Present:

Councillors Cann, Chugg, Davis, Fowler, Greenslade and Yabsley

Apologies:

Councillors Edgell and Haywood

*1 Election of Chairman

Councillor Haywood was elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

*2 Election of Vice-Chairman

Councillor Chugg was elected Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

(Councillor Chugg in the Chair)

*3 Minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2009 be signed as a correct record.

*4 Induction - The Committee s Roles and Responsibilities

Referring to the formal Terms of Reference, the Community Strategy Officer reported that the remit of County Committees had three broad themes: overview of local service delivery; community leadership; and strengthening partnership working. He also described the work of the Community Strategy Team locally and county-wide.

*5 Building Schools and Communities for the Future

Mr Nick Pearce from the Children and Young People s Services Directorate reported on the County Council s involvement in the Government s BSF Programme and how it related to North Devon. BSF was a school buildings investment programme launched in 2004 under which significant Government funding was available for renewing or remodelling most secondary schools in England to help create the right environment for educational reform.

Mr Pearce indicated that the County Council had agreed in November 2008 to promote early entry to the Programme and had submitted its Readiness to Deliver statement to Partnership for Schools, the body responsible for delivering BSF, on 17 September 2009 (a copy of a report submitted to the Cabinet on 1 September 2009 covering: progress on the Readiness to Deliver submission; financial requirements; financial risks; development funding; the opportunities presented by entry; and the broad level of engagement that would be involved was circulated with the agenda as background information).

Mr Pearce pointed out that Devon was one of 22 authorities that had applied to participate in the first wave and it was understood that 12 or 13 would be invited to join. He anticipated that involvement in BSF would lead to five new or remodelled schools in North Devon with three of those - Chulmleigh, Ilfracombe and Marland likely to be in Phase 1.

Mr Pearce responded to queries and comments from members on matters including financial risks; PFI contracts; community use of school buildings and community engagement in their design. Members asked for further information on Building Schools and Communities for the Future, the Early Years, Primary and Secondary Schools Capital Programmes and Safeguarding Children. The Community Strategy Officer confirmed that a similar briefing had been requested by the Torridge County Committee and it was proposed that he investigate whether a single briefing might be provided for both the Torridge and North Devon County Committees.

*6 Second Homes Council Tax - Progress Report

(Councillor Yabsley declared a personal interest by virtue of being a Director of North Devon Homes)

The Committee considered a joint report by the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance (CX/09/82 - text only | pdf CX/09/82) providing an update on the use of receipts totalling 730,000 from Second Homes Council Tax allocated in the years 2004/05 and 2005/06 to support local housing schemes and seeking agreement on the use of unallocated resources. The report was presented by the Community Strategy Officer for North Devon and Torridge.

Action to date had included support for 89 households through the Minor Works Disabled Grant; around 30 completed housing needs surveys supported by the Rural Housing Enabler which had led to housing schemes being progressed in most parishes; completed housing schemes at Lynton, Bratton Fleming and Brayford; 6 units being brought back into use under the Empty Homes Programme (with a further 10 in the pipeline); and works in Barnstaple under the Landlord Challenge Fund. An alternative site had been identified for the Brendon scheme which it was hoped could now be delivered in 2012/13. 39,000 remained unallocated as a result of the Brayford scheme being delivered at a lower than anticipated cost.

Reference was made to the project initiated by North Devon Homes for the regeneration of the Forches and other areas of Barnstaple and rural North Devon, the County Council s decision not to contribute towards the project and concern that this could put at risk match funding from the Homes and Communities Agency as a consequence. The Community Strategy Officer set out the reasons for the Council s decision.

It was MOVED by Councillor Cann, SECONDED by Councillor Fowler and

RESOLVED

(a) to welcome the successful use of the additional funding generated by the 90% levy of Council Tax on second homes in North Devon and prepare a media statement with North Devon Council to celebrate these successes;

(b) to agree to use the unallocated balance of 39,000 to extend the scope of the Empty Homes Programme.

