Agenda and minutes

Cllr K Ball moved the appointment of Cllr A F Leech as Mayor for the ensuing year and Cllr T G Pearce subsequently seconded the motion.

No other nominations were received and, upon the motion being submitted to the meeting, it was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that Cllr A F Leech be appointed Mayor for the ensuing year”.

The retiring Mayor and newly elected Mayor left the Council Chamber so that Cllr A F Leech could be invested with the civic regalia.  The retiring Mayor also invested Mrs Leech with the Mayoress’s Badge of Office.

Upon returning to the Council Chamber, the newly elected Mayor, Cllr A F Leech, made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office, signed the Register and addressed the Council.

Cllr A F Leech then chaired the remainder of the meeting.

Cllr T G Pearce proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor.  The proposition was seconded by Cllr L Samuel.

Cllr A F Leech then invested Cllr M Davies and Mrs Davies with the Past Mayor’s and his Consort’s Medallions.

The retiring Mayor, Cllr M Davies proceeded to address the meeting.

The Mayor called for nominations for the position of Deputy Mayor.

One nomination was received as follows:

Cllr C Mott                   proposed:        Cllr T G Pearce                                                                                   seconded:       Cllr J Yelland

There being no other nominations, it was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that Cllr C Mott be appointed as Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year”.

The Deputy Mayor then made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and signed the register and the Mayor invested Cllr C Mott with the Deputy Mayor’s Insignia. 

Cllr C Mott then addressed the Council.

An apology for absence was received from Cllr R Cheadle

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.

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 26 March 2019

It was moved by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr L Samuel and upon the motion being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Council agree the Minutes of the 26 March 2019 meeting as a true record.”

The Mayor advised that he had no items of urgent business for consideration at this meeting.

(NB to include approval of the Terms of Reference for the Invest to Earn Committee)

The Council considered a report that sought to formally adopt the Council Constitution and establish the Terms of Reference of the Invest to Earn Committee.

It was moved by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr C Edmonds and with no questions or debate ensuing was submitted to the Meeting and declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that:

1.     the Invest to Earn Committee be formally established with the Terms of Reference being adopted; and

2.     the Mayor sign a copy of the Council Constitution for 2019/20.”

On behalf of local residents, Cllr J B Moody presented a petition to the Mayor that called upon the Council to stop the closure of the Bus Station Toilets at Tavistock.

In receiving the petition, the Mayor advised that, in accordance with the Council’s Procedure Rules, a response would be sent to Cllr Moody in due course.

(a) From Cllr M Davies

‘That West Devon Borough Council recognises that we have a ‘Climate Emergency’ and that urgent steps need to be taken to address all matters within the Borough which may affect climate change.

That this Council recognises that the crisis is both global and local and that Local Government has a role to play in promoting environmentally friendly policies.  To this end, it is recommended that a Working Group be established with cross-group membership to be decided by the Leader of this Council, in discussion with other political groupings.  To report back within three months with initial recommendations.’

It was moved by Cllr M Davies and seconded by Cllr D K A Sellis:

“That West Devon Borough Council recognises that we have a ‘Climate Emergency’ and that urgent steps need to be taken to address all matters within the Borough which may affect climate change.

That this Council recognises that the crisis is both global and local and that Local Government has a role to play in promoting environmentally friendly policies.  To this end, it is recommended that a Working Group be established with cross-group membership to be decided by the Leader of this Council, in discussion with other political groupings.  To report back within three months with initial recommendations.”

Cllr Davies introduced the motion and made reference to:-

-        the significance and importance of the Climate Change agenda;

-        50% of current black bag waste in the Borough being recyclable.  Cllr Davies emphasised that the Council must act to reduce this statistic;

-        the need for the Council to be brave and outward facing in this respect; and

-        the views of schoolchildren.  During his Mayoral year, he had visited each of the Primary Schools in the Borough and, at these visits, he was questioned on numerous occasions on what steps the Council was taking to increase its recycling rates and reduce the use of plastic.

During the subsequent debate, the following points were raised:-

(a)   The seconder expressed her support for the motion and informed that Devon County Council had already approved a motion to declare a Climate Change Emergency.  As a consequence, the seconder felt that the Council needed to embrace the Climate Change agenda and work in partnership with other local authorities and agencies for the benefit of the environment;

(b)   An amendment was moved and seconded to read as follows:

“That West Devon Borough Council recognises that we have a ‘Climate Change and Biodiversity Emergency’ and that urgent steps need to be taken to address all matters within the Borough which may affect climate change and habitat loss.

That this Council recognises that the crisis is both global and local and that Local Government has a role to play in promoting environmentally friendly policies.  To this end, it is recommended that a Working Group be established with cross-group membership to be decided by the Leader of this Council, in discussion with other political groupings.  To report back within three months with initial recommendations.”

In support of his amendment, the proposer advised that this matter had proven to be a real doorstep issue prior to the recent elections.  The Member made reference to recent publications and stated that, whilst the population was estimated to have doubled in the last 100 years, the wildlife population had decreased.  As a result, there had been a negative human effect on the global ecosystem and he felt it to be important for this to be incorporated into the original motion.

