Items
No. |
Item |
IE.1/19 |
Introductory Comments
Minutes:
IE.1/19
The protocol for the meeting
was outlined, in light of the change from a formal Executive
Meeting to an Informal Executive.
Items 8 and 9 (Reference
IE.6/19 and IE.7/19 below refer) were due to be matters that could
be approved at the formal Executive meeting. If this informal meeting was still minded to make
a recommendation on these agenda items, then it would be a matter
for the Deputy Chief Executive to decide whether it was appropriate
to exercise his ‘Emergency Powers’ and make one (or
both) of these decisions on behalf of the Executive.
Items 7, 10, 11, 12, and 14
(Reference IE.5/19, IE.8/19, IE.9/19, IE.10/19 and IE.12/19 were matters that were due to be
recommendations to the next Council meeting. It was noted that the views arising from this
meeting and the agenda report and (any) appendices would be sent to
all Members with an opportunity to ask (any) further questions and
make (any) further comments. Once the
deadline for comments had expired, then the Deputy Chief Executive
would consider all of the points raised before deciding whether or
not he wishes to exercise his ‘Emergency Powers’ and
make the decisions on behalf of the Council. Officers also confirmed that legislation dictated
that some decisions could only be made by the full Council and not
under ‘Emergency Powers’ provisions and these would
need to be referred to the next formal Council meeting.
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IE.2/19 |
Minutes PDF 123 KB
to approve as a correct record and authorise
the Chairman to sign the minutes of the meeting of the Executive
held on 6 February 2020;
Minutes:
IE.2/19
The minutes of the
Executive meeting held on 6 February 2020 were not able to be
signed off as a ‘true and correct record’ since this
was now an Informal Executive meeting.
These minutes would be carried forward to the next formal Executive
Meeting, currently 14 May 2020.
|
IE.3/19 |
Declarations of Interest
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;
Minutes:
IE.3/19
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.
|
IE.4/19 |
Executive Forward Plan PDF 657 KB
Minutes:
IE.4/19
Members were
presented with an interim Executive Forward Plan setting out items
on the agenda for Executive meetings for the next four months and
noted its content.
|
IE.5/19 |
Council Tax Reduction for Care Leavers and Council Tax Premium for Long Term Empty Property PDF 71 KB
Minutes:
IE.5/19
Members were presented with a report outlining recommendations
to bring long term empty homes back into use. Following clarification that the number of homes
involved was relatively small, and that each was carefully
scrutinized, it was RESOLVED that the Informal
Executive:
1.
Notes that there is a scheme in place run by Devon
County Council to assist Care Leavers under the age of 25 with the
cost of their Council Tax bill.
2.
RECOMMEND to Council to:
(a)
effect an increase in the Council Tax Premium from the current 50%
to the relevant maximums set down in the Rating (Property in Common
Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018.
(b)
increase the Council Tax Premium to 100%
for properties that have been empty for 2 years or more*, this to
be effective from 1 April 2020 onwards.
(c)
that, to increase the Council Tax
Premium to 200% for properties that have been empty for 5 years or
more*, this to be effective from 1 April 2020 onwards.
(d)
that, to increase the Council Tax
Premium to 300% for properties that have been empty for 10 years or
more*, this to be effective from 1 April 2021 onwards.
(*
any period of not exceeding six weeks, where the property is not
empty, shall be disregarded for the purposes of calculating the two
year period).
3. Council be RECOMMENDED to ensure that
increases in the Council Tax Premium for the 2020/21 Financial Year
be effective from 1 October 2020, to allow for affected Council
Taxpayers to take action (independently or with assistance from the
Council) to bring their property back in to use (NOTE. the increase
for 2021/22 will take effect from 1 April of that year).
|
IE.6/19 |
Release of Section 106 funds for an Affordable Housing project at St Anns Chapel PDF 97 KB
Minutes:
IE.6/19
A report was considered which
would allow the Council to use S106 monies to provide affordable
homes by converting the St Anns Chapel
into 13 homes (3 open market, 5 discount sales, 3 affordable rent,
and 2 landowner. The 5 rented homes and
3 discounted sales would be covenanted to have a local connection
to Bigbury; and the 3 open market homes
would have a covenant to insist they were primary residence only
and local connection only as this is tied to the properties and not
the purchasers.
It was then RESOLVED that:
The Informal Executive support
the Deputy Chief Executive utilising his ‘Emergency
Powers’ to approve the allocation of Section 106 funds for
Affordable Housing projects as set out below:
a)
£97,700.91 – from the contribution from
the former Old Chapel Inn, St Anns
Chapel, Bigbury to spend on a community
housing scheme at St Anns Chapel being
developed by South Hams District Council; and
b)
£65,193.00 –
from the contributions from the Hollywell Stores, Bigbury to spend on a community housing scheme at
St Anns Chapel being developed by South
Hams District Council.
