That the original decision be confirmed as follows:

(i)         that the decision taken by the Council to borrow £1.172m from PWLB for the Paignton Townscape scheme is postponed and that alternative sources of funding are explored and a detailed business case is produced before any further work is carried out on this scheme; and

(ii)        that the implementation of the Paignton Townscape scheme is considered as part of the 2019/20 budget setting process.

The Executive and fellow Councillors all want to see improvements made to Torbay’s Town Centres and important public spaces.  This £1m+ project, which came before Council via a Motion and without a supporting Officer Report, is one such project.

Regretfully we have needed to pause the project and the procurement phase as we have been unable to identify appropriate sources of funding at this time or in the near future to continue.  Due to significant in-year cost pressures in Children’s Safeguarding, we have introduced a complete moratorium on non-urgent spend and a recruitment freeze is now in place for all posts which are deemed not to be posts required to fulfil statutory requirements.  Furthermore we are confidently expecting a further £6m of cuts next year and £4m the year after.

The Council has now virtually run out assets to sell.  Our reserves are being depleted and it would not be sensible, at this time, to proceed with any further unsupported borrowing. 

With regard the proposition that this Council has favoured Torquay over Paignton and Brixham, it is not correct, based on headcount and actual need as shown by the table below:

This decision will enable funding of the Paignton Townscape scheme to be considered alongside other Council priorities as part of the budget setting process for 2019/2020.

These were set out in the report submitted to Council on 18 October 2018 and were not considered.

This decision will come into force immediately.

At the Council meeting held on 18 October 2018 Members considered the call-in of the Elected Mayor’s decision in respect of Paignton Townscape which had been referred to Council by the Overview and Scrutiny Board as the Elected Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Lead Call-in Promoter were all unable to attend the Board meeting.  Members felt that it was unfair to consider the call-in at the Board meeting and that the Elected Mayor should be able to hear the debate and concerns raised in order for him to be able to respond to them.

The Council resolved:

“That the Elected Mayor be requested to reconsider his previous decision in respect of Paignton Townscape in light of the following:

(a)       the detrimental effect on the town and continued blight on the town centre of Crossways in delaying regeneration in Paignton town centre;

(b)       the importance of improving the street scene for Paignton town centre to encourage further private investment;

(c)        the fairness of the decision when money has been spent on other wards in Torbay; and

(d)       the potential damage to the economy.”

The Elected Mayor considered the recommendation of the Council at the meeting and his response is set out above.

None