To consider the submitted report on the above.

Members received an update following the ‘in principle’ approval of the Council (at its meeting on 21 July 2016) to progress negotiations for a devolution deal and the establishment of a Combined Authority.  The report also proposed the preparation and approval of a Heart of the South West (HotSW) Productivity Plan and the creation of a formal HotSW Joint Committee of the local authorities, national park authorities and partners to take forward the Productivity Plan.

Mayor Oliver proposed and Councillor Mills seconded a motion, which was agreed by the Council as set out below:

(i)         that the update about the HotSW Combined Authority/devolution deal proposals (including that a Joint Committee, if established, will have responsibility for developing future ‘deal’ and combined authority proposals for recommendation to the constituent authorities) be noted;

(ii)        that the proposals for the HotSW Productivity Plan preparation and consultation (including noting that a Joint Committee, if established, will have responsibility for approving and overseeing the implementation of the Productivity Plan) be approved;

(iii)       that it be agreed ‘In principle’ that a HotSW Joint Committee be established with a Commencement Date of Friday 1 September 2017 in accordance with the summary proposals set out in the submitted report;  and

(iv)      that the ‘in principle’ decision at (iii) above be subject to further recommendation and report to the constituent authorities after the County Council elections in May 2017 and confirmatory decisions to: approve the establishment of the Joint Committee; a constitutional ‘Arrangements’ document; an ‘Inter-Authority Agreement’ setting out the support arrangements; appoint representatives to the Joint Committee; and appoint an Administering Authority.