Agenda, decisions and minutes

In memory of Councillor Mr Frank Letch MBE, a minute’s silence will take place.

The Council held a minute’s silence in memory of Councillor Mr Frank Letch MBE who had passed away on the 8^th April 2025. Group leaders and Members of the Council then paid tribute to his many achievements over his lifetime.

Members of the Council will declare any interests they may have in any item to be considered at this meeting, prior to any discussion taking place on that item.

The other registrable interests of Councillors of Devon County Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes.

For details of District and or Town and Parish Twin Hatters – please see here  A list of county councillors who are also district, borough, city, parish or town councillors

The Chair reminded Members they should declare any interests they may have in any item to be considered, prior to any discussion taking place on that item. The details of District and or Town and Parish Twin Hatters was on the attached list -  A list of county councillors who are also district, borough, city, parish or town councillors. Councillor Hodgson said she would declare an interest at agenda item 10.

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the budget meeting held on 20^th February 2025 and the special meeting of 20^th March 2025.

The Chair of the Council MOVED and it was duly SECONDED that the minutes of the budget meeting held on 20 February 2025 and the special meeting of 20^th March 2025 be signed as a correct record.

The Motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

The Chair of the Council MOVED and it was duly SECONDED that the minutes of the budget meeting held on 20 February 2025 and the special meeting of 20^th March 2025 be signed as a correct record.

The Motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

The Chair of the Council reported on the sad passing of former County Councillor and Alderman Lieutenant-Colonel Tony Drake. Alderman Lieutenant-Colonel Tony Drake had served on East Devon District Council from 1987 to May 1991 and he became a member of Devon County Council in May 1989 in the division of Axminster Rural. He was elected again in 1993, 1997 and 2001.

He became a Deputy Lord Lieutenant in January 1996, was high Sheriff between 2001 and 2002 and was Chair of Devon County Council in 2003.

The Council also congratulated the Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centre’s and contractor who had been shortlisted in the Letsrecycle Awards for Excellence in Recycling & Waste Management 2025 in the Reuse Initiative of The Year category. The entry focused on the significant achievement of having sold over 10,500 tonnes of re-usable goods.

In line with the Cabinet Procedure Rules, the Leader and/or Cabinet Members may update the Council with any important updates or announcements

that cannot reasonably wait.

Members may ask a brief question directly related to any verbal announcement made.

In line with the Cabinet Procedure Rules, the Council could receive any important updates or announcements from the Leader and/or Cabinet Members that could not reasonably wait.

There were no updates to be shared with the Council.

There was no item raised as a matter of urgency.

Petitions, Questions or Representations from Members of the public in line with the Council’s Petitions and Public Participation Schemes.

The Leader was presented with a petition from Dr Sally Murrall-Smith, on behalf of the Totnes Community, relating to youth services at Rushbrook, Totnes.

The Leader indicated that the relevant Cabinet Member or Director would be asked to respond direct to the petitioner on the issues raised, within 15 days.

In accordance with the Council's Public Participation Rules, the relevant Cabinet Members responded to two questions  from members of the public on the following matters;

1.    Bus User and Stakeholder Forum meeting, Local Government Reorganisation and responsibilities of the Combined Authority for transport planning and public transport; and

2.    The closure of Warfleet Road, Dartmouth and confirmation of when work will start to open the road and completion date;

The Cabinet Members responded orally to supplementary questions arising from the above and a copy of the questions and answers had been sent direct to questioners and published to the website.

In accordance with the Council's Public Participation Rules, the Council also received and acknowledged oral representations made by Caoimhe Mckenna

on youth services within Totnes and the services provided from Rushbrook.

The Chair thanked all those attending for their questions and representations.

(NB: A copy of the questions and answers are appended to these minutes and any supplementary questions and answers may be observed through the webcast of this meeting).

There was no Petition received from a Member of the Council.

Answers to questions from Members of the Council pursuant to Standing Order 17.

(Councillor Hodgson declared a personal interest in this matter by virtue of being a Chair / Trustee of Totnes Rural Area Youth Engagement (TRAYE) project)

In accordance with the Council’s Procedure Rules, the Leader and relevant Cabinet Members provided written responses to six questions submitted by Members of the Council relating to the following matters;

1.    the 80th anniversaries of VE Day on 8 May 2025 and VJ Day on 15 August 2025, the role of the Council in honouring both service and sacrifice, and supporting commemorative activities moving forwards;

2.    annual cost of servicing historical debt;

3.    providers for Adult Social Care and the percentage that were ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’;

4.    percentage of modernised street lights, reduction in carbon emissions and any financial benefit;

5.    Rushbrook Youth Space, impact of withdrawal of funded regular youth services, and impact assessment to understand the impacts of proposed reductions; and

6.    unitary reorganisation proposals and comparative assessment of bringing public services back in house and differentials in costs.

