Agenda and minutes

CM 43/21         

On behalf of the Council, the Mayor welcomed Cllr Blackman to her first meeting of the Council since her recent election to the office of West Devon Borough Council.

CM 44/21         

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Bolton, Bridgewater, Kemp, Kimber, Moody, Pearce, Ridgers and Vachon.

To approve and adopt as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of Council held on 28 September 2021

CM 45/21         

It was moved by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr R Cheadle and upon the motion being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Council agree the Minutes of the 28 September 2021 meeting as a true record.”

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 Summons, then please contact the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

CM 46/21         

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

CM 47/21         

(a)  Okehampton Rail Passenger Service

At the invitation of the Mayor, a local Ward Member made reference to the Okehampton Rail passenger service that had been reinstated on 20 November 2021.  In making reference to the unsuccessful bid to the Levelling Up Fund for the proposed railway station at Okehampton Parkway, the local Member highlighted the importance of this facility and urged the wider membership and residents alike to encourage usage of the passenger service in order to build up the evidence base for the Parkway station.

Proposed by Cllr Sellis:

“In view of the deteriorating state of West Devon Highways and, noting that Devon County Council had £20million reduced from their highway funding this year, West Devon Borough Council will write to all local MP’s asking them to seek fairer funding for our Borough.”

CM.48/21         

It was moved by Cllr D Sellis and seconded by Cllr K Ball that:

“In view of the deteriorating state of West Devon Highways and, noting that Devon County Council had £20million reduced from their highway funding this year, West Devon Borough Council will write to all local MP’s asking them to seek fairer funding for our Borough.”

During the ensuing debate, it was confirmed that Devon County Council continued to make regular representations to Central Government on this matter.

It was then “RESOLVED that in view of the deteriorating state of West Devon Highways and, noting that Devon County Council had £20million reduced from their highway funding this year, West Devon Borough Council will write to all local MP’s asking them to seek fairer funding for our Borough.”

(i)              Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Meeting held on 5 October 2021                                         

(ii)            Audit Committee

Meeting held on 2 November 2021                                      

(iii)          Hub Committee

Meeting held on 2 November 2021                                      

Recommendations to agree:

HC 38/21 Planning Improvement Plan – Phase 2 Resources

That Council be RECOMMENDED to:

1.     employ six additional permanent posts (shared with South Hams District Council), being four planning specialists and two legal specialists, at an annual cost of £71,000 (the WDBC share of the costs), to be funded from additional planning income; and

2.     increase the staffing budget by £71,000 and to increase the planning income target for 2022/23 onwards by £71,000.

                        HC 41/21 Public Space Protection Order – Alcohol and Anti-Social Behaviour

That Council be RECOMMENDED to agree the Tavistock Meadows Alcohol and Anti-Social Behaviour Public Space Protection Order 2021 (as set out in Appendix A of the presented agenda report to the Hub Committee Meeting).

HC 43/21 Reports of Bodies: Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 5 October 2021

(ii) Lamerton Housing Report

That Council be RECOMMENDED to adopt a position to lobby Central Government and our local MPs to close the loophole that allows Small Business Rates Relief to second homeowners who rent their home out for 140 or more days per year.

(iv)          Development Management and Licensing Committee     

Meeting held on 14 September 2021     

Meeting held on 12 October 2021                                        

Meeting held on 9 November 2021                                      

Recommendation to agree

DM&L.30 Three-Yearly Review of Gambling Statement of Licensing Principles

That Council be RECOMMENDED to adopt the amended draft Gambling Statement of Licensing Principles (as set out at Appendix A of the published agenda report presented to the Committee) for the period from 31 January 2022 to 30 January 2025.

CM 49/21         

a.    Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 5 October 2021

It was moved by Cllr M Ewings, seconded by Cllr L Wood and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Minutes of the 5 October 2021 meeting be received and noted”.

b.    Audit Committee – 2 November 2021

It was moved by Cllr M Davies, seconded by Cllr K Ball and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Minutes of the 2 November 2021 meeting be received and noted”.

c.    Hub Committee – 2 November 2021

It was moved by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr C Edmonds and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Minutes of the 2 November 2021 meeting be received and noted, with the exception of Recommendations HC 38/21, HC 41/21 and HC 43/21.”

In respect of the Recommendations:

HC 38/21: Planning Improvement Plan – Phase 2 Resources

It was moved by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr R Cheadle and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that:

1.      the Council employ six additional permanent posts (shared with South Hams District Council), being four planning specialists and two legal specialists, at an annual cost of £71,000 (the WDBC share of the costs), to be funded from additional planning income; and

2.      the staffing budget be increased by £71,000 and the planning income target for 2022/23 onwards be increased by £71,000.

HC 41/21: Public Space Protection Order – Alcohol and Anti-Social Behaviour

It was moved by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr R Cheadle and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Tavistock Meadows Alcohol and Anti-Social Behaviour Public Space Protection Order 2021 be agreed (as set out in Appendix A of the presented agenda report to the Hub Committee Meeting).”

HC 43/21: Reports of Bodies: Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 5 October 2021

(ii) Lamerton Housing Report

It was moved by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr R Cheadle and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Council adopt a position to lobby Central Government and our local MPs to close the loophole that allows Small Business Rates Relief to second homeowners who rent their home out for 140 or more days per year.”

d.    Development Management & Licensing Committee – 14 September 2021, 12 October 2021 and 9 November 2021

It was moved by Cllr J Yelland, seconded by Cllr D Moyse and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Minutes of the 14 September 2021, 12 October 2021 and 9 November 2021 meetings be received and noted, with the exception of Recommendation DM&L 30.”

In respect of the recommendation:

DM&L 30 Three-Yearly Review of Gambling Statement of Licensing Principles

It was moved by Cllr J  ...  view the full minutes text for item CM 49

CM 50/21         

Consideration was given to a report that requested that the Council amend the membership of some of its formal and informal Bodies to reflect the revised political balance.

It was then proposed by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr R Cheadle and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and ”RESOLVED that, with immediate effect:

1.      the revised political composition of the Council be noted as follows:

-     Conservative Group: 16 Members;

-     West Devon Alliance Group: 12 Members;

-     Non-aligned Independents: 2 Members; and

-     One vacancy.

2.      Cllr A Blackman be appointed to serve on:

-     The Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

-     The Development Management and Licensing Committee (as a substitute Member and subject to being in receipt of the required Member Training);

-     The Tamar Estuary Consultative Forum; and

-     The Communications & Media and Housing Hub Advisory Groups;

3.      Cllr J Spettigue be appointed to fill the vacancy on the Development Management & Licensing Committee, with Cllr Bolton no longer serving on the Standards Committee; and

4.      it be noted that a further report on the Political Composition of the Council will be presented to the Council at its first meeting following the Tavistock North by-election.”

Dated this 22^nd of November 2021

Andy Bates

Chief Executive

CM 51/21         

The Council considered a report that sought to adopt the annual Joint Health and Safety at Work Policy.

When questioned, officers confirmed that the Borough Council had incurred no recordable Health and Safety incidents during the last twelve months.

It was then proposed by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr R Cheadle and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and ”RESOLVED that the annual joint health and safety at work policy be adopted and signed by the Head ofPaid Service and the Leader of the Council.”