Present:

Councillors Croad (Chairman), Black, Brazil, Mumford and Pennington

Apologies: Councillors Sir Simon Day, Hart and Hawkins

*4 Minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meetings held on 13 March and 23 July 2009 be signed as correct records.

*5 Order of Business

It was agreed that Agenda Item 4 - Induction - The Committee s Roles and Responsibilities should be taken later with Agenda Item 8 - Community Planning Overview in South Hams.

*6 South Brent Railway Station

With the consent of the Chairman, Mr Graham Jordan of Roseville , Hillside, South Brent addressed the Committee regarding a proposal for the reopening of South Brent Railway Station. He presented a petition containing approximately 200 signatures in support of commissioning a feasibility study into the reopening of the station.

In accepting the petition, and in line with the Council's policy on petitions, the Chairman indicated that the Executive Director of Environment, Economy and Culture would be asked to respond direct to the petitioner on the issues raised within 28 days.

*7 Adult and Community Services - Modernisation and Externalisation

Leah Allen, the recently appointed Interim Deputy Assistant Director, Health and Social Care Delivery (Southern), introduced herself to County Committee members and reported on the organisation and operation of her service in South Hams, focusing on the work of complex care teams. She responded to queries and comments from members on the expansion of service provision at community hospitals, the principal of which members were keen to support.

*8 Building Schools and Communities for the Future (BSF)

Mr Simon Niles, BSF Project Manager, 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 South Hams. 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 Niles 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 Niles commented on the DCC bid, the competition from other authorities applying to participate in the first wave and the numbers likely to be invited to join. He anticipated that involvement in BSF would lead to the proposed Dartmouth Academy being included in Phase 1.

Mr Niles responded to queries and comments from members on matters including: community use of school buildings; the implications for small rural primary schools and carbon emissions/sustainability issues.

*9 (a) Induction - The Committee s Roles and Responsibilities

(b) Community Planning Overview in South Hams

These items were taken together (Min. *5 refers) as both covered partnership working.

(a) Induction

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.

(b) Community Planning Overview

The Committee considered a report by the County Community Strategy Officer (CX/09/76 - text only | pdf CX/09/76) providing an overview of the County Council s formal involvement in the work of the South Hams 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 South Hams and other Local Strategic Partnerships were 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, Devon Town Profiles and the Stokenham Parish Council Pilot Project testing the devolution of street maintenance services.

It was MOVED by Councillor Croad, SECONDED by Councillor Black and

RESOLVED that the position regarding Devon County Council involvement in community planning and development work in South Hams be noted.

*10 South Hams 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 4 September 2009.

The Community Strategy Officer reported on further proposals for the use of Locality Budget funds for 2009/10.

It was MOVED by Councillor Mumford, SECONDED by Councillor Brazil 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
Yealm Gig Rowing Club	To assist with purchase of new covers for gigs	W Mumford	300
Modbury Memorial Hall	To assist with purchase of equipment for kitchen and hall	W Mumford	200
Warmheart Community Projects	To assist with Totnes Lantern Procession	P Black	300

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

*11 Work Programme

It was agreed that County Committee meetings should be shaped to respond to issues raised by local members as this would enhance the value of meetings, and members suggested several items for discussion. The Community Strategy Officer indicated that he would circulate members inviting them to identify issues they would like to raise.

*12 Future Meetings

The Committee noted that the next County Committee meeting had been arranged for Friday 4 December 2009 (on the rising of the HATOC) and agreed that this and the subsequent County Committee meeting should be held at Follaton House, Totnes.

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 11.25am and finished at 12.25pm

The Minutes of the South Hams County Committee are published on the County Council s Website at:-