Agenda and minutes

Venue: Online via Zoom app

Contact: Sarah James  01395 519978 email  sjames@eastdevon.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Public Speaking

Information on public speaking is available online.

Minutes:

There were no members of the public registered to speak at the meeting.

2.

Minutes of the previous meetings held on 18 November and 25 November 2021 pdf icon PDF 363 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Minutes of the previous meetings held on 18 November 2021 and 25 November 2021 were noted as a true and accurate record.

3.

Declarations of interest

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

Minutes:

There were none.

4.

Matters of urgency

Information on matters of urgency is available online.

Minutes:

There were no matters of urgency.

5.

Confidential/exempt item(s)

To agree any items to be dealt with after the public (including press) have been excluded. There are no items that officers recommend should be dealt with in this way.

Minutes:

There were no confidential or exempt items.

6.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 180 KB

Proposal forms received:

1.     Future of Seaton Jurassic – submitted by Cllr Marcus Hartnell

Minutes:

This item was to discuss a proposal form which Cllr Marcus Hartnell had submitted regarding the future of Seaton Jurassic, and to consider whether further scoping work should be undertaken.  The Monitoring Officer’s comments were included on the proposal form.

 

Cllr Hartnell introduced the proposal, outlining the background to Seaton Jurassic and its significance to East Devon.  The Seaton Jurassic centre had been vacant since 2021 due to the former operator exercising an exit clause in the lease, and there had been building defects which had needed remedial works.  Cllr Hartnell suggested that more needed to be done to find an operator for the centre for 2023, and that what was put in place needed to be right and sustainable for the future.  He was of the view that officers’ reports would benefit from coming to Overview Committee where they could be deliberated thoroughly by councillors, before going to Cabinet.  He stated that this would improve the outcome, as reports would have been considered in greater detail.

 

In discussion at length, it was noted that an officer’s report was expected for October 2022 but, due to timings, it was not feasible for that report to be brought to Overview Committee without causing a delay in the report going forward to Cabinet.  Members were in agreement that they did not want to see delays in the process, but recognised the importance of maximum member involvement.

 

Cllr Hartnell then proposed, seconded by Cllr Moulding, that Overview Committee recommends to Cabinet that any future decision by Cabinet on the future of Seaton Jurassic is a recommendation to Council.  This proposal was accepted in a vote of all members present.

 

RECOMMENDED to Cabinet:

That any future decision by Cabinet on the future of Seaton Jurassic is a recommendation to Council.

 

In further discussion, Members were keen to ensure that Overview Committee meets regularly, and has an opportunity to better support Cabinet by receiving reports for consideration, before they go to Cabinet for decision.  Members also noted that the Committee had not had sight of a Forward Plan since 2020 and asked that, going forward, Overview Committee receives the Forward Plan, as a standing item, setting out its work programme, and with updates on items set out in the Plan.