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Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - County Hall

Contact: Karen Strahan, 01392 382264  Email: karen.strahan@devon.gov.uk

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Media

Items
Note No. Item

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81.

Minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2021 (previously circulated).

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2021 be signed as a correct record.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2021 be signed as a correct record.

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82.

Items Requiring Urgent Attention

Items which in the opinion of the Chair should be considered at the meeting as matters of urgency.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There was no item raised as a matter of urgency.

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83.

Announcements

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There was no announcement by the Chair at this meeting.

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84.

Petitions

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There was no petition received from a Member of the Public or the Council.

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85.

Question(s) from Members of the Council

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There was no question from a Member of the Council.

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86.

Target Budget and Service Targets for 2022/2023 pdf icon PDF 142 KB

The Report of the Director of Finance on the Target Budget and Service Targets for 2022/2023 will follow.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

(a) that the expected timing of the Provisional Settlement be noted;

 

(b) that the revenue spending targets for 2022/23 as set out in paragraph 2 of the Report, be approved; and

 

(c) that the Capital Programme be determined by Cabinet on 11th February 2022.

Minutes:

(Councillors Biederman, Connett, Dewhirst and Hannaford attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Finance (DF/21/23) circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 relating to the Budget Targets for 2022/2023.

 

The Targets had been set out in paragraph 2 and represented an overall increase of £48.7 million or 8.4%.

 

The Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement had not been announced but was expected the week commencing 13th December. The exact date was not known but Members noted that an update on the Provisional Settlement would be provided at the January Cabinet meeting.

 

As previously reported, significant pressures continued to be experienced and the unprecedented set of circumstances faced by the Country had led to demand growth, cost base increases and acute labour shortages. Adult Care and Health and Children’s Services were continuing to experience in year operational pressures that were impacting financial performance.

 

It was proposed to further support time limited pressures, invest to save programmes and to provide these critical services with time to manage demand and transform further by utilising some of the Council’s reserves and this commitment and its implications would be detailed within the budget papers in January.

 

The Capital Programme for 2022/23 to 2026/27 would also be presented to Cabinet at the February Budget meeting.

 

The proposed targets were set out in the table below.

 

 

 

2021/22 Adjusted Budget *

Savings & additional Income

2022/23 Budget

Net change

 

 

 

 

Inflation & Pressures

 

 

 

 

 

 

£000

£000

£000

£000

 

£000

%

1

Adult Care & Health

283,294

47,875

(18,241)

312,928

 

29,634

10.5%

2

Childrens Services

159,036

28,787

(11,675)

176,148

 

17,112

10.8%

3

Communities, Public Health E&P

40,280

3,809

(2,846)

41,243

 

963

2.4%

4

Corporate Services

40,937

3,612

(2,830)

41,719

 

782

1.9%

5

Highways, Infrastructure D&W

57,124

3,349

(3,149)

57,324

 

200

0.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

580,671

87,432

(38,741)

629,362

 

48,691

8.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Adjusted for permanent virements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The matter having been debated and other relevant factors as set out in the Director of Finance’s Report and/or referred to above having been considered:

 

it was MOVED by Councillor Twiss, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

 

RESOLVED

 

(a) that the expected timing of the Provisional Settlement be noted;

 

(b) that the revenue spending targets for 2022/23 as set out in paragraph 2 of the Report, be approved; and

 

(c) that the Capital Programme be determined by Cabinet on 11th February 2022.

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87.

Approval of a Framework for prioritising 20mph projects pdf icon PDF 240 KB

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development, (HIW/21/82) setting out a proposed framework for assessing and prioritising requests for 20 mph Speed Limits, attached.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

(a) that the framework for assessing and prioritising requests for 20 mph Speed Limits for use in the preparation of schemes for delivery in 2022/23 (pending agreement of budgets) be approved; and

 

(b) that amendments to the framework be delegated to the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highway Management.

