Items
No. |
Item |
E.53/23 |
Minutes PDF 477 KB
to approve as a correct record
the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 30 November
2023;
Minutes:
E.53/23
The
minutes of the Executive meeting held on 30 November were confirmed
as a true and correct record.
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E.54/23 |
Declarations of Interest
In accordance with the Code of
Conduct, Members are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary
Interests, Other Registerable Interests and Non-Registerable
Interests including the nature and extent of such interests they
may have in any items to be considered at this meeting;
Minutes:
E.54/23
Members and officers were invited to declare any interests in
the items of business to be considered during the course of this
meeting but there were none made.
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E.55/23 |
Public Question Time PDF 198 KB
a period of up to 15 minutes is
available to deal with questions submitted to the Council in
accordance with the Executive Procedure Rules;
Minutes:
E.55/23
The
Leader informed that no questions had been received in accordance
with the Executive Procedure Rules.
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E.56/23 |
Executive Forward Plan PDF 447 KB
Minutes:
E.56/23
Members were presented with the
most recently published version of the Executive Forward Plan that
set out items on the agenda for Executive meetings for the next
four months.
In discussion, the following
points were raised:
(a) In accordance with the
Full Council resolution from its meeting held on 14 December 2023
(Minute 38/23 refers), Members noted that a ‘Freeport:
Progress Update’ had been scheduled on to the Executive
Forward Plan for the meeting to be held on 18 April
2024;
(b) Prior to the next version
of the Forward Plan being published, it was agreed that a decision
would be made as to whether the Leader or Deputy Leader would be
assigned lead Member responsibility for Neighbourhood Planning
related matters.
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E.57/23 |
The Council Plan 2024-28 and Annual Delivery Plan for Year 1 PDF 210 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
E.57/23
The Executive considered a
report that set out the progress made in the preparation of the
draft Council Plan for the period 2024-28.
During the ensuing debate,
reference was made to:
(a) further minor amendments
to the Plan and Annual Delivery Plan.
In recognition that the Plans continued to evolve prior to their
ultimate presentation to Full Council on 15 February 2024, the
meeting agreed that further minor amendments should be made in
relation to:
- the
wording contained within Housing Action H1.2. It was agreed that the wording should be updated
to read: ‘Review existing Capital Programme to ensure
construction or purchase of Council owned or Housing Association
homes is a key part of capital spending;
- the need
to update the documents to reflect the fact that the ‘Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty’ had been recently re-titled to
the ‘National Landscape’;
- the need
to consider making greater reference to the Cost of Living Crisis
throughout the Plans; and
-
consideration to including reference within the Housing Action Plan
to the ongoing work being carried out by the Devon Housing
Commission;
(b) notwithstanding the
commitment contained within the manifesto of the Council
administration, a Member still expressed her personal view that an
annual £500,000 expenditure towards the Climate Change and
Biodiversity Emergency was, in her opinion,
disproportionate. The Member proceeded
to express her view that a proportion of these monies would be
better spent towards the delivery of affordable housing;
(c) the current lack of
tangible (measurable) outcomes. As the
Plans evolved, it was hoped that a greater number of tangible
outcomes would be incorporated.
Furthermore, it was recognised that performance monitoring reports
would be considered regularly by both the Executive and Overview
and Scrutiny Committee;
(d) the formation of a
Community Development Team. Members
welcomed the decision to establish a Community Development Team and
felt that this Team would be instrumental in delivering a number of
actions contained within the Plans;
(e) the work undertaken by
officers in reaching this point.
Members wished to put on record their thanks to officers in
producing such detailed and comprehensive Plans that were
reflective of the views of lead Members and the Advisory
Groups. In addition, thanks were paid
to the work of the Section 151 Officer, her finance team and the
previous Council administration for their financial management that
had resulted in the Council being in a position to invest monies
into these Plans.
It was
then:
RESOLVED
1.
That the Council Plan 2024-2028
as set out in Appendix A of the presented agenda report and Year 1
(2024/25) Delivery Plan in Appendix B of the report be noted;
and
That
Council be RECOMMENDED to:
2. adopt
‘The Council Plan’ and delivery plan at its meeting on
15 February 2024, subject to inclusion and consideration of the
points raised in minute discussion point (a) (above);
and
3. approve the
funding for the 2024-25 delivery plan (as set out in section 4.2 of
the presented agenda report).
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E.58/23 |
Draft Revenue and Capital Budget Proposals for 2024/25 PDF 865 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
E
58/23
The Executive was presented
with a report that outlined a series of draft revenue and capital
budget proposals for 2024/25.
