Agenda, decisions and minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2023, (previously circulated).

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2023 be signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2023 be signed as a correct record.

Items which in the opinion of the Chair should be considered at the meeting as matters of urgency.

There was no item raised as a matter of urgency.

There was no announcement by the Chair at this meeting.

There was no petition received from a Member of the Public or the Council.  

In accordance with the Cabinet Procedure Rules, the relevant Cabinet Members responded to 7 questions from Members of the Council on the following matters.  

1.    times that the Council or relevant Cabinet Member had engaged with Barclays Bank on ethical investment matters?

2.    Queen Street, lessons from Totnes, support for the scheme and justification of traffic orders;

3.    examples of similar traffic orders being granted in Devon town centres, in the face of levels of dissatisfaction;

4.    understanding of directives issued by Government, to extend delivery of FHSF projects;

5.    whether this concession removes the concern, that delay would risk the funding award;

6.    copy of the most recent independent evaluation (peer review or equivalent) of highways; and

7.    copy of the most recent customer satisfaction survey with highways in Devon.

[NB: A copy of the questions and answers are available on webpage for meeting]

(The Chair exercised his discretion and brought forward this item of business on the agenda).

In accordance with the Council's Public Participation Rules, the Council had received 27 questions from members of the public on the following matters;

1.    elderly residents who cannot access the internet, the social lifeline of the mobile library and how residents might be able to obtain reading material and receive social contact;

2.    children's services in towns and cities, and whether children in rural areas should have services removed to benefit towns and cities;

3.    public quotes regarding mobile libraries and rural communities and what had changed;

4.    consideration of being a pioneer in the Southwest for using mobile library service as a multi-purpose vehicle - providing several services within it;

5.    usage of Mobile Library and data used;

6.    substitution of Mobile Library with Good Neighbour / Home Library Scheme and removing freedom of choice and independence;

7.    Library Strategy and reference thereto;

8.    Usage of the mobile libraries to provide other services in our rural areas, as done in other counties;

9.    why Devon Mobile Library Service was not marketed online or on social media;

10. change of the policy of removing stops of fewer than 5 people, and adding stops to other rural areas for those who wish to use;

11. support for mobile library service from Torridge and role of community libraries;

12. alternative provision of community libraries and where support (access of broadband, volunteers, rotation of the book stock, ordering) comes from;

13. Has any consideration been given to running a hybrid-service that combines the mobile library with other services (banking, post office, pharmacy etc);

14. Grant Funding from Government for Vehicle Replacement;

15. equality impact assessment – whether sufficient to comply with its equality duty;

16. Prime Minister’s speech on the country’s education system and how this would be achieved if taking away books from disadvantaged children, students at school, home education etc;

17. Queen Street and loss of on-street parking income;

18. Kenwyn care home (Ashburton) and plans for the future of the former care home;

19. community library and levels of service (numbers, range of books and provision for those with no transport);

20. saving the mobile library;

21. range of services that mobile libraries could provide (e.g. selling stamps, hearing aid batteries, providing advice leaflets and local information);

22. concern that closure of the service in rural communities is being considered;

23. accessibility and travel and how disabled users access the library service and travel times if the Mobile Library Service closed;

24. support and contribution to the Government’s “Unleashing `Rural Opportunities” strategy (which reports a commitment to improving rural library services);

25. opportunities for enhanced social interaction and mitigations to replace these if mobile service was withdrawn;

26. accessibility issues with volunteers and / or strangers; and

27. recommendation of the recent Scrutiny Meeting, and consideration of all possible practical and economical means to maintain the mobile library service.

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 396.

Report of the Director of Transformation and Business Services (BSS/23/06) on proposals for Property Management, attached.

An Impact Assessment has been prepared for the attention of Members, is attached as Appendix 1 and also available at - Published Impact Assessments - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

RESOLVED

(a) that the Council’s Property Strategy, as set out in section 2 of the Report, be approved;

(b) that the following properties be disposed:

·       Larkbeare House, Exeter

·       Compass House, Exeter

·       Ivybank, Exeter

·       Former Matford Offices land, Exeter

·       St Georges Road Youth Centre, Barnstaple

·       Pottington Industrial Unit, Barnstaple

(c) that the Director of Transformation and Business Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Policy Corporate and Asset Management, be given delegated authority to make minor amendments to the timescales and disposal programme as set out in section 3 of the Report.

