Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Blackdown House, Honiton

Contact: Amanda Coombes, Democratic Services Officer  01395 517543 or email  acoombes@eastdevon.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

106.

Public speaking

Information on public speaking is available online

Minutes:

There were no members of the public wishing to speak.

107.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 204 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of Cabinet held on 27 November 2019 were confirmed and signed as a true record.

108.

Declarations of interest

Guidance is available online to Councillors and co-opted members on making declarations of interest

Minutes:

Minute 117 Draft Revenue and Capital Budgets 2020/21.

Councillor Kevin Blakey, Personal, Member of Cranbrook Town Council

 

Minute 118 Loan to finance purchase of Seaton Hospital.

Councillor Geoff Pook, Personal, Member of SAHM steering group.

 

Minute 118 Loan to finance purchase of Seaton Hospital.

Councillor Ian Hall, Personal, DCC councillor and member of the Triangular Health Care Forum.

 

Minute 118 Loan to finance purchase of Seaton Hospital.

Councillor Ian Thomas, Personal, Lives in the Triangular Health Care area.

 

Minute 118 Loan to finance purchase of Seaton Hospital.

Councillor Marcus Hartnell, Personal, Member of SAHM steering group.

 

Minute 118 Loan to finance purchase of Seaton Hospital.

Councillor Phil Twiss, Personal, Governor of the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS foundation Trust and Devon County Council Adult Health Scrutiny liaison working with the NHS, CCG, RD&E, SWAST, DCC Social care and other health care professionals.

 

109.

Matters of urgency

Information on matters of urgency is available online

Minutes:

There were no matters of urgency.

110.

Confidential/exempt item(s)

To agree any items to be dealt with after the public (including the Press) have been excluded. Thereare no itemswhich officersrecommendshould be dealtwithin thisway.

Minutes:

There were no items that officers recommended should be dealt with in this way.

111.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 207 KB

Minutes:

Members agreed the contents of the forward plan for key decisions for the period 1 February to 31 May 2020.

 

112.

Minutes of South and East Devon Habitat Regulations Executive Committee held on 30 October 2019 pdf icon PDF 166 KB

Minutes:

Members received and noted the Minutes of South and East Devon Habitat Regulations Executive Committee held on 30 October 2019.

113.

Minutes of Overview Committee held on 14 November 2019 pdf icon PDF 122 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received and noted the Minutes of Overview Committee held on 14 November 2019.

 

RESOLVED that the following recommendation be agreed:

 

Minute 36 Poverty in East Devon

1.    Consider funding the creation of an East Devon Poverty Strategy to further develop and target the areas identified within this report that we are able to influence and to support a corporate approach to ensure consistency across Council Services.

2.    Carry out a review of the funding and delivery arrangements for Money

Advice to ensure that we’re focussing on the key issues identified in the

report.

3.    Recommend that Council protect the existing funding levels contributed for Money Advice to Homemaker South West and Citizens of circa £120,000 for 2020/21 to enable the review (Recommendation 2) to be undertaken.

4.    Update Corporate Debt Policy to include; Breathing Space in-line with

proposed Government changes & to consider any other supportive

measures that may be beneficial.

5.    Agree to the Council’s frontline services, in collaboration, setting up a series of local events across the District with key stakeholders that focus on Universal Credit, Money/Debt advice (including how to avoid Loan sharks), budgeting, fuel poverty etc. with the over-arching aim of supporting people to become more financially resilient.

6.    Consider lobbying central Government directly and/or through our MPs in the following areas;

·       Right to Buy

·       Removing the freeze on Local Housing Allowance Rates in order to be reassessed to reflect market rents.

·       Universal Credit More financial support to be given to customers to help with the transition. More funding to be given to local Councils to reflect the support that customers need with moving onto this Benefit.

7.    Continue to explore opportunities to increase our supply of social housing through either redevelopment of existing stock and/or building new Council Housing, in conjunction with a review of the current Housing Revenue Account business plan.

8.    Agree to the Council working alongside East Devon foodbanks to better understand demand and eradicate dependency that could lead to a reduction and possible extinction of the need for foodbanks in the district.

9.    Undertake a detailed analysis of fuel poverty in the district with a view to developing a separate action plan.

10.To lobby government re the issues surrounding the need for financial support to claimants while in the transition on to Universal Credit.

114.

Minutes of Scrutiny Committee held on 21 November 2019 pdf icon PDF 180 KB

Minutes:

Members received and noted the Minutes of Scrutiny Committee held on 21 November 2019.

115.

Minutes of Capital Strategy and Allocation Group held on 4 December 2019 pdf icon PDF 238 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received and noted the Minutes of Capital Strategy and Allocation Group held on 4 December 2019.

