Agenda and minutes

Information on public speaking is available online

There were no members of the public wishing to speak.

The Chairman thanked everyone for their help and support over the last 12 months.

Minutes of the previous meeting held on 6 March 2019

The minutes from the Cabinet meeting held on 6 March 2019 were confirmed and signed as a true record.

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

None

The Plan received a majority ‘yes’ vote in their referendum as required by the regulations and there is no substantive reason not to make the Plan.

The Exmouth Neighbourhood Plan had now passed referendum and must be formally made by the council in order to form part of the development plan.

RESOLVED:

1.     that the Plan was made so it forms part of the development plan, and

2.     that the council congratulates the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group on their hard work and advise them that once made the Plan will carry full weight in the planning decision making process.

REASON:

The Plan received a majority ‘yes’ vote in their referendum as required by the regulations and there was no substantive reason not to make the Plan.

To seek approval for up to £150k of funding from the Enterprise Programme to enable the delivery of a temporary GP practice in Cranbrook town centre.

The Projects Director presented the report which sought approval for up to £150k of funding from the Enterprise Programme to enable the delivery of a temporary GP practice in Cranbrook town centre. This was an urgent requirement because of the lack of capacity at the current practice. Whilst Access Healthcare had had their contract extended there were significant concerns over the ability to deliver increasing patient numbers. Expanded facilities were therefore urgently required. 

Discussions included the following:

·       if not supported this would create a massive health inequality

·       this was a loan therefore the borrowing would be repaid

·       as well as helping the health service, this was a benefit to the residents of Cranbrook as the existing provision was under pressure.

RECOMMENDED:
• that the borrowing of up to £150k against ring fenced business rate income and for these funds to be made available to the NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group to enable the delivery of a temporary GP facility in Cranbrook town centre, be agreed

• that delegated approval be granted to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader and Strategic Leads for Finance and Governance & Licensing to agree the final level of funding, terms of how these funds are made available and subsequently recovered and to complete the funding agreement and any other necessary legal documentation.

REASON:
Cabinet received a paper on the Enterprise Zone in April 2018. This sought approval for the principle of borrowing up to £8m against ring-fenced business rate income, with detailed approval for investing up to £3.4m for four specific projects.  During the intervening period work had focused on the delivery of the approved projects, along with supporting the development of other opportunities.  This had focused on overcoming barriers to delivery and bringing forward catalytic investments.

The current GP practice in the Younghayes Centre was at capacity. The temporary GP practice would enable the continued delivery of primary care services in Cranbrook for a period of 5 years.  It would also bring increased footfall to the town centre and act as a catalyst for attracting wider investment.  

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

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

Members agreed the contents of the forward plan for key decisions for the period 1 May 2019 to 31 August 2019.

Members received and noted the Minutes of the Asset Management Forum held on 25 February 2019.

Members received and noted the Minutes of the Community Fund Panel held on 19 March 2019.

Members received the Minutes of the Scrutiny committee held on 7 March 2019.

Performance information for the 2018/19 financial year for February 2019 is supplied to allow the Cabinet to monitor progress with selected performance measures and identify any service areas where improvement is necessary.

The report set out performance information for the 2018/19 financial year for Febuary 2019 and was supplied to allow the Cabinet to monitor progress with selected performance measures and identify any service areas where improvement was necessary.

There were three indicators showing excellent performance:

·       Percentage of planning appeal decisions allowed against the authority's decision to refuse.

·       Percentage of non-domestic rated collected

·       Days taken to process changes to Housing Benefit claims

There were two performance indicators showing as concern:

·       Days taken to process new Housing Benefit claims - Officers were currently working through a transition period to Universal Credit which is impacting on performance.

·       Working days lost due to sickness absence - It was anticipated that EDDC

would be below the target for absence for 18/19. As previously reported, there had been a significant increase this year in employees who have been absent for two months or more as a result of surgery and serious health issues for 2 or months. These cases were all proactively managed and started to see levels reduce towards the end of 2018.

