Present:-

Devon County Council

Councillors McInnes (Chairman), Marsh, Sanders and Sellis

West Devon Borough Council

Councillor Musgrave

Apologies

Councillor Mrs Garton

*9 Minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 October 2009 be signed as a correct record.

*10 IT Hubs

Using the briefing note prepared by the Head of Enterprise and Skills and distributed to Members at the start of the meeting, the County Community Strategy Officer outlined the four key areas of the County Council s ICT Strategy and the priority actions in relation to connectivity, capability and content. The results of a study looking at the supply and demand for managed workspace was expected in April 2010.

Members discussed the cost of installing broadband into rural primary schools which was originally to be subsidised by central Government and questioned whether the County Council should be stepping into the breach and giving schools a helping hand. The Northlew pilot scheme to tackle the very slow broadband speeds was also discussed.

RESOLVED that this Committee receive a progress report covering community hubs and the Northlew pilot at it next meeting in April 2010.

*11 Member Development Steering Group

The Committee noted the minutes of the meeting of the Member Development Steering Group held on 20 October 2009 placed on the agenda for information.

*12 Funded Transport in West Devon

Mr Bruce Thompson, Transport Co-Ordination Service Manager, gave a brief presentation on the County Council s budget allocation for supported public bus services and community transport and how the budget was spent. He highlighted the Better for Less agenda by using different networks types differently, value for money through electronic tendering and economies of scale, working with the NHS and Job Centre Plus and the use of Section 106 agreements.

Members discussed rural bus services needed and the Rural Access to Health Task Group, better engagement with the higher levels of the NHS and volunteer drivers commissioned by the PCT.

RESOLVED that the presentation be noted and a further report be made to the next meeting together with the report of the Rural Access to Health Task Group going to the March meeting of the Health and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee.

*13 Devon County Council Strategic Plan

The County Community Strategy Officer outlined the implications of the Council s new Strategic Plan for 2009/13 and referred to the coloured leaflet enclosed with the agenda. He also reported on the issues raised at the listening event held by the Leader, Councillor Hart, at Tavistock on 18 November and advised Members that Councillor Hart hoped to repeat these events in the future. It was important to translate the Strategic Plan to the needs of West Devon and it was suggested that the Strategic Plan should appear on the County Committee agenda from time to time. It was also suggested that the Committee may want to issue a press release after a future meeting to raise the profile of the Committee in the local community.

*14 West Devon County Committee Locality Budget for Financial Year 2009/10 - Confirmation of Spending Proposals and Spend to Date

The Committee considered the report of the County Community Strategy Officer (CX/09/105 - text only | pdf CX/09/105) on the budget position as at 20 November 2009.

RESOLVED

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

(b) that the Committee noted that the following payments were approved by the Chairman at the meeting:

Crowndale, Landscaping Football Field: 1,000 - Councillor Sellis

Tavistock Community Transport Association: 2,500 - to be split between ` Councillors Marsh ( 800), Sanders ( 900) and Sellis ( 800)

South Tawton Parish Council: 500 - Councillor McInnes

Chagford Combined Charity: 500 - Councillor McInnes

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

*15 Devon Youth Service (South West Team) Update

The Committee noted the briefing paper giving a premises update and setting out diversionary work and the youth work programme.

Members raised the issue of lack of information on youth service issues provided to local Members and requested that an urgent meeting be arranged with Ms Pippa St John Cooper, Youth Team Leader South Hams, West Devon.

*16 Overview/Scrutiny Committees Current Activities

The Committee noted the report by the Chief Executive (CX/09/100 - text only | pdf CX/09/100) on which was placed on the agenda for information.

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

*17 Forward Plan

Members discussed items for future meetings and agreed that the following items be discussed at future meetings:-

Community Hubs and Northlew Pilot

Rural Access to Health Task Group report

Okehampton Community Forum

Health in the Rural Community (especially dementia)

Transfer of Cancer Services from RDE to Derriford (for information)

*18 Date of Next Meeting

The Committee noted that the next meeting on the DCC web calendar was due to be held on Thursday 8 April 2010 at 2pm.

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 2.00pm and finished at 3.55pm

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