Limited support for East Devon

We do not currently provide detailed weekly summaries for East Devon Council. Running the service is expensive, and we need to cover our costs.

You can still subscribe!

If you're a professional subscriber and need support for this council, get in touch with us at community@opencouncil.network and we can enable it for you.

If you're a resident, subscribe below and we'll start sending you updates when they're available. We're enabling councils rapidly across the UK in order of demand, so the more people who subscribe to your council, the sooner we'll be able to support it.

If you represent this council and would like to have it supported, please contact us at community@opencouncil.network.

Council - Wednesday, 4th December, 2024 6.00 pm

December 4, 2024 View on council website
AI Generated

Summary

The Council of East Devon District Council met on the 04 December 2024. The Council approved the adoption of the Financial Plan 2025 – 2035. Two tenant representatives were co-opted onto the Housing Review Board, and a motion to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to reject the scrapping of Agricultural Property Relief was passed. Two motions on notice were also considered. The first, relating to the quality of housing in East Devon was debated and passed. The second, relating to inheritance tax was debated and passed.

Agricultural Property Relief

A motion on notice, expressing concern about the proposed removal of Agricultural Property Relief (ARP), was debated and passed. Councillor Colin Brown, the proposer of the motion, noted that:

ARP has been instrumental in allowing British family farms to remain intact across generations, supporting food security, sustaining rural communities, and aiding environmental stewardship.

The motion resolved to:

  • Oppose the government’s changes to inheritance tax affecting family farms.
  • Advocate for the exemption of family farms to preserve the UK’s food security, rural communities, environmental initiatives.
  • Request all opposition parties oppose this budget inheritance tax on this basis.
  • Urge all councillors to stand with Britain’s family farmers, to support rural communities.
  • Instruct the CEO to send a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner, signed by all group leaders, formally rejecting this proposed ‘family farm tax’.

Housing

A motion on notice relating to housing quality was debated. The motion's proposer, Councillor Henry Riddell, stated that work was already underway to address issues of damp and mould that had been identified in the Council's stock condition survey. He proposed:

Rectify the outstanding Cat 1 & 2 damp and mould issues at the relevant properties as a matter of urgency, creating schedules of works to eradicate damp and mould. That these plans are put in place before the end of the financial year for these properties.

Councillor Riddell also proposed:

A full communications plan being established for all residents, whether owner occupier, social, affordable or privately rented, on how to identify, report, remove and reduce damp and mould in their property.

Councillor Riddell's final proposal was for:

robust policy and procedures before the next financial year to ensure the council is well placed to deal with the impacts of new legislation and regulations coming forward to the social housing sector. This will have particular focus on Awaab’s law once guidance has been released

Financial Plan 2025 - 2035

The Council received a report on the Financial Plan 2025 – 2035 (FinancialPlan2025onwards). The Financial Plan forecasts that there will be a budget shortfall of £225,000 in 2025/26, rising to £3.97m in 2026/27 due to the forecast rebasing of business rates. The report set out a number of options for addressing the shortfall, including efficiencies in asset management and the non-replacement of vacant posts. The report also noted that the Council has a Medium Term Financial Plan Risk Reserve of £3m, which will be used to mitigate any immediate changes to local government funding.

The report was adopted by the Council.

Housing Review Board Membership

The Council received a report (HRB.Appointment of Tenant Representatives) on the appointment of two tenant representatives to the Housing Review Board. The Housing Review Board is responsible for scrutinising the Council's Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and for making recommendations to Cabinet on housing policy and operational practice. The report recommended the co-option of Rachel Browne and Rosie Dale onto the Board. The recommendation was approved by the Council.