Since both the proposer and seconder of the original motion expressed their support for this amendment, it  ...  view the full minutes text for item CM 9

a.    Council Tax Setting Panel – 27 February 2019

It was moved by Cllr M Davies, seconded by Cllr L Samuel and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Minutes of the 27 February 2019 meeting be received and noted”.

b.    Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 26 March 2019 and 2 April 2019

It was moved by Cllr J Yelland, 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 26 March 2019 and 2 April 2019 meetings be received and noted”.

c.    Development Management and Licensing Committee – 26 March 2019 and 23 April 2019

It was moved by Cllr T G Pearce, seconded by Cllr D E Moyse and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Minutes of the 26 March 2019 and 23 April 2019 meetings be received and noted”.

a.    Leader

It was moved by Cllr L Samuel, seconded by Cllr T G Pearce and upon the motion being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that Cllr N Jory be appointed Leader of the Council for the ensuing year.”

b.    Deputy Leader

It was moved by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr C R Musgrave and upon the motion being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that Cllr L Samuel be appointed Deputy Leader of the Council for the ensuing year.”

Members noted the schedule of officially appointed political groups as follows:

-        16 Conservative Group Members; and

-        15 West Devon Alliance Group Members.

            Audit                                                    7 Members

Hub                                                       9 Members (membership to include Leader and   Deputy Leader)

            Overview & Scrutiny                          15 Members

            DM & Licensing                                  10 Members + Named Substitutes

            Standards                                           5 Members

            Invest to Earn *                                   3 Members

            (* subject to approval of agenda item 8 (above)).

with all of the Borough Council Member appointments to the above Committees being politically balanced and with each Member being nominated to serve on only one of the Audit Committee; Hub Committee or Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

It was moved by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr T G Pearce and upon the motion being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Committee structure be as follows for the coming year:

Audit                                                                           7 Members;

Hub                                                                            9 Members;

Overview & Scrutiny                                                15 Members;

Development Management & Licensing            10 Members;

Standards                                                                  5 Members; and

Invest to Earn                                                           3 Members.

with all of the appointments to the above Committees being politically balanced”.

A list of appointments made to the Committees by the two political groups for the ensuing year had been circulated and were duly approved.  The Leaders of the two political groups were named as:

Conservative                                    Cllr N Jory

(Deputy: Cllr L Samuel)

West Devon Alliance Group          Cllr R Cheadle

(Deputy: Cllr T G Pearce)

The following appointments were proposed by Cllr N Jory and seconded by Cllr T G Pearce and when put to the vote were declared to be CARRIED:

-       Audit Committee:                                                 Cllr M Davies (Chairman);

Cllr P Vachon (Vice Chairman);

-        Development Management & Licensing

Committee:                                                          Cllr J Yelland (Chairman);

                                                      Cllr T G Pearce (Vice-Chairman);

-       Hub Committee:                                                  Cllr N Jory (Chairman);

Cllr L Samuel (Vice Chairman);

-        Overview & Scrutiny Committee:                                   Cllr M Ewings (Chairman)

Cllr P Kimber (Vice-Chairman);

-        Invest to Earn Committee:                                   Cllr C Edmonds (Chairman);

-        Standards Committee:                                         Cllr A F Leech (Chairman); and

Cllr M Davies (Vice Chairman).

Members considered a report that presented the Group Leader’s nominations to fill the vacancies on the list of Outside Bodies.

(i)     Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee

Two nominations were put forward to the role of the Council’s representative on the Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee as follows:

o    Cllr S Hipsey; and

o    Cllr C Mott.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19(3), it was put to the vote and declared that Cllr C Mott be appointed as the Council’s representative on the Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee for the ensuing year.

It was then proposed by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr L Samuel and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and ”RESOLVED that:

1.   The Council should be represented on the list of Outside Bodies as            presented to the meeting, with the exception of a review being        undertaken into the merits of continuing to appoint to the following           Outside Bodies:

o    Crowndale Recreational Association;

o    Tavistock College Endowment Fund Trustee;

o    Tavistock Heritage Initiatives Grant Panel;

o    Tavistock Townscape Heritage Partnership; and

o    Torridge, North, Mid and West Devon Citizens Advice Bureau;

with the results of this review being presented to the next Council meeting;

2.  Appropriate representatives be appointed as this Council’s    appointments to those Bodies for the 2019/20 Municipal Year and that for the purposes of Members’ Allowances, attendance at meetings of these Bodies be regarded as an approved duty; and

3.  Members appointed to Outside Bodies provide regular feedback and           consultation on issues affecting the Bodies concerned”.

It was proposed by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr T G Pearce and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and ”RESOLVED that the appointments as presented to the meeting be endorsed for the ensuing year”.

It was noted that the two Council representatives appointed to the Dartmoor National Park were:-

Cllr D E Moyse (Conservative); and

Cllr M Renders (West Devon Alliance Group).

(NOTE: These appointments formed part of the Political Balance Table.)

To follow

PLEASE NOTE: A Procedural Note will be published and circulated prior to Council’s Annual Meeting and this will include information to enable full consideration of this agenda.  

The Council was presented with its Annual Report for the 2018/19 Financial Year for adoption and publication.

In his introduction, the Leader expressed his support for the report and proceeded to thank the report author for her efforts in compiling its content.

It was then proposed by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr L Samuel and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and ”RESOLVED that:

1.     the progress and achievements made by the Council be noted; and

2.     the West Devon Annual Report (as outlined at Appendix A of the presented agenda report) be adopted and published for the 2018/19 Financial Year.”