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:

• Cabinet – 30 October 2024 (Minutes 30102024 Cabinet)
• Scrutiny Committee – 7 November 2024 (Minutes 07112024 Scrutiny Committee)
• Housing Review Board – 7 November 2024 (Minutes 07112024 Housing Review Board)
• Overview Committee – 24 October 2024 (Minutes 24102024 Overview Committee)
• Planning Committee 22 October and 19 November 2024 (Minutes 22102024 Planning Committee), (Minutes 19112024 Planning Committee)
• Strategic Planning Committee – 29 October, 1 November and 5 November 2024
• South & East Devon Habitats – 24 October 2024
• Arts and Culture Forum – 6 November 2024
• Leisure Strategy Delivery – 11 November 2024