Executive and Council.

to consider the following resolution to exclude the public and press:-

“That in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business in order to avoid the likely disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act”;

E.19/20           

RESOLVED

That in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business as the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Act is involved.

E.20/20          

Members considered an exempt report on the above subject.  One Member wished to have input on the procurement process and his offer of help was gratefully accepted.

It was agreed that a further Appendix on the cashflow position of the projects would be appended to the Council report.

There followed a full and frank discussion and it was then RESOLVED that:

1.     The progress and spending commitments of the Community Housing Programme be noted; and

2.     Approval be given to the signing of construction contracts to complete the St Anns Chapel and South Brent Developments; and

(NOTE: THESE DECISIONS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF E.15/20 PART 4, E.16/20, E.18/20 AND E.20/20 PARTS 3 AND 4  WHICH WERE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 24 SEPTEMBER 2020, WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE FROM 5.00PM ON MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2020 UNLESS CALLED IN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SCRUTINY PROCEDURE RULE 18).