(Councillors Biederman, Brazil, Dewhirst, Hannaford and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Transformation and Business Services (BSS/23/06) on proposals for Property Management, circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Cabinet noted that the Council (DCC) was responsible for properties with estimated annual gross running costs of circa £8 million, and a maintenance liability in excess of £20 million, excluding Schools.

A key priority of the corporate plan agreed by Cabinet on 12 July 2023 was to make the best use of building and assets and the Council’s Property Strategy focused on four key principles of Reduce, Dispose, Retain, and Repurpose, aimed at transforming the corporate estate and informing the methodology for reviewing the future use of assets.

Further detail on the Strategy (Reduce, Dispose, Retain, and Repurpose) was outlined in Section 2 of the Report.

The Council owned, leased, or occupied in excess of 1,000 assets in the County which included 364 schools, 500 land assets, 64 farms and circa 300 operational buildings (including offices, children centres, libraries, youth centres, industrial estate, recycling centres, day centres, respite centres, contact centres and children’s homes).

The Report set out phase one of the property strategy approach, including the disposal of four sites in Exeter, and two in Barnstaple.

·       Disposal of Larkbeare House

·       Disposal of Compass House

·       Disposal of Ivybank

·       Former Matford Offices land, Exeter

·       St Georges Road Youth Centre, Barnstaple

·       Disposal Pottington Industrial Unit

The Cabinet noted that in addition to the disposals set out above, the Director of Transformation and Business Services had, under delegated powers, approved to lease out office space at County Hall, and review opportunities to reduce revenue spend where the opportunity to end or break leases arose and serve notice/enact break provisions as appropriate.

The Property Change Programme contributed to four of the six priorities in the Council’s Strategic Plan 2021 – 2025, as outlined below.

·       Respond to the climate emergency.

·       Support sustainable economic recovery.

·       Improve health and wellbeing.

·       Help communities be safe, connected and resilient.

It was estimated that the proposals would generate capital receipts of circa £6-10 million (depending on planning approval) and reduce revenue costs by circa £300,000 per annum. In addition, avoiding backlog maintenance investment requirements of circa £3-5 million.

The corporate and community risk registers would be reviewed to ensure all relevant risks in the Property Strategy were captured and managed.

In summary, occupancy statistics demonstrated the Council could reduce its portfolio without detriment to services which would reduce the carbon footprint, provide value for money, generate capital receipts, and reduce revenue expenditure contributing towards the financial sustainability of the authority.

An Impact Assessment had been prepared for the attention of Members and was available at - Published Impact Assessments - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk). This outlined that the proposals would help advance equality of opportunity  ...  view the full minutes text for item 397.

Report of the Director of Legal and Democratic Services (LDS/23/17) seeking approval for a business case for the merge of the coronial jurisdictions of Exeter and Greater Devon and Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon, be given to the Ministry of Justice for consultation, attached.

An Impact Assessment has also been prepared for the attention of Members and is attached and available on the web at - Published Impact Assessments - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk).

RESOLVED that the business case for the merge of the coronial jurisdictions of Exeter and Greater Devon and Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon, is given to the Ministry of Justice for consultation more widely.

(Councillors Brazil, Dewhirst, Hannaford and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Legal and Democratic Services (LDS/23/17) which sought approval for a business case for the merge of the coronial jurisdictions of Exeter and Greater Devon and Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon, be given to the Ministry of Justice for consultation. The Report had been circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The coroner service was an anomalous service within Local Authorities, with them being responsible for the appointment and payment of the coroner and meeting all costs of the service. This included the cost of the provision of mortuaries, pathology services, forensic testing, and inquests. However, Coroners were independent judicial post holders and not employees of the Local Authority.

Within Devon there were two coronial jurisdictions (Exeter and Greater Devon, with Devon County Council as lead authority and the other Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon with Plymouth City Council as lead authority).

The Chief Coroner had published guidance to local authorities on how to organise the coroner service (see Annex 1 – Chief Coroner’s Guidance Note 14 - Merger of Coroners Areas), the guidance adding that it was the Chief Coroner’s view that the number of coroner areas should be reduced in order to create sensibly sized coroner areas and Schedule 2 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 gave the Lord Chancellor power to make orders altering coroner areas. To date all mergers had been made by agreement.

