Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Hunt and C Leaver.

Councillor Hunt joined the meeting virtually.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2024 (circulated previously) be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

There were no items, which in the opinion of the Chair, should be considered as a matter of urgency.

Please telephone the Corporate and Community Services team to prepare a form for your signature before the meeting. Interests must be re-declared when the item is called. A declaration of interest under the Code of Conduct will be a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, an Other Registrable Interest or a Non-Registrable Interest.  If the item directly relates to your interest you must declare the interest and leave the room for the item, save in the case of Other Registrable Interests or Non-Registrable Interests where you may first speak on the item as a member of the public if provision has been made for the public to speak.  If the matter does not directly relate to your interest but still affects it then you must consider whether you are affected to a greater extent than most people and whether a reasonable person would consider your judgement to be clouded, if you are then you must leave the room for the item (although you may speak as a member of the public if provision has been made for the public to speak) or, if you are not, then you can declare the interest but still take part).

Councillors Lane and Prowse declared a personal interest in Items 7, Council Tax Reduction Scheme and 8, Council Tax Discounts and Premiums as they owned more than one property.

Head of Environmental Enhancement to report.

The Committee received an update from the Head of Environment Enhancement in relation to the Material Recovery Facility Infrastructure project.

The Head of Environment Enhancement provided the following:

·         The project was drawing to a close with the baler parts having been delivered safely just before Christmas 2024.

·         The installation of the new baler had begun and was on track to be operational early February 2025.

·         Financially the project was on track.

The Committee noted the update.

Report by Revenues and Benefits Manager (attached).

The Committee considered a report by the Revenues and Benefits Manager (circulated previously) regarding the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

The Head of Customer Focus highlighted the following:

·         The Council Tax Reduction Scheme was an income based scheme and the bandings for income levels could be seen in the table on page 16 of the report.

·         There were no proposed change to the scheme this year and we remained one of the few authorities who awarded 100% relief for those on low incomes.

Councillor Prowse gave thanks to the Team who had been dealing with large numbers of queries and applications.

The Head of Customer Focus gave the following responses to questions:

·         Assistance was already provided, face-to-face at community offices, to help with completing the application form.

·         The reduction for childcare costs for two children was set as part of the Devon wide scheme.

·         The proposal in front of Members today was to adopt the scheme unchanged.

RECOMMENDED that Council adopts and continues with the current Council Tax Reduction scheme for 2025/26 to include the uprating of applicable amounts, premiums and non-dependant deductions, as shown in the scheme.

Report by Revenues and Benefits Manager (attached)

The Committee considered a report by the Head of Customer Focus (circulated previously) regarding Council Tax Discounts and Premiums.

The Head of Customer Focus highlighted the following:

·         The table at section 4.7 of the report detailed the current level of discounts and premiums,

·         The table at section 4.11 of the report (shown on agenda pages 146 and 147) detailed the proposed discounts and premiums for the financial year 2025/26.

The Chair confirmed there was still no progress from Devon County Council on the request for the extra income from the second homes council tax premium to be ring-fenced to help ease the housing crisis.

RECOMMENDED that Council make the determinations in relation to the classes of dwellings as set out in the following table, as detailed in the report at 4.11:

³ restricted by a planning condition preventing occupancy for a continuous period of at least 28 days

⁴ the occupation of which is not restricted by a planning condition preventing occupancy for a continuous period of at least 28 days in the relevant year

Report by Parks, Leisure and Public Open Spaces Officer (attached).

The Committee considered a report by the Parks, Leisure and Public Open Space Officer (circulated previously) regarding Approval and release of S106 Public Open Space Funds – Croyde and South Molton.

The Head of Environmental Enhancement highlighted the following:

·         An allocation of £23,018.29 to Georgeham Parish Council towards the cost of purchasing and installing additional play equipment and safety surfacing at Croyde Play Park.

·         An allocation of £314,187.56 to South Molton Football Club towards the cost of new sports pitches and clubhouse facilities at Limers Lane.

In response to a question about what happened to unspent S106 funds under devolution.  The Chief Executive replied that any unspent funds would transfer as an asset of the relevant authority and had to be spent per the original restrictions placed on the funds.

RESOLVED:

(a)  That £23,018.29 be allocated to Georgeham Parish Council Parish towards the cost of purchasing and installing additional play equipment and safety surfacing at Croyde Play Park;

(b)  That £314,187.59 be allocated to South Molton Football Club towards the cost of new sports pitches and clubhouse facilities at Limers Lane;

(c)  That the Equality Impact Assessment as summarised at paragraph 6 of the report be noted; and

RECOMMENDED:

(d)  That Council vary the capital programme by £337,205.88 and the funds be released subject to a funding agreement upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed by the Senior Solicitor and Monitoring Officer for external projects.

Report by Parking Manager (attached).

The Committee considered a report by the Car Parks Manager (circulated previously) regarding North Devon Council (Off Street Parking Places) Order 2025.

The Lead Member for Commercialisation and Resources introduced the item.  The Car Park Review Working Party, which included cross party members, had attended three workshops to discuss and agree on a revised charging tariff for North Devon Car Parks.  There was a need to make a charge for users of the car parks the first being to avoid the car parks being completely full of residents and workers, there being no spaces available for visitors to the town and the second the revenue received helped towards the cost of maintenance of the car parks.

The Lead Member went on to explain that although the cost of permits seemed to be increasing substantially they were still good value.  The decision had been taken to freeze the annual permit cost of £225 at the new Seven Brethren car park to encourage use – the new car park was to open shortly.

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive highlighted the following:

·         The working party had met three times and looked at a range of data around, permits, income levels per car park, payment methods – which varied from car park to car park, 30-minute usage compared to hourly and car park charges locally and in neighbouring authorities.

·         The report sets out, in summary, the requests made by Parish and Town Councils, as seen on pages 157 – 161 of the agenda.

·         The proposed off street parking order and associated increase in charges was contained within Appendix A of the report.

·         A summary of proposed increases for North Devon Council owned carparks could be seen at Appendix B of the report.

·         The increase in yearly permits was made by comparison with other authorities.  In the Torridge District Council area, a yearly permit was £500 and in the Mid-Devon District Council area, a 12-month permit was in the region of £491.

·         Charges for short stay and long stay car parks was looked at as well as coastal car parks.  For consistency, it was decided by the working group to increase charges by 10 pence per hour across all car parks.

·         Looking at long stay car parks, the working group decided that as the Seven Brethren long stay car park was further away than other long stay car parks to retain the current all day charge of £2.50 but to increase all other long stay, all day car park charges by a £1 to £3.50.

·         The working group looked at the Green Lanes car park charges as this was now Council owned and needed to be brought into line with other Council owned car parks.

·         Car parks in South Molton were looked at.  There were two car parks in South Molton the larger long stay central car park and the short stay car park across the road known as the Sheep Pen. 

·         The short stay car park had historically had an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 99.