To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 10 January 2023.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 10 January 2023 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

(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.)

Councillors Steve Darling, Cowell and Morey declared non-pecuniary interests details of which are set out in the Record of Decisions appended to Minute 447 and Minute 448.

To receive any communications or announcements from the Leader of the Council including a request for all Members to sign an open letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer following the publication of the Children Society Report on The Future of Local Welfare – Discretionary Support for Families Facing Crisis.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Cowell, called upon all Members to sign the open letter to the Chancellor of Exchequer in support of the findings and recommendations set out in the Children’s Society report on the Future of Local Welfare – Discretionary Support for Families Facing Crisis (https://act.childrenssociety.org.uk/page/121919/petition)

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Steve Darling welcomed Catherine Fritz a representative of the Citizen Advice Bureau to the meeting.  Dr Fritz outlined the work of the Citizen Advice Bureau, provided details of a case study, highlighted the increase in the number of residents contacting the Citizen Advice Bureau and how the reason for contact had changed, due to the increase in the cost of living.

The Cabinet considered the following matters, full details of which (including the Cabinet’s decisions and recommendations to Council) are set out in the Record of Decisions appended to these Minutes.

To receive the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Board on the Cabinet’s draft budget proposals for 2023/2024 (report attached) and to make final recommendations to the Council (report on Cabinet’s final budget proposals to follow).

To recommend to Council the approval of an application to re-designate Torquay Neighbourhood Forum.

To consider a report and recommend to Council the approval of the Housing Strategy.

To consider a report and recommend to Council the approval of the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy.

To consider a report that seeks approval to install a Changing Places disabled toilet in the Brixham town centre carpark.

To consider a report on the above.

To recommend to Council the Annual Pay Policy Statement and Review of Pensions Discretions.