a)         To receive declarations of non pecuniary interests in respect of items on this agenda

For reference:  Having declared their non pecuniary interest members may remain in the meeting and speak and, vote on the matter in question.  A completed disclosure of interests form should be returned to the Clerk before the conclusion of the meeting.

b)        To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests in respect of items on this agenda

For reference:  Where a Member has a disclosable pecuniary interest he/she must leave the meeting during consideration of the item.  However, the Member may remain in the meeting to make representations, answer questions or give evidence if the public have a right to do so, but having done so the Member must then immediately leave the meeting, may not vote and must not improperly seek to influence the outcome of the matter.  A completed disclosure of interests form should be returned to the Clerk before the conclusion of the meeting.

(Please Note:  If Members and Officers wish to seek advice on any potential interests they may have, they should contact Governance Support or Legal Services prior to the meeting.)

The following statement was read out, confirming the arrangements and nature of disclosable interests in future meetings:

The Torquay Place Leadership Board will be making decisions regarding the prioritisation and allocation of Government Funding for Plans for Neighbourhoods.  Board Members are required to follow the Model Code of Conduct which requires them to disclose any pecuniary interests, which includes interests relating to your employment, and not take part in any discussions or decisions where you have a pecuniary interest and to leave the meeting room.  The Government’s Guidance on Plan for Neighbourhoods puts a requirement for ensuring an inclusive and representative selection of people from across the local community being members of the Board and therefore implies that they should be able to be involved in how the Grant Funding from the Government is allocated to meet the needs of the people of Torquay.  In light of this and on the basis that there will be an agreed prioritisation matrix applied to all business cases to ensure fairness, openness and transparency, the Monitoring Officer has agreed in those circumstances to grant a dispensation to all Members of the Torquay Place Leadership Board to enable them to disclose their pecuniary interest when issues relating to prioritisation of topics, approval of a prioritisation matrix and where approval of Grant Funding is being discussed, to remain in meetings of the Torquay Place Leadership Board and take part in discussions but not to vote on any application made by themselves or their organisation.

It was confirmed by the Interim Place Manager that this meeting will relate to wider themes and not individual proposals or applications for funding.  On this basis, there were no interests declared.