It was reported that, in accordance with the wishes of the Liberal Democrat Group, the membership of the Board had been amended to include Councillor Davies in place of Councillor Pountney.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of the Board held on 7, 21 and 30 November 2012.

The minutes of the meetings of the Board held on 7, 21 and 30 November 2012 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the draft Annual Strategic Agreement between the Council and the Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust.

The Board considered the draft Annual Strategic Agreement between the Council and Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust which set out how the two organisations would work together to deliver improvements to the commissioning and provision of adult social care including the implementation of Cost Improvement Plans.

Members of the Board asked questions in relation to the Risk Share Arrangements between the Council and the Trust, the Quality Assurance Framework for the Trust and the developments which were planned during 2013/2014.

The Board expressed concern that the Quality Assurance Framework had not yet been rolled out fully and further details about its implementation were requested.

Resolved:  (i)  that it be recommended to the Mayor:

(a)       that, to enable effective monitoring, the Service Development Activity, shown in section 1.6 of the draft Annual Strategic Agreement, be prioritised together with expected implementation and completion dates; and

(b)       that, taking account of the budget reductions proposed within Adult Social Care, a stronger risk analysis be included within the Annual Strategic Agreement; and

(ii)        that periodic updates of progress against the Annual Strategic Agreement be considered over the course of the coming year by the Overview and Scrutiny Board or Health Scrutiny Board as appropriate.

To consider the Capital Investment Plan update for Quarter 3 of the 2012/2013 financial year.

The Board received a report which provided an overview of the Council’s approved four-year Capital Investment Plan for the quarter ending December 2012.  The report provided details of expenditure and funding of service and community assets within the Council’s approved Plan.  It also provided details of capital resources identified for 2013/2014 which would impact on future years’ programmes.

To consider the briefing notes provided at the request of the Priorities and Resources 2013/2014 Review Panel and to determine the views, conclusions and/or recommendations of the Board in relation to the Mayor’s budget proposals for the next financial year.

The Board considered the draft report which had been prepared on its behalf following a series of meetings which formed the Review of Priorities and Resources for 2013/2014.

During the course of the Review, members had considered how the proposed Revenue Budget for 2013/2014 had been developed, the overarching strategies which helped to shape it and the detailed proposals relating to a range of elements within Budget.

At the meeting, the Board received additional information with respect to Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Beach Services which had been requested during the course of the Review.  The Board also heard representations from members of the public in relation to the proposals for Home to School Transport and Beach Services.

The Mayor addressed the meeting and outlined his intention to change his proposals pertaining to Home to School Transport and Citizens’ Advice Bureau with the current funding for both areas being maintained in 2013/2014.

Resolved:  (i)  that, in relation to the Corporate Asset Management Plan,:

·         Consideration should be given to how the wider community can be encouraged to play a role in asset management with a more imaginative delivery approach taken (possibly reflecting the Asset Based Community Development methodology)

·         The aspiration of undertaking capital schemes which create jobs and/or generate income should be strengthened and consideration given to the further diversification of the Council’s portfolio to meet these aims

(ii)        that, in relation to the Corporate Capital Strategy,:

·         The policy statement in Section 2.4 (Revenue and Reserves) should be amended to include a statement on the Council’s use of reserves to fund capital schemes.

·         Point (f) in Section 2.5 (Prioritisation) should be amended to read:

In the interests of transparency, openness and accountability, proposed specific capital schemes within the approved Capital Plan in (e) above should be submitted to the Chief Operating Officer for consideration in consultation with the Mayor, Executive Lead for Finance and Chief Finance Officer.  If the proposed scheme is supported, it will be considered by the Council with a recommendation of approval.

(iii)       that robust business cases should be prepared to evidence the levels of the Council Elections Reserve, the IT Equipment Reserve and the Torbay Development Agency – Capital Schemes Reserve;

(iv)       that the Overview and Scrutiny Board supports the Mayor and officers in their efforts to convince the Government to enable the Council to repay borrowing with no penalty to relieve the Council of unnecessary burdens and that this aspiration should be reflected in the Medium Term Resources Plan;

(v)        that within the Medium Term Resources Plan there should be reference to the need to strategically target new income streams, especially Business Rates;

(vi)       that, in terms of the Mayor’s proposals for the Revenue Budget for 2013/2014,:

·         A three-year “business plan” for the Authority should be prepared.

·         A strategy for community development should be prepared in order to co-ordinate the efforts between the Council, its partners and the wider community (including the voluntary sector).  This strategy should form part of the three-year “business  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.