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Agenda item

Minutes:

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

 

(a)        Corporate Services

 

The Committee received a verbal update from the Chief Executive on the in-year position of budget and service delivery within Digital Transformation and Business Support; Legal, Communications and Human Resources (including Democratic Services, Coroners and Registration); and Treasurer’s Services.

 

Members noted that overall support service areas were performing well and were each confident of meeting their target budgets.  Of significance, however, was the delay in the launch of the new HR management system and the consequent need to identify alternative savings for 2019/20.

 

(b)        Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste

 

The Committee received the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/18/87), which provided an in-year briefing on budget and service delivery.  The service was forecasting a break-even budget position at Month 6

 

In discussion with Members, the following points were made:-

 

·         the progression of Ash dieback within the County where the number of cases identified so far this year had risen to over 400;

·         receipt of Government funding of £18.754 million for potholes and bridges – this was capital funding which, with Member engagement, would be allocated shortly;

·         preventative maintenance as an alternative way of dealing with potholes was being considered;

·         any problems with gully clearing should be reported to the local neighbourhood highway officer;

·         the Dragon patcher machine had now arrived in Devon which was helping to deal with potholes by targeted intervention;

·         the Dragon patcher was currently leased by Skanska on behalf of the Council and consideration would be given to the purchase of one from the capital funding received;

·         the introduction of a Roadworks Permitting scheme next year where Utilies would be issued with a permit to work, resulting in reduced network disruption; and

·         the use of Waste and Recycling Advisors to focus on talking to households to assist and improve waste recycling habits in the County.

 

The Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste undertook to circulate a link to the Civil Parking Enforcement Report.

 

(c)   Communities, Public Health, Environment and Prosperity

 

The Committee received the Report of the Chief Officer for Communities, Public Health, Environment and Prosperity which provided an in-year briefing on budget and service delivery within Communities, Public Health, Planning, Transportation and Environment and Economy, Enterprise and Skills.   All services were forecast to meet the target budget.

 

There remained an ongoing shortage of sites to meet the needs of the Gypsy and traveller population that often resulted in unlawful encampments and tensions within the wider community, however, the Council were working with District Councils to assess encampments, solutions and action as required.

 

The Council, in partnership other organisations, was leading work to consider emerging threats around extremism and risks to people as a result of gang and knife crime; County Lines and modern slavery. Funding of approximately £½ million had been received to undertake work in education and training and to further understand these emerging threats and the increased risks to vulnerable young people.

 

To stimulate business growth, external funding had been secured to deliver a Growth Support Programme aimed at small and micro businesses and a dedicated programme to support the social enterprise sector.  The Council were also supporting the establishment of the Great South West partnership with Cornwall, Dorset and Wiltshire focussing on rural economic development. 

 

Learn to Live was an example of an initiative focussed on driver and cyclist use of the road network aimed at improving road safety and there continued to be a programme of accident data analysis and investigation to better inform future design criteria.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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