 

RESOLVED that the following recommendation be agreed:

 

Minute 15 Capital bids proposed for the 2020-21 Capital Programme:

 

Minute 15a Axminster leisure centre - replacement sports hall flooring

1. the bid for £56,000 be supported on a 40% contribution basis.

2. delegated authority be given to the Strategic Lead for Finance to review the reporting of the LED Monitoring Group.

 

Minute 15b Sports halls replacement doors

the bid for £35,000 towards replacement sports hall doors be approved, with high priority due to the current health and safety risk.

 

Minute 15c Sidmouth swimming pool gym extension

the bid be deferred subject to LED attending a Capital Strategy and Allocations Group meeting and explaining their investment programme and expenditure

strategy.

 

Minute 15d Manstone depot, Sidmouth, perimeter fencing

the bid of £30,000 for replacement perimeter fencing at Manstone depot, Sidmouth be approved.

 

Minute 15e Purchase of digital telecare equipment to replace non digital

stock

the bid of £240,063 be approved and the purchase of replacement telecare equipment be phased over a five year period, if possible.

 

Minute 15f Self-build project

the bid of £1,000,000 for a self-build pilot study be approved, subject to the Strategic Lead for Finance amending the financial model.

 

Minute 15g Greenway Lane play area, Budleigh Salterton

the bid for £80,000 for the removal and replacement of play equipment and safety surfacing at Greenway Lane play area, Budleigh Salterton be approved, with a review of funding for play areas being undertaken in the future.

 

Minute 15h The Crescent play area, Exmouth

the bid for £80,000 for the removal and replacement of play equipment and safety surfacing at the Crescent play area, Exmouth be approved, with a review of funding for play areas being undertaken in the future.

 

Minute 15i Butts Close play area, Honiton

the bid for £60,000 for the removal and replacement of play equipment and safety surfacing at Butts Close play area, Honiton be approved, with a review of funding for play areas being undertaken in the future.

 

Minute 15j Axmouth Harbour maintenance

the bid for £20,000 for maintenance works at Axmouth Harbour be approved.

 

Minute 15k Greenway Lane footbridge repainting, Budleigh Salterton

the bid to repaint the Greenway Lane footbridge in Budleigh Salterton be deferred for a year to enable discussions with the town council over the longer term future of the bridge.

 

Minute 15l Sidmouth seafront railings repainting

the bid for £20,000 for the repainting of railings on Sidmouth seafront be approved, with the asset being considered for potential transfer to the town council.

 

Minute 15m Brixington open space enhancements, Exmouth

the bid for £150,000 for Brixington open space enhancements, Exmouth not be approved.

 

Minute 15n Exmouth Plantation

the bid for £40,000 be approved for inland cliff stabilisation measures at the Plantation, Exmouth.

 

Minute 15o Low carbon materials trial

the proposal for £20,000 for a low carbon materials trial be approved subject to delegated authority being given to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 115.

116.

Council Tax Reduction Scheme for Working Age - Income Banded Discount Scheme from 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 512 KB

This report is seeking Members approval on the new income banded discount scheme to be implemented from 1 April 2020 following public consultation on the draft scheme. 

Minutes:

The Service Lead Revenues, Benefits & Customer Services presented the report that sought approval on the new income banded discount scheme to be implemented from 1 April 2020 following public consultation on the draft scheme. Members of Cabinet had approved at the meeting on 4 September 2019 to consult on a new draft scheme that would see an increase in the amount of financial support available as the maximum available would rise from 80% to 85%.

 

RECOMMENDED: that Cabinet recommends to Council

1. To consider fully the equality impact assessment in relation the scheme.

2. to adopt the new Council Tax Income banded discount as set out in the report under section 6 from 1 April 2020.

3. to adopt the Council Tax Discretionary & Exceptional Hardship Fund Policy.

 

REASON:

The report set out the reasons why the need to change the working age scheme. The new scheme being proposed would better align with Universal Credit and simplified the administrative process. Alongside this the new scheme being recommended increased the financial support to claimants as maximum entitlement will raise from 80% to 85%. This measure would provide direct financial support to those on the lowest incomes. The new scheme would mean that approximately 86% of claimants would be better off, 8% would be unaffected and only 6% would lose out. This proposal supported the Council’s approach in helping to alleviate poverty.

 

The Portfolio Holders for Finance and Sustainable Homes and Communities congratulated Libby Jarrett and her team for their hard work and professionalism in creating this new scheme.

117.

Draft Revenue and Capital Budgets 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 376 KB

This report presents the draft revenue and capital budgets for 2020/21 for adoption by the Cabinet before consideration by a joint meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees and the Housing Review Board.

