As some PCs dont meet during the summer please find below a brief update of some of the key issues that I would be grateful if you could share around. Thanks W
DCC Update
As we are now 3 months on from the election I thought a quick update on issues may be helpful.
From a budget perspective all the news is for tougher outcomes. We are working on the need to reduce the DCC budget by about £100m over the next 4 years. This is on top of the savings already made (approx. £120m) and it goes without saying that it does not get any easier as most of the easy decisions/ low hanging fruit have already been taken. It will be clear that at the end of this process all council activity will be fundamentally pitched at statutory rather than discretionary activity. http://www.devonnewscentre.info/council-leader-delivers-stark-message-on-spending-reductions/
In response to the flood events during 2013 DCC, in our role as lead Local flood authority, DCC has completed the surveys and additional catchment studies for Modbury and Aveton Gifford. The details can be found at http://www.devon.gov.uk/devon-modbury-catchment-study-report-july-2013.pdf and http://www.devon.gov.uk/aveton-gifford-catchment-study-report-revc-20-june-13.pdf
Both are very detailed and give a clear understanding of the scale of the problem. We as Highways Authority are now working with SHDC as the local Drainage Authority and the Environment Agency and SWW to look at measures that can be taken to mitigate future events and identify funding sources.
We have also received the central govt contribution to flood damage from last year – the so called Belwin Funding . This is a little over £3m so still leaving us with a bill of about £9m to fund the damage done. Work is already completed to the bridges at Flete, Jubilee Bridge near Modbury and Puslinch Bridge on the Yealm. We are very aware that there is still a substantial backlog of work especially for rural drainage schemes which we are working our way through and seeking to improve the Parish Lengthsman service.
You will no doubt have seen the press releases about DCC’s failed OFSTED inspection for safeguarding children. I was asked to take over the brief for all children’s services including Skills and School, fostering and adoption. We have launched a comprehensive program of improvements and a very detailed action plan. Looking after our most vulnerable children must be one of our key statutory responsibilities and we all take this failed audit extremely seriously – it has certainly taken up most of my time since the election. There is a special page on the DCC site with details of the new vision for children’s safeguarding and looked after children as well as video of a presentation we did to staff. http://new.devon.gov.uk/ofsted/news/our-commitment-to-improving-child-protection-in-devon/
To support this we have also launched a new Fostering process to speed up the time from enquiry to panel selection, improved some of allowances to bring us in line with others and also launched a range of stepped placements to provide alternatives to children’s homes from fostering parents.
We will be doing a similar comprehensive review of both the adoption service and the Youth Service to ensure that all our teams supporting young people are pulling together in a more effective and holistic way.
Despite comments in the press about delays to the national Broadband programme I am pleased to say that the www.connectingdevonandsomerset.co.uk programme continues at pace. The first areas for the roll out have been announced and despite the unavoidable delay in getting EU state aid clearance we are still on track for 90% + of all premises having access to Super Fast Broadband by the end of 2016. This is a considerable (£95m) investment by the Local Authorities, BT and the Govt and will be a key plank in supporting economic growth and social connectivity.
Hope you find this helpful. As ever, if you have any queries please do not hesitate to call/email
Kind Rgds
Will
William Mumford MRICS MBA
Cabinet Member Children, Schools & Skills
Devon County Council
Councillor Yealmpton Division
C/O Point House
Noss Mayo
Plymouth
Devon
PL8 1EW
H 01752 873002
M 07779149373
wdmumford@aol.com
www.willmumford.net
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