On the retirement of the Senior Coroner for Plymouth on the 31 March 2023 Devon had been asked by the Ministry of Justice to consider the merging of these two jurisdictions to become one Devon Coroners Service. Inquests would continue to be held in current locations and would not be centralised.

To merge coroner areas the local authority had to apply to the Lord Chancellor with a business case for the merger and before doing so it should consult with the Chief Coroner. The Chief Coroner and the Ministry of Justice had seen the draft business case and were content to proceed to formal application.

Having one Senior Coroner for Devon and the centralisation of the support function would provide robust and appropriate support for the work of the coroner’s office and offer economies of scale of operations and a chance to introduce standard working practices and levels of service and resilience throughout Devon. 

The next step was to pass a case to the Ministry of Justice who would carry out a consultation with all those interested parties such as mortuaries, pathologists, police, ambulance, funeral directors, registration.

A merger of the areas would require detailed assessment and joint proposal by Torbay, Plymouth and Devon County Council, consultation with the Chief Coroner and the Ministry of Justice, and a detailed draft business case which had been developed.

The Chief  ...  view the full minutes text for item 398.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/23/66) giving an update on the Transport Capital Programme 2023/24 and the Proposed Allocation for 2024/25, attached.

RESOLVED

(a) that the budgets to the Local Transport Plan Integrated Transport Block (LTP ITB) schemes in 2023/24 and 2024/25 as included in Appendix 1 be allocated, noting the level of overprogramming planned;

(b) that the increase of the 2023/24 capital programme by £3.102 million, with £2.240 million funded from other external grants, £0.308 million from developer contributions and £0.554 million from external contributions, be approved. The schemes are listed in Appendix 1; and

(c) that the increase to the 2024/25 capital programme by £1.220 million with £0.518 million funded from other external grants, £0.084 million from external contributions and £0.618 million from developer contributions, be approved. The schemes are listed in Appendix 1; and

(d) that the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport and the Cabinet Member for Highway Management be given delegated authority to make amendments to the Integrated Block allocations.

(Councillors Biederman, Brazil, Dewhirst, Hannaford and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/23/66) which gave an update on the capital programme covering the current financial year and sought approval for a two-year transport capital programme covering the financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25 (excluding maintenance). The Report had been circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Transport Capital Programme set out the short-term priority for investment in transport infrastructure, building on long-term commitments as detailed in adopted strategies such as Local Plans, the Local Transport Plan, the Cycling and Multi-Use Trail Network Strategy, and the Transport Infrastructure Plan.

The Report outlined the Council’s position with regard the Climate Emergency, the Integrated Transport Block (ITB) settlement from Government, which for 2023/24 was £3.628 million plus £0.874 million brought forward from 2022/23, Existing Government and Other Body Funding Schemes (such as Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF), Large Local Majors (LLM) Fund, Major Road Network (MRN) Fund, Levelling up, Freeport, Bus Service Improvement Plan and many others), the impact of inflation and the development of a new Local Transport Plan to 2040.

The proposed Transport Capital Programme was detailed in Appendix 1. It included a range of schemes across the County covering different transport modes. During its development, consideration had been given to the cost, deliverability and availability of external match funding of individual schemes to ensure the programme represented value for money overall.

It further outlined potential funding sources in 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 such as the Peninsula Transport Sub-National Transport Body, Active Travel Fund 5, Levelling Up Fund and A382 Major Road Network.

Transport was a key mechanism to deliver the Council’s Strategic Plan priorities and actions, with many cross-cutting themes evident in the transport capital programme. The programme sought to prioritise active and sustainable travel investment across the county, whilst also supporting economic growth through the delivery of major schemes. The table in section 6 summarised how the proposals would impact achievement of relevant Strategic Plan actions according to a seven-point scale.

The Cabinet noted that detailed individual Impact Assessments would be carried out on schemes where required and included with Cabinet and HATOC reports.

