Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Blackdown House, Honiton

Contact: Susan Howl  01395 517540 email  showl@eastdevon.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

50.

Public Speaking

Information on public speaking is available online.

Minutes:

There were no members of the public wishing to speak.

51.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 265 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 30 January 2020 were approved and signed as a correct record.

52.

Declarations of interest

Guidance is available online to Councillors and co-opted members on making declarations of interest.

Minutes:

Minute 57.  Motions referred to Overview under Procedural Rule 10.4.

Councillor Ian Hall, Personal, Devon County Councillor, DCC Mental Health Champion, Vice-Chairman of the Trustees of Arc.

 

Minute 57.  Motions referred to Overview under Procedural Rule 10.4.

Councillor Nick Hookway, Personal, Member of the EDDC and LED Monitoring and Partnership Group.

 

Minute 57.  Motions referred to Overview under Procedural Rule 10.4.

Councillor Sam Hawkins, Personal, Member of Cranbrook Town Council which has signed the Healthy Weight Declaration.

 

53.

Matters of urgency

Information on matters of urgency is available online.

Minutes:

There were no matters of urgency.

54.

Confidential/exempt item(s)

To agree any items to be dealt with after the public (including press) have been excluded. There are no items that officers recommend should be dealt with in this way.

Minutes:

There were no items to be dealt with in this way.

55.

Update on the Governance Review Working Party pdf icon PDF 242 KB

Minutes:

The Monitoring Officer advised that there were no further updates to the report. 

 

In response to a question, the Monitoring Officer clarified that the Working Party would look to conclude the review by September / October 2020.

 

The Chairman thanked the Monitoring Officer and the Local Government Association members of the Working Party for their work on the review.

56.

Seaton Wetlands Link Project pdf icon PDF 238 KB

Minutes:

Alison Hayward, Senior Manager Regeneration and Economic Development, and Charles Plowden, Service Lead for Countryside and Leisure, presented the report on progress with the Seaton Wetlands Link Project since the report to Cabinet in January.  The project involved a series of interventions on land between Seaton Jurassic and Seaton Wetlands in order to develop a circular route for pedestrians, cyclists and tram users.

 

Alison Hayward advised that there were no specific financial or asset requirements at this stage.  Any issues which would have financial or asset implications would be assessed through the usual procedures.

 

James Chubb, Countryside Team Leader, provided a visual presentation on the various aspects of the project.

 

Cllr Hartnell, Ward Member for Seaton, thanked officers for their presentations and welcomed the interventions which were integral to the regeneration of Seaton.

 

The Committee generally welcomed the project and the various benefits to the area and acknowledged the dedication and work of officers involved.

 

It was noted that the lack of development of the Stop Line Way beyond Colyford does not affect the other interventions to create the circular routes.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Overview Committee noted the progress with the Seaton Wetlands Link project.

57.

Motions referred to Overview under Procedural Rule 10.4 pdf icon PDF 522 KB

1.    Local Authority Mental Health Challenge (Cllr Hall)

2.    Healthy Weight Declaration (Cllr de Saram)

Minutes:

Two motions had been referred to the Committee with the agreement of the Council Chairman under Procedural Rule 10.4 prior to the Council meeting on 26 February 2020:

 

·         The Local Authority Mental Health Challenge (Cllr Hall), and

·         The Healthy Weight Declaration (Cllr de Saram)

 

Andrew Ennis, Service Lead Environmental Health and Car Parks, and Helen Wharam, Public Health Project Officer, presented notes to assist the Committee with its consideration of the motions.  Officers were broadly supportive in principle of both initiatives, however, they advised that resourcing would require further careful consideration of financial and officer support.

 

As set out in the report, Officers outlined the extensive range of work already being undertaken by the Council and provided examples of specific projects, interventions and community events.  It was emphasised that, as a District Council, EDDC’s focus was on the prevention of mental ill health and Officers worked closely with the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Homes and Communities.  Andrew Ennis advised that there was no additional Officer capacity to resource the member of staff who would be required under the Local Authority Mental Health Challenge.

 

The Local Authority Mental Health Challenge

 

Regarding the motion on mental health, proposed by Cllr Hall, Members discussed the following points:

 

·         EDDC should lobby national Government with regard to the high number of re-admissions to mental health services

·         EDDC had a Lead Councillor for Health and Wellbeing and further scoping might be required to understand how the Council could improve towards being outstanding in this area

·         The work of Arc and the Headlight Youth Mental Health Support project in Axminster was noted

·         The proposed brief of a Member Champion for Mental Health was wide and would require greater awareness of the issues among the wider Membership  to better support the role

·         The recent meeting of the Member Development Working Party supported mental health awareness training for Councillors

·         Should the Council proceed with the appointment of a Member Champion, the background of the Member appointed should be considered

·         The work of a Member Champion for Mental Health would involve partnership working and progress towards any appointment may need to move slowly in order to be effective

 

Cllr Hall proposed that the Overview Committee refers the item to Cabinet and requests scoping for a Mental Health Member Champion.  This was seconded by Cllr Hartnell and was RESOLVED.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

That Cabinet receive the referred motion and agree to scope a Mental Health Lead Member.

 

 

The Healthy Weight Declaration

 

Officers advised that they were supportive of the Healthy Weight Declaration in principle and outlined various projects including encouraging cafés to sign up to the Sugar Smart initiative and promoting the provision of free drinking water.  It was noted that the Declaration comprised 14 commitments and organisations would be expected to sign up to all.

 

Regarding the motion on the Healthy Weight Declaration, proposed by Cllr de Saram, the following points were discussed:

·         EDDC could raise awareness of those commitments under the Declaration which it is already fulfilling,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

58.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 114 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that the next meeting on 26 March would consider the Commercialisation Strategy and Consultancy Spend 2020 / 21.

 

With regard to delivery at Cranbrook Town Centre, it was agreed to await the outcome of the discussions by the Strategic Planning Committee in March and the examination of the Cranbrook Development Plan Document.

 

Scoping was underway on improving working with Town and Parish Councils.

 

The Forward Plan was noted.