 

Minutes:

The Strategic Lead Finance presented the draft revenue and capital budgets for 2020/21 for adoption by the Cabinet before consideration by a joint meeting of the

Overview and Scrutiny Committees and the Housing Review Board. Recommendations from these meetings would be presented back to the Cabinet on 5 February 2020 when members finalise budget proposals to be recommended to Council.

 

RESOLVED:

that the draft revenue and capital estimates before being forwarded for consideration to a joint meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees and the Housing Review Board, be agreed.

 

REASON:

There was a requirement to set balanced budgets and to levy a Council Tax for 2020/21.

 

The Portfolio Holder Finance thanked Simon Davey and his team for their efforts in the production of the budget. He reminded members for the need to continue to look at savings initiatives and to think of ways to bridge future funding gaps.

118.

Loan to finance purchase of Seaton Hospital pdf icon PDF 410 KB

This report sets out a request from Seaton Area Health Matters (SAHM) for the Council to purchase Seaton Hospital under special arrangements for public bodies direct from NHS Property Services. 

Minutes:

The report set out a request from Seaton Area Health Matters (SAHM) for the Council to purchase Seaton Hospital under special arrangements for public bodies direct from NHS Property Services. To be passed directly to SAHM (being set up as Charitable Incorporated Organisation - CIO) in a back to back legal agreement. The funding of the purchase would be met by the CIO through a 40-year loan from the Council with all costs recovered by the Council and with the necessary loan security being put in place. The estimate loan amount will up to £2.1m being the balance required after other funds being applied by CIO to meet the purchase cost.

 

The Portfolio Holder Asset Management set out the aims of SAHM and how EDDC was the conduit for access to the PWLB funding. He reminded members at this stage an agreement in principal was just being asked for. He suggested amending the recommendation to require a report to come back to the Cabinet supported by a full business case for the Cabinet to take the view as to whether to recommend the loan to Council.

 

Discussions included the following:

·       The hospital had already lost its inpatient beds and was not safe in the hands of NHS Property Services, there was a risk of losing the building if it was not protected. This was matter of principal

·       The report at this stage was just asking for an agreement in principal and would come back to Cabinet for further debate once they was a more concise business plan

·       This was an excellent opportunity – a trailblazer

·       The need to look at the risks when underwriting such a loan

·       Why wasn’t Devon County Council (DCC) with an established track record as well as the legal expertise with working with the NHS?

·       In the interim period to get the proposed users in the hospital in order to add validity to the business plan

·       The need to slow down on such a  decision and look at different ways of working with all health provision across the whole area

·       This was the whole ethos of what the council was about in engaging and supporting its residents as well as looking after their health and wellbeing

·       The Budleigh Salterton Health Hub had not generated as much income as had been expected, caution was needed

·       This was a big commitment. A rigorous business plan tested by external bodies for heavy risk analysis was necessary

·       More detail was required. There was a duty to the taxpayer for assurance that the loan would be repaid

·       Was this robust and sustainable – would the council foreclose if the loan was defaulted

·       DCC was the statutory body to deliver health and social care, why could they not access a PWLB loan?

·       The residents of Seaton had already financially contributed to the hospital and would most likely continue to do so

·       The arrangement was complimentary to what was trying to be achieved across the Axe Valley area

·       If the recommendation was agreed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 118.

119.

Climate Change - EDDC Local Climate Change Action Plan and carbon footprint pdf icon PDF 444 KB

As part of the council’s response to the Devon Climate Change Declaration it committed to producing a local climate change action plan to be informed by a comprehensive carbon footprint assessment. This report presents the results of this work and identifies the next stage in the council’s carbon neutral journey.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Strategic Lead Housing, Health & Environment presented his report which was part of the council’s response to the Devon Climate Change Declaration and as such, EDDC committed to producing a local climate change action plan to be informed by a comprehensive carbon footprint assessment. The report presented the results of this work and identified the next stage in the council’s carbon neutral journey.

 

The Council Plan clearly stated that the council was committed to reducing its carbon footprint and overtime become a carbon neutral council. This was a huge challenge, but one that EDDC were working towards through a clear understanding of its carbon and greenhouse gas emissions and what it could do to reduce them.

 

The report also addressed resourcing of the ambitions and plans in order that EDDC could make meaningful progress towards becoming carbon neutral, and the organisational changes required to put the plan into the action.

 

The Portfolio Holder Environment thanked John Golding and his team for the hard efforts in producing the report. The Portfolio Holder Asset Management stated this was an excellent detailed document and stated the need to see how future collected data evidenced that the council was indeed reducing its carbon footprint.

 

RESOLVED:

1.     that the carbon footprint assessment and endorse the draft Climate Change Action Plan be noted; and

2.     that the Climate Change Action Plan being incorporated into a Climate Change Strategy and the intention of this being presented for adoption at the February 2020 Council meeting, be agreed.

