Agenda and minutes

the Chairman to announce if any item not on the agenda should be considered on the basis that he considers it as a matter of urgency

40/17             

The Chairman informed that she had no items of urgent business for consideration at this meeting.

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;

41/17   

Members and officers 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.

42/17  

The Council considered a report that sought approval to submit a proposal to the Secretary of State to form a single second-tier Council for South Hams and West Devon from 1 April 2020.

The Leader introduced the item and emphasised the significance of the matter being considered.  In his introduction, the Leader informed that it was his duty to ensure that the Council continued to remain viable.  In his opinion, the Leader felt that this proposal presented a real opportunity to prevent service cuts whilst maintaining the future viability of the Council.

At this point, the Chairman invited any questions from Members and, in so doing, reference was made to:-

(a)    the Council Tax differentials between those other second-tier councils who were pursuing the option to establish a combined authority;

(b)    confirmation that the affordable housing schemes and community grants referred to in the presented agenda report would be ringfenced for the South Hams community.  The Leader also confirmed that this requirement would be part of any submission to the Secretary of State;

(c)    surprise that the published report did not include mention of the consultation responses received from local town and parish councils.

At the conclusion of Member questions, Part 1 of the recommendation contained within the published agenda papers was PROPOSED and SECONDED.

In the ensuing debate on Part 1, particular reference was made to:-

(a)    an amendment.  The following amendment was PROPOSED and SECONDED:-

‘That Council be RECOMMENDED to submit a proposal to the Secretary of State no later than 30 November 2017 to form a single second-tier Council for South Hams and West Devon from 1 April 2020 (as set out in Section 3 of the presented agenda report), subject to the outcome of a public referendum in South Hams during this Council year that presents three options for Council Tax:

Option 1: to raise Council Tax by 40% to enable the proposed merger with West Devon Borough Council to go ahead;

Option 2: to raise Council Tax by 15% to provide adequate revenue to ensure current services can continue to be provided by SHDC and to provide for investment in affordable housing in the South Hams; and

Option 3: to keep Council Tax within a £5 (2%) annual rise and trim SHDC services to remain within current and anticipated budget restraints;

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14.2 (Motion Similar to One Previously Rejected), some Members queried the legality of this amendment given that the below amendment was rejected at the Special Council meeting on 27 July 2017 (Minute 22/17 refers):

“That the Council agree to holding a referendum in South Hams with a view to raising Council Tax to meet our current financial challenges to 2024.”

Having considered this matter, the Deputy Monitoring Officer ruled that, since the new amendment presented three alternative options and was until 2020 (and not 2024), it was sufficiently different to enable it to be considered at this meeting.

In support of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42/17

43/17           

Having been PROPOSED and SECONDED, some Members could see no reason for the next agenda item to be considered as exempt information.  In reply, it was noted that the legal advice obtained had recommended that, until the procurement process had commenced in the upcoming days, then this item should be classified as being exempt.

Moreover, assurances were given to the meeting that Members would be notified as soon as it was deemed appropriate for the agenda report to be disclosed to the public and press.

It was then:

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.

44/17 

An exempt report was presented that sought endorsement of the service scope principles that had been proposed by the Project Board for consideration during the commissioning process for waste collection, recycling and cleansing services.

Following a brief debate, it was then:

RESOLVED

That the service scope principles proposed by the Project Board for consideration during the commissioning process for waste collection, recycling and cleansing services be endorsed.