Agenda and minutes

CM 89 

The Mayor opened the meeting and, on behalf of all Members, welcomed the Chief Executive to his first formal meeting since joining the employ of the Council.

CM 90                                                       

An apology for absence was received from Cllr P Ridgers.

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 91                                                                                                                         

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.

To approve and adopt as a correct record the Minutes of the

Meeting of Council held on 21 April 2020 and 28 April 2020

CM 92 

a.    Standards Committee – 10 March 2020

It was moved by Cllr A F Leech, seconded by Cllr T G Pearce and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Minutes of the 10 March 2020 meeting be received and noted”.

CM 93 

The Council considered a report that sought to adopt the Plymouth and South West Devon Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

In her introduction, the lead Hub Committee Member wished to record her thanks to the lead officers for the exceptional amount of work that had been undertaken to compile the SPD.

During the ensuing debate, reference was made to the relationship between the SPD and the production of Neighbourhood Plans.  By way of caution, a Member felt that, to ensure conformity with the SPD, all Neighbourhood Plans that were currently being developed would now require a comprehensive review.

It was then moved by Cllr C Mott, seconded by Cllr T G Pearce and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and ”RESOLVED that, subject to South Hams District Council and Plymouth City Council agreeing likewise, the Council adopt:

1.       the Plymouth and South West Devon Supplementary Planning Document (as attached at Appendix A of the presented agenda report); and

2.       its two companion documents: ‘The Developer Contributions Evidence Base’ and ‘The Traditional Farm Buildings: Their Adaptation and Re-Use (Barn Guide)’ (included within Appendix A of the presented agenda report), in accordance with Regulation 14 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended).”

CM 94 

Members were presented with a report that sought adoption of a new Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) for West Devon Borough Council, South Hams District Council and Plymouth City Council.  In particular, the report advised that the SCI set out the minimum requirements for consultations and involvement that must be followed by each Council when preparing their planning documents or consulting on planning applications.

Whilst the report highlighted that the Council had a statutory duty to review its adopted SCI at least once every five years, officers confirmed that, in reality, it was reviewed far more frequently than the minimum requirement.

It was then moved by Cllr C Mott, seconded by Cllr T G Pearce and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and ”RESOLVED that, subject to South Hams District Council and Plymouth City Council agreeing likewise, the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) (as attached at Appendix A of the presented agenda report) be formally adopted in accordance with section 23 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.”

Dated this 1^st of June 2020

Steve Mullineaux

Deputy Chief Executive

CM 95

Members were presented with a report that sought Council approval to amend the membership of some of its formal Bodies to reflect a revised political balance.

The Leader of the Alliance Group confirmed his support for the proposals but was also of the view that the current disparity in senior Member roles between the two (now equal) political groups on the Council would require addressing at the next Annual Council meeting.

It was then moved by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr L Samuel 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: 15 Members;

-        West Devon Alliance Group: 15 Members; and

-        Non-aligned Independent: 1 Member;

2.       the appointments to the formal Council Bodies be amended as illustrated in Appendix B of the presented agenda report for the period until the next Annual Council meeting; and

3.       Cllr J Yelland be appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Standards Committee for the period until the next Annual Council meeting.”