Present

Devon County Council

Councillors B Hughes (Chairman), Channon, Diviani, Giles, S Hughes, Knight, Moulding, Randall Johnson, Taylor and Wragg,

Devon Association Parish Councils

Councillor Green

Apologies

Councillors Bowden, Drew and Halse

*71 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 31 October 2011 be signed as a correct record.

*72 Representation on Outside Bodies: Local Issues

(a) Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

Councillor Wragg referred to a recent meeting of the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority of which she was a member. The Authority at its last meeting had raised the matter of a special responsibility allowance for its Chairman (a lay member) and it was noted that the item had been deferred to its following meeting for consideration.

(b) Exe Estuary Management Committee

The Chairman reported that the Exeter City Council (as a port authority) had now taken its seat on the Committee and was also providing partnership funding support.

*73 Homestart East Devon Update

The Committee received a presentation from Ms Pamela Norman a trustee of Exeter and East Devon Homestart. The presentation covered:

the work of Homestart to support families with young children and its expansion from Exeter into East Devon with additional volunteers in Exmouth, Honiton, the Axe Valley and Sidmouth. The Trust works with approximately 93 families and 226 children in the area

its role in supporting and complementing (avoiding duplication) the work of the county council s adult and children s services (via for example children s centres and Sure Start) and health authorities where sometimes the thresholds for support were higher than that of Homestart. Referrals would often come from Health Visitors who have good knowledge of their work

loss of match funding from statutory agencies and the need for additional funding of approximately 30k per annum over the next 5 years; and the cost to train a volunteer was approximately 1000

each Homestart was an autonomous organisation within an umbrella association.

Members expressed their general support of the work of Homestart and suggested that financial help through their discretionary fund be considered. Ms Norman confirmed that she would take the offer back to her management committee.

The Chairman thanked Ms Norman for the presentation.

*74 Youth Service Update

Lisa Rutter (Youth Service Team Leader) reported on recent organisational and senior management changes and extended geographical areas with one team covering Exeter, East and Mid Devon and referred to the potential service impact. There was now less staff flexibility (arising from sickness or vacancies for example) and with increased demands on support clerical/administrative staff all of which could affect youth centre sessions and initiatives. The Vice Chairman of the People s Scrutiny Committee reported on data from the Service on the number of sessions within a 3 month period from October to December which equated to a loss of some 2.1%. The impact of the changes would be kept under review.

With the recent appointment of a new post of Senior Manager, Young People s Services with responsibility for the Youth Service, Youth Offending Service, and Young People s Substance Misuse Service a more integrated approach to the Youth Service was being explored. There had also been new national strategic guidance for local authorities with an emphasis on early intervention.

The current economic climate was making an impact on recruitment of voluntary and paid staff with considerably more applications. The motivation to support and engage with young people however remained a prerequisite.

It was noted by the Committee that despite the budgetary pressures, capacity issues and constraints the quality of street based and youth centre work remained high.

The Chairman thanked Ms Rutter for her presentation.

*75 Locality Budgets 2010/11

The Committee received the report of the County Community Strategy Officer (SC/12/11 - text only | pdf | supplementary information SC/12/11) (to be revised) on spend to date from the Members Locality Budgets. There were no new spending proposals since the last meeting. The Strategy Officer confirmed that any underspends from both the locality and discretionary budgets would be carried forward to the next financial year.

*76 Minutes

The Committee noted the minutes of the Member Development Steering Group held on 16 January 2012.

*77 Future Meeting

Monday 2 July 2012, commencing at 10.30 am (or on the rising of the East Devon HATOC, whichever was the later).

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 11.00am and finished at 1.00pm

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