Agenda and minutes

*HC 1            

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Jory.

Members are invited to declare any personal or disclosable pecuniary interests, including the nature and extent of such interests they may have in any items to be considered at this meeting.

            If Councillors have any questions relating to predetermination, bias or interests in items on this Agenda, then please contact the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

*HC 2            

Members were invited to declare any interests in the items of business to be discussed but none were made.

Minutes of meeting held 24 April 2018

*HC3         

The Minutes of the Hub Committee meeting held on 24 April 2018 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

HC4           

(Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Members were presented with an exempt report that sought approval for funding to prepare a business case in relation to investment and development opportunities.

The Leader introduced the report.

It was then RESOLVED that Council be RECOMMENDED to:

1.     Approve the expenditure of up to £90,000 in order to prepare a detailed business case for each of the proposed council owned asset investment and development opportunities detailed in section 3 and Appendix 1 of the presented report; and

2.     Agree that officers conclude an appropriate procurement process to commission the work required to produce individual business cases for the identified Asset Investment & Development opportunities

*HC5            

(Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

In accordance with the Council decision at its meeting on 27 March 2018 (Minute CM 73 refers) for updates to be included as a standing agenda item,  the Lead Member for Resources and Performance presented Members with an exempt briefing note that updated the recent work of the Financial Stability Review Group.

*HC6          

Members were presented with a report that summarised the Council’s investigation into the range of options available to deliver affordable housing in West Devon for those who found it difficult to purchase their own property and/or find suitable rented accommodation.

The Leader presented the report in the absence of the Lead Member for Environment and Assets.  During discussion, a number of Members expressed support for the principle, and the Senior Specialist Affordable Housing confirmed that the proposal would work well with Community Land Trusts.  Some Members raised concerns and queried how Right to Buy would affect a wholly owned company.  The Group Manager Business Development confirmed that the proposal would have multiple objectives.

Finally, one Member proposed a joint business case with South Hams District Council and as a result an additional recommendation was included.  Some Members agreed that joint working would be beneficial, but Members wanted to ensure that any joint working did not prevent progress for West Devon.

ItwasthenRESOLVED that:

1.         The work already carried out to support the Council’s strategic aim of enabling homes to meet the needs for all as outlined in section 3 of the report be acknowledged;

2.         The principles outlined in section 4 of the presented report be agreed and supported; and

3.         A detailed business case for the formation of a West Devon Borough Council Wholly Owned Company which will increase the Council’s capability to enable homes to meet the needs for all be considered and agreed; and

4.         The Leader of Council approach South Hams District Council with a view to discussing the formation of a Wholly Owned Company with South Hams District Council to increase the Council’s capability to enable homes to meet the needs for all.

*HC7          

Members were presented with a report that provided an overview of the Crowdfund Devon initiative and in particular a mechanism to award West Devon Borough Council funding.

The Deputy Leader presented the report.  The Commissioning Manager responded to questions and set out how the crowdfunding would work for projects within West Devon.  It was confirmed that there is no cost to West Devon Borough Council to be part of the crowdfunder website.

It was then:

RESOLVED

That the proposed Crowdfund West Devon application process (as detailed in paragraph 5 of the presented agenda report) be approved.

*HC8          

Members were presented with a report that set out the detail of the Transformation Programme (T18) project, which was a radical transformation that led to the most significant change in the way that the Council worked for more than 40 years.  The workforce had been reduced by 30% with all staff roles changed to be flexible and responsive to the needs of the customer.  The report set out the details of the different workstreams within the overall Transformation Programme.

The Leader presented the report.  A number of Members were supportive of the staff and one Member stated that the success of the project was testament to the skill and determination of the staff.  Another Member noted the recent staff survey results which have shown significant improvement over the past three years and stated that the staff should have a massive thank you.

It was then RESOLVED that the contents of the T18 Transformation Programme Closedown report and the benefits realised (as set out in Section 8 of the presented agenda report) be endorsed.

PART TWO ITEMS ARE THOSE WHICH MAY BE TAKEN IN THE ABSENCE OF THE PUBLIC AND PRESS ON THE GROUNDS THAT EXEMPT INFORMATION IS LIKELY TO BE DISCLOSED (if any)

If any, the Committee is recommended to pass the following resolution:

“RESOLVED that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the Meeting on the grounds that exempt information may be disclosed as defined in the paragraphs given in Schedule 12A to the Act.”

This document can be made available in large print, Braille, tape format, other languages or alternative format upon request. Please contact the Committee section on 01822 813664 or email darryl.white@swdevon.gov.uk

*HC9           

There was no Lead Member update presented at this meeting.

(NOTE: THESE DECISIONS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF

HC 4 WHICH IS A RECOMMENDATION TO

THE COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD ON 24 JULY 2018,

WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE FROM WEDNESDAY 

13 JUNE 2018 UNLESS CALLED IN,

IN ACCORDANCE WITH SCRUTINY PROCEDURE RULE 18).