Minutes:

(Councillors Bailey, Biederman, Connett, Dewhirst, Hannaford and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste, (HIW/21/82) on a proposed framework for assessing and prioritising requests for 20 mph speed limits, circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

 

The Cabinet noted that the Newton Abbot 20 mph Pilot Scheme had been in progress since September 2019 and was intended to test whether introducing a default 20SPL would bring increased gains in a number of areas including road safety, active travel, reduced congestion and emissions and an increased sense of public safety.

 

Requests for new 20SPLs continued to be received and were being added to a waiting list. A budget was being sought for 20SPL schemes for 2022/23 from the Local Transport Plan or Section 106 contributions which should provide funding to progress a number of sites, depending on scale. The proposed system conformed to current policy but introduced a wider range of factors to reflect the potential benefits and allow schemes to be progressed where there was greatest benefit and need.

 

The proposal was that Members be invited to make representations for their communities where it was felt that the introduction of a 20SPL would be beneficial; this may be for the whole community or a discrete part of the community. Requests would be reviewed against a framework, a copy of which was included at Appendix 1 to the Report and the proposals prioritised based on alignment with current Policy principles of -   significant vulnerable road user activity and mean speeds were low (24mph or below).

 

The framework also included additional factors to ensure that resource was directed to where there would be the greatest benefit, including speed related casualty collision history, community support, active Community Speed Watch, deprivation Index ranking and existing Air Quality Management area. All schemes would also be considered via safety audit prior to progression. 

 

A budget of £100k had been earmarked for 20SPLs for 2022/23 through the Local Transport Plan or Section 106 contributions.

 

It was expected that introducing appropriate 20SPLs would offer a positive environmental impact as well as assist in community cohesion and focus resources to areas where there was a higher risk of residents being affected by road safety matters. 

 

The Cabinet noted that the proposal allowed for the gathering and prioritisation of requests for new 20SPLs from Members and communities which would remove the current frustration that all new schemes must await the outcome of the Newton Abbot 20 mph Pilot Scheme.

 

However, in the longer term, future changes to the speed Policy and any decision to roll out 20SPLs on a default basis would be informed by the Newton Abbot 20 mph Pilot Scheme.

 

The Cabinet Member advised he would take up the issue of establishing community speed watch schemes with the ‘vision zero’  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

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88.

Future of North Devon Link Service pdf icon PDF 660 KB

Report of the Locality Director (Health and Care) (ACH/21/139) on proposals for the future of North Devon Link Service, attached.

 

An Impact Assessment is also attached for the consideration of Members at the meeting.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

(a) that three of the four Link Centre buildings (Barnstaple, Bideford and Ilfracombe) re-open as soon as it is deemed safe to do so under Covid-19 guidelines;

 

(b) that the Holsworthy centre remain closed and the once-weekly morning drop-in session be moved to an alternative venue in the town;

 

(c) that a local implementation plan and timeframe for redesign of the service to be developed for each centre, including efficiency and management arrangements and Link Centre staff to increasingly focus on outreach support with the mental health social work teams;

 

(d) that work be undertaken with Link Centre staff, service users, local Councillors and local community and voluntary sector representatives to establish:

(i) the outreach services to be delivered in the wider community to ensure equity of provision across all of North Devon. This may include using other community facilities; and

 

(ii) which of the existing non-specialist services can be delivered by local community providers, which will need to be cost-effective and within the available budget;

 

(e) that each local implementation plan assesses the potential for wider community use of the building in partnership with local stakeholders; and

 

(f) that progress on each of the four local implementation plans be reported to the Heath and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee at its meeting scheduled for 21 March 2023.

Minutes:

(Councillors Biederman, Hannaford and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Locality Director (Care and Health) (ACH/21/139) on proposals for the future of the North Devon Link Service, circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

 

The Cabinet noted that the recommended future model for the North Devon Link Centre Service (NDLS) was based on findings from a service review (appendix 1), the impact of Covid-19 (appendix 2), and feedback received in the engagement (appendix 3) and consultation process (appendix 4).

