Agenda item

To consider reports from Cabinet Members.

(Councillor Greenslade declared a personal interest in this matter by virtue of being a Non-Executive Director of Exeter Airport).

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 commented, as requested by Councillor Hannaford on the Business Rates Retention Pilot, including an update on bids and projects.

The Leader highlighted that the pilot, on updated estimates, estimated a financial benefit of £16.6 millions to the Council, although the authority made a contribution of £5 million to the Business Rates Risk Reserve to cover any potential collection fund deficits arising in 2019/20 with the remaining £11.6 millions be made available to service areas to submit requests for investment, using criteria such as supporting the sustainability of Social Care Services, grow or protect the Business rates base and / or result in revenue savings.

The total value of requests were £25.5 millions.

However, at the same time the Council was faced with increasing pressures in Children Services around placements and market sufficiency and a decision taken to apply the fund to support the future management of these pressures, with invest to save initiatives, for example to support Edge of Care, Crisis Care, Troubled Families, the Devon Inclusion Project and fixing the system for Children in Care Placements.

He circulated information, again as requested by Councillor Hannaford on autumn budget implications for regional military capacity, the ‘Sunset for the Royal Marines’ campaign, progress to secure contracts at Devonport Shipyard to decommission nuclear vessels and possible Brexit implications for the regional private sector defence industry, highlighting that the defence sector was a very important part of Devon’s economy. The bases provided jobs both directly and in their civilian supply chains.  Defence manufacturing was also a major employment sector and recent modelling suggested the sector accounted for up to 26,000 jobs across The Heart of South West LEP area.

Devonport Naval base directly accounted for 10% of employment in Plymouth. 

The Leader made reference to the Chancellors announcement of a £1 billion uplift to the Ministry of Defence in his Autumn Budget, in addition to the £600m already allocated to the MOD for 2018/19 earlier this summer, together with approximately half of the additional £800m allocated for 2019/20, would be used to pay for Dreadnought costs running above previously budgeted levels.

The Ministry of Defence said in January 2018 that it still intended to close RMB Chivenor by 2027, but had provided few details on the exact plans or timetable.

Plymouth had secured the future of the amphibious ships and the type 26 frigates would be base-ported in Plymouth.  The future location of the marines was uncertain, pending the modernising defence programme.  Plymouth was the only site in the UK to decommission nuclear vessels and it could not be done anywhere else.

The key issues around Brexit were sovereign capability which had recently been illustrated by Barden and the announcement by the German parent company to leave as a result of Brexit.   However, the Council was working with other partners in the Heart of the South West through the Brexit Resilience and Opportunities Group to consider what impacts that Brexit might have across the local economy.

He circulated a Report, as requested by Councillor Atkinson on the steps taken by the Council to support the DWP, JobCentrePlus, Devon’s District Councils, Devon Citizens Advice and other organisations in providing advice and support to claimants as Universal Credit. This included steps taken to identify vulnerable claimants, those that would suffer hardship as a result of delay as well as any children affected. The Leader highlighted that examples of the Council’s support were listed in the County Solicitor’s Notices of Motion Report (CSO/18/25) to the Cabinet on 12 September 2018 and also that the Council was playing its part through support and coordination as the situation developed, for example liaison with the District Councils and Citizens Advice Devon to assist a smooth transition of support for new claimants from April 2019. In addition, positive partnership relationships had also been developed by County Council services whose clients were likely to be affected by Universal Credit such as Children’s Centres. Whilst the likely impacts of Universal Credit were understood, it was difficult to quantify the numbers who would find it difficult to make a claim or suffer hardship as a result of receiving their benefit monthly in arrears. However, the support from the County Council would be reviewed as information emerged.

He also responded to questions on the reported difficulties with assessments, the potential to establish a poverty commission, bidding for a second business rates retention pilot and council tax support schemes.

