Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 9^th September 2025.

It was PROPOSED by Councillor Keeling and SECONDED by Councillor Palethorpe and

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the previous meeting on Tuesday 9^th September 2025 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

It was PROPOSED by Councillor Keeling and SECONDED by Councillor Palethorpe and

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the previous meeting on Tuesday 9^th September 2025 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

None.

None.

To note forthcoming decisions anticipated on the Executive Forward Plan

The Executive Forward Plan was noted.

Members of the Public may ask questions of the Leader or an Executive Member. A maximum period of 15 minutes will be allowed with a maximum of period of three minutes per questioner.

None.

To consider the introduction of fees for all licensing activity and compliance for residential mobile home sites. To adopt the relevant policies that set out the fee calculation and how compliance on sites will be enforced. 

It was PROPOSED by Councillor Palethorpe and SECONDED by Councillor Williams and

RESOLVED

That the Executive adopt the fees as set out in the fees policy.

The Executive considered the report which considered the introduction of fees for all licensing activity and compliance for residential mobile home sites. The report also considered the relevant policies that set out the fee calculation and how compliance on sites will be enforced.

The Deputy Leader introduced the item, gave an overview of the proposal and thanked those officers involved in formulating the proposal.

The Appendices included in the report pack included a summary of the consultation responses, the Fee Policy and an Equality Impact Assessment.

The Council currently licences 35 residential mobile homes sites which cover approximately 1,400 units of accommodation. The Council does not charge any fees for this work but has a statutory duty to licence the sites and ensure compliance with the site licence conditions. The report set out the rational forcharging for all licensing activity and compliance with a fee policy which complies with the government guidance.

The proposal sets out that the Council would charge for the following licensing activities: issuing a site licence, transferring a site licence, altering conditions, depositing site rules and a fit and proper person application on an annual basis based on the number of units within bands. Following the first year all sites will be risk rated and then an escalator based on the level of risk will be applied to each site.

A consultation was undertaken on the Fees Policy from 8th July 2024 to 23rd August 2024. There were 20 responses from site owners which is a 48% response rate. Regarding the proposed fee structure only 6 answered this question with 50% in agreement and 50% in disagreement.

Councillors Williams and G Taylor spoke in support of the proposals.

The matter having been debated and the options and alternatives and other relevant factors highlighted (e.g. financial, legal and risk implications),it was PROPOSED by Councillor Palethorpe and SECONDED by Councillor Williams and

RESOLVED

That the Executive adopt the fees as set out in the fees policy.

Verbal update from the Executive Member for Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution and/or the Managing Director.

The Democratic Services Manager confirmed that the Governance Committee at its meeting on 2^nd October 2025 agreed dispensations for ‘dual hatted’ Councillors (District and County Councillors) to speak and vote on items relating to Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation.

The Managing Director gave a verbal update on proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Devon. The presentation included a timeline of the submission plans up to the end of November 2025, progress to date on the proposals, an overview of the options appraisal, the financial case within the proposal, other considerations taken into account, the proposed numbers of Elected Members and Neighbourhood Area Committees.

An extraordinary Full Council and Executive meeting have been arranged for Tuesday 25^th November 2025. A further All Member Briefing will be arranged in advance of these meetings to share the proposals.

Councillor Nutley spoke about the role of Dartmoor National Park Authority within Local Government Re-organisation. The Managing Director confirmed that the National Park authority is not in scope for Local Government Reorganisation but there will need to be changes around the appointment of Members to the authority, how the authority works with a future unitary authority to achieve its aims and have strong working relationships.

The Leader spoke to this item re-confirming that Teignbridge District Council and Devon County Council would be abolished following Local Government Reorganisation.

Councillor Buscombe asked a question regarding the operation of Neighbourhood Area Committees. Learning and best practice from other unitary authorities would be incorporated into the proposals. The new unitary authority would determine the delegation of functions to these Committees and ensuring that local communities are involved in these.

Executive Member Decisions

The Individual Executive Member Decisions were noted.