At the invitation of the
Chairman, the Section 151 Officer informed that, since the agenda
papers had been published, there had been further announcements
made from Central Government in response to the consultation on the
Local Government Finance Settlement and clarification over the
Rural Services Delivery Grant. The
impact of these updates (which were likely to be minimal) would be
included in the report to be presented to Full Council on 15
February 2024.
In discussion, reference was
made to the second homes premium. In
expressing disappointment that the primary legislation had not
included the requirement for the additional monies to be spent on
the delivery of affordable housing, it was noted that conversations
were taking place with Devon County Council colleagues and it was
hoped that this objective could still be reached.
It was
then:
RESOLVED
That the Executive
RECOMMEND to Council:
i) to increase
Council Tax for 2024/25 by 2.99% (This would increase a Band D
council tax for 24/25 from £185.42 to £190.96 –
an increase of £5.54 per year or under 11 pence per
week);
ii) the financial
pressures shown in Appendix A of £2,846,000;
iii) the revenue
expenditure (£650,000) and capital expenditure
(£350,000) for the Year 1 delivery plan of the Council Plan
(2024/25), totalling £1million, as set out in section 3.30 of
the report.
iv) the
savings/additional income of £(1,460,000) as shown in
Appendix A;
v) the net
contributions to/(from) Earmarked Reserves of £60,427 as
shown in Appendix D, including the proposed use of £704,173
of New Homes Bonus funding to fund the 2024/25 Revenue Budget as
set out in 3.20 of the report and £400,000 from the Business
Rates Retention Earmarked Reserve as set out in 3.13 of the
report;
vi) that the
Council should set its total net expenditure for 2024/25 as shown
in Appendix B as £13,034,894
vii) the Capital Bid for £90,000 to renew and
upgrade the Council’s bank reconciliation software and to
fund this from the annual revenue contribution of £181,600
into the Capital Programme, as set out in 8.4.
viii) that Unearmarked
Reserves should continue to have a minimum level of
£1.5million (as set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy
in September 2023), but an operating level of a minimum of
£2million; and
ix) that the level of
reserves as set out within this report and the assessment of their
adequacy, and the robustness of budget estimates are noted. This is
a requirement of Part 2 of the Local Government Act
2003.
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E.59/23 |
Housing Crisis Update - Housing & Homeless Strategy Action Plan PDF 157 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
E.59/23
The Executive considered a
report that sought approval for the refreshed Housing and Homeless
Strategy Action Plan.
In discussion, reference was
made to Joint Local Plan Policy Dev 8.
A Member highlighted the need to ensure that, wherever possible,
this Policy was enforced in relation to the requirement for a
minimum of 30% affordable housing to be delivered on housing
schemes of 11 or more dwellings. To
reinforce the point, an amendment was PROPOSED and
SECONDED to part 2 of the recommendation that read
as follows:
2.
that the refreshed Action Plan,
as set out at Appendix 2 of the presented report, be agreed,
subject to the addition being
made to page 143 of the published agenda papers, ‘Use
strategic planning policy to ensure sustainable housing
growth’ and in particular JLP Policy Dev 8 (Item 3) relating
to the requirement for a minimum of 30% affordable housing in
Schemes of 11 or more dwellings.
In discussion, the proposer of
the amendment stated that its intention was to ensure that this
requirement was complied with by developers. A Member proceeded to make the point that this
issue was equally relevant to Policy Dev 7 and this fact must be
borne in mind during the upcoming review of the Joint Local Plan
(JLP). As an assurance, the Leader
informed that a meeting of the JLP Partnership Board was to be held
later in the day and he would raise the importance of this point at
this meeting.
When put to the vote, the
amendment was declared CARRIED.
It was then:
RESOLVED
1. That the progress on
the previous Housing Strategy Action Plan be noted; and
2. That the refreshed
Action Plan, as set out at Appendix 2 of the presented report, be
agreed, subject to the addition being made to page 143 of the
published agenda papers, ‘Use strategic planning policy to
ensure sustainable housing growth’ and in particular JLP
Policy Dev 8 (Item 3) relating to the requirement for a minimum of
30% affordable housing in Schemes of 11 or more
dwellings.
