Agenda item

47/23   

Council considered a report that sought approval for the Council Plan 2024-28 and the Year 1 Delivery Plan.

During debate, particular reference was made to:

(a)   the work carried out by officers in reaching this point.  A number of Members recorded their thanks to officers in drafting such detailed, comprehensive and costed Plans that reflected the views of both the Executive and the recently established Advisory Groups.  Moreover, the Council recorded its thanks to the work of the Finance Team and the previous Council administration for their prudent financial management that had resulted the Council being able to invest monies into these Plans;

(b)   an amendment to the recommendation was PROPOSED and SECONDED that sought to give added emphasis to the cost of living crisis by primarily ringfencing funding to support community based food supplies.  The amendment read as follows:

“That the contents of the existing Delivery Plan be amended as below:-

-      Remove from Delivery Plan Item C1.5 – Dartmouth Park and Ride PV feasibility and business case preparation £20,000; and

-      Remove from the Delivery Plan Item C3.2 – Employ a Food and Agriculture Officer to implement the Keep it Local Scheme £55,000.

And replace these two lines in the Delivery Plan with:

-      £75,000 for the cost of living crisis – some of the money to be used to enable and support local community groups to grow their own food for distribution within the community.”

The proposer introduced her amendment and stated that:

o     the Council needed to be realistic in how much an organisation of its size could undertake to mitigate against Climate Change.  The Member was of the view that the organisation was too small to be considered a leader in this subject matter; and

o     the current Plans did not make sufficient mention of the ongoing Cost of Living Crisis.

In discussion on the amendment, the following points were raised:

(i)    Some Members made the point that there had been a number of opportunities to bring this amendment forward for consideration prior to this late stage.  Therefore, it was not considered to be appropriate to be making such amendments to the Plan at the end of the process;

(ii)   The proposed expenditure on Climate Change and Biodiversity had been a key component of the Manifesto for which the administration had been successfully elected on.  Furthermore, a number of Members felt that, such was the extent of the Climate Change and Biodiversity Emergency, that the Council had to demonstrate leadership and take personal responsibility;

(iii)  Irrespective of the amendment, Members emphasised that the Council was fully committed to projects and initiatives aligned to local food production and reduced food mileage;

(iv)  Assurances were given that increased emphasis in the Council’s Plans would be given to the Cost of Living Crisis.

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

It was then:

RESOLVED

1.    That the Council Plan 2024-2028 and Year 1 (2024/25) Delivery Plan (as set out respectively in Appendix A and Appendix B of the presented agenda report) be approved; and

2.    That funding for the 2024-25 Delivery Plan (as set out in section 4.2 of the presented agenda report) be approved.