Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the previous meetings of Cabinet held on 2 April 2025 were agreed.

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

Min 195. Public speaking.

Councillor Ian Barlow, Affects Non-registerable Interest, Member of Sidmouth Town Council.

Min 198. Minutes of Placemaking in Exmouth Town and Seafront Group held on 18 March 2025.

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

Information on public speaking is available online

Cllr Ian Barlow asked the Portfolio Holder for Culture, Leisure, Sport and Tourism why the council was not supporting the Sidmouth Jazz Festival and what would need to be done to gain any support. He asked him to confirm how much officer and member time has been spent in responding to the concerns that he had raised in relation to this issue.

The Portfolio Holder for Culture, Leisure, Sport and Tourism answer was that a written response would be sent to Cllr Barlow once he had spoken to the relevant officers.

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 is one item which officers recommend should be dealt with in this way.

There was one item which officers recommended should be dealt with in this way recorded at Minute 204.

Members noted the Minutes of the Placemaking in Exmouth Town and Seafront Group held on 18 March 2025.

Members noted the Minutes of the Overview Committee held on 27 March 2025.

The report notified Members of two contracts that would both exceed £100k.

1)    Contract for consultant support for a Developer Advisor. The advisor would play a vital role in facilitating coordination of the commercial, financial, and operational aspects of developer and land promoter connections and include project liaison.

2)    Contract for consultant support for a Technical Advisor. The advisor would play a critical role in developing the scheme to RIBA Stage 2 and would be responsible for addressing and de-risking key engineering and technical interfaces with the developers involved in the Cranbrook expansion areas.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1.     Grants delegated authority to the Leader, Chief Executive and the Director of Place to proceed with the following recommendations once they have satisfied themselves that it is appropriate to proceed.

2.     Approves the letting of the contract to Inventa Partners, to provide Developer Liaison, with a total contract value is £128,000.

3.     Approves the letting of the contract to WSP, to provide technical and engineering support, with a total contract value is £180,000.

REASON:

To support the delivery of Cranbrook District Heating Expansion Project.

The Economic Development Manager updated Members to the progress made against each of the five policy areas Since the Economic Development Strategy (EDS) was endorsed by Cabinet in July 2024. The Strategy made a clear commitment to keeping track of progress and reviewing the policy priorities on an annual basis. Officers have undertaken this review, with an EDS Tracker providing RAG ratings for each priority over the initial six months.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1.     That the progress made in the first six months of the 2024-29 Economic Development Strategy be noted.

2.     That the proposed amendments to the EDS priorities for the second year of the Strategy and the indicative workplan for July 2025 – July 2026 be agreed.

REASON:

The Economic Development Strategy committed officers to producing an annual report to measure the progress made against each of the policy priorities. The purpose of this was to keep members aware and engaged. Tracking and where necessary, updating policy priorities ensured that the EDS did not become out of date.

Members agreed the contents of the forward plan for key decisions for the period 1 May 2025 to 31 August 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).

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

Considered and noted the report.