Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Campbell, Chesters, Davis, Fowler, Gubb, Ley, Lovering, Patrinos, Saxby, Turton and Wilkinson.

(a)  Honorary Alderman Albert Cook

The Chair advised Council that Honorary Alderman Albert Cook had sadly passed away on 7^th January 2020 and his funeral would take place on Friday 24^th January 2020 at 12.00 pm at Filleigh.  As a former North Devon Councillor, he had served the FIlleigh ward for over 50 years, starting in local government in 1961.  He was first elected to North Devon District Council in 1974 and served to 2011 and during this time was Chair and Vice-Chair of Council. 

Council stood in silence for one minute in memory of Albert Cook.

Councillor Worden, as Leader of the Council, addressed Council and remembered working alongside Albert during the 1960’s and 1970’s.  He had real integrity and was a nice gentleman.  He also worked for the former MP Jeremy Thorpe and had served as a JP and Chair of the South Molton Bench for many years.  He was very proud of his great nephew Alastair Cook who had captained the England Cricket team.  He was a champion of agricultural and had been very active.  His passing was a great loss.

Councillor Yabsley echoed Councillor Worden’s sentiments and advised that he was a great member of the community and agricultural community and would be much missed.

Councillor Prowse, Leader of the Independent Group, recollected his memories of Albert when he was Chair of the Liberal Association.  He had only lost one election, which was a Devon County Council election.  He was a great champion for his community and would be sadly missed.

(b)  Political Speed Dating event at West Buckland

The Chair thanked those Councillors who had taken part in the Political Speed Dating Event on 13^th January 2020 at West Buckland school.  It had been an enjoyable event enjoyed by both students and Councillors.

(c)  ChemoHero – Item 11

The Chair advised that unfortunately Lisa Wallis was not well and unable to attend to give a presentation regarding ChemoHero under item 11 on the agenda.   Lisa was a young, inspirational mum who had set up the Charity ChemoHero which gave “Kindness in a Box” to people who had been diagnosed with cancer.  He urged Councillors to look at the ChemoHero website to understand the role of the charity as each Councillor would have a member of their ward who had received such a box.  It was anticipated that Lisa would be able to attend the next meeting of Council.

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

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

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

Councillor Pearson presented her notice of motion to Council.

It was moved by Councillor Pearson and seconded by Councillor Davies that the notice of motion be adopted.

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

Councillor Walker presented her notice of motion to Council.  She advised Council that the Council would be unable to send out information with each Council Tax bill this year as it was too late, however consideration could be given to undertaking further work and obtaining sponsorship to raise awareness of fraud and scams.

It was moved by Councillor Walker and seconded by Councillor D. Spear that the notice of motion be referred to the next meeting of the Policy Development Committee to consider undertaking further work on frauds and scams.

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

There were no declarations of interest received.

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

Presentation of a certificate by the Chair of the Council to Honorary Alderwoman Faye Webber appointed at the meeting of Council on 25^th September 2019.

In pursuance to the extraordinary meeting held on 25th September 2019, Councillor Biederman presented Faye Webber with a certificate in recognition of her appointment as an Honorary Alderwoman. 

Mrs Webber thanked the Council for her appointment as an Honorary Alderwoman which was a great honour.  She had been the longest serving Councillor for North Devon Council of 46 years and she believed she was the first woman to be appointed as an Honorary Alderwoman.

Presentation by Lisa Wallis, Founder of ChemoHero.

In pursuance to minute 84 (c), this item had been deferred.

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.

(NOTE: A copy of the report that was considered by the Strategy and Resources Committee on 2^nd December 2019 is attached).

Council considered the Council Tax Reduction New Income-Banded Scheme report to the Strategy and Resources Committee on 2^nd December 2019 (circulated previously).  

To receive the report of the Policy Development Committee held on 9^th December 2019 (attached).

Council noted the Policy Development Committee’s report on the Council Tax Reduction New Income-Banded Scheme (circulated previously).

To receive the report of the meeting of the Strategy and Resources Committee held on 2^nd December 2019 (attached).

Councillor Worden, Chair of the Strategy and Resources Committee reported the recommendations of the Strategy and Resources Committee on the Council Tax Reduction New Income-Banded Scheme (circulated previously).

It was moved by Councillor D. Spear and seconded by Councillor Hunt that “minute 72 of the meeting of the Strategy and Resources Committee on 2^nd December 2019 be adopted”.

In response to a question, the Head of Resources advised that the reduction applied to the total Council Tax bill.

RESOLVED that minute 72 of the meeting of the Strategy and Resources Committee on 2^nd December 2019 be adopted.

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

There were no questions submitted to the Leader or the Chair of a Committee under Part 4, Council Procedure Rules, paragraph 10.4 of the Constitution.

Lead Member for Climate Change to report.

