Present:

Devon County Council

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

District Councils

Councillor Tucker

Devon Association of Local Councils

Councillor Geen

Apology

Councillor Luggar (NDC)

(The meeting started with Councillor Cann, Vice-Chairman, in the Chair until Councillor Haywood joined the meeting during the presentation on the North Devon AONB and Biosphere Service - Minute *35)

*34 Minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2010 be signed as a correct record.

*35 North Devon AONB and Biosphere Service (NDABS)

(Councillor Chugg declared a personal interest by virtue of representing the County Council on the North Devon Biosphere Reserve Partnership. Councillor Davis declared a personal interest by virtue of representing the Exmoor National Park Authority on the North Devon AONB Partnership)

Matt Edworthy, Biosphere Reserve Outreach Co-ordinator and Linda Blanchard, North Devon AONB Manager gave a presentation on:

the background and strategic fit of the service

its functions

finance headlines

achievements during 2009/10 and ongoing work.

Rose Day, Chairman of the AONB Partnership, was also present.

NDABS was a partnership organisation hosted by Devon County Council and working for the rural environment in northern Devon. Its role was: to manage and co-ordinate the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the AONB; visitor and biodiversity management on the Tarka Trail between Braunton and Meeth; and maintaining the South West Coastpath from Combe Martin to Cornwall. Biosphere Reserves were places with world-class environments that were designated by the United Nations to promote and demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature - they were places where conservation and sustainable development went hand in hand. The North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty covered approximately 171 sq km of coastal landscape and was an important underpinning designation for the Biosphere Reserve. NDABS core funding came from Natural England; Devon County Council; North Devon Council; Torridge District Council and from rents. The AONB and BR teams collaborated successfully on grant funding.

Matt Edworthy and Linda Blanchard gave examples of projects and initiatives under the headings Prosperous Communities, Safe and Clean Environment and Good and Improving Services that had either been undertaken in 2009/10 or were in progress, and proposed improvements in 2010/11 to the Tarka Trail and South West Coastpath. They concluded their presentation by responding to queries and comments from members on matters including: the impact of proposed public expenditure reductions on funding streams for the AONB and ways in which the shortfall could be offset; Marine Conservation Zones; and keeping local members informed of developments relating to the Biosphere/AONB.

The Committee acknowledged the importance of the designations to northern Devon in environmental, economic and prestige terms and expressed their full support for NDABS.

It was agreed that the following should be circulated:

a copy of the presentation

further information concerning the maps showing the health characteristics of the Biosphere Area.

The Chairman thanked Matt Edworthy and Linda Blanchard for their interesting and informative presentation.

*36 Opportunity for Feedback from District Council and DALC Representatives

Councillor Geen emphasised the importance of:

Broadband internet connection being made available throughout rural areas at the earliest opportunity

Parish Councils being kept informed of County Council budget reductions.

Councillor Tucker (NDC) referred to the need for the County and District Councils to work together to minimise the impact of expenditure reductions. Alison Boyd, Locality Development Officer, indicated that a series of open access local meetings with Councillor John Hart would enable local communities to have a conversation about the Tough Choices that lay ahead.

It was agreed that:

(a) there should be a report and/or a presentation to the next meeting of the Committee on the 2011/12 DCC Budget and the implications for services in North Devon;

(b) there should be a presentation to a future meeting on Broadband provision.

*37 Diversity Event

Alison Boyd, Locality Development Officer, reported on a recent Diversity Event held at the Civic Centre, Barnstaple and the Community Safety Mapping Project report which was tabled. She also gave a short update on the work of the Safer North Devon Partnership and tabled some leaflets that were currently in use locally regarding Domestic Violence, information for young people and third party reporting forms for hate crimes.

*38 Property Rationalisation

(Councillor Greenslade declared a personal interest by virtue of being a member of the Devon and Cornwall Police Authority and North Devon Council)

Karen Dyson, Senior Asset Manager, Business Transformation Unit, reported that:

the County Council s Corporate Asset Management Plan set out the ways in which the County Council would improve the quality of buildings in its non-school estate over the next three years

the County Council needed to streamline its estate in order to be able to provide fit for purpose buildings to support service delivery

this meant releasing buildings which were not fit for purpose where investing in improvement was not viable and gaining capital receipts from sales to fund replacement or improvement of other properties and other capital assets

the County Council was looking to reduce its office floor area by a minimum of 25%

a series of property reviews was being undertaken to this effect, on which the County Council was working in partnership with the other public organisations (District Councils, Police, Fire, Health etc).

Karen Dyson circulated for information a list of DCC properties in North Devon. She added that the review would look at how the Civic Centre, Barnstaple could be better utilised and described the sort of improvements that might be made. Karen Dyson then responded to queries and comments from members which focused on improved Reception arrangements at the Civic Centre.

The Committee noted the position and agreed that there should be an update on property rationalisation at its next meeting.

*39 North Devon County Committee Locality Budget 2010/11 - Confirmation of Spending Proposals and Spend to Date for 2010/11

The Committee considered a report by the County Community Strategy Officer (CX/10/109 - text only | pdf CX/10/109) setting out recent Locality Budget spending proposals and the budget position at 12 October 2010.

Alison Boyd, Locality Development Officer, asked members to help her establish likely further locality budget commitments during the current financial year with a view to allocating remaining budgets before 31 March 2010 where possible. Individual Committee members referred to a number of projects they wished to support through their Locality Budgets which they noted would be subject to the normal approval process. Alison Boyd asked members to submit the relevant forms as soon as possible.

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

RESOLVED

(a) that approval for the spending proposals set out in the report, including those agreed by the Chairman/Vice-Chairman since the last meeting, be confirmed;

(b) that the following additional new spending proposal be approved:

Organisation Nature of Project Name of Councillor Amount of Funding

St Peters Youth Cafe Councillor Cann 500

Church,

Fremington

(c) that the current budget position for 2010/11 be noted.

*40 Devon Special Olympics 2012 (Minute *29/29 June 2010)

(Councillor Haywood declared a personal interest by virtue of his wife being Chair of Governors of Pathfield School, Barnstaple)

Councillor Haywood reported that the proposal to hold a Special Olympics in North Devon for disabled young persons was progressing well, and that the recent Ability Games organised by at Pathfield School, Barnstaple, where it was intended that the Special Olympics should be based, had been very successful. He suggested that the organising committee for the Special Olympics should be invited to make a presentation on the proposal and funding issues to a future meeting of the Locality Committee.

*41 Member Development Steering Group

The Minutes of the meeting held on 10 September, 2010 were noted.

Further to Note 8 (Devon Improvement Programme Opportunities), the Committee asked for some guidance/advice on gypsy and traveller issues.

*42 County Council s Forward Plan

The Forward Plan was noted.

*43 Future Meetings

(a) Dates

The Committee noted the following:

Next Meeting:

22 March 2011

Subsequent Meetings:

28 June 2011

25 October 2011

(all Tuesday mornings, after the HATOC)

(b) Work Plan/Items Identified for Future Discussion

Inspiring Young People (Sustainable Community Strategy theme)

Pilots involving Parish and Town Councils on New Ways of Working

Implementation of The Way Ahead - Data and Trends Information

Ilfracombe Narrowing the Gap Project

Respite Care (Young Carers)

Work of the Devon Youth Service in North Devon

Guidance/advice on Gypsy and Traveller Issues

Devon Special Olympics 2012 Presentation

Property Rationalisation

2011/12 Budget - Implications for Services in North Devon (March 2011 meeting)

DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 11.35am and finished at 1.15pm.

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