Present:-

Councillors Connelly, Hosking and Marsh

Apologies

Councillor McInnes

*89 Minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 July 2008 be signed as a correct record.

*90 DCC Procurement Procedures

(An item taken under Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972)

The Chairman had decided that, at the request of Councillor Marsh, the Committee should consider this item as a matter of urgency to keep Members abreast of the impact of the County Council s procurement procedures on local businesses during the current difficult financial times.

Councillor Marsh suggested that the approved list system from which the Council appoint contractors often worked against supporting local contractors and those with a long standing relationship with local council premises and quoted the example of Okehampton Community College. This was supported by Mr Chapman, Principal of the Community College.

It was MOVED by Councillor Connelly, SECONDED by Councillor Marsh and

RESOLVED that evidence, obtained from the two local learning communities covering West Devon, be gathered to enable the Chairman and Councillor Marsh to make representations to the Executive on the impact of the current procurement procedure on local contractors and suppliers.

*91 14 19 Partnerships in Devon

The Committee received a presentation by Ms Julia Wilkinson, 14-19 Strategy Officer, and Ms Christina Maccullie, POW Project Worker, updating Members on the educational provision for 14-19 year olds in the South Area Partnership. The presentation covered

the challenges, both in terms of resources and the necessary infrastructure demands that it is likely to make on DCC, with transport being a particularly difficult area;

the proposed development of a skills centre on the Okehampton College site, funded mainly from the College s devolved capital budget and the government s Rural Reform Fund;

the expectation that there would be some skills provision in Tavistock and the pressing need to develop these plans;

the fact that there was no additional funding for this agenda beyond 1,000 per student in the first year of take up.

It was MOVED by Councillor Connelly, SECONDED by Councillor Hosking and

RESOLVED that officers be thanked for a useful presentation and that the Committee receive a regular update focusing on the developments and issues within the two learning communities in West Devon.

*92 Adult and Community Services - Update on Modernisation and Externalisation of Services

This item was deferred in view of the absence of a reporting officer.

*93 Youth Service's Priorities/Budget for West Devon

The Committee received a presentation by Ms Pippa St John Cooper, Devon Youth Service, on youth work in West Devon together with current service specifications.

Members noted with satisfaction that the current service levels would be sustained, and that previous Member decisions to invest in youth projects from their locality budget had helped to demonstrate the value and impact of the services being provided.

It was MOVED by Councillor Connelly, SECONDED by Councillor Marsh and

RESOLVED that the presentation be noted and the Area Manager and her team be commended for all their valuable work in the West Devon area.

*94 The Way Ahead: Five Years of Improvement

The Committee received a presentation from Giles Gardener, Joint Strategic Commissioning Manager, on the updated Strategic Review Framework for Health and Social Care in Devon entitled The Way Ahead: Five Years of Improvement, which outlined the key issues facing the provision of health and social care in Devon and the ways in which these issues would be tackled.

Members asked questions in relation to the steps being taken to support and recognise the contribution made by carers and the action being taken to ensure better use of local community hospitals for the delivery of services.

It was MOVED by Councillor Connelly, SECONDED by Councillor Marsh and

RESOLVED that presentation be noted.

*95 DCC Infrastructure Framework to 2026 Arrangements for the Preparation and Agreement of the Key Elements of Community Infrastructure

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Environment, Economy and Culture (EEC/09/1/HQ - text only | pdf EEC/09/1/HQ) setting out arrangements for the preparation of and agreement to the Frameworks considered by the Strategic Planning, Regional and International Affairs Committee on 1 September 2008.

It was MOVED by Councillor Connelly, SECONDED by Councillor Marsh and

RESOLVED that arrangements for agreement of the key elements of the community infrastructure be noted.

*96 Progress with the Preparation of the Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy/Action Area Plans

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Environment, Economy and Culture (EEC/09/2/HQ - text onlyEEC/09/2/HQ) setting out existing Planning Policy documents currently in force and new Local Development Plan Documents that are adopted or are being progressed.

It was MOVED by Councillor Connelly, SECONDED by Councillor Marsh and

RESOLVED that progress on the preparation of the West Devon Development Planning Documents be noted.

*97 Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West: Proposed Changes by the Secretary of State

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Environment, Economy and Culture (EEC/09/3/HQ - text only | pdf EEC/09/3/HQ) on key changes in West Devon by the Secretary of State to the draft Regional Spatial Strategy.

It was MOVED by Councillor Connelly, SECONDED by Councillor Marsh and

RESOLVED that the Regional Spatial Strategy Proposed Changes by the Secretary of State and the implications for West Devon, be noted.

*98 West Devon County Committee Locality Budgets for Financial Year 2008/09 Confirmation of Spending Proposals and Spend to Date

Report of the County Community Strategy Officer (EEC/09/4/HQ - text only | pdf EEC/09/4/HQ) setting out the position as at 17 December 2008 regarding expenditure by members on local projects.

It was MOVED by Councillor Connelly, SECONDED by Councillor Marsh and

RESOLVED

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

(b) that the current budget position for 2008/09 be noted;

(c) that the Committee approve a grant of 3,000 to support an SLA with High Moorland Community Action, subject to this being a grant being matched by West Devon Borough Council and the Primary Care Trust.

*99 West Devon Children's Trust Local Planning and Implementation Partnership

County Community Strategy Officer asked Members to nominate a representative to serve on the Partnership.

It was MOVED by Councillor Connelly, SECONDED by Councillor Hosking and

RESOLVED that Councillor Marsh be appointed to serve on West Devon Children's Trust Local Planning and Implementation Partnership.

*100 Date of Next Meeting

The Committee noted that the next meeting would be held on Friday 3 April 2009 at Okehampton Town Hall at the rising of the West Devon HATOC.

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 2pm and finished at 4pm

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