To consider the work programme for 2023/24.

The Committee considered the work programme together (circulated previously).

The Committee discussed the work programme and the item due for consideration at the meeting in December 2023.

The Chair invited Councillor Jones to address the Committee regarding the water quality item and the recent discussions that had been held in relation to it.

Councillor Jones provided the following update:

·       The Water Quality team were mindful of getting the best outcome possible form the meeting and had therefore decided that they would like to reschedule the meeting to be held in either January or February 2024.

·       The meeting would be held at either the Barnstaple Library or at Petroc.

·       The team had drawn up a list of experts that they wish to invite to the sit on the panel to ensure that the Committee gain a full understanding of the current position regarding water quality within the North Devon area.

·       As part of the teams ongoing work, 30 members of the public undertook training in Braunton on Saturday 11^th November 2023 to allow them to independently test water quality within an area specifically allocated to them and create a network of people who were able to test water quality once every two weeks.

·       This information was then entered into an application, which was linked to the Rivers Trust database and analysis team and allowed them to build up a picture of the water quality within the North Devon area.

·       There were longer term aspirations to roll this system out to the coastal waters as well.

He added that he would continue to work closely with the Corporate and Community Services officer in order to deliver the event and that the Committee would be advised of a date in due course.

The Chair thanked Councillor Jones for his update to the Committee.

The Vice Chair explained that to ensure all future panel meetings ran smoothly, he had prepared a crib sheet for the Committee to explain how the process works and that this would be emailed to the members following the meeting.

In response to a question regarding the impact on the capacity existing infrastructure and water quality as more new homes were being built and improvements were not being made to the existing systems. Councillor Jones advised that there were a range of processes being put in place by the Rivers Trust and that following a recent new build estate in Chulmleigh, South West Water had acted and carried out works to update the capacity of the existing system.

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive raised the issue of there being no other business currently to be considered at the next scheduled meeting on Thursday 14^th December 2023 and requested that the Committee consider cancelling the meeting if they were all in agreement.

The Committee discussed a proposal to bring the agriculture item forward to the December meeting. However, there was concern from some of the members of the working group that this would be too premature as there was currently a lack of clarity from the government.

Councillor Bulled agreed to speak with the local MP to provide an update as to the latest government position regarding the proposed agriculture reforms.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the work programme be noted as amended;

b)    That the next scheduled meeting of the Committee on the 14^th December 2023 be cancelled owing to the lack of business to be considered;

c)    That an email of the crib sheet prepared by the Vice Chair regarding the process for future panel meetings be circulated to the Committee via email; and

d)    That a briefing paper in relation to the latest government position regarding the proposed agriculture reforms be presented from the working group to the meeting on Thursday 11^th January 2023.