The matter having been debated and the options and alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability and carbon impact, risk management, equality and legal considerations and alignment with the Council’s Strategic Plan) set out in the Director’s Report having been considered:

it was MOVED by Councillor Davis, SECONDED by Councillor Hughes, and

RESOLVED

(a) that the budgets to the Local Transport Plan Integrated Transport Block (LTP ITB) schemes in 2023/24 and 2024/25 as included in Appendix 1 be allocated, noting the level of overprogramming planned;

(b) that the increase of the 2023/24 capital programme by £3.102 million, with £2.240 million funded from other external grants, £0.308 million from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 399.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/23/68) on Capital Schemes (Tranche 1) of the Bus Service Improvement Plan, attached.

Two Impact Assessment have been prepared for the attention of Members at the meeting, are attached and available at -

·       Bus Services Improvement Plan Scheme Roundswell Bus Lane - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

·       Bus Service Improvement Scheme - New North Road Exeter - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

RESOLVED

(a) that theadvertising of the traffic regulation orders necessary for the schemes in this report and to make and seal the orders subject to the requirements of the legislation and the council’s procedures, be approved;

(b) that subject to the resolution of the traffic regulation orders, the construction of the bus lane scheme in Roundswell, as shown in Appendix 1, at an estimated cost of £525,000 be approved;

(c) that subject to the resolution of the traffic regulation orders, the construction of the New North Road Bus Gate in Exeter City Centre, as shown in Appendix 2, at an estimated cost of £400,000, be approved; and

(d) that the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highway Management, the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport and the relevant Local Members, to approve minor changes to the schemes.

(Councillors Biederman, Brazil, Hannaford, Henderson and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/23/68) on Capital Schemes (Tranche 1) of the Bus Service Improvement Plan, circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

In 2021, the UK Government published its National Bus Strategy, which provided a pathway to help bus services improve following the COVID19 pandemic. This required local transport authorities to form Enhanced Partnerships with bus operating companies, and to publish a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). The Council’s BSIP was developed and subsequently approved by Cabinet on 13 October 2021, and an Enhanced Partnership formed.

In 2022, the Council was allocated £14.1 million BSIP funding by the Department for Transport, which is split into capital (£8.8 million) and revenue (£5.3 million). This funding was for a three-year period from 2022/23 to 2024/25 with all schemes subject to final approval from the Department for Transport. As the revenue funding was significantly less than that requested, a second revision of the BSIP was developed, with the plan split into Individual Scheme Delivery of what was deliverable now with current funding, and future aspirations for bus services, should additional funding become available.

The Report sought approval to construct two of the capital schemes listed under the Individual Scheme Delivery section of the revised BSIP, both of which were bus priority measures, with the aim of achieving better bus journey times. These were the Bideford/Barnstaple Western Bus Corridor, and the Exeter Northern Corridor: New North Road to City Centre Bus Gate.

The Bideford/Barnstaple Western Bus Corridor scheme improved bus priority on the 3.4km bus corridor between Bickington and Roundswell on the western edge of the town, and the bus station in the town centre. This would include the construction of a new bus lane and the construction of a footway. The scheme would achieve approximately a 1 minute journey time saving, which represented a 6% reduction along this corridor. Figure 1 showed the Roundswell Scheme Location.

The Exeter Northern Corridor: New North Road to city centre bus gate scheme sought to provide a more direct route to the city centre for countywide bus services approaching on the northern corridor between Cowley Bridge roundabout and the Bus Station. The bus gate would provide a more direct route to the city centre, and subsequently the bus station, whilst enabling stops closer to the city centre. It was estimated the intervention would achieve a time saving of approximately 2.5 minutes per bus, which represented a 17% reduction in bus journey times along this corridor. Figure 2 showed the Exeter Scheme Location and Figure 3 the New North Road Route Diversion.

A public consultation for each of the scheme proposals has been undertaken and the methodology, responses and results were outlined in full at section 5 of the Report.

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 400.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/23/69) seeking approval for three Devon Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIP), attached.

The plans are attached as;

Appendix I – Heart of Teignbridge LCWIP

Appendix II - Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam LCWIP

Appendix III – Exeter LCWIP

Three Impact Assessments have been prepared for the attention of Members at the meeting, which are attached and also available at;

·       Teignbridge Local Cycling and Walking Plan - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

·       Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

·       Exeter Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

RESOLVED

(a) that officers be asked to review the three Local Cycling Walking and Infrastructure plans at Appendices I, II, and III against the policy paper Plan for Drivers; and

(b) that the outcome of that review be brought to a future Cabinet meeting.

