Agenda and minutes

Venue: Online via the Zoom App. All Councillors and registered speakers will have been sent an appointment with the meeting link.

Contact: Chris Lane, Democratic Services Officer  01395 517544; email  clane@eastdevon.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

87.

Public speaking

Information on public speaking is available online

 

Minutes:

There were no members of the public wishing to speak.

88.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 36 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 2020 were agreed as a true record.

89.

Declarations of interest

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

 

Minutes:

Minute 94 Forward Plan.

Councillor Iain Chubb, Personal, Member of Devon County Council.

 

Minute 94 Forward Plan.

Councillor Olly Davey, Personal, Member of Exmouth Town Council.

 

Minute 94 Forward Plan.

Councillor Tony McCollum, Personal, Matters connected with the Member were currently being considered under the standards process.

 

90.

Matters of urgency

Information on matters of urgency is available online

 

Minutes:

There were no matters of urgency.

91.

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 confidential/exempt items.

 

92.

Decisions made by Cabinet called in by Members for scrutiny in accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules

There are no items identified

Minutes:

There were no items called-in.

 

 

93.

Requesting Portfolio Holder reports

Minutes:

Members discussed which Portfolio Holders to invite to report to the Committee and felt that as Cllr Megan Armstrong, Portfolio Holder – Sustainable Homes & Community and Cllr Geoff Jung, Portfolio Holder – Coast, Country & Environment had been in post the longest they should be the first to be asked to report to the Committee. After discussion it was agreed that Cllr Megan Armstrong be asked to attend the next meeting of the Committee to give a report.

 

RESOLVED that Cllr Megan Armstrong be requested to attend the next meeting of the Committee and provide a report on the activities of her Portfolio.

94.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 33 KB

Scrutiny Forward Work Plan

 

a) Proposal Forms received

Standards Committee and Subcommittee issues referred from Chairman of Audit and Governance and Portfolio Holder for Governance and Transparency following October 2020 Council

 

5 Year Land Supply situation

 

b) Scoping reports

None received as yet.

 

c) Timetabling of these reports

None received as yet.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Proposal Forms received

 

Standards Committee and Sub Committee issues referred from Chairman of Audit and Governance and Portfolio Holder for Governance and Transparency following October 2020 Council

 

Members received the proposal form on Standards Committee and Standards Sub Committee issues submitted by Cllr Colin Brown.

 

It was noted that the Standards Committee had started to review the standards process.

 

During discussions the following points were noted:

·         It could assist the Standards Committee with its review to have an objective report from the Scrutiny Committee

·         It was the role of the Scrutiny Committee to objectively assess the effectiveness of the standards process, with particular reference to conflicts of interest or political motives during the handling of complaints

·         There needed to be a good reason to review the standards process through the Scrutiny Committee, rather than through the Standards Committee itself

·         The Monitoring Officer advised that work would be duplicated should the Scrutiny Committee agree to proceed with its own review of the standards process, although it was within the Committee’s remit to do so.  All Members could attend and speak at meetings of the Standards Committee in order to contribute to the transparency of the review process

·         Cllr Allen suggested terms of reference for a wide ranging review of the standards process

·         The Monitoring Officer requested that the Scrutiny Committee consider more detailed scoping of its requirements should it decide to continue with its own review as duplication of work could result in a delay for both Committees

·         In response to a Member’s question, the Monitoring Officer outlined the current process and the role of the independent person when complaints are received.  Complaints were only brought to the Standards Sub Committee if no resolution could be reached earlier in the process

 

RESOLVED that the Committee would wait for the response from the Standards Committee as to its review of the standards process before further consideration of this issue.

 

 

Five Year Land Supply

 

Members received the proposal form on the Five Year Land Supply submitted by Cllr Colin Brown.

 

During discussions the following points were noted:

·         The Strategic Planning Committee had considered this matter very recently and it was not clear what the Scrutiny Committee would add to this process

·         A meeting would be held with the other members of the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan to discuss the way forward following EDDC’s withdrawal from GESP

 

RESOLVED that no further action be taken on this proposal.

 

Scoping reports

 

No scoping reports had been received as yet.