The Leader and relevant Cabinet Members also responded orally, as appropriate, to any supplementary questions arising therefrom.

(A copy of the questions and answers are appended to the minutes and any supplementary questions and answers may be observed through the webcast of this meeting)

To receive and adopt and / or approve the Minutes of the under mentioned Committees

In accordance with Standing Order 13(2), the Chair of the Council MOVED

and it was duly SECONDED that the Minutes of the undermentioned meetings

of Committees be endorsed.

Audit Committee                                     -         27 February 2025

Appeals Committee                                -         3 March, 31 March and

24 April 2025

Investment & Pension Fund Committee  -         3 March 2025

Public Rights of Way Committee             -         6 March 2025

Standards Committee                             -         10 March 2025

Appointments, Remuneration and 

Chief Office Conduct Committee             -         14 March 2025

(Including approval of minute 111 relating to the appointment to the post of Assistant Director Commissioning for Children and Young People's Futures).

Development Management Committee   -         16 April 2025

Children’s Scrutiny                                 -         17 March 2025

Health & Adult Care Scrutiny                  -         24 March 2025

Corporate Infrastructure & Regulatory     -         27 March 2025

Services Scrutiny

The Motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

In accordance with Standing Order 13(2), the Chair of the Council MOVED and it was duly SECONDED that the Minutes of the undermentioned meetings of Committees be endorsed.

Audit Committee                                     -         27 February 2025

Appeals Committee                                -         3 March, 31 March and

24 April 2025

Investment & Pension Fund Committee  -         3 March 2025

Public Rights of Way Committee             -         6 March 2025

Standards Committee                             -         10 March 2025

Appointments, Remuneration and

Chief Office Conduct Committee             -         14 March 2025

(Including approval of minute 111 relating to the appointment to the post of Assistant Director Commissioning for Children and Young People's Futures).

Development Management Committee   -         16 April 2025

Children’s Scrutiny                                 -         17 March 2025

Health & Adult Care Scrutiny                  -         24 March 2025

Corporate Infrastructure & Regulatory     -         27 March 2025

Services Scrutiny

The Motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

To receive the Scrutiny Annual Report, a copy of which is attached to this agenda.

The Council received and endorsed the 2024/25 Annual Report which summarised the activities and investigations undertaken by each of the Council’s three Scrutiny Committees during the course of the year, the outcomes arising and the continuing challenges.

The Council received and endorsed the 2024/25 Annual Report summarising the activities and investigations undertaken by each of the Council’s three Scrutiny Committees during the course of the year, the outcomes arising and the continuing challenges.

The Council noted that 2024/25 was the final year of the 2021-2025 Council and each Scrutiny Committee had written a 4 year overview report focused on both the work and the impact achieved:

Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Service (CIRS) Scrutiny - CIRS 4 Year Report 2021-2025.pdf

Children’s Scrutiny - Children's Scrutiny Four Year Report

Health and Adults Scrutiny - 4 Year Health Adult Care Scrutiny Overview.pdf

CIRS had a significant focus on the future delivery of the highways maintenance service and the Climate Change Standing Overview Group met with Barclays, the Council’s banking provider on their policies regarding climate transition and financing of fossil fuels. The Committee also focused on the Council’s implementation of the new finance system, specifically assurance on budget, timelines, and objectives on the implementation.

Children’s Scrutiny continued its focus on monitoring the improvements of the Children’s Social Care and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities services at its Committee meetings. The Fostering Task Group highlighted how the Council could improve the experiences of Foster Carers in Devon and the Budget Monitoring Standing Overview Group helped improved Member’s knowledge and understanding of the Budget.

Health and Adult Care Scrutiny had continued to respond to the concerns of local people holding a Task Group review of End of Life Care, as well as using the Standing Overview Group to review Integrated Adult Social Care (IASC) Customer Feedback, Quality Accounts and the draft Dementia Strategy. The Committee further focussed on services for unpaid carers; transitions; safeguarding adults, IASC finance and performance. Members continued to monitor the ‘One Devon’ Integrated Care Board budget deficit. 