 

The North Devon Link Service was unique to North Devon, established in 1992 as a County Council (DCC) in-house service. It supported people with a wide range of mild mental health needs, was open to all and was free to access.  People using the service might also have autism, a learning disability, be homeless or receiving support for substance misuse.

 

There were four centres across North Devon (Barnstaple, Bideford, Holsworthy and Ilfracombe) supporting 264 registered service users.  The service provided a traditional drop-in day service together with some outreach and group sessions. Whilst the service was the responsibility of the Council it was managed by Devon Partnership Trust (DPT) under a Section 75 Agreement. The service costed £480k per year to run (mostly staff costs), funded by the Council, which also owned the buildings.

 

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the service had moved from face to face to virtual support, mostly by telephone. The 2019 review of the Service found that many of the services offered were not specialist and were also offered by the local community and voluntary sector and a further review was undertaken in May 2021 to understand the impact of Covid-19 on the service.

 

In line with local guidance and whilst Covid rates remained high in Devon, the buildings remain closed.

 

In terms of the proposals to redesign the service, there was a national focus on improving and developing community mental health services.

 

The Report outlined the engagement process with service users, stakeholders and staff between 9 August and 13 September 2021 and following this a revised proposal was developed. A four-week public consultation took place between 23 September and 22 October 2021, alongside a staff consultation supported by Human Resources.

 

The Cabinet Member also met with local MPs and Local Members representing each of the four towns during the engagement period as well as contact with GP practices and three online public events and three staff consultation events.

 

The Report outlined the public consultation feedback from the 256 responses received as well as two on-line petitions. A consistent message in the feedback was that any significant change in the services offered would have a detrimental impact on the mental wellbeing of attendees.

 

The Locality Director’s Report incorporated an Impact Assessment which had been circulated with the agenda for consideration at the meeting. This  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.

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89.

Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee - Treasury Management Stewardship - Mid Year Position pdf icon PDF 101 KB

Report of the Director of Finance (DF/21/11) outlining the Council's Treasury Management Mid-Year Stewardship 2021/22, which updates on key matters arising from the Council’s Treasury and Debt Management activities during the first seven months of the 2021/22 financial year, previously considered and endorsed by the Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee on 18th November 2021 (Minute *23 refers). The Report is attached.

 

Recommendation

 

That Cabinet further endorse the Treasury Management Mid-Year Stewardship 2021/22 Report.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED that the Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee be thanked for their review of the Mid-Year Stewardship Report for the 2021/22 financial year and it be further endorsed and welcomed.

Minutes:

(Councillors Connett, Dewhirst and Hannaford attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Finance (DF/21/11) on the Treasury Management Mid-Year Stewardship 2021/22, which updated on key matters arising from the Council’s Treasury and Debt Management activities during the first seven months of the 2021/22 financial year, the Report having also been considered and endorsed by the Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee on 18 November 2021 (Minute *23 referred).

 

The Report outlined the Borrowing Strategy and its aims for 2020/21 – 2023/24; Analysis of Long Term Debt; Investment Strategy, the Minimum Revenue Provision; the Council’s compliance with the Prudential Indicators as laid out in the CIPFA Code of Practice; and Prospects for 2022/23.

 

In summary, the Report stated that no long-term or short-term borrowing had been undertaken to date in 2021/22, and the expectation was that no new borrowing would be required during the remainder of the 2021/22 financial year; and that investment income at the end of October stood at around £580,000 compared to the budget target for the year of £800,000.

 

Looking ahead, there might be a small increase in the rates available for

treasury investments in 2022/23, but rates would remain very low. The Council, therefore would need to manage its capital programme carefully to ensure it remained affordable within the policy of not taking out further external debt.

