To receive apologies for absence, including notifications of any changes to the membership of the Committee.

To consider the above matter.

The Board considered the draft Torbay Economic Development Company Business Plan for 2011/12.  The Chief Executive Officer, Torbay Economic Development Company, TEDC, outlined the draft business plan and indicated that the Bay’s economy remained extremely weak and the activities of TEDC were unlikely to lead to significant improvement in economic performance.  The Board was advised that the activities of TEDC could bring about change, improve skills, and influence others.  The Chairman of TEDC advised the Board of the benefits of an economic development company.  The Mayor outlined the approach, role, and value of TEDC within the context of current economic circumstances.

Members questioned where in-year budget savings or efficiencies were identified in the business plan.  In response, the Chief Executive Officer (TEDC) advised the meeting that the business plan budget for 2011/12 incorporated savings agreed previously and that possible savings of up to fifteen per cent had been identified for TEDC’s 2012/13 budget, which was being prepared. 

In reply to questions concerning the risks contained within the draft business plan, the Board was advised that certain risks were not new and had been judged high for a number of years.

Members questioned where the TEDC’s commitment to help deprived communities appeared in the business plan.  In reply the Board was advised by the Chief Executive Officer, TEDC, of examples of help to target deprived wards, including the Cockington Sea Change Project, and received an acknowledgment that such a commitment could be reflected more fully in the final business plan.  Board members were advised that contractors working on Council programmes were being asked to work with deprived wards, including the provision of training programmes.

Board members asked for confirmation that Oldway would be vacated by the end of September and were advised that the programme of relocating staff was under review.  The Board was advised that TEDC was not involved in the relocation of staff from Oldway.  In response to questions about the amount of money put aside for the physical regeneration of Torquay Harbour, the Board was advised that a pre-feasibility study was being undertaken by TEDC.

In reply to questions about the lack of previous financial accounts, Board members were advised that TEDC was a new company and that figures for the former Torbay Development Agency budgets had been used to form indicative accounts.  The Board was informed that the value of buildings and other assets of TEDC would be ascertained during 2011/12. 

In response to a suggestion that the TEDC should recognise the need to reduce the fees that the Council paid to the company, the Chairman of TEDC indicated to the Board that empire building or maintaining funding levels was not a TEDC ambition.

The Executive Lead Member for Involved and Healthy Communities suggested the value of appointing a voluntary or community sector representative to the TEDC Board.  In response, the Chairman of TEDC indicated he welcomed the proposal in principle.

Resolved:  (i)  that with reference to its business plan, the TEDC  ...  view the full minutes text for item 193.

The Board considered reports which summarised the performance of the performance indicators and projects in the Council’s strategic scorecard, the Council’s approved capital programme for the first quarter of 2011/12, and the Council’s revenue budget for the same period.

The Executive Lead Member for Children, Schools and Families and the Acting Director of Children’s Services attended to provide additional information and respond to Board members questions.  The Board was advised by the Executive Lead Member for Children, Schools and Families that the backlog in safeguarding cases would be clear by the end of August 2011.  The Board was informed that safeguarding issues would take eighteen months to rectify and require additional funds.

Members questioned the timetable put forward to address safeguarding issues and the likelihood of success.  In reply to questions, the Acting Director of Children’s Services indicated that professionals within Children’s Services had become risk adverse.  He advised that intensive work with families to enable the child to stay in the family was often the best route.  Members suggested that action sooner to achieve a permanent solution, along the lines of the Denmark early intervention model, was most effective. 

Members questioned the shortage of foster care and were advised that a number of staff were focusing on foster care recruitment and that a recent campaign had been successful.

Board members questioned whether corporate resources were helping to address safeguarding issues.  In response the Chief Executive Officer advised that all Commissioners and Executive Heads had been challenged to help and that the issue was not confined to a single unit in Children’s Services. 

With reference to previous assurances and targets, Board members questioned the likelihood and intellectual capacity of the Council to deliver successful safeguarding.  In response, the Board was advised that the backlog of cases would be rectified shortly and an eighteen month plan was needed.

With reference to a projected overspend of £1.5m in Children’s Services for 2011/12 and previous statements that an overspend was likely, Board members questioned whether the budget set had been realistic.  In response to questions about the possible closure of Children’s Centres within Torbay as an in-year saving, the Executive Lead Member for Children, Schools and Families advised the meeting that the operations of the centres were under review but they would not close.  The Acting Director of Children’s Services advised that measures to address the budget overspend including all expenditure over £500 requiring his authorisation.  The Board was advised that the possibility of charging academies for services was being investigated.

Board members were advised by the Acting Director of Children’s Services that due to the budget process, historical overspends indicating difficulties within safeguarding had been absorbed within the overall Children’s Services budget.

With reference to adult social care the Board was advised by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Torbay Care Trust, of capacity issues and increasing waiting lists.  The Board was informed that the projected overspend for adult social care for 2011/12 was £1.5m, with a current year to date overspend of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 194.