Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To receive apologies for absence from the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D Bushby and N Laws

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

Resolved:   That the Minutes of the meeting held on 14^th March 2022 be signed as a correct record.

(Vote:  For - Unanimous)

Councillor Dart was late to the meeting and did not take part in the vote.

The action list was discussed and updated.

The Head of Communities & Place assured Councillor Hodson that potential land for burial sites was a constant project for the Estates Team and would be brought back to this committee when the need arises.

Public contributions in accordance with the current scheme.  .(The deadline for registering  to speak is by 2pm Thursday 21 April 2022. 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.

The Chair advised that he had a matter that he wished to discuss but wanted it to be discussed in Part II. This was agreed by the Committee.

To receive the Urgency Decisions for the following:

·         Additional Restrictions Grant

·         Household Support Fund

Councillor Dart declared an interest, left the room and took no part in the debate.

The Head of Communities & Place presented the report, the purpose of which was to report decisions taken under the Urgency Procedure.

The report was noted.

To receive the report of the Finance Manager (S151 Officer)

The Finance Manager (S151 Officer) presented the report, the purpose of which was to update Members of the Community & Resources on the Council’s MTFS, reflecting emerging pressures and exploring the impact of changes to the underlying assumptions within the MTFS reports to C&R on 31^st January 2022.

A slide presentation was given by the Finance Manager (S151 Officer) which highlighted the salient points in the report.

A discussion followed.

Following a query, the Finance Manager (S151 Officer) advised TDC could only borrow money for capital investment not to balance the budget.

The Chief Executive and the Head of Communities and Place clarified to the Committee funding that is now received.

The Chief Executive advised the group of the meeting Sir Geoffrey Cox MP, David Heyes and he attended with MP Kemi Badenoch Minister of State (Department of Levelling Up Homes and Communities) to raise issues surrounding TDC’s settlement figure. Full Council had requested that TDCs settlement for 2022-23 be raised with our MP and that representation be made to Government.

Three main areas of concern were raised at the meeting:

·         How low TDCs settlement increase is compared to other similar Councils

·         The financial and local tax impacts of properties moving from the Council Tax register to Business rates and the mandatory reliefs awarded to those business premises

·         That the Rural Services Delivery Grant had not been inflated and that grant is a large proportion of TDCs settlement

Government officials have been tasked to investigate the rationale behind TDC’s figure. It was advised that TDC would have a response in writing.

The report was noted.

The Chair to move:

That the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting because of the likely disclosure of exempt information by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part I and paragraph 10 of Part 2 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

It was proposed by Councillor Hicks, seconded by Councillor Hodson and –

Resolved:

That under Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act (as amended) the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business because of the likely disclosure of exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 and Paragraph 10 of Part 2 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

(Vote:  For - unanimous)

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

Resolved:

That the recommendations in the report be approved.

The Head of Legal & Governance (Monitoring Officer) presented the report, the purpose of which to update Members of further inquiries and to decide on the non-recoverable debt.

A very brief discussion took place.

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

Resolved:

That the recommendations in the report be approved.

(Vote: For – unanimous)

Urgent Matter by Chair

The Chair raised a matter with the committee.

A discussion took place which concluded in the Chair and Chief Executive working with officers to progress the matter.

To receive the report of the Head of Communities & Place

Resolved:

That the recommendations in the report be approved.

The Major Projects Manager presented this report, giving a detailed and confidential update to Members on the acquisition of the land at Hatchmoor and to seek approval to release the site for disposal, achieving best value for sale on the open market through a regional commercial agency.

Following a discussion and consideration by Members of the report it was proposed by Councillor Christie, seconded by Councillor Dart and –

Resolved:

That the recommendations in the report be approved.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 (AS AMENDED)

It was proposed by Councillor Brenton, seconded by Councillor Hodson and –

Resolved: That the press and public be readmitted.

(Vote: For – Unanimous)