It was MOVED by Councillor Greenslade, SECONDED by Councillor Fowler and

RESOLVED to hold a special meeting of the Committee to consider, following a presentation by North Devon Homes and explanation of Devon County Council s response, whether to ask the Cabinet to review the decision not to make a contribution to the North Devon Homes project to renew PRC homes in the area.

*7 Community Planning Overview in North Devon

(Councillor Chugg declared a personal interest by virtue of being a Director of the North Devon + economic delivery agency)

The Committee considered a report by the County Community Strategy Officer (CX/09/80 - text onlyCX/09/80) providing an overview of the County Council s formal involvement in the work of the North Devon and Torridge Local Strategic Partnership and related community planning activity (especially in towns and parishes) in the context of the work of the Devon Strategic Partnership and the Devonwide Local Area Agreement.

The report discussed the recent meeting of the North Devon and Torridge LSP which, with other LSPs, was responsible for overseeing the development and delivery of a local Sustainable Community Strategy. Other community planning activity involved the preparation of parish plans, action plans developed through the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative and Devon Town Profiles.

It was MOVED by Councillor Cann, SECONDED by Councillor Greenslade and

RESOLVED

(a) that the position regarding Devon County Council involvement in community planning and development work in North Devon be noted;

(b) that a presentation be made to a future meeting on the economy in North Devon.

*8 North Devon County Committee Locality Budget for Financial Year 2009/10 - Confirmation of Spending Proposals and Spend to Date

The Committee considered a report by the County Community Strategy Officer (EEC/09/210/HQ - text only | pdf EEC/09/210/HQ) setting out recent Locality Budget spending approvals, a new spending proposal and the budget position at 9 September 2009.

Alison Boyd, the Locality Development Officer, reported on further proposals for the use of Locality Budget funds for 2009/10.

It was MOVED by Councillor Greenslade, SECONDED by Councillor Fowler and

RESOLVED

(a) that the spending approvals set out in the report, included those agreed by the Chairman/Vice-Chairman since the previous meeting, be confirmed;

(b) that the following new spending proposals be approved:

Organisation	Nature of Project	Name of Councillor(s)	Amount of Funding
Bishops Tawton Pre-School	Purchase of Garden Shed	R Edgell	400
Swimbridge Church	Streamside Gardens	R Edgell	1000
Fremington Youth Band		R Cann	3000

(b) that the current budget position for 2009/10 be noted.

*9 Forward Plan

The following agenda items were identified:

North Devon Homes Regeneration Project (Special Meeting);

Overview of Educational Provision in North Devon (Briefing);

North Devon Economy (Briefing to be arranged);

Adult and Community Services Provision in North Devon;

Inspiring Young People (Sustainable Community Strategy theme) - Presentation by Young Advisors;

Pilots involving Parish and Town Councils on New Ways of Working as part of Local Government Reorganisation;

Implementation of The Way Ahead ;

Update on Ilfracombe Narrowing the Gap Project.

The Community Strategy Officer reinforced that County Committee meetings should be shaped to respond to issues raised by local members and invited members to identify themes or issues for discussion. He felt that this would enhance the value of meetings.

Members wished to raise the profile of the Committee and encourage greater community involvement in meetings. It was agreed that this should be discussed in more detail at a future meeting and that, following each meeting, a short resume of the role, responsibilities and activities of the Committee should be prepared for members to use at their meetings with Town and Parish Councils to increase awareness and encourage interest at community level.

*10 Dates for Future Meetings

The Committee noted the following:

Next Meeting:

Thursday 3 December 2009

Subsequent Meeting:

Tuesday 23 March 2010

(both 2.00pm at Barnstaple Civic Centre)

The Committee supported the proposal of the North Devon HATOC that, with effect from the next meeting, HATOC meetings should start at 10.00am and that the County Committee should meet on the rising of the HATOC (with the order of meetings being reversed if appropriate).

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 2.00pm and finished at 3.45pm

The Minutes of the North Devon County Committee are published on the County Council s Website at:-