Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Virtual meeting via Zoom

Contact: Sandra Cawsey  Email: democratic.services@torridge.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

94.

Apologies for Absence

To receive apologies for absence from the meeting.

Minutes:

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

95.

Minutes of Community & Resources Committee meeting pdf icon PDF 267 KB

To receive the minutes of the meeting held 7 December 2020

Minutes:

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.

 

COUNCILLOR

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTAIN

Brenton, D

 

Bright, C

 

 

Bushby, D

X

 

Craigie, R

 

 

X

Christie, P

X

 

 

Dart, A

X

 

Hicks, R

X

 

 

Hutchings, J

James, K

X

 

 

Laws, N

X

 

 

Lock, R

X

 

McGeough, D

X

 

Wiseman, R

X

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Vote:  For 9, Abstentions 1)

 

96.

Action List pdf icon PDF 196 KB

Minutes:

The Action List was reviewed and updated.

97.

Public Contributions

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).

 

Minutes:

There were no public contributions.

 

98.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 210 KB

Minutes:

The Forward Plan was noted. 

 

99.

Declarations of Interest

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

Minutes:

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

100.

Agreement of Agenda between Parts I and II

Minutes:

There were no Part II items.

101.

Urgent Matters of information to be brought forward with the permission of the Chair and the Committee

Minutes:

There were no urgent matters brought forward.

102.

Update on the Team Devon Covid 19 Economic and Business Recovery Programme pdf icon PDF 207 KB

To receive the report of the Head of Communities and Place

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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.

103.

Play Strategy pdf icon PDF 140 KB

To receive the report of the Head of Communities and Place

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved:

 

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

 

·         That the Play Area Strategy be adopted.

Minutes:

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.

 

COUNCILLOR

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTAIN

Brenton, D

 

Bright, C

 

 

Bushby, D

X

 

Craigie, R

X

Christie, P

X

 

Dart, A

 

X

Hicks, R

X

 

 

Hutchings, J

James, K

X

 

 

Laws, N

X

 

 

Lock, R

X

 

McGeough, D

X

 

Wiseman, R

X

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(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.

 

COUNCILLOR

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTAIN

Brenton, D

 

Bright, C

 

 

Bushby, D

X

 

Craigie, R

X

Christie, P

 

X

Dart, A

 

X

Hicks, R

X

 

 

Hutchings, J

James, K

X

 

 

Laws, N

X

 

 

Lock, R

X

 

McGeough, D

X

Wiseman, R

X

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

104.

Urgency Decisions pdf icon PDF 566 KB

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

 

Urgency Decisions –

·         Local Restriction Grants (Open Policy)  

·         Amended Restriction Grant Policy

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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.

105.

Councillor Ford - Notice of Motion pdf icon PDF 134 KB

To receive the report of the Head of Communities and Place

Decision:

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.

Minutes:

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.

 

COUNCILLOR

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTAIN

Brenton, D

 

Bright, C

 

 

Bushby, D

X

 

Craigie, R

X

 

Christie, P

X

 

 

Dart, A

 

X

Hicks, R

X

 

 

Hutchings, J

James, K

X

 

 

Laws, N

X

 

 

Lock, R

X

 

McGeough, D

X

 

Wiseman, R

X

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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