Agenda item

OSDM.11/20    

The Joint Meeting was presented with a report that summarised what continued to be a highly effective response to the challenges of the Pandemic; detailed key recovery actions already completed or underway; and proposals to develop and implement the first iteration of the Council’s long/medium term recovery and renewal plans.

The Chairman informed of his intention for the Meeting to consider the draft Recovery and Renewal Plan on a theme by theme basis:

Theme 1: Business and Economy

In discussion, the following points were raised:

(a)   The lead Executive Member advised that, whilst still very much in its infancy, he was committed to developing the Business Forum concept as the Plan continued to evolve;

(b)   An addition was PROPOSED and SECONDED for inclusion in the Plan that read as follows:

To include the following addition in accordance with action 1.5: ‘Engage with existing businesses to understand what support they need’:

‘Support taxpayers who currently find themselves excluded from meaningful support.’

The proposer highlighted that there were still local taxpayers who were not able to obtain meaningful support from Central Government for a variety of reasons and he considered it to be important for the Council to do everything that it could to assist these people.

The Joint Meeting proceeded to recommend that this addition should be included in the draft Plan;

Theme 2: Place and Environment

       In discussion, reference was made to:

(a)    the importance of the Climate Change and Biodiversity agenda being an underpinning issue throughout every aspect of the draft Plan;

(b)    increasing wildflower spaces and protecting wildlife corridors.  Some Members singled out these actions for particular focus and felt that the Council should place significant emphasis on these matters.  In addition, the view was expressed that the Council should look towards working in partnership with those local town and parish councils who had also declared a Climate Change and Biodiversity Emergency;

(c)    the need to utilise external advisors.  To deliver on a number of the proposed actions, a Member felt that the Council should be looking to take advantage of the wealth of external local knowledge and expertise that was residing within the South Hams area;

(d)    the proposal to influence the development of active travel schemes.  Support was expressed for the inclusion of this action within the draft Plan.

Theme 3: Residents, Communities and Partnerships

The Joint Meeting expressed its support for the content of the draft Plan as presented.

Theme 4: Service Recovery and Redesign

The Joint Meeting expressed its support for the content of the draft Plan as presented.

Theme 5: Communications and Governance

In discussion on this Theme, particular reference was made to:

(a)    the format of the Council Constitution.  The need to re-design the Council Constitution to ensure that it was a more reader friendly document was recognised;

(b)    an amendment to the draft Plan was PROPOSED and SECONDED that read as follows:

‘To consider utilising three day fallow periods before and after a single meeting to open up our rooms without the need for cleaning, together with broadcast streaming to include off-site attendees.’

In debate, there was support expressed for this matter to be considered at a future meeting of the Accommodation Strategy Member Working Group and it was therefore recommended that this amendment should be included in the draft Plan.

Theme 6: Financial Stability

A Member was of the view that this Theme was the most important contained within the draft Plan and the focus of the Council should be on the delivery of its statutory services.

Recommendation

Once all of the Themes had been considered by Members, an additional two parts to the report recommendation were PROPOSED and SECONDED as follows:

6.      That the Joint Meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel and Development Management Committee RECOMMEND to Council that a Member Working Group be formed to oversee the work of the Recovery Management Team/Group/Strategy (as set out at Appendix 1 of the presented agenda report).  The remit of this Working Group will be to set priorities and direct officers accordingly.  This Group to become effective immediately following the Full Council meeting to be held on 24 September 2020; and

7.      That the Joint Meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel and Development Management Committee invite a representative and relevant officer from Team Devon to an informal meeting of all Members to set out its plans and actions in respect of all those items listed in Appendix 1 to the presented agenda report as being its initial responsibility for instigation.

In discussion on the amendment, the following points were raised:

(a)    When questioned, the Chief Executive informed that Team Devon consisted of a set of working relationships between Devon County Council and the District Councils across Devon;

(b)    With regard to the proposal to establish a Member Working Group, supporters of the amendment emphasised the importance of elected Members overseeing the work of the Recovery Management Team.

When put to the vote, the amendment was declared CARRIED.

It was then: