Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bell, Bishop, Clayton, Crabb, D. Knight, Lane, Lethaby, Renshaw and Topps.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2023 (circulated previously) be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

(a)  Chair’s Events

The Chair provided an update on the recent events that she had attended in her capacity as Chair of Council.  She advised that she had attended the High Sheriff’s inauguration at Exeter Cathedral and had visited a lovely gentleman who was celebrating his 103^rd birthday, who had been a prisoner of war and had his diary printed.

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

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

(a)  To consider the following notice of motion received from Councillor Patrinos

“The Mobile Library Service

This council recognises the huge importance of the mobile library service across the whole of North Devon. To help lift our communities out of poverty, deprivation, isolation and loneliness we should be increasing access to books, not removing them.

We request that Devon County Council rethinks their decision to close the service across Devon and seeks a way to replace the mobile library vans. We ask that DCC explores future possibilities of the mobile service which will further enhance lives for our rural communities.”

(b)  To consider the following notice of motion received from Councillor Wilkinson

“Call For An Independent Review Of Water Authorities

At the recent meeting of the LGA Coastal Issues Bathing Water Quality group concern was expressed about reports of the continued practice of discharging raw sewage into our waterways and coastline. Incidents such as the stomach upsets experienced by 45 of the competitors in the Sunderland Triathlon following their swim to the raw sewage discharge at Harlyn Bay in Cornwall indicate that this is a nationwide problem and involves all of the water authorities. In North Devon there have been several occasions this Summer when poor water quality has triggered the Pollution Risk Forecast.

This motion seeks North Devon Council’s support to there being an immediate independent review of all Water Authorities.”

(a)  To consider the following notice of motion from Councillor Patrinos

Councillors Biederman, C. Leaver, Maskell and Roome declared an other registerable interest (disclosed for transparency reasons only) in this notice of motion as members of Devon County Council.

Councillor Patrinos presented his notice of motion to Council.

It was moved by Councillor Patrinos and seconded by Councillor Walker that the notice of motion be adopted.

Council was advised that Devon County Council’s (DCC) Cabinet decision had been called in for scrutiny and the Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations would be considered at DCC Cabinet meeting on 11 October 2023.

RESOLVED:

(a)  that Devon County Council be requested to rethink their decision to close the service across Devon and seeks a way to replace the mobile library vans; and

(b)  that DCC explores future possibilities of the mobile service which will further enhance lives for our rural communities.

(b)To consider the following notice of motion from Councillor Wilkinson

Councillor Wilkinson presented his notice of motion to Council and he advised that Sally-Ann Hart, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Local Government Association Coastal Special Interest Group had requested Councils to support the calling of a dedicated Minister for the Coast.  He therefore amended the notice of motion to include that “the Local Government Association Special Interest Group request for the calling of a dedicated Minister for the Coast be supported.”

The amended notice of motion was moved by Councillor Wilkinson, who took on board that the dedicated Minister also include “rivers and fresh water”, which was seconded by Councillor Roome.

RESOLVED:

(a)   That the Council express its support to there being an immediate independent review of all Water Authorities.

(b)   That the Local Government Association Special Interest Group request for the calling of a dedicated Minister for the Coast be supported and that this also include rivers and fresh water.

(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 Spear – Item 12 “Making of the Braunton Neighbourhood Plan”, other registerable interest (disclosed for transparency reasons only) as a Member of the Braunton Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group.

There were no questions received by Members submitted under Part 4, Council Procedure Rules, Paragraph 10 of the Constitution.

Report by Leader of the Council (attached).

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

Councillor Roome advised that since the publication of the report, the Government had announced that Torbay would be receiving £20m from the Levelling Up Fund.  He expressed disappointment that funding had not been announced for Ilfracombe, as Ilfracombe Central ward had a high level of deprivation and poverty and that there needed to be a level playing field across Devon and the South West.

Councillor Spear advised that the Policy Development Committee was carrying out a review of dentistry as part of its work programme and was seeking a representative from the Dentist Forum to attend.

Councillor Maskell advised that she was a member of Devon County Council’s Adult Health and Social Care scrutiny Committee and would welcome input from North Devon Council in relation to dentistry.

Members expressed their concern regarding the proposed closure of the A361 North Devon Link Road, with effect from 11 October 2023, with traffic being diverted through Landkey, Swimbridge and Filleigh in relation to the high volume of traffic travelling along this route and potential accidents.  The Leader agreed to make representations to the Police regarding the closure of the A361 and request that the diversion route be monitored.

It was moved by Councillor Prowse and seconded by Councillor Roome “that it was disappointing to lose the opportunity to utilise the Housing Infrastructure Funding to unlock other development opportunities in Ilfracombe where it was desperately needed and that a cross party letter be sent to the Treasury outlining this together with the Council’s disappointment that Ilfracombe was not on the Government’s list of towns awarded levelling up funding announced over the weekend.”

RESOLVED that it was disappointing to lose the opportunity to utilise the Housing Infrastructure Funding to unlock other development opportunities in Ilfracombe where it was desperately needed and that a cross party letter be sent to the Treasury outlining this together with the Council’s disappointment that Ilfracombe was not on the Government’s list of towns awarded levelling up funding announced over the weekend.

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

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

Report by Head of Place, Property and Regeneration (attached).

Council considered a report by the Head of Place, Property and Regeneration (circulated previously) regarding the Making of the Braunton Neighbourhood Plan.

Councillor Spear declared an other registerable interest (disclosed for transparency reasons only) as a Member of the Braunton Neighbourhood Steering Group.

It was moved by Councillor Spear and seconded by Councillor Worden that the recommendations be adopted.

RESOLVED that in respect of the Braunton Neighbourhood Plan that:

(a)   the referendum results of 7 September 2023, where 90% of those who voted were in favour of the Braunton Neighbourhood Plan be noted;

(b)   the Council formally “make” the Braunton Neighbourhood Plan that was subject to referendum on 7 September 2023 as part of the statutory development plan for North Devon District Council; and

(c)   the publication and circulation of the Decision Statement (draft as detailed in appendix 2) be delegated to the Head of Place, Property and Regeneration.

Report by Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive to the Strategy and Resources Committee on 4 September 2023 (attached).

Council considered the Performance and Financial Management Quarter 1 of 2023/24 report to the Strategy and Resources Committee on 4 September 2023 (circulated previously).

To receive the report of the Policy Development Committee held on 14 September 2023 (to follow).

Councillor Spear, Chair of the Policy Development Committee presented the Committee’s report on the Performance and Financial Management Quarter 1 of 2023/24 report to the Policy Development Committee on 14 September 2023 (circulated previously).

To receive the report of the Strategy and Resources Committee held on 4 September 2023 (attached).

Councillor Roome, Chair of the Strategy and Resources Committee presented the Committee’s report on the Performance and Financial Management Quarter 1 of 2023/24 report to the Strategy and Resources Committee on 4 September 2023 (circulated previously).

It was moved by Councillor Roome and seconded by Councillor Worden “that minute 29 (f) of the report of the Strategy and Resources Committee held on 4 September 2023 regarding the Performance and Financial Management Quarter 1 of 2023/24 be adopted.”

RESOLVED that minute 29 (f) of the report of the Strategy and Resources Committee held on 4 September 2023 regarding the Performance and Financial Management Quarter 1 of 2023/24 be adopted.

To consider whether to change the date of the meeting of Council that was scheduled to be held on Wednesday 28 February 2024 at 6.30 pm to be held on Wednesday 21 February 2024 at 6.30 pm instead as the original date will have an impact on issuing the Council Tax bills.

It was moved by Councillor Roome and seconded by Councillor C. Leaver “that the date of the meeting of Council that was scheduled to be held on Wednesday 28 February 2024 at 6.30 pm be changed and that it be held on Wednesday 21 February 2024 at 6.30 pm instead as the original date would have an impact on issuing the Council Tax bills.”

RESOLVED that the date of the meeting of Council that was scheduled to be held on Wednesday 28 February 2024 at 6.30 pm be changed and that it be held on Wednesday 21 February 2024 at 6.30 pm instead as the original date would have an impact on issuing the Council Tax bills.

Report by the Chair of Governance Committee (attached).

Council considered and noted the half yearly report from the Chair of the Governance Committee (circulated previously).

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

(i)             10 August 2023

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

(i)             10 August 2023

(i)             8 August 2023

a.    Minute 6: Appointment of two Independent Representatives to the Harbour Board

b.    Minute 8: Ilfracombe Harbour Consultative Forum

c.     Minute 12: Future Projects

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

(i)             8 August 2023

a.    Minute 6: Appointment of two Independent Representatives to the Harbour Board

b.    Minute 8: Ilfracombe Harbour Consultative Forum

c.     Minute 12: Future Projects

(i)             27 July 2023

(ii)            9 August 2023

(iii)          6 September 2023

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

(i)             27 July 2023

(ii)            9 August 2023

(iii)          6 September 2023

(i)             14 September 2023 (to follow)

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

(i)             14 September 2023

(i)             4 September 2023

a.    Minute 34 (c): Section 106 report

(ii)            2 October 2023 (to follow)

a.    Approval and Release of Section 106 Public Open Space Funds - Ilfracombe

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

(i)             4 September 2023

a.    Minute 34 (c): Section 106 Report

(ii)            2 October 2023

a.    Approval and Release of Section 106 Public Open Space Funds - Ilfracombe