Council Agenda meeting 20 February 2008
Contact: Diana Vernon
Phone: (01395) 517541
E-mail: dvernon@eastdevon.gov.uk
A meeting of the Council will be held on the above date at 6.30 pm, in the Council Chamber, Sidmouth to consider the matters detailed on the agenda below.
Mark R Williams
Chief Executive
AGENDA
| PART A | |
| 1 | To confirm as a true record the  minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 12 December 2007 (50KB - PDF Help) |
| 2 | Apologies |
| 3 | To receive any communications or announcements from the Chairman and/or the Leader |
| 4 | To agree any items to be dealt with after the public (including the press) have been excluded. There are no items which Officers recommend should be dealt with in this way. |
| 5 | Presentation of Long Service Awards |
| 6 | Presentation of Charter Mark Award to Building Control |
| 7 | To formally report the resignation of Marcelle Boote, Dunkeswell Ward |
| 8 | Service Plans, Revenue Estimates, Capital Programme and Council Tax - including the recommendations of the Executive Board at its meeting on 30 January 2008 and details of the parish precepts. (102KB - PDF Help) |
| 9 | To answer questions asked by Members of the Council pursuant to Proceudre Rules No 8.2 and 8.5 |
| 10 | To consider reports from the Executive Board and the Council's Committees and to received questions and answers on any of those reports. Executive Board Scrutiny Joint Meeting of Scrutiny and Corporate Overview Housing Review Board Development Control Planning Inspections Licensing and Enforcement Sub A Audit and Governance |
| 11 | Motion 1 This Council resolves 1. To welcome the implementation of the revised Code of Conduct for Councillors, particularly in respect of the newly accepted right of Ward Members to comment upon local views relating to contentious issues even where they are required to declare a prejudicial interest (see note below), and 2. To encourage Members of the Council to have due regard to various Terms of the New Code when commenting upon issues of local concern. (Proposed by Councillor D Button, Seconded by Councillor T A Cope and Supported by Councillors Mrs M A Rogers, Mrs E E Wragg, S Wragg and D R A Hull) Note: The new Councillor Code of Conduct (May 2007) has relaxed the definition of personal interest, so that none arises where the business does not affect a Councillor's well being or financial postion or that of a relevant person, to a greater extent than the majority of Council Tax payers, ratepayers or inhabitants of the Ward. However, personal interests will continue to arise in respect of matters Councillors must register. The new Code only allows Councillors with a prejudicial interest to speak to a Committee (and then withdraw) if the public is also allowed to speak at meetings for the same purpose. The arrangement allowing the public to speak at meetingss is already in place for Planning Inspection Committee meetings. The Executive Board at its meeting in December 2007 asked the Corporate Overview Committee to review the current arrangements to see how these could be changed to allow the public to speak at Committees of the Council, with the Council's Constitution being amended accordingly. The item is on the agenda of the Corporate Overview Committee to be considered on 21 February 2008. |
Motion 2 In the light of the Enquiry in Public Panel's report into the draft Regional Spatial Strategy , this Council resolves: 1. To write to local MPs, the Regional Assembly, Devon County Council, Exeter City Council and MId Devon District Council expressing grave reservations about the proposal to locate another new settlement of some 6,000 dwellings in the East Devon Area identified within area K of the draft Regional Spatial Strategy. Such correspondence to include reference to the fact that much of the land in this area is identified as flood plain or in the ownership of the National Trust as inalienable land and, in one instance, identified as Devon Wildlife site. 2. To encourage all involved in the strategic planning of this area to give serious consideration to the siting of the new town adjacent to Junction 27 of the M5 Motorway, such town to be of sufficient size to accommodate the medium term future housing and employment needs of Mid and East Devon, and when considering this proposal, to bear in mind that Junction 27 benefits from excellent road links via the M5 to Taunton, Bristol and the North and,via the North Devon Link, to North Devon. It also has the advantage of lying on the main link from the South West to Paddington. A new town at this location could provide an excellent gateway to Mid, North and East Devon and Exeter and a very useful stimulus to the economy of Mid and North Devon. Proposed by Councillor D G Button, Seconded by Councillor Mrs M A Rogers and Supported by Councillor Mrs E E Wragg, D R A Hull, T A Cope and G P Chamberlain. |
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Motion 3 That this Council makes sure that all acts of vandalism against Council property are reported to the Police so that a crime number is generated allowing the Police to get resources in fighting crime. This is in accordance with the Council's own Anti Social Behaviour Policy which states 'that a robust and targeted approach to enforcement should be encouraged thoughout the Council and budgeted for." Proposed by Councillor Mrs M A Rogers, Seconded by Councllor Mrs E E Wragg and Supported by Councillors D R A Hull, T A Cope and D G Button. |
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| 12 | Housing Review Board To formally report on the co-option of Mr Charlie Rowe as a new Independent representative on the Housing Review Board. |
| 13 | Membership on Outside Bodies - Devon Youth Service This Council has been asked to consider sending a representative to 'Youth Work in Devon' meetings. |
| 14 | Presentation by Tony Norton, Head of Low Carbon Development at regensw - Initial findings on the Low Carbon Strategy for Cranbrook. |
Members of the public are welcome to attend this meeting when items listed under Part A of the agenda are being considered. For the benefit of Councillors and members of the public a hearing loop system will be in operation in the Council Chamber.