(b)        Economy and Skills

Councillor Gilbert circulated a Report, as requested by Councillor Hannaford on the current position with Appledore Shipyard including possible closure, future business and any ongoing community and parliamentary activity. The Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills highlighted that Babcock had taken the decision to exit operations at its Appledore facility. 199 people were currently employed at the site, with a significant number of these currently on short-term redeployment to Babcock’s Devonport site. Babcock outlined its intention to offer all staff members an opportunity to transfer permanently to Devonport, although details of the offer were awaited.

The Cabinet Member said there was still a concern about the implications of the closure for the Torridge area more widely.

Officers had been working closely with a broad array of local partners to prepare for next steps. This included highlighting concerns on the future of the site to Babcock and wider stakeholders, support for ensuring the optimum outcome for employees, outlining the potentially significant economic impact that Babcock closure may have on the wider economy of Torridge and, as far as practicable, indicating the Council’s strong support for the retention of skilled shipbuilding and marine sector jobs in the Torridge area. The Council’s Economic Development Officers were due to meet key regional partners for a working group session on 13 December 2018 and the authority had engaged with local MPs over recent weeks.

He also responded in writing to Councillor Shaw on the Council’s efforts to save air services provided by Flybe, highlighting that the Council was currently working closely with partners around ongoing developments at Flybe Ltd / Exeter Airport. The airport was a crucial asset for the County, supporting employment of around 1,800 skilled individuals and contribution of around £150m of GVA to the local economy.

Partners had collectively written to the Chief Executive to express collective support for the company’s activity. This included an open offer to explore additional projects linked to the company’s Training Academy and discussion of potential opportunities for joint working. Whilst decisions around Flybe and its services would ultimately be for the Company and its Board, Flybe had provided significant reassurance around the health of the business and its commitment to the airport over recent weeks.

(c)        Infrastructure Development and Waste

Councillor Davis circulated a Report, as requested by Councillor Connett, on the provision of the planned all-through school at South West Exeter, including land ownership and when the school was expected to open.

The proposal was being delivered through the Governments Free School Programme, not directly by the Council, but officers were working with the Department and the school sponsor, (Ted Wragg Multi Academy Trust). The Cabinet Member advised there was not a confirmed opening date as yet.

The responsibility for securing the free school site sat with a Government-owned property company called LocatEd and again Officers were working closely with them and they recently confirmed that contracts had been signed although the land was not yet in their ownership.

(d)        Highways Management

Councillor Hughes commented, as requested by Councillor Connett, on repairs to Kingsford Lane, Holcombe Burnell, the resurfacing on the A379 at Kenton, including Exeter Hill and the use of Mamhead Road and Hill by HGVs and coaches, advising that the Neighbourhood Highway Officer had been in touch regarding the Kingsford Lane repairs. 

The Cabinet Member confirmed that the resurfacing of the A379 at Kenton was scheduled for the 1^st week in March, and in the week prior to the resurfacing, drainage works would be undertaken.

With regard toMamhead Road, the Cabinet Member said that engineers had concluded the investigations and that additional signs indicating “light vehicles only” had been erected.

He was also asked to Report on the number of recorded road traffic accidents on the roads of the new Devon area, the administrative area of the Council, in 2018 to date, fatalities resulting from these accidents, the same information for the period of 2017 and 2013 and the total length of time that the M5 in Devon, the A38, the A380, the A30, the A361 roads in Devon had been closed due to road traffic accidents during 2018 to date. In light of the volume of data requested, the Cabinet Member undertook to get a written response to Councillor Greenslade.

He also responded to questions on the role of HATOCs in relation to road safety, the first steps to implement resident parking schemes and also the road safety strategy of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

(e)        Adult Social Care and Health Services

Councillor Leadbetter was asked to Report by Councillor Greenslade on the developments and changes that had resulted from the Cabinet decision to implement Integrated Care Management.

The Cabinet Member reported that he would write to Councillor Greenslade on the detail requested.