 

The matter having been debated and other relevant factors set out in the Director’s Report and/or referred to above having been considered:

 

it was MOVED by Councillor Twiss, SECONDED by Councillor Hart and

 

RESOLVED that the Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee be thanked for their review of the Mid-Year Stewardship Report for the 2021/22 financial year and it be further endorsed and welcomed.

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90.

Children's Scrutiny Committee - In Year Budget Position

The Children’s Scrutiny on 9 November 2021 had considered the Report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services (CS/21/17) on the In Year Budget Position and had RESOLVED ‘(a) that the Committee thanks the Cabinet Member and the Chief Officer for their prudent financial management over a very difficult year; and (b) that the Committee asks Cabinet to ensure sufficient funding for Children’s Services in the 2022/23 Budget to take account of rising demand, pressure on services, ongoing improvement related projects and to minimise future overspend and further asks that there is sufficient capacity in the Council to complete a process-mapping exercise of the Eclipse Social Care Case Management System.

 

Recommendation

 

(a) that Cabinet recognises the work of the Chief Officer and Cabinet Member in their prudent financial management over what has been a very challenging year and thanks them for their efforts as well as the work of the Children’s Scrutiny Committee in holding both to account; and

 

(b) that Cabinet furthermore places on record its thanks the Children’s Scrutiny Committee for their comments and will be working through the budget setting process to ensure, as far as practicable, that the 2022/23 budget takes account of rising demand, pressures on services and the planned improvement projects to minimise any future overspend.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

(a) that the work of the Chief Officer and Cabinet Member in their prudent financial management over what has been a very challenging year be recognised and they be thanked for their efforts as well as the work of the Children’s Scrutiny Committee in holding both to account; and

 

(b) that Cabinet furthermore places on record its thanks the Children’s Scrutiny Committee for their comments and will be working through the budget setting process to ensure, as far as practicable, that the 2022/23 budget takes account of rising demand, pressures on services and the planned improvement projects to minimise any future overspend.

Minutes:

(Councillors Connett, Dewhirst and Hannaford attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

The Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee on 9 November 2021 had considered the Report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services (CS/21/17) on the In Year Budget Position and had RESOLVED ‘(a) that the Committee thanks the Cabinet Member and the Chief Officer for their prudent financial management over a very difficult year; and (b) that the Committee asks Cabinet to ensure sufficient funding for Children’s Services in the 2022/23 Budget to take account of rising demand, pressure on services, ongoing improvement related projects and to minimise future overspend and further asks that there is sufficient capacity in the Council to complete a process-mapping exercise of the Eclipse Social Care Case Management System.

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Hart, SECONDED by Councillor McInnes and

 

RESOLVED

 

(a) that the work of the Chief Officer and Cabinet Member in their prudent financial management over what has been a very challenging year be recognised and they be thanked for their efforts as well as the work of the Children’s Scrutiny Committee in holding both to account; and

 

(b) that Cabinet furthermore places on record its thanks the Children’s Scrutiny Committee for their comments and will be working through the budget setting process to ensure, as far as practicable, that the 2022/23 budget takes account of rising demand, pressures on services and the planned improvement projects to minimise any future overspend.

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91.

Torbay and Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership - Annual Report pdf icon PDF 134 KB

Annual Report of the Chair of the Torbay and Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership, attached.

 

Mr Paul Northcott will be in attendance (via Teams) to present their Report.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED that the TDSAP be thanked for their work and the production of an informative Annual Report.

Minutes:

(Councillors Connett, Hannaford and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Chair of the Torbay and Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership (TDSAP) and the Chair of the Board, Paul Northcott, attended the meeting remotely to present the Report. The Cabinet noted it was a statutory requirement, under the Care Act 2014, for each Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) to produce and publish an Annual Report and present this to Health and Wellbeing Board(s).  As in previous years, the TDSAP also presented the Annual Report to the relevant Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet.

