Chair to report.

The Chair outlined the virtual meeting procedure and etiquette to Council and attendees.

The Senior Corporate and Community Services Officer confirmed the names of those Councillors and officers present and advised that members of the public were also in attendance.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Cann and Knight.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2020 (circulated previously) be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

There were no Chair’s announcements.

There were no items of business brought forward by or with the consent of the Chair.

(a) To consider the following notice of motion received by Councillor Pearson

“Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt in the UK and around the world. Global temperatures have increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO₂ levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm) and continue to rise. This far exceeds the 350 ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity. Without more significant and sustained action, the world is set to exceed the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit between 2030 and 2040. Therefore the current UK target of net zero by 2050 is not satisfactory. It is too little too late. The increase in harm caused by a rise of 2°C rather than 1.5°C is significant. This is described by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C published in October 2018. According to the IPCC, limiting heating to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector and local communities. The costs of failing to address this crisis will far outstrip the investments required to prevent it. Investing now will bring many benefits in the form of good jobs, breathable cities and thriving communities.

Council notes that 

1.    This council has declared a climate and ecological emergency;

2.    Many local authorities have established Citizens’ Assemblies that are playing an important role in assisting them in their plans to achieve net zero by 2030 or before; and that

3.    There is a Bill before Parliament—the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (published as the “Climate and Ecology Bill”)—according to which the Government must develop an emergency strategy that:

a)    requires that the UK plays its fair and proper role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with limiting global temperature increase  to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial temperatures;

b)    ensures that all the UK’s consumption emissions are accounted for;

c)    includes emissions from aviation and shipping;

d)    protects and restores biodiverse habitats along overseas supply chains;

e)    restores and regenerates the UK’s depleted soils, wildlife habitats and species populations to healthy and robust states, maximising their capacity to absorb CO₂ and their resistance to climate heating;

f)      sets up an independent Citizens’ Assembly, representative of the UK’s population, to engage with Parliament and Government and help develop the emergency strategy.

Council therefore resolves to:

1.             Support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill

2.             Inform the local media of this decision;

3.             Write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill; and

4.             Write to the CEE Bill Alliance, the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, expressing its support (campaign@ceebill.uk).”

(b) To consider the following notice of motion received by Councillor Mack:

“North Devon District Council fully supports the campaign to remove from sale cheap, polystyrene bodyboards. The council recognises the negative impact on the natural environment these types of bodyboards can have including the danger to wildlife and the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 182.

(a) To consider the following notice of motion received by Councillor Pearson

Councillor Pearson presented her notice of motion to Council.

It was moved by Councillor Pearson and seconded by Councillor Patrinos “that Council:

1. Support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill;

2. Inform the local media of this decision;

3. Write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill; and

4. Write to the CEE Bill Alliance, the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, expressing its support (campaign@ceebill.uk).”

Councillor Bulled declared a personal interest as a member of the Climate Action Team.

RESOLVED that Council:

1. Support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill;

2. Inform the local media of this decision;

3. Write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill; and

4. Write to the CEE Bill Alliance, the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, expressing its support (campaign@ceebill.uk).

(b) To consider the following notice of motion received by Councillor Mack:

Councillor Mack presented his notice of motion to Council.

It was moved by Councillor Mack and seconded by Councillor Worden “that the notice of motion be referred to the Strategy and Resources Committee for consideration at its next meeting”.

Councillor Lofthouse declared a personal interest as a member of Plastic Free North Devon.

RESOLVED that the notice of motion be referred to the Strategy and Resources Committee for consideration at its next meeting.

(c) To consider the following notice of motion received by Councillor Worden

Councillor Worden presented his notice of motion to Council.

It was moved by Councillor Worden and seconded by Councillor Lofthouse

“that this Council:

1.    Write to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) urging that the temporary change to the meeting rules set out in the Local Government Act 1972 be made permanent so that after May we have the flexibility to hold meetings remotely or physically or by using a combination of the two;

2.    Write to our M.P., the County Council and Parish Councils asking for support for this flexible approach to council meetings;

3.    Once our request is successful to explore the use of technology to develop remote meetings even more in order to attract a wider audience.” 

