Present

Councillors Parsons (Chairman), Boyd, Boyle, Eastman and Robinson

*3 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 29 July 2009 be signed as a correct record.

*4 Petition: Senior Council Bideford District

Members of the public attended, together with Mr Alan Rayner (Senior Council Bideford District) to express concern about the level of bus services to villages in the rural Bideford area, particularly on Saturdays. They advised that they are preparing a petition which currently has 125 signatures and that they would welcome an opportunity to present it and to discuss options.

The Community Strategy Officer indicated that he would convene an informal meeting between members and Mr Rayner with County Council community transport officers and that, when the petition is ready to be presented, appropriate arrangements will be made to receive it.

*5 Induction - The Committee s Roles and Responsibilities

The Community Strategy Officer reported on the role of the County Committees.. Primary roles include, examination of service delivery, community leadership and partnership working. The committee also confirms grants awarded by members from their locality budgets.

Members noted the above. In addition the Chairman requested that open dialogue with the public (including parish councillors) be encouraged at future meetings in respect of pertinent subject areas. It was proposed that up to three, three minutes slots should be made available for local people to address the committee. These would be planned in advance and each suggested topic would be discussed with the Community Strategy Officer to ensure that it was effectively dealt with and that attendance at County Committee was appropriate. Community representatives would then join the committee at future meetings by invitation. Members undertook to brief parish meetings about this. Councillor Lee also indicated that he would report this opportunity to his local area advisory committee (TDC).

*6 Building Schools For The Future

The Committee received the report of Executive Director of Children Young People s Services (CY/09/70 - text onlyCY/09/70) which had been submitted to the Cabinet on 1 September 2009 and Scrutiny Committee on 7 September on progress with preparing the Council s Readiness to Deliver submission in respect of the Government Building Schools for the Future programme relating to secondary provision.

Members questioned the methodology for identifying priorities for the building /refurbishment programmes and referred to the importance of high quality early years, primary and secondary provision in the district. Cllr. Robinson felt that future demand , together with the complex needs of the area, would merit a new secondary school in East of the Water, Bideford. Cllr. Eastman argued that there was a need for a new primary school in Appledore.

Members were very keen to progress these issues and to receive a full briefing on the range of capital investments and needs in the district and, In the absence of an officer from the BSF and Capital Strategy Team (CYPS), the Community Strategy Officer indicated that he would convene an informal meeting with officers from the County Council and also invite members of the North Devon County Committee to receive a wider perspective on the capital programme and proposals for the area.

7 Second Homes Council Tax

The Committee considered the joint report of the Chief Executive and Director of Finance (CX/09/81 - text only | pdf CX/09/81) on an update on the use of receipts from second homes council tax allocated in the years 2004/05 and 2005/06 to support local housing schemes and use of unallocated resources. The allocation of resources for the first two years of the scheme had been earmarked for affordable housing projects in each district, proportionate to the number of second homes. Cllr. Robinson felt that affordable housing was such a priority that receipts from the levy on second homes might appropriately continue to be allocated for such use. The Community Strategy Officer explained that, as Devon County Council is not a Housing Authority, after the first two years the additional receipts had been directed to meet the specialist housing needs of vulnerable adults (usually in close collaboration with district councils), thus helping the County Council to meet its statutory duties. Re-directing resources for general housing would reduce the Council s ability to meet those obligations..

It was MOVED by the Councillor Robinson SECONDED by Councillor Parsons and

RESOLVED

(a) that the successful use of additional funding generated by 90% levy of council tax on second Homes in Torridge be welcomed and that a media statement with Torridge District Council be prepared to celebrate the successes;

(b) that the action required to compete the programme be noted;

(c) that the Cabinet be requested to review the use of second homes council tax receipts and consider re-allocating some of those resources for use at district level, based directly on the number of second homes in each district; and that a greater focus be given by the respective councils to areas within districts with the highest proportion of second homes, where the local population is most affected by the lack of affordable housing.

*8 Community Planning Overview

The Committee considered the report of the Community Strategy Officer (CX/09/81 - text only | pdf CX/09/81) on an overview of the County Council s formal involvement in the work of the North Devon and Torridge Local Strategic Partnership and related community planning activity, and in the context of the work of the Devon Strategic Partnership and Devon Wide Local Area Agreement. The Chairman reported on the recent meeting of the Local Strategic Partnership where he had been impressed by the enthusiasm and commitment of the partner representatives present.

It was MOVED by the Councillor Parsons SECONDED by Councillor Boyle and

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

*9 Locality Budget

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Environment, Economy and Culture (EEC/09/211/HQ - text only | pdf EEC/09/211/HQ) on the current budget position, members spending approved by the Chairman or Vice chairman since the last meeting and spending proposals for committee consideration.

Alison Boyd, the Locality Development Officer, reported on a proposal recently received and also referred to the option open to members to pool part of their budgets for district wide/cross divisional initiatives.

It was MOVED by the Councillor Parsons SECONDED by Councillor Boyle and

RESOLVED

(a) that the spending proposals set out in the report, including those agreed by the Chairman and Vice Chairman since the last meeting be approved;

(b) that the current budget position be noted;

(c) that the following proposal be approved: Appledore Singers, new uniforms - up to 1000, Councillor Eastman.

*10 Forward Plan

Members were invited to submit ideas on themes for future discussion.

These included: play areas, support for village schools and access to services, community transport, and tourism and the arts.

Councillor Robinson referred to the recent success of the Tour of Britain Bike Race in the Bideford on 17 September and the praise of the event organisers for the support provided by the Town, District and County Councils (although there were some concerns about parking arrangements) and the good prospect of the event being repeated in Bideford in future years.

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 11.00 am and finished at 1.10 pm

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