The meeting was opened with a prayer.

Following the opening, Members observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect in memory of former Councillor and Mayor of Torbay, Jenny Faulkner, serving member of staff, Steve Checkley, and SWISCo worker, Sam Evans, all of whom had recently passed away.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Atiya-Alla, Harvey, Hutchings and Nicolaou.

Councillor Law joined later in the meeting and during Minute 22.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Annual meeting of the Council and Adjourned Annual meeting of the Council held on 15 May 2025.

The Worshipful The Mayor of Torbay proposed and Councillor Foster seconded a motion, which was agreed 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 15 May 2025 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by The Worshipful The Mayor of Torbay.

No interests were declared.

To receive any communications or announcements from the Civic Mayor, the Leader of the Council, the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator or the Chief Executive.

The Worshipful the Mayor of Torbay thanked all those who attended her Civic Garden Party, held at Rowcroft Hospice on 19 July 2025, and for providing support for her Mayoral charities.

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 A12.  The paper also contained the answers to the questions which had been prepared by Councillors Billings, Bye, Chris Lewis, David Thomas, Jacqueline Thomas, Tranter and Tyerman, and was circulated prior to the meeting.

Supplementary questions were put and answered by Councillors Billings, Bye, Chris Lewis, David Thomas, Jacqueline Thomas and Tyerman, arising from their responses to the questions in respect of questions 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 15, 17, 19, 22, 23 and 25.

To consider the recommendation of Cabinet and a report that seeks approval to proceed with the acquisition of four residential properties.

The Council considered the recommendation of the Cabinet (as set out in the Cabinet’s Record of Decision and the submitted report) in respect of the funding to acquire four properties as part of the Local Authority Housing Fund Round 3.

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

that the Capital Programme be uplifted by a maximum of £1,301,500 to acquire the four properties, part-funded by a grant of £551,500 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.  The remaining balance of £750,000 to be funded by a combination of: prudential borrowing; revenue savings from existing Temporary Accommodation budgets; or any other relevant internal subsidy or receipts that may be appropriate.  With delegated authority to the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Finance to agree the precise balance of funding sources to be deployed.

To consider the recommendations of Cabinet and a report that provides a high-level budget summary of the Council’s revenue and capital position for the financial year 2024/25 based on the final outturn position for the year ended 31st March 2025.

The Council received the submitted report setting out a high-level budget summary of the Council’s revenue and capital position for the financial year 2024/2025 based on the final outturn position for the year ending 31 March 2025, along with proposed revisions to the Capital Investment Plan and the year-end surplus.  The Council also considered the recommendations of the Cabinet on the allocation of the year-end surplus for priority initiatives.

Councillor Tyerman proposed and Councillor David Thomas seconded a motion as set out below:

1.         that Council notes the revenue outturn position and approves the use of £0.351m year-end surplus to be transferred into a specific reserve to be allocated across the followingindicative priority initiatives:

1.      updated condition surveys of Community Centres circa £10,000;

2.      better Resident Communications circa £50,000;

3.      accelerate Adult Social Care Customer Management System – Paris replacement circa £50,000;

4.      support voluntary, community and social enterprise youth provision transitional arrangements (pending procurement) circa £50,000;

5.      events – ice skating rink circa £40,000;

6.      Operation Brighter Bay circa £81,000;

7.      Operation Town Centre – improving CCTV circa £40,000; and

8.      Enterprise Fund (Town Centre) £30,000; and

2.         that Council approves the revisions to the Capital Investment Plan, as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

During the debate Councillor Long proposed and Councillor Cowell seconded an

amendment to the motion as follows:

1.         that Council notes the revenue outturn position and approves the use of £0.351m year-end surplus to be transferred into a specific reserve to be allocated across the following indicative priority initiatives:

1.    updated condition surveys of Community Centres circa £10,000;

2.    better Resident Communications circa £50,000;

23.  accelerate Adult Social Care Customer Management System – Paris replacement circa £50,000;

34.  support voluntary, community and social enterprise youth provision transitional arrangements (pending procurement) circa £50,000;

45.  events – ice skating rink circa £40,000;

56.  Operation Brighter Bay circa £81,000, to include £15,000 for the Sannox project at Babbacombe;

7.    Operation Town Centre – improving CCTV circa £40,000; and

68.  Enterprise Fund (Town Centre) £30,000;

7.  Brixham public realm £15,000 to be identified in consultation with Brixham ward councillors (Torbay Council);

8.       Refresh of the Playing Pitch Strategy, development of feasibility studies and support for Park Plans £25,000;

9.    CCTV coverage for Castle Circus £10,000;

10.  Grant to Torbay Community Partnerships for an administrator to support Community Partnerships £20,000;

11.  Advertisement of Torbay Council news in community magazines £20,000;  and

2.    that Council approves the revisions to the Capital Investment Plan, as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

A recorded vote was taken on the amendment.  The voting was taken by roll call as follows:  For: Councillors Amil, Carter, Cowell, George Darling, Mandy Darling, Steve Darling, Douglas-Dunbar, Fox, Johns, Law, Long, Maddison, Penny, Pentney and Virdee (15);  Against:  Councillors Billings, Brook, Bryant, Bye, Fellows, Foster, Barbara Lewis, Chris Lewis, Spacagna, Stevens, Strang, David Thomas, Jacqueline Thomas, Tolchard, Tranter, Twelves and Tyerman  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

To consider the recommendations of Cabinet a report that sets out a requirement to amend the current Employer Pension Discretions to introduce a Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution arrangement.

The Council considered the recommendations of the Cabinet and the submitted report on proposed amendments to pension discretionary policies in order to introduce a Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution arrangement.

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

that the amended Employers Pensions Discretions as set out in Appendix 1, to the submitted report, which now include the Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution Scheme be approved.

To consider a report that sets out a review of the political balance of the Council to ensure places on Committees and Council appointed Working Parties are allocated in accordance with the relevant statutory and Constitutional requirements.

The Council considered the submitted report on a review of political balance on committees and working parties following Councillor Hutchings becoming an independent member.

Councillor David Thomas proposed and Councillor Chris Lewis seconded a motion, which was agreed (unanimously) by the Council as set out below:

1.         that the overall political balance of the committees as set out at Appendix 1 to the submitted report be approved;  and

2.         that it be noted that the political balance of Council appointed Working Parties, the Adult Social Care and Health and Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Boards of the Overview and Scrutiny Board and the Harbour Appointments Sub-Committee of the Harbour Committee remain unchanged.