(Councillors Biederman, Brazil, Dewhirst and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/23/69) which presented three Devon Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans, circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The full plans were attached to the agenda as;

Appendix I – Heart of Teignbridge LCWIP

Appendix II - Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam LCWIP

Appendix III – Exeter LCWIP

Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) were a strategic approach to identifying cycling and walking improvements at the local level. The framework was set out in the Government’s Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, which formed an important part of Government’s strategy to increase the number of active travel trips. LCWIPs were also an important tool in realising the Government’s Gear Change vision which expected local authorities to deliver high quality walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure. LCWIPs were therefore an important aspect of making cases for future active travel funding, whether through external grants or in negotiations with developers.

The Council had completed three LCWIPs: Heart of Teignbridge (HoT), Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam (BBN), and Exeter which covered the three key urban areas identified in the existing Cycling and Multi-Use Trail Network Strategy and they sought to outline the future walking and cycling infrastructure priorities over the next 10 to 20 years.

The LCWIP’s set out walking and cycling proposals in the respective geographies, the schemes being considered the most strategically important, building upon existing established active travel networks and with greatest potential to attract developer funding.

The Cabinet noted that all three Plans had been endorsed by the relevant Highways and Traffic Orders Committees.

The Heart of Teignbridge LCWIP (Appendix I) set out walking and cycling proposals along five key corridors, strategically identified as missing gaps in existing plans for active travel intervention, being Newton Abbot Town Centre, Kingsteignton, Buckland and Milber, Wolborough and Kingskerswell and Torbay. There were additional proposals within the NA1 Houghton Barton and NA3 Wolborough strategic site allocations.

The BBN LCWIP (Appendix II) set out four walking and six cycling proposals in Barnstaple, Bideford, and Northam. A summary of the proposals was outlined in full but related to Alexandra Street (Barnstaple), Barbican Road and Queen Street (Barnstaple), Yelland to Barnstaple, Roundswell to Pilton (Barnstaple), Whiddon Valley to Barnstaple and Landkey to Barnstaple.

The core focus of the Exeter LCWIP (Appendix III) was within the administrative boundary of the city, setting out 20 cycling routes and 5 city-centre walking routes strategically identified as ‘missing gaps’ in the existing walking and cycling network. The cycling routes were E1 – Exeter St David’s Station to Topsham, E3 – City Centre to Cranbrook, E4 – Exeter University to Science Park, E5 – Stoke Hill to St Thomas, E6 – ‘Nurses Way’ Stoke Hill to Marsh Barton Station and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 401.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/23/70) on seeking approval of the Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy, attached.

RESOLVED

(a) that the County Council’s appointment as responsible authority for the preparation of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for the Devon LNRS area, including Plymouth and Torbay, be confirmed.

(b) that officers be mandated to establish appropriate governance and operational arrangements to enable the preparation, publication and future review and republication of the Devon LNRS through engagement with the defined supporting authorities, a wide range of stakeholders and neighbouring authorities; and

(c) that the expenditure of the new burdens funding allocated by central government for this purpose be approved.

(Councillors Biederman, Brazil, Hannaford and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/23/70) relating to the Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy, circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Environment Act 2021 provided the UK’s new framework of environmental protection which included a requirement for the production of LNRS documents which would cover the whole of England with the purpose of setting out the approach to nature recovery and supporting the delivery of national environmental targets and local environmental priorities.

The Council had been advised by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) of its appointment as the authority responsible for preparing a Devon LNRS under section 105 of the Environment Act, the Secretary of State’s letter being attached as Appendix 1 to the Report.

This Report outlined the expectations of the role, the process to be followed in the production of the Devon LNRS and the resources available by Government to support this.

In line with earlier guidance from Defra, a significant amount of advance work had been undertaken in preparation for the development of a Devon LNRS, including extensive communication with partners. A governance structure involving supporting authorities and the Devon LNP was being established and initial mapping of nature recovery priorities across Devon had been developed.  A brief explanatory video had been produced, which was available via You Tube at: https://youtu.be/Ttfs9B-qoaI?si=yV2p2X62PR17HAVW

There was no mandatory timetable for the preparation of the initial LNRS; however, the Defra expectation was for completion within a 12 to 18 month period.  The Report set out an indicative timetable for this work in Devon, with final publication being June 2024, after engagement of specialists, workshops, agreement of priorities and consultation.

