Agenda and minutes

to approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 13 February 2020;

76/19

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 13 February 2020 were confirmed as a true and correct record, subject to inclusion of the following amendment:

Reference Minute 72/19: ‘Capital Budget Proposals 2019/20’ discussion point a:

‘A Member cited an example within a neighbouring district that had seen a site cost £1.25 million for just 15 pitches.’

77/19              

Since this was the inaugural remote meeting of the Council, the Chairman highlighted the protocol that had been circulated to all Members in advance.  In so doing, the Chairman informed that she intended for this protocol to underpin how this meeting would operate.

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;

78/19 

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

79/19              

The Council considered a report that proposed the adoption of a set of Remote Meeting Procedure Rules that modified the application of its existing procedure rules to ensure that the Council could make decisions by remote means.  The report emphasised that, unless the Council adopted a set of Remote Meeting Procedure Rules, then any decisions it might make would not be in accordance with its Constitution and would therefore be unlawful.

The Leader of Council introduced the report and highlighted that:

-       the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 came into force on 4 April 2020.  The Leader proceeded to inform that these Regulations made amendments to the existing legislation to enable for local authorities to hold meetings remotely;

-       the primary purpose of these Regulations was to relieve local authorities from the burden of unnecessary meetings in order that their officers were able to deal with assisting in the response to the Covid-19 Crisis;

-       the Crisis had led to a fundamental change in focus for the Council.  As a consequence of officer resource being dedicated to the Crisis, then the Council had insufficient officer capacity to support the monthly Member meeting cycle at this present time;

-       whilst it was intended that fewer formal meetings would be convened, the Leader gave a commitment that additional informal Member briefings would be set up.  The intention of convening more informal briefings was to ensure that all Members were not only kept updated but would also be given an opportunity to express their views and ask questions;

-       the recommendation to temporarily prevent the ability for Questions and Motions on Notice to be submitted to Council meetings was in recognition of how resource intensive these tended to be; and

-       with regard to the Overview and Scrutiny function, it was unlikely that any overview matters would be deemed so urgent to necessitate a meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel at the present time.

In the ensuing discussion, particular reference was made to:-

(a)  an amendment was PROPOSED and SECONDED that read as follows:

1.    That the Council adopts the Remote Meetings Procedure Rules (as set out at Appendix A of the presented agenda report), with the exception of paragraphs 3.1 and 3.3;

2.    That the Political Structures Working Group meet prior to the next meeting of the Full Council and put forward its recommendations in respect of the frequency of meetings and by whom they can be requested; and

3.    That the Remote Meetings Procedure Rules be subject to review by Full Council on or before 31 July 2020. 

In presenting his amendment, the proposer advised that:

o  Adoption of the Procedure Rules as set out in the agenda papers could damage the work that had been undertaken by the Council since May 2019 to become a more consensual and inclusive local authority;

o  The three areas of the draft Rules that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79/19

80/19              

Members were presented with a report that set out the recommendations of the Appointment Panel for the appointment of a new Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service for the Council and West Devon Borough Council.

In discussion, reference was made to:

(a)     the standard of shortlisted candidates.  In thanking the Appointments Panel for its role in such a thorough process, Members of the Panel highlighted the calibre of the four shortlisted candidates who had been interviewed and were of the view that the recommended candidate would prove to be an excellent Chief Executive for both Councils;

(b)   the work of the Deputy Chief Executive.  Members expressed their gratitude to the Deputy Chief Executive for stepping up and demonstrating excellent leadership skills during the ongoing Covid-19 Crisis.

It was then:

RESOLVED

1.    That the appointment of the recommended successful candidate for the position of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service (as detailed in Exempt Appendix A to the presented agenda report) be approved; and

2.    That the interim appointment of the Deputy Chief Executive as the Interim Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service, for the period until the new Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service commences employment with the Council, be approved.

81/19              

The Council considered a report that sought approval to the making of the Bigbury Neighbourhood Plan.

In discussion, reference was made to:

(a)   the contents of the Plan.  Members paid tribute to past and current local Ward Members and the local Neighbourhood Planning Group for their commitment and hard work to produce such a good Plan;

(b)   Development Boundaries and Settlement Boundaries.  A Member pointed out that certain parts of the Plan referred to ‘Development Boundaries’ whereas other parts referred to ‘Settlement Boundaries’.  The Leader stated that, since it was possible for non-material amendments to be made to a Plan prior to it being published, she would contact lead officers in an attempt to address this point.

It was then:

RESOLVED

That the Bigbury Neighbourhood Development Plan be made (adopted).

82/19              

In closing this first remote formal Member meeting, the Chairman thanked officers and her fellow Members for their conduct and support. 

Furthermore, the Chairman encouraged any Member feedback (both positive and negative) on the operation of this remote meeting to be given to officers in an effort to make further improvements moving forward.