Cabinet and Committee Minutes

The Council received and noted the minutes from the following meetings:

Attendees

Profile image for Councillor Paul Arnott
Councillor Paul Arnott  Leader of the Council •  Liberal Democrats •  Coly Valley
Profile image for Councillor Aurora Bailey
Councillor Aurora Bailey  Conservative •  Exmouth Brixington
Profile image for Councillor Brian Bailey
Councillor Brian Bailey  Conservative •  Exmouth Littleham
Profile image for Councillor Jessica Bailey
Councillor Jessica Bailey  Independent •  West Hill and Aylesbeare
Profile image for Councillor Ian Barlow
Councillor Ian Barlow  Independent •  Sidmouth Town
Profile image for Councillor Kevin Blakey
Councillor Kevin Blakey  Group Leader of Cranbrook Voice •  Independent •  Cranbrook
Profile image for Councillor Kim Bloxham
Councillor Kim Bloxham  Independent •  Cranbrook
Profile image for Councillor Violet Bonetta
Councillor Violet Bonetta  Independent •  Honiton St. Michael's
Profile image for Councillor Colin Brown
Councillor Colin Brown  Leader of Conservative Group •  Conservative •  Dunkeswell and Otterhead
Profile image for Councillor Jenny Brown
Councillor Jenny Brown  Conservative •  Honiton St. Michael's
Profile image for Councillor Alasdair Bruce
Councillor Alasdair Bruce  Deputy Leader of Independent Group •  Independent •  Feniton
Profile image for Councillor Christopher Burhop
Councillor Christopher Burhop  Independent •  Newton Poppleford and Harpford
Profile image for Councillor Sarah Chamberlain
Councillor Sarah Chamberlain  Liberal Democrats •  Broadclyst
Profile image for Councillor Maddy Chapman
Councillor Maddy Chapman  Conservative •  Exmouth Brixington
Profile image for Councillor Iain Chubb
Councillor Iain Chubb  Conservative •  Newbridges
Profile image for Councillor Bethany Collins
Councillor Bethany Collins  Assistant Portfolio Holder Sustainable Homes and Communities •  Liberal Democrats •  Ottery St Mary
Profile image for Councillor Roy Collins
Councillor Roy Collins  Liberal Party •  Honiton St. Michael's
Profile image for Councillor Olly Davey
Councillor Olly Davey  Member Champion for Arts and Culture •  Green Party •  Exmouth Town
Simon Davey
Profile image for Councillor Tim Dumper
Councillor Tim Dumper  Liberal Democrats •  Exmouth Halsdon
Profile image for Councillor Peter Faithfull
Councillor Peter Faithfull  Leader of Independent Councillor Group •  Independent •  Ottery St Mary
Profile image for Councillor Paula Fernley
Councillor Paula Fernley  Assistant Portfolio Holder Environment - Operations •  Green Party •  Broadclyst
Profile image for Councillor Charlotte Fitzgerald
Councillor Charlotte Fitzgerald  Vice Chair of Council •  Liberal Democrats •  Budleigh and Raleigh
Profile image for Councillor Steve Gazzard
Councillor Steve Gazzard  Liberal Democrats •  Exmouth Withycombe Raleigh
Profile image for Councillor Mike Goodman
Councillor Mike Goodman  Conservative •  Sidmouth Sidford
Profile image for Councillor Del Haggerty
Councillor Del Haggerty  Independent •  Seaton
Profile image for Councillor Anne Hall
Councillor Anne Hall  Liberal Democrats •  Exmouth Littleham
Profile image for Councillor Matt Hall
Councillor Matt Hall  Assistant Portfolio Holder Culture, Leisure, Sport & Tourism •  Liberal Democrats •  Exmouth Withycombe Raleigh
Profile image for Councillor Marcus Hartnell
Councillor Marcus Hartnell  Conservative •  Seaton
Profile image for Councillor Sam Hawkins
Councillor Sam Hawkins  Portfolio Holder Finance •  Independent •  Cranbrook
Profile image for Councillor Paul Hayward
Councillor Paul Hayward  Portfolio Holder Assets and Economy •  Independent •  Axminster
Profile image for Councillor John Heath
Councillor John Heath  Independent •  Beer and Branscombe
