Present:

Devon County Council

Councillors Bowden, Diviani, B Hughes, S Hughes, Knight, Moulding, Randall Johnson, Taylor, Wragg, Giles

East Devon District Council

Councillor Chubb

Devon Association Parish Councils

Councillor Pollentine

Apologies

Councillors Bloxham and Channon

*29 Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman

Councillors B Hughes and Knight were elected Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively for the ensuing year.

*30 Minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 March 2010 be signed as a correct record.

*31 Honiton Magistrates Court

(An item taken under Section100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972)

(Councillor B Hughes declared a personal interest by virtue of his spouse being a magistrate)

The Chairman had decided that, at the request of Councillor Randall Johnson, the Committee should consider this item as a matter of urgency to allow Members to comment about the possible closure of a local Magistrates Court.

Councillor Randall Johnson reported that the Ministry of Justice had published a consultation on the provision of courts services in Devon and one of the proposals was the closure of Honiton Magistrates Court. The consultation had been sent to the County s Chief Executive for comment.

It was MOVED by Councillor Randall Johnson, SECONDED by Councillor B Hughes and

RESOLVED that the Chief Executive be advised of this Committee s view that it is strongly opposed to the closure of Honiton Magistrates Court on the basis that (a) there is a dearth of Magistrates Courts in East Devon and would therefore disadvantage East Devon residents and (b) that Honiton has excellent transport links and is therefore ideally suited as a location for a Magistrates Court.

*32 Issues from Members Representing DCC on other Bodies

There were no issues from Member representatives.

*33 Emergency Planning Awareness

Mr Richard Horne, the Emergency Planning Manager, attended to make a presentation on Emergency Planning and briefly explained the difference between emergency response undertaken by the blue light services and Emergency Planning and Recovery process which the County Council undertakes in partnership with other bodies.

It was MOVED by Councillor B Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Knight and

RESOLVED that this item be deferred to the next meeting of this Committee in November when Mr Horne will be accompanied by Mr Dom Maxwell-Batten, Emergency Planning Officer, who would be able to explain the Emergency Planning process in more detail.

*34 East Devon Local Strategic Partnership

The Committee noted the minutes of the meeting held on 7 April 2010 which were attached to the agenda for information.

*35 Member Development Steering Group

The Committee noted the minutes of the meeting held on 19 May 2010 which were attached to the agenda for information.

*36 Locality Budgets 2009/10 - Confirmation of Spending Proposals Spend to Date

The Committee considered the report from County Community Strategy Officer (CX/10/73 - text only | pdf CX/10/73) on the current budget situation as at 17 June 2010 and on the outturn position for 2009/10.

It was MOVED by Councillor B Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Knight and

RESOLVED

(a) that the position regarding the outturn for 2009/10 be noted;

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

Play equipment for Broadclyst Villagers Improving Play: 1,800 Councillor Bowden Improving land for Broadclyst Gardening Club: 400 Councillor Bowden

Alcoblow project for EDDC CSP : 870 Councillors S Hughes, Taylor, Knight

Grow and Cook project for HALFF : 500 Councillor Moulding

Restoration of window, Combpyne Rousdon PC : 1,000 Councillor Knight

(c) that the current budget position for 2010/11 be noted;

*37 ACS Modernisation

(Councillor Moulding declared a personal interest in this item by virtue of having a relative receiving adult social care)

Councillor Stuart Barker, Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services, attended and gave the Committee and update on the ACS Modernisation programme. The update included the latest situation in respect of advertising care homes, offered as going concerns on a 125 year lease. The staff would transfer under TUPE regulations and he explained how expected redundancies had been reduced due to relocation. On Domestic Care the County had negotiated lower rates with the private sector and that current DCC staff would not be replaced but transferred to the private sector with residual staff being retrained. Monitoring would be undertaken with a tele-registration system using client s landlines to make it failsafe. He touched on caring for those with learning disabilities and the number of extra care housing units for market towns and the larger number required for Exmouth. Councillor Barker advised Members that he would shortly be commissioning a report on Exmouth and discussed the situation vis- -vis the Hartley Road site. Members were informed that Mr Roger Grainger was the lead officer for Exmouth. Councillor Barker then went on to talk about Day Care which he felt was an expensive way to provide social care and that in future clients would have their own funds to spend as they see fit to help them live independently. He concluded by outlining the concept of using libraries as a way of accessing care services.

Members asked questions and made statements in relation to the following:-

that any discussions about Exmouth should involve the Exmouth Regeneration Board comprised of two County Councillors, two District Councillor and two Town Councillors;

that local County Councillors had not been involved in any discussion about modernising care services in Exmouth;

how many care homes were inspected?

did the 125 year lease on care homes contain a clause that the site should remain a care facility?

do care homes have an annex to deal with special care and does the County Council purchase speciality care for dementia?

is there a breakdown of where all the care units need to be in East Devon?

the Headway voluntary group provides excellent social care, is it supported by the County Council;

does DCC provide an advocacy service for older people who might have difficulty navigating the direct payments system?

were all clients going to be on direct payments?

how is the Council going to make the savings expected by the new Government?

what is the market value system and star rating system used in the update based on?

The Chairman thanked Councillor Barker for his update.

*38 East Devon Youth Service

The Committee received and noted the report of the East Devon Area Co-ordinator on the Devon Youth Service, focusing on the staff vacancies that have arisen in the service and funding and future for the East Devon Local Children s Trust.

*39 Early Years and Childcare Services Update

The Committee received and noted the termly update for Councillors for the East Devon area.

*40 Date for Next Meeting

The Committee noted that the next meeting was scheduled to take place on Monday 1 November 2010 at 2.15pm at the East Devon District Council Offices, Knowle, Sidmouth.

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 10.30am and finished at 12.30pm

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