Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the previous meetings of Cabinet held on 1 October 2025 were agreed.

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

Min 93. Minutes of Placemaking in Exmouth Town and Seafront Group held on 9 September 2025.

Councillor Brian Bailey, Affects Non-registerable Interest, Member of Exmouth Town Council.

Min 93. Minutes of Placemaking in Exmouth Town and Seafront Group held on 9 September 2025.

Councillor Nick Hookway, Affects Non-registerable Interest, Member of Exmouth Town Council and Devon County Council.

Min 100. Cranbrook Leisure Centre Review.

Councillor Paul Arnott, Other Registerable Interest, Member of Devon County Council.

Min 100. Cranbrook Leisure Centre Review.

Councillor Richard Jefferies, Other Registerable Interest, Member of Devon County Council.

Min 101. Sale of Vacant Plot of Land Off Harepath Road, Seaton.

Councillor Dan Ledger, Affects and prejudicial Non-registerable Interest, Family member owns adjacent land.

Information on public speaking is available online

Four members of the public had requested to speak. It was agreed to take the public speakers at the start of the relevant agenda item, recorded at Minute 95.

Information on matters of urgency is available online

There were none.

To agree any items to be dealt with after the public (including the Press) have been excluded. There are two items which officers recommend should be dealt with in this way.

There was two items dealt with in this way recorded at Minutes 100 and 101.

Members noted the minutes and recommendations of the Leisure Strategy Delivery Forum held on 16 September 2025.

Minute 24 Update on Cranbrook Leisure, Health and Wellbeing Campus

That Cabinet endorse the Addendum to the Leisure Strategy.

Members noted the minutes and recommendations of the Asset Management Forum held on 29 September 2025.

Minute 17 Hayne Lane, Honiton

That a budget of £30,000 is made available to provide legal and commercial advice to support the delivery of the site.

Members noted the minutes of the Placemaking in Exmouth Town and Seafront Group held on 9 September 2025.

Members noted the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee held on 2 October 2025.

Four members of the public spoke on this item. The following points were made:

Sue Dabinett a resident of Kilmington, read out a statement from Helen Sacko the senior public affairs officer of the Kennel Club. The Kennel Club recognised the need to balance the interests of all users of public spaces. However, restrictions on dog walking should always be fair, proportionate and evidence based reflecting the needs of the whole community. There was concern on the impact for elderly and disabled residents many of whom depend on their dogs for companionship, mobility and well-being. Under the Equality Act of 2010 councils had a duty to ensure public spaces remain accessible and inclusive. The Kennel Club supported reasonable exclusions from enclosed play areas or courts provided there was suitable alternative spaces nearby and questioned if a full-time band on sports fields was necessary. Seasonal or time restrictions supported by clear signage were often far more practical and fairer. Blanket restrictions could cause displacement pushing dog walkers into unsuitable areas and creating new issues. In summary the Kennel Club supported the compromise solution proposed by the Killington community which offered a balanced inclusive and proportionate way forward for all residents.

Yvette Turner a resident of Kilmington, represented the Kilmington Dog Walking Group. She advised that the school and Cricket Club only use a part of the Playing Field during the summer months. There were no suitable alternative areas in Kilmington which elderly or less mobile residents could access to exercise their dogs off-lead safely. Ms Turner outlined a compromise position which would restrict dogs on-leads to the summer months only. Kilmington Dog Walkers Group proposed that the dog on-lead requirement should be removed and a new dog exclusion requirement between 10am and 6pm from 1 May to 30 September was applied. This compromise had worked well in other parts of Devon. The Group requested Cabinet supported this compromise, so that all residents of Kilmington could properly share in Arthur Hitchcock's generous legacy to enjoy the green open space.

Sandra Ward a resident of Kilmington, highlighted the need for a place where disabled people and those with mobility issues can exercise their dog safely off the lead. Currently disabled people and those with impaired mobility had to use country lanes which can result in dangerous incidents such as Ms Ward had experienced when walking her dog. She stated that the compromise position worked in other parts of the country and to consider the Council’s legal obligations and the needs of the whole community. She asked that Cabinet consider the compromise position.

Christopher Miller a resident of Kilmington, stated his house overlooked the recreation field which he had monitored over for the past few months, he said the field was hardly used. The field was empty for most of the day with a few people going there which was a waste of a beautiful green space. EDDC had delivered a consultation recently with many people taking part. The majority of residents had voted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95.

The Portfolio Holder Finance introduced the report which set out the new proposed Community Grants Fund Policy. Community grant funding played a key role in helping the voluntary sector uplift and empower the local communities. This grant funding would be available for the voluntary sector, thereby helping support small community projects and community buildings. Funding would be for financial years 2025/26 and 2026/27. In the event of remaining funds or new funding being made available, the scheme would continue into 2027/28.

RESOLVED that Cabinet;

1.     Adopts the Community Grant Fund policy.

2.     Approves the issuing of grants in accordance with the Community Grant Fund policy.

3.     Grants delegated authority to the Assistant Director for Revenues, Benefits and Customer Services in consultation with the Chair of the Community Grant Panel as the Portfolio Holder for Finance to make any changes to the policy.

REASON:

In agreeing the policy, the Community Grant Fund could be made available for the voluntary sector to apply for much needed funding as this funding had already been earmarked.

The Clyst St Mary and Sowton (Bishops Clyst) Neighbourhood Plan (First Review) had now successfully passed referendum and must be formally ‘made’ (adopted) by EDDC in order to form part of the development plan, replacing the existing Made Plan from 2017.

RESOLVED that Cabinet;

1.     Agree that the Clyst St Mary and Sowton (Bishops Clyst) Neighbourhood Plan (First Review) be ‘made’.

2.     Note that once made the Plan will carry full weight in the planning decision making process as part of the statutory development plan for this Neighbourhood Plan Area (the parishes of Clyst St Mary and Sowton combined, known as ‘Bishops Clyst’), thereby superseding the previously made Plan for the area.

3.     Congratulate Bishops Clyst Parish Council and their Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group on this culmination of their hard work in developing the Plan.

REASON:

The Plan received a majority ‘yes’ vote in the neighbourhood area referendum, as required by the Regulations and there was no substantive reason not to make the Plan. In addition, to recognise the dedication and hard work by Bishops Clyst Parish Council and dedicated volunteers in preparing the Plan.

The report informed Cabinet of an Exemption to Contract Standing Orders approved with regards to appointing specialist underwater contractor to undertake works at the Council’s swimming pools.

RESOLVED that Cabinet;

Notes the action taken.

REASON:

Under Contract Standing Orders item 2.3.2, Request for Exemption to Contract Standing Orders must be reported to Cabinet for support. “Where the Contract sum is £20,001 or above then the use of the exemption must be reported by the Officer, to the next meeting of the Cabinet for them to note their support for the action taken.”

The Vice-Chair to move the following:

“that under Section 100(A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public (including the press) be excluded from the meeting as exempt information, of the description set out on the agenda, is likely to be disclosed and on balance the public interest is in discussing this item in private session (Part B)”.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

That under Section 100(A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public (including the press) be excluded from the meeting as exempt information, of the description set out on the agenda, is likely to be disclosed and on balance the public interest is in discussing this item in private session (Part B).

The recommendations as set out in the report were agreed.

Councillor Ledger left the room for this debate due to a declaration of interest.

The recommendations as set out in the report were agreed.