Agenda item

(a)  Drug and Alcohol Abuse; and

(b)  Community Funding

O&S.38/18     

(a) Drug and Alcohol Abuse – Interim Report

An interim report of the Task and Finish Group was presented to the Panel that sought to:

-        consider the contents of a Briefing Note on designing out intravenous drug use in South Hams District Council Public Conveniences; and

-        recommended that works be undertaken to design out the use of intravenous drugs in the male toilets at Coronation Road, Totnes.

In the ensuing discussion, the contents of the interim report were supported and the Panel wished to extend its gratitude to the Task and Finish Group Members and lead officers for their work on this Review.

It was then:

RESOLVED

1.     That the Briefing Note on designing out intravenous drug use in South Hams District Council public conveniences (as outlined at Appendix A of the presented agenda report) be noted; and

(b) Community Funding

The Panel considered the concluding report of the Community Funding Task and Finish Group.

In discussion, reference was made to:-

(i)    the South Hams Community and Voluntary Service (CVS).  As indicated when declaring his interest (Minute O&S.30/18 above refers), the Vice-Chairman made a statement in support of the CVS that included:

§  The significant impact of previous funding reductions and his hope for a period of stability for the organisation;

§  The organisation having relocated from the Council offices in March 2018.  In making the point, the Member highlighted that the office had remained vacant since and stated that, had it been re-let, then the income generated could have helped to meet the financial reduction being proposed in this agenda report; and

§   The amount of work undertaken by the CVS that was closely aligned to the Council’s wellbeing priority theme.

(Upon the conclusion of his statement, the Vice-Chairman left the meeting room.)

In agreement with these views, another Member felt that a one-off reduction from £22,616 to £0 was rather harsh.  In disagreement, some of the Task and Finish Group Members felt the links to the Council’s corporate priorities were rather tenuous and questioned the added value that was being obtained by the Council.  This view was expanded upon, with reference being made to the close linkages between the work of the CVS and the social care sector.  Furthermore, these Members also highlighted that, despite being invited to do so each year, 53 of the 59 town and parish councils still chose not to make any financial contributions to the CVS.

(ii) the proposed funding reductions to the South Devon AONB.  In support of the recommendation, Group Members advised that assurances had been sought whereby, despite the proposed reduction, the AONB would still have sources of funding to deliver projects;

(iii) the South West Rotary Youth Games.  It was confirmed that clarity was still being sought over the role of the Rotary Club in the Youth Games.  This clarity was being sought in response to some Members being of the view that the Council should not be seen to be supporting organisations such as the Rotary Club.  In the event of an unsatisfactory response being received, these Members advised that they may have a differing view when the proposal to retain funding at the existing level was presented to the Council for a final decision.

It was then:

RESOLVED

(NOTE: in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.6, Cllr E D Huntley requested that her vote against recommendation 2 be formally recorded).