Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the previous Council meeting held on 29 October 2024

RESOLVED

The Minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

The Meeting stood for a minute’s silence for the first anniversary of former Cllr Huw Cox’s passing away, and the recent passing away of former Cllr Sylvia Russell who had served Teignbridge District Council for many years.

The Chair announced her engagements since the last Council meeting which included: enthronement at Exeter Cathedral; Poppy train wreath for Teignbridge on 11 November 2024; Stars of Teignbridge Awards; a debate not hate campaign review interview; engagement at Westcliff primary school for a happiness exhibition; school visit at Forde House; TGGS women in local government; visit to Teignbridge voluntary services (CVS) regarding issues affecting communities and challenges for those providing and supporting the services within them. The Chair suggested that all Cllrs arrange a similar meeting with the CVS to strengthen the understanding of the needs and services in their wards.  

None.

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 public questions and responses are attached to the agenda.

Agenda for Full Council on Tuesday, 14th January, 2025, 10.00 am - Teignbridge District Council

Supplementary questions and responses can be viewed on the webcast.

Full Council - Tuesday 14 January 2025, 10:00am - Start video at 0:10:12 - Teignbridge District Council Webcasting

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

Cllr questions and responses are attached to the agenda.

Agenda for Full Council on Tuesday, 14th January, 2025, 10.00 am - Teignbridge District Council

The meeting adjourned during the supplementary questions for a short break.

The meeting reconvened.

Supplementary questions and responses can be viewed on the webcast.

Full Council - Tuesday 14 January 2025, 10:00am - Teignbridge District Council Webcasting

To consider the attached report

The Executive Member for Housing and Homelessness presented the agenda report and thanked staff and Cllrs for the production of the Strategy. The report explained the changes made to the One Teignbridge Council Strategy following a period of public consultation and sought approval to use this to guide the Council’s strategic priorities for the next 5 years (2025-2030).

The Executive Member for Housing and Homelessness proposed the adoption of the Strategy as set out in the agenda report. This was seconded by the Executive Member for Environmental Services.

An amendment was proposed by the Group Leader of the opposition that the report be noted until such time as: the effect of devolution on the Strategy is understood; and it can be interpreted into action deliverables with a detail breakdown of time scale and implementation of an action plan.

The amendment was seconded, put to the vote and LOST.

The original proposal was voted on and CARRIED.

RESOLVED

To adopt the One Teignbridge Council Strategy 2025-2030 as the document to be used to guide the strategic priorities of the Council for the next 5 years.

Report to follow

Consideration was given to the agenda report which sought approval of the seat allocations detailed at paragraph 3.1 of the report with effect from 14 January 2025.

It was proposed by the Deputy Leader, seconded by the Executive Member for Environmental Servicesand unanimously

RESOLVED

1.     To approve the seat allocations as set out at paragraph 3.1.of the agenda report

2.     To require Group Leaders to advise the Democratic Services Team Leader of their group membership to Committees by 4pm 16 January 2025, and of any changes during the current administration within 24 hours of the change occurring.

3.     To give effect to the appointment of individual members as proposed by the Group Leaders

This item was withdrawn and would be presented at a future meeting.

To consider the recommendation from the Executive 6 January as follows:

The Executive RECOMMENDS to Council to include the proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and approve for the year 2025-26 scheme that the income bands are changed in line with the annual uprating to primary welfare benefits.

The link to the Executive agenda and report is:

CTR Scheme - Executive 6 Jan 25 V3.pdf

Agenda for Executive on Monday, 6th January, 2025, 10.00 am - Teignbridge District Council

The Executive Member for Finance and Corporate Resources proposed approval of the Executive recommendation as set out on the agenda. This was seconded by the Deputy Leader, and

RESOLVED

To include the proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and approve for the year 2025-26 scheme that the income bands are changed in line with the annual uprating to primary welfare benefits

This item was deferred at the last Council meeting on 29 October 2024 to enable the Budget announcements on 30 October 2024 to be considered.  In addition, to minimise the risk of challenge when applying the new proposals, the Council should have these clearly set out in a supporting policy which would not be drafted until the outcome of the Autumn Statement was announced.

The recommendation from Executive 7 October 2024 is below.

The Minute and report can been seen at the link Agenda for Executive on Monday, 7th October, 2024, 10.00 am - Teignbridge District Council

This was a recommendation from the Medium-Term Financial Plan task and finish group, and subsequently the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 16 September 2024.

RECOMMENDED to Full Council that:-

1.    The Council Tax Policy is amended to remove the 100% Council Tax exemption (1 month period) for empty, unfurnished properties.  This revokes a decision made by Full Council on 15 January 2013 and concerns only the Class C discount

2.    The Discretionary Non-Domestic (Business) Rate Relief Policy is amended to reflect the following changes:

a.    £1,500 Cap (no step or phasing) to be introduced across all discretionary relief regardless of organisation type

b.    50% maximum award for ‘Not for Profit’ Organisations (£1,500 Cap would also still apply)

c.    Maximum two years awards at any one time.  After that organisations must re-apply and then depending on circumstances relief can be re-awarded on a one or two year basis if eligible

d.    The policy will be strengthened to make it clear that Teignbridge District Council view Discretionary Rate Relief as a short-term assistance to allow the organisation to establish itself and achieve financial stability and are not minded to use discretionary rate relief as a financial top-up for organisations that are not otherwise financially viable.