Tracy Hendren
Profile image for Councillor Nick Hookway
Councillor Nick Hookway  Portfolio Holder Culture, Leisure, Sport and Tourism •  Liberal Democrats •  Exmouth Littleham
Profile image for Councillor Mike Howe
Councillor Mike Howe  Independent •  Clyst Valley
Profile image for Councillor Stuart Hughes
Councillor Stuart Hughes  Deputy Leader of Conservative Group •  Conservative •  Sidmouth Sidford
Profile image for Councillor Ben Ingham
Councillor Ben Ingham  Conservative •  Woodbury and Lympstone
Profile image for Councillor Sarah Jackson
Councillor Sarah Jackson  Portfolio Holder Communications and Democracy •  Independent •  Axminster
Profile image for Councillor Richard Jefferies
Councillor Richard Jefferies  Portfolio Holder Environment - Nature & Climate •  Liberal Democrats •  Tale Vale
Profile image for Councillor Vicky Johns
Councillor Vicky Johns  Member Champion for Armed Forces Covenant •  Independent •  Ottery St Mary
Profile image for Councillor Geoff Jung
Councillor Geoff Jung  Portfolio Holder Environment - Operations •  Liberal Democrats •  Woodbury and Lympstone
Profile image for Councillor Dan Ledger
Councillor Dan Ledger  Portfolio Holder Sustainable Homes & Communities •  Independent •  Seaton
Profile image for Councillor Yehudi Levine
Councillor Yehudi Levine  Liberal Democrats •  Dunkeswell and Otterhead
Profile image for Councillor John Loudoun
Councillor John Loudoun  Deputy Leader & Portfolio Holder Corporate, Council & External Engagement •  Independent •  Sidmouth Rural
Profile image for Councillor Duncan Mackinder
Councillor Duncan Mackinder  Liberal Democrats •  Yarty
Profile image for Councillor Melanie Martin
Councillor Melanie Martin  Leader of Independent Group •  Independent •  Budleigh and Raleigh
Profile image for Councillor Tony McCollum
Councillor Tony McCollum  Independent •  Honiton St. Paul's
Andrew Melhuish
Profile image for Councillor Cherry Nicholas
Councillor Cherry Nicholas  Conservative •  Exmouth Brixington
Profile image for Councillor John O'Leary
Councillor John O'Leary  Conservative •  Honiton St. Paul's
Profile image for Councillor Todd Olive
Councillor Todd Olive  Portfolio Holder Place, Infrastructure & Strategic Planning •  Liberal Democrats •  Whimple and Rockbeare
Profile image for Councillor Helen Parr
Councillor Helen Parr  Conservative •  Coly Valley
Profile image for Councillor Sophie Richards
Councillor Sophie Richards  Conservative •  Sidmouth Town
Profile image for Councillor Henry Riddell
Councillor Henry Riddell  Conservative •  Budleigh and Raleigh
Profile image for Councillor Marianne Rixson
Councillor Marianne Rixson  Assistant Portfolio Holder Environment - Nature & Climate •  Liberal Democrats •  Sidmouth Sidford
Profile image for Councillor Eleanor Rylance
Councillor Eleanor Rylance  Chair of the Council •  Liberal Democrats •  Broadclyst
Profile image for Councillor Simon Smith
Councillor Simon Smith  Member Champion for Sports and Leisure •  Independent •  Axminster
Profile image for Councillor Andrew Toye
Councillor Andrew Toye  Liberal Democrats •  Exmouth Halsdon
Melanie Wellman
Profile image for Councillor Susan Westerman
Councillor Susan Westerman  Member Champion for Mental Health •  Liberal Democrats •  Trinity
Profile image for Councillor Joe Whibley
Councillor Joe Whibley  Member Champion Safeguarding •  Independent •  Exmouth Town
Profile image for Councillor Daniel Wilson
Councillor Daniel Wilson  Independent •  Exmouth Halsdon
Profile image for Councillor Eileen Wragg
Councillor Eileen Wragg  Member Champion Equality, Inclusion & Diversity •  Liberal Democrats •  Exmouth Town

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

× Meeting image