Agenda item

(i)              Overview & Scrutiny Committee

Meeting held on 16 November 2021

Recommendation to agree:

O&S 29 Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2020/21

That the Council be RECOMMENDED to adopt the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2020/21.

Meeting held on 18 January 2022

Recommendation to agree:

O&S 38 Third Sector Partners – Tamar Valley AONB

That the Council be RECOMMENDED to lobby and make representations calling for the ability for the Council to insist that, where practicable and appropriate, all future developments in West Devon must be landscaped with indigenous plants. West Devon has declared both a climate change and biodiversity emergency and such an ability would fit in with West Devon’s ambition to increase safeguarding biodiversity.

(ii)            Audit Committee

Meeting held on 7 December 2021                                      

(iii)          Hub Committee

Meeting held on 7 December 2021

HC 49/21 Planning Service Improvement Plan - Phase 3

2.  Council be RECOMMENDED to delegate authority to the Head of Paid Service, in consultation with the lead Hub Committee Member for Adapting Our Built Environment and the Director of Strategic Finance, to recruit additional staffing where there is a clear and demonstrable increase in planning applications and/or demand on the service, provided that the increase in staffing can be adequately covered by the additional income generated.

HC 50/21 Month 7 Revenue Budget Monitoring Report 2021/22

2.  Council be RECOMMENDED to apply up to £80,000 from the Salary  Savings Earmarked Reserve in 2021/22 to support additional salary costs in 2021/22 (as set out in section 3.3 of the published agenda report).

HC 52/21 Draft Revenue and Capital Budget Proposals 2022/23 to

2024/25

7.   Council be RECOMMENDED to continue to be part of the Devon Business Rates Pool for 2022/23, subject to there being no announcements within the Finance Settlement (expected to be announced in mid-December), which in the opinion of the Section 151 Officer (in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Hub Committee Member for Finance), would change this recommendation.

Meeting held on 1 February 2022

Recommendations to agree:                        

HC 60/21 Revenue and Capital Budget Proposals for 2022/23 (NB to             be considered as a standalone agenda item at Item 10 (below).

HC 63/21 Fusion Lifestyle – Leisure Contract Support Update (NB to be considered as a standalone agenda item at Item 11 (below).

HC 66/21 Local Government Act 1972 Section 109 – Kelly Parish Meeting

That Council be RECOMMENDED that the Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer be given Delegated Authority to make an order under section 109 of the Local Government Act 1972 granting Kelly Parish Meeting, the power to consent under section 61F of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to the whole of its parish being included in the Milton Abbot, Chillaton and Kelly Neighbourhood Plan.

(iv)          Development Management & Licensing Committee

Meeting held on 14 December 2021                                    

CM 57/21         

a.    Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 16 November 2021 and 18 January 2022

It was moved by Cllr M Ewings, seconded by Cllr J Spettigue and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Minutes of the 16 November 2021 meeting and the 18 January 2022 be received and noted, with the exception of Recommendations O&S 29 and O&S 38”.

In respect of the recommendations:

O&S 29: Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report

It was moved by Cllr M Ewings, seconded by Cllr J Spettigue and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2020/21 be adopted.”

O&S 38: Third Sector Partners – Tamar Valley AONB

In discussion, some Members felt that the Council could not insist (through the use of the word ‘must’) that all future developments be landscaped with indigenous plants.  As a consequence, it was felt that the word ‘must’ should be replaced by the word ‘should’.

It was therefore moved by Cllr M Ewings, seconded by Cllr J Spettigue and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Council lobby and make representations calling for the ability for the Council to insist that, where practicable and appropriate, all future developments in West Devon should be landscaped with indigenous plants. West Devon has declared both a climate change and biodiversity emergency and such an ability would fit in with West Devon’s ambition to increase safeguarding biodiversity.”

b.    Audit Committee – 7 December 2021

It was moved by Cllr M Davies, seconded by Cllr M Renders and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Minutes of the 7 December 2021 meeting be received and noted, with the exception of Recommendation AC 16.”

In respect of the Recommendation:

AC 16: External Auditor Appointment

It was moved by Cllr M Davies, seconded by Cllr M Renders and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Council opts into the national arrangement for the procurement and appointment of external auditors, through Public Sector Audit Appointments, by 11 March 2022.”

c.    Hub Committee – 7 December 2021 and 1 February 2022

It was moved by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr C Edmonds and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Minutes of the 7 December 2021 meeting and 1 February 2022 meeting be received and noted, with the exception of Recommendations HC 49/21, HC 50/21, HC 52/21, HC 60/21, HC 63/21 and HC 66/21.”

In respect of the Recommendations:

HC 49/21: Planning Improvement Plan – Phase 3 Case Management Resources and Enforcement

It was moved by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr C Edmonds and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that authority be delegated to the Head of Paid Service, in consultation with the lead Hub Committee Member for ‘Adapting Our Built Environment’ and the Director of Strategic Finance, to recruit additional staffing where there is a clear and demonstrable increase in planning applications and/or demand on the service, provided that the increase in staffing can be adequately covered by the additional income generated.”

HC 50/21: Month 7 Revenue Budget Monitoring 2021/2022

It was moved by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr C Edmonds and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Council apply up to £80,000 from the Salary Savings Earmarked Reserve in 2021/22 to support additional salary costs in 2021/22 (as set out in section 3.3 of the agenda report presented to the Hub Committee Meeting).”

HC 52/21: Revenue and Capital Budget Proposals for 2022/23 to 2024/25

It was moved by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr C Edmonds and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that Council continue to be part of the Devon Business Rates Pool for 2022/23, subject to there being no announcements within the Finance Settlement (expected to be announced in mid-December), which in the opinion of the Section 151 Officer (in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Hub Committee Member for Finance), would change this recommendation.”

HC 60/21: Revenue and Capital Budget Proposals for 2022/23

It was noted that Recommendation HC 60/21 was to be considered as a standalone agenda item later in the Meeting (Minute CM 58/21 below refers).

HC 63/21: Fusion Lifestyle – Leisure Contract Support Update

It was noted that Recommendation HC 63/21 was to be considered as a standalone agenda item later in the Meeting (Minute CM 59/21 below refers).

HC 66/21: Local Government Act 1972 Section 109 – Kelly Parish Meeting

It was moved by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr C Edmonds and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer be given Delegated Authority to make an order under section 109 of the Local Government Act 1972 granting Kelly Parish Meeting, the power to consent under section 61F of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to the whole of its parish being included in the Milton Abbot, Chillaton and Kelly Neighbourhood Plan.”

d.    Development Management & Licensing Committee – 14     December 2022

It was moved by Cllr J Yelland, seconded by Cllr T Pearce and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that the Minutes of the 14 December 2022 be received and noted.