The preparation of the Devon LNRS aligned very closely to the priority set out in the Council’s Strategic Plan 2021-25 to respond to the climate emergency.  The most direct and obvious intent, under the expressed theme of ‘making Devon greener’, was to help wildlife and landscapes recover.  There was also a clear government expectation that the LNRSs should strongly highlight how nature recovery would support wider social and economic priorities.  So, it would be important for the Devon LNRS to set out how it would contribute to the Strategic Plan priorities to support sustainable economic recovery by prompting opportunities for green growth and to improve health and wellbeing by re-connecting people with nature.

Devon had been allocated £388,000 over a two-year period, provided as a Section 31 grant to DCC.  The funding would be used to cover the dedicated staffing and contractor input needed to support the preparation of the Devon LNRS, along with all other costs incurred through stakeholder engagement and through its publication. 

The decision sought from Cabinet at this early stage did not have any specific implications for equality  ...  view the full minutes text for item 402.

In accordance with the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, the Chair of the Corporate, Infrastructure and regulatory Services Committee (Councillor Dewhirst) invoked the call-in procedure in relation to the decision of the Cabinet (Minute *359 of the 12 July 2023) in relation to the Mobile Library Service in Devon.

The call-in and the associated grounds were considered at the Corporate, Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee on 28 September 2023.

The Corporate, Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 28 September 2023 (Minute 124 refers) subsequently RESOLVED ‘that the Committee recommends that Cabinet:

(a) Reconsiders the decision to decommission the mobile library vehicles and looks again at continuing to provide the mobile library service.

(b) Gets precise figures on leasing vehicles to review opportunities to continue to provide a cost effective service.

(c) Looks into opportunities to reduce cost of delivery including commercial sponsorship opportunities on vehicles, crowdfunding and or support from Parish Councils and community groups.

(d) Develops alternative library provision before taking the decision to remove services.

And reports findings back to this Committee.

The recommendation of the Cabinet will follow.

RESOLVED that the Corporate, Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee be thanked for its consideration of this matter and its recommendation and given the short timescale between the meeting of the Scrutiny Committee and this Cabinet, and the matters raised, Cabinet will consider the issues in more detail and determine the matter at its next meeting.

(Councillors Biederman, Dewhirst and Hannaford attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item welcoming the deferral of the matter, pending a more detailed consideration).

In accordance with the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, the Chair of the Corporate, Infrastructure and regulatory Services Committee (Councillor Dewhirst) invoked the call-in procedure in relation to the decision of the Cabinet (Minute *359 of the 12 July 2023) in relation to the Mobile Library Service in Devon.

The call-in and the associated grounds were considered at the Corporate, Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee on 28 September 2023 ((Minute 124 referred). The Committee subsequently RESOLVED ‘that the Committee recommends that Cabinet:

(a) Reconsiders the decision to decommission the mobile library vehicles and looks again at continuing to provide the mobile library service.

(b) Gets precise figures on leasing vehicles to review opportunities to continue to provide a cost effective service.

(c) Looks into opportunities to reduce cost of delivery including commercial sponsorship opportunities on vehicles, crowdfunding and or support from Parish Councils and community groups.

(d) Develops alternative library provision before taking the decision to remove services.

And reports findings back to this Committee.

It was MOVED by Councillor Hart, SECONDED by Councillor McInnes and

RESOLVED that the Corporate, Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee be thanked for its consideration of this matter and its recommendation and given the short timescale between the meeting of the Scrutiny Committee and this Cabinet, and the matters raised, Cabinet will consider the issues in more detail and determine the matter at its next meeting.

Minutes of the bodies shown below are circulated herewith for information or endorsement as indicated therein (i.e. any unstarred minutes):

Minutes of County Council Committees are published on the Council’s Website:

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the following be endorsed and any recommendations to Cabinet therein be approved:

Farms Estate Committee – 12 September 2023.

It was MOVED by Councillor Hart, SECONDED by Councillor McInnes, and

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the following be endorsed and any recommendations to Cabinet therein be approved:

Farms Estate Committee – 12 September 2023.

