Agenda and minutes

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

There was no matter raised as a matter of urgency.

Members of the public may make representations/presentations on any substantive matter listed in the published agenda for this meeting, as set out hereunder, relating to a specific matter or an examination of services or facilities provided or to be provided.

There were no oral representations from members of the Public.

Report of the County Treasurer (CT/19/08), attached.

(Councillor Barker attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(1) and spoke to this item at the invitation of the Committee.)

The Committee considered the Report of the County Treasurer (CT/19/08) on the Capital Strategy 2019/20 – 2023/24.  The Council, as part of the annual budgeting process, was required to produce an affordable Medium Term Capital Programme alongside its annual revenue budget.  Additionally, this year for the first time, there was a requirement to prepare a Capital Strategy in line with the CIPFA prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities 2017.  

The Capital Strategy set out the policy framework for the development, management and monitoring of capital investment.  The strategy focussed on key principles that underpinned the authority’s capital programme, and its short to medium term objectives as well as supporting the Council’s strategic and operational objectives. 

The Report would be submitted to the Cabinet and the County Council for ratification following consideration by this Committee.

It was MOVED by Councillor Dewhirst, SECONDED by Councillor Colthorpe, and

RESOLVED that the Report be endorsed and commended to Cabinet, subject to:

          (a)   the concerns raised by the County Treasurer regarding the revenue budget and the lack of any long-term financing from Government;

          (b)   the identification of external funding sources being included within the Report; and

          (c)   options appraisals being carried out prior to capital investment.

Report of the County Treasurer (CT/19/07), attached.

The Committee received the Report of the County Treasurer (CT/19/07) on the proposed Treasury Management and Investment Strategy 2019/20 financial year, prepared in accordance with the revised Treasury Management Policy Statement and revised CIPFA Code of Practice for Treasury Management, to be submitted to the Cabinet and the County Council for ratification following consideration by this Committee.

It was MOVED by Councillor Dewhirst, SECONDED by Councillor Brook, and

RESOLVED that the Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20 be endorsed and commended to the Cabinet and County Council.

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/19/6), attached.

The Committee considered the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/19/6) together with the Delivery Model Review of the Transport and Engineering Professional Services (TEPS).

The current TEPS contract between the Council and the private sector consultant Jacobs UK would expire on 31 March 2020 and the Report provided a summary of the review process undertaken to establish the most appropriate future delivery model beyond 2020.

A project was initiated to consider the different delivery models that were available nationally for the provision of TEPS and to recommend a preferred model.  The objectives of the model were to reflect the key operating principles of the Engineering Design Group.  Options appraisals were carried out and examples of delivery models considered included, Full in-house service delivery; In-house team with single top-up consultant; Local Authority Trading Company; Joint Ventures; and Fully externalised services with external consultants.

Members noted this was a very clear and well-presented Report.

It was MOVED by Councillor Dewhirst, SECONDED by Councillor Ball, and

RESOLVED that the proposal to adopt an internal team with top up consultant as the preferred model for delivery of the transportation and civil engineering design services from 2020 onwards be endorsed.

Report of the Task Group, attached.

The Committee received the Report of the Planned and Reactive Maintenance: Potholes and Drainage Task Group and the recommendations contained therein.  It was noted that this was a very clear and well-presented Task Group Report.  The Chair of the Task Group expressed his thanks to everyone involved in the preparation of the Report.

An internal website should be available shortly that would provide information on highways works and also historic information.  This would be trialled initially by the Task Group.

It was hoped that by raising awareness through the Highways and Traffic Orders Committees at Recommendation 1b would alleviate issues around communication.

It was MOVED by Councillor Ball, SECONDED by Councillor Edgell and

RESOLVED that the Task Group Report be commended to Cabinet.

Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/19/4), attached.

(Councillor Croad attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(1) and spoke to this item at the invitation of the Committee.)

The Committee received the Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/19/4) which provided an update on the Council’s work regarding the five recommendations made by the Air Quality and Congestion Task Group on 12 June 2018. It also reported on the Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) in Devon and provided an update on changes to the wider social, political and technological contexts in which the Council operated.

From the eleven declared AQMAs in Devon, eight were currently showing 2017 NO2 monitoring levels below the national objective.  Current DEFRA guidance stated that if annual monitoring showed that air quality levels remained consistently below the threshold level for two years, the AQMA could be considered for revocation. 

Discussion points with Members and Officers included:

·         disappointment at the continuing congestion in Exeter and other major towns, whilst acknowledging the difficulty in changing behaviours;

·         that AQMAs should continue to be monitored and not revoked after two years if levels remained low;

·         the need to continue working with young people to encourage a change in behaviours and the availability of travel cards for young people;

It was MOVED by Councillor Atkinson, SECONDED by Council Ball and

RESOLVED that

          (a)      a Report be prepared for the Committee on the impact of the Access Plan, looking at the 40 schools that were participating;

          (b)      welcome how to encourage bus take-up amongst young people with additional work on definitions of Value for Money with exploration of whether external funding was available for this; and

          (c)      that a Report be prepared for the Committee on the Local Transport Plan and schemes to look at and address congestion.

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/19/5), attached.

(Councillor Atkinson declared a personal interest in this item by virtue of being a Trustee of Exeter Food Action.)

The Committee received the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/19/5) providing an update on the Waste and Resource Management Strategy for Devon.   The Strategy was undergoing its 5-yearly review following the recent publication of the Government’s Our Waste, Our Resources: A Strategy for England in December 2018.

The Report detailed the progress made on implementing the Strategy and would be reviewed again in 2019, influenced by the publication of the Government’s own Strategy.

RESOLVED that a Spotlight Review take place to look at Food Waste and to include it in the Work Programme.

(a)   Reference to Committee:  North Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee - Speed Limits: Mondeo Way, Barnstaple; and Hamlet of Eastleigh and Holmacott, and Newton Tracey

The Cabinet noted that at its meeting on 13 November 2018, the North Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (Minute 46), considered this matter, as requested by Councillor Biederman, in accordance with Standing Order 23(2).

The Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste had reported on the national speed limit guidance, the work of the Scrutiny Task Group who were reviewing current local and national speed limit policy for report in due course, the Speed Compliance Action Review Forum (SCARF) process and the lack of road casualty records for the location. 

The Committee had RESOLVED that Officers consider further options but that the Cabinet be requested to (b)(i) consider and review the speed limits and safety on the rural road network in Devon and write to Devon’s MPs urging that they lobby Government to publish without further delay the long awaited Green Paper on Speed Limit Guidance;  and (ii) ask the Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner to adopt a proactive approach to address reckless and dangerous driving on the rural road network in Devon.    

The North Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee RESOLVED that Cabinet notes the views of the North Devon HATOC, with regard to their concerns on speed limits and refers the matter to the Corporate, Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee Task Group looking at speed limits for their consideration.

(b)   In accordance with previous practice, Scrutiny Committees are requested to review the list of forthcoming business and determine which items are to be included in the Work Programme. The Scrutiny Work Programme can be found at:

https://new.devon.gov.uk/democracy/committee-meetings/scrutiny-committees/scrutiny-work-programme/

The Committee may also wish to review the content of the Cabinet Forward Plan to see if there are any specific items therein it might wish to explore further. The Cabinet Forward Plan can be found at:

http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgPlansHome.aspx?bcr=1

RESOLVED that the following items be added to the Work Programme:

Food Waste – Spotlight Review

ScoMIS – Spotlight Review

County Lines - September