Agenda and minutes

Apologies received from Councillors Jess Bailey, Ian Barlow, Kevin Blakey, Kim Bloxham, Chris Burhop, Sarah Chamberlain, Maddy Chapman, Iain Chubb, Sam Hawkins, Del Haggerty, Vicky Johns, Fabian King, Dan Ledger, Duncan Mackinder, Cherry Nicholas, Helen Parr, Simon Smith and Dan Wilson.

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

Councillor Eileen Wragg spoke about the Gay Pride event taking place at Manor Gardens in Exmouth and recent acts of vandalism to equipment around the site.

Speaking as Champion for Equality, Inclusion and Diversity Councillor Wragg gave assurances to anyone attending the event that this activity should not prevent this and that intolerance to others was not welcome in the community.

Councillor Wragg appealed to anyone with information to contact the police.

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. Thereare no itemswhich officersrecommendshould be dealtwithin thisway, but if confidential minutes from Cabinet and/or the Council’s Committees are being discussed, Officers may recommend consideration in the private part of the meeting.

There were none.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment – Operations presented a report seeking approval of funding of up to £673,500 at risk to enable the Seaton Coast Protection Scheme to start within the desired time frame before external grant confirmation and payment was received.

Members welcomed the recommendation to support the funding as deferring the project by a year would likely lead to prices increasing further and to reduce the rate of erosion on the cliffs at Seaton Hole and reduce the risk to properties and cliff fails to beach users.

During consideration of the recommendation the following points were raised:

·        use of Government funding to ensure erosion is minimised.

·        important that care homes are included in the calculations for funding in the future and to bring a motion on notice to the next Council meeting.

·        risks relating to obtaining a successful outcome from the Planning Committee.

Councillor Geoff Jung proposed the recommendation which having been seconded by Councillor Marcus Hartnell was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED:  That Council approve that up to £673,000 of the works budget is spent at risk before external funding could be confirmed and claimed in late summer in order for the scheme to be completed within the required timescale.