Social Value Ideas for South Hams and West Devon Councils

2025/26 underspend and reserves

The draft accounts show a net underspend/surplus for 2025/26, with reserves increased to the reported balance. The main spend variances included treasury income, waste and cleansing savings, and extra…

“Um, so yes, this is um the main item on today's agenda. It's our draft statement of accounts and our draft annual annual governance statement for the …”

Withdrawal from Devon Business Rate Pool

All 11 councils in Devon (including South Hams) recommending to exit Devon business rate pool for 2627 following government's business rate baseline reset. Pool is no longer financially advantageous t…

“we are recommending not to be part of the Devon uh business rate pool... All of the 11 councils in Devon are recommending to come out of that pool for…”

IFRS16 Lease Accounting Implementation

Council implemented IFRS16 lease accounting requirements from 1 April 2024. Four council leases brought onto balance sheet: (1) Depot lease at Ivory Bridge, (2) Wemry Marine Center lease, (3) One othe…

“Um so the the first big change in visa accounts is around IFRS16. Um so this is a requirement. So IFRS16 is around leases. Um and it's a requirement f…”

Council Tax Increase 2.99% for 2627

Executive recommends increasing South Hams share of council tax by 2.99%, resulting in increase of £588 for year and bandee element rising to £2254. This follows government's fair funding review settl…

“The recommendation is to increase the Southam share of count tax by 2.99%. That would be an increase of £588 for the year and would increase the bande…”

Month 7 Revenue Budget Underspend 2526

Council achieved predicted underspend of £280,000 (2% of total budget) for 2525-26 financial year. Part of underspend relates to timing differences for Torquay Quarry facility enhancement. Proposal to…

“there's currently a predicted under spend on the current year budget 2526 of 280,000. That's 2% of the total budget... the proposal is that um the cou…”

Predicted Budget Gap 2728

Council faces forecasted budget gap of £2.65 million for 2728 financial year. Officers express concern about running out of savings opportunities and potential need to use reserves to bridge funding g…

“we are forecasted a 2.65 million budget gap for the year 2728... there is a I think we're running out of fat to be fair”

Government Funding Formula Impact on Rural Councils

Government's new funding formula disproportionately damages South Hams and rural councils. Removal of adjustments for visitors/commuters, coastal/flood protection, and remoteness has resulted in signi…

“removal of various adjustments to the funding settlement such as that for visitors and commuters uh which obviously affects us as a uh a strong uh tou…”

Adjourn hearing for fairness

The subcommittee determined that the hearing should be postponed because the subject member had not had sufficient notice to prepare or gather witnesses. The matter will be rescheduled for a later dat…

“Okay, so we'll together suspend and we'll be back. Okay, welcome back. Okay, panel have discussed and in the interests of fairness and natural justice…”

Standards Complaint RP544243 - Pre-election Period Attendance

A formal standards complaint (RP544243) has been raised against Councillor Alan Spencer of Ivory Bridge Town Council. The complaint alleges that the subject member should not have attended a meeting o…

“the summary of the complaint then is that the subject member should not have attended a meeting of another body in the pre-election period”

Investigation Report Review and Decision Making

The sub-committee will consider the investigating officer's report (submitted by Simon Manel via Teams), review representations from the subject member (Councillor Spencer), consider the views of the …

“The purpose of the hearing is to consider the investigating officer's report regarding a complaint about the subject member councelor Spencer and to c…”

Public Engagement Outcome

Public objections weighed; final committee decision approved (9-4); ongoing discourse about the AONB/heritage impact and local representations.

“"six addresses in the parish have generated approximately 20 objections" | "the application has been carried approved" | "The vote results: 9-4 for/4 …”

Decision deadline

The committee confirmed it would deliver its decision in writing by 2020-08-18 to all parties. This is a concrete action item and deadline for the process.

“all parties will be advised of the committee's decision in writing by the 18th of august”

Housing acquisition and build

Housing activity includes refurbished temporary accommodation at Westfield flats, four more homes being purchased through Local Authority Housing Fund round four, a Brownfield Land Release Fund projec…

“starting with the Westfield flats in Kingsbridge, the nine flats there have been refurbished and now let as temporary accommodation and uh we've appoi…”

Housing legislation changes

The committee discussed major housing policy changes including the Renters' Rights Act, the Social Housing Bill, and the Supported Housing Act. These changes will affect landlord responsibilities, evi…

“The renters's rights act is probably the first one to mention which came in on um May the 1st uh this year. uh a major change which primarily lots of …”

Second Homes Council Tax Premium Housing Allocation

Transfer of £500,000 from second homes council tax premium into housing initiatives earmarked reserve to support council's housing provision priority. Additional £300,000 from second homes premium all…

“a transfer from the second homes council tax premium of half a million pounds into a housing initiatives earmarked to reserve... the remaining 300 odd…”