Looking to the future, the Council faced several opportunities and challenges, including balancing its budget while delivering services and transformation for the residents of Devon. The importance of working with partners to deliver on these matters was an important area the next Committees will want to consider. The Government had set out a series of reforms and ambitions for local government that the new committees would need to keep abreast of whilst bringing the voice of residents to the forefront of policy and decision-making.

As this was the final year of the Council it presented an opportunity to once again reiterate thanks to witnesses, the public, officers and Cabinet Members who had engaged with Scrutiny over the past four years. Scrutiny worked well when viewed positively with an opportunity to influence change, while bringing to the fore, the voice of residents.

Scrutiny Chairs and Vice Chairs express their continued thanks to all Scrutiny Committee Members across the four year term, the dedicated Scrutiny Team  ...  view the full minutes text for item 373.

To receive and consider the recommendations of the Cabinet (Minute 740(a)) as an amendment to the following Notice of Motion submitted previously to the Council by Councillor Atkinson and referred thereto in accordance with Standing Order 8(2), namely: 

This Council notes that it is the Government’s intention to introduce legislation to lower the voting age before the next General election.

This council supports the commitment of the Government to give 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in elections and requests that legislation is brought forward as soon as possible.

Having had regard to the aforementioned, any factual briefing/position statement on the matter set out in Report (LDS/25/8)and other suggestions or alternatives considered at that meeting the Cabinet subsequently resolved:

that Council be recommended to

(a) note the Government's intention to introduce legislation to lower the voting age before the next General election;

(b) welcome the spirit of the notice of motion in terms of supporting young people to engage with democracy and democratic processes and ask Members to support the commitment of the Council in promoting and raising awareness of the upcoming County Council election, including working with the Devon Youth Council to develop targeted communications to first time voters and young people interested in voting; and

(c) continue to build on this engagement with the Devon Youth Council to support their aim to get the voice of young people heard and make a positive change.

That Council

(a) notes the Government's intention to introduce legislation to lower the voting age before the next General election;

(b) welcomes the spirit of the notice of motion in terms of supporting young people to engage with democracy and democratic processes and ask Members to support the commitment of the Council in promoting and raising awareness of the upcoming County Council election, including working with the Devon Youth Council to develop targeted communications to first time voters and young people interested in voting; and

(c) continue to build on this engagement with the Devon Youth Council to support their aim to get the voice of young people heard and make a positive change.

The amendment in the name of Councillor McInnes was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and subsequently thereafter also CARRIED as the substantive motion.

Pursuant to County Council Minute 355 of 20 February 2025 relating to the Notice of Motion set out below as previously submitted and formally moved and seconded by Councillor Atkinson that: 

This Council notes that it is the Government’s intention to introduce legislation to lower the voting age before the next General election.

This Council supports the commitment of the Government to give 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in elections and requests that legislation is brought forward as soon as possible.

and having had regard to the advice of the Cabinet set out in Minute 740(a) of 9 April 2025:

Councillor McInnes MOVED and Councillor Davis SECONDED that the Cabinet’s advice be accepted and that Notice of Motion be amended to read as follows:

That Council

(a) notes the Government's intention to introduce legislation to lower the voting age before the next General election;

(b) welcomes the spirit of the notice of motion in terms of supporting young people to engage with democracy and democratic processes and ask Members to support the commitment of the Council in promoting and raising awareness of the upcoming County Council election, including working with the Devon Youth Council to develop targeted communications to first time voters and young people interested in voting; and

(c) continue to build on this engagement with the Devon Youth Council to support their aim to get the voice of young people heard and make a positive change.

The amendment in the name of Councillor McInnes was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and subsequently thereafter also CARRIED as the substantive motion.

To receive and consider the recommendations of the Cabinet (Minute 740(b)) as an amendment to the following Notice of Motion submitted previously to the Council by Councillor Leaver and referred thereto in accordance with Standing Order 8(2), namely: 

 Council notes:

The 1995 and 2011 Pension Act saw the State Pension age for women rise from 60 to 66 but the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) failed to adequately communicate these changes.  Tens of thousands of women were plunged into poverty.  One-in-four struggled to buy food and one third fell into debt.

A landmark Ombudsman report in March 2024 told the Government to pay compensation and apologise to 3.6 million, women born in the 1950’s who were affected by the lack of communication in relation to their State Pension age.  The report concluded ministers failed to properly notify those impacted by the changes.

