Agenda and minutes

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

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Items
No. Item

27.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 269 KB

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

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2021 were approved as a correct record and will be signed at a later date.

28.

Announcements

Announcements only from the Chair of Council, Leader, Members of the Executive or the Managing Director.

 

Minutes:

The Chair informed Members that there was a link to the HRH Duke of Edinburgh’s book of condolence on the Council website and announced that sadly two former Councillors Jane Stovin and Richard Bassett had recently passed away.

 

The Chair reported that thanks to the large donation from an anonymous resident, the Chair’s charity, the East Teignbridge Community Transport Association, had now been able to purchase much needed a new vehicle.

 

The Chair congratulated Mr Ollie Watkins, formerly of Decoy Primary School and South Devon Community College, Ashburton and Exeter Football Club who has been selected to play football for England.

 

29.

Declarations of interest

Minutes:

None.

30.

Public Question pdf icon PDF 7 KB

Members of the public may ask questions. A maximum period of 15 minutes will be allowed with a maximum period of three minutes per questioner.

 

The deadline for questions is no later than 12 noon two working days before the date of the meeting.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Public question and response are attached to minutes.

 

In response to the supplementary question, the Executive Member stated that she would provide a response in writing at a later date.

 

31.

Recommendation from Executive - Notice of Motion - To acknowledge the work that the voluntary and charitable sector do particularly but not exclusively during the current Coronavirus pandemic.

The Leader will present the recommendation from Executive Tuesday, 6th April, 2021.

 

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.

 

Minutes:

It was proposed by the Leader and seconded by Cllr G Hook that the recommendation be approved.

 

Cllr G Hook commented that it was important to acknowledge the work that the voluntary and charitable sector do particularly but not exclusively during the Coronavirus pandemic.

 

A roll call was taken (see voting sheet).

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

(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.

32.

Recommendation from Executive - Future High Street Fund pdf icon PDF 3 MB

The Executive Member for Economy and Jobs will present the recommendation from Executive on 6 April 2021.

 

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

 

(1)      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;

 

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

 

(3)      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;

 

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

 

(5)      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 centre to which the approved funding scheme relates.

 

Minutes:

It was proposed by the Executive Member for Economy and Jobs and seconded by Cllr Bullivant that the recommendation be approved.

 

The Head of Place and Commercial Services gave a presentation on the project (attached to the minutes).

 

Cllr Patch proposed an amendment that the wall be retained at the back of the Alexandre Theatre and the integrity of the theatre as a performance space be maintained, this was seconded by Cllr Colclough. 

 

A roll call was taken on the amendment (see voting report), the amendment was lost.

 

On a further role call (see voting report), is was:-

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

(1)            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;

 

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

 

(3)            The Market Hall proposals (as per paragraph 2.5 of the report) and associated Council budget (excluding external funding) of £2,236,486 be approved;

 

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

 

(5)            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 centre to which the approved funding scheme relates.

 

33.

Recommendation from Standards Committee - New LGA model code of conduct

The Chair of Standards Committee will present the recommendation of the Standards Committee 26 February 2021.

 

RECOMMENDED to Full Council that the new LGA model code of conduct be adopted.

 

Minutes:

It was proposed by the Chair of Standards Committee and seconded by the Executive Member for Corporate Resources that the recommendation be approved.

 

A roll call was taken (see voting report).

 

RESOLVED that the new LGA model code of conduct be adopted.

 

34.

Procedures Committee pdf icon PDF 285 KB

To consider the report of the Leader.

 

Minutes:

The Leader presented his report on the new Procedures Committee and proposed the recommendations, this was seconded by the Executive Member for Recycling, Household Waste and Environmental Health.

 

The Leader of the Opposition, Cllr Bullivant, supported the formation of this new committee.

 

RESOLVED (with no votes against) that:-

 

(1)            A Procedures Committee be established and the Constitution be amended as follows:

 

Section 3.11A Procedures Committee

 

3.11A.1 Membership: The committee comprises the following elected councillors:

(a)  The Chair of Council (who will Chair the Committee);

(b)  All Group Leaders;

      (c)Two additional members from each Group (who are appointed at Annual Council) provided that the Group comprises 10% or more of the Council full membership;

and any member may be substituted if a committee member is unable to attend.

 

3.11A.2 Areas of Work:

(a)  To review the operation of the Constitution, its Standing Orders, conventions and working practices;

(b)  To oversee the Councils programmes for member development/training; and

(c)   To make recommendations to the Council on its Scheme of Members' Allowances.

 

(2)            The political balance requirements for this Procedures Committee shall not apply.

 

35.

Notices 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 has been presented by Cllr Eden and supported by Cllrs Bradford, Daws, Macgregor, Orme and Patch.

 

Background provided by Cllr Eden to the Motion:

 

There are quite a number of gaps that have developed in the Standards Process – some highlighted in my previous motion on Standards Hearings procedure. There also needs to be a wider more precise application of what is or isn’t acceptable in terms of conflict of interest.

 

Recently, this council had to resort to requesting an intervention from the PAS (Planning Advisory Service) over a matter that from the perspective of the general public should be quite clear cut.

 

From my experience chairing ethics committees in the NHS and from my professional training in matters of conflict and probity, it is clear that the result of the PAS report was far from satisfactory. We need to sharpen our focus on conflict or interest and raise the standard of those definitions.

 

Doing so will reduce the possibility of a councillor having their impartiality, integrity or probity being called into account.

 

Wording of Motion proposed by Cllr Eden:-

 

With that in mind, I would like to propose that the following definitions are added or amended.

1)    The definition of a Conflict of Interest to be extended (in respect of family and friends) for all elected members to reflect the high standards set by the Charity Commission in respect of a ‘Connected Person’ - defined as follows;

Connected person: In broad terms this means family, relatives or business partners of a councillor, as well as businesses in which a councillor has an interest through ownership or influence. The term includes a councillor’s spouse or unmarried partner, or civil partner, children, siblings, grandchildren and grandparents, as well as businesses where a councillor or family member holds at least one-fifth of the shareholding or voting rights.”

The Council’s legal team would be able to advise (where there is any doubt), but such advice should be made a public record.

 

2)    Conflicts of Loyalty to be introduced as a notifiable requirement. This is defined as follows;

Conflict of loyalty: This means a particular type of conflict of interest, in which a councillor’s loyalty or duty to another person or organisation could prevent the councillor from making a decision only in the best interests of the council or the residents.”

 

3)    Register of interests to include membership of ANY organisation that the member knows an officer of the council is also a member – for instance; Freemasons, professional bodies etc. Devon County Council requires members notify their membership of the Freemasons and TDC should do so right away.

This is an extension of the second point in the motion about Conflicts of Loyalty but  ...  view the full agenda text for item 35.

Minutes:

The Chair proposed that as Cllr Eden was not present her Notice of Motion be deferred to the next meeting of Full Council, this was seconded by Cllr D Cox.

 

RESOLVED that the Notice of Motion be deferred to the next meeting of Full Council.

 

Voting Report pdf icon PDF 3 MB

Attached.