RESOLVED that this Council:

1.    Write to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) urging that the temporary change to the meeting rules set out in the Local Government Act 1972 be made permanent so that after May we have the flexibility to hold meetings remotely or physically or by using a combination of the two;

2.    Write to our M.P., the County Council and Parish Councils asking for support for this flexible approach to council meetings;

3.    Once our request is successful to explore the use of technology to develop remote meetings even more in order to attract a wider audience. 

(d) To consider the following notice of motion received by Councillor Leaver

Councillor Leaver presented her notice of motion to Council.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 182.

There were no questions submitted by the public and/or petitions under Part 4, Council Procedure Rules, Paragraphs 8 and 9 of the Constitution.

(NB. Members only need to re-declare any interests previously declared at Committee and Sub-Committee meetings if the item is discussed at Council).

The following declarations of interest was announced:

Councillor Lofthouse – personal interest in item 17 (d) (ii) (a) as a Member of Tawstock Parish Council.

(a) To receive the following question by Councillor Henderson

“Can we urge this administration to use their time in power productively for the benefit of all the people of North Devon.

The recent announcement of £6.5m for Barnstaple is of course welcomed, but other key North Devon towns such as Ilfracombe and South Molton must be included on the radar for a slice of the recently announced £20m made available by the Chancellors Levelling Up fund for 'local areas' to help their struggling economies.

Can the current administration please detail any specific plans for towns other than Barnstaple which they have in the pipeline. If none at present, will the current administration commit to working with the Town Councils of other North Devon towns alongside our MP to - in the words of the Chancellor, 'improve “the infrastructure of everyday life” (which can include projects such as funding for a new bypass, upgraded railway station, roadworks to cut traffic, more libraries, museums and galleries, or town centre improvements.)”

(a) To consider the following question from Councillor Henderson

“Can we urge this administration to use their time in power productively for the benefit of all the people of North Devon.

The recent announcement of £6.5m for Barnstaple is of course welcomed, but other key North Devon towns such as Ilfracombe and South Molton must be included on the radar for a slice of the recently announced £20m made available by the Chancellors Levelling Up fund for 'local areas' to help their struggling economies.

Can the current administration please detail any specific plans for towns other than Barnstaple which they have in the pipeline. If none at present, will the current administration commit to working with the Town Councils of other North Devon towns alongside our MP to - in the words of the Chancellor, 'improve “the infrastructure of everyday life” (which can include projects such as funding for a new bypass, upgraded railway station, roadworks to cut traffic, more libraries, museums and galleries, or town centre improvements.)”

Councillor Worden’s response: “Firstly, I would agree that the funding from the Future High Streets Fund is very welcome and I am very appreciative of the work that officers and Councillors within this administration and the last have put into achieving this and for the assistance from the current and past MP in lobbying on behalf of the area.   The levelling up fund that has been announced by government amounting to £200million is also very welcomed.  We are waiting to see further details but in the meantime, I agree that it is very important for the District to ready itself to take advantage of that funding or any other funding opportunities that present themselves.   The Council will be refreshing the work that was started through the Futures group with the aim of creating an overall Vision for the area that the council and all partner bodies can align to.  This will give an overall framework for projects and programmes to fit within.  In the meantime, because it is accepted that we need to move at pace, officers will be working with all relevant bodies and organisations to bring forward projects that we think will fit within the overall Vision or strategic priorities.  At present, these will be linked to the Council’s Strategic Plan and delivery plan adopted by Council and could be included within the individual service plans that have recently been approved by Policy Development Committee.  Specific projects that are being progressed by the Council outside of Barnstaple include the Watersports Centre in Ilfracombe for which almost £3million of external funding has been obtained for investment into Ilfracombe.  It should be noted though that significant projects and investment such as these will undoubtedly benefit other parts of the District and should be seen as North Devon benefitting not the individual location.  The Council has also provided much support to the North Devon Link Road improvement proposals to enable better road access within the area, as well as for traffic coming into  ...  view the full minutes text for item 185.

Report by Leader of the Council (attached).