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IE.7/19 |
Re-procurement for Cashless Parking Payment System PDF 57 KB
Minutes:
IE.7/19
The Lead Officer outlined the
report which sought approval to commence the tender process to
re-procure the cashless parking payment system contract for a
period of four years, with the ability to extend for two years in
accordance with the Council’s Procurement Rules. This tender is for the procurement of the cashless
parking
payment
system in all of the Council owned off street car
parks. The cashless parking payment
contract allows motorists to pay for their parking by mobile phone,
internet/web page or smart phone application. It was confirmed that cash payments would still be
acceptable and that officers are investigating the addition of bank
card reader equipment being added to the carparks.
It was then RESOLVED that the Informal Executive support the Deputy
Chief Executive utilising his ‘Emergency Powers’ to
agree:
1.
To the commencement of a collaborative procurement
tender process with nine other Devon authorities as set out in
paragraph 2.3 of the attendant report for the re-procurement of the
cashless parking payment system be approved; and
2.
To enter into a contract for four years with the
appointed supplier.
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IE.8/19 |
Parking Permit Review PDF 70 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
IE.8/19
Members discussed the report outlining the methodology for
standardising parking permits across the District with the aim of
bringing more parking spaces into use for day trippers and
shoppers. Following a request, the Lead
Officer agreed to send Members all the public feedback received so
far. The Lead Member outlined the points to the report’s
recommendation.
It
was then RESOLVED that the Informal Executive
RECOMMEND to Full Council that:
1.
the permit charges and permits be amended
in accordance with Appendix A;
2.
the proposed Parking Permit Review be
deferred at least until the Autumn (i.e. not before 1 September
2020); and
3.
with immediate effect, Parking Permits be
put back on sale at their existing prices.
4.
As it be acknowledged that consultation
has been undertaken with towns and parishes but a further 21-day
public consultation will be undertaken following the Council
meeting (as outlined at paragraph 3.4 of the presented agenda
report).
|
IE.9/19 |
Statement of Community Involvement PDF 88 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
IE.9/19
A report was given to Members outlining the joint
approach to be taken by South Hams District Council, West Devon
Borough Council and Plymouth City Council in how they would all
engage with their communities.
The primary aim of this Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)
was to ensure that consultation is meaningful. It was recommended that SCIs were reviewed every
five years, with South Hams last reviewing in 2012.
It was then RESOLVED that the Informal
Executive RECOMMENDED to Council
that, subject to West Devon and Plymouth agreeing likewise, the
Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) is formally adopted under
section 23 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act
2004.
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IE.10/19 |
Follaton House: Strategic Accommodation Review PDF 127 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
IE.10/19
Members were presented with a report that set out the
findings of the Accommodation Working Group.
Although a Member stated his opposition to
recommendation 1, other Members (who were also Members of the
Working Group) stated that the business case was compelling for the
Council to remain at Follaton House for the foreseeable
future.
It was then RESOLVED that the
Informal Executive RECOMMENDED to Council
that:
1. South Hams District
Council remains at Follaton House for the foreseeable future
recognising that the net accommodation costs (£150,000 as set
out in 4.4.) represent good value for money;
2. The Council considers
developing a wedding venue in the Listed Building with effect from
2021 and that the Accommodation Working Group and officers agree a
plan of how the interior of Follaton House should be reshaped
before officers procure a more detailed cost plan and tender for
associated improvement works to the House and Garden. A sum of up
to £30,000 is allocated from the Land and Development
Earmarked Reserve for this purpose; and
3. A sum of £25,000 is
allocated from the Land and Development Earmarked Reserve to
undertake infrastructure improvements to Follaton Arboretum to
enhance use of the site by staff, tenants and visitors and also to
support biodiversity and carbon capture in response to the
Council’s commitment to tackle climate change. This funding
would enable match funding to be sought for improvement
works.
(NOTE. Cllr Baldry advised that he did not support
part 1 of the recommendation)
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IE.11/19 |
Implementation of New Recycling Service September 2020
Minutes:
IE.11/19
The Lead Member presented the exempt update to the
implementation of the new recycling service covering the increase
in costs associated with the new scheme. It was noted that whilst delivery of the service
implementation remains on target, this may be impacted with the
current COVID-19 situation, and that there would be financial
implications if this were to occur.
It was RESOLVED that the Informal
Executive RECOMMENDED to Council to:
1.
note the progress and future plan in
relation to the implementation of the new recycling
service.
2.
approve the increase in the cost of
building the new depot at Ivybridge, as set out in Appendix A, to
be funded by internal borrowing and to build this increased cost
into the Budget for 2021-22. This amounts to an increase of
£25,600 in paying back the borrowing costs per year, as set
out in Appendix A.
3.
approve the increase for the capital
costs of the containers and their distribution, as set out in
Appendix A, to be funded by internal borrowing and to build this
increased cost into the Budget for 2021-22. This amounts to an
increase of £8,852 in paying back the borrowing costs per
year, as set out in Appendix A.
4.
approve the increase from £125,000
to £175,000 for the one-off costs of implementation of the
Devon Aligned Service. To fund the increase of £50,000 from
the New Homes Bonus Earmarked Reserve in 2020/21.
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