Agenda item

To consider reports from Cabinet Members.

The Council received reports from the relevant Cabinet Members on matters of interest or service developments relating to their remits which had occurred since the previous meeting or were likely to have an impact in the future or on specific issues upon which they had been asked to comment, as set out below:

(a)        Policy, Corporate and Asset Management

Councillor Hart circulated a Report as requested by Councillor Greenslade on the Devolution agenda and actions taken by the Council to lobby for the retention of the Royal Marines Bases in Devon.

The Leader highlighted the work of the Heart of the South West Joint Committee, including the Government promise to publish a ‘Devolution Framework’ which would guide the ‘deals’ non-metropolitan and non-mayoral areas could expect. Also, that the Committee had agreed its Productivity Strategy and was working towards a Delivery Plan.  Other work included negotiation with civil servants in support of the strategy, a Housing Summit and engagement with Housing Ministers to explore a ‘housing deal’.  

In response to the Royal Marine Bases, the Leader commented that with the Defence Select Committee review not being completed, it was premature to make representations at this stage.

He further commented on the current and future bids into the Business Rates Rentention pilot as requested by Councillor Hannaford highlighting that it was four months into the businesss rate pilot, therefore too early for a detailed analysis. A number of bids had been submitted and would be assessed in due course under a spend to save criteria. 

(b)        Children’s Services and Schools

The Cabinet Member circulated a Report, in response to Councillor Hannaford and in light of the recent public health report that focused on Child Poverty, reporting on school holiday hunger in Devon, highlighting that Devon had a lower number of children eligible for and claiming free school meals than that seen nationally, or within the South West, although the Public Health team had collated information on where families could get free or low cost food onto a searchable webpage.

He further reported on the attendance and educational progress of looked after children in Devon, as asked by Councillor Connett, and outlined that validated data outlining attendance at school and educational progress of children in care for the academic year 2017/18 would be available during the Autumn term 2018, but the Cabinet Member shared highlights from the 2016/17 Virtual School Annual Report (DfE published data as at 27 April 2018) available to view at:  https://new.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/young-people/children-in-care/education-of-children-in-care/information-for-schools-and-settings

The Cabinet Member also circulated information on waiting times for Children’s & Adolescent Mental Health Services, as requested by Councillor Connett, which showed 92% of children and young people should receive their first definitive treatment within 18 weeks of referral and the data from May 2018 showed 64% of children and young people had been seen within 18 weeks of referral. There was an agreed action plan between NHS commissioners and providers, progress against which was reviewed on a weekly basis.

A further Report, as requested by Councillor Atkinson, was circulated on the ‘F40 School Funding Briefing Paper’ and the position in relation to pupil numbers and teachers in rural Devon schools and Exeter schools and also the funding position per pupil. In summary, the Cabinet Member reported that funding per pupil within Devon remained significantly below the national average and was failing to keep pace with rising costs and each year was harder to maintain good standards of education as well as the ability to recruit and retain teachers within the county. The Cabinet Member stressed that the County continued to campaign for fairer funding.

(c)        Highways Management

Councillor Hughes circulated a reported, as requested by Councillor Connett, on the Council’s plans to adopt 20mph zones around Devon’s schools, the priority of the Council’s traffic enforcement team place in relation to safety around schools and the progress of the Council’s highways contractor in catching up with previously delayed work.

The Cabinet Member highlighted there were no current proposals to adopt any new approach to 20 mph at schools, although Officers were reviewing the Council’s approach to speed limits via a Scrutiny Task Group. Also, that complaints and intelligence on parking issues were reviewed and prioritised by the parking enforcement team and the locations included in the programme of attendances at schools.

In relation to the second point, the Cabinet Member reported that the challenge of mobilisation in the first year of the new Term Maintenance Contract, the impact of the two snow events, prioritising revenue spend over capital and conflicting pressures on design resources had impacted, but as of 6th July, two thirds of the deferred schemes had been completed and the Council expected the list to be substantially completed by late summer.

He further responded to questions on the dragon pot holing machine, roadworks on the A380, disabled parking bays and delays with implementation, statutory undertakers working on the highway and also undertook to circulate a briefing to Members on the performance of other highways contractors.

(d)        Community, Public Health, Transportation and Environment

Councillor Croad circulated a Report, as requested by Councillor Connett, on the progress in tackling childhood obesity in Devon. The Report outlined that obesity was a significant national health concern and the prevalence of obesity and participation in children at reception and year 6 (from the National Childhood Measurement Programme (NCMP)). The data showed that rates of obesity in Devon were relatively stable and remained significantly lower compared to the England average, although there was variation within the Districts. The Report referred to the Government‘s childhood obesity strategy as well as the various schemes and promotions in Devon, for example the conception to four years old strategic Infant feeding action plan, the Local Maternity Delivery Board, Sugar Smart initiative and the Healthy Weight Declaration.