 

The TDSAP acted as the key mechanism for agreeing how agencies worked together to safeguard and promote the safety and wellbeing of adults at risk and/or in vulnerable situations. It did this by co-ordinating what each of the TDSAP partners did and ensured that they do it effectively.

 

The full Annual Report, which had been circulated with the agenda summarised the safeguarding activity undertaken throughout 2020-21, including the work of the various sub groups.

 

The Report would be published on the website, alongside full details of Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs), which had been published during this and previous years. Work was also currently underway to produce easy read versions of the Report.

 

The period covered by the Report ended on 31 March 2021.  Covid-19 had had an impact on the work of the partnership and had brought many challenges. However, despite these additional pressures, all partners had continued to work effectively together and responded well when being held to account Partners had shown continuous commitment to the key strategic areas and provided a good level of assurance throughout the year.

 

The TDSAP was also required to produce a Strategic Business Plan and the e plan for 2021–2024 had been developed and published - Strategic Business Plan 2021-2024 - Torbay and Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership

 

More detailed information about the work of the TDSAP was available on the TDSAP website: Home - Torbay and Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership

 

It was MOVED by Councillor McInnes, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

 

RESOLVED that the TDSAP be thanked for their work and the production of an informative Annual Report.

 

 

 

 

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92.

Question(s) from Members of the Public

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There was no question from a Member of the public.

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93.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 222 KB

Minutes of the bodies shown below are circulated herewith for information or endorsement as indicated therein (i.e. any unstarred minutes):

 

[NB: Minutes of County Council Committees are published on the Council’s Website:

Minutes of the Devon Education (Schools) Forum:  

Minutes of the South West Waste Partnership

Minutes of the Devon & Cornwall Police & Crime Panel

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the following be endorsed and any recommendations to Cabinet therein be approved:

 

Devon Education Forum – 17 November 2021

Including endorsement of Minute 17(a) and 17(b) in relation to proposals for the 2022-23 Schools Revenue Funding Formula.

Farms Estate Committee – 29 November 2021

Minutes:

Councillors Connett and Hannaford attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Hart, SECONDED by Councillor McInnes, and

 

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the following be endorsed and any recommendations to Cabinet therein be approved:

 

Devon Education Forum – 17 November 2021

Including endorsement of Minute 17(a) and 17(b) in relation to proposals for the 2022-23 Schools Revenue Funding Formula.

Farms Estate Committee – 29 November 2021

 

The Cabinet noted that the Devon Audit Partnership of 15 November 2021 had been inquorate and any required decisions would be resubmitted to the next meeting.

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94.

Delegated Action/Urgent Matters

The Register of Decisions taken by Members under the urgency provisions or delegated powers is available on the website in line with the Council’s Constitution and Regulation 13 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.  The decisions taken and associated information can be found here.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Registers of Decisions taken by Members and under the urgency provisions or delegated powers were available for inspection, in line with the Council’s Constitution and Regulation 13 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012. Decisions taken by Officers under any express authorisation of the Cabinet or other Committee or under any general authorisation within the Council’s Scheme of Delegation set out in Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution.

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95.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 95 KB

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the Cabinet is requested to review the list of forthcoming business (previously circulated) and to determine which items are to be defined as key and/or framework decisions and included in the Plan from the date of this meeting.

 

The Forward Plan is available on the Council's website.

Additional documents:

Decision:

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the Cabinet reviewed the Forward Plan and determined those items of business to be defined as key and framework decisions and included in the Plan from the date of this meeting onwards reflecting the requirements of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

 

The Cabinet noted the addition to the January Cabinet meeting relating to Skypark Development Partnership Joint Venture and an update to proposals (Part 2).

Minutes:

Councillor Hannaford attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the Cabinet reviewed the Forward Plan and determined those items of business to be defined as key and framework decisions and included in the Plan from the date of this meeting onwards reflecting the requirements of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

 

The Cabinet noted the addition to the January Cabinet meeting relating to Skypark Development Partnership Joint Venture and an update to proposals (Part 2).


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