Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:  Councillor C Sampson be appointed Chair for the meeting.

RESOLVED:  Councillor F Bone be appointed Vice Chair for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A Bullen and H Humphrey.

To approve the minutes of the Joint Panels Meeting held on 3 February 2020.

The minutes of the Joint Panel Meeting held on 3 February 2020 were agreed as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interest.

There was no urgent business.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chairman of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.

Councillor A Ryves was present under Standing Order 34.

There was no Chair’s correspondence.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE FULL DEBATE CAN BE VIEWED ON YOU TUBE

The Assistant to the Chief Executive gave a presentation, a copy of which is attached to the minutes.

A question and answer session followed, as set out below.

Councillor Mrs A Dickinson

Reference to 1.2 what is the make-up of the Recovery Co-ordination Group?

Response:  The Chief Executive is not on actual Recovery Group because the Leader and herself are overseers.  The Recovery Group was being led by the Executive Directors – Debbie Gates and Geoff Hall, together with Assistant Directors and the Communications Manager.

It would be useful to drill down into the detail to enable Members to gain a better understanding of what has happened and what will happen in the near and medium term.

Response:  The Recovery Strategy (the overarching strategy) will be presented to Cabinet on 30 June 2020 and there would be a great deal of detail to be included in the Recovery Plan during July, which will require a lot of work by officers and Members.  This will provide Members with the detail requested.

What will be the democratic process going forward?.  Will the zoom facilities continue and be the new way of operating, or will we ever go back to the sorts of meeting formats in the past.

Response:  The Council had to move to this virtual way of working to allow the democratic process to continue, otherwise there would be no meetings.  This method of working will be reviewed in conjunction with the guidance going forward.

Councillor T Parish

The timings of public accessible meetings. The current situation is not suitable for all Councillors, particularly for at least a third of the Independent Group. 

A difference of what suits officers, necessarily, or the Council working efficiently, what suits Councillors working effectively if they cannot actually attend meetings.

I as a councillor value the understanding of working operations for the council, but you also need suitable working arrangements for councillors

Response:  At the moment virtual meetings via zoom were put in place to reinstate the democratic process as an early response to the  crisis.  The council cancelled all face to face meetings and explained that as further social distance guidance changes, the Council would look at how continue to hold meetings and timings of meetings.  It was highlighted that additional support was required to ensure that meetings ran smoothly to enable public access, but also enable all Members to successfully join meeting.

Comments were made on the importance of car park revenue and the advantages of walking and cycling and there seemed to be a discrepancy between the two statements.

Could the council have discussions with government to ask if it is possible to make any change particularly with regard to second homes.

Response:  Car park income provided an income stream.  Central government funding had been reducing, so the council have had to look at other income generating initiatives that includes fees and charges, local taxation and commercial investments,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.