Present:

Devon County Council

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

South Hams District Council

Councillors Howarth and Tucker

Apologies:

Councillors Day, Hart and Pennington

*13 Minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2009 be signed as a correct record.

*14 Membership

The Committee noted that the County Council had extended the membership of its County Committees for a trial period of 12 months, to help District Councils to be better briefed on both local and strategic issues and the further strengthening of relations between all organisations. Two (non-voting) places have been offered to District Councillors and a place for the Devon Association of Parish Councils.

The Chairman welcomed South Hams District Councillors Howarth and Tucker who had been appointed accordingly.

*15 Early Years and Childcare Services (EYCS) Termly Update

The Committee received a presentation and written update from Tania Skinner, S Hams Area Co-ordinator, regarding the EYCS role; its strategy of raising standards and helping to eradicate child poverty; EYCS Service Plan; Children Centres; Milestones reached and up to 2010 and the next steps; the local EYCS structure.

The written update detailed new facilities and closures and brought attention to transport proving to be a difficulty in enabling childcare provision for the extended day (as initiated by central government) to be well attended. For example where After School Clubs were not viable to be run (at smaller/rural schools or because of the economic downturn), children could attend a neighbouring After School Club, excepting there was a difficulty in getting there particularly for children of working parents who needed safe and affordable childcare. Members suggested that such transport issues were likely to be encountered across the shire counties and this required further consideration.

RESOLVED

(a) that the Children Young Peoples Services Scrutiny Committee be invited to consider the issue of providing transport for children to attend extended hours child care provision (eg After School Clubs) particularly in rural parts of the county and make recommendations to the Cabinet if it sees fit;

(b) that the County Community Strategy Officer enquire about the advice provided to parents on Child Tax Credits/Working Tax Credits and whether the benefits awareness campaign included reference to this;

(c) that examples of good practice in utilising school buildings for community provision after the school day be used to assist other schools not yet engaged in this.

*16 Satellite Navigation Systems: The Use of Inappropriate Routes by Heavy Goods Vehicles within Devon

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Environment, Economy

and Culture (EEC/09/295/HQ - text only | pdf EEC/09/295/HQ) regarding HGVs using inappropriate routes in rural areas, often blamed on satellite navigation systems. The Area Engineer (South) also tabled a map pinpointing HGV conflict, although only perhaps 1 HGV every 1 2 years actually got stuck or damaged property in the South Hams, with no obvious locations where eg signing might need to be reviewed. At present there was no clear pattern, nor one that would reflect perceptions that inappropriate route selection was linked exclusively with satellite navigation.

The County Council was liaising with the freight industry to gather further information direct and with the mapping companies supplying information to satellite navigation manufacturers to generate a more robust system catering for larger vehicles.

17 Economic Development Assessments at Market Town Level

The Committee received a presentation from Sofie Ruggieri, DCC Economy Unit, together with three update papers (national and Devon monthly economic update; S Hams economy; DCC economic interventions in the South Hams). The S Hams current economic position summary included:-

- population was growing at a much slower rate than Devon;

- population of 18-24 year olds had increased significantly by 7.9%, 2001 - 2008;

- over 60s had also increased to 30.18% from 26.86%, compared to 22.19% nationally;

- qualification levels for all NVQ levels were higher than the national, Devon and south west average;

- earnings by residents commuting were much higher than for people employed in the area, with women both full time and part time being significantly less;

- population had grown by nearly a quarter in the last 20 years with commuters on high incomes and people retiring generally able to pay more for housing than existing residents. Average house prices 311,680 (127% increase) hitting lower income and first time buyers;

- Jobseekers Allowance claimants January 2008 - October 2009 showed the dramatic rise in unemployment as a result of the recession, with youth unemployment a concern and young people in particular returning to college for further study and qualifications;

Ms Ruggieri would follow up issues and concerns raised by members, ie:- joint DCC/PCT work on deprivation; female earnings (following on from the earlier EYCS item on this agenda regarding childcare provision and rural poverty); economic intervention to assist market towns, the failure of businesses in the high streets and dramatic business rates increases eg Dartmouth 350%, with the situation being very serious in Totnes also.

RESOLVED

(a) that the Economy unit follow up the issues identified above, the differentials of market towns, which interventions were working and how the County Council could add value;

(b) that the next economic update be brought to the July 2010 meeting.

*18 South Hams Committee Locality Budget 2009/10 Confirmation of Spending Proposals and Spend to Date

The Committee received the report of the County Community Strategy Officer (CX/09/106 - text only | pdf CX/09/106)

on the locality budget current budget position as at 20 November 2009, together with the

spending proposals approved by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman since the last meeting and

summary of approved spending to date.

There were also now four additional locality budget proposals for the committee to consider

(as tabled and set out below).

RESOLVED

(a) that the spending proposals set out in report EEC/09/106/HQ - text only | pdf EEC/09/106/HQ including those agreed by

the Chairman and Vice-Chairman be approved, with the addition of the following four

projects:-

Ivybridge Town Council Purchase installation of Planters Cllr Croad 200

S Hams CVS Renting Space at the Watermark Cllr Croad 1462

for a community office

Marlborough Parish Contribution towards the Cllr Day 5000

creation of a wheels park

Townstal Community Start up funding Cllr Hawkins 1500

Partnership

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

*19 Devon County Council Strategic Plan

Members noted the implications of the Council s new Strategic Plan for 2009/13. The full Plan would be available for all Members at the County Council s meeting in December. This committee would be able to look at ways the County Council could help the S Hams area through its priorities over the next four years.

*20 Member Development Steering Group

The Committee received the minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2009 for information and noted the development opportunities for members.

*21 Devon County Council Overview and Scrutiny Committees: Work Plan

The Committee noted the County Council s Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan (CX/09/100 - text only | pdf CX/09/100) placed on the agenda for information.

The Chairman suggested that Members may wish to provide evidence to specific Task Groups or otherwise comment upon specific areas of activity to the appropriate Overview or Scrutiny Committee.

*22 Future Meetings

(a) Meetings on the rising of the HATOC at Follaton House, Totnes (Fridays),

23 April 2010

30 July 2010

3 December 2010

29 April 2011.

(b) Work Plan/Items identified for future discussion

Maintenance of the Public Realm;

Green Lanes;

Youth Provision in the S Hams - a background briefing note was circulated and this item would be considered at a future meeting given the importance of the youth enquiry service element in helping children really in need of support;

Economic Update (July 2010).

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 11.30am and finished at 1pm.

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