Agenda and minutes

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.

            If Councillors have any questions relating to predetermination, bias or interests in items on this Agenda, then please contact the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

*HC 65         

Members were invited to declare any interests in the items of business to be discussed and the following were made:

Cllr N Jory declared a personal interest in agenda item 6: Lead Member Update, by virtue of Cllr Oxborough mentioning the Business Information Point and Cllr Jory being employed by the Business Information Point. As the agenda item was an update item with no decisions being made, Cllr Jory remained in the room for this item.

To consider those items which, in the opinion of the Chairman, should be considered by the Meeting as matters of urgency (if any)

*HC66         

Since this was the first Hub Committee meeting following the resignation of Cllr Parker from this Committee, Members formally noted this position.  In terms of the future arrangements, the Chairman confirmed that the Political Structures Working Group had been tasked with reviewing the future structure of the Hub Committee.  A report would be presented in due course. 

Minutes of meeting held 6 February 2018

*HC67         

The Minutes of the Hub Committee meeting held on 6 February 2018 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

*HC68         

Cllr Oxborough updated the Committee on his area of responsibility including the following:

·        Awards of the Rate Relief Panel

·        General Business Rate Relief and the split awarded to organisations;

·        Rural economy and the need to understand the impact of Brexit;

·        Employment and the importance of creating opportunities;

·        Okehampton business centre;

·        Teenage market and the current planning for a new event; and

·        Business Information Point

Cllr Oxborough agreed to circulate further details.  The Leader asked if he could include any feedback from businesses regarding the rate relief process.

HC69         

Members were presented with a report that sought approval and recommendation to Council of the 2018/19 Treasury Management and Investment Strategies together with their associated prudential indicators.

The Lead Member for Resources and Performance introduced the report and the s151 Officer responded to questions of clarity.

It was then RESOLVED that Council be RECOMMENDED that:

1)      The Prudential Indicators and limits for 2018/19 to 2020/21 contained with Appendix A of the presented report be approved;

2)      The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) statement contained within Appendix A which sets out the Council’s policy on MRP approved;

3)      The Treasury Management Strategy for 2018/19 and the treasury prudential indicators 2018/19 to 2020/21 contained within Appendix B be approved; and

4)      The Investment Strategy 2018/19 Appendix C and the detailed criteria included in Appendix D (and the counter party list shown in Appendix E) be approved.

HC70           

Members were presented with a report that sought approval of policy updates recommended by the Waste Working Group, following a review of current practice in conjunction with industry best practice.

The Lead Member for Commercial Services introduced the report and advised of minor corrections.  Officers confirmed that the procurement process was proceeding and evaluation of tenders was in process.

It was then RESOLVED that Council be RECOMMENDED that:

1)      the policy updates as recommended by the Waste Working Group, outlined in paragraph 5 of the presented report and provided in full at Appendix 1 be approved, subject to inclusion of the minor changes referred to in the minutes above; and

2)      those minor changes considered necessary to the terms as highlighted are delegated to the Commissioning Manager (Waste) in consultation with the Lead Member for Commercial Services, Chair of the Waste Working Group.

HC71          

Members were presented with a report that requested consideration of the West Devon Parking Strategy as proposed and recommended for approval by the West Devon Parking Strategy Group.  The report further sought approval to amend the Pay and Display charges in accordance with the schedule presented at Appendix B, and permits presented at Appendix C, provided as a result of discussion with the Car Parking Strategy Group.

The Lead Member for Commercial Services introduced the report.  There was some discussion regarding the first recommendation, and minor changes were proposed to the document and accepted.  In respect of the second recommendation, the Lead Member advised the meeting of the views of the Car Parking Strategy Group who were not in support of the recommendation in any form which suggested tariff increases. The Lead Member suggested an amendment to the original recommendation and this was PROPOSED, SECONDED and on being put to the vote declared CARRIED. 

Members had a detailed discussion regarding the requirement to meet the wider costs associated with car parks such as elements of the maintenance of the public realm which support the car parking service in town and village centres.  The Lead Member made reference to the invaluable work carried out by the Car Parking Strategy Group, and, in response to questions raised, confirmed that car park charges needed to be regularly monitored and reviewed.

ItwasthenRESOLVED that Council be RECOMMENDED that:

1)      The West Devon Parking Strategy (presented at Appendix A) be adopted; and

2)      Pay and Display charges be amended in accordance with presented Appendix B, excepting Market Street, Okehampton where charges remain unchanged, and presented Appendix C.  The changes proposed within Appendix B allow for innovative tariff setting to be tested where sustainable solutions have been brought forward by the advisory Car Parking Strategy Group, and, providing they do not affect the ability to achieve service sustainability, will come back to be presented to Hub Committee.

PART TWO     ITEMS WHICH MAY BE TAKEN IN THE ABSENCE OF THE PUBLIC AND PRESS ON THE GROUNDS THAT EXEMPT INFORMATION IS LIKELY TO BE DISCLOSED (if any)

If any, the Committee is recommended to pass the following resolution:

“RESOLVED that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the Meeting on the grounds that exempt information may be disclosed as defined in the paragraphs given in Schedule 12A to the Act.”

*HC72         

Members were presented with a report that set out the background to the possibility that the Council could be designated by the Secretary of State with respect to its performance against the criteria for quality of decision making for Major planning applications in 2018 and 2019.  The report further set out the possible consequences to the Council should designation be confirmed.

The Lead Member for Customer First introduced the report.  The CoP Lead Development Management responded to questions of clarity and confirmed that the biggest issue for West Devon BC was the low number of major applications that were presented to the authority for determination.  Following discussion, it was suggested that Members may wish to raise with their local MPs the impact of a strict 10% cut off where an authority deals with a low number of Major planning applications each year.

It was then:

RESOLVED

That the potential risks to the Council of designation in respect of quality of Major planning application decisions be noted.

HC73          

(Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Members were presented with a report that set out the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the Financial Stability Group.

The Lead Member for Assets introduced the report in his role as Chairman of the Group.

It was then RESOLVED that:

a)      The contents of the report be noted and its use as the basis for Member workshops to discuss the Medium Term Financial Strategy to take place as soon as possible in the next financial planning cycle be approved;

b)      Council be RECOMMENDED to formally approve the establishment of a Financial Stability Review Group to:

a.      Oversee and coordinate activity to reduce costs and generate income as set out in the report and as identified in future;

b.      Act as a forum for generating and developing ideas for reducing costs and generating income;

c.      Link the ideas and activities of Members and officers in this area; and

d.      Report to Hub Committee as appropriate.

HC74           

(Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any   particular person (including the authority holding that information))

Members were presented with a report that looked at the options for improving the financial position associated with Kilworthy Park.

The Lead Member for Assets introduced the report.

It was then:

RESOLVED that the Council be RECOMMENDED:

that officers, in consultation with the Lead Member for Assets should investigate and promote the most beneficial use of the Kilworthy Park site in accordance with the principles set out in the presented report