Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive apologies for absence from the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors C Bright and D Brenton (Councillor R Craigie substituting).

To receive the minutes of the meeting held 7 December 2020

It was proposed by Councillor James, seconded by Councillor Lock and -

Resolved:   That the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2020 be signed as a correct record.

A recorded vote was taken.

(Vote:  For 9, Abstentions 1)

The Action List was reviewed and updated.

Public contributions in accordance with the current scheme.  The deadline for registering  to speak is by 2pm Thursday 28 January 2021. To register please email dem.services@torridge.gov.uk).

There were no public contributions.

The Forward Plan was noted. 

Members with interests to declare should refer to the Agenda item and describe the nature of their interest when the item is being considered.

Declarations of interest were made when the specific agenda items to which they related were under discussion.

There were no Part II items.

There were no urgent matters brought forward.

To receive the report of the Head of Communities and Place

The Head of Communities & Place presented the report, the purpose of which was to update Members on the Team Devon Covid 19 Economy and Business Recovery Programme, and to discuss the next steps for delivery in Torridge.

When discussing this item, all questions and concerns raised were addressed by the Head of Communities & Place.   The key points raised by Members included:

·         Rather than say to “return economically bigger, better and bolder”, should look to retrench what we have at present.  A chance to readdress entire way of life.

·         Smart Biosphere Project – this is a range of different initiatives being worked on by the Biosphere.

·         It is essential to go out to assist businesses.  There is a need for tourism to help bring income in for businesses.  This had been discussed at Devon Team meetings.

·         To develop on some proposals to keep businesses going.

·         Businesses to be encouraged to become a Member of the Chamber of Commerce.

Members noted the contents of the report and that periodic progress updates on Economic and Business Recovery will be brought to this committee.

To receive the report of the Head of Communities and Place

Resolved:

• That there be no allocation of a maintenance budget for play areas.

·         That the Play Area Strategy be adopted.

The Head of Communities & Place presented the report, the purpose of which was to present to Members the draft Torridge District Council Play Area Strategy for adoption, and to consider the recommendation from External Overview & Scrutiny Committee in relation to finances associated with its delivery.

During the debate, the primary concerns raised included:

·         Responsibility and the maintaining of play areas

·         To consider working jointly with Parish and Town Councils and/or communities re maintenance of play areas

·         Cost and contents of the Play Strategy document

Councillor Christie raised an enquiry regarding monies given to Torridge when he had been Mayor of Bideford and match funded by Bideford Bridge Trust for the maintenance of play equipment.  The majority of this money remains unspent.    The Head of Communities & Place advised that for a long period of time the Council had not had a Community Engagement Officer.   That situation had now changed, and the now appointed Officer will work more actively in partnership with the communities.

The Chair proposed that a separate vote be taken on each of the recommendations.

It was proposed by Councillor James, seconded by Councillor Lock -

Resolved:

·         That there be no allocation of a maintenance budget for play areas.

A recorded vote was taken.

(Vote:  For 5, Against 4, Abstentions 1)

It was proposed by Councillor James, seconded by Councillor Lock -

Resolved:

That the Play Area Strategy be adopted.

A recorded vote was taken.

(Vote:   For 5, Against 2, Abstentions 3)

To receive the report of the Head of Legal & Governance & Monitoring Officer

Urgency Decisions –

·         Local Restriction Grants (Open Policy)  

·         Amended Restriction Grant Policy

Councillors Dart and Laws declared personal interests –  business owners who have received grant funding.

The purpose of the report was for Members to note the urgent decisions recently taken under the Council’s Urgency Procedure.

In accordance with the Constitution there is a requirement for decisions to be reported to the next appropriate Community & Resources Committee explaining the reason for the urgency.

The Committee noted the report.

To receive the report of the Head of Communities and Place

Resolved:

That the closure of Appledore Slipway for jet skies with suitable bollards being positioned to enable continued access for swimmers and canoeists, and the decision for Bank End to be left to the Harbour Board be agreed.

Councillor Ford presented his following Notice of Motion which had been referred to this Committee by Full Council on 10 August 2020:

“With the ever increasing use of the slip way and river by various crafts, I am becoming greatly concerned over safety and noise pollution. I propose from next Easter that because we appear not be able to police the river, that we ban the launching of jet skis in Appledore, thus reducing the volume of high speed craft close to Appledore Quay and minimising the likelihood of accident and injury occurring. However, there would still be a facility for jet skis to launch at Bank End, Bideford, keeping the density at high water spread out.”

During the debate and having considered the further statement from Councillor Ford included in the report, Members acknowledged the problems associated with jet skis.   Their concerns/proposals put forward included:

·         To investigate the feasibility of using the slipway at Bank End.  

·         Bank End is within the Harbour Board area – they have control and have the right to ban anything going in the Harbour.

·         The Authority to have control over jet skis before they go into the water (once on the water there are no means of managing or policing their appropriate use). 

·         A permit system was suggested – this had been tried previously but had not been successful.

·         Other areas looking to ban jet skis

·         Alternative sites – Members were advised there are other launch/landing sites, but the Authority will have no control over them.

·         Appledore Slipway - Ease of Use – when car park and slipway built it has been easy to launch from there.

The Head of Communities & Places stated that without having a physical barrier installed, there is no way this situation can be managed.  The pros and cons of such a barrier were discussed.  He had also spoken to the Harbour Master who expressed his concerns as this is a difficult problem to manage.  If jet skis are allowed to launch from Bank End it is just a displacement of the problem. 

It was proposed by Councillor Lock, seconded by Councillor James and -

Resolved:

That the closure of Appledore Slipway for jet skies with suitable bollards being positioned to enable continued access for swimmers and canoeists, and the decision for Bank End to be left to the Harbour Board be agreed.

A recorded vote was taken.

(Vote:   For 7, Against 2, Abstentions 1)