Agenda item

50/16              

The Council considered a report that informed of the recommendations of the Political Structures Working Group in respect of:-

-        the final recommendations on the Community Governance Review proposal to transfer the area to the East of Ivybridge (recently added to create the new Ivybridge East Ward) from Ugborough Parish to the Ivybridge Parish;

-        the merits of re-establishing the Personnel Panel; and

-        the involvement of Development Management Committee Members in the annual draft budget setting process.

In discussion on the Community Governance Review, the following points were raised:-

(a)    In his introduction, the Chairman of the Working Group highlighted that the review had been extensive and all evidence that had been submitted during the last twelve months had been discussed and considered in great detail.  In particular, the Chairman informed that the Working Group had given serious consideration to the quality of the evidence presented and he had therefore been convinced that the area should remain within the parish of Ugborough.  As a consequence, he PROPOSED the following motion:

‘That the area to the East of Ivybridge (recently added to create the new Ivybridge East Ward) remain within the parish of Ugborough; and

That maintaining the status quo be the right decision for community cohesion in the light of views expressed in the second round of consultation either against or with significant concerns about the proposal.’

This motion was subsequently SECONDED.

(b)    A number of Members expressed their concerns and disappointment at the tone and content of a letter that had been received from Ivybridge Town Council on 26 October 2016.  These views could be summarised as follows:

o    the letter was considered to be threatening and coercive;

o    there was a lack of reference in the letter to which meeting of the town council this had arisen from.  As a consequence, a Member questioned the role played by (and authority that had been given to) the Clerk in this respect;

o    the allegation that the Council simply rubber stamped recommendations from Working Groups and Committees was seen as being disrespectful and deeply offensive; and

o    the letter having led a Member to change his view and he was now intending to vote in favour of the motion.

(c)    Having been in attendance during the most recent meeting of the Political Structures Working Group, a Member highlighted the emphatic comments that had been expressed by the local Ward Member who represented Ugborough parish.  Such was the strength of views amongst the parish council, the Member stated that he would be hard pressed to vote against the motion.

During the discussion relating to the Personnel Panel, some disappointment was expressed at the recommendation whereby the Panel should not be resurrected.  Such was the levels of related expenditure and in light of the recent staff survey results, some Members were of the view that the Panel should be resurrected.  In contrast, other Members acknowledged that all members of staff were now shared between the Council and West Devon Borough Council and this was a major stumbling block to re-establishing a Panel.  Furthermore, HR legislation was continually changing and becoming increasingly specialised and, as a consequence, a number of local authorities were in fact in the process of disbanding their Panels.

In discussion on the annual draft budget setting process, a Member of the Development Management Committee expressed his support for the recommendation and advised that he had felt somewhat isolated during the draft Budget Setting Process last year.

It was then:

RESOLVED

1(a)   That the area to the East of Ivybridge (recently added to create the new Ivybridge East Ward) remain within the parish of Ugborough;

1(b)   That maintaining the status quo be the right decision for community cohesion in the light of views expressed in the second round of consultation either against or with significant concerns about the proposal;

2(a)   That the Personnel Panel be not resurrected;

2(b)   That future annual reports on the Pay Policy Statement also include reference to a separate Pay Reward Strategy;

2(c)   That it be re-affirmed that Cllr Saltern be the Member involved in the Employment Appeals process and that this position be included as part of the list of appointments that require the formal approval of Annual Council each year; and

3        That, with effect from 19 January 2017, a joint meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel and the Development Management Committee be convened each year, with the sole purpose of considering the annual draft budget proposals, with the meeting being chaired by the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel.