Agenda and minutes

Venue: Buckland Athletic, Kingskerswell Road, Newton Abbot, TQ12 5JU

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 381 KB

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

Minutes:

It was proposed by the Executive Member for Sport, Recreation and Culture, seconded by the Executive Member for Planning that the minutes be approved.

 

The minutes of the meeting on 30 November 2021 were approved and signed as a correct record by the Chair.

 

2.

Announcements

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

 

The Managing Director had been advised by the Independent Group Leader of the appointment of Cllr J Petherick to the Planning Committee.

 

Minutes:

The Chair on behalf of the Council congratulated two residents from Teignbridge, Brian Smith and Dr Jill Diprose who have both been recognised with a British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours List and Karime Hassan the Chief Executive at Exeter City Council who was awarded an MBE.

 

He brought to Member’s attention the Westbank Community Health & Care who have been awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Services presented by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Devon.

 

The Chair announced that on 06 January 2022, an Appointment and Remuneration Panel had considered a complaint made by Councillor Patch against Paul Woodhead, namely that he had breached the Officers’ Code of Conduct.  Having considered the information presented to it, which included counsel’s opinion, the Panel unanimously determined that no breach of the Officers’ Code of Conduct had occurred and no further action is required. The Panel requested that Members be informed that the estimated costs of dealing with this complaint in terms of officer time and necessary external legal support, amount to £6,130.

 

3.

Declarations of interest

Minutes:

Cllr D Cox declared in interest in respect of minute no.6 as a Member of Teignmouth Town Council.

 

4.

Council Tax Base 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 152 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was proposed by the Executive Member for Corporate Resources and seconded by the Leader that the recommendation be approved.

 

RESOLVED that the council tax base of 49,633 for 2022/23 be approved.

 

5.

Public Questions pdf icon PDF 590 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 questions and responses attached.

 

The relevant Executive Member responded to the supplementary questions arising therefrom - see live stream 13 Jan 2022

6.

Play Area Refurbishment - The Den Teignmouth pdf icon PDF 235 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Member for Sport, Recreation and Culture proposed the recommendation, this was seconded by Cllr Macgregor.

 

Member were informed that it was anticipated the works would be completed before the summer holidays this year.

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

(1)                                Capital expenditure of £280k be approved, to be funded from CIL and S106 contributions, for refurbishment works as outlined in this report for the play area at the Den Teignmouth; and

 

(2)                                The Head of Operational Services be granted delegated authority, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and Executive Member for Leisure and Green Spaces to accept the most economically advantageous tender for the works.

 

7.

Recommendation from Audit Scrutiny Committee - Appointment Process - External Audit

The Chair of Audit Scrutiny Committee will present the recommendation of the Audit Scrutiny Committee 27th October, 2021,

 

RECOMMENDED that the Audit and Scrutiny Committee recommend that acceptance of the invitation to opt in to the national scheme for auditor appointments from April 2023 be approved by Council.

 

Minutes:

The Chair of Audit Scrutiny Committee proposed the recommendation, this was seconded by Cllr Bullivant.

 

The Chief Finance Officer clarified that the external audit was a financial audit looking at value for money and included housing benefits.

 

RESOLVED that the acceptance of the invitation to opt in to the national scheme for auditor appointments from April 2023 be approved.

 

8.

Recommendation from Executive - Notice of Motion - moving with the times - 21st Century Councils

The Leader will present the recommendation from the Executive on Tuesday, 4th January, 2022

 

RECOMMENDED that Full Council:-

 

(1)            Write to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) urging a permanent amendment to the meeting rules set out in the Local Government Act 1972 be enabling local authorities to hold virtual, hybrid or physical meetings;

 

(2)            Write to the Members of Parliament serving Teignbridge to ask for support for this flexible approach to council meetings; and

 

(3)      Continue to explore the use of technology to develop online meetings to attract a wider audience once our request has been successful.

 

Minutes:

The Leader proposed the recommendation, this was seconded by Executive Member for Recycling, Household Waste and Environmental.

 

Cllr Macgregor proposed an amendment that the recommendation should include a request to Government that there was implementation of a full set of regulations and constitutional matters in connection with virtual meetings, this was seconded by Cllr Daws, Cllr Patch proposed an addition to include a review by Overview and Scrutiny into how virtual meetings had operated since the beginning of their use should be undertaken, Cllr Macgregor and Cllr Daws agreed to this addition. This amendment was put to the vote and lost.

 

The substantive recommendations were put to the vote and it was:-

 

RESOLVED to:-

 

(1)            Write to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) urging a permanent amendment to the meeting rules set out in the Local Government Act 1972 be enabling local authorities to hold virtual, hybrid or physical meetings;

 

(2)            Write to the Members of Parliament serving Teignbridge to ask for support for this flexible approach to council meetings; and

 

(3)      Continue to explore the use of technology to develop online meetings to attract a wider audience once our request has been successful.

 

9.

Councillor Questions pdf icon PDF 727 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 live stream 13 Jan 2022