Agenda and minutes

In accordance with the agreement that the Chairmanship and Deputy Chairmanship should alternate annually between the City and County Councils, it was:-

RESOLVED that:-

(1)     Councillor Sutton be appointed Chair for 2015/16; and

(2)     Councillor Prowse be appointed Deputy Chair for 2015/16.   

These were received from Councillor Hill, Keith Perkin and Jude Taylorson.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 28 April 2015 be taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

No questions had been received from the public.

The Chair welcomed Andy Hallam of the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

Andy Hallam gave presentation to the Board on a service overview of the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service – presentation attached to Minutes.

The following responses were given to Members’ questions:-

·         the Service was involved in the Integrated Care Exeter (ICE) project – focusing its work on targeted prevention actions within communities

·         the issue with employers giving time for retained fire fighters was on going

·         there was a joint approach with Exeter City Council Environmental Health and Custom and Excise with regards to enforcement for House’s in Multiple Occupation (HMO’s)

·         the Fire and Rescue Service would be facing challenges due to the cut in government grants; measures included looking at shift patterns; retained fire fighters contracts; and a move toward smaller rapid response vehicles to better suit the ever changing demands on the Fire and Rescue Service.

The Chair thanked Andy Hallam for his presentation.

Dawn Rivers and Mark Lane presented the proposed work programme for the Board.

The Board discussed the following:-

·         acknowledged that the criteria for the funding would be discussed at the next funding sub group meeting

·         invite Chair of Exeter Community Forum to a meeting of the Board

·         concerns raised that meetings could not be held County Hall

·         suggestion to hold occasional Board meetings in a community setting to encourage more engagement with local residents

·         need for a more coherent and potentially joined up approach to the County Council and City Council (and other authorities) local funding agreements for community groups and organisations monies

·         need to look into the Associate Membership to ensure that the relevant stakeholders were invited to attend as and when appropriate

RESOLVED that the Work programme be approved.

The City Council’s Public and Greenspace Manager presented the report informing the Board of an agreement between Devon County Council and Exeter City Council jointly to fund a solution to mitigate the impact of budget reductions and prevent unsightly highways grass and weed growth in Exeter. The report requested financial support for this solution from the Board for 2015/16 and the following two years.

Members welcomed this solution as a way forward for next three years.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)          the Exeter Board welcomes and supports the agreed solution for the maintenance of highways grass and control of weed growth in the City with a contribution of £10K per annum in 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18; and

(2)          an update report on the expenditure situation be made to the Board later in 2015/16.

The following updates were provided on progress with the continuation of youth service provision in the City:-

Knight Club (Councillor Morse)

The Club had been rebranded ‘The Beacon’, youth clubs evening were now being held for years 7 and 8, and years 9 to 11. Events had also been planned for the summer. Joint working was also taking place with St James High School. Links were being formed with local primary school, the older community and Pendragon House.  Work would shortly commence on the re-decoration of the building.

West Side (Councillor Hannaford)

The repairs to the roof and boiler had not yet been completed. YMCA with the support of Local Councillors and PCSO’s had arranged a community meeting at the Baptist Church to discuss future plans for the community centre. There was a good turn-out of local interested groups, but despite the meeting having been well publicised, no one from the local estate had turned up. Concern that until West Side was up and running there was an urgent need for outreach youth work in the St Thomas Area. This was an issue Devon County Councillors would raise with the relevant Cabinet Member.

RESOLVED that the position be noted.

(a)  To agree composition and Chairmanship of the Funding Sub Group;

In 2014/15 the membership was:-

2 from Exeter City Council - Councillors Baldwin and Sutton

5 from Devon County Council - Councillors Hannaford, Leadbetter, Owen, Prowse and Westlake

            The Chair and Deputy Chair of the Funding Sub Group are the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Board

(b)  To agree a Quorum of three, one Member to be a City Councillor;

(c)  To note minutes of the Funding Sub Group of 9 June 2015; and

(d)  To note the following dates of Sub Group meetings, commencing at 2.30pm:-

Tuesday 1 September 2015

Thursday 29 October 2015

Thursday 17 December 2015

Thursday 3 March 2016

Thursday 9 June 2016

Thursday 8 September 2016

RESOLVED that the:-

(1)     Chair, Deputy Chair, Councillors Edwards, Hannaford, Owen, Prowse and Westlake serve on the Funding Sub Group;

(2)     Quorum be agreed as three, one Member to be a City Councillor;

(3)     minutes of the Funding Sub Group of 9 June 23015 be noted; and

(4)     following dates of Sub Group meetings starting at 2.30pm be noted:

·                     Tuesday 1 September 2015

·                     Thursday 29 October 2015

·                     Thursday 17 December 2015

·                     Thursday 3 March 2016

·                     Thursday 9 June 2016

·                     Thursday 8 September 2016

(a)        Exeter Health and Well Being Board

The Board noted the minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2015.

Councillor K Owen advised that the ‘Ping’ Project was very successful.

There was discussion on the need to take forward ‘talking buses scheme’ as this was not only useful for people with a visual impairment but also visitors to the city. This was an issue for HATOC to investigate.

(b)        Community Safety partnership – Executive Group

The Board noted the minutes of the meeting held on 29 April 2015.

Members raised the need for awareness in respect of ‘Door Stop Crime’ particularly in relation to older and vulnerable residents. It was suggested that an article on this subject could be featured in the autumn edition of the Citizen.

Board Meetings

Thursday 24 September 2015 – County Hall

Thursday 19 November 2015 – Civic Centre

Thursday 14 January 2016 – County Hall

Thursday 28 April 2016 – Civic Centre

Thursday 28 July 2016 – County Hall

Thursday 22 September 2016 – Civic Centre

Future Business

Members are asked to consider topics and themes and whether to have sight of the forward plans of the City Council’s Executive and the County Council’s Cabinet and of Scrutiny Committees.

            Transition Town Exeter and Economic Development Strategy

      Exeter Cultural Strategy 

            Exeter Respect

RESOLVED that the following dates and venues for meetings be noted:-

Thursday 24 September 2015 –Civic Centre

Thursday 19 November 2015

Thursday 14 January 2016

Thursday 28 April 2016

Thursday 28 July 2016

Thursday 22 September 2016

Members agreed the following topics for discussion and presentation to a future meeting:-

·         Exeter Community Forum and allocation of Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Funds

·         Transition Town Exeter and Economic Development Strategy

·          Exeter Cultural Strategy

·         Exeter Respect

·         Hub at Wat Tyler House.