Present

Councillors Barton, Ford, Rawlinson and Temperley

Apologies for Absence

Councillor Shadrick

*111 Minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2008 be signed as a correct record.

*112 Pollyfield Centre: Plans for the Future

Roger Vanstone a Trustee of the Centre gave an update on current activities and plans and proposed developments. He referred to the recent improvements at the Centre, the numerous and diverse community events at the Centre, the challenge of generating sufficient revenue difficulties to meet costs and the support from the local community including voluntary work to improve the fabric of the building. He emphasised that as well as a prominent local facility for East of the Water, a relatively deprived community, it was also a resource for Bideford as a whole. He circulated drawings for a proposed substantial extension of the Centre and referred to the proposed capital funding sources including bids to the Town Council, the Bridge Trust and to Devon County Council.

Caroline Church Chairman of the Trustees referred to the high revenue costs involved in maintaining the Centre, the voluntary work and commitment of the trustees, and reinforced the efforts that are being made to put the centre onto a sustainable footing.

Members referred to exciting proposals for the centre and to the other important community projects in the town, funding for which was also being sought and to the need for a coordinated, prioritised approach with all local authorities and bodies to maximise resources and meet local needs. They noted that an application had been submitted by the Centre for evaluation by the Children and Young People s Services Directorate (DCC) officers (from the Airport Sale Funds) and referred to other sources of capital funding which were also being considered.

The Chairman and Members thanked the Trustees for their presentation.

(Note: additional funding support was approved Minute *116 below refers)

*113 The Way Ahead: 5 Years of Improvement

The Committee received a presentation from Jenny McNeill, Assistant Director of Strategic Development, Devon Primary Care Trust, on the updated The Way Ahead , a summary of Devon Primary Care Trust and Devon County Council s vision and plans for health and social care in Devon for the next five years.

The Way Ahead Five Years of Improvement was based on information gathered on the needs of the population of Devon and how services were currently used. Examples of best practice locally and nationally had been studied and the views of service users, carers, the voluntary sector, clinicians, staff and many others had been taken into account. The plan covered 11 areas of care: Being healthy, staying healthy; birth and maternity; children and young people; urgent care; planned care; mental health and wellbeing; long term conditions; learning disability; older people; carers and end of life. The we will and we will achieve statements made in the plan were clear measures of success that would be used to redesign care with significant actions. The strategic plan The Way Ahead: Strategy to Deliver provided the how and when actions would be carried out, with an emphasis on directing resources more towards primary community care/prevention rather than for acute care services.

The Community Strategy Officer confirmed that the Local Strategic Partnership was well briefed on the Strategy. Members suggested that a presentation could also be given directly to the District Council.

The Chairman thanked Jenny McNeil for her presentation.

*114 Adult and Community Services: Modernisation Programme

The Committee received a presentation from Nikki Kennelly on Telecare which enables elderly or vulnerable people to remain independent in their own homes by providing reactive technologies to support the individual or their carers. The use of Telecare is intended as a preventative tool to manage household and personal risks for people across the community, from those with complex conditions to older people with no specialist support needs. Proof of concept trials had been completed and pilot schemes involving the Devon Fire and Rescue Service and the Rapid Equipment and Minor Adaptations Service were underway. The next steps would be to evaluate these pilots, quantify benefits, model/cost options for mainstreaming Telecare across Devon and undertake work on access paths. Pilots were also being established for Telehealth (the delivery of health-related services and information via telecommunications technologies).

It was MOVED by Councillor Rawlinson, SECONDED by Councillor Temperley and

RESOLVED that following evaluation of the pilots a further update report be submitted to this Commttee.

*115 New Sustainable Community Strategy for Northern Devon and Torridge

The Committee considered the report of the Community Strategy Officer (EEC/08/314/HQ - text onlyEEC/08/314/HQ) setting out the final draft of the Sustainable Community Strategy for North Devon and Torridge which had been approved by the Joint Local Strategic Partnership.

The Committee endorsed the content of the draft Strategy which was closely aligned with the new Devon Sustainable Community Strategy and the Local Area Agreement.

It was MOVED by Councillor Rawlinson, SECONDED by Councillor Temperley and

RESOLVED that the new Sustainable Community Strategy be welcomed and adopted by the County Council and that the Executive be asked to note and take account of it.

*116 Torridge County Committee: Locality Budget Proposals and Spend to Date for 2008/09

The Committee considered the report of the County Community Strategy Officer (EEC/08/315/HQ - text onlyEEC/08/315/HQ) on the budget position as at 20 November 2008 and spending proposals approved by the Chairman or Vice Chairman since the last meeting. The Committee also considered additional funding support for the Pollyfield Community Centre arising from their current revenue difficulties; and proposed funding for new signage for the Estuary raised at the last meeting

It was MOVED by Councillor Rawlinson, SECONDED by Councillor Temperley and

RESOLVED

(a) that the spending proposals set out in the report including those agreed by the Chairman or Vice Chairman be approved and that the budgetary position be noted;

(b) that a grant of 1000 from the pooled budget be awarded to the Pollyfield Centre in principle subject to clarification on the revenue difficulties referred to in their submission;

(c) that a grant of 3k from the pooled fund be made for new signage in respect of the Estuary.

*117 Forward Plan

The Community Strategy Officer reported on the future topics to include: 14 -19 Curriculum and new funding arrangements; Property Asset Review; and presentations and update on TVS/NDVS and CAB funding across Northern Devon.

*118 Future Meeting

Wednesday, 18 March 2009 at the Winkleigh Community Centre (TBC)

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 2 pm and finished at 4.25 p.m.

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