The government recently announced that there will be no financial compensation for WASPI women, despite the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) report which recommended between £1,000 and £2,950 compensation foreach woman affected.  Urgent action is imperative as more than 290,000 WASPI women have tragically died since the campaign began; another dies every 13 minutes.  The longer the Government prevaricates, the fewer women they will have to pay compensation to.

Last month the House of Commons passed a vote on a Bill that would compel the government to establish a compensation scheme for women who lost out financially from the rise in state mention age. The vote means the Bill has passed the first hurdle but will only become law with the backing of government.

Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) calls for fair and fast compensation for the financial and emotional hardship caused by DWP failures.  WASPI argues for the highest level of compensation for the worst affected, i.e., women who had the shortest notice of the longest increase to their state pension.  The worst affected women received just 18 months’ notice of a six year increase to their state pension age. WASPI continues to call for All Members of Parliament (MP’s) to support the urgent delivery of fair and fast compensation to all those affected; and compensation scheme proposals should be brought before MPs to vote on as quickly as possible.

Council believes:

-       All political parties in Devon should be calling for support and compensation for the 1950’s-born women affected.

-       It is unacceptable for the DWP and the Government to “listen respectfully” while not compensating the WASPI women.

-       Devon County Council should condemn the lack of recognition in both the Conservative and Labour 2024 General Election manifestos.  Released on 13 June, the 2024 Labour manifesto contained no reference at all to WASPI compensation or the recent Ombudsman report. The Liberal Democrats were the only nationwide party that pledged to provide compensation to the WASPI women.

-       Devon County Council should urge all MPs in Devon to vote in favour of the Bill when it reaches its second reading.

Council resolves:

1. To  ...  view the full agenda text for item 375.

that Council

(a) expresses its deep disappointment with the injustice caused by the Government decision not to financially compensate women affected by the failure to communicate about State Pension age changes and its refusal to comply with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s recommendations; and

(b) writes to Devon MPs urging them to support the Women’s State

Pension Age (Ombudsman Report and Compensation Scheme) Bill.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Leaver was then put to the vote and declared LOST (see minutes for amendment text).

The motion (above) in the name of Councillor McInnes was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

(All Members of the Council had been granted a dispensation to allow them to speak and vote in any debate on this matter by virtue of being in receipt of or affected by any changes to the state pension provision)

Pursuant to County Council Minute 356 of 20 February 2025 relating to the Notice of Motion set out below as previously submitted and formally moved and seconded by Councillor Leaver that: 

Council notes:

The 1995 and 2011 Pension Act saw the State Pension age for women rise from 60 to 66 but the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) failed to adequately communicate these changes.  Tens of thousands of women were plunged into poverty.  One-in-four struggled to buy food and one third fell into debt.

A landmark Ombudsman report in March 2024 told the Government to pay compensation and apologise to 3.6 million, women born in the 1950’s who were affected by the lack of communication in relation to their State Pension age.  The report concluded ministers failed to properly notify those impacted by the changes.

The government recently announced that there will be no financial compensation for WASPI women, despite the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) report which recommended between £1,000 and £2,950 compensation foreach woman affected.  Urgent action is imperative as more than 290,000 WASPI women have tragically died since the campaign began; another dies every 13 minutes.  The longer the Government prevaricates, the fewer women they will have to pay compensation to.

Last month the House of Commons passed a vote on a Bill that would compel the government to establish a compensation scheme for women who lost out financially from the rise in state pension age. The vote means the Bill has passed the first hurdle but will only become law with the backing of government.

Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) calls for fair and fast compensation for the financial and emotional hardship caused by DWP failures.  WASPI argues for the highest level of compensation for the worst affected, i.e., women who had the shortest notice of the longest increase to their state pension.  The worst affected women received just 18 months’ notice of a six year increase to their state pension age. WASPI continues to call for All Members of Parliament (MP’s) to support the urgent delivery of fair and fast compensation to all those affected; and compensation scheme proposals should be brought before MPs to vote on as quickly as possible.

Council believes:

-       All political parties in Devon should be calling for support and compensation for the 1950’s-born women affected.

-       It is unacceptable for the DWP and the Government to “listen respectfully” while not compensating the WASPI women.

-       Devon County Council should condemn the lack of recognition in both the Conservative and Labour 2024 General Election manifestos.  Released on 13 June, the 2024 Labour manifesto contained no reference at all to WASPI compensation or the recent Ombudsman report. The Liberal Democrats were the only nationwide party that pledged to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 375.