AGENDA - COUNCIL
16 November 2006 at 2:00 pm in the Council Chamber


1.         Minutes to approve as a correct record and authorise the Chairman to sign the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 28 September 2006 .

2.         Urgent Business – the Chairman to announce if any item not on the agenda should be considered on the basis that he considers it as a matter of urgency (any such item to be dealt with under item 7 below).

3.         Confidential Business – the Chairman to inform the meeting of any confidential item of business.

4.         Exempt Information – to consider whether the consideration of any item of business would be likely to disclose exempt information and if so the category of such exempt information.  

5.         Chairman’s Announcements

6.         Declarations of Interest – Members are invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests, including the nature and extent of such interests, they may have in any items to be considered at this meeting.

7.         Business Brought Forward by the Chairman – to consider business (if any) brought forward by the Chairman as reported under item 2 above.

8.         Questions – to consider the following questions received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8.  

From Cllr Boughton to Cllr Yonge , Leader of the Council:  

(i)         Does the Leader welcome the renewable energy wind turbines and solar heating panels which are now appearing in DIY supermarkets and which are affordable to large numbers of private residents across the South Hams? 

(ii)        Does he believe that planning permission should always be necessary for the installation of such devices, and will he consider reviewing our planning regulations and the capacity of the development control department to deal with large numbers of applications?  

From Cllr Brazil to Cllr May, Executive Member for the Clean Environment  

(iii)       Following the shambles caused by the new rubbish collection rounds, what lessons have we learned?  

From Cllr Brazil to Cllr Barnes, Executive Member for Access to the Council’s Services:

(iv)       What was the average time local residents spent hanging on the phone when they were put through to the call centre, including the rubbish help line, during October?  

(v)                When residents were hanging on the phone were they paying for this time?  

(vi)       In the call centre business plan, financial savings were predicted due to job cuts. How many jobs have been cut since the call centre opened?  

9.            Presentation by Executive Portfolio Holders:  

(a)               Cllr Rowe – Executive Member for the Distinct Environment

(b)               Cllr Saltern – Executive Member for Community Affairs

10.         Notice of Motion – to consider the following motions received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.1:-  

(a)       By Cllrs Pennington and Cook  

“That in light of the forthcoming report on the financing of local government, South Hams District Council communicates with Sir Michael Lyons to express deep concern about the detrimental effect that a 1% Property Tax would have in an area like South Hams which has a low GDP , high property values and average wage levels well below the national average.”  

(b)       By Cllrs Pennington and Cook  

“In view of the success of free bus travel for the over sixties, South Hams District Council requests Ruth Kelly, the Minister for Communities and Local Government, to ensure with the Chancellor of the Exchequer that in the forthcoming Revenue Support Grant that free bus travel is fully funded by Central Government as originally promised, as there is a shortfall in Government funding and in the case of South Hams District it equates to £160,000, the equivalent to an increase of 3½ % on Council Tax in an area of low wages, together with large numbers of retired people on fixed income.”  

(c)       By Cllrs Pennington and Cook  

“South Hams District Council urges HM Government and John Prescott Deputy Prime Minister who chairs the Cabinet Committee which overseas post offices not to withdraw the social network subsidy after 2008, not to phase out the Post Office Card Account and to restore the availability of people to renew car tax and television licences at post offices which are essential to the social fabric of rural villages across the district of South Hams and other rural areas throughout the UK.”  

11.       Gambling Act 2005 – ‘Statement of Principles’ – to consider a report of the Licensing Manager on the recommendations of the Licensing Committee in respect of the Gambling Act 2005 (circulated separately).  

            Report + Appendix B

            Appendix A

12.       Future Direction of Tor Homes – to consider a report of the Strategic Director (Community) on the proposal that Tor Homes joins the Devon & Cornwall Housing Group (circulated separately).  

            Appendix A

13.       Appointment to Outside Body: South Hams and Teignbridge District Councils’ Shared Service Joint Steering Group – to consider a report of the Strategic Director (Resources) on the need to appoint 2 Members to the Joint Steering Group (circulated separately).  

14.       South Hams Sustainable Community Strategy 2006 – 2011– to consider a report of the Head of Community Regeneration which seeks approval for the adoption of the revised South Hams Sustainable Community Strategy (circulated separately).  

            Appendix

15.       Access to Information Procedure Rules – to consider a report of the Monitoring Officer on the need to revise the Constitution in light of revised legislation on Access to Information (circulated separately).

16.       Reports of Bodies – to receive and as may be necessary approve the minutes and recommendations of the under-mentioned Bodies:-  

           

Council Body

Date of Meeting

Minute Nos.

(a)

Executive*

12 October 2006

 

E.41/06 – E.55/06

(b)

Executive*

19 October 2006

 

E.56/06 – E61/06

(c)

Licensing Committee*

16 October 2006

L.1/06 – L.3/06

 

(d)

Development Control Committee

 

18 October 2006

DC.25/06 – DC.30/06

(e)

Salcombe Harbour Board*

 

24 October2006

SH.11/06 – SH.21/06

(f)

Scrutiny

 

26 October 2006

SC.33/06 – SC.37/06

                       

            * Indicates minutes containing recommendations to Council.

 

 

Members of the public may wish to note that the Council's meeting rooms

are accessible by wheelchairs and have a loop induction hearing system.

 

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An optional lunch will be available for all Members

in the Dining Room at 12.45 pm

 

MEMBERS REQUIRING LUNCH

Please inform Mrs S Amos (Ext 1273) by NOON on

Wednesday 15 November 2006

 

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             MEMBERS ARE REQUESTED TO SIGN THE ATTENDANCE REGISTER

 

   THIS AGENDA HAS BEEN PRINTED ON ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PAPER

 

If you or someone you know would like this publication in a different format, such as large print or a language other than English, please call Richard McDermott on 01803 861247 or by email at: richard.mcdermott@southhams.gov.uk