Agenda item

* Indicates minutes containing recommendations to Council

47/21               

 

RESOLVED

 

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

 

(a)    Development Management Committee – 23 June 2021

 

(b)   Licensing Committee – 30 June 2021

 

(c)    Audit Committee – 1 July 2021

 

(d)   Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 1 July 2021

 

(e)    Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 22 July 2021

 

(f)     Development Management Committee – 28 July 2021

 

(g)   Audit Committee – 2 September 2021

 

(h)   Executive – 9 September 2021

 

(i)     Executive – 16 September 2021

 

E.37/21: Delivery of Electric Charging Points in Council Car Parks

 

RESOLVED

 

1.      That a Collaboration Agreement be entered into with the Devon and Torbay Residential Chargepoint Scheme for the installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Points;

 

2.      That the potential site locations (as listed in paragraph 1.3 of the published agenda report) be approved for the installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Points; and

 

3.      That a lease be entered into with the appointed supplier for a ten-year period.

 

E.39/21: Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022/23 to 2024/25

 

RESOLVED

 

That Council:

 

1.      sets the strategic intention to raise Council Tax by the maximum allowed in any given year, without triggering a Council Tax Referendum, to endeavour to continue to deliver services.  (NB. the actual Council Tax for any given year will be decided by the Council in the preceding February);

 

2.      adopts the principle of using funding in the Business Rates Retention Reserve to smooth out the anticipated volatility in Business Rates income over the next three years (as set out in section 3.19 of the published agenda report).  The volatility is due to the business rates baseline reset anticipated in 2023/24 (this will result in the Council having a negative Revenue Support Grant) and the predicted loss of Business Rates pooling gain at the same time.  It is recommended that funding held in the Business Rates Retention Reserve is retained for the purpose of smoothing out the business rates volatility / negative revenue support grant and should not be used for unrelated purposes, other than commitments already made or as part of one-off funding for the Corporate Strategy, for at least the next three years;

 

3.      continues to respond to Government consultations on Business Rates Reform;

 

4.      continues to actively lobby and engage with the Government, Devon MPs, South West Councils and other sector bodies such as the District Councils’ Network and the Rural Services Network, for a realistic business rates baseline to be set for the Council for 2023 onwards, when the business rates reset happens;

 

5.      continues to lobby in support of the Government eliminating Negative Revenue Support Grant in 2022/23 (and thereafter) and continue to lobby for Rural Services Delivery Grant allocations which adequately reflect the cost of rural service provision; and

 

6.      notes the forecast budget gap for 2022/23 of £79,587 (0.8% of the current Net Budget of £9.68 million) and the position for future years be noted.

 

E.41/21: Capital Programme Monitoring

 

RESOLVED

 

That the overspend of £31,816 on the Dartmouth Ferry Workshop be funded from the Capital Programme Contingency Reserve.

 

E.42/21: Planning Improvement Plan

 

RESOLVED

 

That the cost of temporary planning staffing resources of £171,900 (SHDC share of the cost), be funded from the additional planning income generated in 2021/22 (as set out in Section 2.4 of the published agenda report).

 

E.43/21: Follaton House Accommodation Usage

 

RESOLVED

 

That the cost of a new Audio Visual system (of an estimated £130,000) be funded from the New Burdens Revenue Funding received from the Government for the administration of the recent Business Grants (as set out in Section 4.3 of the published agenda report).  In addition, the Council funds up to £30,000 for the cost of furniture from the Repairs and Maintenance Earmarked Reserve.

 

E.44/21: Waste and Recycling Update

 

The following recommendation from the Executive meeting was PROPOSED and SECONDED:

 

“That the waste and recycling collection service provided still falls below the standard required to meet the expectations of local residents.  Councillors were given assurance that the service would return to a ‘steady state’ by mid-July.  In the Council’s view, this is not the case.  We appreciate the efforts of officers and FCC to try and rectify the situation.  However, if a solution cannot be found to deliver the ‘super recycling’ service as specified at the Full Council meeting on 6 December 2018 by the end of 2021 the Council will be forced to consider exercising any available contractual rights in order to ensure that, going forwards, arrangements are in place which are capable of delivering a waste and recycling collection service that is fit for the 21^st Century.”

