Present:

Councillors Haywood (Chairman), Cann, Chugg, Davis, Edgell, Fowler, Greenslade and

Yabsley

Members attending in accordance with Standing Order 25:

Councillor Mumford

*11 Minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 September 2009 be signed as a correct record.

*12 Regeneration Proposal - North Devon Homes (Minute 6/25 September 2009)

(Councillor Mumford attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

(Councillor Luggar (North Devon District Council) attended and spoke to this item at the invitation of the Committee).

(Councillors Cann, Chugg, Davis, Edgell, Greenslade, Haywood and Yabsley declared personal interests by virtue of being members of North Devon Council and therefore the Local Housing Authority. Councillor Edgell declared a personal interest by virtue of being North Devon Council s Executive Member responsible for assets. Councillors Yabsley and Luggar declared personal interests by virtue of being non-remunerated Board Members of North Devon Homes Ltd representing North Devon Council)

The County Committee had previously agreed to hold a special meeting 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 . This meeting had been convened for that purpose.

The County Community Strategy Officer (North Devon and Torridge) and the Area Engineer (North) presented a report by the Deputy Executive Director of Environment, Economy and Culture (EEC/09/261/HQ - text onlyEEC/09/261/HQ) which:

summarised the background leading to the regeneration of the Forches area in Barnstaple being considered at this meeting, and the roles and responsibilities of interested parties i.e. the developer - North Devon Homes; North Devon Council; the County Council and the Homes and Communities Agency;

commented on the highway network in the Forches area;

outlined the County Council s position on support for the project.

Mr Martyn Gimber and Ms Donna Baddeley of North Devon Homes Ltd gave a presentation on the regeneration proposal which involved the replacement of a total of 231 post war pre-reinforced concrete (PRC) homes suffering from structural and maintenance problems. The presentation covered: options; improvements in estate design and other features of the scheme;

costs/funding and the risks to match funding from the Homes and Communities Agency if other match funding was not achieved; and social and economic benefits. The County Council was being asked to meet a shortfall of up to 1m. Members acknowledged that while the regeneration proposal was mainly focused on the Forches area of Barnstaple, it also involved the Woodville Estate, Barnstaple, Pill Gardens, Braunton and other areas of rural North Devon. It was agreed that the discussion should be widened to include all areas affected by the proposal.

Councillor Mumford (Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Strategic Planning) outlined the background to the Council s position. Councillor Luggar spoke in support of the regeneration proposal at the invitation of the Chairman.

Following detailed discussion, it was MOVED by Councillor Greenslade and SECONDED by Councillor Fowler:

that the Cabinet be asked to match fund the North Devon Homes Regeneration Proposal by up to 1m, subject to identified agreed outcomes that help to deliver the DCC Strategic Plan, an agreed financial plan being put in place, and all other match funding being achieved.

The motion was put to the vote and declared LOST and

It was then MOVED by Councillor Cann, SECONDED by Councillor Davis and

RESOLVED that recognising the potential benefits of the North Devon Homes Regeneration Proposal to the North Devon community and to the local economy, the Cabinet be asked to consider - following a proposed visit by the Leader of the Council to Barnstaple and confirmation that the full match funding package including North Devon Council s contribution will be available - what support might be provided by the County Council towards the project.

[In accordance with Standing Order 32(4), Councillors Fowler, Greenslade and Haywood asked that their votes in favour of Councillor Greenslade's proposal above be recorded. Councillor Yabsley asked that his decision not to vote on this item be also recorded]

*13 Dates for Future Meetings

Thursday 3 December 2009

Tuesday 23 March 2010

Tuesday 29 June 2010

Tuesday 26 October 2010

Tuesday 22 March 2011

(all on the rising of the HATOC at Barnstaple Civic Centre)

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 10.00am and finished at 11.45am