Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the Annual Council 20 May 2019 and previous Council meeting 4 June 2019.

The minutes of the Annual Council 20 May 2019 subject to the amendment to minute no.3 to read ‘Vice-Chairman’ and Council meeting 4 June 2019 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 

The Council wished Sam Hall, reporter at the Mid Devon Advertiser, all the best for his move to Wales.

None.

The Members’ questions and responses are attached to the minutes.

Further to his question, Councillor Bullivant commented that the Devon Association of Town and Parish Councils should be informed of the relevant information and that social rented housing was provided by Housing Associations within the Teignbridge district. In the past four years he pointed out that 575 new affordable homes had been provided: Newton Abbot 221; Kingsteignton 84; Dawlish 105; Chudleigh 15; Christow 18; Ogwell 1; Bovey Tracey 78; Exminster 29; Ashburton 2; Cheriton Bishop 8; Holcombe 5; Kennford 3; Broadhempston 6.  The Leader stated that the reference to affordable housing attributed to him, should have been social housing.

Further to her question, Councillor Eden commented that the risk to the community of the proposed Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service (DSFRS) cuts was unacceptable and that further data was required from the DSFRS to explain their proposals. The Leader responded that he would invite a representative from the DSFRS to address Members to further clarify the proposals.

Notice of Motion’s shall be referred to the appropriate Committee meeting. The mover of the motion can outline the proposal and then it will stand adjoined. The motion may be debated to assist debate later if agreed by two-thirds of Council Members.

The Leader of the Council supported by Councillors Macgregor, J Hook, H Cox, Nutley and Wrigley.

Teignbridge Council will contact both of the MPs representing the District and also write to MHCLG to express our concerns regarding the standards of new house building, and call for:

1) At least four(4) inspections to be carried out on every new build property by the Building Control body, local authority or private sector.

2) The current Building Regulations to be reviewed and upgraded to ensure a higher quality of work than at present.

3) Timber framed housing to be included in the Governments Building Safety Programme, and

4) Local Authorities to become the sole provider of Building Inspections.

The Leader in presenting the Notice of Motion stated that building control regulation had been overlooked in the last few years and the result was that substandard housing had increasingly been built particularly as builders were not required to use Local Authority Building Control Inspectors. This function should be brought back into local authority control to improve build standards and increase accountability. 

During debate the Members raised the following points:-

·         Concerns regarding possible increase in buildings costs and the negative impact this could have on social housing coming forward

·         Need to ensure that homes were built to a high standard

·         Requirement for a robust inspections procedure

·         The Council’s Building Control Partnership employed highly skilled professionals, at no cost to the Council and its partner authorities.

Whilst supportive of the tenor of the Notice of Motion, Councillor Bullivant proposed that the proposed motion be referred to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee to provide details of the implications for the proposed changes to the building control service to be examined. This was seconded by Councillor Russell, put to the vote and lost.

The Leader in summarising stated that it was the intention to promote a more sustainable way of house building and that the Council had a duty to improve the quality and safety of homes.

The Notice of Motion was proposed by the Leader, seconded by the Portfolio Holder for Planning and carried.

RESOLVED that Teignbridge Council contact both of the MPs representing the District and also write to MHCLG to express its concerns regarding the standards of new house building, and call for:

(1)          At least four (4) inspections to be carried out on every new build property by the Building Control body, local authority or private sector;

(2)          The current Building Regulations to be reviewed and upgraded to ensure a higher quality of work than at present;

(3)          Timber framed housing to be included in the Governments Building Safety Programme; and

(4)          Local Authorities to become the sole provider of Building Inspections.

The Chairman of Audit Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Morgan, presented the Statement of Accounts 2018/19 including the Annual Governance Statement. She advised the Council had a statutory duty to publish its accounts by the 31 July 2019. The external auditors, Grant Thornton, had been unable to undertake the audit of the accounts, within the time scales due to resourcing issues. It was hoped that the accounts would come to Full Council in September 2019. 

The Managing Director stated that the Auditors were appointed to Councils on a regional basis and the Council had no control over the contract.

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Morgan and seconded by Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and carried.

RESOLVED that the:-

(1)          2018/19 Statement of Accounts including the Annual Governance Statement as recommended by the Audit Scrutiny Committee subject to any final adjustments agreed with the external auditors to be reported to Council upon completion of Audit be approved; and

(2)          Treasury Management results for 2018/19 be noted.

RECOMMENDED  that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

The Leader proposed, seconded by the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources that, because of the financial sensitivity and staffing negotiations and in the public interest, the Council go into Part II session and exclude the press and public. This was carried.

RESOLVED that under Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 that press and public be excluded from the meeting of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 A of the Act and such restricted consideration was in the public interest.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources presented the report on Sherborne House, Newton Abbot, to ensure that the necessary authority and delegated powers were in place to further advance this regeneration project.

The recommendation was proposed Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources seconded by Portfolio Holder for Sport, Recreation & Culture and carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that recommendations (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) of the circulated report be approved. 

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources presented the report to ensure that the necessary authority and delegated powers were in place to further advance this regeneration project.

The recommendation was proposed Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources seconded by the Deputy Leader and carried.

RESOLVED that recommendations (1) and (2) of the circulated report be approved. 

To consider the recommendation of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee on 25 July 2019.

The Deputy Leader, who chaired the meeting of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee 25 July 2019, presented the recommendation from this Committee to approve the Senior Management Pay review further to recommendations from consultants South West Councils.

In response to Member’s questions, the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources clarified that the Council’s salaries for more junior staff were in accordance with national terms and conditions and that the lowest salaries were higher than the National Living Wage. The proposed new management structure would save the Council up to £150,000.

The recommendation was proposed by the Deputy Leader, seconded by the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and carried.

RESOLVED that the Senior Management Pay – South West Council’s review report, as circulated, be approved.

To consider the recommendation of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee on 25 July 2019.

The Deputy Leader, who chaired the meeting of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee 25 July 2019, presented the recommendation from that Committee to approve the Senior Management Structure, and for a consultation and recruitment process to be undertaken.

In response to Members, the Managing Director clarified the recruitment process.

The recommendation was proposed by the Deputy Leader, seconded by the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and carried.

RESOLVED that the Senior Management Structure report as circulated be approved.