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 4 February 2016 (previously circulated);

The minutes of the Executive meeting held on 10 March 2016 were confirmed as a true record and signed off by the Chairman.

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;

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;

It was noted that no public questions had been received.

Members were asked to consider a report that sought a recommendation to make an amendment to the South Hams Off Street Parking Places Order to support the community desire to increase footfall and encourage visitors and shoppers to the town during the closed season by elimination of parking charges during the closed season.

The Portfolio Holder introduced the report and in doing so thanked staff for making the scheme a success. 

It was then:

(NB:  Cllr Bastone abstained from the vote on this item because he is a local Ward Member)

Members were asked to consider a report that sought to make a recommendation in relation to amending the Air Quality Management Area order for Totnes, as proposed on 28 May 2009.

The Portfolio Holder for Customer First introduced the report and the Senior Specialist Environmental Health responded to specific questions.  He advised that central government had reissued guidance in relation to air quality management areas.

During discussion, the following points were raised:

·      A number of Members stated their dissatisfaction with Devon County Council who would not engage in the process, despite the issues arising as a result of traffic congestion;

·      One Member asked that Berry Pomeroy be reassessed as there were a number of concerns about the air quality in the village which followed on from the area that was being discussed under this item;

·      Another Member updated the meeting following a public event held in Ivybridge the previous evening where air quality issues were discussed.  Environmental Health officers had attended but representatives from Devon County Council had failed to attend.  As a result of the concerns raised, it was agreed to add an additional recommendation that Ivybridge Air Quality Action Plan be revisited;

·      One Member highlighted the work that had been undertaken by the group Totnes on the Move in relation to eliminating traffic congestion in Totnes.  The Senior Specialist advised that he planned to contact this group as part of the communications strategy following this report.         

                        It was then:

RESOLVED

i)    That the two options available for amending the Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) have been considered;

a)    Overview and Scrutiny Panel – 17 March 2016

RESOLVED

That the following be received and that any recommendations contained therein be approved:

a)         Overview and Scrutiny Panel – 17 March 2016

                                       i.          O&S.87/15 EXECUTIVE FORWARD PLAN

(b) Review of Corporate Complaints Policy

RESOLVED

                                                      I.       That the revised Corporate Complaints Policy (as attached at Appendix A of the presented agenda report) be adopted and reviewed again in nine months’ time from its formal adoption; and

                                                        II.   That any minor amendments be delegated to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Lead Executive Member for Support Services.

(NOTE: THESE DECISIONS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF E.83/15 and E.84/15 (PARTS (ii) and (iii) ONLY), WHICH ARE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD ON 19 MAY 2016, WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE FROM 5.00PM ON MONDAY, 18 APRIL 2016 UNLESS CALLED IN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SCRUTINY PROCEDURE RULE 18).