 

RECOMMENDED: that Cabinet recommend to Council

3.     both the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account establish climate change emergency budgets in the sums detailed in the report.

 

120.

Whimple Neighbourhood Area pdf icon PDF 873 KB

This report explains that an application has been received to amend the extent of the Whimple Neighbourhood Area so that it follows the Parish boundary and includes the (previously excluded) strategic site to the west.

Minutes:

An application had been received to amend the extent of the Whimple Neighbourhood Area so that it followed the Parish boundary and included the (previously excluded) strategic site to the west. The neighbourhood plan would not be able to amend or supercede the strategic policies set out for this area in the Local Plan or Cranbrook Plan (once adopted). Legislation had changed since the original Neighbourhood Area was designated so that Members no longer had the ability to refuse a designation covering the whole Parish (unless exceptional circumstances apply) but the constitution required the application to be brought before them. As a result, the report was brought before Cabinet for information only.

 

RESOLVED:

1.    that Members noted the application to extend the Whimple Neighbourhood Area, and

2.     that the date of designation of the revised Whimple Neighbourhood Area was 8 January 2020.

 

REASON:

Members were required to consider applications for designation of neighbourhood areas containing strategic land allocations. Members were unable to refuse to designate the area unless specified exceptions apply, which they do not in this case.

121.

Seaton Wetlands Link Project pdf icon PDF 257 KB

The report advises of a series of masterplan project interventions that are either in progress or could be taken forward, and that if all completed would deliver a new circular walking/cycle route from Seaton Jurassic and Seaton Tramway up to Seaton Wetlands.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report advised of a series of masterplan project interventions that were either in progress, or could be taken forward and that if all completed, would deliver a new circular walking/cycle route from Seaton Jurassic and Seaton Tramway up to Seaton Wetlands.

 

Seaton Wetlands, Seaton Jurassic and Seaton Tramway were run by different organisations but collectively offer a combined environmental, heritage and educational experience. From the point of view of the visitor, it was one experience that could use up a whole day where people could combine visits to all three attractions from one starting point. It would present an almost unique offer, including transport, education, natural history, wildlife watching and refreshment.

 

Cllr Marcus Hartnell, Ward Member for Seaton welcomed the report and stated that commercial opportunities needed to be fully investigated to sustain the venture. He requested that Ward Members briefings about this project and masterplan were a matter of course.

 

RESOLVED: that Cabinet noted;

1.     that an Officer Delivery Group was to be established to co-ordinate the masterplan project for the Seaton Wetlands Link project with a focus on delivering a masterplan of project interventions that will create a circular walking/cycling route linking Seaton’s key attractions, and

2.     that quarterly updates will be provided to the Asset Management and Environment Portfolio Holders and local ward members.

 

REASON:

To enable a corporate approach to progress the feasibility of delivery of these project interventions working with external partners as required and securing necessary funding.

 

122.

Devon Wide Housing Assistance Policy 2018 review and additions pdf icon PDF 462 KB

To identify and include amendments following the 12 month review of the policy by the Devon District Council’s Private Sector Housing Managers’ group and Devon County Council. 

 

Minutes:

The report identified and included amendments following the 12-month review of the policy by the Devon District Council’s Private Sector Housing Managers group and Devon County Council. The policy identified and included the addition of a new Accessible Homes Grant called a Stair lift Grant which had been piloted in Exeter, Mid Devon and Teignbridge.

 

RESOLVED:

that the minor amendments to the policy including the new Accessible Homes Grant called a Stair lift Grant be offered across East Devon, be agreed.

 

REASON:

The amendments to the policy provide clarity and seek to make grants more inclusive. The addition of the Stair lift Grant has been successful in the pilot District Councils and would be of benefit to applicable customers in East Devon.

123.

Honiton Dowell Street car park pdf icon PDF 181 KB

The purpose of this report is to advise Members of representations received in response to proposals to manage Honiton’s Dowell Street car park on behalf of Honiton Town Council.

 

Minutes:

The report advised of representations received in response to proposals to manage Honiton’s Dowell Street car park on behalf of Honiton Town Council.

 

RESOLVED:

1.     that Honiton Dowell Street Car Park be included in East Devon District Council’s Off-street Parking Places Order (subject to there being in place a lease in favour of East Devon District Council),

2.     that EDDC enters into a ten-year full repairing and insuring lease of Dowell Street car park, and

3.     that delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder Asset Management  to enter into a detailed agreement with Honiton Town Council to provide car park management services on terms to be agreed, be agreed.

 

REASON:

There was demand for additional public car parking in the town and at present the use of the car park was unrestricted. The Town Council had considered the issues raised in the representations and had requested that the Council proceed with putting in place measures to enable EDDC to manage the car park as a public pay and display car park.