Council received an update from the Lead Member for Climate Change regarding actions that had been undertaken since the last meeting of the Council.  The last meeting of the Working Group had taken place on 10^th January 2020 and there had not been an opportunity to produce a written report following the outcomes of this meeting.  However, in future a written report would be provided for future Council meetings.  Progress had been made on the Devon Carbon Reduction Plan and data had been collected to provide evidence which had been submitted to the University of Exeter. This data would be used to formulate the Council’s carbon footprint.  Devon County Council had sent an invitation to all Devon residents to “call for evidence” and requested that they submit their ideas about how Devon can reduce carbon emissions can be reduced.  An email would be circulated to all Councillors shortly to provide further information.  A meeting would be held with the Communications Manager to discuss the Council’s communication and leadership role in providing information.  Consideration was being given to organising a Climate Action Week of events, similar to that held at Totnes.  The first steps were to ascertain which organisations would wish to be involved.  The deadline for comments on the draft action plan was today, which would then be forwarded to the Policy Development and Strategy and Resources Committee for approval.

Report by Head of Resources (attached).

Council considered a report by the Head of Resources (circulated previously) regarding the Council Tax Base 2020/21.

In response to a question regarding how the Council’s collection rates compared nationally, the Head of Resources advised that the collection rate had been set at 97.5%, whereby the national collection rate was around 97%. 

In response to a question regarding –A banding, the Head of Resources advised that this rate was for disabled band reduction.

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

Report by Senior Corporate and Community Services Officer (attached).

Council considered a report by the Senior Corporate and Community Services Officer (circulated previously) regarding the proposed committee timetable for 2020/21.

In response to a question regarding scheduling meetings of the Climate Action Team, the Chief Executive advised that the timetable included formal Council and Committee meetings of the Council only.  The Action Team could set dates of future meetings.  Committees also had power to change time or dates of meetings if required.

Council discussed the difficulty of Councillors attending evening meetings commencing at 6.00 pm due to the current works being undertaken on the North Devon Link Road and of Councillors working not being able to attend daytime meetings.

In response to a question regarding cost implications of holding evening meetings, the Head of Resources advised that officers attending to support evening meetings would accrue additional flexi-time or Time Off in Lieu for meetings after 8.00 pm.

It was moved by Councillor Bushell and seconded by Councillor Luggar “that the timetable of Council and Committee meetings for 2020/2021 as detailed in Appendix A be adopted subject to for a trial period of 12 months the time of Council and Governance Committee meetings being changed to 6.30 p.m. and times of Policy Development Committee meetings being scheduled to alternate between 10.00 am and 6.30 p.m.”

To consider the appointment of two Trustees to serve on the Bridge Trustee Board.  (NOTE: A copy of the constitution is attached).

Councillor Lofthouse declared a personal interest as a trustee in his own right.

It was moved by Councillor Worden and seconded by Councillor Tucker “that Councillors Biederman and Prowse be appointed as Trustees to serve on the Bridge Trustee Board for a term of four years.”

It is RECOMMENDED that Councillor Henderson be appointed to the Policy Development Committee in place of Councillor Luggar and that Councillor Luggar be appointed to the Governance Committee in place of Councillor Henderson for the 2019/20 municipal year.

Councillor Yabsley advised that following the change in the time of Policy Development Committee meetings, Councillor Luggar had requested to remain on the Committee.  Therefore, no change to the membership of the Policy Development Committee was required.

It was moved by Councillor Yabsley and seconded by Councillor D. Spear “that Councillor Luggar be appointed to the Governance Committee in place of Councillor Saxby for the 2019/20 municipal year.”

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

(i)         31^st October 2019

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

(i) 31^st October 2019

(i)         5^th November 2019

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

(i) 5^th November 2019

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

(i)            12^th November 2019

(A) Minute 29: Ilfracombe Harbour – Charges Review 2020-2021

(B) Minute 30: Designated Person Role

(i)         13^th November 2019

(ii)        3^rd December 2019

(iii)       11^th December 2019

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

(i)            13^th November 2019

(ii)          3^rd December 2019

(iii)         11^th December 2019

(i)         9^th December 2019

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

(i)            9^th December 2019

Councillor Prowse advised that Parish Councils had received notification that the Northern Devon Healthcare Trust and Royal Devon and Exeter Boards had agreed to explore joining together on a more formal basis.

Councillor Spear, Chair of the Policy Development Committee advised that the Committee would consider the proposals during the consultation period.

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

(i)            2^nd December 2019

(A) Minute 76: Acquisition of Corporate Property

RECOMMENDED:

RESOLVED:

Report by Monitoring Officer (attached).

Council considered a report by the Monitoring Officer (circulated previously) regarding the conclusion reached by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman on 6^th December 2019 (reference 19 005 366).

It was moved by Councillor Barker and seconded by Councillor Walker “that the recommendation in the report be adopted.”