(Note: At this point (11.30am), the meeting was adjourned for a
period of 15 minutes)
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E.60/23 |
Climate Change & Biodiversity Emergency - Verbal Update
Minutes:
E.60/23
The lead Executive Member for
Climate Change provided an update on recent activity
undertaken. In so doing, the lead
Member made particular reference to:
- the
fall-out from the successful Symposium event held on 10 November
2023. The Member informed that he
continued to liaise with those stakeholders who had attended the
Symposium. For example, on 24 January
2024, he had met with the Chief Executive of a local organisation
that had the primary aim of driving down the cost of food
production and distribution. It was the
intention of the lead Member to formulate an action plan based upon
the outcomes of the symposium that would be presented to lead
officers and Members in the upcoming months;
- a piece of
work commencing on stimulating and re-energising local town centre
food markets;
- talks
having begun with organisations who were involved in
rivers. An exploratory meeting was to
be held with key stakeholders (e.g. the Environment Agency;
Westcountry Rivers Trust; and the
National Landscapes Unit) to gauge how the Council could support
these organisations;
- the
potential installation of Solar PV panels in Council owned car
parks. Whilst works were still ongoing,
indications were that the viability of such installations was
questionable;
- an
additional officer resource was in the process of being recruited;
and
- the
Climate Change and Biodiversity Locality Fund was being formally
launched today (25 January 2024).
Following the update, a number
of Members highlighted the amount of work that was ongoing within
this portfolio area and wished to thank the lead Member for all his
hard work and efforts.
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E.61/23 |
Support for Care Leavers PDF 167 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
E.61/23
Members considered a report
which provided an update on the Council’s activity in
supporting care leavers including a proposal for the Council to
become a signatory to the Care Leaver Covenant.
In the ensuing debate,
particular reference was made to:
(a) widespread support was
expressed for the proposals. Moreover,
the leading role that the Council and Chief Executive continued to
take in this subject area was recognised and commended;
(b) the potential implications
of a two to four week paid work placement on a care leavers’
benefit entitlements. Officers thanked
a Member for raising this potential issue and gave an assurance
that the Council would do everything possible to overcome such
barriers and, whilst each instance would be looked at on a case by
case basis, the purpose of the published agenda report was to raise
awareness amongst the membership and to set out a statement of
intent.
It was then:
RESOLVED
1. That the measures
implemented to support care leavers into employment be
noted;
2.
That the intention for the
Council to sign up to the Care Leaver Covenant be noted;
and
3.
That the steps taken to support
Council employees who are seeking approval to be a foster carer
and, following the placement of a child, be noted.
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E.62/23 |
Council Tax Discounts and Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2024/25 PDF 205 KB
Minutes:
E.62/23
Members considered a report
which provided a summary of the findings of the recent consultation
on changes to the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme and sought a
decision on a Scheme for 2024/25.
The report also provided
details of the current Council Tax Discounts and reaffirmed the
Council’s intention to levy a 100% premium on Second Homes as
permitted in the Levelling-UP and Regeneration Act 2024
In the
ensuing debate, the following points were raised:
(a) As referenced earlier in
the meeting (Minute E.58/23 above refers), the importance of
adopting the Second Homes Premium was emphasised;
(b) In advance of the
recommendation being considered at Full Council on 15 February
2024, officers committed to setting out the potential cost
implications of the discount for properties that required major
repair work to render them habitable for a maximum period of 12
months being increased from the recommended 50% to 100%
(recommendation part 3(c) specifically refers).
It was
then:
RESOLVED
1. That the contents
of the report be noted; and
That the Executive
RECOMMEND to Council:
2. a local Council Tax
Reduction Scheme for 2024/25 that:
- Makes no
changes to the bands of the current banded scheme.
- Removes
the Minimum Income Floor (MIF) for self-employed
claimants.
-
Disregards 100% of the ‘Limited Capability for Work’
element of Universal Credit;
3. the adoption of the following Council Tax
discounts effective from 1 April 2024:
(a) The discount for
unoccupied and substantially unfurnished properties is 100% for a
maximum period of 1 month;
(b) The discount for
unoccupied and substantially unfurnished properties for 1 month to
1 year is zero;
(c) The discount for
properties which require major repair work to render them habitable
is 50% for a maximum period of 12 months;
(d) The discount for
unoccupied furnished properties (second homes) is zero;
(e) An empty homes premium of an additional 100% is
levied on properties that have remained unoccupied and unfurnished
for at least one year, but less than five years;
(f) An empty homes premium of an additional 200% is
levied on properties that have remained unoccupied and unfurnished
for at least five years, but less than ten years;
(g) An empty homes
premium of additional 300% is levied on properties that have
remained unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for at least ten
years; and
4. the adoption of a Second Homes Premium of 100%
with effect from 1 April 2025.
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E.63/23 |
Discretionary Rate Relief and Corporate Debt Policies PDF 159 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
E.63/23
The Executive considered a
report that sought approval for four revised and updated policies
in respect of key areas impacting on the Council’s financial
position.
In discussion, it was noted
that the Council’s Rate Relief Panel (comprising of Cllrs
Birch, Hopwood and Yardy) was tasked
with considering matters that related to the Discretionary Rate
Relief Policy.