The Register of Decisions taken by Members under the urgency provisions or delegated powers is available on the website in line with the Council’s Constitution and Regulation 13 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.  The decisions taken and associated information can be found here.

The Registers of Decisions taken by Members under the urgency provisions or delegated powers were available for inspection, in line with the Council’s Constitution and Regulation 13 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012. Decisions taken by Officers under any express authorisation of the Cabinet or other Committee or under any general authorisation within the Council’s Scheme of Delegation set out in Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the Cabinet is requested to review the list of forthcoming business (previously circulated) and to determine which items are to be defined as key and/or framework decisions and included in the Plan from the date of this meeting.

The Forward Plan is available on the Council's website.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the Cabinet reviewed the Forward Plan and determined those items of business to be defined as key and framework decisions and included in the Plan from the date of this meeting onwards reflecting the requirements of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the Cabinet reviewed the Forward Plan and determined those items of business to be defined as key and framework decisions and included in the Plan from the date of this meeting onwards reflecting the requirements of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

Recommendation: that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act namely, the financial or business affairs of the preferred bidder or tenderers for the provision or supply of council goods or services, and of the County Council and in accordance with Section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, by virtue of the fact that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act namely the financial or business affairs of persons tendering for the provision of council goods or services and of the County Council, in both cases, and in accordance with Section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, by virtue of the fact that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

It was MOVED by Councillor Hart, SECONDED by Councillor McInnes and

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act namely the financial or business affairs of persons tendering for the provision of council goods or services and of the County Council, in both cases, and in accordance with Section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, by virtue of the fact that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

(An item to be considered by the Cabinet in accordance with the Cabinet ProcedureRules and Regulation 5 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, no representations having been received to such consideration taking place under Regulation 5(5) thereof)

Report of the Deputy Director of Children’s Health and Wellbeing (Interim) & Deputy Director of Children’s Services and Head of Social Care (CS/23/14), attached.

RESOLVED

(a) That recommendation (a) as outlined in the Report relating to the direct award of a new 12-month contract from the 1st of April 2024 be agreed, noting that the new contract would have a budget of c.£4.837m (including £1.5m from Public Health) and would focus on prevention and early intervention; on reducing inequalities; and on engaging with communities and helping to build, shape and strengthen local services that reflect and respond to local need;  

(b) that the proposals that the new and developing Family Hubs model be funded as set out in the overarching strategy described in section 7, be endorsed; and

(c) that the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Schools, be given delegated authority to negotiate and approve the details of the contract, delivery plan and conditions for the 12-month contract award being recommended.

(Councillors Aves, Biederman, Dewhirst, Hannaford and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Deputy Director of Children’s Health and Wellbeing (Interim) & Deputy Director of Children’s Services and Head of Social Care, circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Report outlined the background of commissioning the delivery of Children Centre services, what the current contract to families delivered and proposals for a direction of travel towards a family hubs model in Devon.

The Cabinet noted that the proposals had been presented to a Standing Overview Group of the Children’s Scrutiny Committee in September 2023 and the Report outlined the feedback received.

The Report further outlined the ambition of a family hub model, outlined in appendix 5.

Engagement activities to inform the commissioning approach summarised in sections 3 and 4 of the Report were outlined in section 5, with Appendix 3 summarising examples of engagement activities.

Cabinet noted that an impact assessment would be carried out on the equality considerations to inform service specification.

The matter having been debated and the options and alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability and carbon impact, risk management, equality and legal considerations and alignment with the Council’s Strategic Plan) set out in the Deputy Director’s Report having been considered:

it was MOVED by Councillor Samuel, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

RESOLVED

(a) That recommendation (a) as outlined in the Report relating to the direct award of a new 12-month contract from the 1st of April 2024 be agreed, noting that the new contract would have a budget of c.£4.837m (including £1.5m from Public Health) and would focus on prevention and early intervention; on reducing inequalities; and on engaging with communities and helping to build, shape and strengthen local services that reflect and respond to local need;  

(b) that the proposals that the new and developing Family Hubs model be funded as set out in the overarching strategy described in section 7, be endorsed; and

(c) that the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Schools, be given delegated authority to negotiate and approve the details of the contract, delivery plan and conditions for the 12-month contract award being recommended.