Agenda item

CM 42                                                                                                                                       

The Mayor informed that he had agreed for three urgent items to be raised at this meeting that related to:

-         the West Devon Parking Strategy;

-         the Corporate Strategy; and

-         Member Allowances – Request from Cllr Sanders.

It was noted that each of these items had been deemed urgent in light of their associated time constraints.

(a)    West Devon Parking Strategy

The Council considered a report that presented the recommendations of the West Devon Parking Strategy Group in respect of the adoption of a revised Parking Strategy.

In the ensuing discussion, reference was made to a reluctance to approve the Strategy at this time.  Some Members expressed their reservations and confusion over the Strategy in its current form and particular concerns were highlighted in relation to its purpose, lack of supporting evidence and the content potentially pre-empting the work of the Financial Stability Member Working Group.  As a result, these Members were of the view that a decision on the Strategy should be deferred for consideration at a future meeting of the Hub Committee.  In the meantime, these Members also asked that a meeting be held between assets and car parks officers to ensure that the Strategy was more co-ordinated between these two areas.

However, in contrast, other Members highlighted that the Strategy was already significantly out of date and stated that a decision to defer would impinge upon the work of the Parking Strategy Group.

Nonetheless, having been moved by Cllr G Parker and seconded by Cllr D K A Sellis, it was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that a decision on the West Devon Parking Strategy be deferred to a future meeting of the Hub Committee for its consideration.”

(b)   Corporate Strategy

The Mayor advised that, following recent discussions, the general consensus amongst Hub Committee Members was that a Member Working Group should be formally established to consider the draft Corporate Strategy.  In support of this consensus, the Leader also felt it important that he and the Leader of the Independent Group nominate the most appropriate representatives to serve on this Working Group regardless of their political affiliation.

It was then moved by Cllr P R Sanders, seconded by Cllr R F D Sampson and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that:

1.    a Corporate Strategy Member Working Group comprising of 6 Members be formally established, with Delegated Authority being granted to the Commissioning Manager, in consultation with the Group Leaders, to agree the Terms of Reference; and

2.      appointments to serve on this Group be delegated to the Group Leaders and determined on a fit for purpose basis.”

(c)    Member Allowances – Request from Cllr Sanders

The Mayor proceeded to inform that, under Part 6, Paragraph 10.1 of the Council Constitution (Members’ Allowances Scheme):

‘no payment can be made of any Travel and Subsistence Claim made more than three months after the meeting for which the claim is made without the authority of Council in every case.’

Having received a request from Cllr Sanders, it was moved by Cllr J B Moody, seconded by Cllr R F D Sampson and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that Cllr Sanders be in receipt of payment of expenses dating back to July 2017 that amount to £304.55.”