1. Minutes – to approve as a correct record and authorise the Chairman to sign the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 15 November 2007.
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 deal 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. 8.
Questions – to consider the following questions received in accordance with
Council
Procedure
Rule 8.
From Cllr Baldry to Cllr Hewitt, Executive Member for a Clean Environment
(i) A report from Teignbridge District Council shows that problems from rats and other vermin have increased by one third since the introduction of fortnightly refuse collections. What has been the increase in reported problems from rats and vermin in South Hams in the past 12 months?
At 12.55 pm on 5 December, interviewed on Radio Devon, James Morrish (Conservative) leader of Torridge District said that his District would continue with a weekly collection of all waste because he was fearful not to do so would increase health risks. Why does this council not wish to protect our citizens in the same way as Cllr Morrish in Torridge?
From Cllr Baldry to Cllr May, Executive Member for Financial Affairs
(ii) In Cllr Carson’s answer to me on 15 November he indicated that it was no longer the policy of the Executive to close public lavatories. At the time when it was the policy to close lavatories, the public lavatory in Yealmpton was closed by the District Council. Yealmpton Parish Council opposed this closure. Because the Parish Council thought it was important for the sake of residents and tourists to provide a public lavatory they built one (partly funded by a SHDC Grant). The maintenance of this lavatory is by far the biggest item of expenditure for the Parish Council. Now that other parishes are going to continue to have the maintenance of their lavatories paid for by the District would it not be more equitable for the District to make a contribution towards Yealmpton’s costs?
From Cllr Ward to Cllr Carson, Executive Member for Distinct Environment
(iii) What is the council’s baseline carbon footprint i.e. total emission from buildings, fleet transport, procurement, waste, staff travel and IT?
From Cllr O’Callaghan to Cllr May, Executive Member for Financial Affairs
(iv) Is this council concerned that the Managing Director of Tone Leisure, Juliette Dickinson, is also a Trustee? Doesn’t this contradict the spirit of having an independent body of Trustees, and represent a conflict of interest?
From Cllr O’Callaghan to Cllr Hewitt, Executive Member for a Clean Environment
(v) Does the Executive Member agree with me and with the Chairman of the Council, John Carter, that the public toilets in Fore Street, Kingsbridge, should stay, and that the decision to close them made by the Executive of this Council last March, was wrong?
From Cllr O’Callaghan to Cllr Tucker, Leader of Council
(vi) Members were told, in response to a question at the last full council meeting, that £10,875 raised by Kids with Commitment on setting up the ill-fated skatepark in Kingsbridge has all been spent. However the group claims it was invoiced by the district council for £11,397.50. It also says it raised an extra £5,875 through making a grant application which legally had to be paid to the land owners, South Hams District Council. Why the discrepancy, and what has happened to this extra money?
From Cllr Howarth to Cllr May, Executive Member for Financial Affairs
(vii) Given that the Tone Leisure contract has now been operational for one year, will the Executive Member please explain what benefits this has delivered for the residents of the South Hams. How much has the Council saved as a result of these arrangements, and how much investment has Tone Leisure made in facilities at the four Centres? What increases have there been in membership numbers and usage at the Centres?
9. 9.
Notice of Motion – to consider the following motions received in accordance
with Council
Procedure
Rule 10.1.
(a) Proposed by Cllr Saltern and seconded by Cllr Steer
“This Council opposes reductions in Private Sector
Renewal funding for the years
2008-11. This funding enables invaluable assistance towards the vulnerable in
cold
and sub-standard properties by making significant cost effective improvements,
which runs complementary to the affordable housing programme.
Whilst a major increase in investment in rural affordable housing is vital, a
continuing
properly funded rolling programme is also essential to maintain the private
sector.
This Council’s understanding was that the Government’s drive to increase
affordable
housing numbers was to be based on significant levels of new money. It would
now
appear that a redistribution of existing funding is intended. It seems ill
conceived and
indeed short sighted to enable more affordable units at the expense of our
existing stock.
This Council requests that the strongest possible representation be made to DCLG
requesting assurances that Private Sector Renewal Funding will at least be
maintained
at current levels without undermining the Government’s commitment to
significantly
increase
funding to support rural affordable housing”.
(b) Proposed by Cllr Pennington and seconded by Cllr Squire
“This Council opposes and deplores the decision made by the Secretary of State
to
review
local government structures in Devon and in particular the possibility to take
into
consideration the boundaries of Plymouth and Torbay adjacent to the district of
the South
Hams. South Hams District Council is a “Beacon” Council providing high quality
services
and has a widely recognised reputation amongst the electorate in protecting and
promoting
the special qualities of the South Hams and also received an excellent CPA
(Comprehensive Performance Assessment) from the inspectors. Therefore, this
Council
strongly urges both the Secretary of State and P Rowsell Deputy Director Local
Democracy Department for Communities and Local Government not to invoke boundary
changes involving the geographical integrity of the District of South Hams in
the
enlargement of local government boundaries of both Plymouth and Torbay”.
(c) Proposed by Cllr Pennington and seconded by Cllr Squire
“This Council will mount a democratic referendum of electors across the district
of South
Hams to ascertain the people’s views on any geographical boundary changes
involving
both Plymouth and Torbay which would lead to the likely break up and abolition
of the
South Hams District”.
10. Affordable Housing Development Planning Document – Submission Stage – to consider a report which sets out for Members the content of the South Hams Local Development Framework (LDF) Affordable Housing Policies (Submission Stage) Document and seeks agreement to its publication (circulated separately);
Appendix - Affordable Housing Development Draft Plan
Appendix - Notes from the Joint Meeting of the
Community PDG and Development Planning
Steering Group held on 6 December 2007
11. Declaration of the Council Tax Base and Individual Tax Bases for Towns & Parishes – 2008 / 2009 – to consider a report which sets out the basis of the approach culminating in the calculation of the Council Tax Base (circulated separately);
12. Polling Districts / Polling Places Review – to consider a report which presents a review of all the polling districts and polling places within the South Hams (circulated separately);
Appendix - Totnes Constituency
Appendix - South West Devon Constituency
13. Members’ Allowances – to consider a report which seeks to determine the new Scheme of Members’ Allowances for 2008 / 2009 having regard to the recommendations of the Independent Panel on Members' Allowances (circulated separately);
14. Tor Homes Board – to consider a report which seeks Council agreement to reduce its current membership on the Tor Homes Board from 5 to 4 Members (circulated separately);
15. 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) |
14 November 2007 |
DC.30/07 to DC.34/07 |
|
|
(b) |
3 December 2007 |
PP.9/07 to PP.14/07 |
|
|
(c) |
11 December 2007 |
A.18/07 to A.25/07 |
|
|
(d) |
6 December 2007 |
E.71/07 to E.80/07 |
* 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
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MEMBERS ARE REQUESTED TO SIGN THE ATTENDANCE REGISTER
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 Darryl White on 01803 861247 or by email at: darryl.white@southhams.gov.uk