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 commented, as requested by Councillor G Hook on the settlement of claims for compensation for residents living adjacent to the South Devon Highway. The Leader commented on the numbers of agents and claims submitted and the difficulties sometimes experienced with agents that were not always local. Duplicate claims were being filtered out and people notified if claims were invalid. 14 claims were eligible under different noise legislation and these claimants would be notified shortly.

He was also asked to report, by Councillor Greenslade, on the “Great South West” initiative and the projects this organisation was promoting which benefitted economic regeneration in north Devon. The Leader circulated a report that said the initiative was a partnership covering Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset geographies to deliver a £45 billion boost to the regional economy. There was a prospectus entitled “Securing our Future” which highlighted the need for and benefits of funding for the area, including transformational change opportunity for the Green and Blue economies. He reported that at this early stage there was not a list of projects, as the prospectus was highlighting themes from the Government’s Industrial Strategy, although support was being sought for an enhanced export and investment hub, rural productivity deal and a South West tourism action zone and the region’s MP’s had been lobbying Government at the highest level.

The Great South West initiative did not identify individual projects in specific areas, although the key aim was to bring prosperity to the left-behind areas of the region therefore areas such as North Devon, should be at the forefront of efforts.

The Leader also responded, as an urgent matter, to questions from Councillor Connett on the Government’s new immigration controls, the current issues regarding recruitment and retention of care staff and the impact this new policy could have on filling care and care-related roles in Devon.  The Leader said that the adult social care workforce was 90% British, 6% EU and 4% Non-EU origin. Whilst it was too early to say what impact a new policy may have, anything that could reduce the available pool of 'labour' was not likely to help the sector. The Leader endeavoured to keep the Council updated.

He also responded to questions from the floor on the Plough Arts Centre in Torrington and a potential shortage of junior doctors in light of Brexit.

(b)        Community, Public Health, Transportation and Environment

Councillor Croad circulated a Report, as requested by Councillor Wright, on progress with the 10-point green action plan. The Cabinet Member highlighted that opportunities for enhanced green action had been considered by the Environmental Performance Board and relevant aspects by the Farms Estate Committee. A refreshed suite of environmental action plans was planned and progress highlight reports would be presented to each meeting of the Environmental Performance Board and also published online at https://www.devon.gov.uk/environment/environmental-policy).  The Report also included a table which summarised progress against some of the areas for enhanced environmental action endorsed by the Environmental Performance Board.

He also responded to Councillors Shaw and G Hook on the preparations that the Council and the NHS were making for the possible development of the Wuhan coronavirus into a global pandemic affecting Devon and the UK, including health and economic impacts. His Report said that on the announcement of the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, Public Health England put in place arrangements to contain the spread of the virus. The World Health Organisation described the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern and the NHS and the Council immediately implemented enhanced planning arrangements for Covid-19 and continue to do so on a daily basis; for example daily teleconferences including  emergency planning, social care and human resources as well as the conversation by NHS providers in Devon. Communications were being cascaded and the Local Resilience Forum (through emergency planning staff) had reviewed the updated Devon and Cornwall Pandemic Influenza Plan and supporting plans which would be implemented immediately should a Covid-19 Pandemic be declared.

He circulated a Report, as requested by Councillor Hannaford, on women’s health screening in Devon, including issues such as local trends and figures, areas of good performance and areas for improvement, breast cancer screenings, the review of cancer screening published in October, cervical cancer rates and the take up of screening appointments, vaccination rates for the human papilloma virus (HPV), technological innovations and work with employers and businesses to ensure time off and child care for health screening needs. Much of the Report had been compiled using information from the Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Protection Committee Annual Report 2018-19 as the data was publicly available.  He also commented that NHS England/NHS Improvement (NHSE/I) was accountable for national screening and immunisation programmes which were commissioned via Section 7A arrangements. Local authorities, through Directors of Public Health, were responsible for seeking assurance that services were operating safely whilst maximising coverage and uptake.

The Cabinet Member also responded to questions from the floor on the Holbeam Dam, reporting that the Dam did overtop at the weekend (the second known occasion). There was a constant monitoring of the Dam and the flows along the River Lemon during Storm Dennis and the Dam remained safe, stable and operational.

The Environment Agency had also given the Council a statement which the Cabinet Member shared with the Council, highlighting that the reservoir was highly effective in reducing flood risk to Newton Abbot and also on the latest inspection of the dam under the Reservoirs Act 1975 and the works identified to improve the resilience of the dam for the long-term future.

(c)        Children’s Services and Schools

Councillor McInnes circulated a Report, as requested by Councillor Hannaford, on the Schools Company Academy Trust, including issues such as performance, outcomes, attainment and other general matters. The Cabinet Member provided a summary relating to the Council’s historic concerns around The Schools Company Trust, the actions taken at that time and the new provision which was now in place. This included that initially the Trust’s performance was considered acceptable, the Ofsted inspections during Autumn 2017 (which confirmed the Council’s concerns), the financial notice to improve that was issued, the interim leadership provided through the DfE during much of 2018, the appointment of Wave Multi Academy Trust as the new sponsor for the Devon schools in November 2018 (considered one of the highest performing alternative provision providers nationally),  the strong commissioning agreement between DCC and Wave, the review of the first year of provision which demonstrated significant progress in leadership and safeguarding and the attendance of WAVE at the Council’s Children’s Scrutiny Committee masterclass in November 2018 to provide further information on the provision and to answer questions.  

