North Devon District Council

The housing and community safety update set out multiple property acquisition and tender activities: all Local Authority Housing Fund round three properties had been purchased, round four would add four temporary accommodation units, Oxford Grove was in live tender, the Royal Mail building was due to tender later in July, and the Old Lace Works purchase would provide four flats and two houses. These are material capital and procurement activities in housing delivery.

The 2025/26 outturn produced a £1.991 million revenue surplus, largely due to extra business rates income. Officers proposed reserve transfers including £700,000 to the local government reorganisation reserve, £250,000 to office technology, £339,000 to repairs, and £275,000 to town centre management to support future street marshal provision, alongside other reserve movements.

The committee considered borrowing just under £1.259 million to fund conversion and refurbishment works at 36 and 38 Oxford Grove and the former Royal Mail building in Ilfracombe, with a possible further £375,000 for 37 Oxford Grove if Homes England grant is secured. The project would deliver 14 social rented units, with a reported net revenue cost of around £17,000 a year to be met from existing budgets if needed.

The annual council tax reduction scheme was rolled forward without changes for the new financial year, with uprated band amounts based on CPI. This is a continuation decision with no new policy change.

The council discussed the government’s decision to create four unitary councils in Devon, including a new Devon Council covering North Devon. The process will require rapid work on warding, joint committees, asset transfer, ICT, HR, finance and communications, with elections in May 2027 and vesting day in April 2028.

The committee approved releasing Section 106 capital funding for Rock Park to upgrade a narrow, poor-quality section of footpath. The report states that £66,350.46 would be paid to the town council towards a total project cost of just over £70,000, with the town council covering the remaining balance.

The committee reviewed building control partnership trading performance, which remained within budget and showed improved staffing and reduced agency dependence. The main procurement-related issue was preparation for the new building safety levy, including software, automated reporting and back-office integration to be procured and implemented before the October 2026 start date. Members also discussed ISO audit findings and an improvement plan, plus future collaboration in the context of local government reorganisation.

The meeting covered three procurement-relevant themes: a housing-acquisition challenge and defence of the council’s temporary accommodation buy-to-let programme; a fostering recruitment and support discussion including council tax relief and parking support for carers; and a major local government reorganisation update setting out new unitary structures, warding work, ICT/HR/assets transition themes, and associated reserve funding. Members also approved year-end financial outturn movements, including reserve allocations for technology, repairs, town centre management and local government reorganisation.