Council noted a report by the Leader of the Council (circulated previously) regarding work that had been undertaken since the last Council meeting.

Questions to the Leader or the Chair of a Committee submitted under Part 4, Council Procedure Rules, paragraph 10.4 of the Constitution.

No questions to the Leader or the Chair of a Committee had been submitted under Part 4, Council Procedure Rules, paragraph 10.4 of the Constitution.

Lead Member for Climate Change to report.

The Chair referred to an email that had been circulated to all Members on behalf of the Lead Member for Climate Change who had advised that she was waiting for an update regarding the process for the Council creating a response to the Interim Devon Carbon Plan.  The consultation was open until 15 February 2021 and was available on Devon County Council’s website Https://www.devon.gov.uk/haveyoursay/consultations/Devon-carbon-plan/

Report by Head of Resources (attached) and minute extract of the Strategy and Resources Committee held on 7 January 2021 (to follow).

Council considered the Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2021/22 to the Strategy and Resources Committee on 4 January 2021 and minute extract of the Strategy and Resources Committee held on 4 January 2021 (circulated previously).

The Head of Resources outlined the report to Council and responded to questions raised. He advised that a link to pages on the Council’s website regarding Council Tax support and financial assistance would be sent to all Members.

It was moved by Councillor Walker and seconded by Councillor Biederman “that minute 240 regarding the Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2021/22 of the meeting of the Strategy and Resources Committee held on 4 January 2021 be adopted”.

RESOLVED that minute 240 regarding the Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2021/22 of the meeting of the Strategy and Resources Committee held on 4 January 2021 be adopted.

Report by Head of Resources (attached).

Council considered a report by the Head of Resources regarding the Council Tax Base for 2021/22 (circulated previously).

The Head of Resources outlined the report to Council and responded to questions raised.

It was moved by Councillor Biederman and seconded by Councillor Worden that the recommendations in the report be adopted.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the report for the calculation of the Council Tax Base for 2021/22 by the Head of Resources be approved;

(b) That pursuant to the report and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by North Devon District Council as its schedule for 2021/22 shall be as shown on the attached schedule.

Report by Senior Corporate and Community Services Officer  (attached)

Council considered a report by the Senior Corporate and Community Services Officer regarding the proposed committee timetable for 2021/22 (circulated previously).

The Senior Corporate and Community Services Officer outlined the report to Council and responded to questions raised.

It was moved by Councillor Roome and seconded by Councillor Hunt that the recommendations in the report be adopted.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the timetable of Council and Committee meetings for 2021/2022 as detailed in Appendix A of the report be adopted;

(b) That all meetings of Council, Committee and Sub-Committees continue to be held virtually in line with the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 and reviewed at such time as the Covid-19 crisis is at a level where social distancing is no longer required.

Council is recommended to note the schedule of Committee minutes and approve recommendations as listed below:

(i) 12 November 2020

RESOLVED that the following minutes of the Building Control Joint Committee (circulated previously) be noted and adopted as follows:   

(i) 12 November 2020

(i) 17 November 2020

RESOLVED that the following minutes of the Harbour Board (circulated previously) be noted and adopted as follows:   

(i) 17 November 2020

(i) 11 November 2020

(ii) 9 December 2020

RESOLVED that the following minutes of the Planning Committee (circulated previously) be noted and adopted as follows:   

(i) 11 November 2020

(ii) 9 December 2020

In response to a question, the Chief Executive advised that minutes of the Planning Committee were to note and the accuracy of the minutes would be considered at the next meeting of the Committee.

(i) 7 December 2020

(A) Minute 229: Approval and Release of Section 106 Public Open Space Funds, Tawstock

(B) Minute 232: Interim Devon Climate Change Plan and North Devon Council Environmental Policy

(ii) 4 January 2021 (to follow)

RESOLVED that the following minutes of the Strategy and Resources Committee (circulated previously) be noted and adopted as follows:   

(i) 7 December 2020

(A) Minute 229: Approval and Release of Section 106 Public Open Space Funds, Tawstock

(B) Minute 232: Interim Devon Climate Change Plan and North Devon Council Environmental Policy

(ii) 4 January 2021 (circulated separately)