To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Amil, Ellery, Stocks and Stockman.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Policy Development and Decision Group held on 4 June 2018.

The Minutes of the Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Operations Team) held on 4 June 2018 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the submitted report on a proposal to raise external funding for the Torbay Air Show for 2019.

Members considered the submitted report which provided an update on the funding required for the Torbay air show for 2019.  The report proposed engaging with the business, community and voluntary sector with a view to securing £90,000 funding/sponsorship to fund the Torbay Air Show for 2019 in light of increased budget pressures facing the Council and the challenge to find alternative funding streams in order to help set a balanced budget for 2019/2020.

Resolved:

that the Executive Head of Assets and Business Services be requested to engage with the business, community and voluntary sector with a view to securing £90,000 funding/sponsorship to fund the Torbay Air Show for 2019 and report back to the Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Operations Team) on 5 November 2018 to enable the Elected Mayor to determine if the Council can proceed with the Air Show for 2019.

To consider the submitted report on the above.

The Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Operations Team) made the following recommendation to the Elected Mayor:

(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 Elected Mayor considered the recommendation of the Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Operations Team) set out above at the meeting and the record of decision, together with further information is attached to these Minutes.

To consider the submitted report on the formation of a shadow sub-national transport body (STB), known as “Transport for the South West Peninsula” Sub-National Transport Body, by entering an informal partnership with other authorities in the South West and key agencies responsible for infrastructure investment. 

The Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Operations Team) made the following recommendations to the Elected Mayor:

The Elected Mayor be recommended to:

1.    Agree to join an informal partnership with Cornwall Council, Plymouth City Council, Torbay Council, Devon County Council and Somerset County Council; which will be known as a shadow sub-national transport body for the South West Peninsula (or similar), subject to Government agreeing with that proposal, and subject to formal agreement of a final terms of reference once the partnership has formally convened.

2.    Agree that the draft terms of reference attached as Appendix 1 to the submitted report provide an appropriate basis in principle upon which to create a partnership.

3.    Delegate authority to the Executive Head of Assets and Business Services, in consultation with the Elected Mayor and the Executive Lead for Community Services, to agree the final terms of reference for the shadow sub-national transport body subject to the terms being generally in accordance with the draft terms attached as Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

4.    Delegate authority to the Executive Head of Assets and Business Services, in consultation with the Elected Mayor and the Executive Lead for Community Services, to develop and agree a constitution for the South West Peninsula sub-national transport body with the partner authorities, and an inter-authority agreement to enable the informal partnership to operate.

5.    Appoint the Executive Lead for Community Services to represent the Council on the sub-national transport bodies.

6.    Delegate authority to the Executive Head of Assets and Business Services, in consultation with the Elected Mayor and the Executive Lead for Community Services, to agree a prospectus (and any other material as appropriate) for the proposed body for communication purposes.

7.    Approve an initial partnership funding contribution of up to £20,300 from the Planning Reserve, to facilitate the development and operation of the partnership, and lever in match-funding from the Government; with the actual value of the contribution to be agreed between the parties following further development of technical workstreams.

The Elected Mayor considered the recommendations of the Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Operations Team) set out above at the meeting and the record of decision, together with further information is attached to these Minutes.