RESOLVED:

that the progress and proposed improvement action for performance measures for the 2018/19 financial year for February 2019, be noted.

REASON:

The performance report highlighted progress using a monthly snapshot report; SPAR report on monthly performance indicators and system thinking measures in key service areas including Development Management, Housing and Revenues and Benefits.

This report explores, highlights and refresh EDDC’s environmental commitments and contributions towards addressing climate change.

The Strategic Lead Housing, Health & Environment presented the report which explored, highlighted and refreshed EDDC’s environmental commitments and contributions towards addressing climate change.

The council was well placed to influence, promote and lead local initiatives to protect and enhance the environment, which was consistent with the valuing the outstanding environment theme in the Council Plan. There was logic in all local authorities working together on this agenda and the report proposed that EDDC work with Devon County Council following their recent consideration of a climate change emergency motion. DCC have said that they would be working with strategic partners across the county to ensure the county was doing what it could to reduce carbon emissions as well as ensure Devon was carbon neutral by 2050.

Discussions included the following:

·       Global warming was the greatest threat to mankind, we should be bringing forward the date for Devon to be carbon neutral

·       Devon has 2 coastlines which could be used to create energy from the wind and sun

·       There was no Government support for renewable energy

·       Vehicles used by EDDC were still using diesel fuel and not LPG which was better for air quality

·       Younger people should be able to voice their concerns and listened to through proper discussions; there were the next generation to which climate change would have the most impact

·       Fabric manufacturing took up a lot of energy. Clothes labelling should indicate the longevity of the garment to encourage people to buy clothes that lasted longer

·       We were just a small country, tackle the countries in the world who created the most pollution

·       ensure our drivers switched off their engines once stopped, if anything, this would also send out the correct message

·       East Devon has numerous rivers and streams, these could be harnessed to create green energy to run a local bus for instance

·       We must try to raise the bar in tackling climate change

·       EDDC committee reports could have an environmental impact assessment

·       We need to be more ambitious or at least try to be with tougher targets. Set hard targets and start now. Planning have to set high standards and the NPPF allows for this.

RESOLVED:

·       that EDDC work with Devon County Council on a shared climate change programme, and signal its commitment to tackling climate change in areas where it could affect positive and meaningful change in its activities as well as  those of our partners, communities and residents, and

·       that EDDC consider setting a more ambitious date for becoming carbon neutral and that a report be brought back to Cabinet highlighting how this could be achieved together with what actions would be required for an effective supporting implementation plan.

REASON:
To ensure that this Council states its position and contributes towards tackling climate change where it could make a positive impact. There was an opportunity to work in collaboration with Devon County Council and others to ensure they were coordinated and had the greatest impact.

East Devon District Council, together with Devon and Somerset County Councils, Mid Devon and South Somerset District Councils and Taunton Deane Borough Council, authorised the Blackdown Hills AONB Partnership to undertake a review of the Management Plan for the AONB by April 2019, as required under Section IV of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

The Blackdown Hills AONB manager stated EDDC, together with Devon and Somerset County Councils, Mid Devon and South Somerset District Councils and Taunton Deane Borough Council, had authorised the Blackdown Hills AONB Partnership to undertake a review of the Management Plan for the AONB by April 2019, as required under Section IV of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Public consultation on the review took place in autumn 2018. Following endorsement by the AONB Partnership and final approval from the statutory consultee, Natural England, adoption of the AONB Management Plan by EDDC and the other local authorities was required before lodging the Plan with Defra.

RESOLVED:

That the formal adoption of the Blackdown Hills AONB Management Plan be agreed.

REASON:
Under Part IV of the Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act 2000 the relevant local authorities were required to review the AONB Management Plans for the Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs at intervals of not more than 5 years. The review for the 2014-19 Plans needed to be completed by April 2019. EDDC with other local authorities had authorised the Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONB Partnerships to review the AONB Management Plans on their behalf.