Meeting documents

Details of all Members’ interests in District, Town and Parish Councils will be displayed in the meeting room. The Statutory Register of Member’s Interests can be inspected via the Community Governance team.

Cllr Hugh Davies declared a personal interest in Item 8 as he had received communications from the public speaker at the last Scrutiny for Policies and Place meeting regarding county farms. 

The Committee is asked to confirm the minutes are accurate.

It was clarified that Cllr Bob Filmer had declared an interest as a member of the Sedgemoor Planning Committee. 

With this exception, the minutes of the meeting on 03 October were accepted as being accurate by the Committee.

A member requested that the response from the Director of Children’s Services  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

The Chairman will allow members of the public to ask a question or make a statement about any matter on the agenda for this meeting. These questions may be taken during the meeting, when the relevant agenda item is considered, at the Chairman’s discretion.  

Sue Osborne asked a public question regarding Item 8.  She expressed disappointment that the call-in request made last week was not allowed by the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee despite being called-in by two county councillors and despite the recommendation made by the Committee on 5^th September to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

To receive this report.

The Committee received a report and presentation from the Strategic Commissioning Manager, Economy and Planning which updated Members on the Heart of the South West (HotSW) Productivity Strategy.

The Strategy has been prepared in partnership with district, county and unitary authorities, national parks and the HotSW Local Enterprise  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

To receive this report.

The Committee received a report from the Strategic Manager, Governance & Risk on the progress of the Heart of the South West (HotSW) Joint Committee.

Members were first updated on the background of work carried out over the last two years by 19 Devon and Somerset authorities to seek  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

To receive this report. 

The Committee received an introduction from the Leader of Council and a report from the Director, Customers and Communities regarding the draft County Vision 2018 -21

 In previous Administrations, a detailed County Plan has been approved giving direction and strategic guidance to officers and politicians. It was felt that in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

To receive a verbal update.

The Chair of the County Farms Task & Finish Group provided a verbal update of the progress of its review.

The Committee heard that the Group had gathered a lot of information at previous meetings which it was currently considering.  The Group have consulted with stakeholders, including the National Farmers Union  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

To receive an update from the Governance Manager, Scrutiny and discuss any items for the work programme. To assist the discussion, attached are:

·        The Committee’s work programme

·        The Cabinet’s forward plan

The Committee considered and noted the Council’s Forward Plan of

proposed key decisions.

Following debate, the Committee requested the following addition to the

work programme:

·        Budget Monitoring Report Q2

·        County Vision (Jan 2018)

·        Connecting Devon and Somerset Broadband workshop

The Chairman may raise any items of urgent business.

The Governance Manager updated the Committee that, following consultation with officers, the Chair had agreed to decline the invitation from Devon County Council to join a Connecting Devon & Somerset (CDS) Task & Finish Group as it was not felt that this would be beneficial.

It was agreed that the Committee would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.