Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Comsec  Email: comsec@teignbridge.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

55.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 230 KB

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the previous Council meeting.

Minutes:

Cllr D Cox proposed that the minutes of the 30 September 2020 be signed as a correct record of the meeting, this was seconded by the Leader.

 

Cllr Daws proposed an amendment that that the minutes include his wording on his supplementary question in respect of minute no.49, this was seconded by Cllr Patch.

 

A roll call was taken on the amendment (see voting report).19 member’s voted for and 19 members against the amendment. On the Chair’s casting vote against the amendment, the amendment was lost.

 

On a further role call (see the voting report), the minutes of the 30 September 2020 were approved as a correct record.

 

56.

Announcements

Minutes:

The Chair encouraged Members to attend the Leaders weekly Members’ Briefings on the current COVID situation. 

57.

Declarations of interest

Minutes:

Cllr Wrigley declared an interest as a committee member of the South East Devon Habitat Regulations Committee at minute no.65.

 

58.

Councillors Questions pdf icon PDF 398 KB

Members of the Council may ask questions of the Council subject to procedural rules.

 

The deadline for questions is no later than three clear working days before the meeting.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Member’s questions and responses are attached to minutes.

 

The relevant Executive Member responded to the supplementary questions arising therefrom. See the live stream of this meeting.

 

In response to Cllr Daws supplementary question, the answer was provided by the Executive Member for Corporate Services in writing after the meeting [see below]:-

 

The Council’s Executive made the decision on 30 November 2009 to purchase 9 acres of land at Decoy for £100,000. The price paid represented a fair market value for the land based on objective valuation.

 

The land was purchased using Growth Fund money ‘to enable the delivery of new employment land in Teignbridge and to support related regeneration projects’ and ‘to provide clear evidence to funding agencies and partners that Teignbridge are delivering the regeneration and development goals of the Growth Point and funding agencies.’

 

The draft version of the Local Plan containing sites including NA3 was first published as the ‘Preferred Options’ stage in January 2012. https://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/planning/local-plans-and-policy/archive/preferred-options-january-2012/

 

 

59.

Planning Advisory Service findings on the review of the planning application for Langford Bridge, Newton Abbot - Presentation pdf icon PDF 244 KB

Minutes:

Cllr Bryony Rudkin (Deputy Leader Ipswich Council) on behalf of the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) presented the findings of the review of the planning application for Langford Bridge, Newton Abbot and answered questions from Members (presentation attached to minutes).

 

The Leader thanked the representatives from PAS for their work on the review.

 

60.

2019/20 Statement of Accounts including the Annual Governance Statement pdf icon PDF 211 KB

To approve the 2019/20 Statement of Accounts.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Member for Corporate Resources thanked Grant Thornton, the External Auditors, and officers for their work on concluding the audit work.

 

The Chair of Audit Scrutiny Committee proposed the recommendation, this was seconded by the Executive Member for Corporate Resources.

 

The Grant Thornton Manager clarified that assessment of adequate for the management process was the highest assessment that a council could receive.

 

The Chief Finance Officer advised that to date there was no assurance that the New Homes Bonus funding would continue. The provisional grant settlement from Central Government was expected in mid-December.  

 

A roll call was taken (see voting report).

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

(1)            The 2019/20 Statement of Accounts be approved including the Annual Governance Statement and letter of representation as recommended by the Audit Scrutiny Committee subject to any final adjustments agreed with the external auditors to be reported to Council; and

 

(2)            The Audit Findings Report from Grant Thornton be noted and the actions arising from the action plan be approved.

 

61.

Recommendation from Standards Committee

The Committee Chair (Cllr L Petherick) will present the recommendation of the Standards Committee 2 October 2020.

 

RECOMMENDED to Full Council that the membership of the Standards Committee be limited to six elected councillors

 

Minutes:

It was proposed by the Chair of Standards Committee and seconded by the Leader that the recommendation be approved.

 

The Leader, through the Chair, apologised to Cllr Daws and to the Council for the phrase that he used at the last meeting when replying to Cllr Daw’s question, there having been no intention to upset Cllr Daws.  Cllr Daws acknowledged this point from the Leader.

 

A roll call was taken (see voting report).

 

RESOLVED that the membership of the Standards Committee be limited to six elected councillors.

62.

Recommendation from Licensing and Regulatory Committee - Review of Statement of Licensing Policy

The Committee Chair (Cllr D Cox) will present the recommendation of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee 4 November 2020.

 

RECOMMENDED to Full Council

Minutes:

It was proposed by the Chair of Licensing and Regulatory Committee and seconded by the Executive Member for Sport, Recreation and Culture that the recommendation be approved.

 

The Licensing and Regulatory Committee on 4 November 2020 recommended that Full Council approve the policy.

 

Members thanked officers for the work undertaken to bring this review forward.

 

A roll call was taken (see voting report).

 

RESOLVED that the Statement of Licensing Policy be adopted.

 

63.

Notice of Motion

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 adjourned. The motion may be debated to assist debate later if agreed by two-thirds of Council Members.

 

The following motion on Making Votes Matter in Local Elections has been presented by Cllr Swain and supported by H Cox, Dewhirst, G Hook, J Hook, Jeffries, MacGregor, Nutley, Nuttall and Wrigley

 

Background provided by Cllr Swain to the Motion:

 

1. The electoral system used for elections in England and Wales, First Past the Post (FPTP), is not a fair system, because it means that votes do not have equal weight and many votes are wasted. Voters cannot express their preferences clearly. If a voter’s first choice does not win, that voter has no say in which of the other candidates does win. FPTP can elect Candidate A when more than 50% of the voters would prefer Candidate B but some had a first choice of Candidate C. FPTP does not give the best possible outcome.

 

2. The alternative to FPTP is a system of Preference voting where voters rank candidates in order and all voters views are still considered after rejecting the least popular candidates. In multi-member wards there can be Proportional Representation (PR), where votes cast for parties translate more directly into seats won. There are many variants of PR. “Single Transferable Vote” (STV) is already in use for local elections in Scotland and Northern Ireland. This would give a mix of elected candidates closer to the mix of voter views, a fairer system of representation.

 

3. The introduction of PR for local elections in Scotland has led to an increase in turnout, which was 47% at the last elections held in 2017. In contrast turnout in the Teignbridge District Council election in 2019 was 39%. This suggests that the improved representation offered by PR encourages greater engagement in local democracy.

 

4. The council also recognises that 16 and 17 years olds can leave home, can start a family, can get married, can work, pay taxes and can join the armed forces. With elections occurring every 4 years, they should also be able to vote.

 

Wording of Motion proposed by Cllr Swain:  “In doing so the council believes:

 

There should be a move to use a system of preference voting including proportional representation in multi-member wards for local elections as soon as is practicably possible and the voting age should be reduced to 16. This would elect a council which more accurately represents the range and proportions of political views among Teignbridge residents.

 

That PR with voting age 16, should be introduced as the voting system in any further Government devolution, and reorganisation of local government, in order to improve democratic participation and accountability.

 

This Council resolves:

 

1. To call upon Her Majesty's Government by writing to the Home Secretary, and the Prime Minister urging them to...

 

a. commit to changing electoral law to  ...  view the full agenda text for item 63.

Minutes:

Cllr Swain presented his Notice of Motion.

 

The Notice of Motion was referred, without discussion, to the Executive for consideration.

 

64.

Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 - Exclusion of Press and Public

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

 

Minutes:

The Chair of Council proposed, seconded by the Executive Member for Sports, Recreation and Culture that because of financial sensitivity the Council go into Part II session and exclude the press and public.

 

RESOLVEDthat 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 Para 3 Pt 1 Schedule 12A of the Act.

 

The meeting was adjourned for 10 minutes for a comfort break. Following which a roll call was taken.

 

65.

Long-term maintenance of Dawlish Countryside Park

Minutes:

The Executive Member for Planning presented the report and proposed the recommendation, this was seconded by Cllr Bullivant.

 

A roll call was taken (see voting report).

 

RESOLVED that:-

(1)            Funding to secure the long term management of Dawlish Countryside Park Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space (SANGS) be approved;

 

(2)            The Council enter into a contract with Land Trust for use of an endowment to secure the long-term management of Dawlish Countryside Park; and

 

(3)            The Head of Place & Commercial Services be given delegated authority in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, to complete agreements to facilitate the long term management of Dawlish Countryside Park.

Voting report pdf icon PDF 63 KB