It was then:
RESOLVED
That the following Polices be
approved:
1. the Discretionary
Rate Relief Policy (as attached at Appendix A of the published
agenda report);
2. the Business Rates
Relief: 2024/25 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Scheme Policy (as
attached at Appendix B of the published agenda report);
3.
the Corporate Debt Policy (as
attached at Appendix C of the published agenda report);
and
4.
the amendment to the Council
Tax, Non-Domestic Rates (Business Rates) and Housing Benefit
Overpayments Write-Off Policy, to incorporate Sundry Debt (as set
out at Appendix D of the published agenda report).
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E.64/23 |
Month 7 Revenue Budget Monitoring Report 2023/24 PDF 469 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
E.64/23
Members considered a report
that provided a forecast for the year end budget position and that
also enabled them to monitor income and expenditure variations
against the approved budget for 2023/24.
In discussion, the following
points were raised:
(a) Members welcomed the
overall projected surplus of £16,000 for the 2023/24
Financial Year;
(b) In reply to a question
regarding the apparent disparity between falling planning fee
income and rising planning advertising costs, it was noted that
this was due to an increased number of planning applications but a
decreased number of those that were defined as major
applications.
It was
then:
RESOLVED
1. That the forecast
income and expenditure variations for the 2023/24 Financial Year
and the overall projected surplus of £16,000 (0.1% of the
total Budget £11.738 million) be noted; and
2. That
Council be RECOMMENDED to update the current
virement limits within the Constitution
(as shown in Section 10 of the published agenda report).
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E.65/23 |
Capital Programme Monitoring as at 31 October 2023 PDF 266 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
E.65/23
The Executive was presented
with a report providing details of the Capital Programme financial
position as at 31st October 2023,
With no questions or debate
ensuing, it was then:
RESOLVED
1) That the content of
the Capital Programme Monitoring Report be noted;
2)
That the revised capital
allocation for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) scheme for
2023/24 and 2024/25 (as set out in section 2.3 of the presented
agenda report) be noted;
3)
That the addition of a budget
for Westville Flats (as approved at the Executive meeting held on 3
March 2023) be noted;
4)
That the addition of a budget
for LAHF 2 (as approved at the Executive meeting held on 21
September 2023) be noted;
5)
That the addition of an
£80,000 budget for the design and build of a pump track at
Woolwell (as approved at the Executive
meeting held on 28 June 2023) be noted;
6)
That the increased budget for
Kingsbridge skatepark (as outlined in
section 2.7 of the presented agenda report) be noted;
7)
That the inclusion of two
reserve funded schemes below £30,000 for a cash carrying
vehicle and grounds maintenance equipment (as detailed in section
2.8 of the presented agenda report) be noted;
8)
That the addition of a project
at Hangar Marsh Nature reserve (as set out in paragraph 2.9 of the
presented agenda report) be noted;
9)
That the addition of the
Woodland Creation scheme (as set out at the Executive meeting held
on 30 November 2023) be noted; and
10) That
the virement of £25,000 from the
Coastal Assets budget to create a scheme for the Slapton Line Adaptation financed from capital
receipts be approved.
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E.66/23 |
Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 Write-Off Report 2023/24 PDF 205 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
E.66/23
A report was considered that
informed Members of the proposal to write-off a series of debts
with a value of more than £5,000 for the period from 1 April
2023 to 30 September 2023.
In discussion, the following
points were raised:
(a) The greater corporate
emphasis now being given to debt collection was noted. As a result of this increased emphasis, Members
were reassured that the Council was not seeing a spike in the
amount of debt being written off;
(b) Officers agreed that, for
future iterations of the Write-Off Report, it would be explained
that the District Council’s share of the overall write-off
amount was 8% of the total (i.e. the District Council’s share
of a Council Tax bill), as each major precepting authority picked
up their own share of the total cost.
It was then:
RESOLVED
1. That it be noted
that, in accordance with Financial Regulations, the Section 151
Officer has authorised the write-off of individual debts totalling
£100,891.81 as detailed in paragraph 3 of the presented
report; and
2. That the write-off of
the individual debts totalling £52,754.20 (as shown in
Appendix A of the presented agenda report) be approved.
(NOTE: THESE DECISIONS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
MINUTES E.57/23 (Parts 2 & 3), E.58/23, E.62/23 (Parts 2, 3
& 4) AND E.64 (Part 2), WHICH ARE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD ON 15 FEBRUARY 2024, WILL BECOME
EFFECTIVE FROM 5.00PM ON MONDAY, 5 FEBRUARY 2024 UNLESS CALLED IN,
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SCRUTINY PROCEDURE RULES)
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