Agenda and minutes

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2020.

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2021 were approved as a correct record and will be signed at the earliest convenience.

None.

To note forthcoming decisions anticipated on the Executive Forward Plan

RESOLVED that the Forward Plan be noted.

The Executive Member for Homes and Communities presented the report detailing the consultation of the Devon Home Choice Scheme Management on proposed changes to associated policy and procedures. Individual local authority members of the scheme had been asked to approve the adoption of these changes.

The Housing Solutions Lead clarified that proposal 6 had been deferred to enable a task group to be established to look at the proposal in more detail and any recommendations would be brought back in due course. Proposal 7 had been rejected in principle by the Devon Home Choice Management Board.

RESOLVED to approve the proposed changes to the Devon Home Choice scheme as detailed in section 2.3 of the circulated report noting that, of the 8 proposed changes:-

1)           Proposal 6 has been deferred by the Devon Home Choice Management Board.

2)           Proposal 7 has been rejected in principle by the Devon Home Choice Management Board.

The vote was unanimous.

For the Executive to consider their response to the Notice of Motion to acknowledge the work that the voluntary and charitable sector do particularly but not exclusively during the current Coronavirus pandemic submitted by Cllr G Hook to the Full Council on Monday, 22nd February, 2021.

Cllr G Hook presented his Notice of Motion on to acknowledge the work that the voluntary and charitable sector do particularly but not exclusively during the current Coronavirus pandemic which was submitted to Full Council on Monday, 22nd February, 2021.

The Executive Member for Homes and Communities fully endorsed the sense of kinship that had been built across communities throughout the pandemic and was in full support that the Council should recognise the work that individuals and organisations had done. 

The Leader commented that it was important that the Council recognised the contributions that individuals and organisations had made during the pandemic.

RECOMMENDED to Council:-

(1)      The Council places on record its gratitude to all sectors of the voluntary and charitable sector for the outstanding work undertaken within the District, particularly but not exclusively during the current Coronavirus pandemic;

(2)      The Council acknowledges the work of many organisations, communities and individuals who have contributed at this uniquely difficult time, and the Communications Team are asked to place a message of thanks on the Council’s website to recognise this;

(3)      The Council look, when restrictions regarding the pandemic are relaxed, at the request that Overview and Scrutiny Committee consider ways in which this council may work even more constructively with the sector in the future; and

(4)      A thank you event be agreed in principle. The Executive Member for Homes and Communities with officers explore how this event could be held and how nominations be made and report back to a future Council meeting.

The vote was unanimous.

The report to accept the Future High Street Funding offer and agree the delivery strategy was presented.

A Non-Executive Member raised concerns including the detrimental effect that the loss of on-street short term parking in Queen Street could have on businesses in the area.

The Head of Place and Commercial Services gave a presentation to Members (attached to minutes). A revised recommendation was presented the reason for making the changes was to be more specific about what Executive were asking Full Council to approve. This revised recommendation was agreed by Executive.

Executive Members welcomed the proposals to enhance Newton Abbot Town Centre and thanked officers for their work on the project.

 RESOLVED that:-

(1)      The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government funding of £9,199,364 offered as part of the Future High Streets programme be accepted;

(2)      The Market Hall proposals be approved in principle, further engagement with key stakeholders will continue on detailed design phase for the internal layout;

RECOMMENDED to Council that, as detailed in this report:-

(3)      The National Cycle Route 2 proposals (as per paragraph 2.3 of the report) and associated Council budget (excluding external funding) of £22,633 be approved;

(4)      The Queen Street proposals (as per paragraph 2.4 of the report) and associated Council budget (excluding external funding) of £81,277 be approved;

(5)      The Market Hall proposals (as per paragraph 2.5 of the report) and associated Council budget (excluding external funding) of £2,236,489 be approved;

(6)      The Council budget (excluding external funding) of £991,921 for the cinema (as per paragraph 2.6 of the report) be approved; and

(7)      Delegated authority be given to the Head of Place and Commercial Services (in consultation with the Executive Member for Economy and Jobs and Chief Finance Officer) to finalise the development details and prepare planning applications in line with the timescales set out in Appendix E to this report and to take such other action as is necessary to implement the approved redevelopment of Newton Abbot town entre to which the approved funding scheme relates.

The vote was unanimous.

This item was taken in minute no.31