Agenda item

To receive and as may be necessary approve the minutes and recommendations of the under-mentioned Bodies

 

* Indicates minutes containing recommendations to Council

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes and recommendations of the undermentioned bodies be received and approved subject to any amendments listed below:-

 

(a)        Development Management Committee         22 May 2019

 

(b)        Executive        6 June 2019

 

E.06/19: Climate Change

 

In proposing the Executive recommendations, the Leader informed of her intention to add a further recommendation that read as follows:

 

‘That the Council establish a politically balanced Climate Change and Biodiversity Working Group that comprises of 6 Members, with the Group Leaders being given delegated authority to put forward their respective nominations after this meeting, with the Group being chaired by the lead Executive Member for Climate Change.’

 

Each of these recommendations were duly SECONDED by the Deputy Leader.

 

In the subsequent debate, the following amendment (indicated in red font) was PROPOSED and SECONDED:

 

‘1. That a Climate Change and Biodiversity Emergency be declared;

 

 

2. That an Action Plan be developed that outlines how the Council will address the Emergencies and meet or exceed the targets set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), including an assessment of the viability of a 2030 target and respond to the concerns raised by the IPBES report on global species and habitat loss to be brought to Council for approval within 6 months;

 

3. That the Council commit to collaborating with Devon County Council, all the Devon District Councils, Plymouth City Council and other agencies to address the Emergencies;

 

4. That the Action Plan identify Key Performance Indicators measured against any relevant national standards;

 

5. That a politically balanced Climate Change and Biodiversity Working Group be established that comprises of 6 Members, with the Group Leaders being given delegated authority to put forward their respective nominations after this meeting, with the Group being chaired by the lead Executive Member for Climate Change; and

 

6. That the Working Group be instructed, at its first meeting, to consider the setting up of a Citizens’ Assembly and to submit a recommendation to the next Council meeting to be held on 26 September 2019 and that prior to that it be submitted to the September meetings of the Executive and Overview and Scrutiny Panel for comment.’

 

The proposer of this amendment spoke to each part in turn and advised that these had been presented following discussions with the Leader of Council. 

 

In discussion, the Leader confirmed that this was the case and, as the proposer of the original motion, she was therefore supportive of this amendment.  The Deputy Leader also confirmed his support for the amendment and it was therefore included as part of the substantive motion.

 

At this point, a further amendment was PROPOSED and SECONDED as follows:

 

‘1. That both a Climate Change and Ecological Emergency be declared;

 

2. That an Action Plan be developed that outlines how the Council will address the Emergencies and meet or exceed the targets set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), including an assessment of the viability of a 2030 target and respond to the concerns raised by the IPBES report on global species and habitat loss to be brought to Council for approval within 6 months;

 

3. That the Council commit to collaborating with Devon County Council, all the Devon District Councils, Plymouth City Council and other agencies to address the Emergencies;

 

4. That the Action Plan identify Key Performance Indicators measured against any relevant national standards;

 

5. That a politically balanced Climate Change and Biodiversity Working Group be established that comprises of 6 Members, with the Group Leaders being given delegated authority to put forward their respective nominations after this meeting, with the Group being chaired by the lead Executive Member for Climate Change;

 

6. That the Working Group be instructed, at its first meeting, to consider the setting up of a Citizens’ Assembly and to submit a recommendation to the next Council meeting to be held on 26 September 2019 and that prior to that it be submitted to the September meetings of the Executive and Overview and Scrutiny Panel for comment; and

 

7. That the Council takes steps to reinforce its Joint Local Plan Policies in respect of wildlife and biodiversity through the Supplementary Planning Document to require developers to demonstrate biodiversity gain as part of any relevant planning application so that there is a robust and consistent basis to assess and secure meaningful biodiversity enhancements having regard to a mitigation hierarchy, namely to avoid impact first, provide mitigation where there is unavoidable harm and, in the event that there is no alternative, provide compensatory measures as a last resort.’

 

The proposer felt that the term ‘Ecological’ would strengthen the motion and advised that part 7 had been drafted in consultation with the Council’s Deputy Monitoring Officer.

 

With the exception of the term ‘Ecological’, the Leader and Deputy Leader both confirmed their support for the other two parts of the amendment and they were therefore included in the substantive motion.

 

In the debate on the term ‘Ecological’, the point was made that the overwhelming majority of local authorities had declared a Climate Change and Biodiversity Emergency.  As a result, it was considered important to make the same declaration as other local authorities and, when put to the vote, the amendment was declared LOST.

 

It was then:

 

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    That both a Climate Change and Biodiversity Emergency be declared;

 

2.    That an Action Plan be developed that outlines how the Council will address the Emergencies and meet or exceed the targets set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), including an assessment of the viability of a 2030 target and respond to the concerns raised by the IPBES report on global species and habitat loss to be brought to Council for approval within 6 months;

 

3.    That the Council commit to collaborating with Devon County Council, all the Devon District Councils, Plymouth City Council and other agencies to address the Emergencies;

 

4.    That the Action Plan identify Key Performance Indicators measured against any relevant national standards;

 

5.    That a politically balanced Climate Change and Biodiversity Working Group be established that comprises of 6 Members, with the Group Leaders being given delegated authority to put forward their respective nominations after this meeting, with the Group being chaired by the lead Executive Member for Climate Change;

 

6.    That the Working Group be instructed, at its first meeting, to consider the setting up of a Citizens’ Assembly and to submit a recommendation to the next Council meeting to be held on 26 September 2019 and that prior to that it be submitted to the September meetings of the Executive and Overview and Scrutiny Panel for comment; and

 

7.    That the Council takes steps to reinforce its Joint Local Plan Policies in respect of wildlife and biodiversity through the Supplementary Planning Document to require developers to demonstrate biodiversity gain as part of any relevant planning application so that there is a robust and consistent basis to assess and secure meaningful biodiversity enhancements having regard to a mitigation hierarchy, namely to avoid impact first, provide mitigation where there is unavoidable harm and, in the event that there is no alternative, provide compensatory measures as a last resort.

 

E.08/19: Devon Wide Housing Assistance Policy

 

RESOLVED

 

That the existing 2018/19 Homes Assistance Policy be updated with the revised 2019/21 Devon Housing Assistance Policy.

 

(c)   Overview and Scrutiny Panel      13 June 2019

 

(d)   Development Management Committee  19 June 2019

 

(e)   Audit Committee  20 June 2019

 

(f)   Salcombe Harbour Board            24 June 2019

 

(g)   Overview and Scrutiny Panel      11 July 2019

 

O&S.18/19: Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2018/19 be approved.

 

(h)   Executive 18 July 2019

 

E.14/19: Ivybridge Regeneration

 

A non-Executive Member asked that, prior to being signed off at the next Executive meeting as a ‘true and correct record’, consideration be given to expanding the draft minute to emphasise the importance of youth facilities in the town.

 

E.18/19: Adoption of the Totnes Air Quality Action Plan

 

RESOLVED

 

That the amended Air Quality Action Plan for Totnes be adopted.

 

E.19/19: Medium Term Financial Position for 2020/21 Onwards

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Council consult with all of the Town and Parish Councils within the District on the basis that the District Council is ‘minded to’ withdraw the Council Tax Support Grant from Town and Parish Councils (with effect from 1 April 2020) by 50% per annum over the next two years, in order to allow time for Town and Parish Councils to plan for the reduction in their budget setting processes.

 

E.22/19: Car Parking Order Amendments

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Off-Street Parking Order be amended to include reference to Electric Charging Points to enable future provision and enforcement of the Electric Charging point bays.