In discussion, reference was made to:

(a)    the wording ‘the Council will be forced to consider..’  A Member highlighted that this wording implied that the Council was currently not considering exercising any of its available contractual rights which he felt to be unfortunate.  In response, the Chief Executive reiterated that the Council was using every means possible that were at its disposal to improve service performance;

 

(b)    the work of Council officers and Members.  A number of Members paid tribute to the work of Council officers and Members who were working tirelessly to support the work that FCC should be undertaking.  When questioned, it was confirmed that officer time was being recorded and FCC would be invoiced for the officer time being spent supporting FCC;

 

(c)    community composting schemes.  When questioned, the Chief Executive informed that a report was to be presented to the Executive meeting to be held on 14 October that would include reference to community composting schemes.  As a general point, the lead Executive Member encouraged residents to home compost as much as they possibly could;

 

(d)    attendance at the next Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting.  Some Members expressed their disappointment that it had been necessary to rearrange the next Committee meeting in light of the FCC representatives being unable to attend on the originally scheduled date.  It was also confirmed that the meeting would be rearranged to be held in the next few weeks and, as soon as agreement for a revised date had been fixed, all Members would then be advised;

 

(e)    the co-mingled waste.  A Member stated that a number of residents were expressing their doubts that 100% of co-mingled waste was being recycled.  In response, officers confirmed that no waste ended up in landfill and it was the wish of the lead Executive Member for a Member site visit to be arranged to enable Members to view Chelson Meadow Recycling Centre at first hand;

 

(f)     an amendment to the motion was PROPOSED and SECONDED as follows:

 

‘The waste and recycling collection service offered by the Council still falls well below the standards local residents expect or deserve. Councillors were given assurances that the service would return to a ‘steady state’ by mid July. In the Council’s view, this is not the case. We appreciate the efforts of officers and FCC to try and rectify the situation. However, if a solution cannot be found to deliver the ‘super recycling’ service as specified at the full council meeting on 6th December 2018 by the end of 2021, the council will exercise its contractual rights and look to bring the service back in house.

We would initiate a transition period, in discussion with FCC, for the benefit of both parties. We will also look to work in partnership with other authorities to deliver a waste and recycling service that is fit for the 21st century.’’

 

In bringing forward the amendment, the proposer felt that this provided the Council (and its residents) with a greater statement of intent.

 

In the ensuing debate, reference was made to:

 

(a)    the advice of the Monitoring Officer.  Due to the nature of the advice to be given it was PROPOSED and SECONDED that:

 

‘in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business as the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 5 of Schedule 12A to the Act is involved.’

 

When put to the vote, the motion to exclude the public and press was declared CARRIED.

 

The meeting subsequently moved into exempt session at 3.05pm and, having made a statement to Members and responded to Member questions on this statement, it was then (at 3.25pm) PROPOSED and SECONDED and when put to the vote declared CARRIED:

 

‘That the public and press be re-admitted to the meeting.’

 

(b)    the lack of HGV drivers was part of a national trend for which there were no quick and straightforward solutions;

 

(c)    the need to take heed of the advice provided by the Monitoring Officer;

 

(d)    the poor performance of FCC.  Notwithstanding the advice that had been given to the meeting, some Members still highlighted examples of the ongoing poor performance from FCC and therefore reiterated their support for the amendment.

 

When put to the vote, the amendment was declared LOST.

 

It was then:

 

RESOLVED

That the waste and recycling collection service provided still falls below the standard required to meet the expectations of local residents.  Councillors were given assurance that the service would return to a ‘steady state’ by mid-July.  In the Council’s view, this is not the case.  We appreciate the efforts of officers and FCC to try and rectify the situation.  However, if a solution cannot be found to deliver the ‘super recycling’ service as specified at the Full Council meeting on 6 December 2018 by the end of 2021 the Council will be forced to consider exercising any available contractual rights in order to ensure that, going forwards, arrangements are in place which are capable of delivering a waste and recycling collection service that is fit for the 21^st Century.