Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the municipal year 2015/16.

RESOLVED that Cllr Mrs B M Hull be elected Chairman of the Group for the municipal year 2015/16.

Cllr Hull then took the Chair.

To elect a Vice Chairman for the municipal year 2015/16.

RESOLVED that Councillor Mrs J B Binks be elected Vice Chairman of the Group for the municipal year 2015/16.

To receive any apologies for absence and notices of appointment of substitute Members (if any).

Apologies were received from Councillor R M Deed who was substituted by Councillor R Dolley and from Councillor Mrs E M Andrews, who was substituted by Councillor T W Snow.

To receive any questions relating to items on the Agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.

Note:   A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

There were no questions raised from the members of the public present.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the last meeting of the Group (attached).

The minutes of the last meeting of the Group were not signed by the Chairman as those present had not attended the previous meeting.

Note: - The Chairman to consider the audio recording of the meeting held on 24 March 2015 and the issue be addressed at the next meeting of the Group on 18 August 2015.

To receive any announcements that the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman had no announcements to make.

To agree a start time for meetings for the municipal year.

It was AGREED that the Group continue to meet at 2.15pm.

The Chairman indicated that she intended to take item 9 on the agenda before item 8.

To receive a report of the Head of Communities and Governance providing Members with a summary of spend for the Town and Parish (TAP) Fund in 2014/15 and to inform them of any changes to criteria for 2015/16.

The Group had before it and NOTED a report* of the Head of Communities and Governance providing Members with a summary of spendsfor the Town and Parish (TAP) Fund in 2014/15 and to inform them of any changes to criteria for 2015/16.

The Communities and Governance Officer outlined the contents of the report, explaining that 70 projects had been funded.  The report included an application form and instructions and the Officer asked that Members promote the fund to their Parishes. The fund was being promoted in the Parish Matters newsletter and some new promotional material was being produced which the Officer would distribute to all Members.

Note: - * Report previously circulated and attached to minutes.

Representatives from INVOLVE and Churches Housing Action Team (CHAT) will attend the meeting to give a short presentation about their work. A report from the Grants and Funding Officer is attached to provide supporting information.

Representatives from the Churches Housing Action Team (CHAT) and INVOLVE (Voluntary Action in Mid Devon) attended the meeting to give presentations about their work.

The representative from INVOLVE, Mrs K Nolan, Chief Officer thanked the Group for the opportunity to update them on the work of INVOLVE.  She informed them that she had been in post since the end of April.

Mrs Nolan explained that INVOLVE comprised of a small team, funded by Mid Devon District Council and Devon County Council, which supported groups and organisations from the not for profit sector as well as volunteers.  She highlighted that in the last financial year 46 groups had received support, 184 workshops had been held, 241 new volunteers had registered and there were 59 new volunteer opportunities.  She informed the Group that there had been an increased number of younger volunteers (under 25’s); possibly due to the need to gain experience to help them gain employment.

INVOLVE also provided services such as printing and photocopying.

Mrs Nolan explained the challenges ahead with traditional funding sources shrinking, increased demands on groups, the increased demand for support and the difficulties in demonstrating direct value.

A new online support system for volunteers and organisations would be available from mid-July.

Mrs Nolan thanked the Group for their time.

The representatives from CHAT were Mrs H Tylisczuk and Mrs J Turner.Mrs Turner explained that CHAT had been running for 20 years, dealing with homelessness and homelessness issues in Mid Devon.  She informed the Group that homelessness could occur for a number of reasons, including debt, family breakdown, unemployment, ill health, substance abuse and many others.  Homelessness could include living in cars, tents, empty buildings and on other people’s sofas.

The aim of CHAT was to prevent homelessness in Mid Devon.  Housing was a particular issue here due to the high cost of housing, low wages, a shortage of affordable rental property and changes to the benefits system.

She explained that CHAT believed that everyone deserved to have a place to call home.  It had been founded 20 years ago by members of the local churches and started as a deposit guarantee scheme. This progressed to offering housing advice and tenancy support to help people sustain tenancies.

CHAT currently employed 9 staff, all part time, including a new post for a debt and money advisor. CHAT was also supported by numerous volunteers.  It now included a food bank, offered items from a ‘set up home’ store, provided fuel vouchers and could be used as a ‘care-of’ postal address.  Annual expenditure was currently £200k per year, with a £5k contribution from Mid Devon.

Mrs Turner thanked the Councillors for the current funding provided and urged them to continue it in order to allow them to continue their good work.

The Chairman thanked all of the representatives for their presentations.

Note: - * Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes.

To receive a report of the Head of Communities and Governance providing Members with an update on performance against the corporate plan and local service targets for 2014/15 as well as providing an update on the key business risks.

The Group had before it a report of the Head of Communities and Governance providing Members with an update on performance against the Corporate Plan and local service targets for 2014/15 as well as providing an update on the key business risks.

The Audit Team Leader explained that all areas reporting to the Community Well Being PDG were performing above target except for food inspections.  This area had been addressed and a vacancy was currently being advertised.

Note: - * Report previously circulated and attached to minutes.

To receive a report of the Head of Finance presenting the revenue and capital outturn figures for the financial year 2014/15.

The Group had before it a report* of the Head of Finance presenting the revenue and capital outturn figures for the financial year 2014/15.

The Principal Accountant explained the General Fund summary. He highlighted that at the last meeting of this PDG the deficit had been predicted to be £203k but that the situation had improved by the year end and had finished at £90k. This would be taken from the General Fund reserve that had been reduced to £2.4m.

Discussion took place regarding:

·         Services reporting to the Community Well Being PDG with variances since the last report included Leisure, Planning, Revenues and Benefits;

·         An overspend at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre;

·         The possibility that a key could be added to the report to make it easier for Members to understand.

Note: - * Report previously circulated and attached to minutes.

The Group to receive a report from the Head of Housing and Property Services regarding the Community Safety partnership (CSP) and the priority areas of work on the CSP Plan for 2015 to 2017.

The Group had before it a report * from the Head of Housing and Property Services regarding the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) and the priority areas of work on the CSP Plan for 2015 to 2017.

The Community Safety Officer explained that there was a statutory obligation for local authorities to work in partnership with other agencies to reduce crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour. The partnership was obliged to produce a three year plan to outline how it would achieve this.

She explained that following analysis of data and feedback from members of the public the priorities for the next three years had been agreed as:

Domestic, family and sexual abuse;

Substance misuse;

Anti-social behaviour;

Online safety and scams;

Crime prevention, including rural crime and Prevent (anti-extremism and radicalisation).

The Officer highlighted that a ‘pop up shop’ would be operating in Bampton Street Tiverton from 30^th June to the 6^th August, offering support regarding scams. The shop would be manned by various agencies and had been promoted in the local newspapers and on social media.

The Officer concluded that the CSP was committed to reducing crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.

It was RECOMMENDED that:

The Cabinet approve the new priorities within the report and supports the CSP in delivering safety messages to the communities of Mid Devon.

Performance and Risk

Financial Monitoring

Grant Recipient Presentation

Note: This item is limited to 10 minutes.  There should be no discussion on the items raised.

Performance and Risk

Financial Monitoring

Grant Recipient Presentation

CCG Representative

Leisure Update