Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Long Room, Old Forde House, Brunel Road, Newton Abbot, TQ15 4XX. View directions

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes of the previous meetings pdf icon PDF 132 KB

To approve and sign the minutes of the meetings held on 30 September 2022 and 24 October 2022.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meetings on 30 September and 24 October 2022.

 2022 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

 

2.

Declarations of interest

Minutes:

None.

 

3.

Revisions to the Constitution pdf icon PDF 111 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members discussed the proposed changes to the constitution they raised the following points:

·       the need to understand officers’ reasons for the changes

·       for the changes to be broken and presented over a period of time and not in one document

·       the changes should be deferred for the new Council to consider after the May 2023 elections with the exception of the key decision thresholds.

 

Members recommended that Council increase in the financial limits for Key Decisions 3.4.7 for revenue to £100,000 and for capital projects to £250,000.

 

RESOLVED that the revisions to the Constitution be deferred to after the May 2023 elections with the exception of financial limits in 3.4.7.

 

RECOMMENDED to Council that the financial limits Key Decisions at 3.4.7 in the constitution be increased as follows:

·       Revenue £100,000

·       Capital £250,000

 

And any other references to these limits be amended accordingly.

 

4.

Members Induction Programme pdf icon PDF 280 KB

Minutes:

Members noted the induction programme commenting on the need for an on-going training programme for members to support their continuing development in particular with regards to Planning and Licensing Committee members.

5.

Training for councillors to serve on the Planning Committee

Item added at the request of the Leader

 

Training for councillors to serve on the Planning Committee

 

The council's constitution permits Groups to changes their members serving on the planning committee. Changes are infrequent, but occasionally necessary. For example, changes in work patterns or jobs, ill health etc.

However, the planning service is currently not providing training to the ad-hoc replacement members, nor to councillors who missed the two 2-hour events arranged earlier in the year.

 

The effect of this lack of training is that councillors are not able to participate in the Planning Committee and the committee itself is under-capacity and is further affected if, for example, there is illness or absence among the committee members able to serve (although there can be substitution.

 

Procedures Committee is asked to:

1. Support the delivery of an urgent training event for all councillors who are currently not able to serve on planning, and also other councillors who wish to be 'planning approved' before the end of 2022.

 

2. Ensure there is in place regular training events so ad-hoc changes to planning committee membership can receive the necessary support to serve on the committee in a timely and supportive manner.

 

3. Investigate alternative training provision such as, for example, use of the Planning Advisory Service online modules perhaps combined with multiple choice responses to evidence the training has been undertaken.

 

Minutes:

Members discussed the need for additional training options for Planning Committee Members in particular those that join throughout the municipal year and the requirement for regular ongoing training.

 

RESOLVED to:

 

(1)  Ensure there is in place regular training events so ad-hoc changes to planning committee membership can receive the necessary support to serve on the committee in a timely and supportive manner: and

 

(2)  Investigate alternative training provision such as, for example, use of the Planning Advisory Service online modules perhaps combined with multiple choice responses to evidence the training has been undertaken.