The meeting was opened with a prayer.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dart, Ellery and Manning.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Annual meeting and Adjourned meeting of the Council held on 17 May 2022.

The Worshipful the Mayor of Torbay proposed and Councillor Brown seconded a motion, which was agreed (unanimously) by the Council as set out below:

that the Minutes of the Annual meeting of the Council and Adjourned Annual meeting of the Council held on 17 May 2022 be signed as a correct record by the Worshipful the Mayor of Torbay.

To receive any communications or announcements from the:

·         Civic Mayor, to include:

Ø  a presentation from The Oldway Trust; and

Ø  in accordance with the decision of the Standards Hearing Sub-Committee’s held on 10 and 13 May 2022, apologies from Councillors Foster and David Thomas;

·         Leader of the Council;

·         Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator;

·         Council’s representative on the Heart of the South West Joint Committee;

·         Chief Executive.

The Worshipful the Mayor of Torbay welcomed Chris Robson of the Oldway Trust to the meeting.  Mr Robson then gave a presentation on the work of the Oldway Trust.  On behalf of the Council, the Worshipful the Mayor of Torbay thanked Mr Robson for the work of Trust.

In accordance with the decision of the Standards Hearing Sub-Committee, held on 10 and 13 May 2022, the Worshipful the Mayor of Torbay requested Councillors Foster and David Thomas to make their apologies to the Council in respect of their breaches of the Council’s Code of Conduct for Members.  Councillors Foster and David Thomas then gave their response and provided their apologies to the Council.

The Worshipful the Mayor of Torbay provided the following:

a)    an overview of her attendance at a variety of Jubilee Events, which included the beacon lighting ceremony, attending local street parties and the Music on the Meadows;

b)    an update on her presentation of the Civic Award to Year 6 school children for their Community Work, which included work for charities and helping their local communities;

c)    the recent Royal visit to Torre Abbey Meadows where she and Pepsi, her guide dog, welcomed His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall to Torbay;  and

d)    a reminder that the Civic Luncheon was due to be held on Friday 29 July 2022 at the Livermead Cliff Hotel and she encouraged members to attend.

The Leader of the Council:

a)    provided an update as the Council’s representative at the Heart of the South West Joint Committee held on 24 June 2022.  The Leader of the Council advised that he had attended the meeting virtually and his participation was affected by internet connection issues.  Therefore, the minutes of the meeting would be available online to all members in due course;

b)    referred to his attendance at the recent Local Government Association Annual Conference where the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and the Chief Executive gave presentations.  The presentations were well received and it was good to see Torbay sharing its best practice at a national level;

c)    informed the Council that Becky Thompson, the Council’s Divisional Director of Children’s Safeguarding, had been shortlisted as a finalist in the Local Government Chronical Awards for Rising Star in Social Care.  Whilst not winning the award, the Leader of the Council stated that it was an accolade to be on the finalists list and he welcomed Ms Thompson’s achievement;  and

d)    advised the Council that the Local Enterprise Partnership had allocated an additional £250,000 to assist with the Torquay Gateway Project and the expanding costs in the construction industry.  The Project would assist in growing employment in Torbay.

To respond to the submitted questions asked under Standing Order A12.

Members received a paper detailing questions, notice of which had been given in accordance with Standing Order A13. The paper also contained the answers to the questions which had been prepared by Councillors Carter, Law, Long, Morey and Stockman, and was circulated prior to the meeting.

Supplementary questions were put and answered by Councillors Carter, Long and Morey arising from their responses to the questions in respect of questions 3, 5, 6, 8, 11, 13, 14 and 16.

To consider the recommendation of the Cabinet in respect of the introduction of a kerbside green waste collection service.

The Council considered the recommendation of the Cabinet and a revised officer recommendation on the funding for the introduction of an optional and chargeable kerbside green waste collection service in Torbay, details of which were set out in the submitted report.

Councillor Morey proposed and Councillor Law seconded a motion, which was agreed (unanimously) by the Council as set out below:

that the Director of Finance be delegated authority, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, to provide Council funding by prudential borrowing for the Council to purchase the bins for garden waste or provide a loan to SWISCo for their purchase, up to the indicative amounts set out in Exempt Appendices 1 and 2 to the submitted report.

To consider the recommendation of the Cabinet in respect of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The Council considered the proposed Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy as recommended by the Cabinet and set out in the submitted report.  Members noted the Strategy set out areas of focus and key actions to improve lives in Torbay over the next four years.

Councillor Stockman proposed and Councillor Long seconded a motion, which was agreed (unanimously) by the Council as set out below:

that the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2022-26 as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report be approved.

To consider a report that reviews the way that the Council undertakes changes to its Constitution.

This item was deferred.

To note a report that provides a high-level budget summary of the Council’s revenue and capital position for the financial year 2021/22.

The Council noted the submitted report which provided a high-level budget summary of the Council’s final revenue and capital position for the financial year 2021/2022.

To note the annual report on the treasury management activities undertaken during the year 2021/22.

Members noted the submitted report in respect of the Treasury Management Outturn for 2021/2022.

To note the schedule of Executive decisions to which the call-in procedure does not apply as set out in the submitted report.

Members noted the submitted report setting out the following executive decisions taken on 14 June 2022 to which the call-in procedure did not apply:

1.    the development and submission of bids and investment plans to both the Round 2 Levelling Up Fund and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund;

2.    approval of the Torbay Youth Justice Plan 2022-23;  and

3.    contract award for the Community Safety Case Management System.