Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting of Cabinet held on 2 October 2024 were agreed.

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

None given.

Information on public speaking is available online

There were no members of the public wishing to speak.

Information on matters of urgency is available online

There is one confidential report at item 15 that officers agreed should be dealt with in this way.

There was one item dealt with in this way which is recorded at Minute 85.

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 were two items dealt with in this way which are recorded at Minutes 84 and 85.

Members noted the Minutes of the Strata Joint Scrutiny Committee held on 17 September 2024.

The Assistant Director for Revenues, Benefits, Customer Access and Fraud and Compliance presented the report which provided details on the proposed policy of the Household Support Fund 6, and the funding available to support low-income households for the period 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025.

In answer to a question Libby Jarrett informed members that each proposed policy needed to take into account the latest Government guidelines and that it was right the Cabinet reviewed each policy to ensure it was targeting support in the most effective way.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1.     Agree to the proposed policy for the Household Support Fund for the period 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025.

2.     Agree that delegated authority be given to the Assistant Director for Revenues, Benefits, Customer Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Homes and Communities, when deciding the cohort and amount of funding to be allocated through targeted support, together with an equalities impact assessment.

3.     Agree that delegated authority be given to the Assistant Director for Revenues, Benefits, Customer Services and Fraud and Compliance in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Homes and Communities, in the event subsequent changes need to be made to the policy including providing additional groups and/or funding amount to receive a targeted payment. Any required changes would be based on funding available and would consider available data from EDDC’s social resilience dashboard, and any other relevant factors at the time a decision needs to be made. Any changes would include a new Equalities Impact Assessment being carried out.

REASON:

The recommendations allow for the Council to progress at pace to put in place a policy to ensure EDDC could start providing support to its residents under the open application scheme whilst awaiting funding levels and model the data to best understand the cohorts and levels of funding for targeted support.

The Director of Finance presented the annual formulation of the Financial Plan and approval process that helped the Council plan to maintain balance budgets. There was a discussion concerning the day’s Budget and the implications to business rates relief.

RECOMMENEDED to Council:

Cabinet considered the draft Financial Plan 2025 – 2035 and recommended to Council its adoption and direction outlined in balancing future budgets.

REASON:

It was essential the Council considered its financial resources in advance to allow time to make necessary amendments in its service provision to ensure balance budgets were maintained.

The report sought approval to go out to public consultation on proposals to vary and discharge three Public Spaces Protection Orders: Dog Control, Seashores & Promenades and Control of Anti-Social Behaviour & the Consumption of Intoxicating Substances in Exmouth. During discussion it was asked that a proposal for dogs to remain on leads on pebble beaches for the sake of environmental health due to the difficulty in clearing up dog mess be consulted on.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

Agree to public consultation of the proposed variations to go out to public consultation, to approve the variation of and to discharge the Public Spaces Protection Orders 2023 as required by the provisions within the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014.

REASON:

To enable public consultation of proposed changes to clarify the current PSPO’s and allow a targeted approach to dog control and anti-social behaviour within the district.

The Portfolio Holder Strategic Planning presented the report that provided feedback and set out proposed changes following the independent examination of the Clyst Honiton Neighbourhood Plan. The examination of the Plan had concluded, and the Examiner’s final report had been received. The Examiner had found that, with proposed modifications, the Plan met the necessary ‘basic conditions’ and recommends to the Council that it can go forward to referendum. In accordance with the relevant legislation, the District Council must now consider its response to the Examiner’s recommendations and satisfy itself that the Plan meets the necessary ‘basic conditions’.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1.     Agree to endorse the Examiner’s recommendations on the Clyst Honiton Neighbourhood Plan (the Plan).

2.     Agree a ‘referendum version’ of the Plan be produced (incorporating the Examiner’s modifications as set out in this report, together with consequential and other minor corrections for accuracy) and proceed to referendum and that a decision notice to this effect be published.

3.     Congratulate Clyst Honiton Parish Council and the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group on their hard work.

REASON:

The legislation required a decision notice to be produced at this stage in the process. The Plan was the product of significant local consultation and had been recommended to proceed to referendum by the Examiner subject to modifications which were accepted by the Parish Council.

Members agreed the contents of the forward plan for key decisions for the period 1 November 2024 to 28 February 2025.

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 confidential report were agreed.

The amended recommendation as set out in the confidential report was agreed.