To receive apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Carter.

To receive any communications or announcements from the Leader of the Council.

The Chairman advised that he would be varying the order of the agenda to consider item 9 before item 8 on the agenda.

The Worshipful the Mayor of Torbay, Councillor Douglas-Dunbar, encouraged Members to attend the civic carol service on Sunday, 22 December 2019 at 4.00 pm in The Church of St. John the Apostle, Montpellier Road, Torquay, TQ1 1BJ.

The Cabinet Member for Adults and Public Health, Councillor Stockman advised that the Learning Disabilities Board had been reformed and that they had a productive meeting with several users becoming learning disability champions.  It was proposed that they would give a presentation at a future Health and Wellbeing Board on the work of the Board with a view to having membership similar to the Older Persons Assembly.

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Councillor Law thanked Councillors for donating prizes for the foster carers’ raffle which was attended by a number of Councillors last week.

The Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment and Culture, Councillor Morey raised the recent positive partnership working with the Council and local partnerships.  Meetings have been held with the some of the Cabinet and Conservative Councillors regarding the future of Occombe.  Councillors Morey and Darling had met earlier that day with Groundwork South to discuss the important work they have been doing with the Western Valley.  Councillors Carter and Morey also attended the official opening of refurbished Brixham Library, which had last been updated 25 years ago.

The Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Tourism and Housing, Councillor Long attended the Local Government Association conference on housing and homelessness in Coventry on 6 December, where they expressed interest in our end street homelessness campaign, our local partnership arrangements and political commitment to resolve issues in respect of homelessness and housing (this included the setting up of housing company and providing more affordable housing).  The local authority in Swale have a 5 party partnership who were interested in seeing what we were doing in respect of this issue.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Cowell had been focusing on finalising the budget proposals ready to launch today for consultation.  He was continuing dialogue with the community, Torbay Community Development Trust with up to 60 invitees due to be attending a community conference feedback discussion in the second week of January.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Darling had written to the Prime Minister on behalf of the Council congratulating him on a successful General Election and advising of the ambitions and key challenges facing Torbay.  The letter also sought how we could continue to work with key Members of Parliament and the Government for the benefit of Torbay.  He had attended a meeting with One Public Estate to develop strategic outcomes for our communities on housing and regenerating our town centres.

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

To receive the submitted report to launch the consultation for the Revenue and Capital Budgets for 2020/2021.

To consider the submitted report on the above.

To note the submitted report on the latest budget monitoring position and to consider any recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Board.

(Note:  Please note that this report contains an exempt appendix which has been circulated separately.)

The Cabinet received and noted the submitted report which set out the latest position in respect of the Council’s revenue outturn position and mitigating actions identified and the latest position in respect of capital expenditure and funding for 2019.  This report had been considered and discussed in detail at the Overview and Scrutiny Board on 11 December 2019.

It was noted that there were no formal recommendations to the Cabinet arising from the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting, however, the Board had requested that they receive regular updates on Children’s Services Finance; an update on Crossways to be considered at Council; and for further information in respect of the underspend in the Housing Options budget.  An email from the Assistant Director of Community and Customer Services was circulated to all members prior to the Cabinet as follows:

“Expenditure in Housing Options budget, addressing homelessness and prevention activity, has increased significantly in 2019/20.  The Flexible Housing Support Grant is utilised to offset some of this expenditure and was more than expected from as part of the financial settlement.  As such Housing services is forecasting an underspend of £100k.

Within Community Safety there are a number of vacancies across this service area which contribute to the overall underspend.”

To consider the submitted report on the above contract.

(Note:  Please note that this report contains an exempt appendix which has been circulated separately.)

To consider potential investment opportunities.

There were no new investment opportunities.

To consider any new Economic Growth Fund investment opportunities.

There were no new Economic Growth Fund opportunities.