Agenda item

(a) Corporate Services

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

The Chief Executive reported that for 2020/21 overall there was a small overspend of £371,000, but it was hoped to balance the budget by year end.  Legal Services had seen significant pressure this year relating to child protection proceedings; the Coroner’s Service had £100,000 overspend; and there had also been implementation costs relating to the HR management system.

The Chief Executive also reported that next year would see some additional but important investment in the IT roadmap in order to maintain existing infrastructure and to remain resilient.

(b) 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 service delivery within Communities, Public Health, Planning, Transportation and Environment and Economy, Enterprise and Skills.  Significant areas of activity this year in all services included:

-       £60million funding had now been received for the North Devon Link Road improvement;

-       good progress had been made on the Devon Climate Emergency project and an Interim Carbon Plan was due for public consultation from 7 December 2020;

-       work was continuing with the Local Nature Partnership, North Devon Biosphere and the five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty;

-       the Planning Transportation and Environment service was reporting an underspend, which was predominantly attributed to the lower patronage of the concessionary travel;

-       Team Devon had been rapidly set up to collectively develop with district councils a co-ordinated infrastructure of support for the most vulnerable across the county;

-       Youth Services had remained active throughout the year, developing an on-street service for young people and a digital outreach service, and had also received additional National Lottery funding of £160,000;

-       Libraries Unlimited had seen a significant increase in uptake of digital books and had also developed a choose and collect service; and

-       the Communities Team had secured an additional £400,000 from Government emergency COVID funding, which helped to bolster response support for the domestic abuse helpdesks, and employing additional roles within the Early Help arena for families;

-       the creation of the Devon Economic Recovery Group, working as Team Devon, where around £10million funding had been secured;

-       an Employment Support programme, working with Job Centre Plus, had been created to provide advice and support to finding new employment;

-       the purchase of the former Flybe Training Academy, to be leased to Exeter College, to deliver a Future Skills Academy; and

-       £1million funding secured to deliver a Mobile Boost voucher programme to improve mobile phone connectivity.

It was MOVED by Councillor Ian Hall, SECONDED by Councillor Dewhirst and

RESOLVED that in setting this year’s budget the Cabinet recognise the need to support residents of Devon with prevention and early intervention across services before reaching crisis point. This is not only financially prudent but also responsible in the support of giving everyone the best opportunities in life.

(c) Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW)

The Committee received the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/20/43), which provided an in-year briefing on budget and service delivery. HIW were overall forecasting a budget breakeven position.

Particular points of highlight in discussion with Members and Officers included:

-       Public rights of way and country parks had remained open, where usage had significantly increased;

-       the Grand Western Canal and Stove Country Parks had again both been awarded the nationally recognised Green Flag award;

-       Skanska had announced its intention to withdraw from the Devon highways maintenance contract;

-       the new Streetlighting contract had been awarded and LED lighting was now being rolled out;

-       Parking enforcement, although stood down in the early part of the year, was now back to normal working;

-       the Highways team, including the new Network Operational Control Centre, had now moved from Lucombe House to Great Moor House, Sowton; and

-       the Devon Waste Strategy was currently out for public consultation.