(d)        Infrastructure Development and Waste

Councillor Davis circulated a Report, as requested by Councillor Hannaford, on various railway related issues including the £500m Beeching Reversal Fund and investment in Devon, the medium to long term vision for the local railway network, the Dartmoor Railway Community Interest Company, disability access at St Thomas Railway Station and the potential nationalisation of South West Railways.

The Cabinet Member reported there would be a lot of competition for the £500m Beeching Reversal Fund pot (recently renamed the ‘restoring your railway fund’), however, the Council would make the case for the most advanced schemes in Devon, including the desire to run regular weekday services between Okehampton and Exeter and funding to progress work with the Tavistock to Bere Alston rail line reopening.

The vision was also expressed with schemes in the short term such as the delivery of Marsh Barton and timetable changes to improve coordination between local Devon Metro services. The medium to long term, in addition to the Dawlish mainline resilience works and phased delivery of the ‘northern route’, was working with Network Rail on their Continuous Modular Strategic Planning (CMSP) process, on which there were two CMSP corridor studies (the West of England corridor study, which was nearing completion and then work commencing on an Exeter to Bristol corridor study).

In relation to the Dartmoor Railway Community Interest Company, the Cabinet Member updated on the current lease arrangements and the ambition of regular weekday rail services being reintroduced between Okehampton and Exeter. The question posed on disability access at St Thomas Railway Station would be sent to partners at GWR. In relation to the potential nationalisation of South West Railways, this was a matter for the Train Operator, Department for Transport and Central Government.

She finally gave an update on progress for Marsh Barton Rail station, as requested by Councillor Connett, highlighting that ecological surveys and the environmental impact assessment had been completed, which would inform the planning submission for the new station, which was expected in late Spring this year. There had been positive meetings with disability and access groups as part of pre-consultation discussions and land agreements had been agreed in principle with Network Rail. Design was progressing well and, subject to planning, the Council was hopeful of being on site at the start of 2021 with opening towards the end of 2021.

The Cabinet Member also responded to questions on other rail links including Barnstaple to London, Heathfield, Tavistock, Bere Alston, passing loops east of Exeter, the old primrose line, rail access in Torridge and the use of the trains for more freight.

(e)        Economy and Skills

Councillor Gilbert circulated a Report, as requested by Councillor Hannaford, on the ongoing situation at Axminister Carpets including the role of the Council, LEP and other regional and economic forums, in terms of trying to keep the business open and viable. The Report highlighted the sad news that the company had entered into administration resulting in a significant number of redundancies. Buyers had been found for the underlay business Axfelt, plus the carpet outlet shop, enabling the retention of a small core of staff. The Council would be working closely with a range of local partner organisations to help facilitate a range of support options to staff facing redundancy, including access to ‘Learn Devon’s’ services, for example adult learning, qualifications and skills training.

He further reported on the reopening of Appledore Shipyard, joined up thinking with Government and the economy of north Devon, as requested by Councillor Greenslade, adding that the commitment and political will from the Council was not in question when it came to re-opening Appledore Shipyard, given its importance to the local community. The Council had worked hard with partners and local MP to get to this point and find potential new owners for the shipyard. Regular engagement with Government over public investment remained ongoing, but the desire was a sustainable and viable future, securing long term employment and economic benefits for the local area.

(f)         Highways Management

Councillor Hughes commented, as requested by Councillor Connett, on Parish and Town councils being permitted to install flashing speed awareness signs, the SCARF process and how many have been rejected, speedwatch schemes, where they were working successfully, the number of schemes waiting to be supported, the priority placed on Speedwatch by the Council and the Police and the current 20mph speed limit trials and timeline for other communities being able to adopt 20mph zones/limits and the provision of a Clearway or other parking restrictions to protect the highway at Haldon, in line with the council's requirements in response to a planning application at Haldon, for the forest park.

He commented that in the last three years 36 Parish & Town Councils had requested Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) via the SCARF process, of which 22 had been supported. In 12 cases, the requests could not be supported and there were often a number of different reasons for this.

In relation to Speedwatch, there were currently 135 live sites supported by 30 successfully operating community groups. 18 new groups had been identified, with a further 16 being re-activated. The Police had been piloting CSW Online, with plans to roll out across the whole force area during March and April 2020.

On 20mph, the working group had its first meeting on 24th January. Work had progressed including how a town-wide 20 mph trial scheme may be delivered for Newton Abbot, provisional data analysis and concept designs. As the project developed there would be extensive consultation with partner organisations.

The Cabinet Member offered to arrange a meeting with officers with regarding the clearway / parking restrictions at Haldon.