Consideration was given to the recommendation from the Executive as set out on the agenda.

The Executive Member for Finance and Corporate Resources advised that:

-        Recommendations 2a and 2b were not proposed to be implemented at this time and would be reviewed at a later stage.

-        Due to additional information available since the Executive recommendation a further matter was proposed for approval as follows:

      That the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy is amended so that private schools are not eligible to receive discretionary rate relief.

The Executive Member for Finance and Corporate Resources proposed approval of the Executive recommendations as set out on the agenda, the changes to recommendation 2 as above, and the additional recommendation as above.  This was seconded by the Deputy Leader, and

RESOLVED

1.     The Council Tax Policy is amended to remove the 100% Council Tax exemption (1 month period) for empty, unfurnished properties.  This revokes a decision made by Full Council on 15 January 2013 and concerns only the Class C discount.

2.     The Discretionary Non-Domestic (Business) Rate Relief Policy is amended to reflect the following changes:

a)     Maximum two years awards at any one time. After that organisations must re-apply and then depending on circumstances relief can be re-awarded on a one- or two-year basis if eligible.

b)     The policy will be strengthened to make it clear that Teignbridge District Council view Discretionary Rate Relief as a short-term assistance to allow the organisation to establish itself and achieve financial stability and are not minded to use discretionary rate relief as a financial top-up for organisations that are not otherwise financially viable.

c)     That the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy is amended so that private schools are not eligible to receive discretionary rate relief.

To consider the recommendation from the Licensing and Regulatory Committee 28 November 2024 as below.

The agenda for the meeting and report for this item can be found at the following link Agenda for Licensing and Regulatory Committee on Thursday, 28th November, 2024, 10.00 am - Teignbridge District Council

The Minute and recommendation of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee 28 November 2024 is as follows:

“13. GAMBLING ACT 2005 - REVIEW OF STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES

The Licensing Manager went through the draft Gambling Statement of Principles (previously circulated) and clarified that the Committee was being requested to recommend to Full Council for approval.

The Committee asked the Licensing Manager to clarify if the police had been consulted as they were not included on the list of consultees within the report. The Licensing Manager confirmed that they had been.

Cllr Rollason asked if the Licensing Manager could amend paragraph 7.2 on page 8 as the wording ‘such objections do not relate to the licensing objectives’ appeared misleading and did not make sense, it was felt it should read ‘such objections relate to the licensing objective’.

It was also noted that there was a minor spelling error on page 24 in section 5.2 where the word ‘supervisor’ should be ‘supervised’.

The Licensing Manager further clarified points to the committee relating to the use of the word ancillary in relation to fairgrounds. The Licensing Manager also confirmed that historically the health authority hasn’t been consulted but going forward they will be and their comments from other another authority’s review have been taken into account.

In response to questions from members on the availability of training the Licensing Manager confirmed that whilst they can earmark training facilities and encourage training, they cannot force training to be undertaken. The Licensing Authority can point operators to the Gambling Commission as this is where the operators obtain their licences from. Therefore, they should be aware of their responsibilities before they obtain a premises licence.

The Licensing Manager also clarified for members that currently Teignbridge does not have a Local Area Profile as no issues have been raised. The Licensing Authority rarely receive new premises applications. If concerns were raised in the future, then the authority would certainly look to implement a local area profile as they would have the necessary information required to progress this.

It was proposed by Cllr Rollason and seconded by Cllr Dawson that the Statement of Policy be recommended to Full Council for approval with the following amendment: - point 7.2 on page 8 to read ‘such objections relate to the licensing objective’. A vote was taken – the result was 5 in favour, 1 abstention and 0 against.

RESOLVED that the amended Gambling Statement of Principles be recommended to Full Council for approval.”

Note At the meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee, it was considered that a part of the draft statement of principles quoted did not make sense.  Accordingly, the statement was abridged when quoted.  This led to the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 90.

The Chair of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee Cllr Hayes proposed the approval of the recommendation from the Committee subject to an amendment to remove the word “amended” from the recommendation. It was noted that at the meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee, it was considered that a part of the draft statement of principles quoted did not make sense. Accordingly, the statement was abridged when quoted. This led to the statement amounting to a misquote. Therefore, the original wording must be considered for approval and not the amended version.

Councillor Hayes proposed that the Gambling Statement of Principles be approved.  This was seconded by the Deputy Leader Councillor Palethorpe.

An amendment was proposed by Councillor J Taylor and seconded by Councillor Rogers that the following be added to the Policy: “Licenced premises be required to share their Risk Assessment to the Local Licensing Authority.”

The substantive motion was voted on a CARRIED.

RESOLVED

That the Gambling Statement of Principles be approved subject to the addition of “licenced premises be required to share their Risk Assessment to the Local Licensing Authority.”